There have been many great horror stories and thrillers set in the Arctic and the Antarctic. So much so that someone has even coined the phase “research station noir”. And plenty of Scandi-noir is set above the Arctic Circle. These areas are always popular as the hostile external conditions add a layer of danger to the proceedings but also effectively trap the characters in place. It also gives authors the opportunity to dig into all of the psychological issues that come with that isolation. Riley James clearly understands all of this – the psychological pressures of living in a closed community and a deep knowledge stories of those who have survived on the most inhospitable continent on Earth. And she deploys all of this knowledge to great effect her debut thriller The Chilling.
Kit Bitterfeld is “doing a geographic”, running away from a failed marriage by agreeing to assist her friend Sally who is going to Antarctica to do research. But before they even get to the continent they encounter problems. A distress call from the Snow Petrel, a ship caught in the ice. When they arrive at the ship it is on fire and the crew is missing with the exception of one man who they find beaten up and locked in the walk-in fridge. But that man, later identified as Nick Coltheart, has lost his memory, and despite his injuries cannot be evacuated due to the weather. Meanwhile, out on the ice, the survivors of the Snow Petrel are fighting for survival.
When Kit finally does get to the base, things start to get weird and dangerous. She does not trust Nick, but more than that, other members of the team start to act strangely and out of character. While Kit seems to be one of the only ones keeping their head, she is also constantly questioning herself and taking massive risks. All of which serves to make her a relatable, flawed action heroine.
James has constructed an effective thriller in The Chilling with some clever reveals, including the resolution of the mystery of the crashed aircraft in the cold open (pun not intended). But at the same time she manages to convey the majesty, danger and loneliness of Antarctica, bringing her knowledge into play through the action rather than through exposition.
The Chilling by Riley James
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