Cold

by Jim Pearce

The near future is a world in which scientists and their AI got it wrong.

Rising temperatures have caused fires that burned landmasses, and the ash from these fires block out the sun. The resulting cold is extreme, like a nuclear winter, and was a mass extinction event for human beings the world over. Electricity grids, communications and services all failed. Societies collapsed. Humanity is reduced to small groups of survivors, scraping by however they can.

Resources are scarce, and bands of survivors resort to violence to obtain enough food and fuel to survive.

A man and his family group have survived the cruel winter by hiding in a house in Surrey, but when a roaming gang starts to ravage the area, they are forced to run. As they flee to safety, the cohesion and tolerance that had kept them going for so long starts to fracture…

264 pages, Paperback

Published December 15, 2022

Reviews

[Susan · Rating 3 out of 5]

Entertaining dystopian novel, always enjoy reading about survival, when the world as we know it ends.

[Kimmy C · Rating 5 out of 5]

What a ride! This debut novel from former oil driller and geologist turned sustainable energy consultant (so he knows what he’s talking about) is action from page one. In our near future, the global warning we’ve been warned about has taken a nasty turn - the constant and ferocious bushfires all around the world have sent the world into a type of winter as presaged during the nuclear crises. Pockets of humanity are left, and civilisation as we thought we knew it is breaking down. It’s 2035, and our protagonist - suffering guilt from his contributory efforts to the climate meltdown - and a group of family and friends live a sustainable life (inasmuch as one can in minus 30 degrees), foraging, scavenging, and trading just to keep going day to day. When danger comes to their doorstep, they must leave, and are pursued across the icy landscape in an attempt to find sanctuary and a place to start anew.
Thoughtfully written, action packed, and giving an alternative view to a future (hey, what’s one dystopian possibility when you could have two, right?), this keeps the reader gripped from the first tentative venture into town right through until the final do or die attempt to survive.

[Claire Cobb · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was one of the most interesting and challenging books I've read for a while. This book is scary as it is worded so realistically that it could happen. I was honestly broken by how raw this book was, the challenges their group had to overcome to survive all whilst having that gang hunt them down. I felt sorry for Eva, Richard, Billy, and our main character (I don't think we ever learn his name). I liked the fact that Kisi, the alsation, joined their group and helped out where she could. This book was really intense at parts and never once lost my attention, a really gripping read.

[Paula Learmouth · Rating 5 out of 5]

Cold is a dystopian post-apocalyptic novel set in the near future. Al and the scientists got it completely wrong. Because of rising temperatures they have caused fires that burn landmasses, and the ash from these fires blocks the sun out. The survivors that remain on earth have to live with limited resources which isn't easy in the freezing weather. They can't trust anyone which makes life a lot harder. This is Jim Pearce's debut novel. Even though I found this a quick read, I did enjoy it.

[Stephen Parker · Rating 5 out of 5]

A compelling and entertaining debut effort from Jim Pearce. Reading it in the current arctic temperatures of East Coast USA felt very apt, as Pearce very skillfully weaves together a lifeless, claustrophobic tundra with colorful, flawed yet engaging characters. The story also has a nice mix of pace and depth sprinkled with enough menace to keep you quickly turning the pages.

[Bookworm86 · Rating 5 out of 5]

BLOG TOUR REVIEW


Review for 'Cold' by Jim Pearce.


Read and reviewed for Netgalley, Jim Pearce, Matador, Troubador, Book Guild and Zooloo's Book Tours.


Publication dates: Kindle: 22nd November 2022. Paperback: 15th December 2022.


This is Jim Pearce's debut novel, though he has written non-fiction books previously.

This novel consists of 13 chapters and an epilogue. The chapters are medium to long in length.

'Cold' discusses some topics that may upset some readers or may not be suitable for others. I like to point this out ahead of time in my reviews so you can judge if this book is for you or not. In this book Jim discusses toxic relationships, domestic violence, COVID 19, Violence, alcoholism, suicide and worldwide catastrophe/death.


This book is very well written and had me hook, line and sinker from beginning to end. The descriptions were so in depth and vivid that the hair on my arms was standing on the ends and my heart was pounding throughout. The synopsis, title and cover were perfect for the storyline.

Absolutely loved this extremely gripping, scarily realistic and heart pounding suspense thriller!!!

This book is a fascinating and thought provoking thriller that grips your attention from the first sentence all the way to the fantastic epilogue!! The title of the book sums up the storyline absolutely perfectly!! I must admit that this is not my usual type of book but when I seen it I thought I would give it a try and I am extremely glad that I did as I absolutely LOVED IT!!! If this isn't the sort of book you would pick up then don't let that out you off, expand your literature genres and you will not regret it!!! This book reminded me of a mix of 'The Dark Continent' by Scott Reardon, 'The Stand' by Stephen King and the movies 'The Day After Tomorrow' and '2012 Ice Age'. If you enjoyed any of these then you will LOVE this book!!! If you haven't seen or read any of them I would highly recommend them all along with this book!!! The world has been attacked with Covid, Famine, Floods and extreme weather changes. Sound familiar? In this book the world hasn't recovered from all of these when the rising temperatures cause fires, burning landmasses causing ash that block out the sun. We follow our main protagonist whose name is unknown (either that or I missed it and I triple checked) along his journey to survive from Surrey onto Cranleigh, Sussex, River Adur, The English Channel, Bordeaux, Lyon, Moutiers, Pralognan-la-Vanoise and Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes. He starts with his community family of his son Billy, Paul (dies) Lina, (does) Matt, Jane, Eva and Mary (dies). Along the way we also meet Bob, Kisi and Bella Richard, Pierre, Caroline and Serge amongst others. They use various transportation that they discover, fix and maintain including a land rover, a Catamaran, land cruisers, ski lifts and sledges. They are all trying to survive this post-apocalyptic dystopian world they have found themselves living in through many of their own doings all whilst trying to survive and escape looters, raiders along with a military gang determined to reek revenge on one of the survival members. Each of the chapters have titles that give the reader a hint of what is to come along with a fantastic artistic sketch related to that chapter including diagrams, maps and buildings. I was completely immersed in this heart pounding and petrifying realistic page turner that I just hope to God stays dystopian fiction and isn't really a true sign of things to come. Although, sadly it does seem to be a true warning of the consequences of climate change especially in regards to current events. Jim's absolutely fantastic and evocative writing skills really does bring the storyline and the characters to life and even though I was absorbed in this book in the sun in Cornwall I could feel my skin chill and my heart pounding in fear for the safety of the characters. I was completely invested in the characters and the team dynamics was absolutely fascinating!!! In a way several of the behaviours between some did remind me of 'Lord Of The Flies' which is actually mentioned in the book and is something else I would highly recommend reading, watching the film and/or even seeing in the theatre. If you have already seen and loved it then you will love this novel!!! The fact that Jim has done a lot of research as well as having all the experience he has gained in his jobs as oil driller in Saudi and Venezuela and geologist in a gold mine in Ghana plus spending time in Surrey and France absolutely shines through the pages. One of my pet hates is books littered with unnecessary mistakes but this book is so scarily realistic it is unreal. I am absolutely mine blown that this is Jim's debut fiction novel as his creative skills, imagination and writing skills read like an author who has been writing for years and if I hadn't read that it was his debut fiction novel I would not have believed it!!! The only negative I have about this book is the death of an animal but at the same time what happens also ensures the authenticity of the storyline. Playing devils advocate with myself I love the fact that Kisi (Bob's pet dog) plays such a large part in the storyline. I am a MASSIVE animal lover and actually run Golden Oldies Cat Rescue And Hospice so any books that include animals are always a bonus for me and the fact that Kisi plays such a big part is even better.
With realistic, strong and unlikeable characters that make you want to shout at, sympathise with and more this book will keep you glued to the pages. I really could not recommend this book more!!! It has got to be one of the best books I have read and I would love to see Jim bring more books out, I would especially love to see what happened to some of the other characters from this book.

This is one of those books that once you have picked it up you will not be able to put it down and it is also an absolute emotional rollercoaster ride of emotions so clear your schedules and get the tissues at the ready as even I shed several tears and that is not an easy feat!!!

Congratulations Jim on an absolutely fantastic and addictive page turning debut!!! You really could not do any better and it is one of the most fantastic debut novels I have ever read!!! Welcome to my favourite author club and here is to your next guaranteed success 🥂!!!


Overall an absolutely captivating, gripping and heart racing addictive suspense packed thriller!!!



304 pages.


This book is just £3.99 to purchase on kindle and £9.19 in paperback (at time of review) via Amazon which I think is an absolute bargain for this book!!!

Rated 5/5 (I LOVED it ) on Goodreads, Instagram, Amazon UK and Amazon US and on over 30 Facebook pages plus my blog on Facebook.

Feel free to add me on Goodreads or follow me on my website or Facebook for more reviews.


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[Emma Ashley · Rating 5 out of 5]

Cold by Jim Pearce is a thrilling tale of survival and a debut novel.
A family fights to survive in the near future after the COVID pandemic. They survive a cruel winter by staying in a house in Surrey, but then a gang starts to attack the area and they are forced to run.
The authors writing style is very detailed and flows along at a good pace and Is action packed.
I really enjoyed this debut novel and I was gripped from the very first page. I kept reading until the end as I wanted to know what happened. A very enjoyable read that I highly recommend.
💖 Thank you to the author, Jim Pearce and @zooloobooktours for my copy of the book in exchange for a honest review.

[Siobhain · Rating 5 out of 5]

Introduction
I was given a copy to review as part of the Book Tour hosted by ZooLoo’s Book Tours. My reviews are always honest and all opinions are my own. I will always try to avoid spoilers in all reviews as well. #ZooLoosBookTours #Cold #JimPearce #BookTour #Dystopian #AD #BookReview

Review
I am a big fan of apocalyptic fiction mostly because it can be used to explore the human condition and also because it can sometimes be really creative. When the chance came to review Cold I was so thankful to be picked for the tour. I was instantly curious about the setting of this one even setting aside my personal views on climate change (I do believe it is real but I won’t go into a rant) I found Cold to be all the more chilling (pun intended) since it may actually be a future we could face.

Set in the near future where scientists and their reliance of AI got it all wrong. With temperatures rising fires broke out that burned landmasses and the ash from all these fires begin to block out the sun. The resulting cold is extreme, like a nuclear winter, and was a massive extinction event for humans all over the world. Electricity grids, communications and services all failed. Society quickly collapsed and humanity was reduced to small groups of survivors, scraping by however they can. As resources become more scarce the bands of survivors begin to resort to violence to obtain enough food and fuel to survive. A man and his family group have survived the cruel winter by hiding in a house in Surrey but when a violent roaming gang starts to ravage the area they have no choice but to run. As they flee to safety the cohesion and tolerance that had kept them going for so long starts to fracture.

Cold was a brilliant, stark and realistic debut by Jim Pearce. I was struck by how realistic the writing was but also how raw. It chills you (I swear I am not making these puns on purpose) to the bone with the realism. The thing that got me is it’s all believable, particularly the way people act to each other. This is, of course, one of the reasons I love this subgenre so much. You can see characters in extremes and watch them act out certain ways. You can see and explore what it means to be human and how ‘civilization’ easily breaks down quickly when there is little to no consequences and while Pearce offers this in such a fantastic way he also reinforces the utter bleakness of the world that humans now live in.

My only complaint was that one dog was hurt – realistic perhaps but a personal bugbear of mine. I did however love that Kisi (another dog) survived and became a rather helpful member of the group. I really enjoyed this one and it was a solid 5 stars from start to finish. Even characters who were not in for long were memorable and I found that I was kept engaged throughout. If you enjoy the post-apocalyptic and dystopian genres you are sure to enjoy this one.

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[Kelsey Rhodes · Rating 5 out of 5]

5/5 stars! What an epic, thrilling, futuristic tale of survival. After a mass extinction event, one family fights to survive in a new world where the stakes couldn't be higher, and fellow man can't be trusted. This book read like "The Last of Us" brought to life. The author's ability to bring out that raw, animalistic tension in a post-apocalyptic world was stunning. I couldn't read this book fast enough and will be desperately waiting for the next release from this author.

I received an advance review copy for free through NetGalley, and I am leaving this review voluntarily

[Sonja Charters · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is the second book that I've read which deals with a dystopian future, where the world has been plunged into a second ice age due to the effects of climate change.

Here, the ever increasing temperatures have caused fires around the world with the resultant ash clouds blocking out the sun and speeding up the following freeze.
After the breakdown of society and the failure of resources and communications - Most of humanity has already been wiped out, but there are some small groups of survivors still remaining.

This is such a brilliant read.

The writing style is blunt and abrupt. I actually found it quite an emotional read as this really doesn't seem too far from reality. Extreme, yes, but totally believable and truly scary! It really does make you stop and think about the ways we, as individuals, could help to reduce the impacts of our actions so far.

The setting was really well described and I was transported to this bleak landscape for the entire book.

The overall plot and characters were well thought out and developed throughout. This worked perfectly so that this felt like the thriller it is, rather than just a message about the environment.

I can't believe that this is a debut novel as it was such an amazing read which flowed perfectly.
I'm hoping that this wasn't just a lockdown distraction and that Pearce will write much more for us all to enjoy in the near future.

[Stephanie · Rating 4 out of 5]

Cold is a book that builds up the tension well. It's intriguing and keeps the reader wanting to know what happens next.

If you enjoy reading dystopian fiction then this is an interesting one to try. Although this type of story isn't one I read alot of I found it easy to get into this one and I enjoyed the idea of it a lot.

[Sue Wallace · Rating 4 out of 5]

Cold by Jim Pearce.
The near future is a world in which scientists and their AI got it wrong.
I really enjoyed this book. Gripping read. I do hope there is more to come. 4*.

[Renko Dekker · Rating 3 out of 5]

Another interesting read was Cold by Jim Pearce which I received from Matador via Netgalley and it will be out on the 28th of January.

It is set in the near future after rising temperatures caused enormous fires. The ash blocked out the sun resulting in an extreme winter causing a mass extinction. A group of survivors are forced to move away from their hide out when a gang starts ravaging the area. They start this perilous journey taking them from England to France searching for shelter against the deadly cold. The journey is not without danger, even from within the group itself.

This was quite the exiting read as I like books and films dealing with this futuristic end-of-the-world drama. This book was a great one dealing with this subject and I enjoyed it. The thing I didn't enjoy was that the book should have been longer. Now, it was all told quite quickly, sometimes going through days/weeks/months in just a page. If this would be more elaborate, it would have been a great book. Furthermore, the relations between the people living in the house were set, but not that developed in depth. I would have liked to know more about the characters and the irritations between them and how these came into existence.

An enjoyable book that should have been longer😉.

3,5/5⭐

[Terry Booth · Rating 4 out of 5]

I loved this book. I am attracted to survivalist themes and although many things in this book were highly improbable, it was well written and extremely engaging. The premise is the world has become cold due to an ash layer forming in the atmosphere from all of the fires and high winds and has blocked out most of the light and heat from the sun. Yeah, l know, hard to believe.

[Alicia Margono · Rating 5 out of 5]

Jim's extensive experience in the energy industry contributes to an intense, engaging, post-apocalyptic cli-fi, highlighting compelling characters navigating a dangerous world.

[James Kamuf · Rating 4 out of 5]

A decent post-apocalyptic book - better than most I've read; it starts excellently, but becomes somewhat both predictable and implausible.

[Louise Hébert · Rating 5 out of 5]

Love, love this book, it was original and engaging, congratulations to Jim Pearce, since it says that it was his firt book!

Louise Daigneault Hébert

[Tasha Wood · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thanks to NetGalley and Matador for this ARC.

My first novel from Jim Pearce and I was happily surprised! I’m a big lover of dystopian books and this definitely didn’t disappoint.

A mismatch family try to survive in a world which is permanently cold as ash covers the sun.

I loved how real this felt, I could totally see this happening in real life😅 the characters were all nice but they could have been a little bit more fleshed out.

[Ellen Buskens · Rating 5 out of 5]

Immersive story from beginning to start. Nice how the author accurately describes the emotions of the lead character and the group dynamics. Story brings climate change and its risks in a tangible format and helps the reader reflect.

[Dominic Collard · Rating 5 out of 5]

A great rollicking read punctuated with thought provoking themes. To the central narrative of climate destruction, Pearce seamlessly weaves in commentary about community, leadership and the nature of loyalty. A great debut novel, looking forward to more from this new voice.

[Felix Muyldermans · Rating 5 out of 5]

The Author really manages to transport the reader right into the cold and snowy Europe. The story itself is very well written and extremely captivating with the right amount of cliffhangers spread across the book. The personalities and dynamics between characters was amazingly worked out. Super impressed by the fact that this is Pearce's debut novel. I am already looking forward to a sequel!

[Steve · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great read. Exciting and creative storyline with a very compelling backdrop of our climate crisis. Couldn’t put the book down.

It is also to blame for a very vivid early morning dream I had about a family of polar bears attacking my snowed in house. Read the book and you’ll know what I mean

[Lady · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a brilliant story. I thoroughly enjoyed reading it. It was extremely hard to put down. The storyline of this book was easily 5 stars. As it was so very interesting and realistic. Having a degree in environmental management this is what could certainly happen if climate change continues. That's what made this book extremely scary to read. There was one small detail that the author seemed to exaggerate, but it's fiction you can. The only reason this book didn't get that 5th star was the atmosphere, and tension was slightly lacking. From the authors background, he is a non-fiction writer, and the move into fiction books is always a big step. With a little practice of creating the atmosphere that this book deserves, the next book will be epic!!!!!! However, you still must read this book. I highly recommend it. I loved the pace of this book as there was never a dull moment . There is plenty of action with some great unexpected events. It's certainly a brilliant page turning novel. I have everything crossed that the author writes a sequel.
So much praise goes out to the author and publishers for creating such a realistic and action-packed story. I will have my eyes peeled for more books by this brilliant author.

[Iain · Rating 5 out of 5]

A great take on an alternative, dystopian future. Read this in two sitting only and fell deeply into the author’s imagination of the reality of the human spirit, both good and bad. Highly recommended

[Harry Thorn · Rating 5 out of 5]

Cold is a highly interesting read that utilises the extremities of survivalist/ post apocalyptic themes to tell a story about personalities under pressure, and how dynamics between family, friends and strangers can unify and adapt, or buckle under the crushing conditions of the extreme cold.

[Reader · Rating 5 out of 5]

An eye opener - what the global climate crisis could look like
This is a great read - an adventure story based at a time in the future when global warming has created a global blanket of ash from forest fires across the skies - all sunlight is lost and the world converts into a frozen grey landscape . The few that are still alive have to survive and the plot is full of unexpected twists and turns as the they find innovative ways to get by - not just a story …you live the potential of our climate crisis in freezing darkness as opposed to an overheating world.

[Ali · Rating 5 out of 5]

Cold is a gripping story of mass human extinction. Those that remain must fight to survive in the most brutal conditions. The interaction between the characters thrown together in such harsh circumstances is captivating. Their perilous journey takes many twists and turns, making a truly riveting read and the references to Surrey landmarks gives a sense of familiarity to those from the area. Whilst this is fiction, there are startling reminders of what can happen if we don't get a grip on climate change. A very impressive debut novel.

[Tristan · Rating 5 out of 5]

Pearce is a pioneer of a new Cli-Fi era. His style is informal but immersive while he takes the reader on a journey of what the future will hold if we do not take a serious hold of climate challenges. Rich characters with great texture in the scenery and drama along the heroic journey to find warmth. A great holiday read and you get a clear sense there is a strong personal reflection of Pearce's own experiences. Thoroughly recommend this book.

[Gregory King · Rating 5 out of 5]

A quick reader I'm not, but I found myself flipping page after page from start to finish. COLD does an incredible job of reminding us of the potential impact of client change through the eyes of fictional characters that could easily be you and me. I went away wanting a handful of additional chapters, which is new for me! Very impressive first novel.

[Sandy L Jones · Rating 5 out of 5]

an alternative future

This is an amazing alternative future. It is a cry to rethink things that we do now. The planet tipped to a nuclear winter. A few humans left to try to live. I enjoyed it!