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Tom Fox #3
Arctic Sun
Kola Peninsula, 1987. High in the Soviet Arctic, a tiny village houses an apocalyptic secret . . .
When research zoologist Dr Amelia Blackburn ventures north to investigate the ravages of the Chernobyl reactor meltdown, she stumbles on the evidence of another sinister disaster on the Norway-Russia border - one that appears far from innocent. Mother Russia will stop at nothing to prevent this information from being revealed, putting Amelia and her team in grave danger from the moment they leave the site.
When the news reaches London, the eyes of British intelligence turn to the one man with the knowledge and skills to bring her back to safety - and find out what has really happened in the frozen North.
Major Tom Fox thought he'd put his intelligence career behind him, but wrapped in a custody battle for his young son, Charlie, a request from his high-ranking father-in-law forces his hand. When the reluctant spy reaches Russia, it quickly becomes clear that this is no ordinary mission.
As Fox and Amelia fight for their lives - and their country - in Russia, Charlie is lead into dangers of his own in England. Three lives are about to be embroiled in the darkest secrets of the Cold War conflict - and a plot that, if left unchecked, will echo through history . . .
When research zoologist Dr Amelia Blackburn ventures north to investigate the ravages of the Chernobyl reactor meltdown, she stumbles on the evidence of another sinister disaster on the Norway-Russia border - one that appears far from innocent. Mother Russia will stop at nothing to prevent this information from being revealed, putting Amelia and her team in grave danger from the moment they leave the site.
When the news reaches London, the eyes of British intelligence turn to the one man with the knowledge and skills to bring her back to safety - and find out what has really happened in the frozen North.
Major Tom Fox thought he'd put his intelligence career behind him, but wrapped in a custody battle for his young son, Charlie, a request from his high-ranking father-in-law forces his hand. When the reluctant spy reaches Russia, it quickly becomes clear that this is no ordinary mission.
As Fox and Amelia fight for their lives - and their country - in Russia, Charlie is lead into dangers of his own in England. Three lives are about to be embroiled in the darkest secrets of the Cold War conflict - and a plot that, if left unchecked, will echo through history . . .
414 pages, Kindle Edition
First published November 2, 2023
90 people are currently reading
250 people want to read
About the author
Jack Grimwood
7 books95 followersJack Grimwood, a.k.a Jon Courtenay Grimwood was born in Malta and christened in the upturned bell of a ship. He grew up in the Far East, Britain and Scandinavia. Apart from novels he writes for national newspapers including the Times, Telegraph, Independent and Guardian. Jon is two-time winner of the BSFA Award for Best Novel, with Felaheen, and End of the World Blues. His literary novel, The Last Banquet, as Jonathan Grimwood, was shortlisted for Le Prix Montesquieu 2015. His work is published in fifteen languages. He is married to the journalist and novelist Sam Baker. Moskva is his first thriller.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 39 reviews
January 3, 2024
A great spy thriller that gives you more than just action because it also delves into the psyche of the hunters. You feel empathy for the main characters, either good or bad because they are not one-dimensional.
"All devils are fallen angels.
Even in hell some try to do what's right..."
It is a story with two timelines the one set in 1971 in Ireland and the second set in 1987. Both are linked to Major Tom Fox but are unrelated.
The chapters are clearly marked so it's very easy to follow both timelines.
I loved Charlie's character! He's such a unique boy and I would love to see more of him.
It is a brilliantly crafted story that I can highly recommend!!
Thank you to Netgalley, Penguin Random House and Michael Joseph for the ARC in exchange for my honest opinion
"All devils are fallen angels.
Even in hell some try to do what's right..."
It is a story with two timelines the one set in 1971 in Ireland and the second set in 1987. Both are linked to Major Tom Fox but are unrelated.
The chapters are clearly marked so it's very easy to follow both timelines.
I loved Charlie's character! He's such a unique boy and I would love to see more of him.
It is a brilliantly crafted story that I can highly recommend!!
Thank you to Netgalley, Penguin Random House and Michael Joseph for the ARC in exchange for my honest opinion
December 1, 2025
This is a fabulous book and the first I have read by this author. I will be looking at his others as I enjoyed this one so much.
This is set during the Cold War of the 80s, an era I am familiar with from the news at the time. This, however, is not the only timeline; there is one that is further back, giving the story, set in Ireland during the troubles, and revealing how the characters connect and things unfold throughout the story.
Major Tom Fox is a person who works off the books for the British. He is not the most stable person to send out, but apparently, he is the only one. Instead of being home with his son, he is sent to Russia to discover what happened at a remote research station. There is something the Russians want to keep, but there are others in the mix that want to get their hands on. He also needs to find and bring back Amelia, a woman who is researching animals in the area.
While Tom is away, there is a danger at home; no one really knows what this is about, but it concerns Charlie, Tom's son. He is in danger, and he doesn't quite realise how much he is in.
This is a wonderful read that is definitely one for fans who enjoy Cold War thrillers. There is a lot of action, misdirection, politics, danger, various government agencies vying against each other and in the midst of this is Tom, who is looking for Amelia. There are battles, skirmishes, life and death situations and a whole lot of running for cover and saving lives.
This has all the vibes and the right tones for a story set in this era, it feels right from the get-go go and I soon became immersed in this cat and mouse espionage and corruption story.
Great pacing, memorable characters, loads of twists and unexpected events and an addictive book to read. I would definitely recommend this one.
This is set during the Cold War of the 80s, an era I am familiar with from the news at the time. This, however, is not the only timeline; there is one that is further back, giving the story, set in Ireland during the troubles, and revealing how the characters connect and things unfold throughout the story.
Major Tom Fox is a person who works off the books for the British. He is not the most stable person to send out, but apparently, he is the only one. Instead of being home with his son, he is sent to Russia to discover what happened at a remote research station. There is something the Russians want to keep, but there are others in the mix that want to get their hands on. He also needs to find and bring back Amelia, a woman who is researching animals in the area.
While Tom is away, there is a danger at home; no one really knows what this is about, but it concerns Charlie, Tom's son. He is in danger, and he doesn't quite realise how much he is in.
This is a wonderful read that is definitely one for fans who enjoy Cold War thrillers. There is a lot of action, misdirection, politics, danger, various government agencies vying against each other and in the midst of this is Tom, who is looking for Amelia. There are battles, skirmishes, life and death situations and a whole lot of running for cover and saving lives.
This has all the vibes and the right tones for a story set in this era, it feels right from the get-go go and I soon became immersed in this cat and mouse espionage and corruption story.
Great pacing, memorable characters, loads of twists and unexpected events and an addictive book to read. I would definitely recommend this one.
April 16, 2025
A very well written spy thriller that spans 2 timelines with the same man in the forefront, Major Tom Fox. This is a great action novel that has deep characters and a dynamic plot that keeps shifting.
Whilst fiction, much of this novel can easily be related back to both periods of time and the real and present danger going on at the time.
A meaty novel you can get lost in, something a bit different for me but I really enjoyed it. I’d definitely read more from this Author. I’d like to go back to book 1 and be introduced to Major Tom Fox from the start. A very complex and intriguing character. Flawed, brilliant and bloody good at what he does.
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Thanks so much for reading my review!
I hope you enjoyed it, if you did I’d be delighted if you leave me a “like” and I love to read your comments. If you’d like to connect you can follow me or please send me a friend request.
You can also find me on Amazon U.K. where I am a Top 500 Reviewer.
If you are an Author or Publisher and you’d like me to consider reading and reviewing your book(s) please just message me.
Whilst fiction, much of this novel can easily be related back to both periods of time and the real and present danger going on at the time.
A meaty novel you can get lost in, something a bit different for me but I really enjoyed it. I’d definitely read more from this Author. I’d like to go back to book 1 and be introduced to Major Tom Fox from the start. A very complex and intriguing character. Flawed, brilliant and bloody good at what he does.
::~~~~~~:::::~~~~~:::::~~~~~:::::~~~~~~::
Thanks so much for reading my review!
I hope you enjoyed it, if you did I’d be delighted if you leave me a “like” and I love to read your comments. If you’d like to connect you can follow me or please send me a friend request.
You can also find me on Amazon U.K. where I am a Top 500 Reviewer.
If you are an Author or Publisher and you’d like me to consider reading and reviewing your book(s) please just message me.
January 2, 2025
"For those who enjoy vintage Le Carre" according to the cover quote. As a Le Carre fan, that hooked me straight away. However, I really didn't feel the book lived up to that statement. Too much violence, too many people trying to kill other people for reasons that are sometimes a bit murky. I felt like I was in the middle of some uber-Bruce Willis movie, set alternately in snowy wasteland and urban grime, with a smattering of The Famous Five thrown in for good measure. Add to that the occasional editorial glitch, and this just wasn't the book for me.
January 31, 2024
These books are always keep me on the edge of my seat and up most of the night reading.
November 10, 2024
Fast paced spy novel set during the end of the cold war.
Hugely enjoyable and not far off being a five star read. As good as anything I've picked up in a while.
This story has all the ingredients; proper bad guys, the I.R.A and the Soviets, a damaged hero, twists and a plot that keeps you guessing.
I had great hopes for this book having read a couple of the author's previous novels and this continues the high standard. Almost as good as his stand alone world war two novel 'Island Reich.'
Superb.
Hugely enjoyable and not far off being a five star read. As good as anything I've picked up in a while.
This story has all the ingredients; proper bad guys, the I.R.A and the Soviets, a damaged hero, twists and a plot that keeps you guessing.
I had great hopes for this book having read a couple of the author's previous novels and this continues the high standard. Almost as good as his stand alone world war two novel 'Island Reich.'
Superb.
April 11, 2025
I really wanted to like this more than I did, but….. found it a bit of a hot mess. It jumps from present day Arctic to historic Belfast. And back - all the way through. The latter storyline really just fizzled out without going anywhere (although I liked the character of Charlie). The Arctic piece was full of action but trying to follow who was involved, why they were or weren’t important, what the actual issue was (bomb, revenge, mafia, Cold War spying??) just got more muddled the longer I read. A vision problem meant I had to stop reading this for a couple of weeks until it resolved, but when I resumed, I found I was putting the book down every couple of (short) chapters. Just not the book for me.
January 4, 2024
It’s 1987 and secrets are being kept high in the Russian arctic on the Kola peninsula, close to the border with Norway. An accident in a secret Russian development laboratory, hidden under a fake village, results in a devastating explosion. US spy planes and satellites pass over regularly but it is difficult to establish what has happened.
Research zoologist Dr Amelia Blackburn and her Sami assistant Per are nearby investigating the effects on wildlife of the radiation from the Chernobyl melt down and explosion. They come across the ruins of the village and what they discover is shocking. The Russians are desperate to prevent exposure of the accident to the outside world, putting Amelia and Per in grave danger. When British Intelligence get word of their exposure, they realise that Major Tom Fox is the man with the skills and knowledge to rescue Amelia and recover the secrets.
The problem is Tom Fox is ‘out of the game’ and trying to secure custody of son Charlie, following the death of his wife. This custody battle is with her parents and his father-in-law is none other than Lord Charles Eddington, a cabinet minister who has some control over Tom’s destiny. Tom is obliged to go on a fact-finding trip and quickly learns of the seriousness of the situation, which causes him to miss his wife’s funeral.
Charlie is somewhat piggy-in-the-middle of this dispute, there’s a battle over his future but nobody is asking him what he wants. Left to his own devices he unwittingly uncovers secrets of his own and shows finding danger runs in the family.
What a magnificently cold, bleak and desolate piece if espionage fiction this is. The descriptions of the freezing north will have you reaching for the central heating thermostat. The freezing wide open vistas of ice and snow bring home the feeling that one mistake there can end up costing you your life. Make no mistake survival skills and knowledge are essential in an environment every bit a desert as the Sahara.
My description doesn’t just apply to the environment though, the humanity within is equally bleak and desolate, adding to the cold in this Cold War thriller. The jacket quote from Ian Rankin mentions vintage Le Carré and the comparisons are obvious, not so much the prose style but in capturing the empty nihilism at it heart. The absence of morality or even sense of right or wrong, it’s an activity with betrayal at its heart and a sense that will be the fate of all agents, ultimate betrayal. With no honour and little dignity, it is deemed a job that must be done so logically somebody must do it. This brings a hefty dose of realism to balance the action; the glamour of Bond might be something for youngsters to aspire to, but nobody will want to be Tom Fox.
It starts with a funeral, that of Fox’s wife Caro. Bleak enough but Fox’s son Charlie is left bereft and disconsolate at the grave side, Tom doesn’t make it and his grandparents are taking the ultra-dignified stiff upper lip approach. Leaving an eight-year-old surrounded by people but heartbreakingly alone. Charlie is inquisitive and precocious though; he knows his own mind and is determined to do things his way. He can be a little bit too trusting though but proves to be a fabulous character.
Tom is a complex man but a product of his past. Firstly, a damaged childhood without roots and in care. Then recruited to infiltrate and battle the IRA in Ulster at the height of The Troubles, years of living a lie and literally two separate lives proves damaging to his relationships and marriage. This creates a man who instinctively gives nothing away, hardly surprising when one wrong comment could expose his legend in the field, leading to torture and death. One such operation in 1971 in Derry provides a second strand that is both intense, violent and rather visceral, but also provides a link to events of 1987. Truly a viscous, dirty ‘war’ which has a lasting effect on the psyche of those involved, so essential to the plot. It does reinforce one trait of Tom, his trust and friendship, placing his life in the hands of others has made his fiercely loyal.
The timing is ideal, the Soviet Union is showing the cracks before its ultimate disintegration. Ideological madness is starting to make way for ultimate greed. This brings us to KGB officer Dennisov the mad, bad and dangerous to know element the plot needed. A man fuelled on Vodka with the skills of a true survivor in being able to play off both sides at once, he gets the best lines and picks up a ‘cool’ full length white mink coat. A superb counterpoint to the dour troubled Tom.
The plot is straightforward but with some hidden secrets and the odd twist along the way. Thriller fans will get their fill on the regular injection of set piece confrontations and fights before some great chase scenes and a dramatic denouement. At its heart it remains a true thriller.
It may avoid the Bond type gadgets but instead it includes some magnificent Soviet grandiose engineering products. Just as every statue had to be ten times the size it needed to be, these leviathans proved to be overpowered engineering statements of ‘look what we can do.’ A truly inspirational introduction to the regular shoot outs and chases of the genre. If this ever comes to the screen, there is going to be so much fun for the boys’ toys fans of the crew.
Research zoologist Dr Amelia Blackburn and her Sami assistant Per are nearby investigating the effects on wildlife of the radiation from the Chernobyl melt down and explosion. They come across the ruins of the village and what they discover is shocking. The Russians are desperate to prevent exposure of the accident to the outside world, putting Amelia and Per in grave danger. When British Intelligence get word of their exposure, they realise that Major Tom Fox is the man with the skills and knowledge to rescue Amelia and recover the secrets.
The problem is Tom Fox is ‘out of the game’ and trying to secure custody of son Charlie, following the death of his wife. This custody battle is with her parents and his father-in-law is none other than Lord Charles Eddington, a cabinet minister who has some control over Tom’s destiny. Tom is obliged to go on a fact-finding trip and quickly learns of the seriousness of the situation, which causes him to miss his wife’s funeral.
Charlie is somewhat piggy-in-the-middle of this dispute, there’s a battle over his future but nobody is asking him what he wants. Left to his own devices he unwittingly uncovers secrets of his own and shows finding danger runs in the family.
What a magnificently cold, bleak and desolate piece if espionage fiction this is. The descriptions of the freezing north will have you reaching for the central heating thermostat. The freezing wide open vistas of ice and snow bring home the feeling that one mistake there can end up costing you your life. Make no mistake survival skills and knowledge are essential in an environment every bit a desert as the Sahara.
My description doesn’t just apply to the environment though, the humanity within is equally bleak and desolate, adding to the cold in this Cold War thriller. The jacket quote from Ian Rankin mentions vintage Le Carré and the comparisons are obvious, not so much the prose style but in capturing the empty nihilism at it heart. The absence of morality or even sense of right or wrong, it’s an activity with betrayal at its heart and a sense that will be the fate of all agents, ultimate betrayal. With no honour and little dignity, it is deemed a job that must be done so logically somebody must do it. This brings a hefty dose of realism to balance the action; the glamour of Bond might be something for youngsters to aspire to, but nobody will want to be Tom Fox.
It starts with a funeral, that of Fox’s wife Caro. Bleak enough but Fox’s son Charlie is left bereft and disconsolate at the grave side, Tom doesn’t make it and his grandparents are taking the ultra-dignified stiff upper lip approach. Leaving an eight-year-old surrounded by people but heartbreakingly alone. Charlie is inquisitive and precocious though; he knows his own mind and is determined to do things his way. He can be a little bit too trusting though but proves to be a fabulous character.
Tom is a complex man but a product of his past. Firstly, a damaged childhood without roots and in care. Then recruited to infiltrate and battle the IRA in Ulster at the height of The Troubles, years of living a lie and literally two separate lives proves damaging to his relationships and marriage. This creates a man who instinctively gives nothing away, hardly surprising when one wrong comment could expose his legend in the field, leading to torture and death. One such operation in 1971 in Derry provides a second strand that is both intense, violent and rather visceral, but also provides a link to events of 1987. Truly a viscous, dirty ‘war’ which has a lasting effect on the psyche of those involved, so essential to the plot. It does reinforce one trait of Tom, his trust and friendship, placing his life in the hands of others has made his fiercely loyal.
The timing is ideal, the Soviet Union is showing the cracks before its ultimate disintegration. Ideological madness is starting to make way for ultimate greed. This brings us to KGB officer Dennisov the mad, bad and dangerous to know element the plot needed. A man fuelled on Vodka with the skills of a true survivor in being able to play off both sides at once, he gets the best lines and picks up a ‘cool’ full length white mink coat. A superb counterpoint to the dour troubled Tom.
The plot is straightforward but with some hidden secrets and the odd twist along the way. Thriller fans will get their fill on the regular injection of set piece confrontations and fights before some great chase scenes and a dramatic denouement. At its heart it remains a true thriller.
It may avoid the Bond type gadgets but instead it includes some magnificent Soviet grandiose engineering products. Just as every statue had to be ten times the size it needed to be, these leviathans proved to be overpowered engineering statements of ‘look what we can do.’ A truly inspirational introduction to the regular shoot outs and chases of the genre. If this ever comes to the screen, there is going to be so much fun for the boys’ toys fans of the crew.
November 11, 2024
I enjoyed it but got so confused as to who stole what from whom and why….
December 1, 2023
November, 1987. The Kola Peninsular, Russia. A secret, underground Soviet research station on the Norway-Russian border is destroyed by an explosion. The Russian authorities are keen to deflect attention from what was going on beneath this frozen landscape, and will silence anyone that knows too much.
Scottish researcher Dr Amelia Blackburn just happens to be nearby with her Sami assistant, studying the effect of the previous year's Chernobyl meltdown on the wildlife in the Arctic tundra, and they head north to investigate the strange radiation signal they have detected. As soon as they reach the site of the explosion they realise this is a scene not meant for their eyes. Their lives are now under threat.
The odd goings on in the Arctic have not escaped the attention of British Intelligence, and they need to send someone to investigate. The man of choice is Major Tom Fox, who has previously crossed paths with the resourceful Dr Blackburn. However, Fox considers his spying days to be over, and his current personal situation is more than enough to occupy his time without stepping back into the life of an intelligence asset. Persuaded by his spymaster father-in-law that his co-operation will help him gain custody of his son Charlie, Fox reluctantly sets off on a mission that takes him from Norway to deep into Soviet territory... where he meets old friends and enemies. It soon becomes clear that this is a mission far more dangerous than anything he has experienced before.
The action cuts slickly between the helter-skelter chain of events of the mission Fox is manoeuvred into at a time when his world is falling apart (with gripping scenes from both Fox and Dr Blackburn's perspectives); the adventures of Fox's son Charlie in rural Hampshire while his father is away; and the murky shenanigans of an undercover operation involving Fox in Derry, Northern Ireland, in 1971.
Through these diverse storylines Grimwood beautifully blends elements of cracking Cold War espionage tale, gritty domestic drama, and pitch perfect political thriller about the bloody conflict in Ireland during The Troubles. The 1987 plotlines fit together beautifully, building a picture of different aspects of the Kola Peninsular disaster from multiple sides of the political equation, throwing up the reality about tenuous alliances and fierce rivalries, and bringing in familiar faces from Tom Fox's previous missions - one of whom is Dr Blackburn herself. It is not easy to see quite how the Derry storyline fits into the overall scheme of things until well into the book, even though this part of the story is equally gripping, but have no fear, because the lovely twists that arise from this exploration of Fox's past are all too relevant further down the line.
As someone who has not read the previous books, it did take me a little time to get to grips with the many threads that carry through this story from Fox's earlier missions and the emotional turmoil of his personal life, but Grimwood gives you the bare bones you need to catch up enough for this not to be a major issue. The mission itself is nicely contained within these pages, although I have no doubt that much of what happens here will have consequences for future instalments in the series. There are certainly thrills and spills enough to make me really want to catch up with all the complicated backstory between the characters - something I will definitely be doing in the future.
Grimwood crafts a plot here that thrums with everything you could possibly want from an espionage thriller, and it stands up well amongst the heavyweights of the genre. Despite its status as an unabashed page-turner, there is also a pleasing amount of emotional heft to this novel - which Grimwood ramps up through Charlie's side of the tale. I really enjoyed how he runs the themes of marriages under strain, and father-son and sibling relationships through the story too.
I thoroughly enjoyed this book from cover and to cover, totally absorbed in Grimwood's writing, and cannot wait to go back and read the first two books, Moskva and Nightfall Berlin, which I have no doubt will be just as exciting as Arctic Sun.
Scottish researcher Dr Amelia Blackburn just happens to be nearby with her Sami assistant, studying the effect of the previous year's Chernobyl meltdown on the wildlife in the Arctic tundra, and they head north to investigate the strange radiation signal they have detected. As soon as they reach the site of the explosion they realise this is a scene not meant for their eyes. Their lives are now under threat.
The odd goings on in the Arctic have not escaped the attention of British Intelligence, and they need to send someone to investigate. The man of choice is Major Tom Fox, who has previously crossed paths with the resourceful Dr Blackburn. However, Fox considers his spying days to be over, and his current personal situation is more than enough to occupy his time without stepping back into the life of an intelligence asset. Persuaded by his spymaster father-in-law that his co-operation will help him gain custody of his son Charlie, Fox reluctantly sets off on a mission that takes him from Norway to deep into Soviet territory... where he meets old friends and enemies. It soon becomes clear that this is a mission far more dangerous than anything he has experienced before.
The action cuts slickly between the helter-skelter chain of events of the mission Fox is manoeuvred into at a time when his world is falling apart (with gripping scenes from both Fox and Dr Blackburn's perspectives); the adventures of Fox's son Charlie in rural Hampshire while his father is away; and the murky shenanigans of an undercover operation involving Fox in Derry, Northern Ireland, in 1971.
Through these diverse storylines Grimwood beautifully blends elements of cracking Cold War espionage tale, gritty domestic drama, and pitch perfect political thriller about the bloody conflict in Ireland during The Troubles. The 1987 plotlines fit together beautifully, building a picture of different aspects of the Kola Peninsular disaster from multiple sides of the political equation, throwing up the reality about tenuous alliances and fierce rivalries, and bringing in familiar faces from Tom Fox's previous missions - one of whom is Dr Blackburn herself. It is not easy to see quite how the Derry storyline fits into the overall scheme of things until well into the book, even though this part of the story is equally gripping, but have no fear, because the lovely twists that arise from this exploration of Fox's past are all too relevant further down the line.
As someone who has not read the previous books, it did take me a little time to get to grips with the many threads that carry through this story from Fox's earlier missions and the emotional turmoil of his personal life, but Grimwood gives you the bare bones you need to catch up enough for this not to be a major issue. The mission itself is nicely contained within these pages, although I have no doubt that much of what happens here will have consequences for future instalments in the series. There are certainly thrills and spills enough to make me really want to catch up with all the complicated backstory between the characters - something I will definitely be doing in the future.
Grimwood crafts a plot here that thrums with everything you could possibly want from an espionage thriller, and it stands up well amongst the heavyweights of the genre. Despite its status as an unabashed page-turner, there is also a pleasing amount of emotional heft to this novel - which Grimwood ramps up through Charlie's side of the tale. I really enjoyed how he runs the themes of marriages under strain, and father-son and sibling relationships through the story too.
I thoroughly enjoyed this book from cover and to cover, totally absorbed in Grimwood's writing, and cannot wait to go back and read the first two books, Moskva and Nightfall Berlin, which I have no doubt will be just as exciting as Arctic Sun.
December 2, 2023
Jack Grimwood's latest in his espionage Major Tom Fox series is a tense and intricate thriller, brilliantly plotted and well written, that had me gripped from beginning to end, primarily located in London, Sweden, Finland, Russia and Hampshire. Tom is an anxious place, his wife Lady Caro is dying, and he is worried about his extraordinary 8 year old son, Charlie, determined to focus on looking after Charlie and leaving the service. Charlie converses with his dead daughter, Becca, likes to break things apart and put them back together again, cannot tell a lie, and listens at doors, aware that grown ups reveal more when he wasn't around. Tom's fears are compounded by his powerful in-laws intending to take Charlie away from him on Caro's death, so when his father-in-law, Lord Eddington, in government, tells him he will ensure Charlie will be his if he takes on a mission, that could mean missing Caro's funeral, he feels he has no choice.
Fox is all too aware of Eddington's games as he tries to balance the ties of flesh and blood with being used as a chess piece, although he is aided by the thought that Charlie wants him to go and help the wolf lady. She is the pacifist and research zoologist, Dr Amelia Blackburn, studying wolves, present at an apocalyptic event on the Kola Peninsula in the Soviet Arctic . Fox finds himself negotiating the precarious and forbidding frozen lakes and icy landscapes, uncovering murders and secrets, and a world at risk of a grave disaster. He does all that he can to protect Amelia, battling formidable challenges on adrenaline, training, instinct and fear. Old friends and foes make appearances, including his blood brother, Colonel Dennisov, and others. In a narrative that goes back and forth in time, we are give details of Northern Irish operations Fox was involved in 1971 that bring terrors now when Dancer turns up in Hampshire, looking for revenge.
Grimwood paints a vibrant picture of the historical periods, of politicians and leaders who are less than truthful, hiding behind public deniability of what is actually going on behind the scenes. At the end of the novel he describes Arctic Sun as what happens when dysfunctional countries and dysfunctional families meet. You cannot argue with this, for example, when you look at the undercurrents and political behaviour of nation states, and the glimpses we have of Fox's family, and that of Dennisov's, with his father, and his sister, General Sophia Petrovna. I was particularly charmed by the adorable Charlie, unfazed by all that happens, his confidence and simplicity in his approach to the complexities of the world is beautiful to observe. This is for those who enjoy smart and intelligent espionage books with fascinating and complex characters. Many thanks to the publisher for an ARC.
Fox is all too aware of Eddington's games as he tries to balance the ties of flesh and blood with being used as a chess piece, although he is aided by the thought that Charlie wants him to go and help the wolf lady. She is the pacifist and research zoologist, Dr Amelia Blackburn, studying wolves, present at an apocalyptic event on the Kola Peninsula in the Soviet Arctic . Fox finds himself negotiating the precarious and forbidding frozen lakes and icy landscapes, uncovering murders and secrets, and a world at risk of a grave disaster. He does all that he can to protect Amelia, battling formidable challenges on adrenaline, training, instinct and fear. Old friends and foes make appearances, including his blood brother, Colonel Dennisov, and others. In a narrative that goes back and forth in time, we are give details of Northern Irish operations Fox was involved in 1971 that bring terrors now when Dancer turns up in Hampshire, looking for revenge.
Grimwood paints a vibrant picture of the historical periods, of politicians and leaders who are less than truthful, hiding behind public deniability of what is actually going on behind the scenes. At the end of the novel he describes Arctic Sun as what happens when dysfunctional countries and dysfunctional families meet. You cannot argue with this, for example, when you look at the undercurrents and political behaviour of nation states, and the glimpses we have of Fox's family, and that of Dennisov's, with his father, and his sister, General Sophia Petrovna. I was particularly charmed by the adorable Charlie, unfazed by all that happens, his confidence and simplicity in his approach to the complexities of the world is beautiful to observe. This is for those who enjoy smart and intelligent espionage books with fascinating and complex characters. Many thanks to the publisher for an ARC.
October 16, 2023
This review is thanks to Netgalley and Michael Joseph providing an advance reading copy*.
It’s 1987 and the Soviet Union under Gorbachev is at war with itself. It’s the last blast of the old cold war, Chernobyl is recent news, and people are picking sides in the new world order. SIS agent Tom Fox has a lot on his plate: his wife is dying, his daughter dead, and his in-laws want custody of his 8-year-old son Charlie, an odd little kid who knows too much. Then something happens on the Kola Peninsula, close to the border with Norway, another apparent nuclear disaster, and Major Fox is tasked to find out what.
There are three narratives here, delivered in bite-sized short scenes: what Charlie is getting up to in Hampshire while unsupervised; what Tom Fox is encountering in Norway and Russia as various people try to stop him; and something happening in Northern Ireland at the height of the troubles, sixteen years before. How these events are connected becomes clear as the story progresses.
I didn’t know going in that this was third in a series featuring the agent Major Tom Fox, so there was quite a lot of back story to infer from the details given about earlier books. I was fine with this. It provided an extra puzzle-solving challenge and kept me interested in the various characters here, most of whom featured in those earlier books (I assume).
As an espionage book, this is probably closer to Bond than to Smiley, but there was still a sense of deception and mystery here: particularly in the closing chapters, the basis of everything that has been assumed so far comes under challenge, with apparently insignificant earlier details suddenly important. This is as it should be. A bit too much chasing around on the ice and casual killing for my tastes, but this was still a decent read.
*On that: the ARC was provided as a PDF, which is fine, but always renders somewhat oddly on my Kindle, with inconsistent formatting. Sometimes perfect, and then for a page or so a lot of weird line breaks, and then some odd paragraph breaks in the middle of sentences, and then back to perfect again. It could be distracting, but not too much so.
It’s 1987 and the Soviet Union under Gorbachev is at war with itself. It’s the last blast of the old cold war, Chernobyl is recent news, and people are picking sides in the new world order. SIS agent Tom Fox has a lot on his plate: his wife is dying, his daughter dead, and his in-laws want custody of his 8-year-old son Charlie, an odd little kid who knows too much. Then something happens on the Kola Peninsula, close to the border with Norway, another apparent nuclear disaster, and Major Fox is tasked to find out what.
There are three narratives here, delivered in bite-sized short scenes: what Charlie is getting up to in Hampshire while unsupervised; what Tom Fox is encountering in Norway and Russia as various people try to stop him; and something happening in Northern Ireland at the height of the troubles, sixteen years before. How these events are connected becomes clear as the story progresses.
I didn’t know going in that this was third in a series featuring the agent Major Tom Fox, so there was quite a lot of back story to infer from the details given about earlier books. I was fine with this. It provided an extra puzzle-solving challenge and kept me interested in the various characters here, most of whom featured in those earlier books (I assume).
As an espionage book, this is probably closer to Bond than to Smiley, but there was still a sense of deception and mystery here: particularly in the closing chapters, the basis of everything that has been assumed so far comes under challenge, with apparently insignificant earlier details suddenly important. This is as it should be. A bit too much chasing around on the ice and casual killing for my tastes, but this was still a decent read.
*On that: the ARC was provided as a PDF, which is fine, but always renders somewhat oddly on my Kindle, with inconsistent formatting. Sometimes perfect, and then for a page or so a lot of weird line breaks, and then some odd paragraph breaks in the middle of sentences, and then back to perfect again. It could be distracting, but not too much so.
October 15, 2023
Another fine chapter in the Tom Fox series.
It's 1987, more than a year after the events of "Nightfall Berlin" and Tom Fox is trying hard to get fired from British Intelligence. His family needs him, and the events of the previous year have left him scarred. However when an apparent nuclear bombing takes place on the Kola Peninsula, high in the Soviet Arctic, he find his boss and father-in-law pressing him to take one last mission. In return, he will support Tom and his family.
Unknown to Tom, research zoologist Amelia Blackburn, whose help was so vital to him previously, stumbles on evidence to suggest the explosion wasn't a bombing, but a deeper conspiracy. When Tom is shown a surveillance photo of Amelia, he has a further reason to take the mission.
And so, the reader is drawn into another tense and exciting story of conspiracy, betrayal, friendship and family. There isn't the same claustrophobia in this book as was in the previous, but the race to uncover the truth, and the way in which Amelia and others from his past intersect with Tom's mission make for a thrilling story. Each book adds another dimension to the flawed hero, who is torn between his family and his job. His love for his wife and son grow stronger, although this book tests this to breaking point. By this point, readers will be fully invested in Tom Fox' fate. It's a complex plot of subterfuge and confusion, and when you add in a second timeline, following Tom's exploits in Northern Ireland during the Troubles, "Arctic Sun" definitely proves to be a page-turner.
This book, like the previous two, reminded me of the excellent Owen Matthews "Black Sun" trilogy, with the same Cold War shenanigans, but this time, I was also reminded of John Connolly's "Charlie Parker" books, and I have no doubt fans old and new will race to read this latest adventure.
Highly recommended.
It's 1987, more than a year after the events of "Nightfall Berlin" and Tom Fox is trying hard to get fired from British Intelligence. His family needs him, and the events of the previous year have left him scarred. However when an apparent nuclear bombing takes place on the Kola Peninsula, high in the Soviet Arctic, he find his boss and father-in-law pressing him to take one last mission. In return, he will support Tom and his family.
Unknown to Tom, research zoologist Amelia Blackburn, whose help was so vital to him previously, stumbles on evidence to suggest the explosion wasn't a bombing, but a deeper conspiracy. When Tom is shown a surveillance photo of Amelia, he has a further reason to take the mission.
And so, the reader is drawn into another tense and exciting story of conspiracy, betrayal, friendship and family. There isn't the same claustrophobia in this book as was in the previous, but the race to uncover the truth, and the way in which Amelia and others from his past intersect with Tom's mission make for a thrilling story. Each book adds another dimension to the flawed hero, who is torn between his family and his job. His love for his wife and son grow stronger, although this book tests this to breaking point. By this point, readers will be fully invested in Tom Fox' fate. It's a complex plot of subterfuge and confusion, and when you add in a second timeline, following Tom's exploits in Northern Ireland during the Troubles, "Arctic Sun" definitely proves to be a page-turner.
This book, like the previous two, reminded me of the excellent Owen Matthews "Black Sun" trilogy, with the same Cold War shenanigans, but this time, I was also reminded of John Connolly's "Charlie Parker" books, and I have no doubt fans old and new will race to read this latest adventure.
Highly recommended.
February 11, 2024
3.5 stars
A cold and bleak and dare I say it grim espionage thriller, set in the icy woods of the Kola peninsula in pre-collapse Soviet Russia of 1987. Dirty dealings with a dirty bomb require the services of Tom Fox, a man with the skills to make the tough decisions, and not to be squeamish about them. Oh, and he needs the support of his father-in-law and spymaster to help with a custody battle.
Grimwood gives us James Bond without the gee-gaws and the glamour, an amoral world where everyone is a bad guy (or girl) and it will be everyone's fate to be betrayed. Sooner or later.
The main story is interspersed with flashbacks to a much younger Tom Fox in 'Troubles' plagued Derry in 1971. The thread provides a tenuous link to the presence and the shining light of Tom's very singular son Charlie.
There are references to earlier Tom Fox adventures, but not having read those books is not a significanrt impediment to enjoyment of this latest installment. I guess one would have a greater appreciation of the nuances of Tom's decisions and reactions from that experience. The writing is tight and concise, and navigates a very convoluted plot with some panache. Easy to read, with many very short chapters!
A cold and bleak and dare I say it grim espionage thriller, set in the icy woods of the Kola peninsula in pre-collapse Soviet Russia of 1987. Dirty dealings with a dirty bomb require the services of Tom Fox, a man with the skills to make the tough decisions, and not to be squeamish about them. Oh, and he needs the support of his father-in-law and spymaster to help with a custody battle.
Grimwood gives us James Bond without the gee-gaws and the glamour, an amoral world where everyone is a bad guy (or girl) and it will be everyone's fate to be betrayed. Sooner or later.
The main story is interspersed with flashbacks to a much younger Tom Fox in 'Troubles' plagued Derry in 1971. The thread provides a tenuous link to the presence and the shining light of Tom's very singular son Charlie.
There are references to earlier Tom Fox adventures, but not having read those books is not a significanrt impediment to enjoyment of this latest installment. I guess one would have a greater appreciation of the nuances of Tom's decisions and reactions from that experience. The writing is tight and concise, and navigates a very convoluted plot with some panache. Easy to read, with many very short chapters!
January 24, 2026
UK, Norway, Finland, Estonia, Russia, Kola Peninsula. Spoilers? Maybe.…
I only chose this one because it had Arctic in its title. It was a wonderful read.
Back to the days of the Cold War, times we didn't have the worry of climate change. Anyone with an accent was a spy. No one called the IRA terrorists. When nuclear fall out was the only thing that was going to get us.
High body count and humour. The character are well observed in their own nationalities. I especially enjoyed the Finnish attitude to driving on ice. Product placement is strong. Loved being reminded of the Benny hat. A real blast from the past. So, when did the Russians start stamping their products with USSR instead of CCCP? Was that a massive clue?
So glad I didn't miss this one and, Charlie, when you start writing novels, I will be first in the queue.
It's 5 nuclear stars from me.
I only chose this one because it had Arctic in its title. It was a wonderful read.
Back to the days of the Cold War, times we didn't have the worry of climate change. Anyone with an accent was a spy. No one called the IRA terrorists. When nuclear fall out was the only thing that was going to get us.
High body count and humour. The character are well observed in their own nationalities. I especially enjoyed the Finnish attitude to driving on ice. Product placement is strong. Loved being reminded of the Benny hat. A real blast from the past. So, when did the Russians start stamping their products with USSR instead of CCCP? Was that a massive clue?
So glad I didn't miss this one and, Charlie, when you start writing novels, I will be first in the queue.
It's 5 nuclear stars from me.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
November 26, 2023
We're transported back to 1987 to follow Tom Fox (who is featured in previous books). This is a man who wants to put his intelligence career behind him but he's being pulled in once again by his father in law to a mission that could be the death of him.
Although this is the third in a series, it can be read as a stand alone.
This is quite the page turner. The stakes are high!
Short, snappy chapters and characters who are complex, flawed and some who are rather endearing. I really wanted to mother Tom's son Charlie.
It's an espionage tale with emotional charge and I liked how as the reader, I felt like I was there with them trying to work through who could be trusted and who couldn't.
Out now, if you're looking for thrills you can find them in this book.
Although this is the third in a series, it can be read as a stand alone.
This is quite the page turner. The stakes are high!
Short, snappy chapters and characters who are complex, flawed and some who are rather endearing. I really wanted to mother Tom's son Charlie.
It's an espionage tale with emotional charge and I liked how as the reader, I felt like I was there with them trying to work through who could be trusted and who couldn't.
Out now, if you're looking for thrills you can find them in this book.
November 22, 2023
I like that it takes its Cold War no-good-guys-really setup for granted, and its exploration of a vaguely Bondian grounded super-spy-assassin makes him as profoundly broken as it's possible to get while still actually functioning, but the Brits are so awful in this - why are we on the side of these people, whay are we supposed to be rooting for someone who works for these people? While also getting thrills from the way he kills lots of people? Charlie's lovely, though, the bits with him are great.
November 19, 2023
This is an excellent book; with the fast-paced adventure you’d expect from the genre, interwoven with intelligent, compassionate character building.
The themes in the book are well-handled, with the family dynamics very well played out.
I loved the new feline character.
The historical references all seemed valid and interesting; noting things the introduction of new coinage. I’m not sure that all that particular Soviet technology made it that far North, though!
The themes in the book are well-handled, with the family dynamics very well played out.
I loved the new feline character.
The historical references all seemed valid and interesting; noting things the introduction of new coinage. I’m not sure that all that particular Soviet technology made it that far North, though!
January 23, 2024
I really enjoyed this third Tom Fox espionage thriller. An excellent author who paints pictures with words, takes you to places you are unlikely ever to go to (Arctic circle in Russia and Finland) and creates characters who intrigue, thrill, and appalled me. I'd recommend this to anyone who enjoys a thriller or espionage - but the reader has to pay attention and do a little bit of work yourself. I enjoy that dimension of good espionage thrillers. Read it!
January 12, 2025
This had so many twists and turns that I never saw coming - loved it!! I’m going to hunt down the rest of this author’s stuff now. At times the politics got a little confusing but that’s likely because I had no prior knowledge of either 1987 Russia/Norway, or 1970s Ireland, but that just meant I sometimes had to read over things a few times to work out who was who and on what side! It was all very trust no one though 😅
October 15, 2023
Another fine chapter in the Tom Fox series.
It's 1987, more than a year after the events of "Nightfall Berlin" and Tom Fox is trying hard to get fired from British Intelligence. His family needs him, and the events of the previous year have left him scarred. However when an apparent nuclear bombing takes place on the Kola Peninsula, high in the Soviet Arctic, he find his boss and father-in-law pressing him to take one last mission. In return, he will support Tom and his family.
Unknown to Tom, research zoologist Amelia Blackburn, whose help was so vital to him previously, stumbles on evidence to suggest the explosion wasn't a bombing, but a deeper conspiracy. When Tom is shown a surveillance photo of Amelia, he has a further reason to take the mission.
And so, the reader is drawn into another tense and exciting story of conspiracy, betrayal, friendship and family. There isn't the same claustrophobia in this book as was in the previous, but the race to uncover the truth, and the way in which Amelia and others from his past intersect with Tom's mission make for a thrilling story. Each book adds another dimension to the flawed hero, who is torn between his family and his job. His love for his wife and son grow stronger, although this book tests this to breaking point. By this point, readers will be fully invested in Tom Fox' fate. It's a complex plot of subterfuge and confusion, and when you add in a second timeline, following Tom's exploits in Northern Ireland during the Troubles, "Arctic Sun" definitely proves to be a page-turner.
This book, like the previous two, reminded me of the excellent Owen Matthews "Black Sun" trilogy, with the same Cold War shenanigans, but this time, I was also reminded of John Connolly's "Charlie Parker" books, and I have no doubt fans old and new will race to read this latest adventure.
Highly recommended.
It's 1987, more than a year after the events of "Nightfall Berlin" and Tom Fox is trying hard to get fired from British Intelligence. His family needs him, and the events of the previous year have left him scarred. However when an apparent nuclear bombing takes place on the Kola Peninsula, high in the Soviet Arctic, he find his boss and father-in-law pressing him to take one last mission. In return, he will support Tom and his family.
Unknown to Tom, research zoologist Amelia Blackburn, whose help was so vital to him previously, stumbles on evidence to suggest the explosion wasn't a bombing, but a deeper conspiracy. When Tom is shown a surveillance photo of Amelia, he has a further reason to take the mission.
And so, the reader is drawn into another tense and exciting story of conspiracy, betrayal, friendship and family. There isn't the same claustrophobia in this book as was in the previous, but the race to uncover the truth, and the way in which Amelia and others from his past intersect with Tom's mission make for a thrilling story. Each book adds another dimension to the flawed hero, who is torn between his family and his job. His love for his wife and son grow stronger, although this book tests this to breaking point. By this point, readers will be fully invested in Tom Fox' fate. It's a complex plot of subterfuge and confusion, and when you add in a second timeline, following Tom's exploits in Northern Ireland during the Troubles, "Arctic Sun" definitely proves to be a page-turner.
This book, like the previous two, reminded me of the excellent Owen Matthews "Black Sun" trilogy, with the same Cold War shenanigans, but this time, I was also reminded of John Connolly's "Charlie Parker" books, and I have no doubt fans old and new will race to read this latest adventure.
Highly recommended.
November 3, 2023
Based in the 1970s and 1980 end of the Cold War, and events in Northern Ireland.
Cloak and Dagger book, that takes you with Tom on his journey away from a difficult time in his personal life after the death of his late wife. Introducing the cat into his son's life made this story more realistic.
Thank you Netgalley for letting me read this novel.
Cloak and Dagger book, that takes you with Tom on his journey away from a difficult time in his personal life after the death of his late wife. Introducing the cat into his son's life made this story more realistic.
Thank you Netgalley for letting me read this novel.
December 9, 2023
A thoroughly decent Cold War thriller featuring Major Tom Fox. There’s an IRA/Kincora backstory but most of the action takes place in and around the Arctic circle.
Tom Fox is a brutal killer with, it turns out, a heart of gold.
High body count, supercharged chases and an exotic location. Very enjoyable.
Tom Fox is a brutal killer with, it turns out, a heart of gold.
High body count, supercharged chases and an exotic location. Very enjoyable.
February 1, 2025
I really enjoyed this and read it quite quickly.
Plenty of small chapters that kept me reading 'just one more chapter'
I see it has been compared to Le Carré - it is not like a Le Carré, aside from being set in the cold war.
There is more action and mystery than a Le Carré - it is very good as were Carré's books - but it is not like a Carré.
Plenty of small chapters that kept me reading 'just one more chapter'
I see it has been compared to Le Carré - it is not like a Le Carré, aside from being set in the cold war.
There is more action and mystery than a Le Carré - it is very good as were Carré's books - but it is not like a Carré.
January 8, 2026
I did not love Arctic Sun, but it kept my attention and I enjoyed reading it. The story held my interest throughout, even if it did not fully grab me. I felt that the two storylines were a bit forced at times, but I also understand that it is fiction and there has to be some give and take. Overall, a decent and readable book, even if it did not quite stand out for me.
November 22, 2023
Arctic Sun is one of those reads full of misdirection, twists and turns and characters who are so fully layered you’re never sure who they really are. Loyalty and trust are the main themes running through this fast paced and thrilling read. Tom has seen it all and is trapped in a world of danger and lies. I really enjoyed seeing his character unwrap as we got to understand him more and his relationship with Charlie.
A clever thriller with chills throughout and not just from the setting.
A clever thriller with chills throughout and not just from the setting.
February 1, 2024
I found this a bit disjointed in parts how it switched from family in England, terrorist activity
in Northern Ireland and then Siberian Russia.
A well written story with great descriptions of the snow and cold in Russia and Finland
in Northern Ireland and then Siberian Russia.
A well written story with great descriptions of the snow and cold in Russia and Finland
April 17, 2024
Well I've read a succession of awful books lately. So it was nice to read something with a fast moving plot and some action.
I think my rating is a little higher than it might have been otherwise. There are some very far-fetched elements in there.
I think my rating is a little higher than it might have been otherwise. There are some very far-fetched elements in there.
August 29, 2024
Tremendous stuff. The espionage novel is a crowded area with wildly varying quality and we often hear of writers being described as ‘the new le Carré’ but this is closer than most to meriting that huge accolade. It’s genuinely original and highly enjoyable.
November 20, 2025
Enjoyable spy tale with the main scenes in the Artic
and the English countryside.A convoluted plot but
with plenty of action and tough characters.I like the
short chapters which suits my spasmodic reading.
References to previous books in the series slightly annoying.
and the English countryside.A convoluted plot but
with plenty of action and tough characters.I like the
short chapters which suits my spasmodic reading.
References to previous books in the series slightly annoying.
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