Icy and engaging thriller. Stayed up until 4 am to finish it. Had me deeply interested in who the killer was from the start and didn't disappoint in the solution. Will be looking out for more books from this author.

THis was a very atmospheric story, I could almost feel the cold and the tension. Great descriptions of the surroundings and all the action. A very compelling story where industry and countries ignore the effects of climate change to get the minerals they need or maybe something else is happening. Read the story to find out!

Giles Kristian is known for his historical fiction, but with this one, he knocks it out of the park. This book was so well written, I couldn't wait to finish it. I really hope for a followup book, please. Recommended.

I don't read thrillers very often but was absolutely on the edge of my seat reading Where Blood Runs Cold and I couldn't put it down!
The writing was immersive and atmospheric. and I hope Giles Kristian writes more thrillers in the future!

I loved Giles Kristian's historical novels, one of the best retelling of the Arthurian legends, and was happy to be invited to read his new book, a thriller set in the Norway artic circle.
I thoroughly enjoyed this novel even if I'm a not a huge fan of thriller set in Scandinavia. The author did an excellent job in keeping the tension alive creating an fuelled plot that kept me on the edge.
The storytelling is excellent and it made me visualize the artic landscape and the characters.
The characters are well developed and realistic, not always likeable but very interesting.
It was an exciting rollercoaster that I thoroughly enjoyed.
Highly recommended.
Many thanks to the publisher and Netgalley for this ARC, all opinions are mine

Erik is grieving after the tragic death of his older daughter when his wife needs to travel to Troms in Northern Norway for work. He suggests they all go as a family to try and spend some quality time together but his teenage daughter Sofia is desperate to go on the 'long ski'. This skiing trip is a right of passage and a way for Sofia to prove to her father that he doesn't need to constantly try and protect her from everything. Erik is reluctant to go on this challenging journey with Sofia, not wanting to take any risks but he eventually gives in.

After a small accident, Erik and Sofia find shelter with Lars and Karine Helgeland, a local Sami couple who are friends with his wife. Lars and Karine have been making waves in their community in an attempt to preserve their land and culture, and in the process have made enemies with some dangerous people. One fatal error puts all of their lives at risk and Erik and Sofia are forced into a gruelling chase through the mountains in freezing arctic conditions.

Where Blood Runs Cold is a fast-paced survival or action thriller but what is really interesting about this story is the element of spirituality woven into the narrative, the references to Nordic Gods, traditional Sami beliefs and some of the history of the indigenous Sami people. With no way of using modern technology to help them survive these ruthless killers, Erik and Sofia are forced to turn to more traditional techniques and this juxtaposition is a fascinating twist on a typical high octane thriller.

I was completely transported to the mountain landscapes of Norway's arctic circle by the author's fantastic descriptions of Erik and Sofia's ice-filled journey, and the emotional aspect of the story really shone through. Behind all of the fighting, danger and violence is a story about grief. It is about a father and his struggle to process the loss of his child, how he has to deal with the guilt over her death and the way this is impacting on the relationship he has with his surviving daughter.

I love a winter thriller and this was no exception. The bond between Erik and Sofia and their determination to fight for each other until the very end was completely heart wrenching in this dramatic and emotional adventure.

Where blood runs cold. By Giles Kristian.
Erik Amdahl and his spirited daughter, Sofia, have embarked on a long-promised cross-country ski trip deep into Norway's arctic circle. For Erik, it's the chance to bond properly with his remaining daughter following a tragic accident. For Sofia, it's the proof she needs that her father does care.Then, far from home in this snowbound wilderness, with night falling and the mercury plummeting, an accident sends them in search of help - and shelter. Nearby is the home of a couple - members of Norway's indigenous Sami people - who they've met before, and who welcome them in. Erik is relieved.
He believes the worst is over. He thinks that Sofia is now safe. He could not be more wrong.
Because he and Sofia are not the old couple's only visitors that night - and soon he and his daughter will be running for their lives . . .
And beneath the swirling light show of the Northern Lights, a desperate fight ensues - of man against man, of man against nature - a fight for survival that plays out across the snow and ice.
A good read with some good characters. Good story. I liked Erik and Sofia. 3*.

After a devastating family tragedy Erik Amdahl and his teenage daughter Sofia embark on a cross country ski trip which is set against the icy chill of Norway's Arctic circle. This trip of a lifetime is a time for father and daughter to bond together however, when an accident occurs on their first night camping under the stars Erik has little choice but to take Sofia to safety. Over icy terrain they finally reach the home of Lars and Karine Helgeland where they hope to find shelter and that's when their nightmare really begins.

In a chilling cat and mouse chase across the arctic circle, Erik and Sofia must do all they can to survive whoever it is that's chasing them across this frozen wasteland. Encountering danger brings this father and daughter together in the most challenging of ways which is made all the more atmospheric by the ice cold beauty of the landscape.

This tense modern day thriller is something of a departure for this talented author who has come to prominence with his exceptionally detailed historical novels, so it's been good to see his writing veer off in a different direction. I enjoyed how the landscape became another character in the novel and with the brooding chill infusing every page I quickly became engrossed in the menacing sense of ever present danger.

Where Blood Runs Cold is a suspenseful thriller, with lots of twists and turns, and where the harsh beauty of this frozen world comes vividly to life.

Eric Amdahl and his daughter Sophie embark on a cross country ski trip that will take them into the Norwegian arctic circle.
After their first day in frozen wilds Sophie has an accident and they seek help from friends - a couple who have close ties to the indigenous people called the Sami.
Safe in their friends home for the night the last thing Eric expects is more visitors, but unlike them, these people are not welcome and things soon get out of hand and disaster strikes leaving father and daughter as the only witnesses. They flee for their lives knowing a ruthless group of men are on the trail and will not stop until they’ve killed their quarry.
In this ultimate fight of survival and endurance across the harshest of terrains, can Eric defeat a ruthless enemy and save the most precious thing in his life, his daughter?
Giles Kristian captures the atmosphere and environment brilliantly. With an amazing father daughter bond and a story that leaves the reader feeling every desperate emotion and heart pounding moment, this is a truly outstanding piece writing.
This is one of those books that come along vary rarely. It’s a perfect novel. I absolutely loved it.

Where Blood Runs Cold by Giles Kristian

Erik Amdahl is tormented by nightmares since the death of his daughter Emilie, wanting nothing more than to keep his remaining daughter Sofia safe. But Sofia is becoming a teenager and, finally, Erik accepts that he must fulfil old promises made to both daughters and take Sofia on a great adventure, on the ‘Long Ski’ through the dramatic wilderness of north Norway. But it doesn’t go as planned. A place they presume to be safe turns out to be far from it and soon they must ski for their lives, pursued by ruthless killers, heading deeper and deeper into the glaciers, mountains and forests of an ice-gripped landscape.

Giles Kristian can do no wrong in my eyes. He is a superb storyteller, one of the very finest writing today, and now after some outstanding historical novels on the Vikings, the English Civil War and the post-Roman Britain of Arthur and Lancelot, he has written a modern thriller set in a country that he knows so very well. The topic and setting might be different from his previous novels but there is a connection. There is a spirituality and mythology to this snowy, lethal, beautiful environment that Erik’s Viking ancestors would recognise. Erik is taken to the very limit of his endurance, like one of Giles Kristian’s other heroes, like the Viking Sigurd or Raven or Lancelot. In times of such extremis one looks beyond the natural world for comfort and, in places of such beauty and danger, that other world can be found in the surrounding rocks, rivers, trees and animals. The local Sami people are wise about their environment and this must be protected.

Where Blood Runs Cold is as beautifully written as the author’s other novels. It shares the same feel of place as well as a strong sense of danger, great tension and, on occasion, violence. It is a thriller and so the reader expects excitement! They get it here. It is a hunt and pursuit with the extreme cold proving equally as dangerous as the killers at their heels. But there are still quiet times, when the father and daughter hide in their dug-out snow caves, and they bond and remember Emilie. The relationship between Erik and Sofia is tender and one’s heart goes out to Sofia who just wants to help her Pappa when she is at the very limit herself.

I love wintry thrillers and I am fascinated by Norway, a country I want to visit very much. I found Where Blood Runs Cold thoroughly exciting but I also found myself caught up in the story of a father and daughter coming together in the most dangerous of situations. Giles Kristian has demonstrated that not only can he make any period of history his own but that he can also master a new genre entirely. Not that this was a surprise to me! He is a wonderful writer whose books belong on your shelf.

Other reviews
God of Vengeance (Rise of Sigurd 1)
Winter’s Fire (Rise of Sigurd 2)
Wings of the Storm (Rise of Sigurd 3)
Raven: Blood Eye; Raven: Sons of Thunder; Raven: Odin’s Wolves
The Terror: a short story
The Bleeding Land
Brothers’ Fury
Lancelot
With Wilbur Smith – Golden Lion

Erik Amdahl and his family are taking a break in the Lygen Alps. While his wife Elise catches up with work for Friends of the Earth Norway, he takes their thirteen year old daughter Sofia on a promised ski trip. It's something they have both looked forward to, but an accident sees them seeking help from a couple recently introduced to him by Elise. The promise of an overnight stay to rest before continuing on their journey, is cut short by a shocking act, and Erik and Sofia are forced to flee for their lives.

The story is well written, with twists and turns aplenty and Erik and his daughter battle the elements to try to reach safety. There are moments when they think they have reached safety, only to find themselves in even more danger. It's a nail biting story right down to the last page.
My thanks to Netgalley, Giles Kristian and Bantam Press for an ARC of Where Blood Runs Cold in exchange for an honest review.

Erik has decided to take his daughter for a long ski trip that he had promised when she turned 13. His wife an environmental activist had introduced them to her friend and husband who were protesting against the opening of an old copper mine. After setting out the daughter cuts herself badly and they seek help from the friends. Whilst there 4 men arrive to persuade them to cease the protest but then it turns violent and the couple are murdered. Erik and his daughter escape and what follows is a chase through an Arctic storm. They find the brother of the activist, a Sami reindeer herder who then helps in the escape. Very violent at times but beautifully described one needs a warm coat on at times with the cold so artfully shown! At heart the story of a father and daughters love and their refusal to give in whatever happens.

Erik takes his thirteen year old daughter out on a long-distance ski trek in the snowy vast expanse of Northern Norway. They become witnesses to murder and are relentlessly pursued through blizzard conditions by the perpetrators.
The story is one of survival, determination and an unbreakable family bond against the elements, outwitting the ruthless men intent on silencing them. The vivid description conjures up a white void of wind and cold. Some of the injuries and violence, however, made me feel distinctly queasy.
Various characters, good and bad, interact with the father and daughter in order to break up the pursuit and flesh out the narrative with Sami spiritualism and sinister corporate intentions.
A captivating cat and mouse thriller, ideal for reading under a warm blanket..

In Where Blood Runs Cold, Giles Kristian gives us a visceral, heart wrenching, thrill ride through a snow swept wilderness.

It is a story of love and loss, of sorrow and regret. But it is also one of love, of family, of hope and determination. A father who has already lost one daughter, simply refuses to lose another, no matter what life throws at them.
Erik promises to take his daughter on the ‘Long Ski’, through the wilderness of northern Norway. On the first night Sofia cuts her hand, and it is deep enough for Erik to change course, and they diverge to a nearby house, where Erik hopes they will find some assistance. But tragedy awaits, and Erik and Sofia are forced to hide in an upstairs bedroom whilst two people are murdered just below them.

What comes next is a ski trip neither son or daughter will forget. On and on they are forced to ski, to the edge of their endurance, seemingly to the edge of the world. For there is no help to be found in the dark corners of the north, where the elements are king and mere people must survive any way they can. With every painful stride of their tiring legs they are aware of the people chasing them, the people that have killed once, and won’t hesitate to do so again.

What really struck me with this story was the bond between father and daughter. A family torn apart from loss, thrust back together in tragedy. Erik is a powerful protagonist, and his need to keep his one remaining daughter safe drives the story on, his emotions pouring from the page.

They struggle through a wilderness that is brilliantly brought to life, you can feel their pain, their exhaustion, as they battle to the ends of their tether to stay one step ahead of their pursuers. The father and daughter make a believable team, and I would gladly read on about their journeys together.

Where Blood Runs Cold is a thrilling contemporary novel from Giles Kristian, notable for its small cast of characters, vivid descriptions of the cold and snow, sudden plot twists, and hint of supernatural or spiritual forces at work.
Erik and his small family have moved to the middle of nowhere - the Norwegian Alps - so that his wife can resist the re-opening of a local copper mine which threatens to devastate the local ecology and the lifestyles of the indigenous Sami people. Their young daughter, Sofia, is adamant she be taken on a long skiiing trip to mark her thirteenth birthday - however, Erik has been trying to keep her safe ever since her sister's tragic death in a climbing accident. But Erik and Sofia set out on the trip nonetheless, and are quickly caught up in the plot of a shady, Russian-affiliated group to quash local objections to the mine, even if this means killing protesters. They flee into the snow, chased by men with guns and snowmobiles. The rest of the novel is a game of cat and mouse between the protagonists and these ruthless killers, but there are easily enough twists and turns - a mysterious research centre, the assistance of a local Sami reindeer herder, the copper mine itself and what the Russians want from it - to keep the reader fully engaged.
And the quality of writing is superb. It would be easy in a survival thriller for the relentless cold, snow, bodily torment, and fatigue to become repetitive or fail to "land" with the reader, but Kristian makes every word count. I felt thoroughly immersed in what the characters were feeling, even when they'd been on the run for several days and coming to their very lowest ebb.
To this, add the threatening nature of the landscape itself. I'm a sucker for books which deal with inhospitable terrain and attempts by mankind to survive the elements, and this is beautifully evoked here: "They passed gaunt, looming hills and barren slopes, and it seemed a dead world. A place where humans were never meant to go. Where people's concerns had no importance." Erik starts to see a mysterious one-eyed man who guides him, guards them and spurs him on - is this the god Odin, or a manifestation of the Third Man syndrome (in which people experiencing terrible situations sometimes perceive a sense of presence, whether benign or malign)? There are no easy answers given, and for me this hint of the numinous elevated the book far above a chase/survival thriller. I read it in a couple of days and already know there are passages to which I'll definitely return: highly recommended for people who enjoy survival horror or snow-bound thrillers.

Where Blood Runs Cold is a nail-biting thriller set in the beautiful Norwegian Alps. Within a couple of chapters, I was transported back to the skiing trip I had to Bulgaria with my family - I could almost smell the snow and feel the lodge's warmth.

The plot itself is relatively basic - escaping a murderer on skis; however, that does not prevent it from being an engaging tail with exciting plot twists throughout, making it very hard to put down.

I did, however, feel that the story ended somewhat prematurely, with the main plot unconcluded, a view which I see being echoed by fellow reviewers.

It is for this reason alone that it drops a star.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher Random House UK for an advance reader copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

Giles Kristian has crafted a nail-biting thriller where even the elements are a threat. 

Where Blood Runs Cold follows Erik Amdahl and his spirited daughter Sofia as they set off on their long awaiting cross-country skiing trip. After facing family tragedy, this is a perfect time to bond and make some memories. However, not long after they set off an accident forces them to seek shelter with some new friends. After witnessing some terrible violence Erik and Sofia are fighting for their lives, pursued not only by aggressive enemies but the bitter cold of Norway's arctic circle. 

Tense, gripping and heart-stopping, I couldn't stop reading until I knew the outcome of this novel. Erik and Sofia have a close bond, but the trip is much needed after recent trauma. Not only are they fighting for their lives, but they are fighting for each other. 

Tension is built brilliantly, and I swear at several moments my heart stopped. In no time at all I really cared for these characters and hoped they would escape with their lives. Not only is the story well plotted and perfectly executed, but the strong themes of love, endurance, and the need to survive just bring the pages to life. 

With drama, suspense, and action in spades, this is a must read for thriller fans. Giles Kristian, you're on my one to watch list!!

Where Blood Runs Cold – Giles Kristian

I was given a copy of this book by the published in order to write an honest review.


Giles Kristian is an English author with a love for historic adventure stories much like those written by Bernard Cornwell. He has also written a Viking inspired series called The Raven series, as well as some Arthurian inspired books such as Lancelot and Camelot.



Erik, his wife and their daughter Sofia have had a hard time of late and decided to come out to the Lyngen Alps. Get away and try and be a family after their loss, find a way to reconnect and move on together. It helped his wife had managed to get a posting out here with her work. Erik and Sofia head out to take a ski trip, a chance to do something that of late, he wouldn’t let her do. A chance to spend time with the daughter he has left. Yet if he knew what was about to befall them, he may have decided to do something different.

First part of their journey went well, then Sofia cut herself. Luckily Eric realised that they could ski to the house of the old couple that his wife had been talking to regarding a work project. Once there they help Eric treat Sofia’s cut and get them something warm in their bellies and somewhere to sleep for the night. Erik and Sofia are woken up a short time later and witness the old couple murdered by some mystery men – trying to stop the couple making noise about a new mine in the area.

Realising the danger, they are in if discovered Erik and Sofia quickly dress and attempt to escape out a bedroom window. Yet one of the men see them. Thus begins their frantic and desperate race across lands of snow, a race for their lives. Can they survive long enough to get help, can they out run the men chasing them.



“Where Blood Runs Cold” is a thrilling tale of survival and strength of the human spirit when put to the ultimate test. It was beautiful seeing the bond between Erik and Sofia grow and become strong and just heartwarming to see such a small girl battle such terrible odds, go through things that some adults I know would just simply not be strong enough to survive. I loved the way the story was written, it felt as though you were there right alongside Erik and Sofia, racing with them and hoping they survive and discover who is after them and why – what their real motives are.

A race to survive fueled by love and desperation, pushed by an ever-looming threat.
In many ways this is a much different type of book to the others I've read by this author, but there are definite parallels as well. Skillful storytelling turns the suspense up and down in pacing that engages the reader without wearing them out. A beautiful but stark and unforgiving setting strips the characters of any easy way out, showing their true strength.
This is a great read, one you can settle down with for long stretches.

What an amazing adventure!
With his historical fiction books, especially Camelot and Lancelot, Giles Kristian has proved he is the consummate storyteller. With Where Blood Runs Cold he has proved beyond doubt that his storytelling skills do not depend on genre.
I devoured - yes, that's the only word for it - Where Blood Runs Cold in 2 days, getting up early to get some reading in before work, and reading late into the night, promising myself 'just one more chapter'. After witnessing a double murder, a father and daughter chased across the frozen mountains of Norway by a cold-blooded killer. The freezing landscape is as much an enemy as the Russian chasing them.
Giles Kristian draws the reader into the story from the very beginning, taking them on an adventure they will not soon forget.
The story comes alive!
The cold practically seeps into your bones as you read, the fear is palpable and the outcome unpredictable.
What makes this story unique is that Sofia, the 13-year-old daughter of the protagonist, Erik, is as much the hero as her father. The young girls strength and courage gives a veracity to the story that any parent would find themselves agreeing with.
Where Blood Runs Cold is a triumph in every way.