2.5 stars

Tuva is an MC I will always love and return to. In Ice Town we get to witness her beautifully navigate her grief whilst still showing us all the traits that make her so likeable.
The first 50% of this book had me in it's clutches. The idea of an isolated, more claustrophobic crime rather than some of the more outlandish tales Tuva has experiences really excited me. And then the slow, eerie pacing coupled with the desolate location and atmospheric writing only added to this. Getting to witness Tuva navigate her investigation and reporting of a crime that she is so intimately invested in was a fresh take we had yet to see and the first half executed that flawlessly.

The trouble for me was the last third of the book. Despite all the slow build up and pacing beforehand - we hit 70% and immediately reverted back to the previous style of a random 'crazed' perpetrator with some random motivation. Everything that had been hinted, suspect or occurred before this moment was simply forgotten or played off. In an attempt to provide us with a 'shocking' ending, everything that had occurred up until that point was either ignored or presented to be a red herring - no matter how ludicrous that explanation became. The killer having lived there but no one ever recognising her? Sure. The person following Tuva in the hotel? Never mentioned again. The ski lift lights being shot out? Disregarded. Tuva's secret surprise dad? Unrelated.
By making everything a red herring for some big unforeseen psychopathic plan it unfortunately took all the grief and heart we had been feeling out of the story and took away the element that had dragged Tuva into the case and pulled the audience's heart into the story to begin with - the treatment and tragic murder of a deaf boy in an isolated town.

Whilst the writing throughout this series has improved throughout. The nonsensical conclusion of this book sadly took away from the suspense-filled, claustrophobic feeling story of isolation, grief and loss that I had initially been loving.

I have not shared a public review (simply marked the book as 'read') as there are still elements I loved and Tuva Moodyson is a character I would read endlessly.
Thank you for the e-ARC

Having not read the earlier books in this series I was worried I may be a little lost. But thankfully this is the type of book where each crime/mystery is different. While I do think I would have more backstory on Tuva I didn't feel like I was missing anything too important.

The main plot had me intrigued. But I also didn't really know what to expect. Part of me figured it wasn't going to be the person first suspected but that was it.

Pacing wise I felt this had moments where it felt a little slower. But not in a takes you out of the story way. I had no issue just sitting and reading.

An incredibly gripping and chilling story that had me on the edge of my seat. I cannot recommend it enough.

Thanks to Holder and Stoughton and NetGalley for ARC.
Investigative journalist Tuva Moodyson is in a rut, wanting a challenge. When a young deaf man goes missing in atrocious weather conditions in a remote northern village, she feels an instant pull toward the story, and persuades her boss to give her a chance to dig around. What she finds, on the other side of the deep mountain tunnel, is a forbidding landscape, a collection of eccentrics who aren't keen on her questions, and some surprising things about her own past.
Dean is hard to match for building atmosphere, twisting plots and cliff hanger endings. Oh, my he's done it again. I had my heart in my mouth as I read into the night, and that ending will have you gasping for air.

I've read a number of Will Dean's books but seems to have missed the Tuva Moodyson series as Ice Town is number 6 in the series. Much as I hate reading a series out of order I ploughed on and was glad I did. Based in Sweden in the middle of winter the size of the country is expressed when Tuva thinks nothing of driving 9 hours from where she lives in South mid Sweden to still be in North mid Sweden when she reaches Esseberg. The atmosphere of the book is very dark and dangerous. Just staying outside too long can kill you. It is only light for a few hours a day.The town of Esseberg is accessed by a tunnel which is closed at night effectively cutting off the town and it's residents. Added to this a serial killer is on the loose. Our main character Tuva herself is damaged. She is in mourning for her partner. She is deaf. She is more than a little self destructive. She will stop at nothing to get another good story for her newspaper to maintain her reputation. All things which add to the sense of menace and urgency in the book. And that ending! Wow! Definitely worth waiting for! I enjoyed the book enough to go back and read the previous five Tuva books as I really enjoy the authors talent for character and background description and narrative build up. Definitely a 5* recommendation from me.
Thank you to NetGalley and the
publisher for the opportunity to read an advance copy. All opinions are my own.

I’ve been a fan of Will Dean’s for a while and read a few of his standalone novels. I wasn’t aware of the Tuva Moodyson series and although this is the sixth novel in the series, I felt it could be read as a standalone. Having said that, I would like to read the earlier novels in the series.

So what’s to like about this novel. Pretty much everything. The author has a way of conjuring a deliciously deep and dark atmosphere. From the first page you are transported to the cold landscape of a Swedish winter, as a deaf teenager goes missing in Esseberg. A search party has been launched but harsh conditions are hampering their efforts. When dead journalist Tuva reads the news alert, she knows she has to join in the search. If the teenager is found, she’ll be able to communicate with him. Esseberg has only one way in and one way out via a tunnel. But when the tunnel closes for the evening, the town is left to fend for itself and as more people go missing, it’s clear the killer is amongst them. This book had me hooked from the start. I really liked Tuva’s character and felt I was living and breathing the whole story with her. This plot unfolds at pace and keeps you guessing throughout. Thank you to NetGalley, Hodder & Stoughton and the author for the chance to review.

The first book I've read in this series and arriving late to the Tuva Moodyson novels I found it an easy pick up, so it can definitely be read as a standalone.

A news report about a missing teenager captures deaf news reporter Tuva Moodyson's attention and its not long before she's heading north to the remote mountain town of Esseberg known locally as Ice Town.

Superb scene setting really brought the town and its residents to life. Accessed via a single lane tunnel through the mountain with traffic restrictions, once the daylight disappears the barriers come down and the town is closed off from the rest of the world.

This book is all about atmosphere and the author provides it in bucketloads. What starts as a missing teenager quickly progresses to a way more newsworthy situation and reporter Tuva finds herself caught up in a dramatic and dangerous murder mystery.

I loved the characters, I loved the tension and I loved the chills, can't wait to go back and start at the beginning.

Book 6 in the Tuva Moodyson Mystery Series and this time journalist Tuva leaves her home in Gavrik, Sweden to travel to Esseberg to help with the search and report on a missing deaf teenager. Just in case this is your first Tuva read Tuva is herself deaf so she feels some empathy for the missing teen. This reads well as a stand-alone but why would you! It’s such a good series. Well written with a great plot that kept me guessing until the end.

Briefly, Esseberg is accessed via a tunnel which is closed at night leaving the locals cut off. There is only one hotel accessible only by chair lift and a B&B (no breakfast) with just two rooms one of which Tuva moves into. When a body is found everyone expects it to be the teenager but it isn’t. Then over the next few days more people go missing and more bodies are found - the teenager is now a suspect!

The way the town is closed off makes this claustrophobic and creepy. There is nowhere to go and nowhere to hide. Tuva is one of my favourite fictional characters and she is struggling after loosing her partner, but despite her emotional state she is going to do her job and she is about to get a shocking revelation that knocks her for six. A compelling, exciting and tense read. Loved it.

I haven’t read any of the previous books in this series which I think had me at a bit of a disadvantage. There were references to people and events in the past that I knew nothing about and would probably have enhanced my reading of the book. Luckily, it had no bearing on the main storyline which I did enjoy but found that it went on just a bit too long. I also found the ending unsatisfactory in terms of why the person did it. Overall, a decent read in a creepy environment.

This is my first read of Will Dean, although Ice Town is book six in the series, it can also be read as a standalone thriller. I loved the main character of Tuva – she’s determined. The setting of the village of Esseberg was so atmospheric with the below freezing temperatures. The author made me suspect every character . Overall it's a good thriller. I thank netgalley and hodderbooks for the eArc copy.

This one was not for me unfortunately. I never really got ‘into it’ which is a shame as I’d heard good things about a couple of Will’s books, in particular The Chamber and the Last thing to burn.

Tuva Moodyson returns in this great thriller by Will Dean. Tuva takes up the story of a missing deaf teenager in a northerly town only accessible via a tunnel through the mountain. Dean creates a super sense of encroachment and compression with the story as the town reacts to the discovery of dead bodies and the search for the killer. In a town where you think you know everyone how can this happen? This continues to develop into a great series.

3.5 🌟


Things have obviously been too quiet in Gavrik for the last few years, and Tuva must be looking for excitement.
I can think of no other good reason she's rushing off to a place where there's only one single way in and out. I'm already in slight panic mode just thinking about it... even before any bodies showed up.
As usual Tuva sticks herself in the middle of everything, and at one point I believed anyone could be the murderer.
Thankfully my own detective skills managed to narrow it down before the speedy reveal.
I enjoy the murder mystery aspect of these stories but also the human connection, the friendships central to Tuvas life, and I don't mind admitting the ending got me.

On a lighter note, we may need to have words about the appalling diet going on if it continues though

Last night I've finished the new addition to Tuva Moodyson series by Will Dean called "Ice Town". I was approved to get the eArc by Netgalley which I'm extremely grateful for. Back to the book.
First of all - despite being next part in the series this book can be read as a standalone. Our main character Tuva is a deaf journalist, who after hearing about a deaf teenager going missing, decided to drive for hours to follow the story and give it a justice. She ends up in a small town accessible by the tunnel that gets closed at night. The village has a diverse characters and each and every one of them can be a villain in the story. Action develops quite quickly and as usual, good few red herrings are to be found to confuse us, mere readers.
I love Will Dean's books but it's so hard to give them a justice, without spoiling it by describing the plot. Let me tell you one thing. It is good. Chillingly good ❄️🌨️ and with amazing description of the scenery, that makes you feel like you've been there before. Be aware as once you start it - you might end up reading until 4am 😂 The extra surprise at the end makes you thrive for more immediately and it makes it even more exciting.
To sum it up - Chilling, clever with the twist you won't see coming.
5 of 5

Thanks to NetGalley for an ARC of this novel.
I requested this book on the basis of having read ‘The Last Thing to Burn’. I didn’t realise Ice Town was the 6th in a series, with a lot of passing references to Tuva’s past. A bit distracting, but the novel still worked okay as a first-time read.
Told in the first-person present tense.
Tuva, a talented, deaf reporter, is drawn to a small, isolated Swedish town in the depths of winter, to investigate the disappearance of a young deaf man. Then someone else goes missing….
The story is a bit of a slow burn, with a lot of descriptive and introspective musing on Tuva’s part, interspersed with bursts of action, some centred on Tuva’s herself. The slow/fast repetition for me gave a gradual increase of tension and anticipation that I really liked.
The descriptions of the town and surroundings are very atmospheric and I could get a sense of what it was like to live in an isolated, tiny community in the darkest part of winter near or within the Arctic Circle. Living in Scotland, I’m used to very short December days, but this was Next Level!
The characters, for me, were more understated, not as well fleshed-out as the settings; I find this can be a feature of stories told from a single POV.
Like an Agatha Christie, clues and red herrings are sprinkled throughout the story, and as usual I missed most of them!
The climax of the story didn’t quite ring true for me, though that didn’t stop it being tense and scary.
There were also a few events that remained unaccounted for; but they may be part of the groundwork for the next book.
Overall a very satisfying read, from a very good author.

Will Dean’s Ice Town offers a unique twist on his signature style, diverging from the gripping narratives that fans might expect from his previous works. While it didn’t quite reach the heights of his earlier novels, it still provides an engaging read filled with atmospheric tension and compelling characters.

Set against the backdrop of a snow-blanketed landscape, the story unfolds with enough context to keep newcomers engaged, even though it is part of a series. Dean skillfully weaves in backstory, ensuring that readers are not left in the dark, which allows the plot to flow smoothly despite any prior gaps in knowledge.

The narrative pacing felt different from Dean’s usual thrilling tempo. While some may find this a refreshing change, others might miss the heart-pounding suspense that characterizes his previous books. Nonetheless, Ice Town captivates with its richly developed setting and layered character dynamics, providing an immersive experience that showcases Dean’s talent for creating mood.

In conclusion, while Ice Town may not have met all expectations set by Dean’s earlier novels, it still stands as an intriguing installment that highlights his versatility as a writer. Fans and newcomers alike may find enjoyment in this frosty tale, even if it takes a slightly different route than expected.

Big thank you to NetGalley and Hodder & Stoughton for the ARC

As much as I enjoy Will Dean's tense and gripping standalone thrillers, I feel it is in the Sweden-based Tuva Moodyson series that he excels. The Swedish scenery is excellent for building a dramatic mood, especially in the depths of winter, Tuva's deafness adds to the feeling of fear, and the plotting is always spot-on. When a young deaf man goes missing in a remote town, Tuva feels compelled to go and investigate. As the body count rises, she works with the police to seek a breakthrough. Tremendous!

This book had a great plot with intriguing characters. I’ll definitely be looking out for more from this author.

The Chamber was my first introduction to this author, which has a good but slightly 'stodgy' plot, and I found the characters difficult to engage with. I felt much the same about this. Disappointingly, it's in present-tense narrative, something I dislike intensely, and it hampered the story's field of vision. Esseberg or Ice Town as it's known, is reachable only by one tunnel…and that's what present-tense narrative is: a claustrophobic blind alley of tunnel darkness.

The ending is a tad overdramatic and lacks credibility. Whilst this is #6 in the Tuva Moodyson series, it's pretty much stand-alone, and I didn't feel stranded by back-story gaps, but I found it difficult to feel very much for Tuva, a deaf and, by all accounts, successful, journalist…she came over as a bit wooden.

Despite all that and some bad grammatical errors, I didn't find it totally unenjoyable. I can't subscribe to the 'unputdownable' it claims to be, but I did find myself compelled to get to the conclusion.

Will Dean is fast becoming one of my favourite authors – I really enjoyed The Last Thing to Burn and The Chamber, although I haven’t read any of the other books in the Tuva Moodyson series.

When deaf journalist Tuva Moodyson learns that a deaf teenager has gone missing in the town of Esseberg – a remote village which can only be accessed via tunnel, she feels compelled to go and investigate. However, when citizens start turning up dead, it seems there may be more to this case than meets the eye.

Although Ice Town is book six in the series, it does work really well as a standalone thriller, although there’s lots of shocking developments of the overall arc to satisfy fans of the series. The end few pages made very little sense to me, not knowing the full story, but I’m sure will be very shocking to those in the know. This didn’t stop my enjoyment of it though, and if anything, made me want to pick up the others in the series as well.

I loved the main character of Tuva – she’s flawed but determined, and the fact that she is deaf added some real vulnerability to certain situations. The setting of the village of Esseberg was so atmospheric, with the below freezing temperatures really adding to the stakes of the book and the fact that the tunnel was the only way in or out turned it into a locked room thriller at times. The chapters when a character is stuck on a snow lift or trying to ski down the mountain at night were truly scary (particularly for someone like me who tried skiing for the first time this year with disastrous results!). I also really enjoyed the final showdown at the end – you got even more of an insight into Tuva’s character, but I was constantly changing my mind about who the perpetrator could be!

Overall, Ice Town is an atmospheric thriller in a great setting and with brilliant characters. Although it’s part of a series, it makes for a great standalone and a perfect introduction to Tuva Moodyson. Thank you to NetGalley and Hodder & Stoughton for the chance to read the ARC in exchange for an honest review.