A Haunting in the Arctic

By: C. J. Cooke

Narrated by: Lucy Goldie

Length: 9 hrs and 11 mins

Publisher's summary

A deserted shipwreck off the coast of Iceland holds terrors and dark secrets in this chilling horror novel from the author of The Lighthouse Witches.

The year is 1901, and Nicky is attacked, then wakes on board the Ormen, a whaling ship embarked on what could be its last voyage. With land still weeks away, it’s just her, the freezing ocean, and the crew–and they’re all owed something only she can give them...

Now, over one hundred years later, the wreck of the Ormen has washed up on the forbidding, remote coast of Iceland. It’s scheduled to be destroyed, but explorer Dominique feels an inexplicable pull to document its last days, even though those who have ventured onto the wreck before her have met uncanny ends.

Onboard the boat, Dominique will uncover a dark past riddled with lies, cruelty, and murder—and her discovery will change everything. Because she’ll soon realize she’s not alone. Something has walked the floors of the Ormen for almost a century. Something that craves revenge.

©2024 C. J. Cooke (P)2024 Penguin Audio

Critic reviews

An unnerving tale full of ghosts, selkies and plenty of mystery, which Cooke deploys not only to craft the novel’s frights but also to probe ideas of grief and retribution…haunting.”—The New York Times

"Rich, chilling and gorgeously gothic. A Haunting in the Arctic is the kind of enchanting, terrifying mystery I just adore."—Chris Whitaker, New York Times bestselling author of We Begin at the End

“Cooke expertly maintains suspense throughout, gradually peeling back the layers of each timeline.”—Publishers Weekly

Pretty Good

Not nearly as good as The Lighthouse Witches, but still worth the read. Unique story.

Phenomenal

This was a bit of a departure for C J Cooke but in a good way.
This is a rough story to listen to at certain points but it’s all got an element of real historical truth in terms of the brutality of the time and place.
It is filled with excruciatingly gorgeous prose and very well developed characters.
The narration is utterly perfect (and considering the accents and the different characters this one narrator had to portray, it’s quite an accomplishment)
This is the kind of performance that takes a great book and turns it into an instant classic.
It is a brilliantly composed and beautifully written story.
I loved it.
And let me tell you, this is a very creepy book, from start to finish.
I love when a book just grabs you right out of the gate and takes you on a ride…it’s fantastic.
It’s so creative and cleverly constructed.
Thank you for another wonderful listen!
This is a story I will most certainly listen to again.

Cold atmosphere

What a fabulous story. First we are in 1901, then flash forward to 2023, Back to 1901, a quick peek into 1973, and back to 2023. and then it all wraps up together at the end. excellent. Very atmospheric.

Brooding and atmospheric but predictable at times. A good read nonetheless.

Enjoyed the story overall. Interesting how it all comes together. I like the narrator in her Scottish accent … admittedly, it was hard to understand at times but it made the narrative more authentic. The combination of lore, history, and atmospheric horror make it a good read and well worth it.