The Winter Over

By: Matthew Iden

Narrated by: Karen Peakes

Length: 9 hrs and 16 mins

Publisher's summary

Each winter the crew at the Shackleton South Pole Research Facility faces nine months of isolation, round-the-clock darkness, and one of the most extreme climates on the planet. For thirty-something mechanical engineer Cass Jennings, Antarctica offers an opportunity to finally escape the guilt of her troubled past and to rebuild her life.

But the death of a colleague triggers a series of mysterious incidents that push Cass and the rest of the forty-four-person crew to the limits of their sanity and endurance. Confined and cut off from the outside world, will they work together or turn against one another? As the tension escalates, Cass must find the strength to survive not only a punishing landscape but also an unrelenting menace determined to destroy the station - and everyone in it.

©2017 Matthew Iden (P)2016 Brilliance Audio, all rights reserved

"Ok" Read

It was slow to start slow throughout the book I read when I was between books. I just was confused by all the characters their back stories just seemed weird... the ending however was a surprise the observer and who it was. In my humble opinion too much "stuffed" crammed in! The narrator was ok

Good, but graphic

This story of survival is graphic in some of its detail. I liked the complex characters and until the end, didn't realize the evil that lurked within one of the characters. It is long and takes some patience to listen through to the end. I recommend this book.

A slow build for a lackluster conclusion

What did you like best about The Winter Over? What did you like least?

I really liked the premise of The Winter Over. Being stranded in a place as remote as the South Pole is a solid foundation for more more than a few horror movies and stories, and I think that this was a good take on that premise.

How would you have changed the story to make it more enjoyable?

I would say the last quarter of the book proceeds in a very predictable manner. It was very easy to see where things were going once I reached the final two hours of the book. While there were still some powerful scenes in those last two hours, it was very easy to predict how the plot would evolve.

Have you listened to any of Karen Peakes’s other performances before? How does this one compare?

This was the first book narrated by Peakes I have listened to. I think based off this book I would be willing to listen to Karen Peakes narrate another book.

Do you think The Winter Over needs a follow-up book? Why or why not?

I think seeing how Cassandra readjusts to life after the events of the book might make a good novella or short, but I don't think it's something I would actively search out.

Better than expected

This could have been a simple cat and mouse book but the narrator really brought the characters to life. I had a good time listening to The Winter Over and that's what it's all about. Just entertain me paleeze.

A cold day in hell!

No way could I ever take on a job that I would be isolated for months. A different mystery story that I found entertaining and easy to listen to.

Survival of the fittest

I love survival stories and this story didn't let me down. We have all heard of scientific experiments that would be considered taboo and this story makes all the what ifs possible.

Great

really slow start but picked up ending surprised me definitely worth listening to narrator okay

Not Terrible but Not Fantastic

Any additional comments?

I loved the premise of this and was hoping it would be great, but I didn't love it. It was entertaining for the most part, although some parts really dragged and some parts were great. I kept expecting some big reveal - the build-up hinted at such but we never really got it. I really liked the interactions between Cass and Vox, but there were a few times when the characters made really stupid choices considering their situation. I also thought the ending was disappointing.

A good story

Started a little slow but picked up the pace as the story progressed. The further along, the more exciting it became. There was a mystery and the last part of the story was a real gripper. I loved the book and would recommend it to those who love to read (or listen, as the case may be). I really think it would make a good movie.

Great story!

Great story! Very engrossing. I enjoyed the performance. It gave me a new respect for the scientists that work at the South Pole!