C. Edgar North plunges you into the depths of the icy Arctic in his political thriller Blood, Fire and Ice. Japan, Russia, Canada and the US put together a team of scientists to research the “ecologically sensitive Arctic.” Their goal is to safely extract and contain methane hydrate (fire ice) from the permafrost and then set up a means to globally commercialize it. However, “Big Oil” wants to take out the people responsible for the breakthrough. The oil oligarchs will stop at nothing to obtain and control the processing. This new technology is bad for business; it will cost them millions in revenue. There are some very powerful and rich people in the oil industry. The members of the research team are in serious danger. After three team members die and a couple of others are in near fatal accidents, the FBI, the CIA and even a few ninjas are summoned to investigate and take care of the threat against the research team. All reports indicate the conspiracy is fueled by the Canadian government, but just how high up does the corruption go? Before it is all over, there will be a showdown.

C. Edgar North writes a scientific and suspenseful novel in Blood, Fire and Ice. The narrative’s plot scheme definitely keeps the reader engaged. However, some of the descriptions are dry, choppy and long, reading like a bullet list of information. There is a large cast of characters, most are one dimensional. The research team members are depicted with a high degree of intelligence. The government agents display “the bad to the bone” attitude and aptitude. The protagonists exhibit the socio-pathology and debauchery of criminals and the greediness of corrupt government officials. All of these characteristics make for a suspenseful, political and captivating read, yet lacking depth in character development. Mr. North wrote intellectually as he described the science of methane hydrate technology and insightfully about the structure of the Canadian government. I felt educated in both areas. The writing style was casual, but at times, formal language was included, especially when using legal jargon. It is the intricate and complex conflicts woven throughout the plot that bait and hook the reader in Blood, Fire and Ice.

Blood, Fire and Ice by C. Edgar North is a fast paced suspense thriller that focuses on the corruption of the oil industry. When researchers for a project to harness methane gas as a viable fuel source start to turn up dead, it is quickly determined that it is no accident. At the same time, the Canadian government withdraws their funding from the highly successful project, sparking suspicion among the research team as well as law enforcement agencies across the globe. The surviving researchers are spirited away to undisclosed locations as a number of parties work to uncover the true perpetrators behind the killings. Eventually, the Canadian Royal Mounted Police discover information that sends those involved spiraling down a slippery slope to justice.

As I read Blood, Fire and Ice, I struggled initially to follow the different story lines, but eventually I was able to piece them together. It was interesting how Mr. North wove together the government corruption of a fictitious political party and the oil industry’s motivation to block all methods of alternative fuel sources. I did feel partially cheated that there wasn’t more time spent with the various characters. The descriptions, while thorough, gave me little details of their personalities. I felt that I wanted to know more about the researchers and their reactions to their colleagues being targeted. I would think that they would be more panicked about the situation and not so willing to move halfway around the world. I appreciated the cultural descriptions, especially when the researchers were in Japan. The provided information on the Yakuza was very interesting. Aside from that, I liked the various descriptions of scientific processes as well as the general plot of the novel. For those readers who enjoy Tom Clancy style books, this one is for you.