Isvik

Like the old pro he is, Innes ( The Doomed Oasis ) in his 29th thriller takes an improbable hero and an even more improbable scenario and weaves a dramatic adventure that will keep readers guessing until its startling climax. Peter Kettil, a wood preservation specialist struggling to establish his own business, joins an expedition to the Antarctic in search of an ancient frigate whose frozen remains were spotted by glaciologist Charles Sunderby just before his plane crashed in the ice. Moving forces behind the trek are the dead man's widow, Iris, and Iain Ward, a mysterious Scotsman who agrees to provide financing if he can accompany the crew. Unsettling questions arise about the possible connection of Argentina's desaparecidos to the hunt for the frigate and about two men who exhibit deep interest in the widow. Increasingly frustrated by his inability to solve these riddles and to discover the motivations of his companions, Kettil finally learns the ghastly truth during a most unexpected confrontation in the icy depths of the rediscovered vehicle. Atmospheric settings rendered with striking verisimilitude contribute substantially to the story's appeal. ( Mar .)