In Cold Pursuit: A Mystery from the Last Continent

Geology student Valena Walker receives a rude awakening when she arrives at Antarctica's McMurdo Station in this less than successful first in a new series from Andrews, creator of geologist-turned-sleuth Em Hansen (Eye for Gold , etc.). The scientist Walker was expecting to work for, Emmett Vanderzee, has been arrested on suspicion of murdering a journalist who died a year earlier. Still hoping to conduct research into glaciers but needing Vanderzee's supervision to keep her grant, Walker begins poking around the closed community of scientists and support staff for a way to clear his name. Andrews, who spent two months in Antarctica on a research grant for her novel, convincingly portrays life in one of earth's most hostile environments. Unfortunately, the whodunit plot isn't up to the atmospherics, while Walker comes up with a solution that's unrelated to her professional expertise. (Aug.)