Devour

Rusticated by her editor after a trip to uncover an Afghan warlord goes badly wrong; investigative reporter Olivia Wolfe is sent to cover a British scientific expedition to Antarctica. The assignment is more challenging than it first appears. The expedition is in trouble with one member having been killed in mysterious circumstances and Russian scientists from their nearby territory being suspiciously helpful.

Against the odds the group makes its big breakthrough; that’s when the trouble starts. The secret they discovered far below the ice could, in the wrong hands, destroy civilization. Wolfe must uncover the identity of the rogue scientist and evade the clutches of the security services as the clock ticks towards disaster.

This first outing in a projected series sets a solid benchmark for joyfully old school adventure writing. The pace is hectic and the settings, ranging from the frozen wastes, to the book’s climax in the Nevada desert, taking in London and Afghanistan along the way are all convincing.

In Olivia Wolfe, Larkin has created a satisfyingly spiky central character with a back story offering opportunities for interesting developments. The supporting cast is equally strong with friendships and rivalries begging to be explored.

Behind the dash and daring of the action is a convincingly conflicted story of science being weaponized and the consequences of modern remote controlled warfare. This is a strong start to a series that promises to be worth watching out for.