When Nights Were Cold, by Susanna Jones (Mantle, £12.99) (From York Press)

When Nights Were Cold, by Susanna Jones (Mantle, £12.99)

11:29am Saturday 28th July 2012 in Books By Julian Cole

THIS unusual historical novel, in which a young Victorian woman, Grace Farringdon, dreams of polar exploration, takes time to settle, but hang in there, this book is well worth the effort.

Susanne Jones writes what is essentially a mystery rather than a thriller, yet the beautifully paced composition exerts its own grip, pulling the reader deep into the tale of a strong-willed young woman who goes to university against the wishes of her family, whereupon she founds the Antarctic Exploration Society.

Through the society, she makes three friends: suffragette Locke, the studious Hooper and the enigma that is Parr. Soon the quartet head to Snowdonia and then the Alps, where a tragedy befalls that will have fingers pointing down the years.

The true marvel of this book lies in storytelling that holds back what the reader wants to know until the very end. Different, but well worth investigating.