Longlisted for the Man Booker Prize 2016.

From back cover:
A ship sets sail with a killer on board . . .

1859. A man joins a whaling ship bound for the Arctic Circle. Having left the British Army with his reputation in tatters, Patrick Sumner has little option but to accept the position of ship's surgeon on this ill-fated voyage.

But when, deep into the journey, a cabin boy is discovered brutally killed, Sumner finds himself forced to act. Soon he will face an evil even greater than he had encountered at the siege of Delhi, in the shape of Henry Drax: harpooner, murderer, monster . . .

A truly astounding novel, and one of my best reads for the year thus far. It's violent, horrific, bloody and brutal but also well researched, superbly written and utterly compelling. Fast-paced and vivid, McGuire has given us an interesting plot full of suspense, and a host of convincing characters; even Henry Drax, who is a character I won't forget for a while. Lovely descriptions of the Arctic landscape contrast starkly with the cruelty and horror. But it's not all blood and gore. There are a number of serious underlying themes here: individual morality, greed, corruption, God and fate to name a few. If you can cope with the violence then this book is definitely one to read.

Sending off as a wish list tag to Edwardstreet by post. Hope you enjoy it! :D

Arrived at my PO Box today - thank you Helen

Really gruesome, really gripping and beautifully written. Could not be put down. I loved it.

I was handed this in Hobart by my old friend Edward. I make no promises because the TBR pile grows ever bigger.
Thank you.
The weekend Hobart was very special