I first decided to read “Arctic Fire” by Stephen Frey because I was looking for a good action/adventure read. I found the book’s cover to be appealing and the plot summary sounded interesting, so I decided to read it.In “Arctic Fire” we meet Troy Jensen: daredevil extraordinaire; a man who never met anything he could not conquer, achieve or excel at. That is until he decided to take a job on a crab boat named Arctic Fire. After joining the crew, Troy’s luck apparently changed for the worst. Knocked overboard by a massive rogue wave; he drowned in the Bering Sea.The news of Troy’s death was met with feelings of intense shock and disbelief from his friends and loved ones. Knowing that they needed to let it go, they each attempted to come to terms with this terrible tragedy. Everyone that is, except for Troy’s brother, Jack… Jack did not believe that his untouchable brother would really succumb to the ocean’s fury while the remainder of the Arctic Fire’s crew had survived without so much as a scratch. That was not the way the world worked for Troy. In Troy’s world, he saved everyone around him, and more often than not he would only have a bruise or two to show for his efforts.Intent on finding Troy, Jack high-tailed it to Alaska before his brother’s trail could get any colder. (Pun intended.) And while Jack desperately wanted to uncover the truth, he soon learned that there was a higher power that wanted whatever had happened to remain concealed.In summary, “Arctic Fire” was a fast-paced, interesting and well-written book, although sometimes I did feel like I was watching an episode of Deadliest Catch. My only complaint(?) about “Arctic Fire” was that I didn't really “get” the ending. I’m hopeful that was just Frey’s way of extending the plot for an upcoming sequel.(Reviewed in association with Rebecca's Reads). Couldn't bring myself to finish it after about 70%. It's just too...simple. If I was going to sit down and write a book based on general stereotypes pulled from every spy movie I've ever seen, with descriptions of places based on what I'd seen on the Discovery Channel, and finish it off with the most canned and corny names for my characters I could think of....well, in the end, I'd have produced Arctic Fire.
What do You think about Artic Fire (2000)?
Could see it happening in today's climate. Not a great book but a good read.
—c0peface
Spy novel... Better then I thought it would be.
—Mel
