It’s the near future in Laline Paull’s second novel, a dystopian eco-thriller: the polar ice has melted 20 years earlier than predicted, polar bears have all but vanished and global warming has opened up a lucrative shipping route across the north pole that is rapidly destroying what’s left of the environment. The author – whose debut, The Bees, won her a Bailey’s prize shortlisting and widespread critical acclaim – turns her focus from the social hierarchy of a hive to the economic hierarchy of shady business dealings, political corruption and greed. While the story sometimes veers close to James Bond pastiche, Paull clearly cares passionately about her subject matter, and the novel is meticulously researched, with each section opening with an extract from a historical polar diary that sets the scene for the drama about to unfold. Despite some plot absurdities, this is a real page-turner.
• The Ice by Laline Paull is published by 4th Estate (£12.99). To order a copy for £11.04 go to bookshop.theguardian.com or call 0330 333 6846. Free UK p&p over £10, online orders only. Phone orders min p&p of £1.99
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