Author Theodore Jerome Cohen adeptly mixes fact with fiction in his fascinating novel, “Frozen in Time: Murder at the Bottom of the World”. Taking place during the austral summer of 1961-1962, we embark on the adventure of a lifetime with Ted Stone, a graduate student on his way to the Antarctic to assist in the collection of rock samples as well as establishing a new gravity network. The journey is difficult, to say the least, and could easily turn deadly due to severe storms, icebergs, calving glaciers and even hungry orcas. Mr. Cohen uses his unique personal experience to bring this story to life in a way that allows the reader to easily picture the beautiful setting as well as the dangers of life in such a harsh environment.

That said, I found the book to be engaging and, at times, intriguing but I wasn’t left with a desire to read the other two books in the Antarctic Murders trilogy. This book is marketed as a novel but it is made very clear that it is based on actual events. In an effort to clarify what is real and what isn’t, the author has made use of footnotes, often referencing web sites, which the reader can use to familiarize themselves with the truth that surrounds the fiction. I found these footnotes to be very distracting and they often pulled my focus from the story just as I was getting more into it. I think the book would have been better served had this information been listed at the end in a “For more information” section or something similar.

Even though I had some issues with the layout of the book, it is obvious that Mr. Cohen is passionate about Antarctica and he uses that to his advantage throughout the novel to weave his story. It is well written, unique in perspective and offers a glimpse into an environment that most of us will never experience. I would recommend this book to those who love adventure and intrigue set in a brutal environment, written from the point of view of one who experienced these relentless surroundings first hand.

Reviewed on 02/07/2011 by ReviewTheBook.com Member April Hanson

The year is 1960. The place: Talcahuano, Chile. At 9.5, it is still the most powerful earthquake ever recorded anywhere. Two Chilean Naval officers hatch a plot to profit from the chaos when they are assigned to guard the Central Bank of Chile in Talcahuano. When they find out they are being sent to Base Bernardo.€™Higgins on the North Antarctic Peninsula, they hide their loot in the cargo hold of their ship, in a crate belonging to Chilean Army Officer Rodriquez. They offer him a share of the loot but when he refuses, they abandon him to his death while on a seal hunt. What they don't realize is that a member of the ship's crew, Cristian Barbudo, is actually from Internal Affairs, working undercover to find out who stole millions from the Central Bank of Chile. When Barbudo reveals his true identity to Scientist Ted Stone, Stone becomes a target that must be silenced. What follows is a life and death struggle in what could be the world's most inhospitable environment. Frozen in Time: Murder at the Bottom of the World by Theodore J. Cohen, the first in a trilogy, is a most unusual blend of fact and fiction. It is often said that you should write about what you know and Cohen does just that, having earned three degrees in the physical sciences from the University of Wisconsin at Madison. He also experienced Antarctica first hand, having been a member of the Chilean expedition of 1962. This experience allows him to craft a fascinating story in which he weaves fact and fiction which engages the reader from the very first page. I look very forward to reading the succeeding novels of this trilogy. This is a top-notch novel, very deserving of 5 stars.-Jud Hanson

Reviewed on 10/21/2010 by ReviewTheBook.com Member Jud Hanson