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A powerful, page-turning thriller set in terrifying yet beautiful terrain, featuring a remarkable heroine. For fans of Dennis Lehane, Peter Hoeg's Miss Smilla's Feeling for Snow and readers who love stories with a dark, gripping mystery at their heart.
Year's Best Crime Novels: 2014, Booklist
Dennis Lehane meets Smilla's Sense of Snow: a big discovery in the world of female suspense, about an edgy young woman with the rare ability to withstand extreme conditions
Elisabeth Elo's debut novel introduces Pirio Kasparov, a Boston-bred tough-talking girl with an acerbic wit and a moral compass that points due north.
Pirio Kasparov finds herself abandoned in the North Atlantic when the fishing boat she's on is rammed by a freighter. She somehow survives for nearly four hours in the freezing water before being rescued, but Pirio's friend, Ned, is not so lucky. He disappears without a trace. Pirio can't shake the suspicion that the boat's sinking was no accident, and begins to unravel a lethal plot that takes her to Northern Canada and the ice-cold waters of Baffin Bay. To survive, she must overcome a deadly betrayal from someone in her past, and, most importantly, learn to trust her own instincts above all else.
Elisabeth Elo's mesmerising novel follows a dark and treacherous quest that brings to light some horrifying truths.
'This intense, slow-burning literary thriller, Elo's debut, paints a subtle portrait of a strong and believable heroine ... On this evidence Elo, a creative writing teacher in Boston, could well become a major force in the thriller world' - Daily Mail
'Loyal and tenacious Pirio is a marvellous protagonist. I can't wait to read more about her' - Sun
An utterly riveting debut thriller! Pirio Kasparov is one of the best protagonists I've read in years, tough, cynical, wry and compelling. Her determination to discover the truth behind her friend's murder will earn your admiration, while her growing desire to be a better daughter, friend, and person will win your heart
North of Boston is a gripping and unorthodox thriller, packed with intriguing characters and unexpected twists
I wish I had a friend like Pirio Kasparov - intelligent, loyal, brave, and funny. From the opening pages of North of Boston I was enthralled and deeply committed to following Pirio wherever her brilliant author decided to send her next. What a terrific novel - Margot Livesey
Pirio Kasparov, the no-nonsense star of Elisabeth Elo's debut novel, North of Boston, is a multifaceted character. Like its protagonist, North of Boston is many things - a murder mystery, an environmental thriller, and a domestic drama - Boston Globe
Will have strong appeal for Scandinavian crime fans. An impressive debut with surprising literary depth - Booklist
North of Boston grapples with and melds seemingly disparate subject matter (commercial fishing, perfume, alcoholism, issues of class, environmental consciousness, self-determination) in an original and entertaining way . . . Judging from North of Boston, Pirio's next puzzle promises to be nothing short of unpredictable and exciting - Kirkus
Elisabeth Elo was born in Los Angeles but grew up near Boston, and has lived for much of her adult life close to the Atlantic. With three older siblings who became fanatical sailors and time spent at sea herself with fishermen friends, Elisabeth has a real understanding of the ocean and those who sail on it, which inspired NORTH OF BOSTON. Her essays and short stories have appeared in a variety of publications and her fiction has been nominated for a Pushcart Prize. She teaches writing at Boston College and lives with her family in Massachusetts.