POLAR DECEPTION

In the near future, a widow discovers a strange red crystal while on a cruise to Antarctica.

This first book in the Crystal Connections series takes place in the year 2050, 21 years after the depletion of rare earth minerals resulted in “a global economic upheaval…eventually leading to the demise of modern electronics and renewable technologies,” followed shortly by the “Great Melt,” which caused dangerous environmental instability. Newly discovered crystals could theoretically restore the world’s ability to make electronics—but mining them would cause an environmental catastrophe. Harboring a deep hatred of the U.S., Dr. Carlos Perez steals and hides samples of these crystals to sell to a Chinese buyer. Former geologist Diana Harris, who’s recently widowed, and her best friend, Angie, unwittingly board the same Antarctic cruise as Perez. When Diana finds a mysterious red crystal, she begins asking questions. After a few close calls, including being briefly left behind on a hiking expedition, she begins to suspect that someone dislikes her digging around. When their ship is hijacked, and Diana and her fellow passengers are stranded as a deadly cyclone approaches, it will take all of her strength and knowledge to outsmart Perez and save the glaciers—and themselves—from imminent destruction. Clark’s fast-paced futuristic thriller touches on environmental responsibility, grief, and interconnectedness. The novel itself, however, is far from a downer. Despite some occasionally cheesy dialogue and a cartoonish bad guy, the tension is high and the action thoroughly exciting (especially once Diana is stranded at the Anna Cove campsite). Unexpected twists and a satisfyingly dramatic ending make for a fun read that raises some very pertinent questions about humanity.

A delightfully intricate environmental thriller with a campy villain and nonstop action.