Ice Queen: A Franklin Adventure

Richard S. Lucas
Outskirts Press (2011)
ISBN 9781432773045
Reviewed by Leslie Granier for Reader Views (7/11)


“Ice Queen” is a fictional story about archaeologists Helen and Philip Franklin. They have a great reputation, not only as hardworking and honest people, but as scientists who can prove whether specific myths and legends were based on facts or were simply made up by people for personal gain. The Franklins are hired by Thomas Coswell to find out about a woman sketched by Coswell’s grandfather shortly before he was killed on an archaeological trip. As Helen and Philip research the Ice Queen to uncover information regarding who or what she is, where she came from, and when she existed, they find themselves in danger when one of Coswell’s business competitors strives to learn what they are trying to discover in the hopes of taking any recovered artifacts for himself.

There are many good qualities about this book. First, the main characters are very likable and the chemistry between them is apparent. Understanding who a character is makes it a lot easier for the reader to relate to him or her.  Second, the subject matter is interesting and timely. The interest in learning about ancient civilizations and different legends has become quite popular over the last few years. A third asset is the amount of action and adventure. The author chose to take the reader on a journey with Helen and Philip through Samoa, Peru, and other remote locations instead of concentrating too much on researching information on a computer.

I particularly enjoyed the glimpses into the ancient times. By using this method, the author provided the reader with a feeling of seeing things as they happened all those years ago instead of just reading about what people surmised had occurred. This made me feel much more involved in the story.

“Ice Queen” is intended for an adult audience. Men and women will both be captivated by this book. An interest in archeology is definitely not a prerequisite for reading this story. A sense of adventure and an open mind are sufficient. This is a well-written book with a plot that has been creatively crafted. It is definitely worth investing the time to read it.

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