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‘Hypnotically good ‘ Lee Child

‘A stunning debut’ Daily Mail

‘A life-affirming read’ Daily Express

‘A gritty debut thriller’ Irish Independent

‘One of the finest debuts of the year’ Donald Ray Pollock

‘Rich in atmosphere and relentlessly suspenseful’ Michael Koryta

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AT THE EDGE OF THE WORLD, CAN JUSTICE STILL BE FOUND?

After a botched high-profile murder investigation, Sergeant Elderick Cole is exiled to the remote, rugged landscape of Nunavut, a vast territory in the Arctic Circle known for its untamed beauty, frigid temperatures, and endless winter nights.

His bleak existence takes a sinister turn when he discovers the hanging body of Pitseolala, a troubled Inuit girl whom he had sworn to protect. Her death dredges up demons he thought he’d buried along with the scars of a fractured marriage and the aching divide between himself and his estranged daughter.

As Cole’s life unravels – and with it, the fragile thread of his investigation – he turns to Pitseolala’s younger brother, Maliktu, a fellow outsider. It’s then that Cole uncovers what binds them: a singular mission to find her killer.

Against fierce backlash, Cole’s overriding desire to redeem just one aspect of his otherwise failed life becomes an obsession – and he’s willing to break every rule in his unyielding pursuit of justice and the smallest shred of redemption.

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‘A haunting, immersive, moving story-told by an expert, with great authority and emotion’ Richard Thomas, Bram Stoker, Shirley Jackson, and Thriller Award finalist

‘There’s a river of warmth running under this icy, Arctic thriller, with a big bang of an ending you won’t soon forget’ Rene Denfeld

‘[A] stunning debut . . . It’s a knockout’ Publishers Weekly, starred review

Publisher Review

Hypnotically good – instantly immersive, intense, and ultimately inspiring — Lee Child, Sunday Times bestselling author of the Jack Reacher series One of the finest debuts of the year — Donald Ray Pollock, author of THE HEAVENLY TABLE Rich in atmosphere and relentlessly suspenseful . . . a don’t-miss-it debut — Michael Koryta, New York Times bestselling author of THE PROPHET A gripping thriller . . . Kempt’s debut is delivered with insight and authority, pacing and style — Ivy Pochoda, author of WONDER VALLEY A Gift Before Dying is a haunting, immersive, moving story – told by an expert, with great authority and emotion. Keep an eye on Malcolm Kempt – one of my favourite voices in contemporary dark fiction — Richard Thomas, a Bram Stoker, Shirley Jackson, and Thriller Award finalist There’s a river of warmth running under this icy Arctic thriller, with a big bang of an ending you won’t soon forget. Hold on tight, because A Gift Before Dying will grip you until the last page — Rene Denfeld, bestselling author of THE CHILD FINDER Stunning debut . . . Kempt’s remarkably assured narrative evokes a mythic atmosphere . . . It’s a knockout * Publishers Weekly * With its gripping opening, exciting climax, powerful sense of place and eerie, nicely unforced mysticism, this is a strong debut. There’s never been a police protagonist more disheveled or out of sorts than Cole, which makes his determined efforts all the more winning. A terrific, permafrosted mystery * Kirkus *