A Gift Before Dying

A haunting and gripping crime novel set in the unforgiving Arctic Circle - 'Hypnotically good' (Lee Child)

By: Malcolm Kempt

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Hardcover | 22 January 2026 | Edition Number 1

At a Glance

Format
Hardcover

Dimensions(cm)
24.3 x 16.3 x 2.9

Hardcover

RRP $65.00

$52.75

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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

Industry Reviews

Hypnotically good - instantly immersive, intense, and ultimately inspiring

One of the finest debuts of the year

Rich in atmosphere and relentlessly suspenseful . . . a don't-miss-it debut

A gripping thriller . . . Kempt's debut is delivered with insight and authority, pacing and style

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