When my book buddy suggested it was time for a wintery read as we head into December, I was more than happy to read ‘Dark Matter’ by Michelle Paver. It was a book I know Mr Bookwormandtheatremouse had enjoyed and I heard an adaptation of it on the radio, read by Lee Ingleby, so I was intrigued how I would find it as a read.
Now, one thing I am totally fascinated by is early 20th century exploration, and the daring exploits of men such as Scott and Shackleton, so ‘Dark Matter’ being set in this world was something that I knew would make this book a winner for me (although set slightly later in 1937). We follow Jack Miller as he embarks on an Arctic expedition with three other men – men that are above him in social status. Their expedition seems to be plagued with bad luck, but Jack is determined not to be beaten and prove that he has just as much right to be part of this adventure as any other man. However, as Jack spends his time in isolation in Gruhuken, with only the dogs for company, he starts to realise that maybe the rumours about the place were not just rumours – maybe it is haunted.
This is a book from the ‘horror’ genre, and that is not a spoiler. But I have a lot of respect for anyone who can write in this genre, as you do not just have to tell a good story – you have to tell a story that will spook or haunt the reader, and that is something that Michelle Paver has done brilliantly in this tale. But she does it alongside making some very good points about society (especially in the early 20th century), and the poor treatment of those who are seen as different. That there is a dark side to the world, who do not wish to help those who are not seen as acceptable to the rest of the world. This, for me, added to the story even more, as you were left feeling empathy for the darker character of the story – is it a horror story, or a story about the horror of the world?
I could not put this book down once I started it, and now I want to read all Michelle Paver’s books within this genre. She is a very skilled storyteller, and this is a book that I have not been able to forget since I finished it – even to the point that I may, in fact, make it a book that I re-read in the colder months. Although, we all know there are so many books and never enough time – and a Michelle Paver backlist.