Where the Dead Wait

A Novel

By: Ally Wilkes

Narrated by: Joshua Riley

“Haunting...Ominous.” —The New York Times Book Review

A “wonderfully chilling” (Christopher Golden, New York Times bestselling author) polar gothic about a Victorian explorer in search of his lost shipmate–and redemption–from the Bram Stoker Award–nominated author of All the White Spaces.

William Day should be an acclaimed Arctic explorer. But after a failed expedition, in which his remaining men only survived by eating their dead comrades, he returned in disgrace.

Thirteen years later, his second-in-command, Jesse Stevens, has gone missing in the same frozen waters. Perhaps this is Day’s chance to restore his tarnished reputation by bringing Stevens­—the man who’s haunted his whole life—back home. But when the rescue mission becomes an uncanny journey into his past, Day must face up to the things he’s­ done.

Abandonment. Betrayal. Cannibalism.

Aboard ship, Day must also contend with unwanted passengers: a reporter obsessively digging up the truth about the first expedition, as well as Stevens’s wife, a spirit-medium whose séances both fascinate and frighten. Following a trail of cryptic messages, gaunt bodies, and old bones, their search becomes more and more unnerving. The restless dead are never far behind in this “breathtaking achievement” (Publishers Weekly, starred review).

Critic reviews

"Riley captures the desperation and fear of men faced with the reality of their mortality with his powerful performance. The story alternates between the original failed mission and the eerily similar rescue attempt of Stevens. Riley never fails to project the frightening feelings of a crew on edge."

Tediously read.

The reading was too slow and overly complicated histrionic. Especially during the first half it sounded as if there was a number of splices with poorly matched sound levels.

The Essex in the Arctic

This was a wonderful epic with flavors of the real-life tragedy of the Essex but plenty of its own twists and turns. The story flowed very well and built up to the climax perfectly. Additionally, the narrator was fantastic, and his voice-work really helped immerse me into Captain Day's world. An excellent, chilling [and chilly!] read for the winter!

Narration intolerable

I wanted to love this, as I've been on a bit of an Arctic expedition disaster kick, but the narration is so bad I gave up 4 chapters in. Another reviewer mentioned the odd splices; these are very distracting. In addition, the tone was just flat and I found my attention drifting. The narrator's American female voice is really not it. I gave the story 5 stars since I haven't actually finished it and don't wish to unfairly bias its rating.

slow burn gothic artic horror

very well written - as always by this author. understated. complex characters and plot. great escape!

Mesmerizing

Language, atmosphere, characters, narration, description, credible actions and consequences. That’s it. No more to say