BITTER PASSAGE

Listeners will want to turn up the thermostat when they listen to British-accented Steve West present this horrific story. A Royal Navy ship is sent to rescue survivors of the Franklin Expedition, last seen in Baffin Bay in the Arctic Ocean in 1845. Among the searchers is Lieutenant Frederick Robinson, who is intent on advancing his Navy career, and surgeon Edward Adams, a great admirer of Franklin. In a crisp voice West describes the rescue team's efforts as scenes go from grim to gruesome to wholly ghastly. West is highly skilled at depicting both the personalities of crew members and their physical decline as they trudge through endless icy wastes. This beautifully narrated historical fiction is sprinkled with horror. D.L.G. © AudioFile 2025, Portland, Maine [Published: FEBRUARY 2025]