The Frozen People by Elly Griffiths Narrator: Julie Maisey
Series: Ali Dawson #1
Published by Penguin Audio on July 8, 2025
Genres: Historical Mystery
Length: 9 hours, 40 minutes
Format: Audiobook
Source: Library
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Ali Dawson and her cold case team investigate crimes so old, they're frozenāor so their inside joke goes. Aliās work seems like a safe desk job, but what her friendsāand even her beloved sonādonāt know is that her team has a they can travel back in time to look for evidence.
So far, Ali has only made short trips to the recent past, so sheās surprised when sheās asked to investigate a murder in 1850. The killing has been pinned on an aristocratic patron of the arts and antiquities, and member of a sinister group called The Collectors. She arrives in the Victorian era during a mini ice age to find another dead woman at her feet and far too many unanswered questions.
But when her son is arrested, Ali attempts to return home only to find herself trapped in 1850. In a race through and against time, can Ali prove her sonās innocence and discover the link between the nineteenth-century Collectors and a twenty-first century killing in time to prevent another death?
What would you do when one of your favorite authors starts a new series in a genre you normally eschew?Ā I became a huge fan of Elly Griffiths after reading her Ruth Galloway series.Ā Iāve yet to be disappointed with her creative angles on the mystery genre.Ā However, when I checked out The Frozen People from the library, the first installment in the new Ali Dawson series, my enthusiasm dimmed at the words āTime Travel.āĀ This is a genre I normally avoid, and it takes a lot of peer pressure from book friends or faith in an author for me to read a time travel story.Ā If there is an author that can change my mind on the subject, it is Elly Griffiths, which is why I didnāt hesitate to start reading.
At 50, DS Alison Dawson is pretty satisfied with her life, both personally and professionally.Ā Sheās built a career while raising her son almost single-handedly; and while she hasnāt managed to find the right partner, sheās more than happy to be moving forward independently.Ā Of course, moving forward is a relative term; especially when her day job consists of going backwards in time to solve cold cases.Ā When she is singled-out to go back to a previously uncharted time period, Victorian, London, she doesnāt let the uncertainty stop her from doing what she needs to do to solve the crime.Ā She makes unexpected connections and faces an uncertain future in 1850 as she races to untangle the threads that tie the past and her present together.
One can rely on Elly Griffiths‘ writing to be well-researched and thought-out.Ā I wasnāt surprised that this held true for The Frozen People.Ā I liked how the author made sure to explain how Ali prepared to go back in time, the comments on wardrobe, and the way Ali was constantly self-correcting to better fit the image of a Victorian woman.Ā I loved how she used Hastings to explain away all of her gaffs.Ā I also appreciated how the author gave us just enough detail about the ātechnologyā for time-travel without bogging down the text with too much fictional science.Ā I found it very easy to suspend belief and not be bound by the āhowsā so that I could focus on the story itself.Ā Iād like to learn more about the lead scientist, Jones, and the political impacts of this technology.
I have mixed feelings about the characters and the character development overall.Ā The characters are interesting with much potential, but the entire book felt a bit rushed.Ā We are barely introduced to characters before the main action begins, and I found it difficult to empathize with or understand Ali, her team, the victim, and the suspects.Ā I definitely want to know more about Cain Templeton. Ā I think there could have been many more interactions between him and Ali without spoiling any future surprises.Ā I think Aliās son Finn was the best developed character, and I hope he becomes a larger part of the series moving forward (perhaps as a political liaison to the team.).
While the finale solved the initial present-day murder, I think there are a lot of questions that were left unexplained about the ācold caseā that predicated Aliās trip back in time.Ā I was left feeling unsatisfied rather than teased for the next installment.Ā As with the character development, the story felt rushed, with the main focus to resolve plot points and set up a sequel.Ā Unfortunately, I donāt think there was sufficient time for me to really be invested in the mystery before the killer was caught.
The Frozen People might not hit all of the markers I look for in a new book, but with more page time dedicated to developing the characters and the main story arc, I think thisĀ has the potential to be an outstanding series.Ā I am already invested in Finn and Cain and I have faith in the writerās skill.Ā So while I wonāt claim to be a time travel genre convert, I do look forward to the next installment.
Narration:
Julie Maisey gave an excellent performance reading The Frozen People.Ā She did a great job as the voice of Ali with a light, straight to the point delivery that seemed to fit the character.Ā I found her easy to understand and she did an exceptional job differentiating between the characters. Ā I wish I knew how an actual āHastingsā accent was supposed to sound.Ā I hope she continues as the narrator for the series.
Listen to a clip:Ā HERE
About Elly Griffiths
Elly Griffiths was born in London in 1963. Her first crime novel The Crossing Places is set on the Norfolk coast where she spent holidays as a child and where her aunt still lives. Her interest in archaeology comes from her husband, Andrew, who gave up his city job to retrain as an archaeologist. She lives in Brighton, on the south coast of England, with her husband and two children.
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I've developed a preference for audiobooks over the last few years, which allow me to complete chores, run carpool, or work on my many building and craft projects while 'reading.
My all time favorite selections include Diana Gabaldon's Outlander series, Karen Marie Moning's Fever series, and all of Robin Hobb's books set in the Farseer world. Ā Honorable mentions to Elle Kennedy, Penny Reid, Meljean Brook, Ann Aguirre, Krista and Becca Ritchie, Jeaniene Frost, and Kristen Callihan.
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It is an interesting change from what she normally writes.
Wow, a time travel cold case mystery. I’ve read a couple series now that involve a time traveling detective and I’m starting to anticipate them. Too bad this one needed more character development to get you vested.
I hate when things are rushed.
I never know how to feel when an author I like switches genres into something I don’t normally read. Glad this was still an okay read for you and that you’re going to keep going for now in the series. Great review!