ICEAPELAGO

A debut eco-thriller follows scientists who are researching troubling volcanic activity and meltwater that could prompt global catastrophes.

Over in the Canary Islands, on La Palma, twin brothers Ros and Simon Rodriguez are ready to spend their summer at the Pico de la Nieve research center. The two monitor dormant volcanoes, as there haven’t been eruptions on the island for more than 80 years. But they’re soon worried about a recent spike in sulfur emissions. Around the same time, Norwegian climate scientist Lars Brun is eager to use Irishman Sean Pitcher’s invention of trackable golf balls. Lars wants a modified version that floats so that he can monitor meltwater flow at the Greenland Ice Sheet, which he believes is due for a disaster much earlier than most experts anticipate. Meanwhile, a research vessel is set to check salinity levels in the Gulf Stream. The Irish navy adds technicians—and a submersive—to this planned voyage for a supplemental directive: Find possible evidence of volcanic activity on the Irish Continental Shelf. An increase in activity in any of these three areas could be cataclysmic, including potential tsunamis hitting Ireland’s western coast and Britain. Time, it seems, is running out for everyone. Brennan concentrates more on historical data and sophisticated tech than characters. Accordingly, his smart, well-researched cautionary tale is measured, though it’s undeniably educational. Still, there are a few amiable character moments, such as Lars’ initial meeting with Sean at the Masters Tournament in the United States and Simon’s romance with Maria Marin-Rabella, who does similar work with her sister, Claudine. The pace picks up considerably in later chapters, during which startling “natural events” prove destructive and sometimes fatal. The unforgettable ending may leave readers reeling, even if it’s open to interpretation.

A slow but memorable environmental tale.