Whiteout

About the book

Featured on THE TIMES 'best thrillers of 2025 so far' list

'Gripping debut … Cracking' – The Times

'Chillingly atmospheric debut' – T M Logan

'A fast-paced and gripping thriller' – Clare Mackintosh

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Lost in Antarctica.

How long can she survive?

Expedition day: 152

Temperature: -69°C

Location: Ross Ice Shelf, Antarctica. Deep field.

Situation: Bleak.

My name is Rachael, and I’m on a solo Antarctic expedition.

But a month ago I lost contact with basecamp.

No radio. No sat phones. Just static.

Only one thing has reached me: a BBC World Service broadcast, reporting a nuclear strike on the UK.

I’m safe for fourteen more days in my little hut at the bottom of the world. But I can’t stay here forever, I have to find out what’s happened.

Even if there’s no one left to tell.

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Real readers love WHITEOUT:

'A fantastic thriller with the best twists that I honestly did not see coming' ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

'The writing was phenomenal' ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

'This book was so suspenseful and so shocking, that I am almost at a loss for words after finishing it!' ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

'This is an amazingly tense and thrilling story for all thriller lovers' ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

'Impossible to put down … well written and totally unique' ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

'A superb survival thriller from a writer to watch' – Steve Cavanagh

'Gripping and chilling' – Amy McCulloch

'Unique and skilled debut' – Caroline Corcoran

'A fabulous debut thriller' – Simon McCleave

'Chilling, awe-inspiring' – James Rollins

'A riveting debut―I tore through it like a blizzard’ – Giles Kristian

Praise for this book:

"A superb survival thriller from a writer to watch." - Steve Cavanagh

"A chilling heart-in-your-mouth thriller... So gripping it's impossible to look away." - Sarah Clarke

"One of the most unique and skilled debuts I've read in a long time." - Caroline Corcoran

"R. S. Burnett's Whiteout sits in the very top tier of action thrillers. As scientist Rachael contends with the apocalyptic scenario of a nuclear strike on the UK, and battles for survival in Antarctica, the most hostile environment on Earth, the chilling sense of dread is unrelenting. Highly recommended." - M W Craven

"Burnett masterfully evokes a horrifying sense of claustrophobia, even within the vast, desolate reaches of an all but uninhabited continent. In this story, the hostile environment is not the only killer, and the fiercest battle is perhaps the one fought within. A riveting debut - I tore through it like a blizzard." - Giles Kristian

"Tense, compelling and incredibly atmospheric - the ultimate fight for survival against all the odds. A very impressive debut." - T M Logan

"Gripping and tense throughout, this is a fabulous debut thriller. Incredibly atmospheric, I couldn't put it down." - Simon McCleave

"Whiteout is an accomplished debut thriller that depicts all the horrors of being lost and alone during Antarctic winter, while also showing what a terrifying prospect it would be to lose it. A fight to survive -not only for the protagonist Rachel, but also for our planet - a read that is gripping and chilling in equal measure." - Amy McCulloch

"A fast-paced and gripping thriller you won't be able to put down." - Clare Mackintosh

"A white-knuckle thrill ride that will leave you thinking long after that chilling final page." - Sara Ochs

"A riveting survival tale that ratchets the tension with every turn of the page... Chilling, awe-inspiring, and written with a scientific authenticity, here is a tale of heroism and determination that must not be missed." - James Rollins