Thanks to Elly Griffiths, Penguin Group, and NetGalley for access to the Advanced Reader copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

Ali Dawson is a detective in a cold case unit where they go back in time to gather evidence to crack previously unsolved cases. Their ability to time travel is secret and also new – they are still exploring and understanding the technology. When asked to use the time travel capabilities to resolve a long-standing mystery by a politician, complications and a murder arise.

Well written with interesting characters, I enjoyed the time travel aspect used for resolution of cold cases. There are other subplots that come into play as well, that for me were not quite as strong. Overall, an interesting book worth reading. Recommended.

Thank you to NetGalley for the advanced copy of The Frozen People by Elly Griffiths.

I absolutely loved the Ruth Galloway series, and I am very excited for the start of this new series, featuring more great characters. I'm looking forward to solving more mysteries and traveling back in time with Ali.

3.75 stars

This was an intriguing debut, basically a police procedural but with an added twist -- time travel.

British police detective Ali Dawson is not your usual copper. She has dyed bright red hair and a much more eclectic background than most. She is part of a special secret unit that is working on solving cold cases, but in order to do that, a physics brainiac leader of the team has figured out how to transport the investigators back in time to the crimes.

Ali is a thrice-married single mom, with a grown son who works for a conservative member of Parliament. And the boss also is involved with this case -- he has a forebear who has always been suspected of murdering three women in the mid 1800s. A very few government officials know about the special unit and he is one. And, he actually finds Ali's name in his relative's journal so they all decide she must be the one to travel back.

But, instead of going back for a few hours, she gets stuck there for days and days. The part where they prepare her to pop in to Victorian England is interesting -- the money, the clothes, etc. She comes back with a pretty good idea of who the murderer is but she can't tell anybody because she is stuck in 1850.

Meanwhile, back in modern times, her son's boss is murdered and he is arrested for the crime. So when Ali does finally make it back, she is immersed in using her new-found past knowledge to help shed light on the murder.

Well-written, nicely charactered, and with an unusual and compelling plot. I will look forward to another adventure. I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

Griffiths is a cozy British mystery novelist who has moved into science fiction. This story is about a group of time traveling detectives who use time travel technology to solve cold cases. The heroine finds herself trapped in time, while her son is unjustly accused of murder. The author does a nice job of establishing the parameters of the world and keeping the cozy style in a more fantastical setting. Clearly setting up a series, and I will check out the next volume for sure.

From my Bookstagram: "The Frozen People" in the title is a reference to the cold case department of the metropolitan police in London that our main Ali Dawson works in. The name meaning the cases they work on are so cold they're frozen. Ali's department does something your standard BBC cold case detective can't do, they can travel through time. Only briefly, and only to catch a glimpse, but the scientist at the head of the department has managed to manipulate matter in a way that makes it possible for police to go back in time and catch a murderer in the act. Ali is sent on a mission to 1850 to possibly clear or condemn the great-great-grandfather of a current rising political star. She's supposed to pop back to 1850 for an hour, get a look around and gather some evidence. Something goes wrong and she's trapped in 1850 London. Meanwhile in the present day her son (who works for aforementioned politician) and co-workers are scrambling to bring her back.
Y'all I am SUCKED IN to this book! Griffiths makes the Victorian era feel dark and deeply sinister (which it probably was). Every chapter I'm reading with gritted teeth, wondering what Ali is going to stumble into. Ali is a great protagonist, and I love that we're getting middle aged people some starring roles. She's brash and funny and fiercely loyal. She does her homework before traveling back in time, figuring out how to live, laugh, chamber pot in a corset and somehow even these scenes where she's learning about Dickens and Victorian slang feel ominous. Reading the chapters in the 1850's feel like I am watching a Jack the Ripper movie and he is about to pop out at any moment. The time travel stuff is not hokey or science fiction-y. It's not really well described at this point, just a lot of stuff about moving matter, but I think to stop and say more would pull you out of the developing story. This is the first in a series so I am sure we'll get more."

Many thanks to Viking Books for the advanced reader’s copy of The Frozen People.

This novel didn’t fully take hold until roughly the 30 to 40% mark. The premise itself is undeniably compelling: time-traveling investigators dispatched to the 1850s to probe a series of enigmatic murders and unsettling behaviors. However, the early chapters were weighed down by dense exposition and extensive world-building. While this groundwork is understandable, given the intricate mechanics of the narrative, it does demand a certain level of patience from the reader.

As is often the case with dual timelines, one proved more compelling than the other. Still, both narratives ultimately converged in a way that was somewhat cohesive. That said, there were a few weaker points. The author seemed intent on establishing a romantic tension between the protagonist and a central male character, but the chemistry never quite resonated for me. Additionally, the time-travel mechanics, while intriguing, occasionally lacked internal coherence, which disrupted the suspension of disbelief.

What did shine was the present-day mystery, which was both tightly constructed and well-resolved. While I wouldn’t be inclined to pursue a sequel, The Frozen People stands firmly as an imaginative, genre-blending standalone that ultimately delivers a thought-provoking and entertaining read—if you’re willing to commit through a slower beginning.

I'm a huge fan of the time travel genre and this book does not disappoint. An eclectic team of researchers has figured out how to jump back in time and they are tasked with going back to the Victorian period to determine if the great grandparent of a member of parliament was a serial killer. This story is not just a time travel book, it's also a mystery with lots of historical information thrown in. I thoroughly enjoyed it and look forward to the next installment.

As a longtime fan of atmospheric thrillers, The Frozen People by Elly Griffiths definitely scratched the itch. It’s got that classic Griffiths flair: suspenseful pacing, quirky but deeply human characters, and just enough Nordic noir vibes to make you want to grab a blanket and read late into the night.

The cold landscape is more than just a setting—it’s practically a character in itself. The plot unravels with just the right mix of intrigue and emotion, though I did find one or two twists a little predictable (hey, we genre addicts have seen it all). Still, the build-up and character dynamics kept me hooked.

Griffiths doesn't shy away from weaving in deeper themes beneath the surface mystery, which I loved. It's not her most groundbreaking work, but it’s haunting, solid, and totally worth your time—especially if you're into sleuthing through icy secrets with a cup of tea in hand.

Would I recommend it? Absolutely. Would I reread it? Maybe not immediately, but it'll linger in my thoughts for a while.

Thank you so much to NetGalley and Pamela Dorman Books for this ARC!

The Frozen People is the first installment in author Elly Griffiths' Ali Dawson series. The story alternates between the year 2023 and 1850. This novel is an ambitious blend of crime fiction, historical drama, and science fiction, centered around a time-traveling detective investigating cold cases. The Frozen People introduces Detective Sergeant Ali Dawson, a single mother in her fifties working in the Department of Logistics, a covert unit tasked with solving cold cases so old they’re jokingly referred to as “frozen.”

The team’s secret weapon? The ability to travel back in time to gather evidence was a process pioneered by the enigmatic physicist Serafina Jones. Ali, a seasoned detective with a no-nonsense attitude, has only made short jumps to the recent past until she’s assigned a daunting mission: travel to 1850s London to clear the name of Cain Templeton, the eccentric great-grandfather of Tory MP Isaac Templeton. Cain is rumored to have been part of a sinister group called The Collectors, where membership allegedly required committing a murder.

Upon arriving in Victorian London during a brutal mini ice age, Ali finds herself in a lodging house populated by artists, with a dead woman at her feet and a web of unanswered questions. As she navigates the gritty, candle-lit world of 1850, complications arise: she becomes entangled in the mystery, faces unexpected dangers, and discovers she’s unable to return to the present. Meanwhile, in 2023, her son Finn faces his own crisis, arrested for a murder that may be connected to Ali’s investigation.

Griffiths’ research into Victorian London is impressive, bringing the era to life with sensory details: the icy slush on cobblestone streets, the discomfort of corsets, the grime of lodging houses, and the social constraints on women. Ali’s culture shock— grappling with chamber pots, candle-lit evenings, and societal expectations—immerses readers in the period while subtly commenting on progress and gender roles. Her connection with Cain Templeton is interesting, but doesn't overwhelm the story with an unnecessary romantic interlude.

The dual timelines converge in a race against time, as Ali grapples with the constraints of Victorian society and her desperate need to save her son. Ali is a standout character, a middle-aged, menopausal, and fiercely independent detective whose complexity rivals Griffiths’ beloved Ruth Galloway. As a single mother with a grown son, Finn, and a Siamese cat, Terry, Ali is relatable and grounded, her no-nonsense attitude tempered by vulnerability. Her own downside is that she's a devout Socialist like one of her numerous husbands.

Her struggles with Victorian gender norms highlight her modern sensibilities, while her emotional investment in protecting Finn anchors the story. Griffiths’ portrayal of Ali as a working mother navigating a male-dominated profession adds depth, making her a protagonist readers will root for. Unfortunately for me, the author also apparently thinks that Socialism and those who follow it are good people. Sorry, but no. Socialism ruins people's lives and makes them reliant on government handouts. Don't believe me? See NYC and learn about the candidates running for Mayor.

The Frozen People is a perfect blend of crime fiction and speculative fiction. Combine that with a historically accurate depiction of 19th Century England and Elly Griffith has written my favorite novel of 2025! A police team at The Met who solves cold cases by travelling back in time is a brilliant idea, and the plot execution could have stumbled with a vague explanation of how the time travel works. While I don't know all the intricacies of contemporary physics, I've read enough speculative fiction that the mechanics of the time travel in The Frozen People is explained cogently. Before the protagonist, DI Ali Dawson, is sent to 1850s London to clear a politician's ancestor's name, she's told by an advisor "Don't Trust Dickens". Elly Griffiths has followed that advice as well, in drawing a memorable and accurate (I know a bit more about 19th Century Britain than I do physics) milieu.

The entire Met team is wonderful. So are the people Ali meets in her travels to the past, especially Clara the housekeeper. Single mum Ali's relationship with her adult(ish) son Finn is lovely and, as the plot develops, heartwrenching.

The novel ends with both a resolution and a need for a followup, and I cannot wait!

Y’all know I love time travel, police procedurals, and cold cases. So when I got offered the first in a new series about time-traveling detectives from a cold case unit, I said yes immediately. Elly Griffiths has been on my TBR for years, but The Frozen People was the first one I actually read. It follows Ali Dawson, who works for the London cold case team (jokingly cases so cold they're frozen.) She's tasked with traveling to 1850, farther back than any of them have ever has gone. The Frozen People is both a captivating mystery and a fascinating example of time travel. Griffiths builds both this world and its characters beautifully. I'm already eagerly awaiting the next one.

I LOVED THIS BOOK! Which is no surprise considering how this is one of my favorite authors. But this is so different from the books I've read previously of hers and it really shines! The amount of research that went into this book must have been astounding; and yet it flowed so effortlessly that I did not have to stop and ponder the time travel or any of the details of past and present. It just had me nodding along like it all was surprising, but made total sense. That is the power of this author's writing style for including historical (and this time physics) facts and easily incorporating them into the best stories. The characters are just fabulous and intriguing and made this book a lot of fun. There are a few different threads in this book and they came together in the shocking and best ways. Ali is my new favorite sleuth, she is quirky and caring and so brave! I loved the combo of past and present and I CANNOT wait to continue after that ending!!!

Ali Dawson solves cold cases. Very cold. Her small team uses cutting-edge technology to visit the past and crack decades-old murders. When a powerful politician (who happens to be her son Finn’s boss) pushes them to exonerate his ancestor, Ali finds herself trapped in 1850. She splits her focus between trying to get home and to find a killer in society where detectives barely exist, unaware that Finn has gotten wrapped up in a murder mystery of his own in the present. The Victorian setting is richly detailed, its characters more fleshed out than Ali’s handful of coworkers.

I never started Elly Griffiths' Ruth Halloway series because I always feel overwhelmed jumping into a series that has so many installments but now that I have read The Frozen People, I realize what I've been missing.

The Frozen People is the start of a new series, focused on Ali Dawson, a detective who is part of a small team who travel back in time to solve cold cases. A clever premise and a believable cast of characters really set The Frozen People apart from its fellow police procedurals. Exceptional setting gives this book a hybrid historical fiction-crime-mystery feel. Weaving through time, Ali begins to investigate a story that hits a bit close to home. Original, fast-paced, and the absolute perfect book to get completely sucked into. Ruth Halloway, here I come!

“The Frozen People,” by Elly Griffiths, Pamela Dorman Books, 304 pages, July 8, 2025.

Detective Sergeant Alison Dawson is one of the five members of the Department of Logistics in the East End of London. They investigate cold cases and recently solved a disappearance from the 1970s.

Under the management of Detective Chief Inspector Geoff Bastian and physicist Seraphina "Jones" Pellegrini, this small team has a secret: they can travel back in time. They call it going through the gate. They don’t act on anything; they just observe. To return, they must stand in the exact same spot as when they arrived at an agreed upon time.

Ali, 50, has three ex-husbands and an adult son, Finn Kennedy. Finn is now a Ministerial Special Advisor to Tory Member of Parliament and Prime Minister hopeful Isaac Templeton. Some officials in government are aware of what the investigators do.

Geoff tells Ali that they’ve been asked to travel back to 1850s London to clear the name of Templeton’s great-great-grandfather, Cain Templeton. Rumor has it that Cain was part of a group called The Collectors, whose price of admission was the murder of a woman. He was suspected of committing three murders, but was never charged. Isaac wants to clear his ancestor’s name.

Ali arrives in the Victorian era and soon finds another murdered woman. She is only to be in that time period for one hour, but when she doesn’t return for days, Finn goes to the team for answers. He learns that they are planning to rescue Ali, who is apparently trapped. If Ali doesn’t get back, will that change the present? To add to the tension, Finn is then arrested for a murder.

The plot slowly builds in both timelines. While I believe a man would have an easier time navigating Victorian England than a woman, if you suspend disbelief for a time travel novel then you have to go along with the whole premise. But it is a fascinating plot, the atmosphere seems real and the characters are enjoyable.

I rate it five out of five stars.

In accordance with FTC guidelines, the advance reader's edition of this book was provided by the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for a review.

Thank you so much to Viking Books for the gifted ARC!

3.5 stars

This one was fun and felt so fresh and original to me!

I'm very hit or miss on time travel books as a lot of them come across very corny and cheesy to me. I'm happy to say that the time travel aspect of this one was done so well and really impressed me! The explanation behind the science of it, the character's preparation for it, and the struggle to get back were all so interesting to read about!

Ali Dawson is using time travel to go back in time and solve a murder mystery. She has no idea what clues her journey will reveal, but one thing is certain, she will be shocked by what she uncovers in the past! Her trip takes her to 1850s London which was such a fine place/time period to learn so much about through her time travels.

The characters themselves were very lovable and I almost got some THURSDAY MURDER CLUB vibes from them, and if you know how much I love that series, you know how big of a compliment that is! I was rooting for them the whole time!

I do feel like I was left wanting more at the end as it wasn't as fully fleshed out as I would have liked. I still definitely want to read more by Elly Griffiths and still think this one was absolutely worth reading!

Elly Griffiths is a beloved author for good reason, and her skillful plotting and great characterization, as well as empathy and gentle humor, are in evidence in her newest title, The Frozen People. Definitely a departure from her earlier series, The Frozen People features a little known (deliberately) UK government department focused on solving cold cases via time travel. Team member Ali Dawson gets sent back farther then the department has ventured before - to the 1850s - in pursuit of information that could be pertinent to a prominent modern UK family. Her experiences as a modern woman dealing with 1850s dress, manners, and living conditions are vividly drawn. And when her return to the present doesn't happen as planned, Ali must rely on her wits and instincts to both survive and to pursue the truth, not realizing that her grown son Finn is in legal trouble back in modern day London. I love this title, and can't wait to see what happens next for Ali!

As a massive fan of Elly Griffiths stories, her newest series enticed me with its intriguing premise. Ali works for a cold case unit in London, but to solve crimes, they can travel back in time to see the crime occur. When a case comes in from an MP to solve a mystery from the 1850s that has haunted his family for years, Ali takes the case. Soon after, another modern crime occurs with connections to the 1850 crime and thus begins a complicated journey to the truth. Time travel can be hit or miss, but Griffiths does it well, making it seem like a natural occurrence. She also leaves a few threads open, making the reader wonder what happens next in her next iteration. Griffiths blends mystery with a dash of sci-fi that should satisfy fans of both genres and leave them wanting more.

Thanks to NetGalley for the ARC!

I’ll admit, it took me a while (about 25% to 40% into the book) before this story really grabbed me. The premise is undeniably intriguing: time traveling investigators sent back to the 1850's to uncover suspicious behavior and murders. But the opening chapters were heavy on exposition and world building, which slowed the pace early on. It’s understandable, given the complexity of the setup, but it did take some patience.

As with many dual timeline stories, one narrative was definitely more compelling than the other for me. Still, both threads contributed to a layered and ultimately satisfying story. But the ending totally caught me off guard. I had my theories, but I was wrong, and that’s always a win in a mystery like this.

Despite the slow start, The Frozen People delivers a unique blend of historical intrigue and speculative mystery that pays off in the end. If you stick with it, you’ll be rewarded with clever twists and solid entertainment.

Many thanks to NetGalley, PENGUIN GROUP Viking Penguin Pamela Dorman Books, and Elly Griffiths for the ARC. All opinions are my own.

A bit of a departure for Elly Griffiths, but retains her aptitude for charming characters and tricky mystery. I do love a good time-travel story that includes in-depth historical details, so I especially liked seeing Griffiths' characters experience 1850. Not being able to dress by yourself as a woman, having to use a chamber pot, the temperance movement making it easier for the recovering alcoholic to say no to a drink--all of it really satisfied my need to know more about the historical time period. The mystery was not *quite* as satisfying for me, personally,, but was compelling enough and definitely kept the story rolling.