Beyond the ice limit by Douglas Preston & Lincoln Child

"Beyond the ice limit" by Douglas Preston & Lincoln Child- Alien species!

This book is published by Head of Zeus in 2017 and has 324 pages. This is Book 4 of Gideon Crew series. 

Gideon Crew, former art thief, explosive expert and current nuclear scientist is enlisted for a mission by Eli Glinn, head of mission. A mission to Ice Limit. Ice Limit is where the southern ocean meets packed Antarctic ice. Worlds largest meteorite was stolen from an island in south America 5-6 years ago. It weighed 25,000 Tons. The ship carrying it broke into two, dropping the meteorite to sea floor. It was not really a meteorite but an alien seed and is now growing at the bottom of the ocean. 

What is the alien thing? Is it a plant or an animal? Or is it something else? What's Gideon's role? What is the mission?

A science fiction doesn't always have to happen in the space. Here it happens at the bottom of the sea. This life form appears dormant but it grows, a lot. It's also intelligent and can communicate. But it needs help, without which it can't grow. 

The story is on the slower side. It appears like there will be a lasting romance between Gideon and Alex Lispenard (Scientist and DSV in charge), but that doesn't happen. Eli is a character to reckon with. He is stubborn, determined, driven and wants to correct his mistake. Gideon has a tumour and is going to die in about one year. He takes this as his last assignment. He decides to sacrifice his life for the greater good of humanity. 

Gideon Crew series did not start as science fiction but has graduated into one. It would now be difficult for the authors to decouple from the genre. 

The meteorite and the breaking of boat happened in another novel of these authors few years ago. Upon readers demand they wrote this sequel in Gideon Crew series. 

Why did I read this book? Authors

What I didn't like? After effects, or the lack of them,  of nuclear explosion.

What did I like? Concept of this alien life form. 

Read it if you are reading the series, otherwise give it a miss.