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Synopsis
In this captivating novel of suspense, a wilderness guide must team up with the man who ruined her life years ago when the friend who introduced them goes missing.
Emlyn doesn't let herself think about the past.
How she and her best friend, Janessa, barely speak anymore. How Tyler, the man she thought was the love of her life, left her freezing and half-dead on the side of the road three years ago.
Her new life is simple and safe. She works as a fishing and hunting guide, spending her days in Idaho's endless woods and scenic rivers. She lives alone in her Airstream trailer, her closest friends a handsome and kind Forest Service ranger and the community's makeshift reverend, who took her in at her lowest.
But when Tyler shows up with the news that Janessa is missing, Emlyn is propelled back into the world she worked so hard to forget. Janessa, it turns out, has become a social media star, documenting her #vanlife adventures with her rugged survivalist boyfriend. But she hasn't posted lately, and when she does, it's from a completely different location than where her caption claims to be. In spite of their fractured history, Emlyn knows she might be the only one with the knowledge and tracking skills to save her friend, so she reluctantly teams up with Tyler. As the two trace Janessa's path through miles of wild country, Emlyn can't deny there's still chemistry crackling between them. But the deeper they press into the wilderness, the more she begins to suspect that a darker truth lies in the woods?and that Janessa isn't the only one in danger.
Poignant, suspenseful, and unforgettable, THE NATURE OF DISAPPEARING explores what it takes to start over?and the cost of letting the past pull you back in.
Synopsis source: Goodreads
Review
Genre(s): Fiction, Mystery/Thriller
HB&W Rating: 4
View on Goodreads
Buy on Amazon, Barnes & Noble
Expected Publication: June 18, 2024
This backcountry thriller might be a slow-burn, but it is no less compelling; predictable, but no less enjoyable. I finished it in a single day. If you've been around my blog, you know I enjoy the outdoors and camping, so when I read the synopsis for this on NetGalley, I immediately requested it.
I really liked Emlyn's arc. The synopsis says that her ex "ruined" her life, which I think is a bit of a misnomer. Fairer to say that he traumatized her and she struggled to heal from that trauma. But I thought the author did a great job of showing us her growth and healing from past hurts and trauma and the self-perceptions those things created in her. I thought some of the side characters took longer to come to life because they were only related in flashbacks for the most part.
The way the story was told in alternating timelines allowed the story to unfold very neatly. I did find, however, that the present timeline interested me much more than the past timeline, at least until about 60% of the way through.
I really liked the overall theme of wilderness, shown in this book both literally and figuratively. Her writing around this topic was incredibly insightful and I highlighted a couple passages about it.
Even if you're not all outdoorsy, if you enjoy suspense, this slow-burn thriller will hit the spot. It comes out June 18th, so be sure to grab a copy!
Thank you to Minotaur Books and NetGalley for providing me with a copy of this eARC in exchange for my honest review.
Until next time,
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