Heartwood

Alright, listen up, bookworms! Jenna Bush Hager says, "You will open this book, and you will not stop reading." Seriously, that's a pretty strong endorsement, right? And Jennifer Egan (Pulitzer Prize winner, no big deal) calls it "a riveting wilderness suspense novel by a novelist at the height of her powers." Intrigued yet?

"Heartwood" plunges you into the Maine woods, where an experienced Appalachian Trail hiker, Valerie Gillis, vanishes. She's 200 miles from her destination, alone, battling dwindling supplies and the approaching winter. Through fractured, poetic letters to her mother, we get a glimpse into her thoughts, her fears, and her desperate hope for rescue.

Leading the search is Beverly, a determined Maine State Game Warden. She's on the ground, battling the elements and the clock, determined to bring Valerie home. Meanwhile, Lena, a 76-year-old birdwatcher in Connecticut, becomes an unlikely armchair detective, piecing together clues from afar.

As these narratives intertwine, a chilling possibility emerges: Valerie's disappearance may be more than just a tragic accident.

But "Heartwood" is more than just a suspenseful thriller. It's a "gem of a thousand facets," according to Megan Majumdar (NYT bestselling author), "suspenseful, transporting, tender, and ultimately soul-mending." It explores the many ways we get lost in life, grappling with past traumas and searching for connection, and how we ultimately find our way back.

This is a novel that seeks to understand the human spirit, written with both literary ambition and a deep sense of empathy. If you're looking for a book that will keep you on the edge of your seat while also making you think about the deeper things in life, "Heartwood" is a must-read. Get ready to be captivated!