Books & Audiobooks
Even on a good day, hiking in Utah’s rugged backcountry is dangerous. Flash floods, rattlesnakes and dehydration can appear out of nowhere, often with fatal consequences. But add in someone who’s out for murder and survival becomes bleak.
49 Miles Alone by Natalie D. Richards is a survival thriller about two teenage cousins hiking in a desert canyon. One is a hiking expert. The other is a climbing expert. One is looking for redemption. The other is looking for solitude. After experiencing a traumatic situation at a party, both young women plan a four-day trek to give them a chance to heal. As they begin their journey, the cousins note how, unlike humans, nature always announces impending danger. A scorpion will raise its tail, an approaching storm will rumble, but even the most dangerous person can hide behind a mask of charm.
Their hike will lead them away from civilization, which they hope will give them much needed space and allow them to gain a sense of control. But a flash flood forces them off the trail, leaving them unsure of their direction. In the desert, losing the proper trail can be deadly. It is easy to be fooled by animal tracks or dried-up riverbeds that mimic trails only to end up miles off course. Eventually, they hear voices in the distance and come across a couple who also claim to be hikers. But the couples’ abrupt disappearance in the middle of the night leaves the cousins believing they may be facing more danger than just the harsh elements of the canyon.
What makes or breaks a thriller is the pace, and 49 Miles Alone nails it. The plot unfolds with a proper balance of tension without resorting to cheap jump scares – a pitfall many thrillers fall into. The story is told in alternating points of view of the cousins, along with a third voice of an unknown character. The fate of this character creates a sense of foreboding long before either cousin reaches any danger.
The story is written by someone who clearly knows the landscape of Utah and how to navigate its difficult terrain. It’s this authenticity that makes the plot so believable. The author states in her acknowledgements that she herself once embarked on a similar journey to find healing. A piece of herself was left in the canyons of Utah and she’s used that to create a story that rings true in the hearts of readers. This is one of the best teen thrillers I’ve read in a long time!