First published 2008
Zak Polanski avoids commitment and dislikes wealth. After rescuing Nadine Newcastle from an accident, he finds himself in an unlikely romance that eventually falls apart. Zak returns to his solitary habits, but Nadine's ex-boyfriend William Potter III refuses to accept the situation. Potter tracks Zak to an isolated campground at Panther Creek, where Zak joins four other mountain bikers for a weekend ride in the Cascade foothills. What Potter intends as petty revenge quickly spirals out of control when weapons appear and tempers flare. Alcohol and wounded pride fuel the confrontation as the cyclists find themselves cut off from civilization. The urban professionals must navigate both human malice and the unforgiving wilderness. Survival becomes the only priority as nature amplifies the danger created by jealousy and rage.
Genres: adventure, contemporary, thriller, action
Vibes: dark, fast-paced, suspenseful
Tropes: enemies-to-lovers, fish-out-of-water
Setting: Panther Creek, Cascade Foothills
Period: Contemporary
368 pages · Mass Market Paperback · Ballantine Books
Content warnings: violence