by Peter Heller
First published 2021
Jack works as a fishing guide at Kingfisher Lodge, a high-end resort that sits along pristine river waters. The lodge markets itself as a sanctuary where wealthy guests can escape the viruses ravaging America and return to simpler pleasures. Jack needs this refuge too. He carries fresh grief from a devastating personal loss and hopes the rhythms of guiding will help him heal. The lodge feels like a return to better times, insulated from the chaos outside. Then Jack hears a human scream cut through the darkness. The sound shatters his sense of safety and forces him to question everything about Kingfisher Lodge. What he discovers suggests the resort operates as a front for something far more dangerous. The peaceful retreat transforms into a trap, and Jack must navigate threats he never anticipated. His search for healing becomes a fight for survival as he uncovers the truth behind the lodge's real purpose.
Genres: adventure, mystery, contemporary, thriller
Vibes: emotional, intimate, suspenseful
Tropes: fight-for-survival, fish-out-of-water
Setting: America, Kingfisher Lodge
Period: 21st-century
Hardcover · W&N
Content warnings: mental-illness