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Heartwood
Goodreads Choice Award
Nominee for Readers' Favorite Mystery & Thriller (2025)Heartwood takes you on a journey as a search and rescue team race against time when an experienced hiker mysteriously disappears on the Appalachian Trail in Maine.
In the heart of the Maine woods, an experienced Appalachian Trail hiker goes missing. She is forty-two-year-old Valerie Gillis, who has vanished 200 miles from her final destination. Alone in the wilderness, Valerie pours her thoughts into fractured, poetic letters to her mother as she battles the elements and struggles to keep hoping.
At the heart of the investigation is Beverly, the determined Maine State Game Warden tasked with finding Valerie, who leads the search on the ground. Meanwhile, Lena, a seventy-six-year-old birdwatcher in a Connecticut retirement community, becomes an unexpected armchair detective. Roving between these compelling narratives, a puzzle emerges, intensifying the frantic search, as Valerie’s disappearance may not be accidental.
In the heart of the Maine woods, an experienced Appalachian Trail hiker goes missing. She is forty-two-year-old Valerie Gillis, who has vanished 200 miles from her final destination. Alone in the wilderness, Valerie pours her thoughts into fractured, poetic letters to her mother as she battles the elements and struggles to keep hoping.
At the heart of the investigation is Beverly, the determined Maine State Game Warden tasked with finding Valerie, who leads the search on the ground. Meanwhile, Lena, a seventy-six-year-old birdwatcher in a Connecticut retirement community, becomes an unexpected armchair detective. Roving between these compelling narratives, a puzzle emerges, intensifying the frantic search, as Valerie’s disappearance may not be accidental.
First published April 1, 2025
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About the author
Amity Gaige
12 books1,079 followersAmity Gaige is the author of four previous novels, O My Darling, The Folded World, Schroder, and Sea Wife. Sea Wife was a 2020 New York Times Notable Book and a finalist for the Mark Twain American Voice Award. Her previous novel, Schroder, was named one of Best Books of 2013 by The New York Times Book Review, Washington Post, The Wall Street Journal, among others, and was shortlisted for UK’s Folio Prize (now Writers’ Prize) in 2014. Her work has been translated into 18 languages. Amity is the winner of a Fulbright Fellowship, fellowships at the MacDowell and Yaddo colonies, and in 2016, she was awarded a Guggenheim Fellowship in Fiction. She lives in West Hartford, CT, with her family, and teaches creative writing at Yale.
Follow her on Instagram @amity_gaige.
Follow her on Instagram @amity_gaige.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 9,890 reviews
January 17, 2026
This slow-burn, multi-POV mystery and suspense novel revolves around the disappearance of 42-year-old Valerie Gillis near the Appalachian Trail. Her husband, expecting to meet her at their designated point, grows increasingly worried when she fails to arrive.
We gain insight into Valerie’s harrowing experience through letters she writes to her mother while lost in the wilderness—alone, hungry, exhausted, and on the verge of breaking down. Another perspective comes from Lieutenant Beverly, a dedicated Maine State Game Warden leading the search. She’s fully committed to her work, often at the expense of her personal life, while navigating her own family crisis involving her mother’s declining health.
The third POV belongs to 76-year-old birdwatcher Lena, a reclusive woman in a Connecticut retirement community who turns into an armchair detective. She stumbles upon a mysterious online friend with compelling conspiracy theories about the dark secrets surrounding the Appalachian Trail—secrets that even law enforcement hesitates to investigate. Could Valerie’s disappearance be tied to something far more sinister? As time passes with no trace of her, the chances of her survival dwindle.
Did her husband or a fellow hiker play a role in her vanishing? Or did the emotional toll of her burnout as a nurse during the pandemic push her to a breaking point?
Overall, this novel delivers a gripping mystery with a heartfelt exploration of motherhood, self-discovery, loneliness, and resilience. While the pacing is slow at times, the well-drawn characters and suspense kept me invested, eager to find out Valerie’s fate. I’m rounding my 3.5-star rating up to 4—it’s a well-written women’s fiction novel with a compelling mystery that keeps you on edge until the very end.
Many thanks to NetGalley and Simon & Schuster for providing me with a digital review copy in exchange for my honest thoughts.
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We gain insight into Valerie’s harrowing experience through letters she writes to her mother while lost in the wilderness—alone, hungry, exhausted, and on the verge of breaking down. Another perspective comes from Lieutenant Beverly, a dedicated Maine State Game Warden leading the search. She’s fully committed to her work, often at the expense of her personal life, while navigating her own family crisis involving her mother’s declining health.
The third POV belongs to 76-year-old birdwatcher Lena, a reclusive woman in a Connecticut retirement community who turns into an armchair detective. She stumbles upon a mysterious online friend with compelling conspiracy theories about the dark secrets surrounding the Appalachian Trail—secrets that even law enforcement hesitates to investigate. Could Valerie’s disappearance be tied to something far more sinister? As time passes with no trace of her, the chances of her survival dwindle.
Did her husband or a fellow hiker play a role in her vanishing? Or did the emotional toll of her burnout as a nurse during the pandemic push her to a breaking point?
Overall, this novel delivers a gripping mystery with a heartfelt exploration of motherhood, self-discovery, loneliness, and resilience. While the pacing is slow at times, the well-drawn characters and suspense kept me invested, eager to find out Valerie’s fate. I’m rounding my 3.5-star rating up to 4—it’s a well-written women’s fiction novel with a compelling mystery that keeps you on edge until the very end.
Many thanks to NetGalley and Simon & Schuster for providing me with a digital review copy in exchange for my honest thoughts.
medium blog
May 16, 2025
I feel like everyone is writing a story about someone lost in the woods lately!? Is it just me? I just couldn’t stay immersed in this story.
I was bored to death. It felt like Cast Away but in the woods and with moths instead of volley ball. But drag the pacing.
Back to listening to the Karen Read trial I go.
****
I've been feeling a little slumpy lately... little unsettled, little overwhelmed lol and totally slumpy. I have a reread planned for later this week for an absolute favorite - but in the meantime, this one has been on my radar. First - the cover is so gorgeous!
Hoping it delivers!
🌳Mystery x Thriller
🦋Multiple POV
🌳Strong Female Characters
🦋Fast- Paced x Short Chapters
🌳Poetic Prose
🦋Maine Wilderness
🌳Many Faces of Isolation
🦋Missing Person
🌳Self-Discovery
I was bored to death. It felt like Cast Away but in the woods and with moths instead of volley ball. But drag the pacing.
Back to listening to the Karen Read trial I go.
****
I've been feeling a little slumpy lately... little unsettled, little overwhelmed lol and totally slumpy. I have a reread planned for later this week for an absolute favorite - but in the meantime, this one has been on my radar. First - the cover is so gorgeous!
Hoping it delivers!
🌳Mystery x Thriller
🦋Multiple POV
🌳Strong Female Characters
🦋Fast- Paced x Short Chapters
🌳Poetic Prose
🦋Maine Wilderness
🌳Many Faces of Isolation
🦋Missing Person
🌳Self-Discovery
May 25, 2025
The Appalachian trail is 2200 miles long in the Eastern U.S. Hiking it can take 5-7 months.
This is a hiker’s dream. Except a hiker has gone missing. A hiker’s nightmare. Valerie Gillis, a nurse who goes by the trail name Sparrow, decided to conquer this trail having become burnt out after covid. She has now been missing for days. A team has been put together to start the search. Has she gone off the trail? Or is it foul play?
We meet several characters as the search begins. The game warden, Bev, is leading the charge; Lena, who sits in her retirement home on her computer, conducts a search of her own. The intertwined connections made between humans: mother, daughter, partner, friend. Family being the ‘heartwood’.
There is a beauty in the writing of this fragile ecosystem. Gaige captures nature at its finest. From the descriptions of the creeks, the woods, the moss and the birds.
4.5⭐️
Thanks TGH - I may have not had this on my radar if not for your recommendation and sharing of it!
Reminiscent of Into the Wild and Wild: From Lost to Found on the Pacific Crest Trail.
This is a hiker’s dream. Except a hiker has gone missing. A hiker’s nightmare. Valerie Gillis, a nurse who goes by the trail name Sparrow, decided to conquer this trail having become burnt out after covid. She has now been missing for days. A team has been put together to start the search. Has she gone off the trail? Or is it foul play?
We meet several characters as the search begins. The game warden, Bev, is leading the charge; Lena, who sits in her retirement home on her computer, conducts a search of her own. The intertwined connections made between humans: mother, daughter, partner, friend. Family being the ‘heartwood’.
There is a beauty in the writing of this fragile ecosystem. Gaige captures nature at its finest. From the descriptions of the creeks, the woods, the moss and the birds.
4.5⭐️
Thanks TGH - I may have not had this on my radar if not for your recommendation and sharing of it!
Reminiscent of Into the Wild and Wild: From Lost to Found on the Pacific Crest Trail.
May 5, 2025
Nicely done Simone & Schuster audio!
“Heartwood” by Amity Gaige captured my attention because it tells the fictional story of a missing 42-year-old hiker on the Appalachian Trail. Valerie Gillis had been hiking for three months when she mysteriously disappears in Maine. I spend summers in a tiny New Hampshire town that borders the trail, and we see hikers pass through regularly. I’ve always been fascinated by those who take months out of their lives to tackle such a journey. Hikers are a certain breed.
Gaige structures the novel in a compelling way—using transcripts from tip-line voicemails and interviews, alongside three distinct points of view. We hear from Lieutenant Bev, a seasoned game warden leading the search. Lena Kucharski, a 76-year-old retired scientist in a wheelchair, follows the case obsessively online. And finally, we get epistolary chapters from Valerie herself, written as letters to her mother, Janet.
It’s in one of Valerie’s letters that the meaning of the title Heartwood is revealed:
"Sometimes, in your lap, I would press my hand against your chest so that I could feel the center of you—your heartwood, your innermost substance, like the core of a tree that keeps it standing."
That sense of emotional core—of what keeps someone standing—runs through the book, especially in its exploration of mother-daughter relationships. Valerie longs for connection and understanding. Bev, whose mother disdained her career as "manly," feels more at home in the wilderness than with her family. Lena is estranged from her daughter, her curiosity about Valerie’s fate seemingly filling a maternal void. Each woman’s relationship with motherhood is layered with absence, longing, or loss.
Gaige also introduces Ruben Serrano, aka Santo, a self-described fat Dominican American who befriends Valerie (trail name: Sparrow). He provides much-needed levity—imagine a man of color with ill-fitting secondhand gear navigating the rigors of "Rockaylvania" (Pennsylvania). Through Ruben, Gaige subtly critiques the whiteness of outdoor culture, reminding readers that long-distance hiking, like many outdoor pursuits, is often an exclusive world.
We, as readers, learn things about Valerie that Lt. Bev and the search team never do, and Gaige maintains narrative tension until the end—we don’t know what ultimately happened to Valerie until the final chapters.
Ever wonder what it takes to search for a missing hiker? Gaige gives us a moving glimpse into the desperation and exhaustion faced by search-and-rescue teams, while also showing how easily things can go wrong in the backcountry.
I listened to the audio version—nearly nine hours—and it was a rich experience. Simon & Schuster wisely used a full cast of six narrators: Justine Lupe, Alma Cuervo, Rebecca Lowman, Ali Andre Ali, Cary Hite, and Helen Laser. Kudos to them for bringing this multilayered story vividly to life.
“Heartwood” by Amity Gaige captured my attention because it tells the fictional story of a missing 42-year-old hiker on the Appalachian Trail. Valerie Gillis had been hiking for three months when she mysteriously disappears in Maine. I spend summers in a tiny New Hampshire town that borders the trail, and we see hikers pass through regularly. I’ve always been fascinated by those who take months out of their lives to tackle such a journey. Hikers are a certain breed.
Gaige structures the novel in a compelling way—using transcripts from tip-line voicemails and interviews, alongside three distinct points of view. We hear from Lieutenant Bev, a seasoned game warden leading the search. Lena Kucharski, a 76-year-old retired scientist in a wheelchair, follows the case obsessively online. And finally, we get epistolary chapters from Valerie herself, written as letters to her mother, Janet.
It’s in one of Valerie’s letters that the meaning of the title Heartwood is revealed:
"Sometimes, in your lap, I would press my hand against your chest so that I could feel the center of you—your heartwood, your innermost substance, like the core of a tree that keeps it standing."
That sense of emotional core—of what keeps someone standing—runs through the book, especially in its exploration of mother-daughter relationships. Valerie longs for connection and understanding. Bev, whose mother disdained her career as "manly," feels more at home in the wilderness than with her family. Lena is estranged from her daughter, her curiosity about Valerie’s fate seemingly filling a maternal void. Each woman’s relationship with motherhood is layered with absence, longing, or loss.
Gaige also introduces Ruben Serrano, aka Santo, a self-described fat Dominican American who befriends Valerie (trail name: Sparrow). He provides much-needed levity—imagine a man of color with ill-fitting secondhand gear navigating the rigors of "Rockaylvania" (Pennsylvania). Through Ruben, Gaige subtly critiques the whiteness of outdoor culture, reminding readers that long-distance hiking, like many outdoor pursuits, is often an exclusive world.
We, as readers, learn things about Valerie that Lt. Bev and the search team never do, and Gaige maintains narrative tension until the end—we don’t know what ultimately happened to Valerie until the final chapters.
Ever wonder what it takes to search for a missing hiker? Gaige gives us a moving glimpse into the desperation and exhaustion faced by search-and-rescue teams, while also showing how easily things can go wrong in the backcountry.
I listened to the audio version—nearly nine hours—and it was a rich experience. Simon & Schuster wisely used a full cast of six narrators: Justine Lupe, Alma Cuervo, Rebecca Lowman, Ali Andre Ali, Cary Hite, and Helen Laser. Kudos to them for bringing this multilayered story vividly to life.
May 14, 2025
Sometimes, in your lap, I would press my hand against your chest so that I could feel the center of you-your heartwood, your innermost substance, like the core of a tree that keeps it standing."
~ Amity Gaige, Heartwood
Heartwood is about the resilience of the human spirit, and the dogged search for Valerie Gillis, an experienced hiker, on the Appalachian Trail in the Maine woods, a mere 200 miles from her expected destination. Sparrow, her trail name, is a nurse, beloved wife, daughter, and friend. It is a frantic search against time, that quickly goes viral...
There are many reasons to love this book, and at the top of my list are Gaige's beautiful writing and engaging storytelling. Add in an unlikely mix of primary characters: Lieutenant Bev - the Game Warden leading the search; Lena - a septuagenarian following online; Santo - Valerie's trail-brother companion, all of whom have alternating perspectives, connecting the story to its denouement.
Themes of survival and resilience are interlaced with exploring mother-daughter relationships and searching for meaning and belonging in one's life. I can't help but think that 'nature versus nurture' is also relevant to this tale.
Valerie's journal fueled her with the outlet of meditative love letters to her mother and her reflective thoughts in general. Through her writing, I felt her pain, fear, and aloneness. The journey within herself was intense and brought me to tears more than once.
As an immersion read, the audiobook's multicasting narrations bring the characters to life and deliver unique and emotional recountings. Listening was transportive, making this audiobook an unforgettable experience, and my preferred format for this story.
“Dear Mother, You used to call me Sparrow. Why Sparrow? Well, because the woods are full of sparrows, and you loved everything outdoors. Songbirds, wildflowers, wind. You could read the weather like a poem. But why did I remind you of a sparrow and not another songbird? I never thought to ask..."
Heartwood is suspenseful, frantic, and wildly dark. It is also soulful, hopeful, and tender, an addictive read I will remember for a long time!
5⭐
Heartwood is about the resilience of the human spirit, and the dogged search for Valerie Gillis, an experienced hiker, on the Appalachian Trail in the Maine woods, a mere 200 miles from her expected destination. Sparrow, her trail name, is a nurse, beloved wife, daughter, and friend. It is a frantic search against time, that quickly goes viral...
There are many reasons to love this book, and at the top of my list are Gaige's beautiful writing and engaging storytelling. Add in an unlikely mix of primary characters: Lieutenant Bev - the Game Warden leading the search; Lena - a septuagenarian following online; Santo - Valerie's trail-brother companion, all of whom have alternating perspectives, connecting the story to its denouement.
Themes of survival and resilience are interlaced with exploring mother-daughter relationships and searching for meaning and belonging in one's life. I can't help but think that 'nature versus nurture' is also relevant to this tale.
Valerie's journal fueled her with the outlet of meditative love letters to her mother and her reflective thoughts in general. Through her writing, I felt her pain, fear, and aloneness. The journey within herself was intense and brought me to tears more than once.
As an immersion read, the audiobook's multicasting narrations bring the characters to life and deliver unique and emotional recountings. Listening was transportive, making this audiobook an unforgettable experience, and my preferred format for this story.
“Dear Mother, You used to call me Sparrow. Why Sparrow? Well, because the woods are full of sparrows, and you loved everything outdoors. Songbirds, wildflowers, wind. You could read the weather like a poem. But why did I remind you of a sparrow and not another songbird? I never thought to ask..."
Heartwood is suspenseful, frantic, and wildly dark. It is also soulful, hopeful, and tender, an addictive read I will remember for a long time!
5⭐
April 9, 2025
A Grounded Sparrow
"Heartwood" tells the story of the search for Valerie Gillis, a 42-year-old hiker known as "Sparrow," who vanishes while navigating the challenging Appalachian Trail. In charge of conducting the search is Beverly, a Maine State Game Warden. A third key player is Lena, a seventy-six-year-old retirement home resident who connects strongly with the missing woman. This trinity of women provides the framework of the book.
Valerie, a nurse, found herself drained and disillusioned after the Covid crisis. “We were called heroes. But we were given only two options– being a hero or falling apart.” The Appalachian Trail was her way to seek rejuvenation. Her journal entries, penned as letters to her mother, offer a glimpse into her emotional and physical deterioration. These entries gradually reveal the reasons why this seasoned hiker strayed so far off course, especially when she was so close to completing the trail.
Beverly's unwavering dedication to her work, even at the cost of her personal life, makes her a fascinating character. Her impressive achievements in a male-dominated industry are commendable. However, the lack of progress in this particular case has raised doubts about her capabilities and cast a shadow over her typically relentless drive.
The introduction of Lena is baffling and makes her the weak link, which ultimately makes her eventual importance in solving the central mystery feel contrived and convenient. Her role creates an imbalance in the overall structure. While Valerie's and Beverly's perspectives drive the plot, Lena's interludes feel like unnecessary diversions.
Gregory, Valerie's husband, seemed somewhat evasive. While husbands are always potential suspects, his behavior was particularly difficult to interpret. In contrast to Santo, Valerie's hiking companion for most of the trail, Gregory's role in the story was clear. Santo's periodic interviews seemed unnecessary and appeared to serve only to introduce another possible suspect. In a motion picture, a decent film editor would leave these scenes on the cutting room floor.
I enjoyed learning of the challenges of search-and-rescue operations. Beverly and Valerie were compelling characters and Valerie’s heartfelt journal messages to her mother were moving. Lena and Santo were like speed bumps, however, and detracted from an otherwise smooth reading.
Thank you to Simon and Schuster, NetGalley, and Edelweiss for providing an advance reader copy in exchange for an honest review. #Heartwood
"Heartwood" tells the story of the search for Valerie Gillis, a 42-year-old hiker known as "Sparrow," who vanishes while navigating the challenging Appalachian Trail. In charge of conducting the search is Beverly, a Maine State Game Warden. A third key player is Lena, a seventy-six-year-old retirement home resident who connects strongly with the missing woman. This trinity of women provides the framework of the book.
Valerie, a nurse, found herself drained and disillusioned after the Covid crisis. “We were called heroes. But we were given only two options– being a hero or falling apart.” The Appalachian Trail was her way to seek rejuvenation. Her journal entries, penned as letters to her mother, offer a glimpse into her emotional and physical deterioration. These entries gradually reveal the reasons why this seasoned hiker strayed so far off course, especially when she was so close to completing the trail.
Beverly's unwavering dedication to her work, even at the cost of her personal life, makes her a fascinating character. Her impressive achievements in a male-dominated industry are commendable. However, the lack of progress in this particular case has raised doubts about her capabilities and cast a shadow over her typically relentless drive.
The introduction of Lena is baffling and makes her the weak link, which ultimately makes her eventual importance in solving the central mystery feel contrived and convenient. Her role creates an imbalance in the overall structure. While Valerie's and Beverly's perspectives drive the plot, Lena's interludes feel like unnecessary diversions.
Gregory, Valerie's husband, seemed somewhat evasive. While husbands are always potential suspects, his behavior was particularly difficult to interpret. In contrast to Santo, Valerie's hiking companion for most of the trail, Gregory's role in the story was clear. Santo's periodic interviews seemed unnecessary and appeared to serve only to introduce another possible suspect. In a motion picture, a decent film editor would leave these scenes on the cutting room floor.
I enjoyed learning of the challenges of search-and-rescue operations. Beverly and Valerie were compelling characters and Valerie’s heartfelt journal messages to her mother were moving. Lena and Santo were like speed bumps, however, and detracted from an otherwise smooth reading.
Thank you to Simon and Schuster, NetGalley, and Edelweiss for providing an advance reader copy in exchange for an honest review. #Heartwood
August 19, 2025
Heartwood focuses on the story of the disappearance of 42-year old, Valerie Gillis, just as she was close to completing her journey hiking the entire Appalachian Trail, but it's honestly so much more than that.
This story features a few different perspectives, as well as cleverly-incorporated mixed media elements.
Initially, I wasn't sure how all of the perspectives were going to ultimately blend together, but Gaige did an incredible job with her pacing and reveals. I found myself equally invested in each perspective, which is rare, and enjoyed how they eventually merged.
The suspense was great, the inclusion of nature was beautiful, and the exploration of the personal journeys was top notch. I felt so immersed.
My recommendation would go into this knowing as little as possible. I feel like it's one of those stories best served if you just experience it exactly as the author wants you to. I feel like, though this story had its intense moments, and moments when I feared for particular characters, I was left with such an overriding feeling of hope.
It was really quite lovely. A great reading experience.
I did feel an extra special connection with it as it is set in my home state, and in areas where I have had the pleasure of spending a lot of time, including on the trails.
I think Gaige did a great job with the portrayal of the Maine State Game Wardens, having known a few of them in my own life. I think that's such an amazing profession to feature in a novel like this. I appreciated that aspect.
Thank you to the publisher, Simon & Schuster, for providing me with a copy to read and review. I'm so happy that I made time for this book.
If you love stories of survival, hiking stories or stories that explore nature, both human and the natural world, I highly recommend picking this up!
This story features a few different perspectives, as well as cleverly-incorporated mixed media elements.
Initially, I wasn't sure how all of the perspectives were going to ultimately blend together, but Gaige did an incredible job with her pacing and reveals. I found myself equally invested in each perspective, which is rare, and enjoyed how they eventually merged.
The suspense was great, the inclusion of nature was beautiful, and the exploration of the personal journeys was top notch. I felt so immersed.
My recommendation would go into this knowing as little as possible. I feel like it's one of those stories best served if you just experience it exactly as the author wants you to. I feel like, though this story had its intense moments, and moments when I feared for particular characters, I was left with such an overriding feeling of hope.
It was really quite lovely. A great reading experience.
I did feel an extra special connection with it as it is set in my home state, and in areas where I have had the pleasure of spending a lot of time, including on the trails.
I think Gaige did a great job with the portrayal of the Maine State Game Wardens, having known a few of them in my own life. I think that's such an amazing profession to feature in a novel like this. I appreciated that aspect.
Thank you to the publisher, Simon & Schuster, for providing me with a copy to read and review. I'm so happy that I made time for this book.
If you love stories of survival, hiking stories or stories that explore nature, both human and the natural world, I highly recommend picking this up!
July 4, 2025
As a reader, I feel that when a book gets turned into a movie, of course the book is always better. However, in this case, I feel that if this book was to be turned into a movie, then the movie would probably be much better. If I’m being honest, I was pretty bored throughout this whole story, and I could not wait until our missing hiker was found!
This story revolves around three main characters. We had Valerie, our missing hiker. There was Lt. Bev, who was the warden in charge of the search party in the woods for Valerie. Then there was Lena, a disabled elderly lady who lived in an assisted living home for seniors.
The story starts off with that of Valerie who has gone missing while hiking the Appalachian Trail. We find out that she goes by the nickname of “Sparrow”, a name given to her by her mother. While Valerie is missing, she writes notes to her mother to keep herself going. Lt. Bev begins the search party for Valerie, and in doing so we learn a bit of a backstory on Bev’s life. Then Lena comes into the story, who doesn’t leave her room at assisted living much, but she does have an online friendship that just might help her find the missing hiker who is Valerie.
These three women’s stories didn’t really weave together to make a meaningful story. I felt more for Lena than I did Valerie, and I don’t believe I should have felt that way while reading this. I also thought this story would have been more descriptive and atmospheric (I wanted to feel like I was lost in the woods too), but it wasn’t (not for me anyways).
Anyways, I think I may be in a bit of a book slump because the past few books that I’ve read haven’t really been that great for me lately. Many readers have enjoyed this book more than I did, so perhaps I’m missing something? This is a highly rated book, so I say to still give this book a chance.
This story revolves around three main characters. We had Valerie, our missing hiker. There was Lt. Bev, who was the warden in charge of the search party in the woods for Valerie. Then there was Lena, a disabled elderly lady who lived in an assisted living home for seniors.
The story starts off with that of Valerie who has gone missing while hiking the Appalachian Trail. We find out that she goes by the nickname of “Sparrow”, a name given to her by her mother. While Valerie is missing, she writes notes to her mother to keep herself going. Lt. Bev begins the search party for Valerie, and in doing so we learn a bit of a backstory on Bev’s life. Then Lena comes into the story, who doesn’t leave her room at assisted living much, but she does have an online friendship that just might help her find the missing hiker who is Valerie.
These three women’s stories didn’t really weave together to make a meaningful story. I felt more for Lena than I did Valerie, and I don’t believe I should have felt that way while reading this. I also thought this story would have been more descriptive and atmospheric (I wanted to feel like I was lost in the woods too), but it wasn’t (not for me anyways).
Anyways, I think I may be in a bit of a book slump because the past few books that I’ve read haven’t really been that great for me lately. Many readers have enjoyed this book more than I did, so perhaps I’m missing something? This is a highly rated book, so I say to still give this book a chance.
April 24, 2025
Rounding up to 4.
Great on audio!
This book had all the makings to be a 5 ⭐️ read but it fell flat for me in several places. The writing was impeccable and the audio narration was very enjoyable. But the parts of the story that didn’t work were the Lena chapters. It felt distracting and didn’t work enough for the story for me with how much time we spent with Lena. Also, the ending really felt underwhelming. I’m not sure if we just needed 100 more pages of development throughout Heartwood, but it was lacking all around for me. Positives? It was an easy listen and I consumed it in 2 days.
Great on audio!
This book had all the makings to be a 5 ⭐️ read but it fell flat for me in several places. The writing was impeccable and the audio narration was very enjoyable. But the parts of the story that didn’t work were the Lena chapters. It felt distracting and didn’t work enough for the story for me with how much time we spent with Lena. Also, the ending really felt underwhelming. I’m not sure if we just needed 100 more pages of development throughout Heartwood, but it was lacking all around for me. Positives? It was an easy listen and I consumed it in 2 days.
April 10, 2025
Heartwood is a genre-bending, character-driven mystery that explores the human connection to nature, the mother-daughter bond, friendship, and self-exploration.
I really enjoyed all of the characters and reading from their perspectives. In my opinion, Lena was the star of this story and my favorite character. . I learned so much about hiking and especially the Appalachian Trail (its length and history).
Even though the book was set in the immediate after math of covid, the pandemic took a backseat. The book is classified as a thriller and even though it has a couple of the genres elements, I would classify it more as contemporary fiction or womens fiction.
I listened to the audiobook which was narrated by a full cast including Justine Lupe, Alma Cuervo, Rebecca Lowman, Ali Andre Ali, Cary Hite, and Helen Laser. If you decide to pick this one up, I highly recommend this format!
Heartwood by Amity Gaige was published on April 1 so its available now. Many thanks to Simon Audio for the gifted audiobook!
I really enjoyed all of the characters and reading from their perspectives. In my opinion, Lena was the star of this story and my favorite character. . I learned so much about hiking and especially the Appalachian Trail (its length and history).
Even though the book was set in the immediate after math of covid, the pandemic took a backseat. The book is classified as a thriller and even though it has a couple of the genres elements, I would classify it more as contemporary fiction or womens fiction.
I listened to the audiobook which was narrated by a full cast including Justine Lupe, Alma Cuervo, Rebecca Lowman, Ali Andre Ali, Cary Hite, and Helen Laser. If you decide to pick this one up, I highly recommend this format!
Heartwood by Amity Gaige was published on April 1 so its available now. Many thanks to Simon Audio for the gifted audiobook!
August 26, 2025
The blurb and acclaimed literary praise led me to believe there would be more suspense. I didn't find much suspense at all; the misdirects were easy to see through as they lacked believability and could have been presented with more convincing staging. It's much more a story about mother/daughter relationships and I did appreciate some moments, but I didn't find it to be enough for me to really like the complete story. I needed more information on the relationships and the emotional marks they left.
I liked the characters individually, but not necessarily within this plot. Lena's role felt superfluous. I also came away wondering whose story this was as no female character's individual story felt strong enough to carry the mother/daughter theme.
Not what I thought it would be, but still good, but alas, for me, immediately forgettable.
I liked the characters individually, but not necessarily within this plot. Lena's role felt superfluous. I also came away wondering whose story this was as no female character's individual story felt strong enough to carry the mother/daughter theme.
Not what I thought it would be, but still good, but alas, for me, immediately forgettable.
March 25, 2025
Five years after the pandemic shut down the world, covid is still proving to be a novel virus for American fiction. Of course, there are classic stories of isolation and grief, such as Michael Cunningham’s exquisite "Day." In the work of other writers, covid has mutated in surprising ways. Last year, for instance, Regina Porter used the closures as the basis for her sharp social satire, "The Rich People Have Gone Away.”
And now, Amity Gaige follows the long shadow of the pandemic into the woods where she finds an imperiled nurse named Valerie Gillis on the Appalachian Trail. “Heartwood,” Gaige’s fifth novel, is a thriller that could work without a recollection of the pandemic but draws its resonance from our shared memory of that ordeal.
“No one hikes two thousand miles because they’re happy,” Valerie says. “Everybody’s got a reason to hike the trail. … What was mine? Well, I suppose it was to heal.”
A born caregiver, Valerie “became a nurse to fix things.” But in a hospital under viral siege — “in an absolute vacuum of dignity” with twice as many patients as she was supposed to have and the alarm constantly blaring “CODE BLUE” — Valerie and her colleagues found themselves “crushed between empathy and impotence.”
To recover from that trial — that impossible choice between being a hero or falling apart — Valerie took a five-month leave of absence to walk the Appalachian Trail. She was doing it alone with the logistical support of her husband, Gregory. But along the way, Valerie realized she didn’t love Gregory anymore, and, ever the stickler for honesty, she told him. Soon after, somewhere in the wilds of Maine, in “a claustrophobic wall of foliage,” she vanished.
You think you know where this is headed. Trust me, you don’t....
To read the rest of this review, go to The Washington Post:
https://www.washingtonpost.com/books/...
And now, Amity Gaige follows the long shadow of the pandemic into the woods where she finds an imperiled nurse named Valerie Gillis on the Appalachian Trail. “Heartwood,” Gaige’s fifth novel, is a thriller that could work without a recollection of the pandemic but draws its resonance from our shared memory of that ordeal.
“No one hikes two thousand miles because they’re happy,” Valerie says. “Everybody’s got a reason to hike the trail. … What was mine? Well, I suppose it was to heal.”
A born caregiver, Valerie “became a nurse to fix things.” But in a hospital under viral siege — “in an absolute vacuum of dignity” with twice as many patients as she was supposed to have and the alarm constantly blaring “CODE BLUE” — Valerie and her colleagues found themselves “crushed between empathy and impotence.”
To recover from that trial — that impossible choice between being a hero or falling apart — Valerie took a five-month leave of absence to walk the Appalachian Trail. She was doing it alone with the logistical support of her husband, Gregory. But along the way, Valerie realized she didn’t love Gregory anymore, and, ever the stickler for honesty, she told him. Soon after, somewhere in the wilds of Maine, in “a claustrophobic wall of foliage,” she vanished.
You think you know where this is headed. Trust me, you don’t....
To read the rest of this review, go to The Washington Post:
https://www.washingtonpost.com/books/...
December 25, 2025
Heartwood is about a woman who finds herself lost while hiking the Appalachian Trail.
Many websites, as well as critic and author reviews, refer to this novel as a mystery or a thriller. However, this book lacks the excitement, pacing, suspense, and character investment often found in most thrillers. But before we get there, let’s take a look at some of the critical feedback:
“Heartwood is a literary thriller of the highest order.” -Elin Hilderbrand
“Heartwood is a riveting suspense novel…” -Jennifer Egan
“Impossible to put down.” - Jennifer Egan
There are so many more quotes calling Heartwood a thriller, but it is decidedly not one. If popular thriller author Freida McFadden had written this novel, she’d be absolutely crucified in the reviews. Why? Because this book lives deeply in the fiction category. And Freida writes thrillers. Thriller readers know what to expect when a book is purported to be a thriller, and Heartwood, well, it could’ve gotten to thriller status, but only with significant edits and revisions.
The pacing of this novel is slow. Until the end, there is no suspense. And what suspense the reader is provided with is mediocre.
I had to push myself again and again to finish this book. It was so dull. I promise you, Jennifer Egan, this book was very easy to put down, get lost behind a shelf, only never to be thought of again.
While I love books with multiple narratives, some characters in this book had storylines that don’t really push the plot forward. Additionally, we never definitively learn who Lena was related to, although we can guess.
While this remains a popular book, the rating has dropped quite a bit from where it was when I placed this book on hold from the library. As things tend to do, the rating is balancing out and reflecting the views of regular readers too (no shade to ARC readers).
Heartwood does not end up in the 2025 best books on the GR site, and for good reason. It is dull, lacking in wit or any kind of doldrum relief, and there are other better books out there.
I really wanted to be a champion for this book as the premise was exciting. And all the fake-thriller hype marketing was equally riveting. I am left disappointed and encourage others to read a variety of reviews about this novel before they decide to spend their time or money on it.
Many websites, as well as critic and author reviews, refer to this novel as a mystery or a thriller. However, this book lacks the excitement, pacing, suspense, and character investment often found in most thrillers. But before we get there, let’s take a look at some of the critical feedback:
“Heartwood is a literary thriller of the highest order.” -Elin Hilderbrand
“Heartwood is a riveting suspense novel…” -Jennifer Egan
“Impossible to put down.” - Jennifer Egan
There are so many more quotes calling Heartwood a thriller, but it is decidedly not one. If popular thriller author Freida McFadden had written this novel, she’d be absolutely crucified in the reviews. Why? Because this book lives deeply in the fiction category. And Freida writes thrillers. Thriller readers know what to expect when a book is purported to be a thriller, and Heartwood, well, it could’ve gotten to thriller status, but only with significant edits and revisions.
The pacing of this novel is slow. Until the end, there is no suspense. And what suspense the reader is provided with is mediocre.
I had to push myself again and again to finish this book. It was so dull. I promise you, Jennifer Egan, this book was very easy to put down, get lost behind a shelf, only never to be thought of again.
While I love books with multiple narratives, some characters in this book had storylines that don’t really push the plot forward. Additionally, we never definitively learn who Lena was related to, although we can guess.
While this remains a popular book, the rating has dropped quite a bit from where it was when I placed this book on hold from the library. As things tend to do, the rating is balancing out and reflecting the views of regular readers too (no shade to ARC readers).
Heartwood does not end up in the 2025 best books on the GR site, and for good reason. It is dull, lacking in wit or any kind of doldrum relief, and there are other better books out there.
I really wanted to be a champion for this book as the premise was exciting. And all the fake-thriller hype marketing was equally riveting. I am left disappointed and encourage others to read a variety of reviews about this novel before they decide to spend their time or money on it.
November 21, 2025
I first fell in love with Amity Gaige's work in 2013 with her beautiful novel, "Schroder," and I have been reading her ever since. Her 2025 novel, "Heartwood," is everything I could want in a novel: a riveting page turner about a woman missing in Maine on the Appalachian Trail, and the increasingly desperate search for her. The novel revolves principally around three fascinating women -- the hiker, the warden leading the search, and a retired scientist living now in assisted living who doesn't know how much she knows -- but the secondary characters are all drawn with meticulous care as well. This novel is gripping and beautiful and rich with surprise. If you haven't read it, dive in.
May 19, 2025
This is a slow burn literary mystery, a thoughtful journey that involves Valerie, a hiker on the Appalachian trail who goes missing; Beverly, the Maine game warden who leads the search for her; and Lena, the disabled woman living in a retirement community who takes a special interest in the case and becomes an armchair detective.
But this is so much more than a lost in the woods story.
It’s an exploration of the often complicated mother-daughter relationship. I won’t ruin the story by getting into specifics but the author did a fantastic job of highlighting the inner lives and struggles of these women. I particularly enjoyed the portrayal of Beverly. Her strength and perseverance, along with the volunteers who led the search for Valerie was a highlight of the novel.
I loved the nature scenes and descriptions of the hardships of hiking the AT.
I struggled a little bit with the circumstances that surrounded Valerie’s disappearance. It didn’t ring true for me and I was frustrated with her character. There was also a side character whose presence made little sense to me.
But, still, there was a lot to enjoy here - it’s not just a physical survival story, but an emotional one as well. There’s more than one way to be lost.
* I received a digital review copy via NetGalley. All opinions are my own
But this is so much more than a lost in the woods story.
It’s an exploration of the often complicated mother-daughter relationship. I won’t ruin the story by getting into specifics but the author did a fantastic job of highlighting the inner lives and struggles of these women. I particularly enjoyed the portrayal of Beverly. Her strength and perseverance, along with the volunteers who led the search for Valerie was a highlight of the novel.
I loved the nature scenes and descriptions of the hardships of hiking the AT.
I struggled a little bit with the circumstances that surrounded Valerie’s disappearance. It didn’t ring true for me and I was frustrated with her character. There was also a side character whose presence made little sense to me.
But, still, there was a lot to enjoy here - it’s not just a physical survival story, but an emotional one as well. There’s more than one way to be lost.
* I received a digital review copy via NetGalley. All opinions are my own
November 2, 2025
Rawly beautiful, quietly powerful, & emotionally unrelenting!
From the first chapter of Heartwood by Amity Gaige, I was hooked and could not put it down. Every page pulled me deeper into the story, made me feel every heartbeat, every tension, and every emotion. It’s haunting and heartfelt, richly layered and tense, drawing you into the woods and holding you there until the very last page.
Key Thoughts
📖 Told through the interwoven perspectives of a missing hiker’s letters, a determined game warden’s search, and a retired birdwatcher’s quiet investigation, the structure is beautifully balanced and deeply engaging.
👀 The relationships between mother and daughter, friend and stranger, are flawed, tender, and profoundly human.
💭 Themes of endurance, connection and survival flow through every page like roots binding the forest floor.
🏡 The Maine wilderness setting is breathtaking, with vivid descriptions of creeks, moss and birds that made me feel completely immersed in its beauty and danger.
🧩 What made this stand out was how Gaige captured not only the physical struggle to survive but the emotional one, the deep longing to be seen, remembered and loved.
Norma’s Stats
Cover: I wasn’t immediately drawn to the cover, but for some reason it kept calling my name and I knew I needed to read this. I’m so happy that Brenda gifted it to me for my birthday.
Title: Meaningful and fitting. The term “heartwood” refers to the inner core of a tree that gives it strength and structure, and in this novel it becomes a metaphor for what holds each character upright through their storms.
Writing/Prose: Beautiful and lyrical yet grounded, Gaige’s style drew me in completely.
Plot: A gripping search and rescue story that evolves into something deeper, a meditation on resilience, loss and the fragile connections between people.
Characters: Valerie, Bev and Lena each shine in their own way, layered and authentic, their voices distinct and unforgettable.
Ending: Poignant and satisfying, leaving a lingering ache and quiet sense of peace.
Overall: A stunning blend of suspense and emotional depth. Gaige captures the wild beauty of nature and the strength of the human spirit with remarkable grace.
✨ What Lit Me Up
The wilderness felt alive, both a threat and a refuge. Valerie’s letters were haunting and intimate, Bev’s determination kept me on edge, and Lena’s quiet persistence brought warmth and hope. The mention of My Side of the Mountain created a tether to my own childhood reading, reminding me how a trail and nature can shape and hold us. The glow of this story never dimmed, each chapter filled with emotion and purpose.
I just turned the last page and what an absolute triumph this book is. The characters felt real, their relationships messy and meaningful, and the sense of place extraordinary. Heartwood left me brimming with emotion, wonder and gratitude for the ways people find connection even in the loneliest places.
📕 Owned physical copy gifted to me from my sister.
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️½ Rounding up since I was fully captivated from start to finish.
From the first chapter of Heartwood by Amity Gaige, I was hooked and could not put it down. Every page pulled me deeper into the story, made me feel every heartbeat, every tension, and every emotion. It’s haunting and heartfelt, richly layered and tense, drawing you into the woods and holding you there until the very last page.
Key Thoughts
📖 Told through the interwoven perspectives of a missing hiker’s letters, a determined game warden’s search, and a retired birdwatcher’s quiet investigation, the structure is beautifully balanced and deeply engaging.
👀 The relationships between mother and daughter, friend and stranger, are flawed, tender, and profoundly human.
💭 Themes of endurance, connection and survival flow through every page like roots binding the forest floor.
🏡 The Maine wilderness setting is breathtaking, with vivid descriptions of creeks, moss and birds that made me feel completely immersed in its beauty and danger.
🧩 What made this stand out was how Gaige captured not only the physical struggle to survive but the emotional one, the deep longing to be seen, remembered and loved.
Norma’s Stats
Cover: I wasn’t immediately drawn to the cover, but for some reason it kept calling my name and I knew I needed to read this. I’m so happy that Brenda gifted it to me for my birthday.
Title: Meaningful and fitting. The term “heartwood” refers to the inner core of a tree that gives it strength and structure, and in this novel it becomes a metaphor for what holds each character upright through their storms.
Writing/Prose: Beautiful and lyrical yet grounded, Gaige’s style drew me in completely.
Plot: A gripping search and rescue story that evolves into something deeper, a meditation on resilience, loss and the fragile connections between people.
Characters: Valerie, Bev and Lena each shine in their own way, layered and authentic, their voices distinct and unforgettable.
Ending: Poignant and satisfying, leaving a lingering ache and quiet sense of peace.
Overall: A stunning blend of suspense and emotional depth. Gaige captures the wild beauty of nature and the strength of the human spirit with remarkable grace.
✨ What Lit Me Up
The wilderness felt alive, both a threat and a refuge. Valerie’s letters were haunting and intimate, Bev’s determination kept me on edge, and Lena’s quiet persistence brought warmth and hope. The mention of My Side of the Mountain created a tether to my own childhood reading, reminding me how a trail and nature can shape and hold us. The glow of this story never dimmed, each chapter filled with emotion and purpose.
I just turned the last page and what an absolute triumph this book is. The characters felt real, their relationships messy and meaningful, and the sense of place extraordinary. Heartwood left me brimming with emotion, wonder and gratitude for the ways people find connection even in the loneliest places.
📕 Owned physical copy gifted to me from my sister.
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️½ Rounding up since I was fully captivated from start to finish.
December 9, 2025
Last year I read,
Trail of the Lost: The Relentless Search to Bring Home the Missing Hikers of the Pacific Crest Trail. I enjoyed all the information about Search and Rescue for lost hikers that book covered. This fiction novel takes much of the same information and folds it into a story about a lost hiker on the Appalachian Trail in Maine. There are several points of view: the lost hiker and the ranger looking for her are the two main along with an older woman who becomes interested in the search and the how she finds a way to assist the search from her room in an Assisted Living facility.
I was most interested to learn more about the trail in Maine and seeing various ways the search was conducted. This story did not disappoint. I found it well done, the mystery was a good one and I was intrigued to the very end. I listened to the audio that has a cast of characters and read the print. I would definitely recommend in audio and print. I found it a CPDR (can't put down read) and read/listened to much on a long train ride. Great debut novel.
P.S. I especially loved the mention of New Britain Ct, the town where I landed in the early 1980's to open a midwifery practice. It is a place dear to me and I enjoyed learning more of its history
Trail of the Lost: The Relentless Search to Bring Home the Missing Hikers of the Pacific Crest Trail. I enjoyed all the information about Search and Rescue for lost hikers that book covered. This fiction novel takes much of the same information and folds it into a story about a lost hiker on the Appalachian Trail in Maine. There are several points of view: the lost hiker and the ranger looking for her are the two main along with an older woman who becomes interested in the search and the how she finds a way to assist the search from her room in an Assisted Living facility.
I was most interested to learn more about the trail in Maine and seeing various ways the search was conducted. This story did not disappoint. I found it well done, the mystery was a good one and I was intrigued to the very end. I listened to the audio that has a cast of characters and read the print. I would definitely recommend in audio and print. I found it a CPDR (can't put down read) and read/listened to much on a long train ride. Great debut novel.
P.S. I especially loved the mention of New Britain Ct, the town where I landed in the early 1980's to open a midwifery practice. It is a place dear to me and I enjoyed learning more of its history
March 31, 2025
A woman whose trail name is Sparrow has flitted off course and is missing somewhere on the Appalachian Trail in Maine, about 200 miles from her destination. A game warden, whose job it is to find missing people, wants to find her. A slightly reclusive online birdwatcher slowly realizes a key piece of information. A fellow hiker who goes by Santo, rambles on and on during an interview because he knew Sparrow.
I haven't named everyone, and honestly, at least two of the characters could just be named Red Herring for all the point they serve in the book.
What do you want out of a book about a hiker lost in the woods? More.
Gaige is probably just not an author for me — many will like this book, but I will remain outside that circle. Steadfastly. Heartwood is exactly what I do not like about the pervasive use of present tense in a plot-driven novel. Reader, I was bored.
Stylistically or structurally, this just isn't a novel I would be likely to enjoy. The present tense for the game warden is one thing — I don't accept that it makes sense, but I comprehend the desire to lean into its gimmicky nature for want of a cinematic unfurling. (Please, let's stop pretending that the written word is the same medium as cinema. It's not and it deserves more respect as its own delivery system for storytelling.)
Also included in the delivery of this story are a couple of examples of epistolary narratives, one is from Sparrow's own hand by way of her journal entries which take the form of her addressing her mother for comfort, particularly during the first days in which she finds herself lost. The other is in the interview transcription for the Santo character. In both of these, but especially with Sparrow's journal entries (her real name is Valerie Gillis), Gaige pretty quickly ignores the conceit of pretending that this would be what someone would actually write down — or in the case of the interview, how someone would actually speak. There is TOO MUCH narrative, too much dialogue, and I find it so incredibly hard to believe anyone would write their experiences in a journal in present tense and with full passages of dialogue. Full stop. No.
But, even in the novel's wrap-up, the choices made for the resolution underscored why I found this novel so boring. To say more would be to spoil the ending, so I'll leave it there — but the ways in which it reached its climax and finale only bothered me further. I'm still shaking my head.
I received this book for free from the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. This affected neither my opinion of the book nor the content of my review.
I haven't named everyone, and honestly, at least two of the characters could just be named Red Herring for all the point they serve in the book.
What do you want out of a book about a hiker lost in the woods? More.
Gaige is probably just not an author for me — many will like this book, but I will remain outside that circle. Steadfastly. Heartwood is exactly what I do not like about the pervasive use of present tense in a plot-driven novel. Reader, I was bored.
Stylistically or structurally, this just isn't a novel I would be likely to enjoy. The present tense for the game warden is one thing — I don't accept that it makes sense, but I comprehend the desire to lean into its gimmicky nature for want of a cinematic unfurling. (Please, let's stop pretending that the written word is the same medium as cinema. It's not and it deserves more respect as its own delivery system for storytelling.)
Also included in the delivery of this story are a couple of examples of epistolary narratives, one is from Sparrow's own hand by way of her journal entries which take the form of her addressing her mother for comfort, particularly during the first days in which she finds herself lost. The other is in the interview transcription for the Santo character. In both of these, but especially with Sparrow's journal entries (her real name is Valerie Gillis), Gaige pretty quickly ignores the conceit of pretending that this would be what someone would actually write down — or in the case of the interview, how someone would actually speak. There is TOO MUCH narrative, too much dialogue, and I find it so incredibly hard to believe anyone would write their experiences in a journal in present tense and with full passages of dialogue. Full stop. No.
But, even in the novel's wrap-up, the choices made for the resolution underscored why I found this novel so boring. To say more would be to spoil the ending, so I'll leave it there — but the ways in which it reached its climax and finale only bothered me further. I'm still shaking my head.
I received this book for free from the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. This affected neither my opinion of the book nor the content of my review.
April 19, 2025
A woman goes missing while hiking the Appalachian Trail? Now that's a book I want to read!
I am proud to say that I am an armchair outdoorswoman with years of experience — I have read a dozen different hiking memoirs, most of them about the AT, with a side interest in folks who climb tall mountains under dangerous circumstances.
While most of the outdoor adventure stories I read are nonfiction, this novel shows that a fictional trail tale can be just as engaging as the real thing.
"Heartwood" follows several characters, alternating their points of view with each chapter. Our two protagonists are Valerie, a 42-year-old nurse who goes missing while hiking in the rugged woods of Maine, and Beverly, a state game warden who leads the search and is determined to find Valerie alive.
We also hear from one of Valerie's hiking partners, nicknamed Santo, who had to leave the hike early due to a family situation, and he blames himself for not being there when Valerie needed help. And then there is Lena, a retired woman with a love of the outdoors whose inclusion in the story is part of the mystery.
This was my first Amity Gaige book, and I enjoyed it so much I want to read more of her work. There is good character development, great scene-setting, and a healthy dose of suspense — at one critical point in the story I cried out "No! Don't do it!" as if the characters could really hear me.
I listened to this on audio, which used a cast of performers to tell the story very effectively. Highly recommended.
I am proud to say that I am an armchair outdoorswoman with years of experience — I have read a dozen different hiking memoirs, most of them about the AT, with a side interest in folks who climb tall mountains under dangerous circumstances.
While most of the outdoor adventure stories I read are nonfiction, this novel shows that a fictional trail tale can be just as engaging as the real thing.
"Heartwood" follows several characters, alternating their points of view with each chapter. Our two protagonists are Valerie, a 42-year-old nurse who goes missing while hiking in the rugged woods of Maine, and Beverly, a state game warden who leads the search and is determined to find Valerie alive.
We also hear from one of Valerie's hiking partners, nicknamed Santo, who had to leave the hike early due to a family situation, and he blames himself for not being there when Valerie needed help. And then there is Lena, a retired woman with a love of the outdoors whose inclusion in the story is part of the mystery.
This was my first Amity Gaige book, and I enjoyed it so much I want to read more of her work. There is good character development, great scene-setting, and a healthy dose of suspense — at one critical point in the story I cried out "No! Don't do it!" as if the characters could really hear me.
I listened to this on audio, which used a cast of performers to tell the story very effectively. Highly recommended.
April 8, 2025
This was going to be a 4 but upon writing my review I have to make it my 7TH five star read. 🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟Trust me, I do not give five stars lightly, I have just struck a reader’s jackpot recently.
This book has so many pieces of paper sticking out of it it looks like I have had it for years. This is due to the amazing, gifted words in this book.
Told in different points of view, it encompasses the relationships with ourselves, the relationships daughters and mothers endure and the human spirit. We learn early on that a hiker, a nurse, goes missing in the Appalachian trail. The writer speaks to the fact that no one hikes for fun; they do it to accomplish something, run from something or someone.
We follow the search. It is gruelling. It is exhaustive.
The lieutenant in charge of the search is described in such vivid detail. I just loved her character portrayal and how dedicated she was to the cause.
There is an old lonely lady in a nursing home that is abrasive and angry and how she segues into the mystery is phenomenal.
I was going to give this a 4.5 but seriously some of this writing will never leave me. I also, have never encountered a book that could so easily make me feel like I was actually in the book. I was walking in the forest. I could smell the trees, see the moss and hear the birds. Maybe it is because my best friend is a hiker. I have heard her stories and I do worry (this book has not helped!) I willtell her not to hike the Appalachian Trail, and then enthusiastically give her this book as a gift .
“A lost person is like the believer who is told “There is no God.” After that, everything seems like a lie.”
“It was true that the pandemic has been easy for her. The word she refuses to use is “lonely.” She wasn’t lonely in the way old people are lonely. Besides, a reader is never lonely. Besides, she didn’t like people, how could she be lonely for them?”
This book has so many pieces of paper sticking out of it it looks like I have had it for years. This is due to the amazing, gifted words in this book.
Told in different points of view, it encompasses the relationships with ourselves, the relationships daughters and mothers endure and the human spirit. We learn early on that a hiker, a nurse, goes missing in the Appalachian trail. The writer speaks to the fact that no one hikes for fun; they do it to accomplish something, run from something or someone.
We follow the search. It is gruelling. It is exhaustive.
The lieutenant in charge of the search is described in such vivid detail. I just loved her character portrayal and how dedicated she was to the cause.
There is an old lonely lady in a nursing home that is abrasive and angry and how she segues into the mystery is phenomenal.
I was going to give this a 4.5 but seriously some of this writing will never leave me. I also, have never encountered a book that could so easily make me feel like I was actually in the book. I was walking in the forest. I could smell the trees, see the moss and hear the birds. Maybe it is because my best friend is a hiker. I have heard her stories and I do worry (this book has not helped!) I willtell her not to hike the Appalachian Trail, and then enthusiastically give her this book as a gift .
“A lost person is like the believer who is told “There is no God.” After that, everything seems like a lie.”
“It was true that the pandemic has been easy for her. The word she refuses to use is “lonely.” She wasn’t lonely in the way old people are lonely. Besides, a reader is never lonely. Besides, she didn’t like people, how could she be lonely for them?”
May 10, 2025
Full review to come, but here are my initial thoughts. The writing is beautiful. It’s the type of book you want to notate because some of the lines are absolutely standout. The characters are fascinating. It’s a slower vibe, focusing more on the importance of the mother/daughter relationship and how it shapes us; sometimes for the better and sometimes for the worse. I want to rate this 5 stars, but I’m not sure about the wrap up of the mystery at the heart of the story. I need to think on it more.
April 12, 2025
an easy audiobook binge (+ has a full cast!) but overall left me wanting a bit more.
also selfishly wish Helen Laser had a bigger part in the audiobook narration bc i love her sm and partially listened bc i saw her name!
at the beginning this was giving me THE GOD OF THE WOODS and THE RETURN OF ELLIE BLACK vibes but upon finishing, it’s clear those 2 books are much better (in my opinion).
this follows a woman who gets lost on the Appalachian Mountain trails and one community’s quest to find her. you get a lot of POVs with the full cast audiobook and various perspectives and impact of the missing occurance.
i am kinda surprised this was a Read With Jenna pick as i feel like her picks lately have been on fire and really WOW / emotional / unique.
idk what i wanted to happen at the end but it felt a bit like “oh okay” and it was done. it’s quick so maybe we needed to develop it a bit more? or have a bigger “surprise”?
it was almost more heavy on the family themes vs the missing person mystery. good themes and it was cute but didn’t know that it would turn that way so my expectations were maybe misplaced!
all in all a quick binge and a good audiobook, but not the best out there.
thanks to Libro FM and Simon Audio for the gifted ALC 🎧
also selfishly wish Helen Laser had a bigger part in the audiobook narration bc i love her sm and partially listened bc i saw her name!
at the beginning this was giving me THE GOD OF THE WOODS and THE RETURN OF ELLIE BLACK vibes but upon finishing, it’s clear those 2 books are much better (in my opinion).
this follows a woman who gets lost on the Appalachian Mountain trails and one community’s quest to find her. you get a lot of POVs with the full cast audiobook and various perspectives and impact of the missing occurance.
i am kinda surprised this was a Read With Jenna pick as i feel like her picks lately have been on fire and really WOW / emotional / unique.
idk what i wanted to happen at the end but it felt a bit like “oh okay” and it was done. it’s quick so maybe we needed to develop it a bit more? or have a bigger “surprise”?
it was almost more heavy on the family themes vs the missing person mystery. good themes and it was cute but didn’t know that it would turn that way so my expectations were maybe misplaced!
all in all a quick binge and a good audiobook, but not the best out there.
thanks to Libro FM and Simon Audio for the gifted ALC 🎧
November 4, 2025
Far more than just the name of this book came through as intelligent. This is listed under epistolary, literary and thriller genres. All true, but I think it's actually more than each of those single-word descriptors could provide. Never dry for being epistolary, because it's only written partly in letter form. I'd say that it does come through as a thriller, but I most liked this book for being reflective through the viewpoints of each of its characters. From different stages in life, each of three women reflect upon their present and past, as a daughter, a mother, or even as both. The story becomes truly lifelike by doing so, and therefore very effective. 4.25
April 29, 2025
Connections through nature and being human!
This was a story that provided me with an appreciation for the work that trackers do when someone is lost in the woods.
A hiker, Valerie Gillis, is missing hiking the Appalachian Trail. She is gone and it seems as if all the rescue efforts might be for naught since she has seemed to have vanished. Valerie is alone facing the elements and as she wanders she writes short poetry to her mom, while hoping for rescue.
Beverly, the Maine State Game Warden, is determined to find Valerie and as the days wear on, that mission seems one that Beverly and the searchers will lose.
Meanwhile Lena, a retiree living in a retirement home becomes involved in the search using her computer and her wits to find Valerie from her chair.
Was this a calculated act by someone determined to do away with Valerie or was this just plain bad luck?
The author takes us on a journey into the wilderness and shows us the dedication of many to find a missing soul.
This was a story that provided me with an appreciation for the work that trackers do when someone is lost in the woods.
A hiker, Valerie Gillis, is missing hiking the Appalachian Trail. She is gone and it seems as if all the rescue efforts might be for naught since she has seemed to have vanished. Valerie is alone facing the elements and as she wanders she writes short poetry to her mom, while hoping for rescue.
Beverly, the Maine State Game Warden, is determined to find Valerie and as the days wear on, that mission seems one that Beverly and the searchers will lose.
Meanwhile Lena, a retiree living in a retirement home becomes involved in the search using her computer and her wits to find Valerie from her chair.
Was this a calculated act by someone determined to do away with Valerie or was this just plain bad luck?
The author takes us on a journey into the wilderness and shows us the dedication of many to find a missing soul.
April 4, 2025
This book is kind of a mess. I listened to about 90 minutes of audio then switched to the physical copy. The audio was better…. Or was the beginning better? I can’t tell. There were many narrators reminding me who everyone was. When reading, it was a book you read faster and faster just to get it over with.
To say the end is a disappointment is an understatement.
My main criticism is that it was boring. Very repetitive.
To say the end is a disappointment is an understatement.
My main criticism is that it was boring. Very repetitive.
May 6, 2025
My main takeaway from this? Shelby read it wrong.
I do 100% agree with the “Letters to Mom” being a gimmick I could have done without (generic journal entries would have been much more palatable) and I do wonder what mommy issues the author may have herself as that is a reoccurring theme with several of the characters. Those things aside, I REALLY got sucked into this one and read it cover to cover in one go. It also reaffirmed that although I love to walk for miles and miles and miles, my backdrop of choice will firmly remain the paved path through the woods and NEVER the sure-to-be-the-death-of-me Appalachian Trail.
I do 100% agree with the “Letters to Mom” being a gimmick I could have done without (generic journal entries would have been much more palatable) and I do wonder what mommy issues the author may have herself as that is a reoccurring theme with several of the characters. Those things aside, I REALLY got sucked into this one and read it cover to cover in one go. It also reaffirmed that although I love to walk for miles and miles and miles, my backdrop of choice will firmly remain the paved path through the woods and NEVER the sure-to-be-the-death-of-me Appalachian Trail.
April 6, 2025
Cleverly constructed and engrossing tale about a woman who goes missing while hiking the Appalachian Trail. It’s more complicated than a simple search and rescue saga, with memorable characters and a whole lot of heart. I love Amity Gaige and she does not disappoint here. I absolutely could not put it down!
A sincere thank you to NetGalley and Simon & Schuster for an ARC of this novel.
A sincere thank you to NetGalley and Simon & Schuster for an ARC of this novel.
December 18, 2024
This was really lovely.
A story about a woman who goes missing while hiking the Appalachian Trail, and the search to find her— broken up into multiple perspectives.
Each character had something to contribute, and all wove together by the end.
Propulsively written, impossible to put down, and I took away a little bit from each of the characters in here.
A story about a woman who goes missing while hiking the Appalachian Trail, and the search to find her— broken up into multiple perspectives.
Each character had something to contribute, and all wove together by the end.
Propulsively written, impossible to put down, and I took away a little bit from each of the characters in here.
April 13, 2025
The ending was such a disappointment. I hung in there for hours (audiobook), waiting for the outcome of Sparrow's plight in the woods. What a HUGE disappointment. The author did nothing to wrap up all the details surrounding Sparrow's disappearance and recovery. I'm still left thinking "What about this and what about that?" So many unanswered questions. I wish I had never started it to be left with so much frustration and unanswered questions.
May 25, 2025
This book started off strong. A nurse hiking the Appalachian Trail disappears in the Maine woods. Both the AT and Maine setting were big draws for me. My favorite character was Game Warden Lieutenant Bev who was in charge of the search and rescue efforts. Unfortunately the story lost interest for me with the addition of Lena, who was following the news story online. I did not enjoy when her POV came around. Definitely an outlier opinion here, but I was bored overall.
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