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One Wrong Turn
🎧Listening Length = 8 hours and 27 minutes
Sometimes it's best to let the past stay buried...
Thirty years ago, Jess's mother, Nora, disappeared while on a charity hike in the US. The devastating loss has afflicted Jess well into her adult life and even inspired her decision to become an investigative journalist.
So when Jess receives an anonymous tip telling her that remains have been recovered in the spot her mother disappeared, she wastes no time in jumping on a plane.
They say the Appalachian Mountains have secrets, but as she begins to ask around, she learns that the locals do too. But no matter how much they lie, she is determined to find the truth - even if it will irrevocably change her future.
Someone wants to keep the past buried. And they will stop at nothing to keep Jess as quiet as the tranquil mountain trail itself...
Previously published as The Trail
Thirty years ago, Jess’s mother vanished on a hike. Now, remains have been found in the Appalachian Mountains — but as Jess investigates, the locals she questions seem determined to keep their secrets buried. “Skillfully crafted… Full of twists and turns” (Ruby Speechley, author of Gone).
Sometimes it's best to let the past stay buried...
Thirty years ago, Jess's mother, Nora, disappeared while on a charity hike in the US. The devastating loss has afflicted Jess well into her adult life and even inspired her decision to become an investigative journalist.
So when Jess receives an anonymous tip telling her that remains have been recovered in the spot her mother disappeared, she wastes no time in jumping on a plane.
They say the Appalachian Mountains have secrets, but as she begins to ask around, she learns that the locals do too. But no matter how much they lie, she is determined to find the truth - even if it will irrevocably change her future.
Someone wants to keep the past buried. And they will stop at nothing to keep Jess as quiet as the tranquil mountain trail itself...
Previously published as The Trail
Audiobook
Published September 8, 2023
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 143 reviews
November 18, 2025
Lately I’ve grown a bit tired of missing persons cases, but here I was drawn in immediately. It shifted from the mother’s perspective to her daughter and it flowed seamlessly which I liked. Even better, this truly felt like a haunt for answers (the author has a very fitting surname) where I wanted to know more as well. And the ending was very OTT, but in such a way that I actually liked it although I couldn’t see it happening in real life. Here it just made sense even if it was senseless.
September 10, 2023
Sometimes it's best to let the past stay buried...
Gripping, mysterious, dangerous, and addictive. M.A. Hunter first came on my radar when I read Adrift and I jumped on the chance to read The Trail and was happy I did.
When Jess was young her mother, Nora, agreed to go on a charity hike on the Appalachian Trail. Her mother completed some of the trail, but then disappeared. Thirty years later, Jess is a journalist who is still devastated by losing her mother. She is drifting through life when she receives a tip that remains have been found in the location where her mother was last seen. Jess drops everything and travels to the US and finds that the locals, as well as the trail, have secrets.
I enjoyed how this book was told through two timelines. I was equally invested in both. I could feel Jess's need to know what happened to her mother as she began asking questions hoping that she would finally get answers. I also enjoyed the sections where her mother is hiking the trail with her companions.
The Appalachian Trail feels very much like a character in this book. With its ups and downs, hard hiking conditions, trail magic, dangerous edges, and wildlife. Plus, the locals living in the town where Jess was staying are polite, yet distant. They appear to want to help but are guarded. There is an underlying feeling of things not being quite right and this provided a creepy vibe. I enjoyed the underlying tension in this book. It felt as if Jess was dropped into a twilight zone episode (which I loved). Someone does not want Jess to know the truth but why? I had several theories as to what was happening and didn't even come close.
Well written, tense, atmospheric, and hard to put down!
#TheTrail #NetGalley #Boldwoodbooks #MAHunter
Thank you to Boldwood Books and NetGalley who provided me with a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. All the thoughts and opinions are my own.
Read more of my reviews at www.openbookposts.com
Gripping, mysterious, dangerous, and addictive. M.A. Hunter first came on my radar when I read Adrift and I jumped on the chance to read The Trail and was happy I did.
When Jess was young her mother, Nora, agreed to go on a charity hike on the Appalachian Trail. Her mother completed some of the trail, but then disappeared. Thirty years later, Jess is a journalist who is still devastated by losing her mother. She is drifting through life when she receives a tip that remains have been found in the location where her mother was last seen. Jess drops everything and travels to the US and finds that the locals, as well as the trail, have secrets.
I enjoyed how this book was told through two timelines. I was equally invested in both. I could feel Jess's need to know what happened to her mother as she began asking questions hoping that she would finally get answers. I also enjoyed the sections where her mother is hiking the trail with her companions.
The Appalachian Trail feels very much like a character in this book. With its ups and downs, hard hiking conditions, trail magic, dangerous edges, and wildlife. Plus, the locals living in the town where Jess was staying are polite, yet distant. They appear to want to help but are guarded. There is an underlying feeling of things not being quite right and this provided a creepy vibe. I enjoyed the underlying tension in this book. It felt as if Jess was dropped into a twilight zone episode (which I loved). Someone does not want Jess to know the truth but why? I had several theories as to what was happening and didn't even come close.
Well written, tense, atmospheric, and hard to put down!
#TheTrail #NetGalley #Boldwoodbooks #MAHunter
Thank you to Boldwood Books and NetGalley who provided me with a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. All the thoughts and opinions are my own.
Read more of my reviews at www.openbookposts.com
September 1, 2023
This is a wonderful speculative fiction story about a journalist who embarks on a quest to find her missing mother. It’s set in the Appalachian mountains and focuses on the trail which runs from Georgia to Maine.
I was pulled in by the ominous cover and then won over by how good M.A. Hunter is at cranking up the tension, knitting the unseen twists, and putting his characters through the wringer!
I flipped through the pages as the Trail Magic captured me and enjoyed reading about family bonds, unearthing secrets, gathering truths, enabling restoration, honoring loved ones, and finding answers. One thing is for sure, Hunter knows how to keep his readers on the hook and how to write a suspenseful, creepy thriller. One moment I was creeped out by the sinister tales and legends and the next I was soothed by the strengthening familial bonds. Just when I had an inkling about the direction it was heading, I realized I was on the wrong trail!
M. A. Hunter is the pen name used by Stephen Edger, an accomplished thriller and crime fiction novelist of 22 books.
You’ll need to read this creepy book as we head towards spooky season and find out for yourself if Jess Grogan gets the answers she’s looking for…
I was gifted this copy by Boldwood Books and was under no obligation to provide a review.
I was pulled in by the ominous cover and then won over by how good M.A. Hunter is at cranking up the tension, knitting the unseen twists, and putting his characters through the wringer!
I flipped through the pages as the Trail Magic captured me and enjoyed reading about family bonds, unearthing secrets, gathering truths, enabling restoration, honoring loved ones, and finding answers. One thing is for sure, Hunter knows how to keep his readers on the hook and how to write a suspenseful, creepy thriller. One moment I was creeped out by the sinister tales and legends and the next I was soothed by the strengthening familial bonds. Just when I had an inkling about the direction it was heading, I realized I was on the wrong trail!
M. A. Hunter is the pen name used by Stephen Edger, an accomplished thriller and crime fiction novelist of 22 books.
You’ll need to read this creepy book as we head towards spooky season and find out for yourself if Jess Grogan gets the answers she’s looking for…
I was gifted this copy by Boldwood Books and was under no obligation to provide a review.
August 31, 2023
Thirty years ago, Jess's mother, Nora disappeared on a charity hike in the US. The devastating loss has afflicted Jess well into her adult life and even inspired her decision to become an investigative journalist. So when Jess receives an anonymous tip telling her that remains have been recovered in the spot her mother disappeared, she wastes no time jumping on a plane. They say the Appalachian Mountains have secrets, but as she begins to ask around, she learns that the locals do too. But no matter how much they lie, she is determined to find the truth - even if it will irrevocably change her future.
Jess needs to get closure on what happened to her mother thirty years ago, but someone does not want her talking. The story has a dual timeline - the past, thirty years ago when Nora went missing doing a charity walk across the Appalachian Trail. The present day, Jess's search for answers to her mother's disappearance. I was pulled in from the first chapter. The story is told from Nora in 1993 and Jess in 2023. Each chapter is headed so we know what year we are on. The more I read, the more I was hooked. I was just as desperate as Jess to find out what had happened to her mother. The ending wasn't what I was expecting at all. M.A. Hunter is another author who is quickly climbing my favourite author list.
I would like to thank #NetGalley #BoldwoodBooks and the author #MAHunter for my ARC of #TheTrail in exchange for an honest review.
Jess needs to get closure on what happened to her mother thirty years ago, but someone does not want her talking. The story has a dual timeline - the past, thirty years ago when Nora went missing doing a charity walk across the Appalachian Trail. The present day, Jess's search for answers to her mother's disappearance. I was pulled in from the first chapter. The story is told from Nora in 1993 and Jess in 2023. Each chapter is headed so we know what year we are on. The more I read, the more I was hooked. I was just as desperate as Jess to find out what had happened to her mother. The ending wasn't what I was expecting at all. M.A. Hunter is another author who is quickly climbing my favourite author list.
I would like to thank #NetGalley #BoldwoodBooks and the author #MAHunter for my ARC of #TheTrail in exchange for an honest review.
September 16, 2023
Jess wants answers, she wants the truth but in the words of Base Commander Colonel Nathan Jessep, can she handle the truth?! Her mum Nora disappeared without a trace whilst trekking across the Appalachian Trail and no one knows or admits to knowing what happened to her. Jess can’t let it lie. She needs to know what happened to her mum.
As the story switches between Jess’s trip stateside following an anonymous tip and Nora’s trek, the tension and unease builds. Not only am I concerned for Nora in her remoteness, knowing something is going to happen to her, but Jess’s situation grows more threatening as she spend longer in this odd part of New England.
Hunter has crafted a intricate thriller which jumps between narratives and timelines to confuse and distract from me from trying to fathom out what was happening to Jess and Nora. The smoke and mirrors used throughout led me along a path (some might say a trail) to a very surprising conclusion!
As the story switches between Jess’s trip stateside following an anonymous tip and Nora’s trek, the tension and unease builds. Not only am I concerned for Nora in her remoteness, knowing something is going to happen to her, but Jess’s situation grows more threatening as she spend longer in this odd part of New England.
Hunter has crafted a intricate thriller which jumps between narratives and timelines to confuse and distract from me from trying to fathom out what was happening to Jess and Nora. The smoke and mirrors used throughout led me along a path (some might say a trail) to a very surprising conclusion!
August 26, 2023
When I read the synopsis for The Trail, I thought it’d be perfect for me: I grew up in Tennessee, spent time in rural Appalachia regions, and enjoy hiking and camping, as well as a good thriller. While I’ve never done a months-long hike on the level of the Appalachian Trail, I’ve heard friend’s stories about thru hiking the Appalachian, Pacific Crest, and Continental Divide Trails, and have been fascinated in their experience and trail culture. Marrying a story on section hiking the AT with spooky Appalachian folklore elements and a daughter trying to find her mother sounded incredible. However, I think I would have enjoyed the book a little more if I had no knowledge of any of the above, because the author clearly doesn’t.
The premise of the story begins when Nora, mother of 5-year old Jess, agrees to hike a section of the Appalachian Trail (with no prior hiking experience) to raise money for her goddaughter Ashley’s medical expenses. I let this very confusing set-up slide, but within reading the first 10% of this book, it also became clear that little to no research was done about thru or section hiking, what hiking the Appalachian Trail would actually be like in 1993, or Appalachian culture and folklore. During their first week hiking the AT, Nora and her hiking buddies are attacked by a PACK OF WOLVES. I found this hard to believe, and then after a 10 second Google search, confirmed that it would be darn near impossible in Maine in the 90s. Then, a member of the hiking crew gets lost in the woods after his tent is blown away. The Appalachian Trail is well-known for being a “green tunnel” with heavy tree cover, and it seems unlikely that a tent would get blown very far without immediately catching on a tree. These are relatively little things, but very much took me out of the story and took away confidence in the author.
The writing also felt unpolished, with a lot of unnatural dialogue and small plot holes. Characters often have knowledge that they wouldn’t have had any way of gaining, and small details just don’t make sense. For example, Jess speaks to a local sheriff’s office about her mom and some remains that were recently uncovered in the area. She asks that she be contacted by the sheriff, but doesn’t leave her name or phone number. He calls her anyway. There are also a lot of information dumps continuously throughout the book, with no building of tension or critical thinking going on for Jess, our main character. It makes the “reveals” devoid of surprise, because there are hardly any connections to what came before.
Similarly, the plot felt all over the place, with Appalachian myths like the mothman and Bigfoot sightings scattered about, but not fleshed out or related to the plot in any real way. There is one bit of mysticism that is heavily related to the plot, but not rooted in Appalachian folklore at all, as far as I can tell. It felt like the author watched a lot of Tiktoks and browsed some Reddit subthreads, and tried to put as many of those elements into the book as possible, without actually making them a main plot thread. After reading the author’s note at the end, I realized I was spot on about that - the book was conceived in response to a tweet from the author’s agent, asking for a thriller set in the Appalachian Mountains. The author then wrote the book in the following 39 days, and specifically mentions watching Tiktoks as part of the process.
Which brings me to my biggest problem with this book: there are a lot of mentions throughout the book of “mountain people” or locals to the rural towns on the Appalachian Trail, and every mention felt extremely stereotypical. Two of the locals make references to the lying federal government, almost every local character gives some sort of cryptic warning about the woods or other locals, and the main community featured has some unexplained god worship situation, and the same community uses their own forms of medicine that is a secret within the group. It was a pretty insulting and off-base characterization of an entire swath of people. The author also mentioned in their author note that they had to look up where the Appalachians were, which appears to be the last research effort made.
I really didn’t expect to have a particularly strong reaction to this book, but it hit all the wrong notes for me, and felt exploitative of the Appalachian region’s recent popularity on social media. This book just made me want to read a better book about Appalachia.
Thank you to Netgalley and Boldwood Books for the opportunity to read an advanced reader copy of The Trail. This review contains my honest opinions.
The premise of the story begins when Nora, mother of 5-year old Jess, agrees to hike a section of the Appalachian Trail (with no prior hiking experience) to raise money for her goddaughter Ashley’s medical expenses. I let this very confusing set-up slide, but within reading the first 10% of this book, it also became clear that little to no research was done about thru or section hiking, what hiking the Appalachian Trail would actually be like in 1993, or Appalachian culture and folklore. During their first week hiking the AT, Nora and her hiking buddies are attacked by a PACK OF WOLVES. I found this hard to believe, and then after a 10 second Google search, confirmed that it would be darn near impossible in Maine in the 90s. Then, a member of the hiking crew gets lost in the woods after his tent is blown away. The Appalachian Trail is well-known for being a “green tunnel” with heavy tree cover, and it seems unlikely that a tent would get blown very far without immediately catching on a tree. These are relatively little things, but very much took me out of the story and took away confidence in the author.
The writing also felt unpolished, with a lot of unnatural dialogue and small plot holes. Characters often have knowledge that they wouldn’t have had any way of gaining, and small details just don’t make sense. For example, Jess speaks to a local sheriff’s office about her mom and some remains that were recently uncovered in the area. She asks that she be contacted by the sheriff, but doesn’t leave her name or phone number. He calls her anyway. There are also a lot of information dumps continuously throughout the book, with no building of tension or critical thinking going on for Jess, our main character. It makes the “reveals” devoid of surprise, because there are hardly any connections to what came before.
Similarly, the plot felt all over the place, with Appalachian myths like the mothman and Bigfoot sightings scattered about, but not fleshed out or related to the plot in any real way. There is one bit of mysticism that is heavily related to the plot, but not rooted in Appalachian folklore at all, as far as I can tell. It felt like the author watched a lot of Tiktoks and browsed some Reddit subthreads, and tried to put as many of those elements into the book as possible, without actually making them a main plot thread. After reading the author’s note at the end, I realized I was spot on about that - the book was conceived in response to a tweet from the author’s agent, asking for a thriller set in the Appalachian Mountains. The author then wrote the book in the following 39 days, and specifically mentions watching Tiktoks as part of the process.
Which brings me to my biggest problem with this book: there are a lot of mentions throughout the book of “mountain people” or locals to the rural towns on the Appalachian Trail, and every mention felt extremely stereotypical. Two of the locals make references to the lying federal government, almost every local character gives some sort of cryptic warning about the woods or other locals, and the main community featured has some unexplained god worship situation, and the same community uses their own forms of medicine that is a secret within the group. It was a pretty insulting and off-base characterization of an entire swath of people. The author also mentioned in their author note that they had to look up where the Appalachians were, which appears to be the last research effort made.
I really didn’t expect to have a particularly strong reaction to this book, but it hit all the wrong notes for me, and felt exploitative of the Appalachian region’s recent popularity on social media. This book just made me want to read a better book about Appalachia.
Thank you to Netgalley and Boldwood Books for the opportunity to read an advanced reader copy of The Trail. This review contains my honest opinions.
February 3, 2024
This book was goooooooood. But the ending was surely dissapointing! The blurb, cover - everything about this book screamed a great read - and it was until the last 3 chapters! Compelling & incredibly suspenseful this book unpeeled layer after layer from a complex mystery. Including that touch of fantasy sure helped lend tgat atmospheric vibe the book had going all along. But the ending was a tad bit dissapointing given that Jess did so much to find what happened to her missing mum & get answers. I loved every character in this book & I can't stop thinking of what a fantastic vibe this book had going up until the very end - well, almost! Both parts of the book - Nora & Jess were equally thrilling & had me turning page after page! While I hoped for a different outcome, I appreciate the ending this had and still like the book a lot.
Thank you NetGalley, Boldwood Books & MA Hunter for the arc!
Thank you NetGalley, Boldwood Books & MA Hunter for the arc!
August 16, 2023
This is a fascinating story of a mother and daughter (Nora and Jess) whose unwavering love for each other causes trauma in their lives. Jess is now a journalist who continues to investigate what happened to her mother 30 years ago when she vanished (and is presumed dead) on the famed Appalachian Trail. In the present, Jess is determined to figure out how and why her mom vanished without a trace as she was doing a charity walk for her goddaughter, Ashley. And so begins the second perilous journey to the AT that is fraught with all kinds of sinister legends, creepy people, and tales that would make your skin crawl! Hunter knows how to keep the tension high as he weaves this incredible story of a mother-daughter bond that can't be broken!
Thanks to NetGalley for this ARC!
Thanks to NetGalley for this ARC!
September 27, 2023
In 1993, Jess's mother, Nora, enrolled on a charity hike to walk a stage of the Appalachian Trail in the US. Nora never returned from the hike & Jess & her father were left without answers as to what had happened, just that she had disappeared from camp. Thirty years later, Jess (now an investigative reporter) receives an email with a link to a headline saying that a body has been found just off the trail so Jess jumps on a plane to go & find out if her mother has been found at last. When she arrives the people in the picture perfect towns along the section of trail where Nora disappeared seem strangely unhelpful & the sign-in book for 1993 in the nearest motel is missing. It seems everyone is keeping secrets - will Jess ever find out what happened to her mother?
I love reading books about walking trails or climbing mountains, fiction or nonfiction, so this looked like an intriguing read & it was for most of it. There are dual timeline narratives, past from Nora & present from Jess, where the reader gradually learns a little more each chapter. |The author builds up the ominous atmosphere in both narratives quite well & the tension was great for about two-thirds of the book - then it went off the rails a little in the last third & became rather unbelievable. 3.5 stars (rounded up).
TW: a couple of short mentions of animal cruelty/death.
My thanks to NetGalley & publishers, Boldwood Books, for the opportunity to read an ARC.
I love reading books about walking trails or climbing mountains, fiction or nonfiction, so this looked like an intriguing read & it was for most of it. There are dual timeline narratives, past from Nora & present from Jess, where the reader gradually learns a little more each chapter. |The author builds up the ominous atmosphere in both narratives quite well & the tension was great for about two-thirds of the book - then it went off the rails a little in the last third & became rather unbelievable. 3.5 stars (rounded up).
TW: a couple of short mentions of animal cruelty/death.
My thanks to NetGalley & publishers, Boldwood Books, for the opportunity to read an ARC.
October 21, 2023
This book started out promising. But the more I read, the more irritated I became. I feel like the author didn't know much about the region, the trail, hiking/camping, or the people who live there. The premise of the book was good and the suspense kept me hooked, but the story would have benefited from more research.
The trail: Yes, the AT is daunting and parts of it are extremely technical. But the most prevalent threats are getting lost and exposure (hypothermia, heat stroke, etc.) And yeah, you could probably fall and break a bone, maybe even fall to your death off a cliff. But the author portrays one of the scariest threats as a pack of wolves stalking and surrounding hikers. First off, there are no established wolf populations in the eastern U.S. Gray wolves have been extinct from that region for well over a hundred years and a simple Google search would have informed the author that. Second, even if there were wolf packs roaming the Appalachians, they're typically shy and want to avoid people.
At one point, a seasoned hiker kneels down and scoops water from a stream directly into his mouth. Yeah, no. You don't do that unless you enjoy picking up a horrible case of Giardiasis. Any experienced hiker knows to filter his or her water before drinking it.
Just a small quibble, but as a West Virginian I found this extremely irritating: the legend of Mothman originated out of West Virginia, not Virginia. (Some people seem unaware that West Virginia and Virginia are two separate states and I'm not sure if the author is aware of that.)
And finally, the mountain people. Yes, there are some backwards, crazy characters living in the Appalachians who are distrustful of the government, science, modern medicine, etc. I was born and raised in the heart of Appalachia and I'm well aware of this. But the author portrayed ALL of the locals like this, which isn't remotely believable. There is a lot more diversity than many outsiders realize.
The trail: Yes, the AT is daunting and parts of it are extremely technical. But the most prevalent threats are getting lost and exposure (hypothermia, heat stroke, etc.) And yeah, you could probably fall and break a bone, maybe even fall to your death off a cliff. But the author portrays one of the scariest threats as a pack of wolves stalking and surrounding hikers. First off, there are no established wolf populations in the eastern U.S. Gray wolves have been extinct from that region for well over a hundred years and a simple Google search would have informed the author that. Second, even if there were wolf packs roaming the Appalachians, they're typically shy and want to avoid people.
At one point, a seasoned hiker kneels down and scoops water from a stream directly into his mouth. Yeah, no. You don't do that unless you enjoy picking up a horrible case of Giardiasis. Any experienced hiker knows to filter his or her water before drinking it.
Just a small quibble, but as a West Virginian I found this extremely irritating: the legend of Mothman originated out of West Virginia, not Virginia. (Some people seem unaware that West Virginia and Virginia are two separate states and I'm not sure if the author is aware of that.)
And finally, the mountain people. Yes, there are some backwards, crazy characters living in the Appalachians who are distrustful of the government, science, modern medicine, etc. I was born and raised in the heart of Appalachia and I'm well aware of this. But the author portrayed ALL of the locals like this, which isn't remotely believable. There is a lot more diversity than many outsiders realize.
February 7, 2025
I thought this book was really good until the end. It was definitely a page turner but then suddenly it was over and I was left wanting more. The main character spends the whole book looking for answers but then at the end just stops asking questions... Which left us as readers without all the answers. Like what was that medication, what even is this bracelet and how did it go on/how can it come off. What's the deal with the dumpster diver ? Do the mountain men exist or matter ? What was the point of the creepy dude eating the cow ? What happened to weasel and snake ? Why did Nora's hiking buddies or the cops they reported her missing to think to check the last town they were at ? What happened to Nora after she ran off? I could keep going but you get the point.
September 6, 2023
I really enjoyed this book as it’s a gripping mystery thriller with an original storyline.
Jess has lived without her Mum for thirty years since she went missing on a trail in the Appalachian mountains in America.
She is struggling to settle in life so when she receives news that a woman’s remains have been found on the Appalachian trail she gets straight on a plane.
When she arrives she’s not exactly made to feel welcome but Jess is determined to find out what happened to her Mum.
This is a great read that I really enjoyed.
Thanks to Boldwood Books and NetGalley for the opportunity to read this book.
Jess has lived without her Mum for thirty years since she went missing on a trail in the Appalachian mountains in America.
She is struggling to settle in life so when she receives news that a woman’s remains have been found on the Appalachian trail she gets straight on a plane.
When she arrives she’s not exactly made to feel welcome but Jess is determined to find out what happened to her Mum.
This is a great read that I really enjoyed.
Thanks to Boldwood Books and NetGalley for the opportunity to read this book.
September 4, 2023
Defined by the disappearance of her mother as she hiked the Appalachian Trail, this is the story of a young woman’s discovery to find out the truth of what happened to her mother.
We are given some flashbacks to Nora’s experience and this is interspersed with our character’s hunt to find out what happened, and whether the remains found are those of her mother.
The book became stranger as we dug into the story. I found the rapidity of the resolution frustrating, and the revelation of what happened was ultimately disappointing.
Thanks to NetGalley for giving me the opportunity to read and review this prior to publication.
We are given some flashbacks to Nora’s experience and this is interspersed with our character’s hunt to find out what happened, and whether the remains found are those of her mother.
The book became stranger as we dug into the story. I found the rapidity of the resolution frustrating, and the revelation of what happened was ultimately disappointing.
Thanks to NetGalley for giving me the opportunity to read and review this prior to publication.
June 20, 2024
Love his books and this one is dark and creepy like I've come to appreciate. It vacillates in time between 1993 and 2023 as it involves Jess and her mother, Nora who went missing on the Appalachian Trail. In the present, Jess gets an anonymous note that remains have been found that may be her mother. That sets her on her own trail as she is determined to get to the bottom of what happened 30 years ago. But what she discovers is crazy and sometimes unbelievable as her own trail leads her to legends and theories that could give her nightmares. It may keep you home, but at least you'll be safe!
September 25, 2024
2/5
One thing I liked:
- I liked the bouncing back and forth between Jess in present day & Nora in the past on her trip. I felt that it kept my attention.
Now everything I didn't:
All in all, didn't really enjoy it as much as I had hoped & kind of glad it was a kindle edition and not sitting on my book shelf.
One thing I liked:
- I liked the bouncing back and forth between Jess in present day & Nora in the past on her trip. I felt that it kept my attention.
Now everything I didn't:
All in all, didn't really enjoy it as much as I had hoped & kind of glad it was a kindle edition and not sitting on my book shelf.
September 1, 2023
Jess is a struggling investigative journalist in England. Jess receives a message with a link to a story saying human remains have been found in an area of the AT trail where her mother went missing thirty years ago. She immediately decides she has to go there and figure out if the remains are indeed her mother. She encounters people in Appalachia who don’t seem to want to help her and are even possibly covering something up. Jess feels in danger. The book varies from chapter to chapter from Jess in present time to Nora, Jess’s mother, in the past while she was hiking the AT trail. The fact that Nora leaves her young daughter in England to go hike part of the AT trail for charity, raising money to help her goddaughter pay for medical expenses seems a bit unrealistic. But if you can overlook that bit, it is a very interesting story. You feel for Jess and you cheer her on to find answers that have plagued her her whole life. The main characters are good, but I felt many of the minor characters encountered in the towns along the Appalachian mountains were a bit too stereotypical for my taste. Overall, I liked this book and would give it 3.25 stars out of 5.
Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for this digital ARC in exchange for an honest review.
Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for this digital ARC in exchange for an honest review.
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September 22, 2024This book started out really good, but then it really went downhill near the end. And not to be a hater, but Jess is probably the worst investigative journalist in the world lol.
I appreciated the flashbacks to her mother Nora hiking up the Appalachians, but the whole bracelet thing was so confusing. Like somehow there was a chosen person to bring growth and peace or whatever to the one city or cult that Nora ended up at, but because she picked the bracelet she became the chosen one? And was there something supernatural going on because she couldn’t get the bracelet off and there really was growth and peace in the little town? I don’t know, it just got weird at the end.
I’m happy Jess found her mom alive, but there was a lot of stuff that wasn’t super explained. Plus that was pretty messed up of the town to just take this woman with a head injury in and not try to get her home. Like Jess missed out on pretty much her whole life with her mom because they hid her away, but then she decided to live amongst the weird cult people??
I don’t know, this book started out pretty good, but as it went on there were a lot of weird things and unanswered questions.
I appreciated the flashbacks to her mother Nora hiking up the Appalachians, but the whole bracelet thing was so confusing. Like somehow there was a chosen person to bring growth and peace or whatever to the one city or cult that Nora ended up at, but because she picked the bracelet she became the chosen one? And was there something supernatural going on because she couldn’t get the bracelet off and there really was growth and peace in the little town? I don’t know, it just got weird at the end.
I’m happy Jess found her mom alive, but there was a lot of stuff that wasn’t super explained. Plus that was pretty messed up of the town to just take this woman with a head injury in and not try to get her home. Like Jess missed out on pretty much her whole life with her mom because they hid her away, but then she decided to live amongst the weird cult people??
I don’t know, this book started out pretty good, but as it went on there were a lot of weird things and unanswered questions.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
September 11, 2023
Described as a 'chilling psychological thriller', The Trail definitely lived up to the description. I love how psychological thrillers never bore me. This one, in particular, had me thinking constantly.
Told over a dual timeline. We meet Jess, an investigative journalist whose mother disappeared while on a charity hike in America 30 years ago. This is what led her to be a journalist. It affected her so much. She receives an anonymous tip that human remains have been found where her mother went missing. Without thought, she travels to America to discover that it's not just the Appalachian mountains that have secrets... the locals do, too. Her dogged determination to dig for the truth, no matter how many lies she comes up against, may just change her future, and she doesn't know it yet.
The alternating chapters are from Nora in 1993 and Jess in the present day. This alone gave me a fuller view of both women. I was gripped immediately with Jess's search for her mother, and Nora's chapters gave me an idea of how Nora enjoyed the hike with her walking companions. I was invested in both timelines very easily. The strength of Jess's need to find out exactly what happened to her mother was so strong.
The setting of the Appalachian mountains was so vivid, to the point that they could have been a character on their own. They show how hard the trails are and how dangerous they can be, out in the wild. The town has a weird feeling about it. The locals dont give too much to Jess. They are polite but aware enough not to give too much away.
Such an atmospheric, page turner of a read! With the tension and eerie feeling that had me on the edge of my seat as the pages flew by! My second book by M.A Hunter and the quality of the writing is just as good, if not better! An author I highly recommend!
Thanks to Rachel's Random Resources and Boldwood Books for the gifted ebook to write my honest review today.
Told over a dual timeline. We meet Jess, an investigative journalist whose mother disappeared while on a charity hike in America 30 years ago. This is what led her to be a journalist. It affected her so much. She receives an anonymous tip that human remains have been found where her mother went missing. Without thought, she travels to America to discover that it's not just the Appalachian mountains that have secrets... the locals do, too. Her dogged determination to dig for the truth, no matter how many lies she comes up against, may just change her future, and she doesn't know it yet.
The alternating chapters are from Nora in 1993 and Jess in the present day. This alone gave me a fuller view of both women. I was gripped immediately with Jess's search for her mother, and Nora's chapters gave me an idea of how Nora enjoyed the hike with her walking companions. I was invested in both timelines very easily. The strength of Jess's need to find out exactly what happened to her mother was so strong.
The setting of the Appalachian mountains was so vivid, to the point that they could have been a character on their own. They show how hard the trails are and how dangerous they can be, out in the wild. The town has a weird feeling about it. The locals dont give too much to Jess. They are polite but aware enough not to give too much away.
Such an atmospheric, page turner of a read! With the tension and eerie feeling that had me on the edge of my seat as the pages flew by! My second book by M.A Hunter and the quality of the writing is just as good, if not better! An author I highly recommend!
Thanks to Rachel's Random Resources and Boldwood Books for the gifted ebook to write my honest review today.
September 10, 2023
The Trail by M.A. Hunter
I received an advance review copy for free thanks to Rachel's Random Resources and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
Blurb
Sometimes it's best to let the past stay buried...
Thirty years ago, Jess's mother, Nora, disappeared while on a charity hike in the US. The devastating loss has afflicted Jess well into her adult life and even inspired her decision to become an investigative journalist.
So when Jess receives an anonymous tip telling her that remains have been recovered in the spot her mother disappeared, she wastes no time in jumping on a plane.
They say the Appalachian Mountains have secrets, but as she begins to ask around, she learns that the locals do too. But no matter how much they lie, she is determined to find the truth - even if it will irrevocably change her future.
Someone wants to keep the past buried. And they will stop at nothing to keep Jess as quiet as the tranquil mountain trail itself...
My Opinion
I read this in one sitting, I was hooked from the moment Jess saw the message about a body being found. I was introduced to M.A. Hunter recently when I did a listenalong for Adrift and I really like the writing style, so I knew that I had to give this book a read. Hunter manages to keep the reading guessing as the plot develops, every time I thought I knew what was going on I was wrong.
This was a great, tense read. I had to read it to find out if Jess learned what had happened to her mother. A well-written mystery.
Rating: 4/5
I received an advance review copy for free thanks to Rachel's Random Resources and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
Blurb
Sometimes it's best to let the past stay buried...
Thirty years ago, Jess's mother, Nora, disappeared while on a charity hike in the US. The devastating loss has afflicted Jess well into her adult life and even inspired her decision to become an investigative journalist.
So when Jess receives an anonymous tip telling her that remains have been recovered in the spot her mother disappeared, she wastes no time in jumping on a plane.
They say the Appalachian Mountains have secrets, but as she begins to ask around, she learns that the locals do too. But no matter how much they lie, she is determined to find the truth - even if it will irrevocably change her future.
Someone wants to keep the past buried. And they will stop at nothing to keep Jess as quiet as the tranquil mountain trail itself...
My Opinion
I read this in one sitting, I was hooked from the moment Jess saw the message about a body being found. I was introduced to M.A. Hunter recently when I did a listenalong for Adrift and I really like the writing style, so I knew that I had to give this book a read. Hunter manages to keep the reading guessing as the plot develops, every time I thought I knew what was going on I was wrong.
This was a great, tense read. I had to read it to find out if Jess learned what had happened to her mother. A well-written mystery.
Rating: 4/5
April 9, 2024
pretty good start. 30 years ago when Jess was 5 years old her mom, Nora, goes missing during a charity hike up through the Appalachian Trail. Now, want to journalist Jess sets out on the same trail to try to discover what happened to mom. Chapters alternating between Jess’s and 30 years prior, Nora’s point of views.
As this went on, it got worse and worse. Not much hiking but rather falling a lot and staying in a town with phones and cars and open rooms with beds. A little too coincidental but had to keep the novel moving I guess and makes slightly more sense towards the end. Every chapter started to be a cliffhanger but eventually grew tired of it since nothing absolved from it
This one kept me kind of entertained but was equally annoyed as well.
As this went on, it got worse and worse. Not much hiking but rather falling a lot and staying in a town with phones and cars and open rooms with beds. A little too coincidental but had to keep the novel moving I guess and makes slightly more sense towards the end. Every chapter started to be a cliffhanger but eventually grew tired of it since nothing absolved from it
This one kept me kind of entertained but was equally annoyed as well.
June 23, 2024
Didn’t enjoy this . Unbelievable storyline. Didn’t take to any of the characters. Rushed , unsatisfactory ending.
July 9, 2024
Not a thriller at all, the end didn’t make sense with the beginning. Pretty slow read, didn’t connect with the characters. Kept ready hoping it would get better and it just kept going.
August 17, 2023
Thank you to Boldwood Books & NetGalley for an ARC of this book, in exchange for my honest opinion.
This was a thriller, that just kept that creepiness level high, with shivers running up my back. Every time you thought you were getting closer to answers, something would throw you onto a whole new track of guessing. And the ending was simply perfect. You don’t often get a happily ever after when reading a suspenseful thriller, but M.A Hunter wrote and delivered one perfectly with “The Trail”.
Jess’s Mom Nora disappeared while hiking the Appalachian Trail for charity in 1993, in New Hampshire. Her body was never found, nor were any clues to what happened to her; she simply just vanished never to be seen again. When Jess opens her email to find human remains have been found off the Trail not far from where her Mother was last seen, she hops on the first flight over from the UK. Her arrival and journey through New Hampshire and Maine, feels like a cat and mouse game of finding the truth. Who is telling her lies, and who is trying to cover up what really happens in these Mountains. Told in alternate time lines between Jess’s current journey to find justice for her mother, and Nora’s journey on the Trail in 1993, a delicious tale of mystery is written.
I really enjoyed this thriller, the setting was described in such eerie detail I felt like I myself was hiking the trail. So many creepy things happen in this story, that truly just made me shiver. If you’re looking for an unputdownable thriller, with a rich and detailed setting, this is the one!!! Well done!!
This was a thriller, that just kept that creepiness level high, with shivers running up my back. Every time you thought you were getting closer to answers, something would throw you onto a whole new track of guessing. And the ending was simply perfect. You don’t often get a happily ever after when reading a suspenseful thriller, but M.A Hunter wrote and delivered one perfectly with “The Trail”.
Jess’s Mom Nora disappeared while hiking the Appalachian Trail for charity in 1993, in New Hampshire. Her body was never found, nor were any clues to what happened to her; she simply just vanished never to be seen again. When Jess opens her email to find human remains have been found off the Trail not far from where her Mother was last seen, she hops on the first flight over from the UK. Her arrival and journey through New Hampshire and Maine, feels like a cat and mouse game of finding the truth. Who is telling her lies, and who is trying to cover up what really happens in these Mountains. Told in alternate time lines between Jess’s current journey to find justice for her mother, and Nora’s journey on the Trail in 1993, a delicious tale of mystery is written.
I really enjoyed this thriller, the setting was described in such eerie detail I felt like I myself was hiking the trail. So many creepy things happen in this story, that truly just made me shiver. If you’re looking for an unputdownable thriller, with a rich and detailed setting, this is the one!!! Well done!!
August 23, 2023
I really enjoyed this book it was a good storyline, full of tension and grabs you from the beginning — told from the POV of Jess (2023) and Nora ( 1993) each chapter skipping between the time periods. The mystery of what happened to Nora — really drives the story and holds the intrigue . The more you get into the book the more gripping the story becomes— you will feel a driving need to know what happened to Nora and what might happen to Jess. Lots of twists and turns in this book- definitely keeps you guessing. Recommended!
Thank you to Netgalley and Boldwood Books for this ARC , this is my honest review .
Thank you to Netgalley and Boldwood Books for this ARC , this is my honest review .
March 25, 2024
Jess has spent her entire life searching for answers to her mother's disappearance. Thirty years ago, Nora vanished while participating in a charity hike along the Appalachian Trail, and the mystery of that has deeply affected every aspect of Jess’ life. Now thirty-five years old, Jess is divorced, unemployed, and evicted from her apartment. She’s also the recipient of an email alerting her to the discovery of human remains near where her mother went missing.
With nothing to tie her down, Jess wastes no time in boarding a plane. While rumors suggest the Appalachian Mountains conceal secrets, Jess soon discovers that the locals keep some of their own as well. Someone is determined to keep the past buried, and they'll go to great lengths let sleeping secrets lie.
THOUGHTS
ONE WRONG TURN is told in alternating timelines; the story of Jess as she searches for answers to her mother’s disappearance and of her mother, Nora’s hike along the Appalachian Trail.
Of the two narratives, Nora’s story is by far the more interesting. The chapters detailing her journey on the trail vividly depict her struggle with the demanding conditions as well as her distrust of her fellow hikers as the hike becomes increasingly dangerous. Is Nora's mounting paranoia a product of homesickness and stress, or does it hint at an actual, undisclosed danger that might be putting her life in jeopardy?
Jess, Nora's daughter, picks up the story thirty years later, her life haunted by her mother's disappearance, influencing everything from her career choice to her struggles with forming close relationships. After years as a journalist, investigating others' lives in hopes of unraveling the mystery of her own. However, facing dwindling opportunities to make a living in journalism, Jess reaches a critical juncture when an anonymous email lands in her inbox; could it finally provide answers to the real story of her mother's disappearance?
Despite her desperation for closure, Jess's character fails to connect as nothing about the character seems particularly believable. Her actions, fueled by a quest for answers, often appear frustratingly illogical and downright stupid for a thirty-five-year-old. Instead of a compelling mystery , ONE WRONG TURN suffers from an “everything and the kitchen sink” approach. Billed as a suspense thriller, the novel was neither. Instead of a compelling mystery ONE WRONG TURN quickly moves from a straightforward missing person investigation into a wild ride of conspiracy theories, cults, magic, and possibly alien abduction. The result is a muddled and overstuffed mess that fails to deliver on its promise of suspense and thrills.
RECOMMENDATION 1 Star
At the midpoint ONE WRONG TURN was trending toward a three-star rating but as the book progressed the rating declined. By the final few chapters, maintaining even a one-star rating felt nearly impossible, with the lone star given as an acknowledgment of the book's initial potential.
With nothing to tie her down, Jess wastes no time in boarding a plane. While rumors suggest the Appalachian Mountains conceal secrets, Jess soon discovers that the locals keep some of their own as well. Someone is determined to keep the past buried, and they'll go to great lengths let sleeping secrets lie.
THOUGHTS
ONE WRONG TURN is told in alternating timelines; the story of Jess as she searches for answers to her mother’s disappearance and of her mother, Nora’s hike along the Appalachian Trail.
Of the two narratives, Nora’s story is by far the more interesting. The chapters detailing her journey on the trail vividly depict her struggle with the demanding conditions as well as her distrust of her fellow hikers as the hike becomes increasingly dangerous. Is Nora's mounting paranoia a product of homesickness and stress, or does it hint at an actual, undisclosed danger that might be putting her life in jeopardy?
Jess, Nora's daughter, picks up the story thirty years later, her life haunted by her mother's disappearance, influencing everything from her career choice to her struggles with forming close relationships. After years as a journalist, investigating others' lives in hopes of unraveling the mystery of her own. However, facing dwindling opportunities to make a living in journalism, Jess reaches a critical juncture when an anonymous email lands in her inbox; could it finally provide answers to the real story of her mother's disappearance?
Despite her desperation for closure, Jess's character fails to connect as nothing about the character seems particularly believable. Her actions, fueled by a quest for answers, often appear frustratingly illogical and downright stupid for a thirty-five-year-old. Instead of a compelling mystery , ONE WRONG TURN suffers from an “everything and the kitchen sink” approach. Billed as a suspense thriller, the novel was neither. Instead of a compelling mystery ONE WRONG TURN quickly moves from a straightforward missing person investigation into a wild ride of conspiracy theories, cults, magic, and possibly alien abduction. The result is a muddled and overstuffed mess that fails to deliver on its promise of suspense and thrills.
RECOMMENDATION 1 Star
At the midpoint ONE WRONG TURN was trending toward a three-star rating but as the book progressed the rating declined. By the final few chapters, maintaining even a one-star rating felt nearly impossible, with the lone star given as an acknowledgment of the book's initial potential.
September 19, 2023
So the mothers been alive for 30 years and she doesn’t report it to police… ok then
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
September 10, 2023
In 1993, Nora sets off to hike a portion of the Appalachian Trail with a small group but is never seen again. In 2023, her daughter Jess learns of remains that were found near where her mother disappeared, so she leaves the UK and travels to Maine for answers.
It took me a while to get into this one and I was tempted to DNR. Eventually toward the middle things started to pick up, but the end was really my least favorite part. It’s billed as a thriller but is really more about the magic and legends surrounding the Appalachians.
It took me a while to get into this one and I was tempted to DNR. Eventually toward the middle things started to pick up, but the end was really my least favorite part. It’s billed as a thriller but is really more about the magic and legends surrounding the Appalachians.
September 10, 2023
This is such an exciting and tense read, I was hooked immediately and enjoyed following both timelines.
The authors writing style made me completely drawn to both main characters and invested in their stories, other characters completely freaked me out! Human ‘bear cubs’ for one. I didn’t know what way this was heading or which characters to trust!
Whilst I understood the whys and the way people are drawn to the town; the ending was a tad unrealistic for me, but I still thoroughly enjoyed the book and would recommend it.
The authors writing style made me completely drawn to both main characters and invested in their stories, other characters completely freaked me out! Human ‘bear cubs’ for one. I didn’t know what way this was heading or which characters to trust!
Whilst I understood the whys and the way people are drawn to the town; the ending was a tad unrealistic for me, but I still thoroughly enjoyed the book and would recommend it.
September 26, 2023
I enjoyed this book. Told over two timelines the story of Nora and her friends as she embarks on hiking the Appalachian Trail, and that of her daughter Jess to whom she never returned.
The two stories cleverly hook you in and there’s a brilliant unexpected twist too
The two stories cleverly hook you in and there’s a brilliant unexpected twist too
September 11, 2023
Jess is a reporter in the UK with a very stagnant career but when she gets a link on her website having to do with a body found in the same area of the Appalachian trail where her mom Nora went missing 30 years before despite limited funds she leaves immediately to investigate. She goes to the last place she thinks her mom was in Roxton,Main. it seems the people in the Little town are not happy to have her nosing about but while at a tea shop a man drops a note telling her he knows about her mom and to meet him that night The other POV is her mom Nora and her charity hike through Maine she is doing it for her goddaughter Ashley who is sick and her hike will raise money for her care she’s going on the hike with her friend Bruce Ashley‘s American godfather Charles and another guy named Ken. It’s supposed to take a month but with the snowy conditions it takes longer Nora doesn’t want to be on this hike and to make matters worse Charles is a real jerk and although he calls a truce it doesn’t make him more likable Norris own mom was put in a mental facility due to her fanciful thinking so when Nora runs across a girl selling charm bracelets the only reason she buys it is for her daughter Jess who she thinks would love it. When she’s told she could get two for $10 she finds a pretty bracelet that silver and unlike the rest but it doesn’t fit so when the girl selling the bracelets grabs her wrist tightly and does a foreign incantation in at the end the bracelet is on Nora is amazed by this but this will not be the only thing Nora finds amazing on her hike through the main Appalachian trail. There is way too much to the story to do a summary of all of it just now this book keeps you guessing until the end and although they had things that were either blatantly false or things that didn’t make sense to me like doing a charity drive to financially help someone with healthcare when I thought the UK has free healthcare but that is minor and not important to the story but also there was a part in the book where Nora is angry because Charles finds a cabin that he breaks into and she had first refuses to stay there but in America if it is snowing and the weather is bad you can take shelter in a cabin in the woods and that is not illegal you can also eat the food that is there I don’t know about other countries but I found this part of the book ridiculous because even if it was illegal there was a blizzard about… So she would rather stay in a blizzard after being on the trail for over a week then take shelter in a warm cabin that made no sense to me and this wasn’t the only time Nora‘s mom to me seemed ridiculous. Now but I have gotten the negatives out the way as I said before this book keeps you guessing until the end and although they do have some mystical happenings in the book they seem plausible in par for the course because for the most part this is a really good book that was just a few technical things I found out of the box. I would definitely recommend this book as I know things that bother me do not bother the average reader so definitely read that it is a really good thriller! I want to thank Boldwood Books and NetGalley for my free Ark copy please forgive any mistakes as I am blind and dictate my review.
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