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Into the Unknown
Mali, 2010: In the remote reaches of the Sahara, disparate groups of Islamic fundamentalists affiliated with Al-Qaeda have stealthily taken root.
Against this backdrop, a famed Canadian geologist toiling away at a remote exploration camp near Timbuktu discovers the motherlode of gold like no others. In the aftermath, Ayesha, his beautiful wife, is abducted.
Enters Jake Hall, a young mining executive visiting the camp. As Hall makes a frantic dash to Timbuktu to save his host, he sets in motion a chain of unforeseen events, putting his life on a knife’s edge.
Interweaving the lives of multiple characters, Into the Unknown explores life’s unintended consequences, the strength of the human spirit, and the power of friendship forged in the fire of adversity.
Against this backdrop, a famed Canadian geologist toiling away at a remote exploration camp near Timbuktu discovers the motherlode of gold like no others. In the aftermath, Ayesha, his beautiful wife, is abducted.
Enters Jake Hall, a young mining executive visiting the camp. As Hall makes a frantic dash to Timbuktu to save his host, he sets in motion a chain of unforeseen events, putting his life on a knife’s edge.
Interweaving the lives of multiple characters, Into the Unknown explores life’s unintended consequences, the strength of the human spirit, and the power of friendship forged in the fire of adversity.
382 pages, Kindle Edition
Published October 10, 2025
3 people are currently reading
1074 people want to read
About the author
Hai Van Le
1 book8 followersTalk is cheap. Action matters. A dream without efforts and action is just wishful thinking.
Waiting for the perfect conditions before starting something is like waiting for Godot.
Ask any successful entrepreneur or any artist and he/she will probably tell you that taking the first step is probably the most difficult. Fear, doubt, and vacillation can stop a project in its track.
For years, Hai knew he would write a psycho-spiritual adventure thriller like Into the Unknown. He knew way back from university days that one day he would do something like this and if he didn’t, he would regret it.
The overriding question then was: When?
Two decades later, he finally figured it out: an adventure story of two individuals thrust by forces beyond their control into an unfamiliar realm—a landscape of caravans and smuggling, of unchecked artisanal mining, geopolitical intrigue, greed, and prejudice that test their character and endurance to the maximum while simultaneously expanding their mental and spiritual horizons.
While the story is still unfolding, the overwhelmingly positive response to the first book reassures Hai that he has what it takes to craft a captivating trilogy—an epic that weaves together a diverse cast of characters across multiple continents and cultures.
Waiting for the perfect conditions before starting something is like waiting for Godot.
Ask any successful entrepreneur or any artist and he/she will probably tell you that taking the first step is probably the most difficult. Fear, doubt, and vacillation can stop a project in its track.
For years, Hai knew he would write a psycho-spiritual adventure thriller like Into the Unknown. He knew way back from university days that one day he would do something like this and if he didn’t, he would regret it.
The overriding question then was: When?
Two decades later, he finally figured it out: an adventure story of two individuals thrust by forces beyond their control into an unfamiliar realm—a landscape of caravans and smuggling, of unchecked artisanal mining, geopolitical intrigue, greed, and prejudice that test their character and endurance to the maximum while simultaneously expanding their mental and spiritual horizons.
While the story is still unfolding, the overwhelmingly positive response to the first book reassures Hai that he has what it takes to craft a captivating trilogy—an epic that weaves together a diverse cast of characters across multiple continents and cultures.
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Displaying 1 - 12 of 12 reviews
November 29, 2025
This book has a compelling vibe and some genuinely intriguing moments, but it doesn’t always keep that momentum going. There are parts that really shine, but other sections feel a bit slower or less polished. It’s still an enjoyable read overall—just one that feels like it could’ve hit harder with a little more consistency. A decent, thoughtful book with standout moments, earning a solid three stars.
January 28, 2025
When Jake Hall, a mining executive, travels to a remote area in Timbuktu, he has one goal: to come back with groundbreaking findings on a special project for his mining company. But when the helicopter he’s in is shot down by Islamic fundamentalists and the pilot dies, leaving him alone and at the mercy of hardened men who hate him, his journey—including an uncertain trek across a hostile desert—begins.
At the same time, a young woman named Ayesha—the wife of a Canadian geologist—is kidnapped. For both of these individuals, their fight for survival begins; one that challenges not only their bodies but their spirits, as well.
From the opening pages, “Into the Unknown” by Hai Van Le captivated me. The writing is simple and forthright, yet breathtaking and evocative. Mr. Le is a compelling wordsmith. He also has the rare ability to turn even the smallest moments in the story into something worthy of attention by injecting conflict and drama into the most ordinary of situations.
Yet at the same time, interestingly, no matter what’s happening on the page, there’s a simple peace and honesty that lies under his prose.
Despite this, this is not a novel for the faint of heart or for those who expect life to be pretty and sanitized. Harsh life realities are experienced by the characters, seemingly endlessly. And if you’re triggered by the killing of gentle animals, there are at least two scenes I can think of, in particular, that are not for you.
Regardless of the relentless struggles, both Jake and Ayesha—the narrative switches between them—find moments of triumph and strength. These victories, though hard-earned, remind us of the resilience of the human spirit.
“Into the Unknown” is a beautifully written book. The writer’s style—the ease of reading, yet the ability to produce such compelling prose, so simply, cannot be overstated. As well, his intimate knowledge of not only the desert but of geology is profound and beautifully expressed. It’s eye-opening for the layperson, as the diversity of the desert is freeze-framed, surprising us. As the characters traverse the terrain, you’re there with them, as they navigate the heat, as they are literally engulfed by insects.
There’s definitely a touch of the sacred in this story, as well.
Along this line, at times the prose becomes very much about communicating a spiritual way of thinking about life, a way of viewing intense uncertainty and hardship through a different lens. I wouldn’t say it becomes preachy, mainly because of the author’s skill in characterizing those who deliver the ideas, though it does skirt the line at times.
And at times, flashes of a spiritual world—never fully entered into, but nonetheless present, just under the surface—blurs the line between the corporeal present, and spirit.
Even with these moments of relief, at times the relentless hardships did begin to feel overwhelming. If Mr. Le is looking to communicate harsh reality, he’s succeeded. Yet the two main characters are admirable, too, in how they face their evolving situations with transparent honesty and abject fear. The determination to accept, then make the best of what they’re faced with, also shines through as the best course.
Although marketed as a thriller, I found this categorization misleading. The book does not align with the expectations of the thriller genre, despite the author’s ability, already noted, to inject suspense into the simplest of situations. This is not a high octane read. Rather, it’s an adventure, rich with suspense, laden with the weight of survival and discovery. It’s this journey, fraught with danger, that takes center stage.
Readers should also be aware that this is the first book in a planned trilogy. As such, the book, and plot, simply stops. (It left me flipping madly through the electronic pages, looking for more closure.) This does heighten anticipation for the next installment, however, the book could potentially have benefited from some type of wrap up, or a symbolic conclusion of some type to provide that closure—for now.
Despite that surprise, I’ll be looking for the second book in Mr. Le’s trilogy—”Gold Rush”–when it becomes available.
In the end, this is a book of contradictions: simple yet profound, harsh yet beautiful, grounded yet spiritual. The story will linger with you. For readers who crave a story that challenges both heart and mind and also invites us to peek at situations from a spiritual point of view, “Into the Unknown” by Hai Van Le will be a welcome addition to your library—with two additional spots waiting beside it, strongly marked—for the concluding novels of the trilogy.
At the same time, a young woman named Ayesha—the wife of a Canadian geologist—is kidnapped. For both of these individuals, their fight for survival begins; one that challenges not only their bodies but their spirits, as well.
From the opening pages, “Into the Unknown” by Hai Van Le captivated me. The writing is simple and forthright, yet breathtaking and evocative. Mr. Le is a compelling wordsmith. He also has the rare ability to turn even the smallest moments in the story into something worthy of attention by injecting conflict and drama into the most ordinary of situations.
Yet at the same time, interestingly, no matter what’s happening on the page, there’s a simple peace and honesty that lies under his prose.
Despite this, this is not a novel for the faint of heart or for those who expect life to be pretty and sanitized. Harsh life realities are experienced by the characters, seemingly endlessly. And if you’re triggered by the killing of gentle animals, there are at least two scenes I can think of, in particular, that are not for you.
Regardless of the relentless struggles, both Jake and Ayesha—the narrative switches between them—find moments of triumph and strength. These victories, though hard-earned, remind us of the resilience of the human spirit.
“Into the Unknown” is a beautifully written book. The writer’s style—the ease of reading, yet the ability to produce such compelling prose, so simply, cannot be overstated. As well, his intimate knowledge of not only the desert but of geology is profound and beautifully expressed. It’s eye-opening for the layperson, as the diversity of the desert is freeze-framed, surprising us. As the characters traverse the terrain, you’re there with them, as they navigate the heat, as they are literally engulfed by insects.
There’s definitely a touch of the sacred in this story, as well.
Along this line, at times the prose becomes very much about communicating a spiritual way of thinking about life, a way of viewing intense uncertainty and hardship through a different lens. I wouldn’t say it becomes preachy, mainly because of the author’s skill in characterizing those who deliver the ideas, though it does skirt the line at times.
And at times, flashes of a spiritual world—never fully entered into, but nonetheless present, just under the surface—blurs the line between the corporeal present, and spirit.
Even with these moments of relief, at times the relentless hardships did begin to feel overwhelming. If Mr. Le is looking to communicate harsh reality, he’s succeeded. Yet the two main characters are admirable, too, in how they face their evolving situations with transparent honesty and abject fear. The determination to accept, then make the best of what they’re faced with, also shines through as the best course.
Although marketed as a thriller, I found this categorization misleading. The book does not align with the expectations of the thriller genre, despite the author’s ability, already noted, to inject suspense into the simplest of situations. This is not a high octane read. Rather, it’s an adventure, rich with suspense, laden with the weight of survival and discovery. It’s this journey, fraught with danger, that takes center stage.
Readers should also be aware that this is the first book in a planned trilogy. As such, the book, and plot, simply stops. (It left me flipping madly through the electronic pages, looking for more closure.) This does heighten anticipation for the next installment, however, the book could potentially have benefited from some type of wrap up, or a symbolic conclusion of some type to provide that closure—for now.
Despite that surprise, I’ll be looking for the second book in Mr. Le’s trilogy—”Gold Rush”–when it becomes available.
In the end, this is a book of contradictions: simple yet profound, harsh yet beautiful, grounded yet spiritual. The story will linger with you. For readers who crave a story that challenges both heart and mind and also invites us to peek at situations from a spiritual point of view, “Into the Unknown” by Hai Van Le will be a welcome addition to your library—with two additional spots waiting beside it, strongly marked—for the concluding novels of the trilogy.
March 6, 2025
Into the Unknown is a spell-binding tale set against the vast and unforgiving backdrop of the Sahara Desert and is a thrilling tale of survival and resilience. The reader will be taken back in time to 2010 where we meet a Canadian geologist working near Timbuktu who has made a groundbreaking discovery of a massive gold deposit. However, this triumphant discovery quickly turns to tragedy when his compound is attacked by Islamic fundamentalists, resulting in the abduction of his wife, Ayesha.
As the reader gets lost in this story we will also meet Jake Hall, a young mining executive who has arrived to evaluate the discovery, only to be swept into a perilous adventure too. Jake Hall soon finds himself captured by desert smugglers and must navigate the treacherous terrain and face the harsh realities of the desert to survive. What follows is a shocking and poignant tale as we get lost in the stories of both Jake Hall and Ayesha and the result is a compelling and unique tale that shouldn’t be missed!
If you are a reader looking to get lost in a great read, full of many poignant and unforgettable moments combined with thrilling themes that will provoke your thoughts, then Into the Unknown is for you! This book has all of this and so much more and will leave you breathless on many occasions. Into the Unknown is a phenomenal book written by the incredible author Hai Van Le who does a fantastic job of making his reader invest in his story from the start as well as build his story quickly, and I have to say I am very impressed with this as this is hard to accomplish! However, Hai Van Le pulled it off as he is a genuinely brilliant author whose book stands out amongst its genre.
As the reader gets lost in this story we will also meet Jake Hall, a young mining executive who has arrived to evaluate the discovery, only to be swept into a perilous adventure too. Jake Hall soon finds himself captured by desert smugglers and must navigate the treacherous terrain and face the harsh realities of the desert to survive. What follows is a shocking and poignant tale as we get lost in the stories of both Jake Hall and Ayesha and the result is a compelling and unique tale that shouldn’t be missed!
If you are a reader looking to get lost in a great read, full of many poignant and unforgettable moments combined with thrilling themes that will provoke your thoughts, then Into the Unknown is for you! This book has all of this and so much more and will leave you breathless on many occasions. Into the Unknown is a phenomenal book written by the incredible author Hai Van Le who does a fantastic job of making his reader invest in his story from the start as well as build his story quickly, and I have to say I am very impressed with this as this is hard to accomplish! However, Hai Van Le pulled it off as he is a genuinely brilliant author whose book stands out amongst its genre.
November 8, 2025
This book is a bit out of my norm for reading and it’s given me something to think about. Like how in general religions are very similar in nature and that people choose to look at the differences which are relatively small versus the larger amount of the beliefs which are really very similar. (i.e. lead a good life, help those you can and believe in something you cannot see nor really know how it all works on this earth.) It also shows there are greedy people everywhere who cherish money and will do all they can to get more of it.
I can’t imagine being either of the two main characters (Jake Hall and Ayesha) and being put through what they are going through, the unknowing what will happen next and will they see their loved ones ever again? The mental and not to mention physical pain is beyond me. Along with the not knowing if you will be alive tomorrow or not would wear down on my mental health.
Lots of darkness in this book but sprinkled with good people just doing their best to even it out a bit. It reminds me how lucky I am to live where I do, and to not know hunger or fear.
Looking forward to the next book and seeing where it goes. There are so many unanswered questions and directions this could go.
I can’t imagine being either of the two main characters (Jake Hall and Ayesha) and being put through what they are going through, the unknowing what will happen next and will they see their loved ones ever again? The mental and not to mention physical pain is beyond me. Along with the not knowing if you will be alive tomorrow or not would wear down on my mental health.
Lots of darkness in this book but sprinkled with good people just doing their best to even it out a bit. It reminds me how lucky I am to live where I do, and to not know hunger or fear.
Looking forward to the next book and seeing where it goes. There are so many unanswered questions and directions this could go.
November 22, 2025
Into the Unknown follows Jake and Ayesha, who are suddenly thrown into danger after a violent attack. The story unfolds not just in the harsh desert, but also in a world of powerful sheikhs, government forces, and hidden agendas, where survival means navigating both the landscape and the people who control it.
One of the story’s greatest strengths is the atmosphere. The desert setting is described so vividly that you can almost feel the scorching heat, the shifting sands, and the vast emptiness pressing in.
The characters are equally compelling. Especially Jake and Ayesha who carry the emotional weight of the book. Their struggles reveal not only the physical hardships they face, but also their tangible fear of the unknown and the deeper political and human forces at play.
Religion also plays a meaningful role in the book. Characters from different faiths rely on their beliefs for strength, identity, and guidance, adding emotional depth and showing the cultural richness and tension of the world they live in.
Overall, it’s a fast-paced, immersive, and extremely visual read that stays with you long after putting it down.
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
One of the story’s greatest strengths is the atmosphere. The desert setting is described so vividly that you can almost feel the scorching heat, the shifting sands, and the vast emptiness pressing in.
The characters are equally compelling. Especially Jake and Ayesha who carry the emotional weight of the book. Their struggles reveal not only the physical hardships they face, but also their tangible fear of the unknown and the deeper political and human forces at play.
Religion also plays a meaningful role in the book. Characters from different faiths rely on their beliefs for strength, identity, and guidance, adding emotional depth and showing the cultural richness and tension of the world they live in.
Overall, it’s a fast-paced, immersive, and extremely visual read that stays with you long after putting it down.
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
October 14, 2025
Into the Unknown is a rare kind of book — one that grips you with danger and suspense, yet leaves you quietly reflecting long after you close it. Set against the vast, unforgiving deserts of Mali, this story follows geologist Jake Hall, whose simple work trip spirals into a nightmare of survival after a brutal kidnapping and a deadly crash. What unfolds is not just an adventure, but a deeply moving journey of faith, courage, and rediscovery.
Hai Van Le writes with the precision of a scientist and the soul of a poet. His descriptions are so vivid you can almost feel the desert heat and taste the dust, yet it’s the emotional depth that truly stands out. The scenes of near-death and awakening are powerful, written with such sensitivity that they stay with you.
More than a thriller, this novel explores what it means to be human when everything familiar is stripped away. It’s about finding light in the darkest places and grace in survival itself.
Into the Unknown reminded me of The Alchemist for its spirit and The Constant Gardener for its tension — a beautiful blend of both.
Favorite line: “We are the world’s hidden marvels, intricately woven into God’s grand design.”
Hai Van Le writes with the precision of a scientist and the soul of a poet. His descriptions are so vivid you can almost feel the desert heat and taste the dust, yet it’s the emotional depth that truly stands out. The scenes of near-death and awakening are powerful, written with such sensitivity that they stay with you.
More than a thriller, this novel explores what it means to be human when everything familiar is stripped away. It’s about finding light in the darkest places and grace in survival itself.
Into the Unknown reminded me of The Alchemist for its spirit and The Constant Gardener for its tension — a beautiful blend of both.
Favorite line: “We are the world’s hidden marvels, intricately woven into God’s grand design.”
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
October 28, 2025
This was a strong start to the Into the Unknown Trilogy series, it had that action-adventure element that I was looking for and was engaged with what was happening. Hai Van Le wrote this well and was engaged from the first page. I enjoyed this as a opening chapter and am excited to read more in this universe. The characters had that overall feel that I was wanting and enjoyed the concept. It uses the psychological thriller concept perfectly and enjoyed the overall feel of this.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
November 23, 2025
An interesting story that took me a little to get into, but once I did, it became a page turner. I couldn't help but feel sorry for Jake and the hypocrisy of his captors and I finished this book with the feeling that Jake would not be returned to his family even after a ransom is paid, because they need him.
This is a new author to me and I'm looking forward to the next book in this series.
I received a free advance review copy and I am voluntarily leaving my honest review.
This is a new author to me and I'm looking forward to the next book in this series.
I received a free advance review copy and I am voluntarily leaving my honest review.
October 19, 2025
Hai Van Le is a brilliant writer and storyteller. You'll enjoy the tension of an adventure story and ride the roller coaster of suspense. You will connect with the main characters in a way you did not expect you would. You'll be introduced to the worst and the best of humanity, including an unexpected spiritual teacher whose gentle wisdom might touch your heart! Read this book
November 23, 2025
Take a step into the unknown with a brilliant read about survival against the odds. He found gold but his life will change when his wife is taken and he will do whatever he needs to save her. He will need help so see if he can get that help
I received an advance copy from hidden gems and a wonderful tale
I received an advance copy from hidden gems and a wonderful tale
December 3, 2025
the book has a compelling premise. it keeps the momentum going on a few chapters but then drops and then changes but then picks up here and there. it is a new age spirituality book with fiction which is a different type of read
December 22, 2024
For a first book, it is ok. If you like "spiritual and religious adventures" it is fine, but as a fiction novel, all that spirituality makes all the characters feel naive and dumb, instead of educated professionals in their respective areas.
It is more a "new age spiritual" novel than a work of fiction.
It is more a "new age spiritual" novel than a work of fiction.
Displaying 1 - 12 of 12 reviews