What do you think?
Rate this book
The Refuge: A Novel
Not yet published
Expected 8 Sep 26Ava loves the wildlife refuge where she grew up, but the long-buried secrets she discovers there threaten to destroy her family—and the paradise they call home.
But is it really paradise if you’re trapped inside?
When wildlife ranger Johnny Hayward discovers a terrified young girl hiding in the grasses, he joins the tight-knit staff in trying to solve the mystery of how the girl, Maeve, came to their land. But when the police arrive, she tells them that Johnny is her father. He goes along with the lie, a split-second decision that entangles them both in a lifelong cover-up.
Decades later, Maeve’s daughter, Ava, grows up believing that same lie. Ava’s love for the Refuge, where she lives in the staff cabins with her mother and is training to be a tour ranger, prevents her from dwelling on the fact that her mother never leaves the grounds—and won’t explain why. But after starting to date a local boy, Ava begins to question her sheltered upbringing, shocked to discover that life outside their fences is not the nightmare her mother always taught her to fear. She is obsessed with answering one What is her mother so afraid of?
Angry that her mother and Johnny won’t give her answers, Ava follows a string of clues to investigate the disturbing events that led to Maeve’s arrival all those years ago, unearthing secrets that some will do anything to keep buried.
But is it really paradise if you’re trapped inside?
When wildlife ranger Johnny Hayward discovers a terrified young girl hiding in the grasses, he joins the tight-knit staff in trying to solve the mystery of how the girl, Maeve, came to their land. But when the police arrive, she tells them that Johnny is her father. He goes along with the lie, a split-second decision that entangles them both in a lifelong cover-up.
Decades later, Maeve’s daughter, Ava, grows up believing that same lie. Ava’s love for the Refuge, where she lives in the staff cabins with her mother and is training to be a tour ranger, prevents her from dwelling on the fact that her mother never leaves the grounds—and won’t explain why. But after starting to date a local boy, Ava begins to question her sheltered upbringing, shocked to discover that life outside their fences is not the nightmare her mother always taught her to fear. She is obsessed with answering one What is her mother so afraid of?
Angry that her mother and Johnny won’t give her answers, Ava follows a string of clues to investigate the disturbing events that led to Maeve’s arrival all those years ago, unearthing secrets that some will do anything to keep buried.
Kindle Edition
Expected publication September 8, 2026
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 7 of 7 reviews
Want to Read
May 30, 2026For those who love a story set in the remote wilds of Montana, The Refuge will likely draw some interest.
I found the first few chapters interesting, but as the story progressed there was a fair amount of telling versus showing. As a result, many of the characters appeared two-dimensional to me.
A "movie" tends to play in my mind as I am reading a novel. Here, alas, the characters stayed firmly on the page: for me, Johnny Hayward was the only character who was somewhat fleshed out. The others just didn't leave the page for me. Spoiler Alert:
I would like to suggest that there should be trigger warnings for physical violence and abuse, both against animals and humans. As a veteran reader, you might expect - as a matter of course - that many of the animals on this wildlife reserve will be poached. There were several descriptions of the "aftermath" that I found upsetting, but I will also say that they were not overly descriptive. Many readers might not mind such scenes, but it broke my heart. We humans can be so greedy and inhumane.
I'm rating this debut novel a 3 out of 5 stars. My thanks to the author, her publisher and NetGalley for an ARC of this novel in exchane for an honest review.
I found the first few chapters interesting, but as the story progressed there was a fair amount of telling versus showing. As a result, many of the characters appeared two-dimensional to me.
A "movie" tends to play in my mind as I am reading a novel. Here, alas, the characters stayed firmly on the page: for me, Johnny Hayward was the only character who was somewhat fleshed out. The others just didn't leave the page for me. Spoiler Alert:
I would like to suggest that there should be trigger warnings for physical violence and abuse, both against animals and humans. As a veteran reader, you might expect - as a matter of course - that many of the animals on this wildlife reserve will be poached. There were several descriptions of the "aftermath" that I found upsetting, but I will also say that they were not overly descriptive. Many readers might not mind such scenes, but it broke my heart. We humans can be so greedy and inhumane.
I'm rating this debut novel a 3 out of 5 stars. My thanks to the author, her publisher and NetGalley for an ARC of this novel in exchane for an honest review.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
What a unique and intriguing debut thriller!
I’ll be honest - during the first couple of chapters, I genuinely thought this one might not be for me. But because I refuse to DNF books, I kept going, and I’m SO glad I did!
Set at The Amarant, an ultra-exclusive and lavish wildlife refuge in Montana, the story begins when a mysterious young girl named Maeve suddenly appears on the property with no explanation of where she came from or how she got there.
Johnny, the wildlife ranger who finds her, quickly realizes Maeve is terrified of leaving the refuge and wants to stay with him. Wanting to protect her, he makes a shocking decision - he tells the police that Maeve is his daughter in order to keep her there.
Maeve grows up almost entirely isolated from the outside world and later raises her own daughter, Ava, in the same secluded environment. But as Ava gets older, she begins questioning the strange, sheltered life she’s always known - and her curiosity starts uncovering secrets that powerful people desperately want to keep buried.
This book ended up being incredibly atmospheric, tense, and beautifully written. The setting felt immersive and unsettling in the best way, and the final twists completely caught me off guard.
If you love:
🌲 isolated settings
🖤 buried secrets
🦌 eerie atmospheric thrillers
🔦 cult-adjacent vibes
🌫️ slow-building tension
…you should absolutely give this one a chance.
Huge thanks to NetGalley and Crooked Lane Books for the ARC!
I’ll be honest - during the first couple of chapters, I genuinely thought this one might not be for me. But because I refuse to DNF books, I kept going, and I’m SO glad I did!
Set at The Amarant, an ultra-exclusive and lavish wildlife refuge in Montana, the story begins when a mysterious young girl named Maeve suddenly appears on the property with no explanation of where she came from or how she got there.
Johnny, the wildlife ranger who finds her, quickly realizes Maeve is terrified of leaving the refuge and wants to stay with him. Wanting to protect her, he makes a shocking decision - he tells the police that Maeve is his daughter in order to keep her there.
Maeve grows up almost entirely isolated from the outside world and later raises her own daughter, Ava, in the same secluded environment. But as Ava gets older, she begins questioning the strange, sheltered life she’s always known - and her curiosity starts uncovering secrets that powerful people desperately want to keep buried.
This book ended up being incredibly atmospheric, tense, and beautifully written. The setting felt immersive and unsettling in the best way, and the final twists completely caught me off guard.
If you love:
🌲 isolated settings
🖤 buried secrets
🦌 eerie atmospheric thrillers
🔦 cult-adjacent vibes
🌫️ slow-building tension
…you should absolutely give this one a chance.
Huge thanks to NetGalley and Crooked Lane Books for the ARC!
Review of advance copy received from Author
The Refuge is gripping and beautiful book about a young girl who slowly realizes her mother -- and the life they've built -- isn't what she thinks it is. It's a propulsive thriller and so much more: a beautiful story about trauma, how we carry it, and how it is passed between loved ones.
I really enjoyed how the book was told across different storylines, slowly unraveling the mystery about how Maeve ended up on the Amarant. The final 100 pages or so were gripping I couldn't put the book down!
On a lighter note, Hillman also offers a beautiful portrait of the area around Yellowstone National Park in Montana. I happened to spend a few days there before reading The Refuge, and I felt transported back to some of my hikes while reading it.
I really enjoyed how the book was told across different storylines, slowly unraveling the mystery about how Maeve ended up on the Amarant. The final 100 pages or so were gripping I couldn't put the book down!
On a lighter note, Hillman also offers a beautiful portrait of the area around Yellowstone National Park in Montana. I happened to spend a few days there before reading The Refuge, and I felt transported back to some of my hikes while reading it.
Review of advance copy received from Author
Carly Hillman's The Refuge is a masterful literary thriller debut. At once an investigation of how a young girl appeared mysteriously at the Amarant wildlife resort with no family to claim her, The Refuge is also an ode to majestic beauty of the American Northwest, the profound and sometimes questionable depths a mother will go to in order to protect her child, and the healing power of found family. With lyrical prose and an intricate mystery, The Refuge is reminiscent of Tana French and Miranda Cowly Heller, making Hillman a wildly talented writer to watch.
Review of advance copy
The Refuge is a nature/cold case thriller set in the remote wilds of Montana, where some folk act worse than animals.
The story is centered around 18 y.o. Ava, but the real plot thickener is her mother Maeve, with a mysterious origin and back story.
When Ava finally learns about her true history it comes at quite a cost.
This book is a quick and enjoyable read.
Thank you Tell Tale Publicity for recommending it, and NetGalley for the advanced digital review copy.
The story is centered around 18 y.o. Ava, but the real plot thickener is her mother Maeve, with a mysterious origin and back story.
When Ava finally learns about her true history it comes at quite a cost.
This book is a quick and enjoyable read.
Thank you Tell Tale Publicity for recommending it, and NetGalley for the advanced digital review copy.
May 22, 2026
For a debut novel, this book summary immediately caught my interest. It is an extremely fun and engaging story. I did think the ending was rushed a bit and I wished it was fleshed out some more. Overall a very fun and quick thriller!
I received a free advanced copy of this book through NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
I received a free advanced copy of this book through NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
Review of advance copy received from Publisher
4.5
Displaying 1 - 7 of 7 reviews