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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.
304 pages, Paperback
Expected publication September 8, 2026
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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.
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 NetGalley
"The Refuge" is general fiction. It's told from five different viewpoints and jumped around in time. It's not really a mystery as Johnny quickly uncovered what probably happened and that's why they allowed Maeve to stay on the wildlife refuge rather than trying to find her parents. But Ava's never told the truth and, at 18 years old, she finally questioned living in such isolation. She started pressing for true answers rather than the obvious lies she'd been told. The wildlife refuge was a nice backdrop for the story, but it's more an explanation of how a person could live in isolation. It's a huge chunk of land and the staff lives on site, so a person doesn't have to leave. It even has security guards to keep out poachers, so it's safe.
While the main characters were well-developed, complex people and I always understood why they acted the way they did, I didn't really enjoy the story. It was like watching a slow train wreck. Maeve's mother, Evelyn, made a series of bad choices, made it free into a good life, but choose to be pulled in again. She paid a high price to get Maeve free from the consequences of her actions, but Maeve also made bad choices and lied to those she loved. She had a one night stand to get pregnant because she wanted a baby. Because Ava didn't know why they didn't have contact with her relatives or why they hid on the refuge, she made a series of bad decisions. With the exception of Maeve's father and Johnny, men are hardly mentioned.
The police seemed remarkably inept in this story. They're told Maeve was a lost child and the other staff knew it, but the police just dropped the case when told it was a misunderstanding. We're never told how the bad guy got away with . And even if a bear mauled the dead body at the end, I'd think the police would know a gun shot wound when they saw it and not just dismiss the case.
There was one almost-sex scene (not particularly graphic). There was occasional use of bad language. It was a decent story, it just didn't appeal to me, especially as I was expecting an actual mystery genre novel.
I received a free ebook review copy of this book from the publisher through NetGalley.
While the main characters were well-developed, complex people and I always understood why they acted the way they did, I didn't really enjoy the story. It was like watching a slow train wreck. Maeve's mother, Evelyn, made a series of bad choices, made it free into a good life, but choose to be pulled in again. She paid a high price to get Maeve free from the consequences of her actions, but Maeve also made bad choices and lied to those she loved. She had a one night stand to get pregnant because she wanted a baby. Because Ava didn't know why they didn't have contact with her relatives or why they hid on the refuge, she made a series of bad decisions. With the exception of Maeve's father and Johnny, men are hardly mentioned.
The police seemed remarkably inept in this story. They're told Maeve was a lost child and the other staff knew it, but the police just dropped the case when told it was a misunderstanding. We're never told how the bad guy got away with . And even if a bear mauled the dead body at the end, I'd think the police would know a gun shot wound when they saw it and not just dismiss the case.
There was one almost-sex scene (not particularly graphic). There was occasional use of bad language. It was a decent story, it just didn't appeal to me, especially as I was expecting an actual mystery genre novel.
I received a free ebook review copy of this book from the publisher through NetGalley.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
*Thank you to Crooked Lane for a complimentary arc of The Refuge. All opinions expressed are my own*
As someone who spends a lot of time doing conservation and ranger work, The Refuge shot to the top of my reading pile faster than I’d like to admit.
A wildlife refuge, family secrets buried amongst the Montana scenery and one girl’s quest to uncover them? Take all my money.
From the very first page, I was completely immersed. The setting felt vivid and familiar, and kept me invested from the start to the end of the book. It also left desperately craving a return to the wild, and I already know this is a book I’ll be rereading on a future expedition.
Although there was a gentle thread of romance woven into the story, I loved that it never overshadowed its true heart - and was more of a tool to have Ava look beyond the life she knows. This is, above all else, a story about three generations of women - Evelyn, Maeve and Ava - and their journeys and wounds. Even the husband mentioned in the epilogue was left unnamed, and that somehow felt exactly right. It allowed the focus to remain where it belonged: on the women who shaped the story (and Johnny, of course).
If I had one small wish, it would simply be for a little more at the end. The novel builds such a beautifully slow, simmering sense of anticipation that if found myself itching for answers and what the conclusion would bring. When it came, it felt like it ended too abruptly.
The Refuge is an atmospheric, character-driven story that beautifully blends family secrets with the natural world. If you love stories rooted in wilderness, complex family dynamics, strong female characters and how far one would go to protect their loved one - then this is one I would absolutely recommend.
As someone who spends a lot of time doing conservation and ranger work, The Refuge shot to the top of my reading pile faster than I’d like to admit.
A wildlife refuge, family secrets buried amongst the Montana scenery and one girl’s quest to uncover them? Take all my money.
From the very first page, I was completely immersed. The setting felt vivid and familiar, and kept me invested from the start to the end of the book. It also left desperately craving a return to the wild, and I already know this is a book I’ll be rereading on a future expedition.
Although there was a gentle thread of romance woven into the story, I loved that it never overshadowed its true heart - and was more of a tool to have Ava look beyond the life she knows. This is, above all else, a story about three generations of women - Evelyn, Maeve and Ava - and their journeys and wounds. Even the husband mentioned in the epilogue was left unnamed, and that somehow felt exactly right. It allowed the focus to remain where it belonged: on the women who shaped the story (and Johnny, of course).
If I had one small wish, it would simply be for a little more at the end. The novel builds such a beautifully slow, simmering sense of anticipation that if found myself itching for answers and what the conclusion would bring. When it came, it felt like it ended too abruptly.
The Refuge is an atmospheric, character-driven story that beautifully blends family secrets with the natural world. If you love stories rooted in wilderness, complex family dynamics, strong female characters and how far one would go to protect their loved one - then this is one I would absolutely recommend.
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 Publisher
Thank you Crooked Lane for my gifted copy!
What a beautiful book. What a painfully melancholic book.
I will read, and usually adore, any book that features the land, Mother Nature, as a character in its own right. The Refuge fits this bill to a T. I love experiencing a similar love of nature through the eyes of a character. It’s validating. Like yes, me too. Yes, the sway of the grass, the smell of the air, the rustle of the trees. All of those things are home to me, too. Just like the refuge was home to Ava.
Admittedly, I started this a day or two after a tornado ripped through the town my mother was born. A town I travel to monthly with my children. A town we hike through, play in, love to be. I’m grappling with imposter syndrome with my grief. My own home is safe, my own city is untouched. But my refuge is gone. I think this emotional wound helped this book become something close to my heart. I replaced the longhorn sheep with the deer and birds that don’t seem to notice a human gaping at them from the trail.
This story was layered; told across generations of women controlled by the hands of one monster: a man. It was harrowing, heartbreaking, and a tiny bit hopeful how strength and resilience grew with each generation.
I loved this book. Carly Hillman is a beautiful writer, and I can’t wait to read what’s next.
What a beautiful book. What a painfully melancholic book.
I will read, and usually adore, any book that features the land, Mother Nature, as a character in its own right. The Refuge fits this bill to a T. I love experiencing a similar love of nature through the eyes of a character. It’s validating. Like yes, me too. Yes, the sway of the grass, the smell of the air, the rustle of the trees. All of those things are home to me, too. Just like the refuge was home to Ava.
Admittedly, I started this a day or two after a tornado ripped through the town my mother was born. A town I travel to monthly with my children. A town we hike through, play in, love to be. I’m grappling with imposter syndrome with my grief. My own home is safe, my own city is untouched. But my refuge is gone. I think this emotional wound helped this book become something close to my heart. I replaced the longhorn sheep with the deer and birds that don’t seem to notice a human gaping at them from the trail.
This story was layered; told across generations of women controlled by the hands of one monster: a man. It was harrowing, heartbreaking, and a tiny bit hopeful how strength and resilience grew with each generation.
I loved this book. Carly Hillman is a beautiful writer, and I can’t wait to read what’s next.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
July 16, 2026A multi-generational story of a lost girl, Maeve, who is found at Amarant - a vast, lush wildlife refuge center funded by rich tourists who visit on holiday. Johnny, the local park ranger, takes on a guardian role once he realizes Maeve is scared and does not want to leave for "unknown" reasons.
Fast forward to present day, Maeve now has a young daughter, Ava, who is isolated and afraid of leaving the Refuge. She meets Sam, a new security officer, and finds herself thinking about a life outside of Amarant. What she doesn't understand is her mother's fear of leaving the grounds...and during her investigation, she realizes that perhaps Maeve has a reason why.
This novel has many different elements: found family, suspense, generational drama, and cult-adjacent vibes. I had a good time with the novel, at the beginning, the pacing was slow but it picked up rather quickly! I personally love the ending, and how it focuses on the three girls and Ava's husband (who is briefly mentioned) is not the center of the plot. Maybe it's Sam? Maybe it's another man she met? Regardless, what's more important is the relationship between the women and how they've reclaimed their futures.
Fast forward to present day, Maeve now has a young daughter, Ava, who is isolated and afraid of leaving the Refuge. She meets Sam, a new security officer, and finds herself thinking about a life outside of Amarant. What she doesn't understand is her mother's fear of leaving the grounds...and during her investigation, she realizes that perhaps Maeve has a reason why.
This novel has many different elements: found family, suspense, generational drama, and cult-adjacent vibes. I had a good time with the novel, at the beginning, the pacing was slow but it picked up rather quickly! I personally love the ending, and how it focuses on the three girls and Ava's husband (who is briefly mentioned) is not the center of the plot. Maybe it's Sam? Maybe it's another man she met? Regardless, what's more important is the relationship between the women and how they've reclaimed their futures.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
The Refuge has an interesting story to tell - the impact of family secrets that won't stay buried and the resilience of the human spirit, the ways in which we can care for each other, and how kindness can ripple out through generations. Overall, I wanted more richness in the details of the novel. Set in a wildlife refuge in Montana, as the title suggests, we have glimpses of the beautiful natural world our characters live in, but the sensory details of the experience are only hinted at. The relationships between the characters are paramount to the story, but we are held at arm's length from their connections, which for some characters is perhaps a reflection of their trauma, but for others it denies the reader a full characterization that could have made the story that much more meaningful. The ending is satisfying, and I would recommend for a reader who prefers their thrills gentle and pacing moderate. Overall a promising debut! Thank you to NetGalley and Crooked Lane Books for the opportunity to read this ARC and give my honest review!
Review of advance copy
The Refuge by Carly Hillman thanks to telltale publicity for the gifted Arc ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️💫
Ava was born and raised on a remote wildlife refuge in Montana. She loves her life and can’t imagine otherwise. Until she gets close to a new security guard her age, who asks questions about her family’s history.
I loved the atmosphere of this one; it’s very nature based. There are poachers and some animals deaths that were upsetting (avoid page 12 if this is triggering) but I loved the story itself and these were minor scenes. Mostly it’s about family secrets and all won’t be revealed until the end. It shows how secrets can lead to miscommunications, despite good intentions. The entire story was very fast paced and an easy read.
Read if you like:
-Mother/daughter stories
-Cult tropes
-Natural and conservation
The Refuge comes out 9/8.
Ava was born and raised on a remote wildlife refuge in Montana. She loves her life and can’t imagine otherwise. Until she gets close to a new security guard her age, who asks questions about her family’s history.
I loved the atmosphere of this one; it’s very nature based. There are poachers and some animals deaths that were upsetting (avoid page 12 if this is triggering) but I loved the story itself and these were minor scenes. Mostly it’s about family secrets and all won’t be revealed until the end. It shows how secrets can lead to miscommunications, despite good intentions. The entire story was very fast paced and an easy read.
Read if you like:
-Mother/daughter stories
-Cult tropes
-Natural and conservation
The Refuge comes out 9/8.
July 22, 2026
**Thanks to Netgalley for this ARC - publishing September 2026**
The first chapter pulled me in and I was expecting great things. My expectations, ultimately, weren’t realized.
This book was ok. In all the ways. Nothing was bad about it. Nothing was “wrong” with it. It just lacked what I was anticipating from the gorgeous cover and the magnetic pull of the first chapter.
This story deals with found family, family secrets, domestic abuse and cults, all set near and in a stunning wildlife preserve.
I wanted more about the land, about the animals, about Johnny, his family and Winona.
Not sure if I will try more from the author but I’m grateful for the opportunity to read this one.
QUOTE: ““the porch held memories of the man he was, before it all…This was the last place on earth that knew him as he once was…”
The first chapter pulled me in and I was expecting great things. My expectations, ultimately, weren’t realized.
This book was ok. In all the ways. Nothing was bad about it. Nothing was “wrong” with it. It just lacked what I was anticipating from the gorgeous cover and the magnetic pull of the first chapter.
This story deals with found family, family secrets, domestic abuse and cults, all set near and in a stunning wildlife preserve.
I wanted more about the land, about the animals, about Johnny, his family and Winona.
Not sure if I will try more from the author but I’m grateful for the opportunity to read this one.
QUOTE: ““the porch held memories of the man he was, before it all…This was the last place on earth that knew him as he once was…”
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.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
This was a sweet story despite some very awful people/abuse . It is Ava's story as she tries to find her place in the world and understand the mystery of her mother. Some of the characters were a bit one dimensional but again mostly the power of love and nature shone through
Review of advance copy received from Publisher
4.5
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July 17, 2026RTC
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