This book is part of the Mont Blanc Rescue series, but it can be read on its own. Gael is a member of the Chamonix Peloton de Gendarmerie de Haute Montagne (PGHM), one of their most experienced climbers, who assists in mountain rescues. After a traumatic climbing accident, he prefers to climb alone, rather than rely on others. Diana is a scientist, there to conduct research on the local glaciers. She gave up climbing years ago, but misses it, and has set a goal of climbing one of the more difficult peaks in the area while she’s in town. However, in order to accomplish this feat, Diana will need to train with a more experienced climber, and one of her best friends recommends Gael. Gael doesn’t want to work with Diana, but he is drawn to her, and against his better judgement, he agrees.
The story begins with an exciting mountain rescue, and illustrates the dangers involved in climbing under difficult conditions. As Gael and Diana begin to climb together, they learn to trust each other and develop a relationship. However, things are not what they seem in the small town, and when Diana unexpectedly meets Kyle, an old acquaintance from her climate change activism days, the plot begins to thicken. Why is Kyle there, and what is his interest in renewing a relationship with Diana? There’s a lot more to the story, and as things progress, the action ramps up considerably, including some attempts on Gael’s and Diana’s lives. The last part of the story is extremely exciting and kept me glued to the book until I finally finished it in the wee hours of the morning. I definitely enjoyed reading this book, and highly recommend it, especially to anyone who has read the earlier books in the series.
I received an ARC copy of this book, but the opinions expressed are solely my own.