When I was nine, I was chased by a dog in the woods. It was barking and drooling and seemed intent on attacking me. For all I know, that dog was somebody’s pet, but I was terrified. It took me years to get over a fear of dogs, and even longer to get over a fear of the woods. I suppose that’s why I’ve always gone back to the wilderness as a setting for my novels; I love stories that tap into my strongest emotions. I’m also a physician, and I like exploring what makes us vulnerable—and resilient.
I wrote...
Vanishing Edge
By
Claire Kells
What is my book about?
After a misadventure in the Australian outback that ended in her husband’s disappearance, ex-FBI agent Felicity Harland is trying to get back on her feet as a detective for the Investigative Services Branch of the National Parks Service.
In her first case, an abandoned campsite turns up on an alpine lake in the redwood forests of California. As Felicity tackles the mystery of what happened, she teams up with park ranger Ferdinand Huxley, a former Navy SEAL who brings some useful skills—and a welcome sense of humor—to the wilderness. Together, they work to uncover the circumstances behind the abandoned campsite while battling the forces of time, nature, and some shady characters with secrets of their own.
When you buy a book we may earn a small commission.
The Books I Picked & Why
Bird Box
By
Josh Malerman
Why this book?
I love stories about ordinary people who suddenly find themselves in life-threatening peril, and Bird Box is definitely that. I was completely captivated by this book—it’s crisply plotted, well-written, and uniquely terrifying. But it also resonated with me on a deep emotional level, as the main character puts aside her own fears to save her two children. This is a story about self-preservation, but it’s also one about selflessness in its purest form.
When you buy a book we may earn a small commission.
Cold Storage
By
David Koepp
Why this book?
I will admit I came to this book for the author. David Koepp is a renowned screenwriter whose credits includeJurassic Parkand Mission: Impossible, among many others. Screenwriters have to work within the confines of a 120-page format, so it’s no wonder that this novel moves at a lightning pace. I love that it features a deadly fungal organism that could end humanity, but the story is really about the three people desperately trying to contain it.
When you buy a book we may earn a small commission.
Devolution: A Firsthand Account of the Rainier Sasquatch Massacre
By
Max Brooks
Why this book?
Devolutionis the follow-up to the author’s World War Z, which I also enjoyed. It features an interesting format, told in a series of letters, that tells the story of a Bigfoot-like monster that threatens a bunch of Silicon Valley-types in the Pacific Northwest after a volcanic eruption. It’s gruesome, fun, and entertainingly critical of people who think they can handle living off the grid. I enjoyed watching them get their comeuppance in this riveting wilderness survival story.
When you buy a book we may earn a small commission.
Winter's Bone
By
Daniel Woodrell
Why this book?
This short, beautifully written novel features a sixteen-year-old girl who goes off into the Ozark wilderness to find her father. The obstacles she faces are unique and compelling, and the stakes are high despite the “quiet” nature of this story. The main character, Ree, is a strong young woman who comes of age in the most trying of circumstances, but she does it with grace and maturity.
When you buy a book we may earn a small commission.
Into Thin Air: A Personal Account of the Mount Everest Disaster
By
Jon Krakauer
Why this book?
I remember reading an I-Can-Read book about Mt. Everest as a little girl, and since then, I’ve always wondered about the people who choose to climb the highest peak in the world. Personally, I would never go near Everest (I hate being cold, for one thing), but Krakauer dives deep into the psyche of the men and women who set out on this ill-fated expedition, some of whom did not survive. He also gives a riveting, first-hand account of what it was like to climb Mt. Everest—the euphoria of getting to the summit, followed quickly by the terror and despair of what happened next.
