M.A Hunter – The Trail

Thanks to Rachel’s Random Resources and Boldwood Books for inviting me along to the blog tour for The Trail by M.A. Hunter and gifting my ebook to write my honest review today.

Sometimes it’s best to let the past stay buried…

Thirty years ago, Jess’s mother, Nora, disappeared while on a charity hike in the US. The devastating loss has afflicted Jess well into her adult life and even inspired her decision to become an investigative journalist.

So when Jess receives an anonymous tip telling her that remains have been recovered in the spot her mother disappeared, she wastes no time in jumping on a plane.

They say the Appalachian Mountains have secrets, but as she begins to ask around, she learns that the locals do too. But no matter how much they lie, she is determined to find the truth – even if it will irrevocably change her future.

Someone wants to keep the past buried. And they will stop at nothing to keep Jess as quiet as the tranquil mountain trail itself…

Described as a ‘chilling psychological thriller’, The Trail definitely lived up to the description. I love how psychological thrillers never bore me. This one, in particular, had me thinking constantly.

Told over a dual timeline. We meet Jess, an investigative journalist whose mother disappeared while on a charity hike in America 30 years ago. This is what led her to be a journalist. It affected her so much. She receives an anonymous tip that human remains have been found where her mother went missing. Without thought, she travels to America to discover that it’s not just the Appalachian mountains that have secrets… the locals do, too. Her dogged determination to dig for the truth, no matter how many lies she comes up against, may just change her future, and she doesn’t know it yet.

The alternating chapters are from Nora in 1993 and Jess in the present day. This alone gave me a fuller view of both women. I was gripped immediately with Jess’s search for her mother, and Nora’s chapters gave me an idea of how Nora enjoyed the hike with her walking companions. I was invested in both timelines very easily. The strength of Jess’s need to find out exactly what happened to her mother was so strong.

The setting of the Appalachian mountains was so vivid, to the point that they could have been a character on their own. They show how hard the trails are and how dangerous they can be, out in the wild. The town has a weird feeling about it. The locals dont give too much to Jess. They are polite but aware enough not to give too much away.

Such an atmospheric, page turner of a read! With the tension and eerie feeling that had me on the edge of my seat as the pages flew by! My second book by M.A Hunter and the quality of the writing is just as good, if not better! An author I highly recommend!