A very well-written, gripping suspense/thriller about the return of a boy who vanished ten years ago.
Mindy Mejia's writing is excellent, and she has a great skill for bringing the setting of the story to life on the page. The characters are engaging and well-drawn, and I quickly became invested in their fates and stories.
Very highly recommended. It's not surprising that Mejia's books have become must-reads.

I received a copy of this novel from Quercus and Net Galley in return for an honest review.
This is the second novel of Mejia's that I have read, I read The Last Act of Hattie Hoffman in early 2017 and enjoyed it. I was interested to read more of her work and see what this novel was about. I think it was the blurb that initially caught my eye. The return of a boy who had been living in the wilderness for 10 years and the relationship that develops between him and the assistant language therapist who is assigned his case seemed too intriguing to pass up.
The plot is pretty fast-paced, there are twists and turns that keep the reader interested throughout, and the revelations about certain characters were interesting. However, this being said, I also found the plot to be a touch predictable, and that did dampen my enjoyment a lot. The relationships that developed seemed predictable and forced, and the twists and connections between certain characters seemed predictable too, and a touch unrealistic to boot.
I was also irritated by some of the events that occurred in the psychiatric facility, there were many situations that would not realistically occur in a facility like the one written about, and I understand that a bit of artistic licence is required in writing novels, but it still grated on me while I was reading.
The characters were fairly well-developed by the author, but honestly I didn't really connect with any of the characters, and I struggled to feel anything for anyone or the things they were going through.
I was also disappointed by the ending of this novel. It was quite a weird ending, and honestly I'm not sure how I feel about it! I understand to an extent that the author didn't really have anywhere else they could take the novel and the ending was kind of the only option left, but it was still just odd and not great in my opinion.
Overall I was a bit disappointed by this novel. I enjoyed the author's previous novel more, and would recommend checking that one out instead of this one!

Last year I read the fabulous Everything You Want Me to Be by Mejia and I've been looking forward to reading Leave No Trace. And just like with Everything You Want Me to Be is the writing excellent in this book. I greatly enjoy reading mystery books and I was engrossed with the story of this book. What happened to the man and the boy after they disappeared ten years ago? What's the boy's story? Can Maya Stark, the assistant language therapist get him to talk? Maya herself has secrets, and a traumatizing upbringing. Her mother left the family when she was little.

As the story progresses do we learn more about Maya, what she's been through. We also get to know more about the boy's story, what he was doing in the outfitter store and why he's hellbent on escaping the psychiatric facility. And as Maya is growing closer to him is she more and more risking everything to help him. But, is he really worth it all?

Leave No Trace is a great book that I warmly recommend

This was the first novel I read by Mindy Mejia. I had heard plenty of positive echos about her first novel The Act of Hattie Hoffman and I was also very attracted by Maya’s occuption as a language therapist. It’s an uncommon job and it triggered me, wanting to know more about it.

I was also very drawn to the story of father and son disappearing. What were their reasons and how did they survive? The wilderness and threats of the Boundary Waters were vividly depicted, the nature described in a beautiful manner but from an outsider’s point of view. I would have loved to read scenes of their way of life (as in The Marsh King’s Daughter), their hardships and the struggles of a young boy with his father but the story’s setting doesn’t involve the past but focuses on the present, from the moment Lucas is arrested for breaking into a camping store.

Maya and Lucas’s interactions were interesting and I understood how Maya’s past made her want to help Lucas. Maya was left behind by her mother when she was little and I felt for her. Her past intrigued me and I could really see how this formed her character. The girl who doesn’t want to bond with anybody starts to get an unhealthy interest in Lucas though. She then becomes a bit of a loose cannonball and I raised my eyebrows when I saw what unprofessional conduct she shows. There was definitely a YA vibe in the second part of the novel which came as a bit of a surprise to me and then it seemed to change course once again when Maya and Lucas find themselves in a bit of action as well. It bothered me just a little bit because I was mostly interested in the mystery and I felt I was being kept away from getting to the heart of the story.

In short, I enjoyed the first and last part of the novel where the different pieces of the puzzle fall into place and everything was all brought together brilliantly. It was maybe a bit of a different read then I was expecting but I enjoyed the reveal of Lucas and Josiah’s reasons for taking off and I was satisfied how it was all wrapped up in the end.

Thankyou to NetGalley, Quercus Books and the author, Mindy Meija, for the opportunity to read a digital copy of Leave No Trace in exchange for an honest, unbiased opinion.
I enjoyed reading this book. I thought it was well written with engaging characters and an intriguing plot. I was hooked from beginning to end. 3.5 stars.
Worth a read.

This is quite different to my usual choices but I’m so glad I read it. I can’t believe how well this was written. It’s interesting and kept my attention. I’d definitely recommend it and gave it 5/5 on goodreads.

This is a great twisted story of broken relationships. Very well written with having you wanting to know more. It had me right from the start and I couldn't stop thinking about it.

I understand that mystery/thrillers require a level of suspension of disbelief; that without a certain skewing of reality, books that fall into this genre wouldn’t have the necessary excitement, the twists and turns, to be able to stand out in a saturated market.
I get that.
But if that skewing requires perpetuating damaging misconceptions about both mental illness and mental health institutions, then I just can’t get on board.
It is not the 1950s anymore and I think mystery/thriller authors need to start realising that the stereotypes that were acceptable (or even held in high regard) back then, will not be stood for now.
Mental health facilities are a necessary part of the fabric of so many people's lives. To someone in pain, at rock-bottom, or just in need of a little help, they can be a lifeline. A light in the darkness leading them back to the sun.
And, I think wider society needs to understand that. They’re not horror-movie settings and, if the mystery-thriller genre keeps portraying them as that, let me be frank - people will continue to be prevented from getting the help they need.

First of all I would like to thank Netgalley and Quercus books for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.
Since I loved Mindy Mejia’s previous novel “The Last Act of Hattie Hoffman” I was very eager to dive into this one.

Setting of the story is Duluth, Minesota and the nearby Boundary Waters which the author describes in great detail.
Meijia’s writing is very atmospheric so I was immediately transported to Congdon a mental health facility which forms the center of attention when 19-year old Joshua Blackhurst is admitted there.
Joshua has been missing ever since he and his father went camping in the Boundary Waters 9 years ago and failed to return.
Now Joashua's reappearance is causing a real media frenzy. Everyone wants to know what happened to the young, enigmatic, savage looking guy, but it's up to speech therapist Maya Stark to find out since she is the only one who seems to get through to him. However, Maya has a troubled past herself and still struggles with a lot of her own demons. Is she the right one to help Joshua or will they ultimately bring each other down...

I wish I could give this book a higher rating, but unfortunately I only get to 3,5 stars.
I liked it but the pace of the story was too slow for me, especially in the beginning. Furthermore, I didn't feel a strong connection to either of the two main characters. Although this wasn't a book I devoured I am still a fan of Mindy Mejia's writing though.

Leave No Trace has instant appeal to readers. 10yrs ago Josiah Blackthorn and his son Lucas (10yrs) disappeared into the Minnesota boundary waters and were never seen again.
Now, Lucas is back!!!!!!!

We follow the case through the eyes of Dr Maya Stark at the Congdon psychiatric institute. Maya is no stranger to mental health herself, having experiences her own share of personal losses and in-turn ending up a patient at the institute.

Dr Mehta the senior psychiatrist assigns Maya the case, which is in some sense suspicious. As Maya is a specialist in speech therapy and the boy has since refused to speak.
After being arrested for breaking and entry, then identified he was immediately taken to the institute. Where the staff nickname his Tarzan and regard him with fear and intrigue.

‘No one can help us – that’s why we disappeared’ - Lucas

‘He wasn’t a boy’

Maya is attacked on their first meeting and Lucas attempts an escape. What ensues is a battle of wills between the two. As they both attempt to delve further and further into each other’s background etc.

‘Damaged people recognised their own’

Lucas and Maya’s background are fully explored, and it is then that you get a sense of why these two may eventually bond. Lucas refuses to communicate with the police for fear of incriminating his father. Maya encourages him to keep a journal. Josiah has a history of alcohol abuse and violence but has no outstanding warrants.
What happened in the years they disappeared?

What makes someone abandon their modern-day life for the wilderness?

‘Would you go up to the mountain to save the person you loved most in the world? How far would I go to help them’

This is the most unusual book I’ve ever read about mental health. The personal story of the characters and the challenges they face in helping one another is captivating. 4*

The woods are lovely,dark and deep,but I have promises to keep,and miles to go before I sleep.

There is a place in Minnesota with hundreds of glacial lakes and untouched forests called The Boundary Waters. Ten years ago Josiah Blackthorn and his nine year old son Lucas trekked into the wilderness and never returned.

They were presumed dead but now,a decade later....Lucas has suddenly reappeared. Discovered while ransacking a outfitter store,he was violent and uncommunicative and has been sent to a psychiatric facility. Twenty three year old Maya Stark,the assistant language therapist who has issues and secrets of her own is charged with making a connection with their high profile patient. But no matter what she tries,Lucas refuses to reveal where his father is or anything about the last ten years of his life.

The more time that Maya spends with her mysterious patient,the more she becomes obsessed with the enematic young man. Maya has worked hard to escape her past and rebuild her life but how much of her life is she prepared to put at risk to help Lucas reunite with his missing father

What lies behind us and what lies before us are tiny matters compared to what lies within is.

Told almost entirely from Maya`s point of view,this is a beautifully written tale of love,lose,mental health,abandonment and finding peace and forgiveness.Maya was a complex,feisty character who I had a lot of admiration for but also struggled to like at times due to the way she treated her Dad and also her boss/mentor Dr Mehta.Maya did things without stopping to think about the repercussions and how her actions affected other people. Interspersed throughout the story was chapters from Josiah Blackthorn`s point of view that covered his life and the events leading up to his and Lucas`s disappearance into the wilderness. I really felt so much empathy for poor Josiah,he obviously loved Lucas very much and was only doing everything in his power to give his son a good life but life and events just seemed to conspire against him. But why had he taken Lucas and fled into the wilderness? Why had Lucas suddenly reappeared? Why was Maya so intent on helping Lucas? The stunning settings and atmosphere played a big part in this story. It was almost like they were characters in their own rights,Mindy Mejia`s descriptions were so vivid,you could close your eyes and imagine yourself wandering through the trees or lying down and looking up at the stars and constellations in the clear cloudless sky. I personally would have liked there to have been more chapters covering Maya and Lucas`s trek through the wilderness and less chapters about the psychiatric facility.

Leave No Trace is a mesmerising,fast paced mystery that had some unexpected twists,intense danger moments and held my attention throughout. The secondary characters were all well rounded and realistic and the ending was unpredictable and open to personal interpretation. I really enjoyed this gripping,intreguing thriller and would happily read more books by this author in the future

Lucas Blackthorn and his father are missing, presumed dead, after disappearing without a trace. A decade later, Lucas reappears and is committed to a mental health facility; while there he meets Maya Stark, the speech therapist who is assigned to his case, who has a troubled past of her own. The two get off to a rocky start, but soon form a deep connection which ultimately forces Maya to choose between Lucas and her vocation.

Throughout this novel, there were so many questions which I was desperate to discover the answers to:
Who is this boy who has appeared from the wild?
Where has he been all these years?
What is Maya hiding from?
What happened to her mother?

I loved the depth of Maya and Lucas' characters. Both clearly have pasts which impact on their decisions, and you can see the effects of those pasts throughout the events of the book. I did find that the plot got a little tangled towards the end, however I felt that the conclusion drew all the threads together in a satisfactory way.

The plot was very original, and the action fast-paced, with some surprise twists and turns which kept me enthralled. Not all of the book was entirely realistic, for example Maya's attachment to Lucas, considering her position, was somewhat of an issue for me, as clearly she crossed many moral and ethical lines, however if you allow yourself to flow with the story you'll no doubt find, as I did, that it doesn't impact on your enjoyment of the book.

In Leave No Trace, Mindy Meija has concocted a spellbinding mystery which keeps you glued to the page.
A tense and fascinating thriller set in the Minnesota wilderness, I was intrigued from start to finish.
Certainly an author I will look out for in the future, and one worth reading if you haven't already.

I absolutely loved Mindy Mejia’s previous novel, The Last Act of Hattie Hoffman, so I was incredibly excited at being given the opportunity to join the blog tour for her latest release, Leave No Trace. I’ll tell you right now though, this is nothing like her previous novel! I love it when an author takes me by surprise.

Ten years ago, Josiah Blackthorn and his son trekked into the wilderness, only to vanish. But now, Josiah’s son Lucas has returned. Lucas is now nineteen years old and finds himself incarcerated in a psychiatric institute. He doesn’t talk and all he really wants is to return to his father.

Maya Stark is a speech therapist at the psychiatric institute and it’s her job to get Lucas to talk. Is he keeping quiet because he doesn’t know how to talk? Or is he just being stubborn? Maya is haunted by past events herself. Will meeting Lucas bring her the answers she has so desperately been searching for?

Leave No Trace is very different from Mindy Mejia’s previous novel but as ever, it’s immensely beautifully written. The vivid descriptions of the Boundary Waters in Minnesota really bring the place to life and almost made me want to go out on a hike or grab a canoe. I say almost, because you know, water and creepy-crawlies. But there’s also the peace and tranquility, not another person in sight, just gorgeous Mother Nature all around you. Bliss. Living off the grid obviously isn’t for everyone but Mindy Mejia took inspiration from people who’ve actually done so, for various reasons, and I do so enjoy it when an author makes me want to google things.

Despite it’s relatively slow pace, I was captivated by the exquisite storytelling. There is some fascinating character development to sink your teeth into and even a few twists and surprises. Some I may have figured out but that did nothing to ruin my reading experience, nor did the fact that maybe a few things might have required me to suspend belief just a tad. Leave No Trace is a compelling mystery and I was swept away by this tale of love, family and loss from start to finish.

I must say, I’m fast becoming a fan of Mindy Mejia’s work and remain impressed with her excellent storytelling skills. I’m incredibly curious to see what she comes up with next.

This is my second book from this author. I really enjoyed "Everything you want me to be". That's why I was looking forward to her new book.

At the beginning I also liked it very much. It has a gloomy atmosphere and the stories about people who escape civilization and simply disappear into the wild to live there fascinated me. But unfortunately, the author does not manage to build enough tension. I also had problems with the main character Maja. She is already a speech therapist at the tender age of 23 and works in a psychiatric facility. She has a problematic past and spent a few months in this facility herself. She was also hired by her own therapist. I found this constellation very unlikely to happen. That may also be because in my native country Germany someone would never get such a job so young and inexperienced and would almost immediately receive a very serious and prestigious case. Here, job training, which is related to the care of people, is extremely intensive in training and require a degree. Maja also seems very immature to me. She behaves irresponsibly and her superiors too. That put me off pretty fast.

The character of Lucas is a bit problematic as well. He seems intelligent and adapting to this new situation very fast. On the other hand, he tends to impulsive violence. But he gets away with it, because he's spent most of his life alone with his dad in the wild. That bothered me a lot. He even hurt Maja a couple of times but everybody, including Maja herself, find excuses for is behaviour. He is also counterproductive. Lucas wants to go back to his father, because he is seriously ill. But he does everything to sabotage his early release. He appears to be understanding in conversation with Maja. But then he does exactly the opposite. There were a few things that bothered me. Supposedly, he knows his surroundings so well, but he is unable to explain to anyone where his father is. He seems to be sure that he finds him, but he refuses to lead someone. He is very worried about his health. That somehow did not fit together.

The book starts interesting and has absolutely captivated me at first. But the pace is too slow and the story becomes very unrealistic. Maja and Lucas are both unlikable characters with weird and immature behaviour. The developing love story was unnecessary and strange.

Overall, I'm very disappointed in the book.

'Leave No Trace' is critically acclaimed, international thriller writer Mindy Mejia's third standalone novel, and having absolutely adored 'Everything You Want Me To Be' which in my humble opinion was one of the best crime thrillers of 2017. I was not alone in my appreciation for the book, and am pleased to report that with this new story, Mejia has kept up the extra high standard she set for herself. I reckon that this will feature in my top books of 2018, it really is that unputdownable.

One of the standout features of the book has to be the setting. It plays such a substantial role in the overall story that it almost feels like a character in itself. So, those of you who enjoy crime fiction set in spectacular surroundings are in for a treat! In fact, it reminded me a lot of Jane Harper's use of the Aussie outback in her novels - super special! Once I begun reading, I clearly had no idea how fast it was flying past, as I was shocked that I read it in one suspenseful sitting then sat back wishing I had savoured by reading more slowly (always the sign of a superb book). The tale is a straightforward one and much emphasis is placed on the descriptive prose. As with all of her novels, the writing is smooth and effortlessly flowing, I cannot imagine anyone taking issue with it.

The story is told from Trudy's perspective mainly with the other main characters gettingin on the action, albeit to a much lesser extent. I love the overall feelings that permeates through to the reader - the feeling that nobody should be trusted in anything they say or do, is a strong theme, and one of the best and most elusive feelings in the genre. Literally everyone in this book is spinning you a yarn! Trudy is a wonderful character, and I can feel it in my bones, she is destined to become someone who has a real place in my heart. She is a excellent protagonist who had my admiration from very early on - intelligent, tenacious, brave, bold and courageous. The plot also heads into disturbing territory, and we get a glimpse of personal issues Trudy is having to endure. The sexism and surrounding problems are drawn sensitively by the author and sadly were the reality of worklife in the 1960s. Doctor Ryder has very different traits to Trudy, but ultimately that is what makes their relationship and dynamic work so cleverly! I look forward to seeing how each develop individually as well as the formidable team they certainly appear to be!

Many thanks to Quercus for an ARC.

Mindy Mejia garnered global acclaim last year with her outstanding rural noir THE LAST ACT OF HATTIE HOFFMAN (aka EVERYTHING YOU WANT ME TO BE). Sometimes after a big hit authors can struggle with their next book, but from the first pages of LEAVE NO TRACE it's clear that Mejia hasn't suffered that fate.

This is a compelling page-turner, with depth. A one-night kind of read that still has plenty of layers.

Speech therapist Maya Stark is tasked with giving voice to a violent young man who’s reappeared a decade after vanishing in the forest-rimmed lakes of the Boundary Waters with his father. A ravaged campsite, a possible bear attack, father Josiah and son Lucas were presumed dead. But it turns out at least one of them survived. But what has Lucas Blackthorn being doing for the last decade? Where has he been living?

And what happened a decade ago?

Now Lucas is a celebrity patient at Congdon Mental Institution, and Maya needs to get him to reveal his secrets in the very place she was hospitalised herself as a teenager. Two people with troubled family histories and plenty of secrets must learn to work together, even as rules get in their way.

Mejia keeps the revs high while instilling plenty of humanity in her tale. It's clear how much she loves her home state and its natural wonders. There's a really good sense of place. With fresh turns of phrase and little touches that elevate the writing to a higher level, coupled with keen insight into people and their messy relationships with themselves and others, this is a cracking good read from a talented author.

Leave No Trace is story about the wilderness of the human soul, the landscape outside the prison walls and the freedom to reach out to others. It’s about so many things really and when the main setting is a mental institution where Maya, once a psychiatric patient herself, is now helping a 19 year old boy named Lucas, just free from the constraints of his own captivity. He has emerged from the wilderness of the Minnesota Boundary waters where he was taken many years earlier by his father.

This is a novel of contrasts and challenges. Just what kind of relationship should a therapist and their patient have? In contrast to the vast wilderness and space outside the institute room and the conversations between Maya and Lucas is claustrophobic and worms around in your head, uncomfortably at times. I felt very uncomfortable with this as the novel progressed and when Lucas seemed to be getting more and more out of control to the point of violence, I almost stopped reading. But I had left some of my belief back in that wilderness and I did care to find out what happened and what had happened back in those woods.

So, whilst the location, premise and character development was unique and compelling, the mental health themes and the relationship between patient and mental health work sat uncomfortably with me.

I really enjoyed this book. I loved the idea of the story. The thought of a father and son living in the wilderness for ten years. There is a lot of detail in this story but it was definitely worth wading through to find out what happened. I really liked the ending. It brought everything together in a way that I did not expect. I liked the characters and the descriptions of the scenery were really good. The surroundings add a lot to the enjoyment of this story.

Thank you to Netgalley for my copy.

To me, there is nothing more intriguing than a mystery with a wilderness setting and a survival theme, and I can never resist when I stumble across one! I loved that Leave No Trace was inspired by real families who escaped civilisation to live in the wilderness, and Mindy Mejia’s fascination with those real life characters shows in the way she presents Josiah’s background and his motivations to live a life off the grid.

The atmospheric setting was my favourite part of the book (ok, apart from the beautiful cover), and I devoured the descriptions of the Minnesotan wilderness, picturing both Maya’s mother’s remote mountain cabin as well as the life Lucas and Josiah must have led amongst the trees, surrounded only by nature. I think I would have been a very happy reader indeed if the whole story had revolved around Josiah and Lucas’ time in the mountains and the way they managed to survive for 10 years – it was so fascinating and I wanted more! Josiah’s chapters were by far my favourite parts of the book, his character the most complex and complicated, his motivations the most intriguing for this reader.

However, in Leave No Trace, Mejia tackles a lot more issues than simply the desire to escape a conventional life, and she is not afraid to offer us deeply flawed characters, many of whom have been touched by mental illness or addiction. I particularly admired her astute portrayal of Josiah’s landlady as she spiralled deeper and deeper into heroin addiction. In fact, all of Mejia’s characters have had their share of adversity, which lends a deeper meaning to their actions and choices.

Whilst I really appreciated the premise of the story, especially the idea of a young man who returns into civilisation after years in the wilderness, I admit I struggled a bit with both main characters, especially Maya. At first glance, Maya is the perfect flawed but gutsy female protagonist in the vein of others I have admired and enjoyed rooting for in the past. My main issues however were – as usual – the suspension of disbelief as Maya becomes emotionally attached to Lucas, who is one of her patients at the mental health facility she is working at. Not only does her unprofessional attachment raise some serious ethical and moral concerns, but I had trouble believing that her role as speech therapist would allow her so much freedom with such a troubled and potentially dangerous patient, some of which would not even be in her scope of practice. Seeing that Maya had previously been hospitalised at the same facility she is now working at, this behaviour would have raised many red flags for me, and as a health professional myself I found it hard to understand why no one stepped in to remove her from such a situation. I tried to envisage some of the scenes between Maya and Lucas taking place in our hospital and found them to be a bit far-fetched – however, I often struggle with details that don’t seem to bother others, so the chances are that this may not be an issue for the majority of readers.

What I did enjoy was Maya’s feelings of abandonment surrounding her mother and her search for the truth regarding her mother’s fate, which was beautifully and sensitively portrayed – as was the chance to get to hear her mother’s point of view. Family relationships featured strongly in this novel, none of them straightforward and simple, which added complexity.

All in all, Leave No Trace was an intriguing mystery with a wild and remote setting I could picture vividly. Whilst I struggled with some details, these will most likely not bother most other readers who are not afflicted with a chronic inability to suspend disbelief – to enjoy the journey, I recommend going into this one with an open mind and enjoying the story without getting hung up on details.

Leave No Trace is a psychological thriller with a wonderfully atmospheric tale wrapped around it. The author must know the Boundry Waters and Duluth area very well because her descriptions of the surroundings put me right there in the company of Maya Stark and Lucas Blackthorne.

Maya is a feisty girl, not afraid to mix it with Lucas Blackthorne as he tries to escape and is determined to repay the trust shown to her by Dr Mehta. Through it all though, Maya forms a bond that proves stronger than the trust that was bestowed upon her after she overcame her own meltdown.

Throwing caution to the wind Maya is determined to help Lucas find his father, Josiah, even if it means an end to her own career, one that she has spent the past few years trying to build. I am now a fan of Mindy Melia and will look out more of her books to read.