This is a taut and suspenseful book. We follow two sisters and a mutual friend as they go on a hiking expedition in the Grand Canyon. The first half deals with the main character Imogen, who is suffering from PTSD after witnessing a mass shooting and an earlier personal violent attack. Her sister Beck invites an old friend, Tilda, hoping she and Imogen can mend a break in their friendship. We get a clear picture of what their relationship was and is and it provides some good tension. The bulk of the story is about the man they encounter who may or may mean them harm and what happens when a seemingly safe trip becomes dangerous.

This is a quick read, and the story flows. All the characters are well written, including "Red", the man they run into during their hike. The descriptions of the hike make the reader feel as if they are there, which is fun for someone who has never been on a hike of any kind. I liked how the villain, Red, is presented as a person and not just some villainous archetype. It makes the lines blur between wanting him to leave them alone but also sympathizing with his situation. While this book has some creepy moments it is by no means horror in my opinion which the author's other books are described as but it is a suspenseful thriller.

I would like to thank NetGalley and the publisher for an advance copy in exchange for an honest review.

Getaway by Zoje Stage (available in August) uses the adventure-vacation gone wrong trope that I enjoy so much. It follows three women embarking upon a hike deep into the beautiful, rugged backcountry of the Grand Canyon. They think the only threat they may encounter is the occasional wild animal, but tensions between the trio start to bubble up...and then their supplies begin to disappear. Getaway is described as "cinematic" in its publisher synopsis, and I couldn't agree more. This is another story I would love to see on the big screen.

Out in August of this year, Getaway by Zoje Stage has been described as “cinematic”, “terrifying” and a “thrill-ride”. And guess what? They’re not wrong! Every superlative used to talk about this book is ON POINT. As someone who loves thrillers, reading this book was wonderful. I felt like my heart was in my throat. My body was twitchy and uncomfortable, as if it was me in the Grand Canyon, being stalked like a deer in the woods. That kind of visceral experience is rare, and a testament to how good Stage is at character development, interior voices, landscape, atmosphere and pacing.

In other words, a total master class.

In Getaway, two sisters, Imogen and Beck, and their old friend Tilda, are setting out for a hiking trip of the Grand Canyon. After repeated traumas, Imogen has retreated inside of herself and rarely leaves her apartment. Seeking to help her sister, Beck organizes the trip, which is reminiscent of backpacking excursions they’d go on as children with their parents. Tilda, an American Idol alum and Instagram star, is not Imogen’s favourite person – they grew apart after an incident in University – but she’s determined to make a fresh start.

As the women make their way out into the arid wilds, old tensions threaten to disrupt the fragile peace they’ve made. Imogen notices that their things begin to disappear and that odd items dot the red earth. She can feel that they are being watched. But by who? And what do they want?

When the answers to those questions become clear, the women descend into horror. A cat and mouse game of survival, that will seemingly only end in blood.

Stage surprised me with the ending. Truly feminist and brilliant, it filled my cup in every possible way. 5 enthusiastic stars.

Thank you to NetGalley and Mulholland Books for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Sisters Imogen and Beck have been friends with Tilda since high school, but it’s a savage attack on Tilda, years later, that brings the trio back together. The women agree a trip to the Grand Canyon, hiking and communing with nature is just the remedy they need. But things begin to go awry as supplies dwindle, tempers flair and it appears that they are being hunted. Tense, atmospheric and impossible to put down

What a ride of a book! After reading and enjoying both of Zoje Stage's previous novels I was thrilled to get the chance to read an eARC of this novel. I enjoyed the wilderness vibe of this book and the "what's going to happen next" vibe of this novel as the friends embark on a hike through the Grand Canyon.

A wonderful novel that I recommend.