Peter Heller is one of my favorite writers (and “Celine” especially is one of my all-time favorite books), so I was very excited to read his new release! The story picks up after “The River,” so be sure to read that book first to avoid spoilers. Jack arrives at Colorado’s elite Kingfisher Lodge for a seasonal job as a fly fishing guide. The lodge boasts world-class fishing, an idyllic mountain setting, and wealthy, high-profile clients. It soon becomes apparent, though, that something sinister is also taking place at the lodge…⁣
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I don’t think that anyone writes a more atmospheric book than Heller, and I love love loved all of the nature descriptions. I’d read a book just of these, TBH. But “The Guide” was such a page-turner, too. It was a slow burn of building tension and unease— I just had to keep reading to find out what the heck was going on at this lodge! I also thought the portrayal of grief and how that can shape a person’s choices was very well done. And this was the first book I’ve read with a Covid-like pandemic referenced (masks, temperature-taking, etc.) and it was handled super well.⁣
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“The Guide” was really short (< 300 pages) and the ending felt rushed to me. I also felt that way about “The River” though, so maybe I just prefer a more drawn-out conclusion. I also thought some of the characters’ choices didn’t make a ton of sense, but isn’t that the case in many thrillers ?! I don’t think this book is for everyone— if you don’t like reading nature descriptions, this might be too slow for you— and it wasn’t my favorite of his books, but I really enjoyed reading it so much. It was creepy, mysterious, compelling, with lots of beautiful nature.

Close your eyes after reading the final words of Peter Heller's superb THE GUIDE...and you'll instantly find yourself in the deep, rich, vivid world he so masterfully created. You don't have to be a fisher-person to find yourself longing for a rod and reel after reading the enticing segments where Jack, a fishing guide, either fishes or teaches his client to fish--the dance is marvelously evoked, down to the glitter of the scales of the fish they catch and release.

Add to that the relentlessly building suspense--the scent of something wrong in the air--and Heller once again delivers a first-class read which delivers rich characterizations, a marvelous sense of menace, an unforgettable sense of place--and some surprises along the way. A splendid literary thriller--not to be missed!

The Guide by Peter Heller picks up with Jack after the events in The River.

"After a terrible personal loss, Jack takes a job as a fishing guide at a remote, exclusive resort. His first client is a singer who happens to be an excellent fisherman. They both discover that something horrible is going on at a nearby lodge and wonder how they can get the information out."

I don't fish - I don't really get fishing - I'm not an outdoorsy kind of person. But Heller's descriptions of trout fishing make me want to go buy a rod and reel and some waders and book a trip. It's wonderful writing. There are hints along the way that maybe things are not as they seem. I like the subtlety that Heller uses - and it's a horrible thing that's happening.

This reads like a literary, lyrical thriller. It hooks you pretty quickly. (see what I did there? ;-) The ending is a wild scramble.

A good choice if you want a book you can sink your teeth into but still want a thrilling story.

The Guide is a suspenseful outdoor thriller with excellent, vivid world-building. Kingfisher Lodge is an exclusive mile and a half of river locked behind a gate reserved for the wealthiest of clients looking to fish. Jack has had it rough and is looking for a way back on track when he's hired as a guide for a well-known singer. All he has to do is hold her gear, rig her line, and find fish. Things in the resort are not what they appear to be. The plot is unpredictable. The outdoor descriptions are remarkable. Highly recommended!

A fishing guide is hired to fill in at an ultra-exclusive resort where odd things are happening. This was an engrossing read that was an interesting blend of vivid fishing descriptions, thriller and sci-fi.

Peter Heller’s “The Guide” is a gripping thriller set at a fishing lodge in Colorado. Surrounded by the picturesque landscape of mountains, rivers, and fly fishing this is a title that made the hours slip away as I was reading.

A slow-burn psychological thriller with a big payoff! Heller is excellent at setting an intriguing premise, creating a strong sense of place, and giving the reader a reason to keep turning pages.

What I liked:
- Continuing with a likable but flawed (read: normal human being) main character that I already knew from The River, who became even more fully-fleshed out in this novel;
- Hanging out along a river bed nestled in the Rocky Mountains;
- A likeable secondary character and a little bit of sexual tension;
- A creepy mystery undercurrent with a big payoff;
- It's very cinematic in style.

What I didn't like:
- It's a small thing, but for those who haven't read The River there are some spoilers in this one.

I like to categorize Heller's novels as "page-turners with brains". Overall, I really liked the experience of reading this book and would recommend it for fans of William Kent Krueger and Ron Rash..

(Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for an advanced copy of this book!)

I am coming to rely on Peter Heller for a suspense thriller set outdoors! I hope there are more to come.

Outdoorsy action mystery. Kept my attention and had plenty of details to show the author knows of which he writes. An entertaining story.

I see why people refer to Peter Heller as the literary thriller emeritus, but I didn't think much of this book. It did make me want to seek out Heller's other books, because if he wrote one where I relate a little more to the plot I think I would straight-up love it. I can't wait to read more of this author.

Action adventure thriller. Romance. A cowboy type who reads poetry and saves the day.
I'm now obsessed with Jack, Peter Heller's leading man who is hired as a fishing guide at a luxury resort. Assigned to a young, famous singer, he tries to "just do his job" but he's far too observant. There's something sinister happening here, and Jack knows he won't be able to rest until he stops the hurting.
I need more books like this. Heart racing, fast paced action.

The first thing that really stood out in this book was the amazing writing style of the author. He had a way of writing such descriptive scenes that it made me feel like I was there. The protagonist was so well developed that I loved him and was so attached and protective of him. There was a lot to unpack and I will highly recommend.

The first quarter of the book, I did not like. I skimmed. It was too descriptive and I felt I was reading a nature/fishing guide instead of a thriller. Glad I stuck with it, however. The further in I read, the more the story and its’ characters evolved and pulled me in.

Something is not right at the fishing lodge and newly hired guide Jack knew it. Guests disappear and return looking haggard. The more Jack pokes around, the more danger he is in after discovering shady business practices. The pace of this slow burn mystery ratchets up and becomes well-deserving of 4 stars.

Not my particular cup of tea, and also my first Peter Heller book. I think readers in my library that are fans of his will enjoy this more than I did.

Heller masterfully evokes the joy of fishing in the wilderness of Colorado. And he adds a story of today's evils which lurk. 2 interesting and likeable leads, namely, Jack and Allison. Hopefully, he will find another plot to put them in. Want to know more about Allison and how Jack deals with his demons.

It's no secret that I'm a fan of Peter Heller's books. His skill at descriptive writing and the depth of characterizations while using minimum text are a combination you don't often find.

The Guide reunites readers with Jack, from Heller's last book, The River (read it). While grieving over the tragic loss of his best friend, he takes a job as a fishing guide at an exclusive fishing lodge on one of the most pristine rivers in the world. As Jack and a celebrity guest, Alison, start fishing the river they learn quickly that not everything is as it seems. What unfolds is a dark and sinister story in a beautiful setting that is told with such subtle tension and pace that the reader finds themselves at the end of the book wishing the story would continue.

While Jack is the return of a character from a previous book, this is not a sequel.

Publication date: 8/24/2021 - Thank you to Knopf Doubleday Publishing Group for the ARC of this book. My opinion is my own.

Jack can catch fish, but he just can’t catch a break. He’s a true Renaissance man; he’s educated, a deep thinker, has many talents, loves nature, and a people person. He is still reeling from the death of his friend Wynn three years ago so, when he’s offered a job as a guide at Kingfisher Lodge, an exclusive fishing resort in Colorado, he thinks this will be the perfect thing to get himself back on track. He’s relishing the idea of just doing the things he loves, fly-fishing, reflecting, and enjoying nature in this post-pandemic tale.

Almost immediately he begins to suspect something isn’t quite right with this place. He’s warned not to stray off lodge property while fishing with the famous singer he’s assigned to guide. The manager points out a cantankerous old neighbor who shoots on site, barbed wire, and vicious dogs that attack those that trespass. This is not the idyllic place it portrays itself to be.

Jack and his client, Allison hit it off right away and both agree something fishy is going on at the resort and not just in the streams. Jack quickly realizes there are cameras everyone on the property and even finds one in his cabin. The cameras, plus a creepy manager and strange fellow guide, make Jake and Allison realizing they need to find a way out of there pronto. However, forces unknown are not going to let them go. The tension and suspense ratchet up quickly and I was on the edge until the end. This was a quick read for me as I couldn’t put the book down.

Many thanks to NetGalley and Knopf Doubleday Publishing Group for the opportunity to read this book in exchange for my honest opinion. Do yourself a favor and buy this book when it comes out on August 24th. I gave it four stars!

Thanks to NetGalley for an ARC of The Guide. I LOVED The River, so much that I named my dog after the main character Wynn. So it is safe to assume that this was one of my most anticipated books of 2021. Per usual with a Peter Heller book I flew through it so fast! His writing was just as purposely, necessary, and engaging as his previous books. Jack’s decision to be a fishing guide felt really authentic to his character as did his actions in this book. I do wish we would have seen some more growth from Jack in terms of his grief journey. The build up in this novel was similar to his previous work and I loved that, but the ending felt rushed and less believable than his previous conclusions. Overall I still loved this book and I’ll always read anything Peter Heller releases!

Heller’s best yet! Very atmospheric, the Colorado mountains live in his descriptions. His characters have emotional depth and an honesty that is refreshing. And the story—suspenseful, timely, shocking. No flaws here, just a beautifully written novel.

Thanks to NetGalley and Alfred A. Knopf publishing for the ARC to read and review.

Jack arrives at the exclusive and secluded Kingfisher Lodge as a fishing guide looking to salve the pain of past traumas. While Jack has the benefit of an Ivy League education, he is also used to hard work, self-sufficiency and living with the both the beauty and the dangers of nature.

Kingfisher Lodge seems idyllic, especially its stretch of river called Billionaire’s Mile, but Jack is surprised to be warned that the Lodge’s neighbor will shoot at anyone who puts a toe over his property line abutting the Lodge. Why would the Lodge’s billionaire clientele put up with that? But when Jack takes out his first client, a famous singer named Alison, they find out for themselves that the warning is true. They both become suspicious that things are not what they appear to be at the Lodge—and the neighboring property. They quickly decide to add investigation to their daily fishing outings.

This is a thriller for sure, but it’s more than that. If you’ve read any of Peter Heller’s other novels, you won’t be surprised that it’s also a lyrical story of one man’s relationship to loss and nature, nor that the story has a dystopian flavor, as the novel is set a few years in the near future, when the world is dealing with wave after wave of COVID mutations.