There’s something about thrillers set in the wild that feels especially terrifying, and this one uses the snowy mountains to full effect. The constant possibility of an avalanche creates a suffocating atmosphere that never lets up. But the real danger isn’t just in the landscape. An abusive, volatile father and a mysterious creature prowling the woods leaving behind gruesome remains turn this trip into a fight for survival. Harsh, isolating, and chilling to the bone, it’s a tense read that lingers.

At no point did I know where the book was going. It was full of emotion and great writing! Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the opportunity to read this ARC in exchange for my honest review!

3.75 ⭐️

Warning Signs was a tense, suffocating tale that weaved together the dangers of nature with the darkness of human cruelty.

Having loved Tracy Sierra’s debut, Nightwatching, I went into her newest release with high expectations—and it did not disappoint. I was quickly pulled into this dark, chilling, and emotionally intense story.

Warning Signs followed 12-year-old Zach, who admired yet feared his father, Bram. On a ski trip deep in the Colorado backcountry, Zach felt unease from both his father’s volatile moods and a menacing presence outside their cabin that left animals mutilated. As the trip descended into danger, Zach had to rely on his instincts and survival skills to stay alive.

Some of the most notable aspects of this novel for me were the realistic survival details and the immersive atmosphere. Sierra captured the Colorado backcountry beautifully—it was both breathtaking and haunting, a vast, snow-covered wilderness that felt as dangerous as it was stunning. The silence of the mountains created an eerie sense of isolation, while the frozen terrain and lurking threats in the woods turned the setting into a constant battle for survival.

Beyond the striking backdrop, what hooked me most was how deeply engaging the story felt. I was absorbed in every moment, from the smallest details to the fraught father–son dynamic that kept me on edge. The suspense built slowly but relentlessly, making it impossible to put down and leaving me with a story that was both gripping and emotionally powerful.

Warning Signs is perfect for readers who love dark, atmospheric thrillers that mix survival with psychological tension. It will especially appeal to those drawn to family-driven suspense and slow-burn stories that build into gripping, high-stakes drama. For those that relish in the outdoor adventurous backdrop and equally enjoy reading about complicated family dynamics, this story delivers on both fronts.

A big thanks to Net Galley and Viking Penguin for the complimentary ARC in return for my feedback.

I absolutely loved Tracy Sierra’s debut, so I was thrilled to receive early access to Warning Signs—and it did not disappoint. This is a dark, claustrophobic, and utterly gripping novel that kept me glued to the page.

The tension is palpable from the very first chapter, as young Zach navigates both the dangers of the Colorado wilderness and the far more unpredictable dangers of monsters in human form. Sierra does an incredible job capturing Zach’s voice and perspective, pulling the reader right into the fear, unease, and small moments of bravery that drive the story forward.

I was especially impressed by how intelligent this book is—woven throughout the suspense are fascinating details about survival skills and the unforgiving realities of nature. The atmosphere is chilling, and the mystery of what stalks the mountain slowly unravels in a way that feels both terrifying and believable.

My only complaint is that I wanted more! I could have stayed with these characters and this haunting setting for much longer.

Warning Signs is a taut, clever, and unforgettable survival thriller, and Tracy Sierra has firmly cemented herself as a must-read author for me.

I was a huge fan of Nightwatching! It’s one of my top books this year so I was thrilled to start Tracy Sierra’s new book. This didn’t quite grab me straight away but I’m glad I hung in there.

Warning signs is more of a slow burn…. At first. And then things pick up and we’re off to the races. When Bram takes his son Zack on a father/son ski weekend, things don’t exactly go according to plan.

I love a tale of good verses evil and that’s what this was. We are rooting for the protagonist and I don’t know if I’ve hated a character more than the antagonist in this one. (Trying not to give anything away here!) This book was so atmospheric taking place in the Colorado snowy mountains where an avalanche threatens the whole group.

This isn’t necessarily a binge worthy book but it still gets 5 stars from me for the excellent writing. It’s much deeper than your typical cat/mouse scenario.

Thank you to NetGalley for allowing me to read this in exchange for an honest review.

Thrillers that focus on nature are always extra terrifying! This one was set on the snowy mountains with the threat of an avalanche constantly looming. Add that to the threat of a terrifying and unpredictable father as well as a creature in the woods stripping the flesh from animals, and our young protagonist Zach is in for a dangerous ski trip.

I enjoyed the author's other book, Night Watching, and went in cold kind of expecting more of the same, because that's generally how it works. I'm so glad I read not knowing anything because I could never have imagined a book this different could somehow leave me with all the same things I loved about the author's first book! It was stressful and scary in completely different ways. It had a totally unexpected hero in a young boy that woke every single protective instinct i have. This also had a super chilling villain. The writer doesn't shy away from realities we don't like to face about who does harm, and if you've ever dealt with a narcissist, brace yourself. While there are tons of 'people trapped in cabin' thrillers out there, this seemed completely different, I think because the elements themselves were practically a whole character. Recommend.

Brilliant second outing by Tracy! Perfect , atmospheric read featuring a wonderful brave preteen protagonist. This is literary thriller at its finest.

I just loved this book so much! Tracy's first book, Nightwatching is one of my very favorite books. They are both so suspenseful! I can't wait for her next book!
Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for allowing me to read this digital ARC.
Highly recommended!

Reading a book set in my home state of Colorado definitely added more uneasiness and creepiness for me! I loved every aspect of this book!

Warning Signs is the best thriller I have read in years. LOVED IT! I will be pushing this one on everyone I know.

𝐓𝐢𝐭𝐥𝐞: Warning Signs by Tracy Sierra
𝐆𝐞𝐧𝐫𝐞: Thriller/Suspense
𝐏𝐮𝐛 𝐃𝐚𝐭𝐞: February 10, 2026

Colorado Mountains
Father-Son Ski Trip
Humans Can Be Monstrous
Child's POV

I haven't read any thrillers set in snowy mountains and I don't care for sports (this is a ski trip), so I wasn't sure how I'd feel about the setting, but I loved it!

The father-son ski trip gone wrong, the two sides of Zach's father, the dark secrets coming to light... I couldn't put it down! The writing style was so fast paced, the characters unique and interesting, and I enjoyed getting to read the story in Zach's POV and the way his mother's survival training came into play.

Thank you so much Viking Penguin and NetGalley for the digital review copy!

I am a HUGE fan of Tracy Sierras debut novel Nightwatching. I felt so uneasy and creeped out while reading it. I’m happy to say that Warning Signs gave me the same feelings. I found the story interesting because I knew nothing about traveling in the backcountry. Each decision you make out there quite literally could be life or death. Nature and her power plays a huge role in this story. I felt the claustrophobia pressing on me at all times. I appreciated the story being told by a 12 year olds perspective. You could feel his uncertainty and his desire for love from his father.
Side note: I really liked how the story handled alcoholism. I am a child on one and this was written with rawness and empathy.
5 stars!

Thank you for the opportunity on reading an early copy in exchange for a review.

I loved nightwatching so I knew I needed to read warning signs. Different stories but still the same brilliant story-telling, characters, and twists

After fellow book-tokers raved about Nightwatching, I stayed up late tearing through it. TO me it was pulse racing, completely immersed in its intensity—so when I learned Sierra’s next novel was on the horizon, I was running to Netgalley! A father-son ski trip that descends into a survival nightmare? Let's go!! The premise seemed to promise high stakes, emotional turmoil, and that creeping dread I soooooo love in a good thriller.

And while the remote, snow-covered setting delivered an undeniably eerie atmosphere—Sierra captures winter’s isolation with a quiet, unsettling sharpness—the rest didn’t quite land the same impact for me. Despite the strong concept and some moments of genuine tension, I struggled to stay emotionally tethered to the characters. The pacing felt slow, the stakes distant, and the emotional current never quite reached the same depths as her debut.

That’s not to say the novel isn’t well-crafted. It is. The writing is deliberate, thoughtful, and the landscape almost takes on a life of its own. But where Nightwatching hit me like a jolt to the chest, this one felt more muted—less visceral, less gripping.

Many thanks to NetGalley and Viking Penguin for the opportunity to read an early copy in exchange for an honest review.

I was one of those readers who devoured Nightwatching late into the night, adrenaline spiking, completely blown away. I actually discovered it thanks to Jimmy Fallon mentioning it on his show (major thanks for that rec, Jimmy!) — and ever since, Tracy Sierra became an author I’ve kept on my radar.

So when I heard she had a new book coming out, I was beyond excited. The premise? A father-son ski trip turned fight for survival — full of icy tension, wilderness dread, and emotional strain. Sounds like the kind of heart-pounding, character-driven thriller I’d love.

Unfortunately, this one didn’t quite deliver the jolt I was expecting. The setting is stunning — Sierra writes the wintry wilderness with eerie precision, and the idea of isolation in the mountains is deeply unsettling. But even with those chilling ingredients, I couldn’t connect fully with the story. The characters didn’t grip me, and I found myself drifting in and out, waiting for a spark that never really lit. Compared to her debut, this felt flatter — quieter, slower, and less emotionally absorbing.

Still, I want to be clear: this isn’t a bad book. It’s smart. It’s carefully written. It just didn’t hit me the way Nightwatching did — and maybe that’s just the curse of following a breakout debut. I’ll absolutely continue reading Sierra’s work, and I’m hopeful her next book will bring back that gut-punch intensity I loved so much the first time around.

A very huge thanks to NetGalley and Viking Penguin | Pamela Dorman Books for sharing this thriller’s digital reviewer copy with me in exchange for my honest thoughts.

I absolutely loved Nightwatching, so when I saw Tracy had a new book coming out I immediately applied.

However, I'm sad to say I had to dnf. This one just is not pulling me in at all.

✨Tracy Sierra’s debut novel was my book of the year last year, and as soon as I saw she had written her next book, I couldn’t wait to get my hands on it. You never know if the magic will continue with the second offering, but in this case, it most definitely did. It’s quite a departure from her debut, and the author really showcases her writing chops with this stunning literary thriller.

✨Here is where I feel I must reiterate this point: it reads as a literary thriller. There IS suspense and tension. There ARE twists and turns – but there is also richly descriptive, atmospheric language with dark nights of the soul. There is depth here – and slow burn – and you must go in knowing this.

✨I was blown away by the immersive plot, the lush prose and the richly drawn characters. The isolated snowy mountain setting was strikingly atmospheric and almost a character unto itself. The action and suspense in these pages had me on the edge of my seat

✨The sense of danger and dread on every page drove the story and kept me immersed deep into the night. I was barely breathing by the end. What an incredibly powerful reading experience.

🌿Read if you like:
✨Survival stories
✨Isolated snowy settings
✨Scathing social commentaries
✨Psychological thrillers
✨Broken family dynamics
✨Horror lite elements
✨Mountain/ski culture
✨Chilly thrillers

My thanks to @pameladormanbooks, @vikingbooks and @netgalley for the opportunity to read and review this book before its publication date.

***This review will be posted on Instagram on 11/24/25 and 1/10/26 here: https://www.instagram.com/backporchpages/

****This review is currently posted on Goodreads here: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/7661742920

I read Night Watching and loved it and was hoping I would love this one too, but I didn’t. I struggled to stay invested in the plot. I will read more by her in hopes that her others will be better.