A disillusioned and raggedy American reporter, along with his drunken photojournalist partner, is the last to see three Japanese schoolgirls who disappear into a dense and imposing Taroko Gorge, Taiwan's largest national park. The journalists-who are themselves suspects-investigate the disappearance along with the girls' distraught teacher, their bickering classmates, and a seasoned and wary Taiwanese detective. The conflicts between them all-complicated by the outrageousness of the photographer and the raging hormones of the young students-raise questions of personal responsibility, desire, honesty, and unvarnished self-interest.

The storm-driven world of this astounding debut and its immediate dangers-both natural and personal-are real, constantly changing, and always violently pressing. And the emotions that churn in the close, dark rooms overnight as the players gather in the park visitors' center are as intense as in any closet drama. But the action and the personal furor here will keep readers turning the pages for answers. Along the rugged way, a series of cultural revelations suggest that the human attachment to mystery can quickly outweigh the desire for safety.

Jacob Ritari has studied with the Fo Guang Shan Buddhist organization in Taiwan and studied Japanese language and literature at Japan's Sophia University. He grew up in Boston and lives near New York City. Taroko Gorge is his first novel.