Review by Publisher's Weekly Review
This taut wilderness thriller from Sierra (Nightwatching) centers on Zach Fisher, a sensitive 12-year-old on a backcountry ski tour in the Colorado Rockies with his stern father, Bram, and a group of Bram's associates. What was once a father-son tradition organized by Zach's late mother, Grace, has since become a showcase for Bram to impress his business backers. Among the guests are Shane, the cocky son of a media mogul; Jon, a laid-back ski-film celebrity; Dave, a gregarious investor; Russ, Dave's blunt, awkward son; and Steve, the group's quiet guide. When Bram's assistant, Ginny, goes missing, the sharp-eyed Zach finds a jeweled earring tangled in kindling at the cabin--an early sign that all is not as it seems. Then a deadly avalanche strikes, and the discovery of a corpse, animal remains, and the earring's bloody twin fan paranoia among the guests, alluding to ugly truths about Bram and eroding trust among the survivors. When a second avalanche hits, Zach must find the strength to survive both the elements and his father's tightening grip. Sierra's vivid setting, well-shaded characters, and knack for suspense keep the pages turning, even if the narrative is somewhat padded. This is an icy delight. Agent: Helen Heller, Helen Heller Agency. (Feb.)
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Review by Library Journal Review
Sierra's second novel (after Nightwatching) takes place in the Colorado backcountry, as 12-year-old Zach and his imposing, mercurial father, Bram, head out to a ski trip during which Bram plans to woo investors for his cash-strapped business. On the way to the cabin, they see a savaged animal carcass and several areas ripe for avalanche. Zach raises the alarm, having learned from his late mother, a search-and-rescue worker, how to stay safe in the wild and what to fear. Bram brushes off his son's concerns, as he's laser-focused on impressing his guests. That night, Zach spots an unidentifiable creature out in the woods, and the next day, several members of their party are caught in an avalanche. Zach leads the rescue, but as tensions rise, hidden agendas and secrets come out, including about the boy's own family. When the first body is discovered, things begin to snowball in a flurry of blame and guilt. VERDICT Sierra's taut thriller provides a good blend of wild and human threats, and Zach is a believably capable protagonist to guide this deadly outing.--Dan Forrest
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Review by Kirkus Book Review
An avalanche traps a 12-year-old boy on a mountain with a monster. It's been a year since Zach Fisher's mother died, leaving him and his sister, Bonnie, alone with their tyrannical father, Bram. Entrepreneur Bram rarely acknowledges Zach's existence except to denigrate him, so when Bram orchestrates a fathers-and-sons ski trip to woo a trio of potential investors, Zach is hopeful it'll be an opportunity for him to finally earn praise. Unlike Bram, Zach is well acquainted with the Colorado backcountry and its hut system thanks to the outings he and Bonnie made with their mom, who also taught the kids outdoor survival skills and avalanche safety. Unfortunately, the weekend gets off to an unsettling start when, on the hike in, Zach stumbles across a recently deceased elk whose skull and neck vertebrae have been stripped preternaturally clean. Then, upon reaching their reserved hut, a furious Bram discovers that not only did his assistant fail to arrive early and spruce up the place, but the richest of his invited guests isn't coming. That evening, on a visit to the outhouse, Zach hears "a dragging, punctuated by a squelching," and sees a "black, wavering form" moving up the ridge. While Zach resolves not to tell the others for fear of his father's mockery, he can't help but think of the mutilated elk--a thought that resurfaces the next morning when everyone dons their skis to take advantage of the deep, newly fallen snow. Sierra's backdrop proves fertile ground for peril, though those unfamiliar with the Colorado backcountry and its unique brand of recreation may find themselves confusedly casting about for context clues. The setup takes a tad too long, but once the scene is set, the story snowballs, resulting in an adrenaline-fueled sprint during which machismo trumps reason and amplifies danger at every turn. A pulse-pounding, heart-rending thrill ride. Copyright (c) Kirkus Reviews, used with permission.
Copyright (c) Kirkus Reviews, used with permission.
