The Rocky Mountains have cast their spell over the Courtlands, who are taking a family vacation before their daughter leaves for college. But when Caitlin and her younger brother, Sean, go out for an early morning run and only Sean returns, the mountains become as terrifying as they are majestic. Written with a precision that captures every emotion, every moment of fear, as each member of the family searches for answers, races like an avalanche toward its heart-pounding conclusion.  “A compelling thriller that is both creepy and literary . . . is not just a mystery. It is an emotional story of evil, fear, acceptance and irony.” “What makes the novel unforgettable is its sense of character, its deliberate, unadorned prose and Johnston’s unflinching exploration of human endurance, physical and psychological.” “A super-charged, addictive read.” “An original and psychologically deep thriller.” magazine “Outstanding . . . The days when you had to choose between a great story and a great piece of writing? Gone.” “[A] dazzling debut . . . Exquisitely crafted.” “Incredibly powerful, richly atmospheric.” “[An] engulfing thriller-cum-western.” “Brilliant . . . As gripping as any Everest expedition.” —Peter Heller, author of