Item: The Guide
Rating: 3.50
Author: quirkycat

by Peter Heller

NATIONAL BESTSELLER • The best-selling author of The River returns with a heart-racing thriller about a young man who is hired by an elite fishing lodge in Colorado, where he uncovers a plot of shocking menace amid the natural beauty of sun-drenched streams and forests.

“Peter Heller is the poet laureate of the literary thriller." —Michael Koryta, New York Times best-selling author of Those Who Wish Me Dead

Kingfisher Lodge, nestled in a canyon on a mile and a half of the most pristine river water on the planet, is known by locals as "Billionaire's Mile" and is locked behind a heavy gate. Sandwiched between barbed wire and a meadow with a sign that reads "Don't Get Shot!" the resort boasts boutique fishing at its finest. Safe from viruses that have plagued America for years, Kingfisher offers a respite for wealthy clients. Now it also promises a second chance for Jack, a return to normalcy after a young life filled with loss. When he is assigned to guide a well-known singer, his only job is to rig her line, carry her gear, and steer her to the best trout he can find.

But then a human scream pierces the night, and Jack soon realizes that this idyllic fishing lodge may be merely a cover for a far more sinister operation. A novel as gripping as it is lyrical, as frightening as it is moving, The Guide is another masterpiece from Peter Heller

Look for Peter Heller's new novel, The Last Ranger, coming soon!

Book Summary:

Jack is no stranger to guilt and loss. Yet his most recent loss has him reeling. Desperate to escape it all, he takes on a position to work as a guide in what feels like the middle of nowhere.

With the pandemic rising, the isolation is only going to grow. Unfortunately, this is the perfect recipe for danger as Jack uncovers a dangerous truth within the seemingly pristine lodge. It's the sort of secret people kill over.

My Review:

While not labeled as such (as far as I can tell), The Guide is actually the second book in Jack's story. The first is The River, and I would strongly urge that you read these two in order, as you'll likely be confused about the grief Jack is running from.

Now that I've gotten that caveat out of the way let's talk about The Guide. Like its predecessor, The Guide is marketed as a survival thriller. Though honestly, there are times (especially near the end) that it felt more like an action thriller with a mystery subtext. I'm not digging into this at all! I just want to set clear expectations for other readers.

I liked The River more, as it had stronger survival elements. It also felt more grounded. While Jack's pain does feel real in this novel, there are many elements (from the romantic subplot to the scale of the twists revealed) that make this story feel larger than life. As such, it kept breaking my immersion.

The Guide is still worth reading, especially for those who want to see where Jack's story leads. I'm not certain this is the end of his story (I could see it going either way), so I suppose only time will tell.

Highlights:
Suspenseful Survival Story
Mystery/Thriller
Pristine Lodge
Hidden Darkness

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The Guide

by Peter Heller

Reviewed by Quirky Cat on Nov 2, 2023

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