Thirty years ago Jess's mother disappeared whilst hiking in the Appalachian mountains - remains have been found near where she disappeared ...... is it her mother ? can she lay her to rest at last ?
When Jess , now an investigative journalist , starts asking question of the locals along the trail she finds them unhelpful ........ just what secrets are they keeping ?
This book is written in a dual-time line narrative which whilst giving information each chapter , I found a little irritating . That being said , overall, the book is an entertaining psychological thriller , building to an uneasy climax .
I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own

In 1993, Jess's mother, Nora, enrolled on a charity hike to walk a stage of the Appalachian Trail in the US. Nora never returned from the hike & Jess & her father were left without answers as to what had happened, just that she had disappeared from camp. Thirty years later, Jess (now an investigative reporter) receives an email with a link to a headline saying that a body has been found just off the trail so Jess jumps on a plane to go & find out if her mother has been found at last. When she arrives the people in the picture perfect towns along the section of trail where Nora disappeared seem strangely unhelpful & the sign-in book for 1993 in the nearest motel is missing. It seems everyone is keeping secrets - will Jess ever find out what happened to her mother?

I love reading books about walking trails or climbing mountains, fiction or nonfiction, so this looked like an intriguing read & it was for most of it. There are dual timeline narratives, past from Nora & present from Jess, where the reader gradually learns a little more each chapter. |The author builds up the ominous atmosphere in both narratives quite well & the tension was great for about two-thirds of the book - then it went off the rails a little in the last third & became rather unbelievable. 3.5 stars (rounded up).

TW: a couple of short mentions of animal cruelty/death.

My thanks to NetGalley & publishers, Boldwood Books, for the opportunity to read an ARC.

I enjoyed this book. Told over two timelines the story of Nora and her friends as she embarks on hiking the Appalachian Trail, and that of her daughter Jess to whom she never returned.
The two stories cleverly hook you in and there’s a brilliant unexpected twist too

A highly entertaining book that will keep you guessing until the very end.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for this Arc n exchange for an honest review.

I did not finish this one, it was not for me, I couldn't relate to the characters, and just did not care for the story.

I got a little more than 1/2 through the book before I decided to DNF. My TBR pile is too high to waste time on silly stories. No one, and I mean no one, is going to hike the AT if they don't want to hike the AT. To do a hike like that as some kind of fundraiser is ridiculous (like, just give the sick kid the money). For a mom to regrettably leave her kid in order to hike the AT for someone else's kid when she doesn't even want to is a dumb plot line. Jess' plot line is equally stupid. Breaking into her landlord's house through the dog door, picking out just what she wants to take which happens to be hiking clothes, and then flying across the globe with no money and no plan requires the reader to suspend all disbelief. The worst part, to me, was how the author portrayed the American speech patterns - completely unrealistic. The author needs to do more research and not assume her readers are idiots.

Jess wants answers, she wants the truth but in the words of Base Commander Colonel Nathan Jessep, can she handle the truth?! Her mum Nora disappeared without a trace whilst trekking across the Appalachian Trail and no one knows or admits to knowing what happened to her. Jess can’t let it lie. She needs to know what happened to her mum.

As the story switches between Jess’s trip stateside following an anonymous tip and Nora’s trek, the tension and unease builds. Not only am I concerned for Nora in her remoteness, knowing something is going to happen to her, but Jess’s situation grows more threatening as she spend longer in this odd part of New England.

Hunter has crafted a intricate thriller which jumps between narratives and timelines to confuse and distract from me from trying to fathom out what was happening to Jess and Nora. The smoke and mirrors used throughout led me along a path (some might say a trail) to a very surprising conclusion!

This was such an easy-to-read book, I read it in a day because it kept me hooked I really wanted to know what happened to Nora and I had various ideas of what it could have been, but what did happen was not on my list.
I enjoyed the alternating chapters but I have to say I enjoyed the Nora chapters far more than the Jess ones, I'm not sure I could say why but I think it's because I found Jess a tad annoying at times. Jess came across as very selfish and quite irresponsible from the off and whilst I can definitely understand her need to find out what happened to her mum her attitude left a lot to be desired.
Every Nora entry made me feel like the AT trail was getting creepier and I actually worried for her I knew she had gone missing from the off so it felt odd to worry. But I think that's just the mark of good writing.
I so enjoyed reading this but I didn't like the ending, it felt too neat and I don't know I think expected more drama to the ending.
I do know I'll be picking up more books by M.A. Hunter though, I very much enjoyed the writing style and it kept me reading even though I didn't like the MC most of the time.

This is my second book by this author and I enthralled by the storyline. I was on the edge of my seat and was desperate to know the outcome. I think this book is unique in a wonderful way and would not have seen that crazy ending coming. I loved the dual timeline and found it help me understand the characters motives and the situations they were in. If you love a fast paced thriller then I think this is so perfect.

Plot

Tense and cleverly written, what seems at first an innocent story about uncovering the truth gets a whole lot more sinister. The townsfolk of Rockston, among others along the Appalachian Trail (AT), hold themselves apart from strangers. When one such stranger, Jess, hastily heads out to the Trail in pursuit of the truth after a body is uncovered, trouble looms. 
There are lots of elements to this story. Some are rational, others less so. And yet, anything feels possible in this isolated world away from home. The boundaries of reality vs. imagination seem a lot thinner in the peaks… 
The nature of the book and the storyline have you trying to read between the lines. If you get on with books that encourage you to think about what’s going on beneath the surface, then The Trail is perfect for you! I never quite knew what to expect from the ending of The Trail, and I definitely didn’t anticipate the twist!
 


Setting 

The Appalachian Trail makes for a great psychological thriller setting. With wild stories about the trail and those that surround it, it's easy to buy into the sinister tales and fear of those living off the grid, and the magic and occult that’s intwined with their existence. With any small town setting, there are ample opportunities for conflict, both within the town, but also towards strangers like Jess. We get to experience all the perks and tension that come with this niche. 
Jess (and 30 years ago, her mother Nora) are out of their comfort zones on the trail. Away from the safety net of home and a wealth of resources, they are subject to the whims of everyone and everything around them. And not everyone is their friend... 
 


Characters 

The Trail has a full cast of characters that add to this spooky narrative. If they don’t make your skin crawl outright, you definitely find yourself questioning underlying motives and whether you are being told the truth or not. Nobody wants Jess poking around into the truth of her mother’s disappearance, and her questions quickly lead her into danger. 
Coming towards the end of the narrative, I started questioning whether Jess could trust anyone on her quest for the truth. Nothing and no one are quite what they seem. The small town community vibe, combined with this wild wilderness setting, add to her isolation and vulnerability. 
 


Narrative Style

One of the huge selling points for this book is the dark and sinister atmosphere that the author maintains throughout. With short, punchy chapters that alternate between two timelines that take place 30 years apart, we really don't know what’s coming up in just a few short pages. 
The chapter lengths are a great way of keeping a fast-paced and lots of tension, but also make it really easy to pick up and put down this book as and when you need. Not that you’ll want to, mind. Generally, I am the kind of person who prefers a slightly lengthier and meatier chapter length, but this still worked for me. That’s just a matter of personal preference. The way the book is set up definitely worked with and in favour of this story. 
 


Summary

If you're looking for a dark, atmospheric read to pick up this spooky season, you should check out The Trail by M.A. Hunter. If I haven't convinced you, then please check out the thoughts of my fellow reviewers on the tour! More on ther details below. 
With a twisty narrative and deceit around every corner, what else could you possibly want to read?

The book begins in April 2023 in Brighton, where we read the first-person viewpoint of Jess Grogan. She goes for a job interview, but while waiting, receives a message saying a body has been found in the Appalachian Trail in Maine, USA. Her mother Nora had gone missing there thirty years previously. Jess decides she needs to go there to see if she can find any answers.
Then we go back to 1993 and follow Nora’s story in the United States. She has left her husband Frank and young daughter Jess to do a month-long fundraising hike on the Appalachian Trail. She is accompanied by three men - Bruce (40, a primary school teacher from Kent), Charlie (from California) and Ken (a Scout Leader from Swansea). The dangers they face on the Trail come from all directions – the weather, wild animals, other humans, the dark, the terrain and even rumours of witchcraft... It makes you wonder how anyone survives! (And there’s no way I’d be doing it!)
In 2023, Jess is in the same area and is finding the locals pretty hostile too. It’s all a bit creepy, you’re not quite sure who to trust and what’s going on. There are a few bits in both timelines that might make you a bit jumpy and it all feels very visual too, it would make a good film.
I really liked both Jess and Nora and was invested in their stories and wanted to know what was going to happen. My other favourite character was Bruce, who appears in both timelines, he’s a brilliant character and I really liked getting to know him.

I really enjoyed this book, the second I have read by M. A. Hunter and it won’t be the last!

Jess is struggling to forge a career as a journalist, a route she chose in hope of being able to investigate the disappearance of her mother, Nora, 30 years ago, when Jess was five years old.

We then jump back to Nora, following her charity hike through the Appalachian mountain trail.

M. A. Hunter has a great skill for building suspense. I was completely absorbed in this story, great character development and the descriptions of the mountain scenery made me feel as though I was right there. Lots of tension and creepy trail magic kept me hooked right until the end - and what a great ending 👏🏻

5 ⭐️ Thanks to Netgalley, @stephenedger and @boldwood for an ARC in return for an honest review.

ok this was interesting it had me gripped from the beginning and reading boyh noras story and her daughters builds up the suspense you dont know whats going too come and i definately didn't expect that end..

The trail by MA Hunter.
Jess's mother Nora disappeared thirty years ago while on a charity hike in the US. So when Jess receives an anonymous tip telling her that remains have been recovered in the spot her mother disappeared, she wastes no time in jumping on a plane. Nothing to keep Jess as quiet.
This was a good read. I did like Jess and Bruce. 4*.

It took me several chapters before I got into rhythm with the book and the alternating POV, but once I did what a journey the author took us on. We find ourselves high in the Appalachian mountains with Jess as she embarks on her quest to find her missing mother.

Would you wait thirty years before trying to find your mother? I certainly wouldn't. Turns out someone knows a lot more than they're letting on and was trying to protect Jess. I don't want to say much more as it will ruin the plot for you, let's just say it's very good and you'll really enjoy it - I did!

Sometimes it's best to let the past stay buried...

Gripping, mysterious, dangerous, and addictive. M.A. Hunter first came on my radar when I read Adrift and I jumped on the chance to read The Trail and was happy I did.

When Jess was young her mother, Nora, agreed to go on a charity hike on the Appalachian Trail. Her mother completed some of the trail, but then disappeared. Thirty years later, Jess is a journalist who is still devastated by losing her mother. She is drifting through life when she receives a tip that remains have been found in the location where her mother was last seen. Jess drops everything and travels to the US and finds that the locals, as well as the trail, have secrets.

I enjoyed how this book was told through two timelines. I was equally invested in both. I could feel Jess's need to know what happened to her mother as she began asking questions hoping that she would finally get answers. I also enjoyed the sections where her mother is hiking the trail with her companions.

The Appalachian Trail feels very much like a character in this book. With its ups and downs, hard hiking conditions, trail magic, dangerous edges, and wildlife. Plus, the locals living in the town where Jess was staying are polite, yet distant. They appear to want to help but are guarded. There is an underlying feeling of things not being quite right and this provided a creepy vibe. I enjoyed the underlying tension in this book. It felt as if Jess was dropped into a twilight zone episode (which I loved). Someone does not want Jess to know the truth but why? I had several theories as to what was happening and didn't even come close.

Well written, tense, atmospheric, and hard to put down!

Nora participates in a charity hike on the Appalachian Trail in 1993 and is never seen again.

Thirty years later, her daughter Jess receives a message that remains have been found near where her mother disappeared. She rushes to the site in hopes of finally knowing what happened.

Told in dual timelines of 1993 and current day, Nora and Jess tell the story. I liked hearing what happened so long ago from Nora herself.

There is much lore about the Appalachian Mountains and I liked that it was incorporated into the book. There is another side element going on that I won't elaborate on as I believe it will add more enjoyment if you don't know in advance. I enjoyed this element and the different ways it was perceived by various characters throughout the book.

Another great one from M.A. Hunter. I love that the author uses a pen name in honor of his grandmother.

Thanks to netgalley and Boldwood books for the arc.

The Trail is a dual timeline story about a mother who hikes part of the Appalachian Trail as a fundraiser. She goes missing and 30 years later her daughter travels to the Trail to find what happened to her mother. I love dual timeline stories because I get to read multiple characters thoughts and at different times. This book was a good read and kept me engaged. The ending was a complete surprise to me as I didn’t see it coming. I like a good story that surprises you.

⭐️⭐️ In 1993, Nora sets off to hike a portion of the Appalachian Trail with a small group but is never seen again. In 2023, her daughter Jess learns of remains that were found near where her mother disappeared, so she leaves the UK and travels to Maine for answers.

It took me a while to get into this one and I was tempted to DNR. Eventually toward the middle things started to pick up, but the end was really my least favorite part. It’s billed as a thriller but is really more about the magic and legends surrounding the Appalachians.

The Trail by M.A. Hunter

I received an advance review copy for free thanks to Rachel's Random Resources and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

Blurb

Sometimes it's best to let the past stay buried...

Thirty years ago, Jess's mother, Nora, disappeared while on a charity hike in the US. The devastating loss has afflicted Jess well into her adult life and even inspired her decision to become an investigative journalist.

So when Jess receives an anonymous tip telling her that remains have been recovered in the spot her mother disappeared, she wastes no time in jumping on a plane.

They say the Appalachian Mountains have secrets, but as she begins to ask around, she learns that the locals do too. But no matter how much they lie, she is determined to find the truth - even if it will irrevocably change her future.

Someone wants to keep the past buried. And they will stop at nothing to keep Jess as quiet as the tranquil mountain trail itself...

My Opinion

I read this in one sitting, I was hooked from the moment Jess saw the message about a body being found. I was introduced to M.A. Hunter recently when I did a listenalong for Adrift and I really like the writing style, so I knew that I had to give this book a read. Hunter manages to keep the reading guessing as the plot develops, every time I thought I knew what was going on I was wrong.

This was a great, tense read. I had to read it to find out if Jess learned what had happened to her mother. A well-written mystery.

Rating: 4/5