Heartwood

Heartwood by Amity Gaige, starts with the story of Vallerie, a nurse who goes missing while hiking the Appalachian Trail. But it's really about so much more. Woven into the survival story are heartfelt themes about the complex bond between mothers and daughters, as Valerie writes to her mother in her journal, trying to keep herself occupied. The messages are heartfelt, with an underlying sense that Valerie will not survive to tell these things to her in person.

Lt. Bev, the park warden heading up the search, also added a lot to the story, always positive, sensitive, and with a quiet air of authority, even when the pressure and fear mounted. Her role added depth and a sense of reality to the story.

Then, of course, there is Lena - a 76-year-old retired scientist who lives in a retirement community with nothing but time on her hands. She was estranged from her daughter, so in addition to incredible insights on the missing hiker, she added yet another layer to the mother-daughter theme. I loved her personality and determination. She was my favorite.

The pacing is slow at times, but it's a good mystery with many emotional connections between well-developed, likable characters. Well worth reading.