The Guide by Peter Heller 2021

When I read Heller’s previous book, ‘The River’ I was totally engrossed, tense, and compelled to read it straight through in just a few sittings.  When I read about his latest book in the New York Times Book Review, I leapt at the chance to once again lose myself in his compelling story telling.

Didn’t happen.  I did find it a compulsively readable book and it did make me tense the whole time, but it failed to deliver as ‘The River’ had.  We once again meet Jack and Wynn, the Dartmouth guys who love to drop into wilderness areas and find ways to survive and enjoy the experience.  At least Jack survived, because evidently Wynn never made it out of the Canadian wilderness in ‘The River’.  Perhaps I’ve forgotten that he had died, or perhaps he died after the end of the book, but at any rate, his death along with that of Jack’s mother who died when he was 11 in a horseback accident in his home state of Colorado, has left Jack deeply scarred and close to broken.

In an attempt to regain his footing, Jack signs on as a fishing guide at the exclusive Kingfisher Lodge where the wealthiest of the wealthy come to fish and enjoy the spa.  You can already sense that this is not going to be a delightful spa experience for Jack or Alison, the famous country singer who he is supposed to guide.  Beautiful setting, beautiful woman, scary situation—-sounds good, right?  Too bad that Heller way overwrites this novel and clearly had no idea how to finish it.

Nonetheless, if you’re heading for the beach or a country inn or a spa resort (careful!!!), this is a diverting, fast-paced novel which can easily keep you entertained for many hours.  My only disappointment is that the talented Heller could have done better.