Heartwood is a creatively plotted novel that follows the search for a missing Appalachian Trail hiker. Told from the perspectives of the hiker, the woman in charge of the search, and an unlikely, elderly armchair detective, the story serves up a lot of depth that seems to be absent from so many other current mystery/suspense novels.

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I read Heartwood as part of the 2026 Thoughtful Reading Challenge. February’s challenge was to read a book with the word “heart” in the title in honor of Valentine’s Day. ❤

Here’s a short summary of Heartwood, including some  spoilers.

Forty-two-year-old Valerie Gillis is nurse who is burned out from treating COVID patients during the madness of the pandemic. As a way to reset, she decides to hike the Appalachian Trail (who wouldn’t??). Her husband follows her route in his car, and she connects with a black, plus-sized fellow hiker named Ruben, who becomes her very funny hiking buddy.

But Ruben has family issues that cause him to abandon the trail and leave Valerie to continue the hike solo. And although her husband is following in his car, he’s too far away to protect her when she follows a distressed young man into the woods and off the trail. Valerie is a caregiver by nature, and her instincts compel her to try to help the man.

Unfortunately, her instincts lead her into danger and get her hopelessly lost.

The guy she follows is delusional and paranoid about a nearby military facility, and his paranoia extends to Valerie’s motives. His actions include tying Valerie to him, and disappearing one night, leaving Valerie alone again. This time she’s reluctant to draw attention to herself, afraid that he’ll return. But that mindset hampers the rescue efforts.

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Those rescue efforts are led by a Maine State Game Warden named Beverly. With a long track record of successful search and rescue missions, she’s well-suited to find Valerie. She’s driven by compassion and a strong sense of duty, as well as a need to constantly prove herself in a male dominated profession.

In addition to coordinating search efforts, talking to the press, and reassuring Valerie’s family, her mother is dying. It’s a lot to handle, especially as the search drags on with little sign of Valerie.

While dozens of people search for her, Valerie is hunkered down in her tent, reluctant to move. She spends her time writing thoughtful, poetic letters to her mother. She is starving, and because she’s a nurse, she knows it.

Finally, as Beverly is about to transition the search from a rescue mission into a recovery operation, a tip comes into the hotline from a very unlikely source. Lena, a resident of a retirement community, has been a bit fixated on the rescue operation. And when a young man she’s befriended online posts a picture of himself wearing Valerie’s pink bandana, she quickly puts two and two together.

Now it’s a race for Beverly to find Valerie in time. Will she find her alive?

Not gonna tell you!

I enjoyed Heartwood. It includes so many relevant and relatable topics about our culture – the challenges of juggling a demanding job with family crises, the need women feel to put in extra effort so they won’t be compared unfavorably to their male colleagues, how online forums can fuel mental health issues, and the post-pandemic burnout of medical workers, to name a few. And because I don’t like to be preached to, I appreciate that these themes are seamlessly woven into the story rather than having the subtlety of a bullhorn in a library.

The characters, for the most part, are well-developed. I especially liked how I got to know Valerie through the lyrical letters she writes to her mother. And although he’s a secondary character, Ruben is an absolute scene stealer and the funny responses he provides to interview questions add a welcome touch of levity to the story.

The writing is exceptionally good in Heartwood, especially when the author is crafting Valerie’s letters. While Ruben adds humor, Valerie’s letters add depth. Overall, the novel is a nice balance of ingredients that make a delicious dish.

It’s hard to slot Heartwood into one genre. I would say it’s a combination of suspense and contemporary literature, with a touch of adventure. If that combination appeals to you, then I think you’ll like Heartwood.

What about you? Did you read a book with “heart” in the title for the book challenge? Please share!

**Reminder – March’s challenge is to read a biography of a woman you admire to commemorate International Women’s Day.