Heartwood

Heartwood by Amity Gaige is a gripping, poetic mystery about survival, memory, and the human will to be found. Selected as a Read With Jenna TODAY Show Book Club Pick, this literary novel blends suspense with soul-deep emotion.

In the vast Maine wilderness, Valerie Gillis, a seasoned hiker nearing the end of her Appalachian Trail journey, suddenly disappears—just 200 miles from the finish line. As Valerie battles isolation and nature’s dangers, she documents her thoughts through fragmented letters to her mother, revealing hope, heartbreak, and a mind unraveling in the woods.

The search is led by Beverly, a dedicated Maine State Game Warden whose calm determination anchors the mission. Far away in Connecticut, a retired birdwatcher named Lena follows the case obsessively, becoming an unexpected yet essential part of the unfolding mystery. As the story moves between these women’s perspectives, questions begin to rise. Was Valerie’s disappearance truly accidental—or something more?

As poetic as it is suspenseful, Heartwood is a meditation on what it means to be lost—physically, emotionally, spiritually—and what it takes to be found. With sharp insight and lyrical prose, author Amity Gaige delivers a story that’s both intensely grounded and deeply moving.

Heartwood EPUB, PDF, and MOBI formats are available for all major reading platforms including Kindle, iPad, Kobo, Calibre, and more. Purchase or read via trusted retailers like Amazon, Apple Books, and Google Play Books. It’s also featured on eBooks Galaxy, where you can explore more book club favorites and atmospheric reads.

If you enjoyed this story, you may also like The Last Thing He Told Me and Where the Forest Meets the Stars.