THE HIKE, Lucy Clarke’s latest psychological thriller, opens with a young woman, her body broken on a mountainside with a pool of blood emerging from beneath her form. This was supposed to be a getaway with her three best friends. Not all of them will survive.

Liz, Helena, Joni and Maggie have been on vacations together before, but this trip feels different for some reason. Maybe it’s because of the danger involved in hiking and camping over the Blafjell Mountain in Norway, an area whose peak has been described as being “thin,” as if it were some portal between our world and another.

"THE HIKE is a fun novel to read. Even though we are aware that something bad is going to happen, this does not take away from the enjoyment of how Lucy Clarke deftly sets everything up."

Readers will find that the horrors here are entirely more earthbound and man-made, making them somehow even deadlier. Each of the four women are escaping something in their lives. Joni, in particular, has the most going for her as the lead singer of a famous rock band. Yet she is not happy with that anymore and is looking for something different. The others are all stepping out of their family situations, some of which may not be waiting for them when they return.

Upon arrival at the inn they are staying at prior to their hiking adventure, they learn of the recent history in that part of Norway. This includes the disappearance of a woman, Karin, the previous year that still haunts the village. The man who runs the place, Bjørn, is seen by all as he reunites with his brother Erik, who many blame for the loss of Karin. These characters and others from the town are nicely sprinkled into the story to foreshadow their reappearance at some point during the vacationers’ hike.

Joni, who got up and played an impromptu concert at the inn the night before the hike, learns that she is being sued for breach of contract by her record company as videos are posted on social media. Like the other three, she feels she has nothing to lose by throwing herself full on into this dangerous expedition. But this carefree attitude could jeopardize them all.

When the foursome seek shelter at the peak of Blafjell, they find the small cabin that they had been told about. During their time here, secrets and feelings will come out between them; evidence of Karin having stayed there will be found; and one of the men from the village will make an unexpected appearance that changes everything.

THE HIKE is a fun novel to read. Even though we are aware that something bad is going to happen, this does not take away from the enjoyment of how Lucy Clarke deftly sets everything up. The book may take place in the winter, but it ends up being an ideal read for any season.