Descent

When a teenage girl disappears during a hiking trip in Colorado, her parents are thrown into every parent’s worst nightmare. From there, the book splits between the frantic search for their daughter and the unsettling mystery of what actually happened to her.

What really worked for me was the atmosphere. The mountain setting feels cold, isolated, and heavy with dread, and Johnston does a great job letting that mood seep into every page. It’s not a fast, twist-every-chapter kind of thriller — it’s slower, more emotional, and focused on how trauma ripples through a family.

The story jumps between perspectives, which adds depth, especially as you watch the parents unravel in different ways. Some parts feel heartbreaking, some tense, and some quietly haunting.

If you’re looking for nonstop action, this might feel a bit restrained. But if you like psychological suspense with strong emotional weight and a creeping sense of unease (which I know is your wheelhouse), this one hits hard.