Turnback Ridge

In this bleak, dystopian thriller set in a near-future Alaska from Brightwell (Dead of Winter), bounty hunters are rounding up anyone whose immigration status has lapsed. Canadian citizen Nash Preston’s Mexican-born wife, Maria, has disappeared, leaving him alone with their two teenage sons, Chris and Robbie. Despite Nash’s best efforts, he hasn’t been able to find Maria. Nash, who’s let his visa run out, decides to abandon their home in Anchorage and with the boys head for the distant Canadian border. Along the way, Robbie picks up a mysterious object that attaches itself to his hand. When Chris and Robbie are kidnapped, Nash realizes he must rescue them before Robbie succumbs to the object that seems to be infecting him. The tension rises as a desperate Nash pulls out all the stops to save his boys. Brightwell addresses such timely issues as climate change, healthcare, and immigration without slowing the plot. Though the brief climax may leave some readers wishing for more, the novel shines when the story focuses on Nash’s relationship with his sons. This heartfelt tale of fatherhood will resonate with many. (Aug.)