Hurt Mountain

A Novel

De: Angela Crook

Narrado por: Susan Dalian

An estranged mother and father join forces to uncover the truth about their missing daughter in a haunting novel about trauma, loss, family, and hope.

When patrolman Brandon Hall comes upon a broken-down car on a Colorado highway, he finds a young girl in a bloodied nightgown at the wheel. In the back seat, the brutalized body of a teenage boy. The girl will say only one word: Hurt.

When the girl is admitted to the hospital, the doctor on call is Brandon’s ex-wife, Olivia Blake. For Olivia and Brandon, the traumatized Jane Doe opens a floodgate of memories. It’s been four years since they shared their own tragedy—the unsolved disappearance of their eight-year-old daughter, Carly, and the end of their marriage. As Olivia focuses on Jane Doe’s care, Brandon makes a startling discovery: a series of disappearances from across the country, over decades, that could finally lead to the truth about their missing daughter.

But will unraveling the past trigger a backslide into grief, guilt, and obsession? Or is finding out what horrors lie in the Colorado mountains the only thing that can heal them, and the mysterious young girl in their care?

©2024 by Angela Watts. (P)2023 Brilliance Publishing, Inc., all rights reserved.

Reseñas de la Crítica

“Crook’s debut is a painful read, dealing with the loss of a child and child abuse, but the book is also incredibly heartfelt and beautiful. Themes of loss and grappling with grief shine through on every page, and one cannot help but empathize with Crook’s characters as they go on their harrowing journey.”—Booklist

“Angela Crook’s Hurt Mountain is a riveting family drama and asks, What happens to those who survive a crime? To the parents when a child is taken? How does anyone pick up the pieces that are shattered? This book dives into that and so much more. I was hooked by the tense emotions, and the mystery at the heart of this book was so well done. I can’t wait to see what the author does next!”—Amina Akhtar, author of Almost Surely Dead and Kismet

“A mystery within a mystery frosted with a rekindled romance. Hurt Mountain is suspenseful when it should be, with vivid, intense writing that sparkles. It’s spiked with some gut punches and the splintered, aching loss of family torn apart and found. Olivia and Brandon are characters I wish I’d created. Recommended.”—Jean Rabe, USA Today and Amazon bestselling author

Intrigued reading!!

I really enjoyed the story and how the author built you up and kept your interest throughout the story!! Well worth the listen!

Great book!

Olivia and Delilah were just who each other needed, given what they'd faced in their lives upon meeting one another. Brandon respected Olivia to no end, but his love for her was palpable, and everyone could see it. This was such a bittersweet novel but an enjoyable read throughout.

Great suspense!

Brandon and Olivia suffered a great loss several years ago, when their daughter was kidnapped and never seen again. Their marriage did not survive the loss but they are forced back together when Brandon discovers a young girl in a car with a dead guy. Very well written story…did not want to put down until the end.

Brown Suga Book club

What in the hills have eyes is going on here!? lol
All jokes aside, I really enjoy this read. It was perfectly written. Kept me engaged from the beginning to the end. It was the suspense I needed. Without spoiling it let me just say we all would want a thriller to turn out this way where someone wins! Great job author!

couldn't put it down

What a great story. Kept me in suspense. I think I will find another from this author.

BSBC - Great Book

This book was incredibly well written. It took me through all of the emotions. I would absolutely recommend this read!

No likeable characters

The characters were all emotionally immature. There are no physicians who behave like the main character, certainly not in response to other people behaving badly. The way they pieced things together based on feelings was trite and not believable.

I have a hard time stopping books without an ending or I’d have just stopped this book. It feels it was written by a 14 year old.

Poor character development

I just couldn’t finish this book. The main character Olivia was ridiculous. The hospital scenes were unrealistic. I didn’t like the story line—bad Hallmark movie material. Predictable. A lot of first reads are poor. Plus the narrator was confusing and hard to listen to.

Missed the opportunity to be great

Author missed the mark.. I have visited Colorado Springs, Manitou, and pikes peek, this area holds a thrilling curiosity. Within the caves and high elevation wilderness train ride up a secluded area of the mountain, and the seemingly impossible trail 2,744 steps to the top of the mountain enchants the imagination with oddity’s of the unknown. Instead the author focused on trivial interactions, inconsequential relationship’s, that were so insignificant and unbelievable. On top of that the character Development was vast, yet insubstantial. Zero resolve with almost all of these characters, leaving the reader with more questions than answers….ie. why Carlee? how did they kid nap her, who were the others? Why the many pointless interactions with the reporter? Instead the story lightly brushed on the meat and potatoes of suspense. Yet describing at length irrelevant interactions within the characters. Siiiiigh it COULD have been so good BUT it just wasn’t