Smoke Season

A Novel

By: Amy Hagstrom

Narrated by: Teri Schnaubelt

An Oregon wildfire and the roiling rapids of an untamed river pose unimaginable threats for friends fighting to save those they love in a pulse-pounding novel of suspense by the author of The Wild Between Us.

Every wildfire season cloaks rural Carbon, Oregon, in smoke. This summer, all it takes is one strike of lightning for the best of friends to turn to desperate acts to make it out alive.

When the latest blaze jumps a firebreak, experienced whitewater rafting guide Kristina “True” Truitt has reason to worry. Her best friend, fire battalion chief Melissa Bishop, is on the front lines. But she and Mel have a side gig vying for attention: a dangerous and illegal money drop on the banks of the wild Outlaw River—directly in the path of the fire and right under the noses of the feds. It’s the only option Mel and her estranged husband, Sam, have in order to afford the care their medically vulnerable daughter needs to survive.

As the walls of fire close in, True, Mel, and Sam wrestle with one terrible choice after another. It’s time to decide what risks are worth taking and what they are willing to let burn to ashes.

©2024 Amy Hagstrom (P)2024 Brilliance Publishing, Inc., all rights reserved.

Critic reviews

“In this atmospheric and propulsive read, Amy Hagstrom masterfully ratchets up the tension not only with bad guys—of both the human and natural kind—but with complex relationships that will keep you feverishly turning pages. Perfect for anyone craving another disaster thrill-ride after Twisters, Smoke Season is a must read!” —Brianna Labuskes, bestselling author of The Lies You Wrote

“Prepare yourself for Smoke Season, where Amy Hagstrom expertly guides you on a white-knuckle ride into the heart of an epic Oregon wildfire. Impossible choices flare up with every turn of the page as Hagstrom forces you to consider how far you'd go to help the ones you love. Consider this your Level 3 Warning…GO NOW to get this book!” —Tony Wirt, bestselling author of Just Stay Away

Intertwining story shifting from one to another of 3 principle characters.

Engaging story. From the words of the story and the narrater’s description, I could visualize the story line like it was a movie.

Slow reading

Too much detail and not enough story. A slow moving storyline and I found it hard to keep reading.