Heartwood (A Read with Jenna Pick)

"Heartwood," a finalist for the 2026 Audie Award for Ensemble Performance, unfolds as a gripping literary thriller set against the backdrop of the Appalachian Trail. The story follows the baffling disappearance of forty-two-year-old Valerie Gillis, who, isolated in the Maine wilderness, communicates her struggles through poignant letters to her mother. Leading the search effort is Beverly, a dedicated Maine State Game Warden, while Lena, an astute seventy-six-year-old birdwatcher, takes on the role of an unexpected detective. As their narratives intertwine, the novel explores profound themes of loss and the search for connection, delivering an engaging and redemptive journey.