Broken Trail - by Amanda Casile (Hardcover)

About the Book

Short Summary: Trapped in a forest full of malevolent spirits, a young mother must find the strength to outsmart what prowls the woods to get her children out alive.

Book Synopsis

"I was riveted right up to the chilling last page." --Jennifer Thorne, author of Diavola

"A deeply immersive, disturbing, and addictive read." --Lee Kelly, author of With Regrets and City of Savages

This trail will break you . . .

After criminal psychologist Clara's divorce shatters her family, she retreats into her work. But, instead of finding comfort there, Clara develops a growing obsession with one patient, a young woman accused of murdering her boyfriend on a remote hiking trail. Desperate to discover what happened and to mend the bonds between her and her estranged daughters, Clara makes an ill-fated decision: to hike that very same trail, with her family in tow. Once they hit the trail, however, violent visions plague her dreams, and when a close encounter with a mysterious presence splits them apart, what began as a family bonding trip becomes a battle for survival. Clara must confront her own demons and the thing that prowls the forest to find her family and get them out alive before the forest claims them all, for good.

For readers who enjoy Wonderland by Zoje Stage, The Girl Who Loved Tom Gordon by Stephen King, and Insomnia by Sarah Pinborough.

Review Quotes

"In this tale of a hike gone extraordinarily wrong, the frights--by turns psychological, physical, supernatural and interpersonal--come fast and thick (and sometimes straight out of the ground). I was riveted right up to the chilling last page." --Jennifer Thorne, author of Diavola

"Broken Trail leads us into the woods, into the crucible of our fear where the grand summation of our choices lays waiting--and no one is coming to save us." --Rae Wilde, author of I Can Fix Her

"With propulsive pacing and flawed, memorable characters, Broken Trail kept me riveted and perpetually on edge. A survival story in every sense--a life-and-death clash against supernatural forces, a battle for sanity, and a desperate fight to heal a family. A deeply immersive, disturbing, and addictive read." --Lee Kelly, author of With Regrets and City of Savages

"Haunting, heartfelt, and hair-raising, Broken Trail isn't just a survival novel but an ode to independence and the strength of motherhood. Once you step on the path, you won't be able to put down Casile's wrenching masterpiece. I loved every page." --Taylor Grothe, author of Hollow

"Broken Trail is a heart-pounding journey through not only the wild and eerie wilderness, but motherhood, friendship, and finding one's inner strength. Addicting and delightfully frightful, Casile is a master of tension and psychological horror."--Emma E. Murray, author of Crushing Snails

"As twisted and perilous as the mountain path itself, Casile's Broken Trail, will have you gasping for breath and constantly looking over your shoulder for whatever might be following you--or crawling from the earth. Filled with dangers on all sides, this debut horror is both riveting and atmospheric and left me on the edge of my seat until the last page." --Teagan Olivia King, author of Spit Back the Bones

"Amanda Casile's Broken Trail is a pink horror exploration about motherhood and the dangerous, rocky paths we sometimes carve for ourselves. An emotional and horrific journey that stays with you long after the hike is through." --Wendy Dalrymple, author of Birthday Party Demon and Credenza

"As with the best horror, within this spine-tingling and haunting tale there lurk truths about ourselves." --Alethea Lyons, author of The Hiding and The Somnia

--Jennifer Thorne, author of Diavola

The Blair Witch Project meets This Wretched Valley in this spooky, bloody thrill ride--Broken Trail is the kind of camping trip best enjoyed from the safety of your own sofa.--Emily C. Hughes, Bram Stoker Award-winning author of Horror for Weenies: Everything You Need to Know About the Films You're Too Scared to Watch

Desperate situations and dark woods will have you holding your breath with every step deeper into Amanda Casile's captivating debut.--Chelsea Conradt, USA Today bestselling author of The Farmhouse

With propulsive pacing and flawed, memorable characters, Broken Trail kept me riveted and perpetually on edge. A survival story in every sense--a life-and-death clash against supernatural forces, a battle for sanity, and a desperate fight to heal a family. A deeply immersive, disturbing, and addictive read.--Lee Kelly, author of With Regrets and City of Savages

About the Author

Amanda Casile has been writing stories for as long as she can remember. Her mother still keeps a two paged story about a lonely unicorn that Amanda penned in kindergarten and read for show and tell. Since that first public reading, Amanda has continued writing and has published several short stories.

Broken Trail is her debut horror novel. Despite having always enjoyed reading and writing, Amanda pursued a different but related career in speech pathology. In her practice, she has focused in part on literacy and narrative structure, and she loves seeing kids "click" with stories for the first time. When not writing or teaching kids to talk, Amanda spends time with her own nice kids and her two naughty cats.