The Mountain Story - Hardcover

'Lansens writes with extravagant heart and vitality. In this vertigo-inducing book, she wrenches us into an adventure that pits spectacular danger in the present against the ever-present danger of the past' --Marina Endicott, author of Little Shadows and Good to a Fault

'A riveting novel of heartbreak, heroism and redemption. Rich, suspenseful and relentless, this book delivers equal measures of high drama and humanity that will keep readers spellbound until the last word' ---- Carol Shaben, author of Into the Abyss

'Right from its opening pages, The Mountain Story has you firmly in its grip. Immensely readable, beautifully written and incredibly heart-breaking, it's the poignant tale of one young man, Wolf Truly, who finds himself stranded for several days atop a mountain summit in Palm Springs along with three strangers. Very slowly, almost teasingly, author Lori Lansens divulges Wolf's background story. The flashbacks are expertly interwoven with Wolf's current desperate situation, slowly building to a formidable heart-in-your-mouth crescendo... it's an extraordinary story of survival, heroism and redemption that will stay with you long after you read the last page' Press Association

'A superbly crafted, tension-filled tale' Now

'A tense and atmospheric tale about love and survival' Bella

'An intelligent page turner' --The Bookbag

'As in her earlier novels, Lansens portrays strong, not-soon forgotten characters in this suspenseful, psychologically rich tale... Lansens brings the reader intimately into their plight: four harrowing days with barely any food or water, trapped in a canyon with seemingly no way down. Their ordeal profoundly affects the four survivors and changes the course of each of their lives' Booklist

'Four hikers get lost on a mountain, struggling desperately to stay alive, and it's all as chilling and full of suspense as a cracking line of ice on a frozen lake. A breathtaking look at how the past footholds the future and how even the bleakest terror can find its way to unfathomable beauty' Caroline Leavitt, New York Times, Bestselling Author of Is This Tomorrow and Pictures of You

'Lansens has written a colourful, adventurous wilderness survival novel... Readers will also be swept along as the suspense builds in this first-rate character-driven thriller' Publishers Weekly

'More than just a survival tale. It is a story of friendship and loss, but also of growth and hope, and of family bonds that can either tie us down or help us soar. A great read for anyone who likes character-driven, coming-of-age stories with exquisitely described natural settings' Library Journal

'Exhilarating, inspiring and life-affirming' Quill & Quire

'It's an incredible feat to write a harrowing, heart-stopping, brilliantly plotted survival novel. But to also make it moving, meditative, and sometimes even funny, Lori Lansens has done these things and much, much more with The Mountain Story. She is a master of this kind of literary balancing act, that rare writer who can create a damn great page-turner, all while effortlessly gracing it with stunning sentences and unforgettable characters. Wolf, Vonn, Bridget and Nola: you are with them on that mountain. And even while you know this book is going to break your heart, it blankets you with unbelievable hope. It's crazy good' Lisa Gabriele, bestselling author of Tempting Faith DiNapoli

'Lori Lansens s gripping new novel, The Mountain Story, combines the best elements of survival adventure, family drama and coming-of-age narrative' Kathryn Kuitenbrouwer - author of All The Broken Things

'The Mountain Story is an expertly crafted novel about how ordinary lives can be changed by an extraordinary mountain. I loved this novel... a survival story with a strong, beating heart' Claire Cameron, bestselling author of The Bear

'The Mountain Story is equal parts poignant drama and palm-sweaty suspense; Lori Lansens has delivered a page-turner' --Ann-Marie MacDonald, Oprah book club author

On the anniversary of the day his best friend, Byrd, had a tragic accident on the mountain which had been the boys' paradise and escape, Wolf Truly reaches for the summit again with the intention of not coming home. But Wolf meets three women in the cable car on the way up from Palm Springs and finds himself agreeing to help them get to a mountain lake. As the weather suddenly deteriorates, the group is stranded on a lethal ridge as the lights of the city twinkle below, so close and yet so terrifyingly far away. Those who will survive the ordeal will do so through a mixture of bravery, determination and self-revelation.