BOOK
REVIEW
LEAVE NO TRACE
This book takes place in the Boundary Waters, which is the deepest,
darkest, most remote wooded area in northern Minnesota. It seems that
Josiah Blackthorn and his nine-year-old son, Lucas, have disappeared and
are presumed dead after a camping trip in the great wilds of the Boundary
Waters Canoe Area.
Fast forward ten years, and nineteen-year-old Lucas Blackthorn is
arrested for breaking into a wilderness outfitting store and assaulting the
owners of the establishment. He won’t talk about where he has been or
where his father is, in fact he won’t utter a word to anyone. He has shown
violent tendencies so, not knowing what else to do with him, Lucas is
admitted into a mental institution, Congdon Psychiatric Facility.
Maya Stark, who is a speech pathologist at Congdon, is assigned to
Lucas’ case. Her superior, Dr. Mehta, feels that Maya is the only hope that
the boy has to be able to return to society. It seems that prior to graduating
college, Maya had some deep, dark secrets of her own and was a patient at
the same facility, which we will learn all about later. In the meantime, Maya
sets out to communicate with Lucas and his first words are “I know you.”
Creepy, but at least she got him talking!
We find out that his father, Josiah, is sick and in need of medical supplies
(hence the breaking and entering charge). Maya works out a deal with
Congdon and Dr. Mehta to send out a search party for Josiah, but after
some problems, actually a lot of problems, the idea is scraped. Maya then
decides to take matters into her own hands, although she is risking her
career and possible jail time in doing so. So, Maya kidnaps Lucas and
together they set off into the unknown to help Josiah.
We find out along the way, that Maya was abandoned by her geologist
mother, who was mentally unstable. She went missing and was last seen
in the same area and about the same time as when Lucas and Josiah
disappeared. Maya believes that Lucas may know something about her
disappearance after his first words were “I know you.” We eventually find
out what all this means, but Maya only wants to know what happened to
her mother.
This book is visually captivating. You can see the pristine country through
the author’s eyes as if you were there. Of course, I had to google it, and the
pictures of this part of the country are breathtaking. I can’t begin to imagine
living off the grid like Lucas and Josiah, but in my youth I could possibly
have gone on a camping trip there. Maybe for a night or two. Maybe.
Anyway, I was sucked into this story and I couldn’t put it down until I
found out all of its secrets. I give it five roses and I believe you will too.
So, in the meantime, Happy Holidays! And read a book! If it’s a good
read, pass it on.
12 TYBEE BEACHCOMBER | DEC 2019
By Nell Klein
By Mindy Mejia
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