HEARTWOOD

A full cast tells the story of missing hiker Valerie Gillis and the extensive search to bring her home. When 42-year-old Valerie Gillis goes missing from the Appalachian Trail in Maine, game warden Beverly jumps into action to bring her home. Hundreds of miles away, an elderly woman named Lena begins to piece together what may have happened to Valerie, based on the strange behavior of an online friend. Narrators Justine Lupe, Alma Cuervo, Rebecca Lowman, Ali Andre Ali, Cary Hite, and Helen Laser each provide distinct character work that makes listening to this novel seem like listening to a true-crime podcast as Valerie's emotional journal entries keep the listener on edge. V.B. © AudioFile 2025, Portland, Maine [Published: MAY 2025]