Book Review: The Hiking Trip by Jenny Blackhurst
A dual-timeline thriller that keeps you guessing
Having just finished reading The Hiking Trip, I thought I would give you my opinion of the book. If you enjoy psychological thrillers with dark secrets, shifting timelines, and complex female leads, then I think you will love The Hiking Trip by Jenny Blackhurst. This is a gripping and atmospheric novel that combines elements of suspense, survival, and long-buried trauma. All this is set against the haunting wilderness of a Canadian hiking trail.
Maisey narrates the story in the first person, and the chapters alternate between two timelines set twenty years apart. Throughout the book, we follow two women: Maisey, a 19-year-old desperate to escape her domestic responsibilities, and Laura, a seemingly content wife and mother whose perfect life starts to unravel. A tragedy that struck two decades earlier drives the story, haunting Laura and threatening to destroy everything she’s built.
Plot summary (no spoilers)
Maisey’s story: a chance to escape
Back in the 1990s, Maisey was stuck. At just 19, she’s the main carer for her younger sisters due to her mother’s continual depression. Her days are filled with stress, childcare, and working in a coffee shop she loathes. Her only escape is her best friend and their plans to go on a hiking holiday to Canada. They spend all year planning and saving for the trip, but just as they’re about to leave, her friend backs out. She has just met a new man, and he is the man of her dreams again.
Maisey makes the brave decision to go alone; I’m not sure I would be brave enough to do that.
At the start of the trail, she sees Rik and his sister Seraphina arguing. Seraphina has lost all their money, and the bus driver is yelling for everyone to get on board. Maisey, taking the bull by the horns, tells them that she will loan them some money. They’re friendly, helpful, and in the end agree to complete the hike together, as you do. Along the way, they meet a mysterious group of other hikers. They are dressed in black, use drugs, and carry a “book of shadows.” Compared with them, Rik and Seraphina seem safe and trustworthy.
As the days pass, the group dynamic shifts, and what began as a dream trip descends into something darker, culminating in a crime that will never be forgotten.
Laura’s story: a perfect life under threat
Twenty years later, Laura lives in quiet domestic bliss with her husband and two children. She runs a successful craft business from home and appears to have it all. But when a breaking news alert reports that a body has been found on the same hiking trail she once walked, she’s pulled back into the past she thought was buried.
Laura begins quietly tracking the investigation, hiding her interest from her family. But it soon becomes clear that someone else hasn’t forgotten that trip either. Her life is disrupted by a series of chilling events: a man attempts to abduct her daughter, hidden CCTV cameras are found in her home, and her dog goes missing. All adding to Laura’s drama. Not forgetting that she has to travel on the bus, taxi or walk due to a car crash early in the story. I found it a little odd that her husband didn’t add all the little events up to one big issue.
Themes: Trauma, secrets, and survival
What I really appreciated about this book is the way Jenny Blackhurst explores the emotional weight of long-buried trauma. Both Maisey and Laura are believable, flawed, and sympathetic. Their stories mirror each other in subtle ways, showing how the past shapes our choices and the people we become.
There’s also a strong undercurrent about the vulnerability of women both in the wilderness and in seemingly safe, suburban life. The fear is different, but the danger is real in both timelines.
Pacing and structure
The dual-timeline structure works well and keeps the story moving. Each chapter alternates between past and present, and the tension slowly builds on both sides. I found the pacing strong overall, although there were a few points where the narrative felt a little repetitive, and I found myself wanting things to move on.
The dual-timeline structure works well and keeps the story moving. Each chapter alternates between past and present, and the tension slowly builds on both sides. I found the pacing strong overall, although there were a few points where the narrative felt a little repetitive, and I found myself wanting things to move on.
My only honest criticism comes in the final third of the book. Several characters are reintroduced in quick succession, each with hidden backstories and aliases. It became a little confusing to keep track of everyone, and I had to reread a few sections to stay oriented. A character map would have helped!
With that said, I still found myself gripped by the narrative. The writing kept me turning the pages, and I needed to know how everything would connect and who would make it out alive.
Style and tone
Blackhurst has a clear and confident writing style. This is the second of her books I’ve read, and I’m starting to see a signature approach: dual timelines, strong female leads, and twists built around trauma and memory. I think that it works well. Blackhurst paints vivid scenes without weighing them down, and she weaves the psychological elements with believable, well-paced layers.
She builds a sense of unease very effectively, especially in the hiking scenes. The remote setting, the isolation, the slow shift in group dynamics — it all adds to the creeping tension.
Would I recommend it?
Yes, I would. The Hiking Trip is an intelligent, well-written thriller that will appeal to fans of authors like Lisa Jewell, Gillian McAllister, or Claire Douglas. If you enjoy books that blend the psychological with the suspenseful and that keep you questioning characters’ motives until the end, this will be right up your street. I even woke up at 4 a.m. to finish a few chapters.
I could also see it made into an action film. The setting, pacing, and dual structure would translate brilliantly to the screen. There’s something cinematic about the way Blackhurst writes; she lets the tension simmer while giving you just enough detail to stay one step behind the twist.
Final thoughts on The Hiking Trip
The Hiking Trip is a tense and compelling read with well-drawn characters and a dark mystery at its core. The author crowds the final chapters with names and identities. If you’re after a thriller that’s more character-driven than action-heavy, with emotional depth and clever structure, this one’s worth your time.
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