Descent

 Tim Johnston

Rating: ⭐⭐⭐½

Genre: Mystery Thriller

Descent is a mystery thriller that follows the Courtland family during their summer vacation in the Rocky Mountains of Colorado. When 18-year-old Caitlin and her younger brother Sean go for a morning run in the mountains, Caitlin disappears, and Sean is left injured and traumatized. This is where the family’s nightmare begins — not knowing how to find their daughter or what exactly happened to her.

When there’s a loss like this, many families either break or grow distant. In this case, the mother decides to return home while the father stays in Colorado to continue searching the wilderness for his missing daughter. Meanwhile, Sean struggles to grow up with the weight of trauma he can’t shake off. Each member of the family copes with the emotional aftermath in their own way, and the narration shifts between them to capture their inner lives and the slow, aching toll of grief.

The strongest aspect of the book, for me, is Johnston’s beautiful literary prose. His writing is often poetic and deeply reflective. If you enjoy literary fiction, there's a lot to appreciate in the way he describes both the natural world and the emotional terrain of his characters. Unlike many thrillers written today, Descent feels grounded and realistic — at least for the first 80% of the story. The ending leans more into conventional thriller territory, and that shift, in my opinion, undercuts some of the realism built up earlier.

Descent has a lot going for it: rich, thoughtful writing, well-drawn characters, and a convincing portrayal of grief and survival. Where it falters is in its pacing. This book is marketed as a thriller, and while it starts off that way, the entire middle section felt much more like literary fiction. That’s not necessarily a bad thing — I enjoy both genres — but when I pick up a thriller, I’m usually in the mood for a fast-paced, tension-driven story. Likewise, if I pick up a literary novel, I expect a slower, more introspective read. This book sits somewhere in between, and that can be frustrating depending on what you're expecting going in.

The issue, really, is that it tries to be both, and for me, that didn’t fully work. Had it been structured entirely as literary fiction, I think the story would have felt more cohesive — especially with a different kind of ending. The one we get is more suited to a thriller, but it doesn’t quite match the tone or pace of the bulk of the book.

Caitlin’s sections, which should’ve been the most gripping emotionally, are also too limited for much of the novel. We do get to see her strength, especially toward the end, but I wanted more of her voice earlier. And when the ending finally comes, it feels rushed — almost too quick and clean after such a slow, heavy build-up.

Overall, I think Descent is a decent read, but it’s best approached with the right expectations. If you're looking for a literary exploration of trauma with occasional bursts of suspense, this will likely resonate with you. But if you’re after a page-turning thriller, you may find yourself disappointed by how slowly it moves.