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Turnback Ridge
" Turnback Ridge is a triumph; a timely, terrifying thriller..." —KAREN DIONNE A literary thriller set in a near-future Alaska in which global warming and immigration policy are wreaking havoc on lives and land.
In the wake of his wife's mysterious disappearance, Nash Preston is trying to hold his family together. As the Alaska summer heats up, he ignores his expired visa—and now immigration bounty hunters are after him as he flees for the border with his sons. Their already fraught journey takes an alarming turn when his youngest, Robbie, picks up a mysterious fossil that makes him sick. When his boys are snatched and taken to a sinister detention facility, he must find a way to save them.
Turnback Ridge engages with current and complex issues such as changes to immigration policy and attitudes, climate crisis, and the danger of the potential monetization of climate solutions. Fast-paced and thought-provoking, it expands upon the growing trend of literary fiction that embraces the tropes of genre fiction to examine climate change—such as Alex DiFrancesco's All City or Waubgeshig Rice's Moon of the Crusted Snow .
In the wake of his wife's mysterious disappearance, Nash Preston is trying to hold his family together. As the Alaska summer heats up, he ignores his expired visa—and now immigration bounty hunters are after him as he flees for the border with his sons. Their already fraught journey takes an alarming turn when his youngest, Robbie, picks up a mysterious fossil that makes him sick. When his boys are snatched and taken to a sinister detention facility, he must find a way to save them.
Turnback Ridge engages with current and complex issues such as changes to immigration policy and attitudes, climate crisis, and the danger of the potential monetization of climate solutions. Fast-paced and thought-provoking, it expands upon the growing trend of literary fiction that embraces the tropes of genre fiction to examine climate change—such as Alex DiFrancesco's All City or Waubgeshig Rice's Moon of the Crusted Snow .
221 pages, Paperback
Published October 25, 2022
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Displaying 1 - 6 of 6 reviews
January 11, 2023
Well, I won't say it is the worst piece of literature to read. It was stagnant with the progression of events, it mostly focused on the immigration policies and suddenly very close minded cruel population. Racist automatically to anyone colored, an odd idea in Fairbanks considering the population consists of many natives not to mention many many immigrants. In the end just a lot of extremist views in a science fiction novel. I didn't like the protagonist, and no one was likeable. No one really developed in their characters or relationships much. The detainees were simply trying to free themselves and anyone who wasn't a detainee was automatically an evil brut who couldn't muster up civility or humanity.
Not that I don't see there is racism and sexism and evils of many breeds in humanity. But this was so unbelievable that it bored me. Every avenue was colored with malentent.
It's just that it was too far off from the reality. The idea was interesting, the sickness presented. But it fell short under the avalanche of anti American, racial disparity and hint of white hate and hate to police officers.
But if you are an extremist in these views and share the same ideals then it could be your book! I like the idea of the "spore" laying dormant and its release. The ending was an interesting perspective, I quite liked the drop off. Just sorry I couldn't enjoy the journey to it anymore.
Not that I don't see there is racism and sexism and evils of many breeds in humanity. But this was so unbelievable that it bored me. Every avenue was colored with malentent.
It's just that it was too far off from the reality. The idea was interesting, the sickness presented. But it fell short under the avalanche of anti American, racial disparity and hint of white hate and hate to police officers.
But if you are an extremist in these views and share the same ideals then it could be your book! I like the idea of the "spore" laying dormant and its release. The ending was an interesting perspective, I quite liked the drop off. Just sorry I couldn't enjoy the journey to it anymore.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
August 15, 2023
Perhaps appropriately, I read this gripping novel while backpacking in Gates of the Arctic National Park.
A caveat: as a climate change researcher, a biologist, and long-time resident of Fairbanks Alaska, I may be a little too close to the subject matter to fairly judge this piece of near-future speculative fiction. Moreover, I am not usually a reader of edge-of-your-seat thrillers. Nonetheless, I enjoyed the descriptions of familiar roads and landmarks, was unnerved by the not-entirely-hypothetical political situation driving the action, and happily suspended disbelief about some scientific aspects of the story.
The characters felt not only believable but also complex and empathy-inspiring, traits not always found in fast-paced dramas. I cared about the pressing issues at hand, but also about the relationships among the dad, his son, his step-son, and his missing wife.
Without giving too much away, I'll note that I found the ending rather rushed, with more loose ends than I might have preferred -- although I dislike overly tidy endings, too. Nonetheless, this novel was well worth its weigh in my backpack!
A caveat: as a climate change researcher, a biologist, and long-time resident of Fairbanks Alaska, I may be a little too close to the subject matter to fairly judge this piece of near-future speculative fiction. Moreover, I am not usually a reader of edge-of-your-seat thrillers. Nonetheless, I enjoyed the descriptions of familiar roads and landmarks, was unnerved by the not-entirely-hypothetical political situation driving the action, and happily suspended disbelief about some scientific aspects of the story.
The characters felt not only believable but also complex and empathy-inspiring, traits not always found in fast-paced dramas. I cared about the pressing issues at hand, but also about the relationships among the dad, his son, his step-son, and his missing wife.
Without giving too much away, I'll note that I found the ending rather rushed, with more loose ends than I might have preferred -- although I dislike overly tidy endings, too. Nonetheless, this novel was well worth its weigh in my backpack!
March 29, 2026
I hated every second of this!
I'm sorry my community college gave me this book for free so who can say no to free book!!
Idk I felt so disconnected from the characters! The plot to me was just all over place! Characters were mentioned that felt had nothing to do with the story? I felt the plot could have been more inclusive to the culture it took place in. (This book mostly takes place in Alaska and Canada and I felt they could have added some type of folklore of the native people of that place? Something more you know fitting!) I wasn't in love with the dystopian vibe especially since the characters eat at a Chinese restaurant and complain China is really bad in the story? Also I felt the relationships felt one dimensional! There was no real twist! I just didn't care about anything I this! I didn't care if they lived or died I just wanted this to end!
2 stars ⭐
I'm sorry my community college gave me this book for free so who can say no to free book!!
Idk I felt so disconnected from the characters! The plot to me was just all over place! Characters were mentioned that felt had nothing to do with the story? I felt the plot could have been more inclusive to the culture it took place in. (This book mostly takes place in Alaska and Canada and I felt they could have added some type of folklore of the native people of that place? Something more you know fitting!) I wasn't in love with the dystopian vibe especially since the characters eat at a Chinese restaurant and complain China is really bad in the story? Also I felt the relationships felt one dimensional! There was no real twist! I just didn't care about anything I this! I didn't care if they lived or died I just wanted this to end!
2 stars ⭐
January 17, 2024
I am not a fan of dystonia novels, and Turin Ridge was no exception. Much of the book was depressing. I almost stopped reading it. The ending did not provide closure to many of the issues. Finally, I did not find parts of the story believable.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
June 6, 2025
A fast-paced dystopian mystery with a bit of sci-fi & a sprinkling of the current political climate. In Alaska. What more could we need?
Displaying 1 - 6 of 6 reviews