This Wretched Valley by Jenny Kiefer is a gripping survival horror novel that follows the story of four climbers who venture into the Kentucky wilderness to explore an untouched cliff face. The novel takes a dark turn when seven months later, three bodies are discovered in various states of decay, with one climber, Dylan, still missing. The plot unfolds with a mix of suspense, violence, and psychological exploration as the characters face dire situations in the isolated and unsettling forest setting. Despite the gruesome discoveries and warnings from locals, the climbers press on, leading to a chilling and mysterious narrative that keeps readers on edge. Jenny Kiefer’s debut novel has been praised for its atmospheric writing, character development, and ability to immerse readers in a tale that blurs the lines between reality and horror

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Extract

What baffled them was the skeleton. The other bodies were weird, but they couldn’t figure out the fucking skeleton. Just bones, no soft tissue: Not one scrap of skin left. No sinews, no rotting brain, no nothing. The bones were arranged together, each one of the two hundred six in its place, a kneecap hidden by new fall leaves. Had the group resorted to cannibalism? It was one of the early guesses. But even that did not seem to fit. The bones wouldn’t be so clean, arranged perfectly, as if they belonged to a knocked - over classroom display, sans bolts. There were no scorch marks, no scratches or other signs of instruments, and surely any form of cannibalism that left such a pristine skeleton behind would have required at the very least a blade to peel the flesh. And besides, the group had been experienced hikers. (…)

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