If you’d call yourself a survivalist, storm chaser, outdoorsperson, or if you’d like to read about people who are, these novels are for you. Nature can be a calm and welcoming landscape, and it can also be a treacherous terrain: desert climates can cause dehydration and host a variety of hostile animals; natural disasters like hurricanes, earthquakes, and tornadoes can strike fear into the hearts of locals; and mountain vistas can suddenly become swept up in avalanches or wildfires.
The characters in the novels on this list face these nature-related challenges and they fight for survival through the most extreme conditions. Their struggles can provide hope in dark times and showcase grit and determination.
For those who envision chasing storms and seeking adventure in the great outdoors, here are some books that can bring that adrenaline rush to your favorite reading chair.
The Fault Between Us
By Stephanie Landsem
Set in Yellowstone National Park, The Fault Between Us tells the story of three sisters whose bond has begun to unravel. As the sisters try to reconnect in this historical novel, the 1959 Hebgen Lake earthquake hits and suddenly the three women are fighting for their lives as the unprecedented natural disaster hits the park.
The car stopped, but . . . it was still shaking.
Bridget held on for dear life as the road buckled and swelled like ocean waves and a stand of trees on the hill fell with a terrific crash. Her body bounced like she was on a carnival ride. She caught a brief sight of the lake, choppy with white-tipped waves. Then . . . all was abruptly still.
A distant crash of stone against stone echoed in the dark.
Last Light Over Galveston
By Jennifer L. Wright
Before there could be storm chasers, there had to be a way to know a storm was coming. The historical novel Last Light Over Galveston explores the early days of the US Weather Bureau and focuses on events surrounding one devastating weather incident: the Galveston hurricane of 1900.
I trudged back to the orphanage, second-guessing myself with every step. The wind pressed against me, stronger now, roaring in my ears, the only sound loud enough to drown out the crashing of the waves—and the pounding of my own heart. I was overreacting; weathermen were wrong all the time. The beachfront flooded constantly. Storms were common.
Canyon of Deceit
By DiAnn Mills
DiAnn Mills moves from Houston to Guadalupe Mountains National Park in Canyon of Deceit, a contemporary romantic suspense novel. When a young girl goes missing, a wilderness survival expert and a Texas Ranger track her location to the national park, but need to find her before the elements or, worse, her kidnappers, overwhelm her.
“Nature can be a predator too. Loose rock, a gust of wind, mountain lion, black bear, or an unsuspecting snake can be deadly.” Blane had a lean and muscular body for his average height, which would be to his advantage. “Do you have experience hiking in the high desert?”
Gone Dark
By Ryan Steck
As Montana wildfires inch closer to town in this thriller, former Marine Raider and head of the local search and rescue team Matthew Redd is called in after a smoke jumping team has gone radio silent. In the fire zone, he realizes the team has been killed and a young boy has been left to fend for himself in the flames.
If the icy feel of winter is of interest, read Out for Blood, where a winter storm and avalanche complicate Redd’s pursuit of justice.
“Don’t breathe!” Redd shouted. The air temperature around them had become blast-furnace hot, and inhaling it would blister their lungs, suffocating them long before the flames could take them. “Hold your breath for a second and cover your mouth. Like this.” He buried his mouth and nose in the crook of his elbow.
If It Rains
By Jennifer L. Wright
Set during the Dust Bowl in 1930s Oklahoma, Kathryn and her sister Melissa are each at a crossroads in this historical novel. As Kathryn reluctantly leaves Oklahoma with her father and stepmother, a dust storm spells disaster for the trip. And Melissa is left to deal with drought and a husband who isn’t what he seems.
In front of us, the pale sky had turned black. A mountain of dirt rushed toward us. From here, its jagged peaks looked like teeth, giving the appearance of a beast, feeding on the very ground it prowled. The smell of spoiled earth hit first. All around us, the ground trembled, sending particles of dirt rolling for cover. There was nowhere to hide.
