Daniel, an Irish expat living in the US, is walking the Camino to Santiago de Compostela, the way of the pilgrim for hundreds of years. The Camino is a test of the body, mind and soul, as Daniel is coming to learn. In his knapsack, Daniel carries the ashes of his beloved wife Petra, who died slowly and agonizingly from cancer. In his heart, Daniel carries the guilt and grief over Petra's final moments and his role in them. While on the Camino, word spreads about a woman who went missing from the trail under suspicious circumstances.

Daniel commences a prickly and difficult friendship with a young woman on the trail named Ginny. Ginny is from California, and is doggedly determined to reach Santiago, even more than most pilgrims for some reason. She and Daniel walk together, occasionally discussing many things but also in companionable silence, and ultimately arguing and clashing. Then they both see horrific sights of a creature following them closely, one that carries the stench of rot and death. Why is the creature dogging their footsteps? Is she truly there or is Daniel succumbing to the exhaustion and mental torture of the Camino and his own guilt?

This was a page-turner, and because I had heard nothing about it previously, it took me utterly by surprise. At times, I found myself holding my breath, both fascinated and freaked out! I have long since wanted to walk the Camino, but having read this, I would think twice about doing it alone.

Fantastic book and I cannot wait to read more from this author.