Title: Return to Dyatlov Pass

Release date: March 12, 2018

In the interview I featured yesterday, I suggested that ‘Return to Dyatlov Pass’ is the gateway book for many people discovering J.H. Moncrieff. This was the case for me.

I was newer to using Goodreads and interacting with more people on Instagram and Twitter and kept seeing that amazing cover everywhere. So, I snagged it, read it and was blown away.

Of all the reviews I’ve ever posted, this is the only review I regret. Why? I only gave this book four stars and I wasn’t very confident at trying to formulate my thoughts. So, I gave it a ‘negative’ which when I think back on it, it really wasn’t. Here’s my original review posted July 9, 2018;

“Great read!

This was a fun thriller, set in a fantastic place. If you dont know any of the back story of Dyatlov Pass, dont let that prevent you from reading this!

The characters are intriguing and engaging!

My only negative about this story – it felt very rushed in places. I think if it was another 50 pages longer, to allow some of the scenes to play out a bit more, this would be a 5 star read!”

Sigh.

Look, ‘Return to Dyatlov Pass’ is a book I knew was a five star read. I haven’t stopped talking about it. Hell, I probably recommend this book to someone at least once a week, if not more.

The story follows a podcast host, Nat McPherson who travels back to Dyatlov Pass to try and determine what happened all those years ago. Not familiar with Dyatlov Pass? Well, Google it! There are a number of theories out there over what happened to cause nine Russian students, all very experienced outdoors people, to end up deceased.

Moncrieff has also penned a fantastic story related to ‘Return to Dyatlov Pass’ which was featured in the amazing anthology ‘Hellhole: An Anthology of Subterranean Terror.’

I think, at the end of the day, why this one resonates so well is the fascination with Dyatlov Pass coupled with the adventure/survival story that happens with Nat and her crew. This becomes a really fantastic creature-feature, one that will leave a mark and keep you on the edge of your toes. When I think back now on how much fun I had reading this, I wish I would’ve followed my gut and gave it the 5 stars it deserves and not cared what anyone else thought. For me personally, I don’t reserve rating a book 5 stars specifically for books that are revered in classical literary history. I give them for books that had me turning the pages frantically, have me on the edge of my seat or have my legs tucked up and the blankets wrapped around to ward off the monsters.

In this case, ‘Return to Dyatlov Pass’ is a book that rampages through the frozen wilderness in deepest darkest reaches of the Dead Mountain.

I highly recommend you give it a read and while you’re at it, check out Moncrieff’s great story in the ‘Hellhole’ anthology as well!