Breathless

From down here at base camp it’s hard to imagine how the view must be from the summit of Manaslu, the mountain of the spirit, the eighth-highest mountain with 8,163 meters. It must be spectacular, an experience Cecily will never forget and much more. How far would you go for a good story, even at a height of over eight thousand meters? A place where the conditions are so hard that even experienced mountaineers have to place every step with care. For some on the team, reaching the summit is more of a tick on a to-do list but for Cecily, it means much more. With this expedition, she wants to finally prove that she is a capable woman. From one base to the next, always higher up their strength and endurance are being put under a lot of pressure, that high up life and death are very close. The higher up the team comes, the more challenging it gets and soon Cecily is fighting to survive. The author is an experienced mountaineer herself, therefore the mountaineering processes are very detailed and informative. I think many parts profited from her knowledge, which made the story more vivid and real. To add the Guide’s beliefs and traditions are very fitting for the story. It also gives more information about how the tribes there live and how they are affected by their work. Some parts were very chilling and horrible to read, especially when you think that this happens up there in that cold and height. I had an idea of how this story might end, but I was far off, the ending completely blew me away. Very interesting, the setting transforms this crime novel into something unique with a touch of reality. Recommended to crime lovers and mountaineering aficionados.