Micro-Review #141: Lost in the Valley of Death

by Harley Rustad

Justin Shetler is one of those people who has the ability to succeed at anything. He’s smart and athletically gifted, but he’s also restless. He desires, seeks—needs—ultimate meaning, and expects to find it. Think Somerset Maugham’s Larry Darrell without the Platonic virtue of temperance.

An expert survivalist and chronic world traveler, Justin bounces from country to country, traversing rugged trails, meeting the natives, and throwing himself into the religions. He ends up in India, in a Himalayan valley where foreigners tend to go missing. His problems in the valley are perhaps predictable, but also compelling. Thanks to a brilliantly researched and laser-focused narrative from journalist Rustad, his story is every bit as vivid as anything written by his more popular contemporary Jon Krakauer. Consider this true story unputdownable.

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