Buckle up, buttercups, because we’re about to dive into Jenny Kiefer’s debut novel, This Wretched Valley. If you’re a fan of creepy wilderness horror, you’re in for a treat. And if you’re not, well, maybe this will scare you into becoming one. Kiefer’s book serves up a heaping portion of dread, terror, and just enough gore to keep your stomach churning long after you’ve closed the book.

So, picture this: You’re in the Kentucky wilderness. It’s cold, it’s dark, and your group is as lost as a fart in a fan factory. You’ve got Clay, a PhD student with a rock-hard (ha!) mission to discover a new cliff face using some fancy LIDAR technology for his dissertation. He ropes in his climbing buddy Dylan, who’s trying to make it big as a rock-climbing influencer with a shiny new sponsorship. Dylan brings along her boyfriend, Luke, and their dog, Slade. Completing the quartet is Sylvia, Clay’s research assistant. They’re all set to put their names on the map by climbing this untouched cliff face. What could possibly go wrong, right? Everything. Everything could go wrong.

Let’s get into the thick of it. These poor saps get to the wilderness and, surprise, surprise, the locals are like, “Nah, dude, you don’t want to go there. People don’t come back.” But of course, our fearless group is too smart to listen to these rustic warnings. They think, “We’ve got GPS! We’ve got modern technology! We’ll be fine!” Spoiler alert: they’re not fine. Not even close.

The creepy vibes start early with the dog, Slade. Now, let’s be real: if your dog, who usually loves the outdoors, starts acting like he’s seen the ghost of his doggy ancestors, you should pack it up and head home. But no, these geniuses decide to ignore Slade’s obvious distress and push on. The forest itself seems to have a mind of its own, and it’s not a friendly one. Paths start looping, the GPS goes haywire, and the air gets so thick with tension you could cut it with a butter knife.

Once they reach the cliff face, things go from bad to worse. Weird injuries, time distortions, and the kind of arguments that make you want to strangle your best friend with a climbing rope start piling up. It’s like the forest is playing its own twisted game of Survivor, and these four are the unwilling contestants. And let’s not forget the lovely addition of the valley’s history—filled with tales of hallucinations, rotting harvests, and good old-fashioned murder. It’s like the forest has a grudge against humanity, and these four are its latest targets.

The characters? Well, they’re exactly the type of people you’d expect to ignore every single red flag nature throws at them. Clay’s obsessed with his dissertation, Dylan’s got influencer fever, and Sylvia’s just trying to get through the trip without throttling anyone. Luke, poor guy, just wants to support his girlfriend and find his damn dog. They’re all ambitious and driven, which is usually great, except when you’re dealing with an evil forest that’s determined to chew you up and spit you out.

Kiefer does a bang-up job of building the tension and creating an atmosphere that’s both eerie and claustrophobic. The valley feels alive, a character with a malevolent intent that keeps you on edge. The dog’s gone missing, people are seeing things that shouldn’t be there, and injuries pile up faster than bad Tinder dates. And just when you think it can’t get worse, it does.

Now, let’s talk about the inspiration behind the madness: the Dyatlov Pass incident. If you’re not familiar, this is the 1959 event where nine Russian hikers died under mysterious and gruesome circumstances in the Ural Mountains. It’s got everything: unexplained injuries, missing body parts, and a whole lot of theories ranging from yeti attacks to government conspiracies (see the spoilers section later for more). Kiefer takes this real-life mystery and spins it into her own horror story, making you wonder just what the hell is lurking out there in the woods.

For all its strengths, This Wretched Valley does have a few bumps in the trail. The characters, while serviceable, aren’t exactly the type you’ll shed tears over. They’re more like horror movie fodder—there to scream, bleed, and make dumb decisions. The pacing can be a bit uneven at times, with some parts dragging on while others rush by in a blur of panic and confusion. And while the ambiguity of what exactly is haunting the valley adds to the terror, it can also leave you feeling like you’re missing a crucial piece of the puzzle.

But hey, if you’re here for the chills, the thrills, and the “what the hell just happened” moments, then this book delivers in spades. The gore is plentiful, the scares are well-executed, and the atmosphere is thick with dread. Kiefer knows how to make you squirm, and she doesn’t shy away from the grotesque. The scenes are visceral, with descriptions so vivid you’ll feel like you’re right there in the muck with the characters.

So, what’s the final verdict? This Wretched Valley is a solid entry into the wilderness horror genre. It’s got all the makings of a great scary story: an isolated setting, a group of ambitious yet oblivious characters, and an evil force that’s as relentless as it is mysterious. Kiefer’s writing is sharp, her pacing keeps you on edge, and the scares are real enough to make you reconsider that next camping trip. Just remember, always trust your dog. If he’s freaking out, it’s time to get the hell out of Dodge.

Quirk Books
Published January 16, 2024

Reading This Wretched Valley there are some clear inspirations from both horror cinema and life. The looping forest and the characters’ inability to escape from the woods definitely evokes The Blair Witch Project. The descent into madness of characters like Clay and, later, Luke paralleled that of Jack Torrence in The Shining. Finally, in an interview, Kiefer cited the Dyatlov Pass incident as inspiration, which was my first thought when the novel began with the discovery of three peculiar bodies, setting a mysterious and eerie tone.

Alright, folks, strap in because we’re about to take a wild ride through one of the most batshit insane mysteries out there—the Dyatlov Pass incident. This isn’t your grandma’s bedtime story; this is a freakin’ horror show in the middle of the goddamn Ural Mountains.

Back in January 1959, a group of ten Soviet hikers, led by Igor Dyatlov, decided it was a great idea to trek through the frozen hellscape of the Ural Mountains. These weren’t your weekend warriors; these were hardcore, vodka-chugging, snow-loving badasses from the Ural Polytechnical Institute. We’ve got Igor Dyatlov (the ringleader), Yuri Doroshenko, Lyudmila Dubinina, Yuri Krivonischenko, Alexander Kolevatov, Zinaida Kolmogorova, Rustem Slobodin, Nikolai Thibeaux-Brignolles, Semyon Zolotaryov, and Yuri Yudin (the smart one who bailed early due to illness).

Their mission? To conquer Otorten mountain, which, in the local Mansi language, translates to “Don’t even think about it, dipshit.” Seriously, the mountain’s nickname was “Dead Mountain.” That should’ve been their first clue.

Fast forward to February 1, 1959. The group sets up camp on the slopes of Kholat Syakhl. Instead of moving to a nice, cozy forested area nearby, they decide to camp on an exposed slope. Why? Because they were hardcore and maybe a little stupid. Their goal was to prove they were badasses. Spoiler alert: Nature didn’t give a damn and shit hits the fan.

When these guys didn’t show up on time, the alarm bells went off. Search teams were dispatched on February 20, and on February 26, they found something straight out of a horror movie: the group’s tent. It was half-buried in snow, torn to shreds, and—here’s the kicker—ripped open from the inside. Their boots, clothes, and gear were left behind like they were having a panic sale at a Soviet REI.

Searchers followed a trail of footprints leading into the woods, and what they found was more disturbing than a clown at a funeral. Here’s the rundown:

1. Krivonischenko and Doroshenko: Found under a cedar tree, in their underwear. Next to a failed campfire, because hypothermia is a bitch.
2. Dyatlov, Kolmogorova, and Slobodin: Found at different distances from the tree, all looking like they tried to crawl back to the tent.
3. Thibeaux-Brignolles, Dubinina, Zolotaryov, and Kolevatov: Found later under four meters of snow in a ravine. These folks were better dressed, because they probably snagged the clothes off their dead friends. Dubinina was missing her tongue, eyes, and some other important parts.

The autopsies revealed some Grade-A nightmare fuel:

• Hypothermia: For most, it was hypothermia that did them in.
• Blunt Force Trauma: Thibeaux-Brignolles had his skull bashed in, and Dubinina and Zolotaryov had chest injuries that would make a car crash jealous.
• Missing Parts: Dubinina’s tongue and eyes were MIA, probably snacked on by animals or something even worse.

Now, let’s dive into the batshit theories that have been swirling around this mess:

1. Avalanche: The official Soviet line was that an avalanche caused them to flee the tent. But seriously, there were no signs of an avalanche, just a whole lot of WTF.
2. Katabatic Winds: These badass winds might’ve scared the crap out of them, causing them to lose their minds and run.
3. Infrasound: Low-frequency sounds making them go bonkers. Yeah, nature’s creepy like that.
4. Military Tests: Some folks think the Soviets were up to their usual secretive shenanigans, testing parachute mines or radiation bombs. Fun fact: some of the hikers’ clothes had radiation on them.
5. Paradoxical Undressing: When you’re freezing to death, sometimes your brain says, “Hey, I’m hot,” and you strip down. Hypothermia, folks—it’s a real party.
6. Animal Attack: Sure, blame the bears or Yetis or whatever. No evidence, but it’s always a fun theory.
7. Aliens: Because why the hell not? Flying saucers, little green men—the whole sci-fi channel special.

The Soviets wrapped this case up with a bow labeled “Compelling natural force.” Which is just bureaucratic speak for “We have no fucking clue.” In 2020, they tried to put this to bed again, saying it was an avalanche. But come on, no one’s buying it.

The Dyatlov Pass incident remains one of those unsolved mysteries that keeps conspiracy theorists, horror enthusiasts, and bored Redditors up at night. With missing tongues, unexplained injuries, and a tent that looked like it got in a fight with a blender, it’s no wonder this story has legs. So, next time you’re thinking about a nice, relaxing trip to the mountains, maybe think twice. And always, always listen to the locals when they tell you the place is cursed.