Oblivion Road by Alex MacAulay

This is actually the second time I’ve read this book, but I decided to pull it off the shelves again because the weather here in good old Chicago land is pretty similar to the setting of Alex MacAulay’s third book.
Courtney Stanton thinks she's on just another ski trip with her friends -- until a horrific car accident strands them all on an isolated Colorado road during a blizzard. Frightened but alive, Courtney and her companions discover an abandoned vehicle nearby, and seek help. But the vehicle turns out to be a prison van, with the inmates missing, and the guard's dead body in the front seat. Soon after, a stumbling figure emerges from the snow, a handcuffed refugee from the van. He says he's been in prison for selling meth, but that he once served in the army. Dare they trust him? He pleads innocence about the guard's murder, warns them about the other fugitives, and promises he will help guide them out of the wilderness. But as the group begins a nightmare trek across the frozen landscape, they start to get the feeling he hasn't told them the entire truth, and someone -- or something -- is secretly watching their every move.

Survival stories have always been a favorite of mine, so I was so glad when I discovered MacAulay’s writing and his specialty of being stranded and having to survive. The suspense and non-stop action keep you on the edge of your seat. Although the writing can seem a bit amateurish at times, the ingenious plot and suspense make up for it. I could feel the characters pain as they battled dehydration, hypothermia, hungry wolves, and convicted killers. Overall, Oblivion Road is another hit from MacAulay, and a great read for those cold winter days. So grab a warm blanket and some hot chocolate and be thankful you’re safe and sound in your house while reading this book!