Burn: A novel By Peter Heller

In Burn, the latest novel from the bestselling author of The Dog Stars, Jess and Storey, lifelong friends, are thrust into a dystopian nightmare after a routine hunting trip in rural Maine. For years, they’ve escaped into the wilderness, their bond strengthened by shared silences and the rituals of the wild. This time, however, their retreat coincides with a country on the brink, as secession movements spread like wildfire across the states, igniting chaos and violence.

Unaware of the extent of the turmoil, Jess and Storey emerge from weeks off the grid to find a world transformed. The small town they stumble upon is a wasteland of destruction: bridges are blown apart, buildings reduced to ash, and bombed-out vehicles litter the roads. The men are forced to confront the grim reality that the conflict has reached even the most remote corners of the country. With no clear understanding of who is friend or foe, they embark on a treacherous journey home, dragging a wagon through desolate landscapes, scavenging for supplies, and avoiding armed factions—whether they belong to the secessionists or the U.S. military, they cannot tell.

As they navigate this new reality, the bonds of their friendship are tested, and a shocking discovery upends their plans, raising the stakes of their escape. Burn is both a harrowing tale of survival in a fractured nation and a poignant exploration of the enduring connections that sustain us in times of crisis. It’s a searing warning about the dangers of division and a tribute to the unbreakable ties of chosen family, even at the edge of doom.