Terri Jentz Boeken

In the summer of 1977, Terri Jentz and her Yale roommate, Shayna Weiss, embark on a cross-country bike trip, camping in central Oregon's desert. One night, a man in a pickup truck deliberately runs over their tent and attacks them with an ax. The brutal incident makes headlines nationwide, but no one is arrested. Both women survive, yet Shayna suffers amnesia, leaving Terri alone with haunting memories, which shatter their friendship. Fifteen years later, Terri returns to the small town where the attack occurred, determined to uncover the truth behind the crime that changed her life. Through extensive interviews with locals, she discovers that many believe they know the perpetrator, who still lives among them. As Terri investigates the crime and its lasting impact, she confronts her own trauma and the community's unresolved pain. Her journey leads her to face the alleged assailant, revealing a chilling portrait of a psychopath and exploring themes of violence and the myth of American individualism. This powerful narrative is a gripping account of Terri's quest for truth, healing, and hope, promising to be a significant conversation starter in contemporary literature.