Warning Signs by Tracy Sierra @tsierraauthor @tsierraauthor.bsky.social @michael.l.crouch @prhaudio @prhaudio.bsky.social #WarningSigns

the setup…
Zach is twelve years old and on a father-son backcountry ski weekend with his father Bram who has organized the trip for his top investors. His business is in trouble and Bram needs their continued financial support. Zach hopes this will be his chance to show his father his survival skills, taught to him by his mother Grace (a former ski rescue volunteer), and maybe get him to love him. But it soon becomes clear that the group is reckless when it comes to safety and Zach must face truths about his narcissistic father in order to stay alive.

the heart of the story…
The narrative is filtered through Zach’s eyes, a young boy who is desperate to earn his father’s love and approval, even though he knows the futility of that hope. Despite his age, he’s quite insightful but it’s hampered by his overwhelming need to see the fantasy of Bram, who’s a despicable human being, versus the reality. I found the parallels to be fascinating as Zach hears the expert training drilled into him by mother Grace versus the perilous decisions made by Bram and the sketchy men in the group.

the narration…
Michael Crouch delivers a strong performance, capturing the voice of young Zach without diminishing him and the underlying constant tension of the story.

the bottom line…
This is more a psychological thriller combined with literary fiction. The writing is exquisite and it takes some time to develop. The setting is strongly atmospheric, providing the perilous backdrop for Zach to see and experience his awful father more clearly and distinctly, fighting against a child’s natural instinct to love a parent who hasn’t earned it. I loved how his mother’s voice was just as strong a presence, helping him save his own life. I’m not crazy about the ending but in retrospect, it fits the story rather perfectly.

Book Info

• Release Date: February 10, 2026
• Narrator: Michael Crouch
• Audio Length: 10 hours, 9 minutes
• Publisher: Penguin Audio

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