Title: The Beaten Track
Author: Louise Mangos
ISBN: 9783952592724
Publisher: Mana Publishing
Pages: 317
Source: Private Copy
Sandrine is in Nepal on a round-the-world backpacking trip when she finds out she is pregnant, the result of a romantic fling on a tropical island beach several weeks before. She searches for the father in vain. When a man who has become obsessed with her on a Himalayan trek shockingly takes his life, she returns home to Switzerland to heal amongst her family and prepare for the arrival of her baby.
A few months after the birth of Kai, she meets handsome Scott, who offers her love, security, and all she and her new baby could ever wish for. But the trauma of the darker side of her travels comes back to her, and she realises her nightmare is only just beginning.
How can she escape the horror she now finds herself in, and how far will she go to protect her new family?
Official Summary
20 August 2025
After reading The Girl in the Doorway last month, I was eager to read more from Louise Mangos and managed to get my hands on a copy of The Beaten Track. If you have a daughter planning to travel, you may want to skip this one. This story will make it very difficult. The Beaten Track takes you on a journey that begins with wanderlust and ends in a gripping battle for survival, blending travel drama, psychological tension, and emotional depth.
Sandrine’s solo backpacking trip is meant to be an adventure of freedom and discovery. But when she discovers she’s pregnant after a fleeting island romance, her travels take a complicated turn. Her search for the father is fruitless, and a disturbing incident on a Himalayan trek — culminating in a fellow traveller’s shocking suicide — leaves her shaken. Returning home to Switzerland, she focuses on preparing for life with her baby, Kai.
For a while, it seems as though she’s found stability. Scott, a charming and dependable man, offers her the love and security she craves for herself and her son. Yet the shadows of her past begin to resurface, and Sandrine realises the dangers she thought she’d left behind have followed her home. The suspense tightens as she’s forced to confront old fears and make impossible choices to protect her family.
Louise Mangos writes with vivid detail, bringing both the beauty and danger of global travel to life. The early chapters capture the thrill of exploration, while the later ones build a claustrophobic tension that keeps you hooked. Sandrine is a relatable and resilient protagonist, her strength tested as the narrative shifts from exotic landscapes to a chilling domestic suspense.
The Beaten Track is not just a story about the dangers encountered abroad, but about how past traumas can echo into the present — and the lengths a mother will go to keep her child safe. It’s tense, atmospheric, and emotionally charged, perfect for readers who enjoy thrillers rooted in personal stakes and a strong sense of place.
Also by Louise Mangos
THE GIRL IN THE DOORWAY
Will rescuing a homeless student be his greatest mistake? When bookseller James meets homeless student Emma on a London street, the attraction is instant. But after a magical Christmas break in the Swiss Alps, they return to find his flat has been burgled, and the police want to question James about the suspicious death of another homeless person.
As he and his friend Sally chase clues from the West End of London to the snow-laden mountains of Switzerland to solve the mystery of his stolen antique books and family heirlooms, James is forced to ask himself whether he has been desperately unlucky, blinded by love, or worse.
About the Author
Author bio from the author’s site
Louise Mangos grew up in the UK but has spent more than half her life in Switzerland. Her debut psychological suspense, Strangers on a Bridge, was a finalist in the Exeter.
Novel Prize and long-listed for the Bath Novel Award. She has published three further psychological suspense novels – The Art of Deception, The Beaten Track (gold medallist in the Global Book Awards) and Five Fatal Flaws (shortlisted in the Page Turner Awards).
She lives in the foothills of the Alps with her Kiwi husband and two sons. When she’s not writing, you can find her on the cross-country ski trails or wild swimming in the lake by her home, depending on the season.
Louise also writes historical fiction as L.S.Mangos and short fiction, which has won prizes and been published in more than twenty print anthologies. She holds a Masters in Crime Writing from the University of East Anglia.
This book had me flipping pages late into the night. I loved the tension and atmosphere. If you are looking for a book that takes you around the world, this is it. I hope you enjoy it. Until next time… Happy Reading!
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