Reviews

“A masterful telling ... O’Neil goes beyond the drama and tension of a bad decision in the backcountry with a heartbreaking exploration of the unique bonds forged in mountain towns and how the death of a beloved local concusses everyone in a small community. ” — Jason Blevins, The Colorado Sun

“Riveting.” — Durango Herald

“With both delicacy and solid reporting … a story of surprising depth and power.” — Booklist

“An arresting look at how lives go on when the media hype ends and the initial impact is over.” — Sandra Dallas, The Denver Post

“[The Way Out] will have you furiously flipping pages. … O’Neil does an exemplary job of putting an immensely relatable and human face on those decisions that put ourselves and others at risk, their aftermath, and the long path toward healing that follows.” — Durango Telegraph

“The Way Out is, most importantly, a tale of courage and spirit and survivor guilt as a community attempts to heal from the trauma. O’Neil never over-dramatizes, and his prose is clean and precise as he dissects what really happened on that fateful day.” — Jim Kelly, Air Mail (Editor’s Pick)

“On par with Into the Wild, The Way Out shows how a few bad decisions can turn a harmless outdoor adventure into a tragedy—and how its ripple effects can change lives and communities forever. Fast-paced, yet thoughtful and empathetic, all the way to its devastating conclusion, this psychological thriller will haunt me whenever I step off the pavement into the woods. I couldn’t stop reading it, and I can’t stop thinking about it.” — Bill Gifford, #1 New York Times bestselling coauthor of Outlive

"I found The Way Out to be both gripping and at the same time deeply moving. O’Neil masterfully unfolds a chilling adventure story while simultaneously probing the psychology of those who take heightened risks in outdoor adventures, the bonds that hold them together, and the trauma that unfolds when things go wrong. It all makes for a deeply immersive and rewarding reading experience." — Daniel James Brown, #1 New York Times bestselling author of The Boys in the Boat

"Devon O’Neil takes the 'wilderness survival story' to a new place. ... Though he might have written a quick version, O’Neil waited until people were ready to talk—years, in some cases—and the result is nuanced, thoughtful, and gripping, a book that will last." — Ted Conover, author of Cheap Land Colorado and Pulitzer Prize finalist Newjack

“A thoughtful, sorrowful page-turner about a tragedy that engulfed a Colorado town steeped in alpine sports and the ethos of risk and adrenalized adventure. It’s a tough story to tell, and O’Neil, a true mountain athlete who wisely interrogates the very things he loves, is just the right person to tell it.” — Hampton Sides, New York Times bestselling author of The Wide Wide Sea

"[A]n extraordinary work of narrative nonfiction that reads like a thriller but cuts deeper than fiction could. ... This is more than a story of survival, it's an unflinching examination of how we live with the unthinkable—and whether the mountains we love are worth the price we sometimes pay as a consequence." — Amanda M. Fairbanks, author of The Lost Boys of Montauk

"[T]he best anatomy of a mountain community I’ve read ... The Way Out will go on my shelf next to The Perfect Storm and Into Thin Air.” — Jon Billman, author of The Cold Vanish

"The Way Out is one of those rare books that will both entertain readers and save lives." — Jonathan Franklin, author of 438 Days

"O'Neil raises profound questions about the pursuit of adventure that linger long after the story ends." — Abe Streep, author of Brothers on Three

"[A]n uplifting story of family, community, survival, and the aftermath of loss that I simply couldn’t put down." — Roman Dial, author of The Adventurer's Son