Author Zoje Stage takes a departure from motherhood and the supernatural in her novel “Getaway,” a thriller where the Grand Canyon reigns supreme.

Imogen and Beck are sisters who backpack into the wilderness of the Canyon with Tilda, a former best friend whom they haven’t been in touch with since their inseparable days in high school. Early in the story, Stage alludes to “The Thing,” which occurred in college — an event that somehow sliced the trio into pieces that were never able to fit together again until this unexpected trip.

Stage cleverly weaves in psychology and a knowledge of the power dynamics between sisters, as Imogen and Beck flashback to fond memories of backpacking together with their parents but also episodes of danger when parents become lost or were ill-prepared.

Overlaying the internal is the more concrete danger of a stranger on the periphery. He leaves behind scraps of evidence (a granola bar wrapper, the flare of a lighter at night), informing them they are no longer alone and that his intentions might not be in their best interest.

As the days progress, the uncertainty of the mysterious traveler’s agenda begins to infect the girls, feeding on their paranoia and unaddressed issues they grapple with at home and with each other. Soon it becomes clear that their paths will intersect with the stranger’s. What remains murky is whether the interaction will allow them to continue as they are, both as backpackers and old friends who have somehow lost their way.

Stage skillfully integrates current events into the narrative. The girls seek an unplugged vacation for individual reasons: Tilda is a social media influencer who uses the trip for its posting opportunities. Imogen, battling isolation and despair after being involved with the recent shooting of a synagogue, wishes to reconnect with her sister and friend. And Beck, the steady, reliable older sister, has an ulterior motive for bringing the three of them into the middle of nowhere — one that is well-meaning but turns into something she didn’t bargain for.

Overseeing the mayhem and bloodshed that results, the Grand Canyon remains a stoic entity — offering beauty and peaceful escape from humanity, but also presenting dangerous challenges that no one, not even the mysterious stranger anticipates.

Zoje Stage’s “Getaway” is the perfect summer read for outdoor enthusiasts seeking complex characters and a thriller that’s difficult to put down.

This week’s bestsellers from Publishers Weekly

HARDCOVER FICTION

1. “Camino Ghosts” by John Grisham

2. “You Like It Darker” by Stephen King

3. “The Women” by Kristin Hannah

4. “Funny Story” by Emily Henry

5. “Southern Man” by Greg Iles

6. “Iron Flame” by Rebecca Yarros

7. “Heavenbreaker” by Sara Wolf

8. “Mind Games” by Nora Roberts

9. “The 24th Hour” by Patterson/Paetro

10. “Think Twice” by Harlan Coben

HARDCOVER NONFICTION

1. “The Demon of Unrest” by Erik Larson

2. “The Anxious Generation” by Jonathan Haidt

3. “Good Energy” by Casey Means

4. “Cheaper, Faster, Better” by Tom Steyer

5. “What This Comedian Said Will Shock You” by Bill Maher

6. “The End of Everything” by Victor Davis Hanson

7. “Millionaire Mission” by Brian Preston

8. “The Situation Room” by George Stephanopoulos

9. “An Unfinished Love Story” by Doris Kearns Goodwin

10. “Bits and Pieces” by Whoopi Goldberg