The Foothills Of Fear

Whispers on the Alpine Breeze

The Foothills Of Fear plunges readers into the eerie calm of the Montreux foothills, where the snow-dusted pines conceal more than beauty. When a series of seemingly accidental deaths befalls patrons at the exclusive Chamonix Heights retreat, whispers of sabotage ripple through the frosty air. Guests—including high-powered executives, reclusive artists, and thrill-seeking tourists—find themselves trapped by a sudden blizzard, their only escape routes cut off by avalanches and treacherous ice. Against this backdrop of natural peril, John Creasey deftly weaves a tapestry of suspicion and dread, inviting readers to question whether the mountain itself—or something far more sinister—is stalking its victims.

Tracks in the Snow and Clues in the Dark

Dispatched under the guise of a winter expedition, intrepid investigative reporter Alex Marlowe arrives at Chamonix Heights hoping to uncover the truth behind the fatalities. Armed with little more than a notebook, a trusty camera, and an unshakable instinct for danger, Marlowe navigates the resort’s shadowy corridors and private chalets, hunting for hidden evidence. Each interview peels back a new layer of intrigue: a rival skier nursing bitter resentment, a chalet maid whose loyalties shift like the shifting drifts, and a hotel manager whose explanations slide away like melting ice. Creasey’s razor-sharp dialogue and pulse-pounding pacing ensure that every footprint in the snow could mark salvation—or doom.

Confrontation Beneath the Frozen Peaks

As the storm rages on and the body count rises, Marlowe realizes the true danger lies not in the unforgiving weather, but in a calculating mind that thrives on fear. Racing against time and dwindling supplies, she must decipher a coded warning scrawled in frost on a chalet window and unmask the perpetrator before nightfall seals everyone’s fate in a tomb of ice. In a heart-stopping climax set against the jagged silhouette of the Tsyrelov ridge, Marlowe confronts the mastermind in a blizzard-blasted showdown that tests her courage—and her very will to survive.

. John Creasey was a prolific British author and founder of the Crime Writers’ Association, acclaimed for his ingenious plots, memorable sleuths, and enduring contributions to the thriller genre. His prolific output continues to thrill readers with tales of suspense, ingenuity, and unrelenting adventure.