What happened to Justin Shettler, a 30-something adventure, disappeared in the mountains of India?

Harley-Rostad will be here to talk about lost in the valley of death, a story of obsession

and danger in the Himalayas.

And what would happen if the state could penalize mothers for not being good enough parents?

Jasmine Chan will join us to talk about her best-selling novel, The School for Good Mothers.

Alexander Alter will be here to talk about what's going on in the publishing world.

Plus, my colleagues and I will talk about what we're reading.

This is the Bookerview Podcast for the New York Times.

It's February 11th.

I'm Pamela Paul.

Harley-Rostad joins us now from Toronto. He is the author of Big Lonely Doug, The Story of

One of Canada's last great trees, and his latest book is called Lost in the Valley of Death,

a story of obsession and danger in the Himalayas.

Harley, thanks so much for being here.

Thanks so much for having me.

Let's start with the key figure in your book.

Who was Justin Alexander Shettler?

So Justin was a 35-year-old American traveler who arrived in India in the summer of 2016.

And unlike a lot of travelers who visit that country, he wasn't immediately drawn to places

like the Taj Mahal or the beaches of Goa, but to the mountains, to the Himalayas.

And this one tiny corner specifically called the Parvati Valley, which is named after

the Hindu goddess of love and devotion.

...