The Cartographer of Souls

A grieving traveler on a winter road, a map of the soul he’s afraid to follow—for readers of Peace Like a River, This Tender Land, and The Midnight Library who crave quiet, lyrical fiction about loss and finding their way back to light.

When Daniel Hart drives through the frozen backroads of northern Minnesota, he isn’t sure what he’s running from—or toward. But as the snow deepens, he begins to meet people who quietly reshape his life: a bridge tender who refuses to give up on hope, a diner owner who trades warmth for stories, and a retired teacher who forgives in small, practical ways.

Each encounter becomes a point on a living map, pulling Daniel from grief toward something resembling peace. Through loss, silence, and simple acts of kindness, he begins to understand that we never really find our way alone.

The Cartographer of Souls is a luminous, deeply human novel about how we navigate heartbreak, redemption, and the fragile beauty of everyday grace. Set against a landscape of pine and ice, it reminds us that every soul—no matter how lost—can still be found.

Fans of Paulo Coelho, Mitch Albom, and Anthony Doerr will be moved by its quiet power and poetic heart.