Title: Wicked River
Author: Jenny Milchman
Published: May 2018, Sourcebooks Landmark
Format: ARC E-copy, 464 pages
Source: Netgalley
Summary:
Six million acres of
Adirondack forest separate Natalie and Doug Larson from civilization.
For the newlyweds, an isolated, back country honeymoon seems ideal: a
chance to start their lives together with an adventure, on their own.
But just as Natalie and Doug begin to explore the dark interiors of
their own hearts, as well as the depths of their love for each other, it
becomes clear that they are not alone in the woods.
Because six million acres makes it easy for the wicked to hide. And even easier for someone to go missing for good.
As they struggle with the worst the wilderness has to offer, a man
watches them, wielding the forest like a weapon. And once they are near
his domain, he will do everything in his power to make sure they never
walk out again.
My thoughts: I’m a huge fan of Jenny Milchman’s books and so of course, I jump at any chance to read what she writes. I find she can craft one heck of a dark, twisty thriller and this latest one certainly delivers on all accounts – and let me just say, I definitely won’t be heading out to the wilderness or on any camping trips any time soon!
One of the things I love about Jenny’s books is just how fast she can get your adrenaline pumping. I for one am not really of the outdoorsy, adventure kind of vacation people, and you certainly would never find me taking a honeymoon where I have to do any kind of physical labor – other than lifting a drink to my lips and picking up my next read 🙂 – so right away, I was a bit on edge when Natalie and Doug went off on their honeymoon in the woods.
This book is jam-packed with action. Once Doug and Natalie start off on their adventure, it seems that one mishap after another befalls them, and ever so slowly we start to see how this affects them both individually as well as a couple. We also learn about Kurt, a psychopath who now lives in the woods after his group deserted him. As Doug and Natalie edged closer and closer to Kurt’s camp, I found the tension amping up, not knowing what might happen next. And then there’s Mia, Natalie’s teenage niece, who becomes quite important in realizing that Natalie and Doug are in danger. The chapters that focused on Kurt and Mia added to an already tense book and really got my heart thumping.
This book had me flipping pages at a break-neck speed. Like I already mentioned, I may not be the out-doorsy, adventurous type of person myself, but that doesn’t mean I can’t enjoy a book where the characters partake in these activities. All along, I felt as if I were right there with these characters…and there was some anxiety-ridden, paranoia going on while reading this – but all in good fun, let me tell you! This is why I love reading Jenny Milchman’s books – she does dark, wicked good suspense in the outdoors and I love it!!!
