Title: The River at Night
Author: Erica Ferencik
Date finished: 3/10/17
Genre: Fiction, thriller
Publisher: Gallery/Scout Press
Publication Date: January 10, 2017
Pages in book: 304
Stand alone or series: Stand alone
Where I got the book from: NetGalley NOTE: I received this book for free from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. This in no way affected my opinion of the book, or the content of my review.
Blurb from the cover:
A high-stakes drama set against the harsh beauty of the Maine wilderness, charting the journey of four friends as they fight to survive the aftermath of a white water rafting accident, The River at Night is a nonstop and unforgettable thriller by a stunning new voice in fiction.
Winifred Allen needs a vacation.
Stifled by a soul-crushing job, devastated by the death of her beloved brother, and lonely after the end of a fifteen-year marriage, Wini is feeling vulnerable. So when her three best friends insist on a high-octane getaway for their annual girls’ trip, she signs on, despite her misgivings.
What starts out as an invigorating hiking and rafting excursion in the remote Allagash Wilderness soon becomes an all-too-real nightmare: A freak accident leaves the women stranded, separating them from their raft and everything they need to survive. When night descends, a fire on the mountainside lures them to a ramshackle camp that appears to be their lifeline. But as Wini and her friends grasp the true intent of their supposed saviors, long buried secrets emerge and lifelong allegiances are put to the test. To survive, Wini must reach beyond the world she knows to harness an inner strength she never knew she possessed.
With intimately observed characters, visceral prose, and pacing as ruthless as the river itself, The River at Night is a dark exploration of creatures—both friend and foe—that you won’t soon forget.
My rating: 3.75 stars out of a scale of 5
My review: I was provided a free copy of this book in exchange for an honest and fair review. This book tells the story of four girl-friends who decide to go on a white-water rafting trip in the Maine wilderness. Wini, Pia, Rachel and Sandra get together one week every year to spend time together and catch up over lost time. Pia, ever the adventurer, is always looking for more reckless ways to test her meddle. She convinces her girl-friends to try out a rafting experience where they will get to fight their way along a river that has before then been untouched by man. But along the way, their guide Rory is killed and their raft is lost, leaving the women susceptible to the unflinching wilderness of Maine. While trying to find refuge, they come across an unexpected discovery that puts them in more danger than ever.
Overall I liked this book a lot. It was sad but also really interesting and scary. I was on the edge of my seat for most of the book and I didn’t want to put it down. The author did such an amazing job of making the hairs on the back of your neck stand on edge, putting you in the Maine wilderness and making you wonder if you’ll survive this trip. And I love the author’s view of the relationships in this novel. These women are pushed to the brink of their humanity and are left to make some hard decisions. This was a good read and I would definitely recommend.
The bottom line: I really liked this book a lot. It was interesting and kept the reader on the edge of their seat throughout the book. I would recommend it.
Click on the cover to go to the book’s Amazon page
Rebeccabookreview 