A honeymoon couple from New York go on a camping trip in
upper NY State, but it turns into a nightmare. Getting lost
is one matter; Natalie and Doug are not that far from
civilisation. But the rugged country quickly injures them,
and someone with a vicious way of settling disputes has
been hiding out in the wilderness.
WICKED RIVER could as easily be wicked mountains or wicked
forest. However challenging, the countryside is neutral
towards people, but madman Kurt is not. No, Kurt has built
a survivalist shelter and traps, and he's picked off a
hiker who came too close. Now he's got a hankering for
company.
The story jumps rapidly among the many characters, which
I'm starting to see a lot in today's books, a sign perhaps of
a Twitter and social feed-filled life. We have to keep up
with each one in bite-size packages, even if we don't much
like them or care about what they are doing. Mia, the young
teen niece of Natalie, occupies a chunk of the book in this
way, simply in order to hint that some shady men are
interested in Doug. This just pads out the plot and shows
us some normal life, until Mia takes reckless action toward
the end of the account.
The issue of Natalie and Doug seems fogged over. Why
didn't Natalie know very much about her husband's early
years, and why didn't she ask him pertinent questions
before marriage? Like many a bride in the past, Natalie
wants Doug to be her leader and hero, so she comes across
as a simple personality until she starts standing up to
Doug about survival techniques. Doug was supposed to be
showing her how to canoe, hike and camp; he wasn't supposed
to get them lost without gear. Natalie does begin to emerge
as a stronger person full of determination and wits once
she makes her own decisions and learns from her
experiences.
Anyone who would enjoy a vivid suspense story about the
rugged Adirondacks should consider Jenny Milchman's book
WICKED RIVER. The author founded Take Your Child to a
Bookstore Day, which is a great recommendation, even if
this current thriller is not a book for children.
Six million acres of Adirondack forest separate Natalie and
Doug Larson from civilization. For the newlyweds, an
isolated backcountry honeymoon seems ideal-a chance to start
their lives together with an adventure. 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. He
wants something from them more terrifying than death. And
once they are near his domain, he will do everything in his
power to make sure they never walk out again.
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