The woods are not what the seem

Author : Blake Crouch
Title : Pines
Published : 21/08/2012
Pages : 315
Format : Kindle
Publisher : Thomas & Mercer






     Secret service agent Ethan Burke arrives in Wayward Pines, Idaho, with a clear mission: locate and recover two federal agents who went missing in the bucolic town one month earlier. But within minutes of his arrival, Ethan is involved in a violent accident. He comes to in a hospital, with no ID, no cell phone, and no briefcase. The medical staff seems friendly enough, but something feels…off.

     So the pines book is one that I've been meaning to read for a long time. I remember watching the first few episodes of the t.v show before finding out it was based on a book. Well I stopped watching the show not that far in and the book got lost along the way lines as well. Now the concept always seemed interesting to me. Some where along the lines of twin peaks. Which is one of my favourite show (At lest for a season and a half). So an amnesiac secret service agent trying to find his missing partner and a town doing everything it can to stop him. What more could you ask for.

     So the hero of our story is Secret service agent Ethan Burke. Blake dose a fairly decent job of giving us the disgruntled federal agent. He's not quiet at the bitter and cynical stages of some one who's been in the job a long time. The thing is you can see he's well on his way to become that. But I think push comes to shove the author has created a charter that would have your back in a fight. Now along the way he does get some help from at least one of the locals Beverly. She in her self tying to solve the mystery of what is truly going on in Wayward Pines. The supporting charters jump of the page mostly duty to the slightly over the top actions. Whilst the are all well written its not like these are people you are going to meet every day.  They all play their parts hero's and villain's very well. And unlike most crime thrillers these defiantly play the part of the theatrical villain.

     Blake's writing is quick and light. He is great at building the tension through out the book. He is Constantly  adding to Burke's torment. He also like to given into moments of disgusting horror describing actions taken against our hero's. Overall I think he's written a well. In some ways it reminds me of early X-files epsidos before it all got bogged down. The show not the book. I also enjoyed the blending of genres which the author seems to do so well. A splash of mystery a dollop of horror and a sprinkling of sci-fi. These all add up to creating an interesting world to explore.   

     Pines gave me everything is promised me it would. A bizarre tale set in small town America. The over tones of twin peaks are there for every one to see. the author him self even accnkoldges this at the end of the novel. For if not for that show this would not exist. I spent and enjoyable weekend with this not that it will take you that long to get through. At 315 pages this is one you can enjoy in an evening or two. For me it gave a little respite in my usual reading. Something to keep you guessing up to the end. What is real going on in Wayward Pines. Give it a go and found the secret out for your self.