Published by Simon and Schuster on January 10th 2017
Genres: Contemporary Women, Fiction, Psychological, Suspense, Thrillers
Pages: 304
Format: eARC
Goodreads
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.
In all honesty, I had never heard of author, Erica Ferencik, but when I read the description of this book, The River at Night, I was very interested in reading the book.
Basically, the story is about four women who are long time friends that reconnect every year for a vacation, but this year they plan to go white water rafting off the grid in the Allagash wilderness in Maine, which is really out of character for most of them.
The heroine is Win who is ready for something different and has to overcome fear. Nex is Pia, who was once a downhill ski racer, then Rachel, who is an emergency room nurse who has also battled drinking addiction. Finally, there’s Sandra, a teacher, who suffers as an emotional hostage of her husband for 14 years. They are all ready for a change, but no one sees what’s up ahead.
The book starts out a little slow but once it gets going and Win gets over her reluctance to even GO on the trip, then the book picks up. The women are re-examining each of their own lives, figuring out exactly out where they belong in this world. Then they move on. Without disclosing too much of the story, they’re involved in an accident and they must find the will and the way to survive until they’re rescued. We discover what they are really made of and who they really are.
They come across a campfire site and they become hopeful of a rescue…..but is it rescue or is it evil. Since I don’t write spoilers, you’ll just have to read the book to learn the story and how the story ends. I can say that the first half of The River at Night was a very interesting tale of action and adventure and the second half is like a thriller, while the whole book is a tale of friendship and ties that keep those friendships together…..or that break them.
I was provided with a complimentary digital copy of this book from NetGalley in exchange for my honest review and unbiased opinion.
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