Ballantine Books
320 Pages
On rare occasions, someone out of the blue suggests a book for me to read. Such was the case with Pines by Blake Crouch. Having read some other Blake Crouch books, I had borrowed Run from the Lockport Library and had it with me at bowling a few weeks ago. My bowling partner saw it and asked if I’d ever read Pines or seen the show on FOX. I had done neither. He extolled upon me the virtues of both the book and the series. The next day, Pines came home with me from the library. A week later, the second book in the trilogy was ordered.
Pines immediately grabbed my attention. It reminded me of old-school Stephen King (before his retirement and accident). Ethan Burke is a Secret Service Agent who wakes in the hospital after a terrible accident. He was in a sleepy little Idaho town, Wayward Pines, to investigate the disappearance of two fellow agents. At first he can’t quite remember who he is, but flashes come to him as he escapes the confines of the hospital and wanders the town. Immediately something seems off. His investigative natures kick in, and he invites nothing but trouble with his curiosity.
Every time he thinks he’s making progress, he finds himself losing more of himself and living in deeper danger. Nothing is what it seems. When Burke finally escapes the town, he finds a reality that is far from what he was expecting. It’s a whole new world like nothing he had ever seen. Without giving away the twist, the new world is like none of us have ever seen. Dangers lurk outside the borders of the town, and Burke has a decision to make where the wrong one could be life threatening.
This book is fast paced and will keep you wondering. Once you find out what the mystery is, you’ll be even more intrigued and wonder how Burke will move forward with this new knowledge. With a new confidence and direction, he takes on new responsibilities. At the same time, it appears that he has some ulterior motives that will propel the narrative in the next book. His conscience and his morals will have him playing both sides of the field, if the last chapter if the last chapter of the book is to be believed.
I already ordered the next book in the series, Wayward, from the library. I plan to read all three books before I dive into the television show. I know that there are many differences between the book and the show. Hopefully, they kept the best parts of the book in the series. Blake Crouch’s writing weaves an intricate tale that drags along the reader into the shadows where anything could happen. I can’t wait to start the next book as soon as it comes in.
If you’ve already seen the Wayward Pines television show and wondered how the story began, Pines is the book for you. If you’ve wondered about watching that show, please take the time to read the trilogy first. If the other books are anything like Pines, it will be time well spent. Blake Crouch is a fantastic author. I can’t wait to read more of his books.
Craig Bacon loves old school Stephen King books like Tommyknockers and It. This book fits right in with those and takes him back to his teenage years when he read them for the first time.