“Wicked River is partly a who-is-my-husband-really story, partly a horror-in-the-wilderness story, and partly a Manhattan-family drama, all rolled up in elegantly propulsive prose, and shot through with sinister suspense.”—LEE CHILD, New York Times bestselling authorSix million acres of Adirondack forest separate Natalie and Doug Larson from civilization. For the newlyweds, an isolated … 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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Wicked River is partly a who-is-my-husband-really story, partly a horror-in-the-wilderness story, and partly a Manhattan-family drama, all rolled up in elegantly propulsive prose, and shot through with sinister suspense.
When one thinks of a special wedding and honeymoon, this book is not one that you want to use as your guide. Natalie and Doug Larson get married at a nice little bed and breakfast in the middle of nowhere. Then, they set out for an adventure honeymoon into the Adirondack Mountains. That is where the honeymoon starts going downhlll. Doug loses the GPS, they discover a dead man in the woods, they are hiking more than they are paddling the canoe so they abandon it. So much is already going wrong when their savior appears in the form of a man whom Natalie believes is a homeless vagabond. But Kurt is much more than that; he has lived in the woods for over a year and is a survivor, no matter what he has to do to be able to survive. Natalie and Doug quickly discover that Kurt is not the man he seems and that they must try to escape from his clutches before horrible things happen to them. Kurt is studying them psychologically and nothing that he does to them evokes real emotion; they are just case studies to him. But Natalie and Doug are lost in a wilderness and getting away is harder than they could have ever imagined. This book was written with a realistic tone that was scary and mesmerizing at the same time. The horror was there, but so was the pathos for Doug and Natalie who are a couple that just got married and who may not live to see an anniversary. Natalie was the more sympathetic character since she knew absolutely nothing about this whole adventure thing and this honeymoon was the brainchild of Doug. I also really liked her niece Mia who would not give up searching for her. This teen girl was portrayed as curious and a loner of sorts, preferring her online media to real personal contact. Again, this was such a realistic portrayal that I could actually imagine this girl’s words as she spoke them and was not surprised by the actions she took in her quests to find Natalie and Doug. This is an excellent novel that is not for the weak heart or weak stomach.
Disclaimer
Disclosure of Material Connection: I received a complimentary copy of this book from the publisher. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255 “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising”
Had a lot of fun reading Jenny Milchman’s thriller Wicked River.
I got into it very quickly and was easily transported by her thorough descriptions of nature and the dangers of the forest; there are many vivid and tense moments and I kept on thinking that it would make for a great film. Claustrophobic and dark situations abound!
Don’t provoke nature, respect it. But in the thick of nature it is not the wild animals and the extreme elements that are the danger, it is the humans.
I also loved the psychological thriller elements….Kurt being able to read people’s thoughts, reminded me of Suskind’s Perfume…reading people through smell; there is something very feral about all that, primal, fucked up.
I got into the characters and was intrigued by their goals and motivations.
Really liked the teen Mia….I appreciated seeing the grownup’s messed up world through her POV.
There is betrayal, infatuation, suspense and psychological games. Once I started reading I could not put it down.
Ps…I will never go hiking alone again in my life.
**I received a copy from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review**
Wow, this was one wicked ride. I really liked Natalie and her niece, Mia. I wasn’t crazy about Doug at first but by the end, he grew on me. I sort of felt sorry for him by the end. It’s so hard to talk about the book without giving away spoilers. It’s creepy how they were being watched while going in the forest. Now I’m afraid to go in the woods alone lol. There were so many twists and turns that I never saw coming. This author is brilliant. Mia was such a brave young lady! I loved her. One thing is for certain, if Doug and Natalie both survive the trip, they will never forget the honeymoon. I loved the cover and I think I’ll buy a paperback copy for my friend.
Really, really enjoyed this novel set in the wilderness of New York state. The author did a beautiful job of making the main character flawed but easy to relate to. Loved the setting and the spine-tingling suspense. Great read!
Note: for sensitive readers there is a small part involving an animal that you may need to flip through.
Accidentally read this book for the second time, after a couple of pages I realized that I wanted to re-read this book. Real scary!
I have read all of her books so far and enjoyed them all.
Loved it, couldn’t put it down. I’m not going into the woods any time soon.
I had the pleasure of reading this book for the Decatur Book Festival, and it’s a different kind of psychological thriller. For one thing, it takes place in the wilderness which puts a different spin on the husband-wife relationship of newly married Doug and Natalie. Also, Kurt is fascinating. My favorite part of the book, though, is Natalie’s character arc. Looking for a thriller? Give this one a look-see.
When you embark on this trip with the honeymoon couple you will keep yelling turn back. Natalie and Doug Larson begin their honeymoon in part of the six million acres of Adirondack forest. The plan is to hike, camp, and paddle their canoe enjoying the entrance into matrimony with an adventure. You will soon turn the word adventure into nightmare where you take part in Natalie and Doug’s struggle to survive not only their feelings towards each other but the person who lives in the forest waiting and watching them. An unpredictable book that not only creates struggles for the couple but for those close to them.
Wow! A story within a story within a story…layer upon layer of creepy. I love how this story kept morphing into yet another story, and the characters’ sheen eroded, and they morphed as well, revealing themselves–good, bad, and ugly.
I’m an avid hiker and camper and so I particularly enjoyed the scenery, the descriptive language, the clever turns of phrase. Milchman transported me to the Adirondacks, the river, the trails, until I could feel, taste, and smell each leaf, root, and berry.
Gripping story, plot and characters I know will stay with me for a long time to come, along with the deeply disturbing, cruel, and uncomfortable delve into the human psyche. Was glad to be reading this from the comfort of my sofa!
This is a story I could see myself re-reading.
HOLY HELL! Reading this book was like climbing into a roller coaster at the top of a precipice and being flung fast and deep into dark, unknown territory with no idea where you’re headed, how many hairpin turns, gut-churning dips, or dizzying heights must be endured before the end of the ride, at which point you may, or may not, find yourself a survivor.
In other words: It’s one hell of a terrifying, can’t-put-it-down, heart-pounding read.
I’ve read other books of Jenny Milchman and always enjoy her take on the more nail-biting aspects of human interaction, her way of creating prosaic characters we care about and want to do well, be happy, and stay alive, only to throw them into harrowing circumstances beyond their control which require their wits and wile to overcome. She makes being terrified a thrilling literary experience!
Wicked River is a particularly interesting genre you might call a “love story thriller,” in that it involves a newly-wedded couple who, we come to learn, have decided to make their honeymoon a week-long trek through the great, looming Adirondacks. Wife, Natalie, is game—if wary—but husband Doug is all in. When events and certain characters at the wedding portend the involvement of chicanery along the way, we are instantly suspicious, which, it turns out, we have every right to be.
Of course, the kicker is that we know from the book’s onset that trouble lies ahead for our happily married pair no matter what their reason for hiking. The book’s opening chapter, “One Year Before,” throws us immediately into mayhem when a hiker is terrorized by a mysterious and clearly homicidal forest dweller who is, by chapter’s end, still IN that forest… the same one Nat and Doug will be hiking. Knowing this horrific information before our intrepid protagonists do gets anxiety and dread percolating, chemistry that’s not allowed to abate before the concluding chapter. Hang onto your hats, as my Dad used to say!
Still, and even in the midst of the chaos, there is an emotional, even analytical, exploration of what comprises a relationship; how we pick who we fall in love with, what marriage means, and how we too often leap before knowing all we should. There is a familial backstory (not as compelling as the rest) that offers some foundation to Natalie’s rush into what she hopes will be wedded bliss, which led me, at times, to hope she’d reject the man who unwittingly puts her life in danger. But even the love story comes with complexities and nuances to digest, making its juxtaposition against the true terror of the circumstances both moving and hopeful.
Milchman clearly knows the ins-and-outs of wilderness hiking (which she alludes to in her author’s note), which is evident in the rich detail and sensorial immersion we experience along with her characters. Add “cautionary tale” to the list of book descriptives, in that whether you do (or do not) ever want to set foot in a forest again, you’ve been warned to be wise about both preparations and candor!
A great page-turning, white knuckle read with some deeper themes that never distract from the adrenaline rush of this fantastic thriller. A high recommend.
I liked that I could skim this book and get the basics of the story. It was a little long in places, like “hurry up and get there”. It was OK, but not great.