Challenge Corner discussion

Wayward Pines, Idaho, is quintessential small-town America--or so it seems. Secret Service agent Ethan Burke arrives in search of two missing federal agents, yet soon is facing much more than he bargained for. After a violent accident lands him in the hospital, Ethan comes to with no ID and no cell phone. The medical staff seems friendly enough, but sometimes feels...off. As days pass, Ethan's investigation into his colleagues' disappearance turns up more questions than answers

WHY CAN'T HE MAKE CONTACT WITH HIS FAMILY IN THE OUTSIDE WORLD? WHY DOESN'T ANYONE BELIEVE HE IS WHO HE SAYS HE IS? AND WHAT'S THE PURPOSE OF THE ELECTRIFIED FENCES ENCIRCLING THE TOWN? ARE THEY KEEPING THE RESIDENTS IN? OR SOMETHING ELSE OUT?

Each step toward the truth takes Ethan further from the world he knows, until he must face a horrifying fact—he may never get out of Wayward Pines alive....

Already loving this book so much! This is the second book I have read by Blake Crouch. The first one I gave 5 stars and yet even by chapter 5 (where I have now got to) this book is already my favourite of the 2. Can I give it 6 stars?! Where Dark Matter I could guess what had happened but not the ending from very early on, this book I have not the foggiest and am totally addicted to the book and finding out what the heck is going on!

There aren’t many books that I can rattle through as fast as I have this one! An uneasy and unsettling atmosphere is set with just the right blend of confusion and subtle nuances. With shades of Dennis Lehane’s Shutter Island (and the Scorsese movie of the same name, which is one of my all time favourite films), I feel like Pines could well become be of my favourite books!

Let’s find out if I’m right...

(Currently no page 159 - 51% through the book)

Just got to the end of chapter 11: (view spoiler)[Ok... my opinion of the book changed pretty drastically over chapter 7. Cannot deal with the level of violence and how it played out. That was actually horrific to read. Still a great book and will follow it through to the end but it definitely has put me off a bit. Couldn’t keep reading after what I just read. Just ugh. The level of violence against Beverly made me fairly nauseous and then the following on stalking of Ethan...by children?! Too much. (hide spoiler)]

In the immortal words of Ron Burgundy... “boy... that escalated quickly”!

The slow build is over and the action has well and truly begun! Chapter 13 now, can’t wait to find out what’s in store for Ethan next!

End of chapter 13: (view spoiler)[I am really looking forward to getting back to the story of Wayward Pines itself and Ethan’s family. I know it’s only been a few chapters of him running but it has felt like the story has become more of an action thriller, verging on horror, in those chapters than the sci fi elements and intrigue I so loved from the first Blake Crouch book I read. The lines of reality and believability feel like they have been crossed which is making me just really struggle to enjoy the book as much as I want to, despite how much I have absolutely loved reading the previous novel, Dark Matter, by the same author. Nonetheless I am committed to seeing it through and crossing all my fingers that Crouch brings it back to a sense of resolution that is acceptable to my brain rather than leaving us in this land of WTF. Lol! (hide spoiler)]

This has gone in directions that I would never have predicted now. Like Shutter Island and Lost had a baby together. I’m loving it but also very confused. Amongst it all the things that hits me most is that (view spoiler)[ Ethan is risking so much to escape Wayward Pines, but little does he know his wife and son that he’s so desperately trying to get back to, are both actually there in Wayward Pines (hide spoiler)] . Tense stuff.

Chapter 14 now...

Finished. What the hell?! What. The. Hell?!?!?! Ok I take back all my words. It is one of those books I want to reread now knowing what the ending is. Cannot get over it. Need to take some time to process what the ending ended up being. So did not see that coming at all.

A fantastic book. Not sure what the second will have in store for us in part two of what I understand now is a trilogy, but I can’t wait to find out!