Challenge Corner discussion

On Christmas Day in 1893, every man, woman, and child in a remote gold mining town disappeared, belongings forsaken, meals left to freeze in vacant cabins - and not a single bone was ever found. One hundred thirteen years later, two backcountry guides are hired by a history professor and his journalist daughter to lead them into the abandoned mining town, so they can learn what happened. With them is a psychic and a paranormal photographer, as the town is rumored to be haunted. A party that tried to explore the town years ago was never heard from again. What this crew is about to discover is that twenty miles from civilization, with a blizzard bearing down, they are not alone, and the past is very much alive.

finally ready for this one! wow, lots of chapters and pages!
92 chapters but it also looks like the books is broken in to year "parts".....and over 500 pages
I'll come back every 100 pages or so

Through Chapter 21

1893 (view spoiler)[ I'm still not 100% sure what happened here. definitely they are going down the path of killing but it seems like preacher is going to be the vengeance and stop them from really getting away with it. does he really kill the whole town? is the little girl who killed the man in the beginning, is that Harriett?? (hide spoiler)]

2009(view spoiler)[ and who is killing this group? they sounded...professional? Like the army or something? they had goggles to see in the dark and fully automatic weapons? What on earth is going on here (hide spoiler)]

I'm over 100 pages and still pretty confused.....

through Chapter 41

1893(view spoiler)[ so it looks like it was an "act of god" or definitely of something that killed whole town, whatever the preacher saw (hide spoiler)]

2009(view spoiler)[ what a crappy father. who brings his daughter on a trip like this? and how can he possible be mad at her for not falling into his arms??

and jeez, I really hope those 2 men are dead...but since I'm not even half way through the book. I'm sure they aren't...Ugh. Wonder if they are going to go back for June (was that her name?) (hide spoiler)]

Ch 21 (view spoiler)[Normally I’m not a fan of the dual timelines but for this instance it works. But who the heck are these military killer guys following them in the middle of nowhere, in the middle of a possible bad storm and why? (hide spoiler)]

Ch 44 (view spoiler)[All this for gold? I’m so mad cause that’s kind of predictable. But while I didn’t pick up on that I am upset because I always expect a grand finale type moment with these mysterious villages and colonies that disappear. This is not the first book I’ve read that is all because of gold hungry people so it’s just a bummer. I would have taken alien abduction better lol (hide spoiler)]

Ch 86 (view spoiler)[Why do I think she can’t trust this sheriff? I wouldn’t be surprised if she’s related to or dating Quinn. One of them must be a relative from the past because he got the key from someone and knew what it opened just not where. Gah, I hope she saves her father, there’s been so much death smh (hide spoiler)]

Finished (view spoiler)[In essence I did enjoy this, it was a interesting and well written read. But hot damn it ended so horribly and I’m kind of let down. I get she thinks the gold is cursed but screw that after everything, even a murder charge, she doesn’t want it?!? She earned it damnit. She’s the ONLY person alive who knows about it and where it is. Hell it’s so messed up she doesn’t put those people to rest and her father. My goodness this is something historically important I mean minus the gold she solved the mystery (without knowledge of the priests involvement though). And also can I just say I was so livid learning what happened to Lana. Holy shit that psycho doctor cut off all her damn limbs, and that too was because of the gold, which he never even found by the way. 🤬🤬 Just so many things that are pissing me off that could have been better resolved. After so much pain and death I wanted more than what we got. (hide spoiler)]

Trisha wrote: "through Chapter 41

1893[spoilers removed]

2009 what a crappy father. who brings his daughter on a trip like this? and how can he possible be mad at her for not falling into his arms??

and jeez, ..."

(view spoiler)[I just hated that it was all for gold-at least in the present. Gold that no one is even sure exists. So much unnecessary death. Gotta love how inherently greedy everyone is. God forbid they have to share, nope they’ll just kill everyone to get it for themselves. We suck as a species lol (hide spoiler)]

❀ Crystal ✿ - wrote: "Ch 44 [spoilers removed]"

lol I love your alien abduction comment! (view spoiler)[ I agree, it's a little disappointing as a plot (hide spoiler)]

Sorry, I just don't seem to be finishing anything lately, lol! I'll get to reading this one!

Trisha wrote: "❀ Crystal ✿ - wrote: "Ch 44 [spoilers removed]"

lol I love your alien abduction comment! [spoilers removed]

Sorry, I just don't seem to be finishing anything lately, lol! I'll get to reading this..."

No worries. This was much more promising than it turned out being so I understand lol. If I didn't have my phone set to read it to me, I may have struggled through myself ;) Curious to see how you react in the end though. I was pretty ok with the book if a bit bored until the end. It brought out some emotions thats for sure!!!

Yes! I'm not finding it nearly as interesting as I thought I would....

through chapter 59

2009(view spoiler)[ oh jeez. so who's this Quinn guy? clearly he's somehow....related to someone in the town? or knows someone? how did he get that key?
and the whole town was really locked in there with the gold. ugh, awful (hide spoiler)]

1893(view spoiler)[ I can't believe they were all locked in there by the preacher. awful
and so it was Harriet who shot that guy who showed up.... (hide spoiler)]

through chapter 78

2009(view spoiler)[ ugh. people are coming back just to die again. there goes Scott.....,again (hide spoiler)]

1893(view spoiler)[ I hope Lana got him..... (hide spoiler)]

I'm done and I 100 % agree!!

1893(view spoiler)[ I can't believe Lana made it out just for all her limbs to be cut off and for her to be sent off. and Quinn to be a crappy horrible descendent of that crappy doctor trying to get all the gold, all for nothing. So disappointing (hide spoiler)]

2009(view spoiler)[ and Yeah! a 2nd degree possible murder charge and she just throws the key in the water?! She could have solved what happened to that town, stopped others from making the same stupid mistake and going for the gold. She didn't have to keep it but she could have saved others. awful (hide spoiler)]

meh, I wish this had been closer to a ghost town spooky story and less about just....murder and greed.

Trisha wrote: "I'm done and I 100 % agree!!

1893[spoilers removed]

2009[spoilers removed]

meh, I wish this had been closer to a ghost town spooky story and less about just....murder and greed."

A spooky ghost story was exactly what I was hoping for and instead we got this 😖 (view spoiler)[The Lana thing still really bothers me. I mean she was already mute and NEVER wanted to return to Abandon so what happened to her was so devastating. Plus, like what happened to Harriet? The priest creates this crazy little girl and she’s just left alone? 🤷🏼‍♀️ (hide spoiler)]