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Wicked River
Six million acres of Adirondack forest separate Natalie and Doug Larson from civilization. For the newlyweds, an isolated, back country honeymoon seems ideal: a chance to start their lives together with an adventure, on their own. 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. And once they are near his domain, he will do everything in his power to make sure they never walk out again.
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. And once they are near his domain, he will do everything in his power to make sure they never walk out again.
455 pages, Hardcover
First published May 1, 2018
About the author
Jenny Milchman
22 books597 followersJenny Milchman is the USA Today bestselling author of three novels, as well as the forthcoming Wicked River. Her books have won the Mary Higgins Clark and Silver Falchion awards, been praised by the New York Times, San Francisco Review of Books, the AP, and many other publications.
Jenny has given over five hundred workshops and talks on the writing and publishing process. She sits on the board of directors of International Thriller Writers, is a member of the Sisters in Crime speakers bureau, and founded Take Your Child to a Bookstore Day, which is celebrated annually in all fifty states and on five continents.
Jenny has given over five hundred workshops and talks on the writing and publishing process. She sits on the board of directors of International Thriller Writers, is a member of the Sisters in Crime speakers bureau, and founded Take Your Child to a Bookstore Day, which is celebrated annually in all fifty states and on five continents.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 331 reviews
July 31, 2024
Someone please grab the tequila and lime, 'cause I'm about to bring the SALT.
Wicked River.
Ugh. What can I even say?
First, I waffled between a 1- versus a 2-star rating. Ultimately, I decided on 2-stars, because it makes me feel bad to give anything a 1-star, unless it has offensive or inappropriate content.
This one wasn't offensive, unless you consider a horrible plot and repetitive phrasing offensive, which you may. Personally, it just was not my cup of tea. This book and I did NOT get along.
I knew within the first 30-pages that perhaps this wasn't going to be the strongest story for me, but nevertheless, I persisted. The premise sounds great. The execution of said premise, not so much.
It kicks off at the wedding of our two main characters, Natalie and Doug, which was cheese-factor level TEN and had me audibly scoffing over the dialogue and lame characters.
Then they head off on the their honeymoon, a trek into the wilderness on a hiking and canoe trip for which I feel neither of them was even remotely prepared.
The main characters dumbass choices aside, we also have a psycho guy living in the woods whose odd perspective we get every couple of chapters.
Then there is a 13-year old whiny girl, Mia, the niece of Natalie, whose perspective we also get which was completely disjointed for me from the rest of the story.
Oh, yeah, and there is this totally unrealistic side plot involving Doug's childhood friends that contributes to the story as well.
I don't know, for me, the whole thing was just a mess. I couldn't stand Natalie. She was so weak. All she seemed to care about was 'her husband'. She admits to losing any friends she ever had because all she cared about was being with him.
She could barely scrounge together two bridesmaids for her wedding. She tells us they were literally the bottom of the barrel, who would no doubt, disappear again into nothingness once the wedding was over.
She let Doug make all of her decisions and just goes along to get along, I guess. She was horrible. I wanted her to be lost in the woods forever.
Now, let's talk about the words her husband. This phrase had to have been in this book 1,027,432 times.
If I ever hear that again, I am going to punch the speaker in the face.
This is not a quote, but to give you an idea of what I'm talking about, it would go a little something like this:
'Her husband forged ahead through the trees. Her husband's arms easily broke through the branches, so much better than hers ever could because her husband was so much bigger and stronger than she was. Natalie felt so happy that her husband would be willing to go ahead so that she could drift along unscathed behind him. Her husband was a true hero and a gentleman.'
This book is 464-pages long and I think it could have been edited down to 250-pages if just the term 'her husband' had been removed.
I have no clue who I would recommend this to. Maybe someone who doesn't read a lot, or is new to the Thriller genre, but honestly, why would I put them through that? No one. I recommend this to no one.
Also, this isn't really a Thriller. There was nothing thrilling about it. It kind of took the suspense out of it when the 4th part of a 4 part book is titled, Saved .
No other word could have been chosen to title Part 4? You get there and are like, 'geeeee, I wonder if Natalie and Doug will be SAVED????'
I would like to thank the publisher, Sourcebooks Landmark, for providing me with a copy of this book to read and review.
I do always appreciate the opportunity to provide my feedback. This one just wasn't for me, but as we all know there are readers for every story!
Wicked River.
Ugh. What can I even say?
First, I waffled between a 1- versus a 2-star rating. Ultimately, I decided on 2-stars, because it makes me feel bad to give anything a 1-star, unless it has offensive or inappropriate content.
This one wasn't offensive, unless you consider a horrible plot and repetitive phrasing offensive, which you may. Personally, it just was not my cup of tea. This book and I did NOT get along.
I knew within the first 30-pages that perhaps this wasn't going to be the strongest story for me, but nevertheless, I persisted. The premise sounds great. The execution of said premise, not so much.
It kicks off at the wedding of our two main characters, Natalie and Doug, which was cheese-factor level TEN and had me audibly scoffing over the dialogue and lame characters.
Then they head off on the their honeymoon, a trek into the wilderness on a hiking and canoe trip for which I feel neither of them was even remotely prepared.
The main characters dumbass choices aside, we also have a psycho guy living in the woods whose odd perspective we get every couple of chapters.
Then there is a 13-year old whiny girl, Mia, the niece of Natalie, whose perspective we also get which was completely disjointed for me from the rest of the story.
Oh, yeah, and there is this totally unrealistic side plot involving Doug's childhood friends that contributes to the story as well.
I don't know, for me, the whole thing was just a mess. I couldn't stand Natalie. She was so weak. All she seemed to care about was 'her husband'. She admits to losing any friends she ever had because all she cared about was being with him.
She could barely scrounge together two bridesmaids for her wedding. She tells us they were literally the bottom of the barrel, who would no doubt, disappear again into nothingness once the wedding was over.
She let Doug make all of her decisions and just goes along to get along, I guess. She was horrible. I wanted her to be lost in the woods forever.
Now, let's talk about the words her husband. This phrase had to have been in this book 1,027,432 times.
If I ever hear that again, I am going to punch the speaker in the face.
This is not a quote, but to give you an idea of what I'm talking about, it would go a little something like this:
'Her husband forged ahead through the trees. Her husband's arms easily broke through the branches, so much better than hers ever could because her husband was so much bigger and stronger than she was. Natalie felt so happy that her husband would be willing to go ahead so that she could drift along unscathed behind him. Her husband was a true hero and a gentleman.'
This book is 464-pages long and I think it could have been edited down to 250-pages if just the term 'her husband' had been removed.
I have no clue who I would recommend this to. Maybe someone who doesn't read a lot, or is new to the Thriller genre, but honestly, why would I put them through that? No one. I recommend this to no one.
Also, this isn't really a Thriller. There was nothing thrilling about it. It kind of took the suspense out of it when the 4th part of a 4 part book is titled, Saved .
No other word could have been chosen to title Part 4? You get there and are like, 'geeeee, I wonder if Natalie and Doug will be SAVED????'
I would like to thank the publisher, Sourcebooks Landmark, for providing me with a copy of this book to read and review.
I do always appreciate the opportunity to provide my feedback. This one just wasn't for me, but as we all know there are readers for every story!
May 1, 2018
Books like this are the reason I don't go camping. Read it, and you might not be willing to go either!
Natalie and her brand new husband Doug have decided to spend their honeymoon camping in the forested mountains of the Adirondacks. At least, she tells herself they've decided. Mostly, it seems Doug has decided and she went along with it. Unable to read a map, Natalie's misgivings become even more bothersome when their GPS is lost and then they turn to outright terror when they come across a dead body. Little does she know that their adventure has really just begun. What happened to the dead man they found? Will Natalie and Doug make it out alive? You'll have to read WICKED RIVER to find out!
At first, I didn't think I would enjoy this story. Natalie is wishy-washy and what kind of woman doesn't stand up and say she doesn't want to sleep on the damn ground on her honeymoon? That's the thing though, all of the characters change and grow throughout the story and that had me rapidly turning these pages.
The only real problem I had with this book was with Natalie's 13 year old niece Mia. I think her sections only served to slow down the pacing. Also, many of her actions were just not believable. Everything else about this story rang true to me-the award winning couch sitter and non-camping extraordinaire that I am. Books like these only prove to show me that I'm correct in staying far away from the wilderness. I've read too many horror books for that.
I am so glad I tried something a bit out of my wheelhouse because WICKED RIVER was, (mostly), fast paced and WICKED fun! Recommended to fans of mystery/suspense and thrillers.
*Thanks to the publisher and to NetGalley for the e-copy of this book in exchange for my honest feedback. This is it!*
Natalie and her brand new husband Doug have decided to spend their honeymoon camping in the forested mountains of the Adirondacks. At least, she tells herself they've decided. Mostly, it seems Doug has decided and she went along with it. Unable to read a map, Natalie's misgivings become even more bothersome when their GPS is lost and then they turn to outright terror when they come across a dead body. Little does she know that their adventure has really just begun. What happened to the dead man they found? Will Natalie and Doug make it out alive? You'll have to read WICKED RIVER to find out!
At first, I didn't think I would enjoy this story. Natalie is wishy-washy and what kind of woman doesn't stand up and say she doesn't want to sleep on the damn ground on her honeymoon? That's the thing though, all of the characters change and grow throughout the story and that had me rapidly turning these pages.
The only real problem I had with this book was with Natalie's 13 year old niece Mia. I think her sections only served to slow down the pacing. Also, many of her actions were just not believable. Everything else about this story rang true to me-the award winning couch sitter and non-camping extraordinaire that I am. Books like these only prove to show me that I'm correct in staying far away from the wilderness. I've read too many horror books for that.
I am so glad I tried something a bit out of my wheelhouse because WICKED RIVER was, (mostly), fast paced and WICKED fun! Recommended to fans of mystery/suspense and thrillers.
*Thanks to the publisher and to NetGalley for the e-copy of this book in exchange for my honest feedback. This is it!*
October 18, 2017
Deciding between a 3 and 3.5 stars for this so I will round up to a 3.5 star
This book had a "wicked" good start..female hiker alone in the woods....there is danger...
Then cut to Natalie and Doug's wedding. Something seems to be amiss but Natalie isn't one to nag or question Doug so the wedding goes as planned and they leave on their honeymoon. A honeymoon spent kayaking and camping in the Adirondack forest. It's a BIG place - six million acres in fact. They hope to use this time to not only connect with each other but with nature as well.
But then....
They realize that they are not the only ones in the forest. Six million acres is a lot of land and there are a lot of places to camp, to hide, to start over, to get into a heap of trouble..you get the picture. Because as the blurb informs us..they are being watched. But why whom and Why? This reminded me slightly of the 2009 movie "A Perfect Getaway" where a couple on vacation find that they are not alone in paradise either. Anyways, I digress. Natalie and Doug are being watched (yes, there is a watcher in the woods (bad horror film tie in).
Their honeymoon suddenly turns not so romantic. It becomes a fight for survival. A time when you learn who you really are and who others really are as well. Mixed in with their story is the story of Mia, Natalie's niece in NYC. The stories will eventually merge and make sense at the end of the book.
This book does have a couple of twists. I will say that it did start very strong but then it got slow for me in the middle. I wanted to know what happened to the woman in the beginning of the book. Also, I was hoping for a little more action in the middle of the book. Things did pick up toward the last third of the book, but having said that things never got entirely thrilling either. I was hoping this would be a page turner but it wasn't. I did read this fast and did enjoy it. It just lagged a little too much in the middle for me.
Overall a good book with a well thought out plot - I just wanted a little more action in this. Plus, I could have done without the niece's story line. Perhaps if the entire story focused on the story of survival, I would have enjoyed it more. Plus, not to be nit picky but the book is titled "wicked river" but it's not the river that is wicked in this book.
This was my first book by this Author but I will gladly read more of her books.
I received a copy of this book from Sourcebooks Landmark and NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. Thank you for giving me the opportunity to read and review this book.
See more of my reviews at www.openbookpost.com
This book had a "wicked" good start..female hiker alone in the woods....there is danger...
Then cut to Natalie and Doug's wedding. Something seems to be amiss but Natalie isn't one to nag or question Doug so the wedding goes as planned and they leave on their honeymoon. A honeymoon spent kayaking and camping in the Adirondack forest. It's a BIG place - six million acres in fact. They hope to use this time to not only connect with each other but with nature as well.
But then....
They realize that they are not the only ones in the forest. Six million acres is a lot of land and there are a lot of places to camp, to hide, to start over, to get into a heap of trouble..you get the picture. Because as the blurb informs us..they are being watched. But why whom and Why? This reminded me slightly of the 2009 movie "A Perfect Getaway" where a couple on vacation find that they are not alone in paradise either. Anyways, I digress. Natalie and Doug are being watched (yes, there is a watcher in the woods (bad horror film tie in).
Their honeymoon suddenly turns not so romantic. It becomes a fight for survival. A time when you learn who you really are and who others really are as well. Mixed in with their story is the story of Mia, Natalie's niece in NYC. The stories will eventually merge and make sense at the end of the book.
This book does have a couple of twists. I will say that it did start very strong but then it got slow for me in the middle. I wanted to know what happened to the woman in the beginning of the book. Also, I was hoping for a little more action in the middle of the book. Things did pick up toward the last third of the book, but having said that things never got entirely thrilling either. I was hoping this would be a page turner but it wasn't. I did read this fast and did enjoy it. It just lagged a little too much in the middle for me.
Overall a good book with a well thought out plot - I just wanted a little more action in this. Plus, I could have done without the niece's story line. Perhaps if the entire story focused on the story of survival, I would have enjoyed it more. Plus, not to be nit picky but the book is titled "wicked river" but it's not the river that is wicked in this book.
This was my first book by this Author but I will gladly read more of her books.
I received a copy of this book from Sourcebooks Landmark and NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. Thank you for giving me the opportunity to read and review this book.
See more of my reviews at www.openbookpost.com
May 15, 2018
I have to walk away. More than four hours into this audio, I cannot imagine enduring another almost ten hours of this. Overwritten and boring with cheesy language describing sexual encounters. Ugh! I tried to stick with it. DNF
November 15, 2017
Wicked River was a fast and fun read for me – Deliverance notwithstanding I’m even more unlikely to go visiting the wilds of anywhere anytime soon after reading this story…
It has a lilting style to the writing that draws you into the lives of this newly married couple – a rather strange pair of lovebirds it feels obvious from the start that perhaps they are not such a perfect match – but they are about to be thrown into a terrifying and unknowable situation from which there may be no return..
There are some issues with it to be fair, I’m not sure the strand that dealt with niece Mia back home really added anything apart from slowing it down – the parts that intrigued me and kept me turning the pages was the suspicious and ever changing relationship between our main protagonists and the guy they meet in the wilds, who lets face it is more than a little crazy.
Descriptively speaking this is brilliant, you really feel the force of nature surrounding you and the “bad guy” is creepy and compelling, strangely often inducing pity for his situation despite his cannibalistic tendencies. I think Wicked River sits more on the literary thriller side than the commercial, it often has that slow burn feel to it, with motivations blurred and a sense that something unexpected is around the corner.
Overall a very good read. I am more than happy to be curled up under my duvet writing this review and not near any kind of body of water…
It has a lilting style to the writing that draws you into the lives of this newly married couple – a rather strange pair of lovebirds it feels obvious from the start that perhaps they are not such a perfect match – but they are about to be thrown into a terrifying and unknowable situation from which there may be no return..
There are some issues with it to be fair, I’m not sure the strand that dealt with niece Mia back home really added anything apart from slowing it down – the parts that intrigued me and kept me turning the pages was the suspicious and ever changing relationship between our main protagonists and the guy they meet in the wilds, who lets face it is more than a little crazy.
Descriptively speaking this is brilliant, you really feel the force of nature surrounding you and the “bad guy” is creepy and compelling, strangely often inducing pity for his situation despite his cannibalistic tendencies. I think Wicked River sits more on the literary thriller side than the commercial, it often has that slow burn feel to it, with motivations blurred and a sense that something unexpected is around the corner.
Overall a very good read. I am more than happy to be curled up under my duvet writing this review and not near any kind of body of water…
May 7, 2018
3.5 stars, actually.
Comparisons with James Dickey's Deliverance are virtually inevitable: Characters set off for what they expect will be an exciting wilderness experience, meet up with a character or characters who have less than honorable intent and emerge with their lives forever altered. Such is the case in this book, which begins as just-married Natalie and Doug Larson head out by canoe on a honeymoon that will take them through a remote area of New York's six-million-acre Adirondack Forest Preserve.
From that point on, though, there are differences - the first of which is that Natalie witnesses interactions among Doug's friends before the ceremony that make her suspect her new husband may be hiding something (that he's a domineering jerk apparently has escaped her notice thus far). Now, she's more than a bit reluctant to head out for a week with no way to contact any other human being besides Doug - she can't even read a map, for gosh sake.
As they paddle along (she clearly struggling), Doug continues to counter each of Natalie's concerns with his know-it-all attitude. That neither is really up to the challenge becomes clear early on as they encounter the almost overwhelming mental and physical consequences of getting lost (the latter requiring near super-human efforts to overcome). All this takes place quite some time before they encounter the inevitable bad guy. His name is Kurt, and he's a wilderness survivor in hiding who more than anything else craves the company of other humans. He's eager to welcome "guests" with open heart and arms, but he's also taken elaborate steps to ensure that whoever enters his lair will remain ensnared till death do him or her part.
The canoe trip is eventful almost from the git-go, and anticipation builds as chapters shift from the couple's perspective to that of the forest pervert (all with full knowledge that at some point, the twains shall meet up). What was most interesting to me, though, was watching the demeanors of Natalie and Doug shift almost full circle - he becoming less assertive and she more confident (not that it made either of them more likable). Kurt, meanwhile, remains true to his damaged self, but readers do get glimpses of how that damage was inflicted and by whom.
Once Natalie and Doug are in Kurt's clutches, their struggle to escape and his efforts to prevent that from happening begins. This section, too, requires the kind of human effort I seriously doubt has ever happened in real life, but it does keep the story moving along. The final section deals with the outcome, which of course I won't reveal.
I didn't mention that Natalie has a sister, who in turn has an estranged husband and recalcitrant daughter, Mia (the latter of whom makes an introductory appearance at the wedding and again near the end but otherwise is pretty much, as her name suggests, missing in action). That omission was deliberate; I mention her here only because I have to wonder why she's included at all. Her "contribution" to the finish is not only totally implausible, but borderline silly.
All things considered, this is an enjoyable adventure, at least for those (like me) who don't need to fall in love with the characters to like a story. Here's my final thought: Like that other book, this one - with a few tweaks here and there - also would make a pretty exciting movie. If that happens, in fact, I'll be one of the first in line!
Comparisons with James Dickey's Deliverance are virtually inevitable: Characters set off for what they expect will be an exciting wilderness experience, meet up with a character or characters who have less than honorable intent and emerge with their lives forever altered. Such is the case in this book, which begins as just-married Natalie and Doug Larson head out by canoe on a honeymoon that will take them through a remote area of New York's six-million-acre Adirondack Forest Preserve.
From that point on, though, there are differences - the first of which is that Natalie witnesses interactions among Doug's friends before the ceremony that make her suspect her new husband may be hiding something (that he's a domineering jerk apparently has escaped her notice thus far). Now, she's more than a bit reluctant to head out for a week with no way to contact any other human being besides Doug - she can't even read a map, for gosh sake.
As they paddle along (she clearly struggling), Doug continues to counter each of Natalie's concerns with his know-it-all attitude. That neither is really up to the challenge becomes clear early on as they encounter the almost overwhelming mental and physical consequences of getting lost (the latter requiring near super-human efforts to overcome). All this takes place quite some time before they encounter the inevitable bad guy. His name is Kurt, and he's a wilderness survivor in hiding who more than anything else craves the company of other humans. He's eager to welcome "guests" with open heart and arms, but he's also taken elaborate steps to ensure that whoever enters his lair will remain ensnared till death do him or her part.
The canoe trip is eventful almost from the git-go, and anticipation builds as chapters shift from the couple's perspective to that of the forest pervert (all with full knowledge that at some point, the twains shall meet up). What was most interesting to me, though, was watching the demeanors of Natalie and Doug shift almost full circle - he becoming less assertive and she more confident (not that it made either of them more likable). Kurt, meanwhile, remains true to his damaged self, but readers do get glimpses of how that damage was inflicted and by whom.
Once Natalie and Doug are in Kurt's clutches, their struggle to escape and his efforts to prevent that from happening begins. This section, too, requires the kind of human effort I seriously doubt has ever happened in real life, but it does keep the story moving along. The final section deals with the outcome, which of course I won't reveal.
I didn't mention that Natalie has a sister, who in turn has an estranged husband and recalcitrant daughter, Mia (the latter of whom makes an introductory appearance at the wedding and again near the end but otherwise is pretty much, as her name suggests, missing in action). That omission was deliberate; I mention her here only because I have to wonder why she's included at all. Her "contribution" to the finish is not only totally implausible, but borderline silly.
All things considered, this is an enjoyable adventure, at least for those (like me) who don't need to fall in love with the characters to like a story. Here's my final thought: Like that other book, this one - with a few tweaks here and there - also would make a pretty exciting movie. If that happens, in fact, I'll be one of the first in line!
April 18, 2018
Fast paced drama both tense and, yes, scary. Natalie and Doug get married and, for their honeymoon, they go canoeing/hiking in a secluded section of the Adirondacks. Needless to say things started happening. This honeymoon was not what either of them expected. Something is happening in these woods. With some scary twists to the story this book kept my attention throughout. The prologue grabbed me quickly, but it was quite awhile before I you find out what happened to this lady hiking by herself. It initially sets the tone for the rest of the book.
A good thriller. I really liked the character, Mia, who is Natalie's niece. She seems a really precocious child and is very observant and curious. I would probably give the book a 3.5, but it is definitely more than a 3 star book so I am rounding up to 4 stars.
Thanks to Jenny Milchman and Sourcebooks Landmark through Netgalley for an advance copy.
A good thriller. I really liked the character, Mia, who is Natalie's niece. She seems a really precocious child and is very observant and curious. I would probably give the book a 3.5, but it is definitely more than a 3 star book so I am rounding up to 4 stars.
Thanks to Jenny Milchman and Sourcebooks Landmark through Netgalley for an advance copy.
October 7, 2020
Imagine yourself among nature, surviving as our ancestors once did. Initially, I was all about the idea of a camping trip such as this… but upon finishing this read my thoughts definitely have changed! Doug and Natalie are newlyweds who venture out into the Adirondack forest for an adventurous honeymoon. Little did they know they would come to find out secrets hidden from each another and what, or maybe who, is lurking in the woods.
I had a little trouble with this one and here is why. First, while I understood what the characters meant to each other I had a lot of difficulty understanding their purpose. I especially found the inclusion of thirteen-year-old Mia’s character to be unnecessary… well, I suppose necessary to the storyline as it was written… but this could have been written differently and possibly been more appealing without her. This secondary story from the very start was very peculiar to me. Boy crazy Mia felt as if she was simply a filler and a completely implausible addition. This could have very well flowed smoother with a pace that would have picked up a bit more without Mia. Every time I came across a chapter from this character’s viewpoint, I found myself rolling my eyes and the story losing its momentum. I won’t divulge further, but if you pick up this title I think you may end up feeling the same.
I really enjoyed the cat and mouse game that was offered from both ends. At the start, I found this at times confusing but appealing at the same time. The brought on confusion quickly changed and the alternative viewpoints between Doug and Natalie’s adventure and our villain Kurt’s hunt began to fit very well. Kurt added so much to the creep factor and was one of the most interesting parts. Less Kurt, I don’t think this story would have had much to offer. Another high note is that Jenny does really deliver the suspense with a lot of very good descriptive writing throughout, which really bumped this one up for me.
A slow burn filled with deceit, suspense, and survival, this story was filled with one-dimensional characters and layered with multiple implausible and far-fetched events. This essentially made it a bit harder to get through. I also feel this could have used some additional editing, and possibly a drop off of some unnecessary pages lowering the overall page count. There were moments that grabbed hold of my attention and others where it faltered. While this story did not live up to the extent I anticipated, I did not completely hate it. If you enjoy the great outdoors, take on this adventurous suspense thriller and let me know how you feel once you put it down!
Many thanks to Jenny Milchman and Sourcebooks Landmark for an advanced reader’s copy of this novel in exchange for an honest review.
I had a little trouble with this one and here is why. First, while I understood what the characters meant to each other I had a lot of difficulty understanding their purpose. I especially found the inclusion of thirteen-year-old Mia’s character to be unnecessary… well, I suppose necessary to the storyline as it was written… but this could have been written differently and possibly been more appealing without her. This secondary story from the very start was very peculiar to me. Boy crazy Mia felt as if she was simply a filler and a completely implausible addition. This could have very well flowed smoother with a pace that would have picked up a bit more without Mia. Every time I came across a chapter from this character’s viewpoint, I found myself rolling my eyes and the story losing its momentum. I won’t divulge further, but if you pick up this title I think you may end up feeling the same.
I really enjoyed the cat and mouse game that was offered from both ends. At the start, I found this at times confusing but appealing at the same time. The brought on confusion quickly changed and the alternative viewpoints between Doug and Natalie’s adventure and our villain Kurt’s hunt began to fit very well. Kurt added so much to the creep factor and was one of the most interesting parts. Less Kurt, I don’t think this story would have had much to offer. Another high note is that Jenny does really deliver the suspense with a lot of very good descriptive writing throughout, which really bumped this one up for me.
A slow burn filled with deceit, suspense, and survival, this story was filled with one-dimensional characters and layered with multiple implausible and far-fetched events. This essentially made it a bit harder to get through. I also feel this could have used some additional editing, and possibly a drop off of some unnecessary pages lowering the overall page count. There were moments that grabbed hold of my attention and others where it faltered. While this story did not live up to the extent I anticipated, I did not completely hate it. If you enjoy the great outdoors, take on this adventurous suspense thriller and let me know how you feel once you put it down!
Many thanks to Jenny Milchman and Sourcebooks Landmark for an advanced reader’s copy of this novel in exchange for an honest review.
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May 14, 2018Looking for your next psychological thriller? Jenny Milchman's latest, set in the Adirondacks, will have you on the edge of your seat.
April 24, 2018
Wow, wow, wow!!! You can bet your bippy that I will not be going camping, canoeing or hiking anywhere in the near future or let's just emphatically say NEVER!
Thirty minutes after finishing this book, my heart was still racing, as it had been for about the last one and half hours of the book.
I have been a fan of Jenny Milchman ever since I met her on her first cross country tour with her first book and her whole family at my local independent, MBTB here in Houston. I was mesmerized by her stamina and gumption to undertake this journey. And, of course, I loved her first book "Cover of Snow".
This book also did not disappoint. I was enthralled at the very beginning and sped right through. A couple spending their honeymoon canoeing and camping in the Adirondacks? Seriously? What's wrong with a beach? My utter distaste for Doug, the groom, and Natalie's husband began very early and held fast throughout much of the book. Especially when his true colors and agenda came to light.
Their journey was doomed from the beginning. Natalie being an amateur and Doug, not that much better, took on these thousands of acres as if there were little or no huge dangers at all in those mountains. Silly people and Doug was a dumba$$ for even setting it up. However, the real reason why he did so is brought about early in the book which only added to my dislike of this man.
The perils they faced were horrendous and if it wasn't for bad luck, this couple would have none, none at all.
However, at the end, Doug was proven to be only human with an self established ego that was quickly rendered not true and he realized it.
An excellent read that I sped through, enjoyed and one that my heart was glad that it was over. The double duty that it was handling and with my age, could have been disastrous. Ha!!
Definitely one to not be missed if you love action, adventure and constant suspense set in the wilderness of the Adirondacks where anything can happen.
Kudos to the author, Jenny Milchman, and thanks to Sourcebooks Landmark and Net Galley for providing me with a free e-galley in exchange for an honest, unbiased review.
Thirty minutes after finishing this book, my heart was still racing, as it had been for about the last one and half hours of the book.
I have been a fan of Jenny Milchman ever since I met her on her first cross country tour with her first book and her whole family at my local independent, MBTB here in Houston. I was mesmerized by her stamina and gumption to undertake this journey. And, of course, I loved her first book "Cover of Snow".
This book also did not disappoint. I was enthralled at the very beginning and sped right through. A couple spending their honeymoon canoeing and camping in the Adirondacks? Seriously? What's wrong with a beach? My utter distaste for Doug, the groom, and Natalie's husband began very early and held fast throughout much of the book. Especially when his true colors and agenda came to light.
Their journey was doomed from the beginning. Natalie being an amateur and Doug, not that much better, took on these thousands of acres as if there were little or no huge dangers at all in those mountains. Silly people and Doug was a dumba$$ for even setting it up. However, the real reason why he did so is brought about early in the book which only added to my dislike of this man.
The perils they faced were horrendous and if it wasn't for bad luck, this couple would have none, none at all.
However, at the end, Doug was proven to be only human with an self established ego that was quickly rendered not true and he realized it.
An excellent read that I sped through, enjoyed and one that my heart was glad that it was over. The double duty that it was handling and with my age, could have been disastrous. Ha!!
Definitely one to not be missed if you love action, adventure and constant suspense set in the wilderness of the Adirondacks where anything can happen.
Kudos to the author, Jenny Milchman, and thanks to Sourcebooks Landmark and Net Galley for providing me with a free e-galley in exchange for an honest, unbiased review.
July 10, 2018
Many, many years ago when I was a teenaged Girl Scout, my troop traveled from Virginia to New Hampshire so we could hike a 50-mile stretch of the Appalachian Trail through the White Mountains, ending at the summit of Mt. Washington where you can find some of the most extreme weather imaginable. We were experienced hikers and campers and had trained hard for this adventure which turned out to be wonderful except for one night. During the day, we had separated into two groups because some of us were more energetic than others and the slower group, the one I was in, took the wrong path at a fork, not long before dusk. Hours later, we were undoubtedly lost and we had to spend most of the night in the wilds until a team of rescuers showed up. Needless to say, we were humiliated but, still, it was an adventure for sure so I’d have to say we all felt an array of emotions from embarrassment to elation and I still remember it with a good deal of clarity.
All that came to mind while I was reading Wicked River and I think allowed me to have a real connection with Natalie and Doug during their ordeal, especially Natalie. It’s a different forest, of course, and the Whites are generally considered to be the most challenging and formidable terrain in the Northeast but wilderness is wilderness, no matter where it is and especially so for Natalie who was only minimally prepared for this honeymoon trip.
Natalie is a really interesting character because she’s so much like most of us. Her experience in wilderness trekking is limited but she wants to please Doug who loves this sort of thing. That doesn’t mean that she’s been talked into the trip against her will; far from it, although she does have reservations about her abilities even after a certain amount of training and preparation. In short, she’s you and me, setting off on an adventure with more than a little trepidation but she’s still looking forward to it.
What Natalie and Doug don’t know but we do is that there’s a truly dangerous man in this part of the Adirondacks. As Natalie prepares for her wedding, we get a hint of something being not quite right, actually several somethings, and, at the same time, we meet Natalie’s niece, Mia. This teenager can be monumentally annoying but I liked her and it’s a good thing since she’s going to become very important later on.
Jenny Milchman is a master at wilderness settings and this one is no exception. Instead of crippling cold, which the author does extremely well, Wicked River plants us in the midst of heat and alarming sounds and smells as well as the frightening sense of aloneness and being truly lost. None of that even begins to reflect the menace coming up behind them nor what Natalie will have to do if there’s any hope of survival.
Well done, Ms. Milchman—once again, you’ve kept me up at night because I couldn’t stop reading 😉
All that came to mind while I was reading Wicked River and I think allowed me to have a real connection with Natalie and Doug during their ordeal, especially Natalie. It’s a different forest, of course, and the Whites are generally considered to be the most challenging and formidable terrain in the Northeast but wilderness is wilderness, no matter where it is and especially so for Natalie who was only minimally prepared for this honeymoon trip.
Natalie is a really interesting character because she’s so much like most of us. Her experience in wilderness trekking is limited but she wants to please Doug who loves this sort of thing. That doesn’t mean that she’s been talked into the trip against her will; far from it, although she does have reservations about her abilities even after a certain amount of training and preparation. In short, she’s you and me, setting off on an adventure with more than a little trepidation but she’s still looking forward to it.
What Natalie and Doug don’t know but we do is that there’s a truly dangerous man in this part of the Adirondacks. As Natalie prepares for her wedding, we get a hint of something being not quite right, actually several somethings, and, at the same time, we meet Natalie’s niece, Mia. This teenager can be monumentally annoying but I liked her and it’s a good thing since she’s going to become very important later on.
Jenny Milchman is a master at wilderness settings and this one is no exception. Instead of crippling cold, which the author does extremely well, Wicked River plants us in the midst of heat and alarming sounds and smells as well as the frightening sense of aloneness and being truly lost. None of that even begins to reflect the menace coming up behind them nor what Natalie will have to do if there’s any hope of survival.
Well done, Ms. Milchman—once again, you’ve kept me up at night because I couldn’t stop reading 😉
December 3, 2017
Copy courtesy of NetGalley
OMW, what a crock of shit: the author tries way too hard to be taken seriously, is repetitive and boring........read half way and the story was still in the same place. Boring, one-dimensional characters and no plot to speak of.
OMW, what a crock of shit: the author tries way too hard to be taken seriously, is repetitive and boring........read half way and the story was still in the same place. Boring, one-dimensional characters and no plot to speak of.
May 20, 2018
Thank you to Sourcebooks Landmark and NetGalley for an advance e-copy of Wicked River by Jenny Milchman in exchange for an honest review. To say this novel is cringe-inducing is an understatement. As each page is turned, the reader becomes more and more involved and terrified. This is the story of Natalie and Doug Larson, newlyweds who will be spending their honeymoon in the Adirondacks on a canoeing and camping trip. Doug had convinced a reluctant Natalie to get back to nature to celebrate their union. It soon becomes clear to Natalie there is another reason why they find themselves on six million acres of wild forests. One night, they come across the murdered corpse of someone Doug knows and fear drives them further into the forest, without food, water and shelter. To make matters worse, they start feeling like they are being watched. Who and why will be the questions that will keep you glued to the page. Will they ever leave the Adirondacks? This is the fourth novel for Jenny Milchman and I look forward to reading more of her work.
December 7, 2018
|2.75 stars|
A psycho killer and a couple on a honeymoon are what constitutes this book. The initial chapters didn’t promise anything good, because- sloppy characters, stupid decisions and a killer in the woods. I felt like all the cards being laid in from of me in a game I would rather quit.
Apart from this, there are other characters who have zero contribution to the actual plot and most of they are egoistic or whiny.
Natalie is going for an adventure because she wants to share a life with ‘her husband’ Doug. Even when she knows this isn’t her cup of tea and she is a crybaby at every instant. Doug is shady, basically, everything he does is either creepy or strange. All that and Natalie still can’t believe that Doug is finally ‘her husband’. Or the author things we are not buying their relationship because all we see is a woman unsure of everything she is doing and an over-adventurous husband.
Next, we talk about the psycho killer, who is making elaborate plans and these two married people walk right into it. What happens next is a story I would rather not repeat.
Wicked River was exhausting. Even with good storytelling and crazy characters, the story failed to impress me at a lot of levels. Maybe it's not my cup of tea.
A psycho killer and a couple on a honeymoon are what constitutes this book. The initial chapters didn’t promise anything good, because- sloppy characters, stupid decisions and a killer in the woods. I felt like all the cards being laid in from of me in a game I would rather quit.
Apart from this, there are other characters who have zero contribution to the actual plot and most of they are egoistic or whiny.
Natalie is going for an adventure because she wants to share a life with ‘her husband’ Doug. Even when she knows this isn’t her cup of tea and she is a crybaby at every instant. Doug is shady, basically, everything he does is either creepy or strange. All that and Natalie still can’t believe that Doug is finally ‘her husband’. Or the author things we are not buying their relationship because all we see is a woman unsure of everything she is doing and an over-adventurous husband.
Next, we talk about the psycho killer, who is making elaborate plans and these two married people walk right into it. What happens next is a story I would rather not repeat.
Wicked River was exhausting. Even with good storytelling and crazy characters, the story failed to impress me at a lot of levels. Maybe it's not my cup of tea.
May 19, 2018
It’s her wedding day and Natalie Abbott can’t wait to say “I Do”. Doug made all the arrangements for the honeymoon. They would leave the next day for a hiking trip in the Adirondacks. It’s not exactly the honeymoon Natalie dreamed about all her life, but Doug is excited about it, so she agrees.
They are on their own, going deep into the woods and putting their survival skills to good use. It doesn’t take long for them to realize they are not alone and danger lurks behind every tree. Their love may not be enough to get them out alive.
This book is aptly named as it is truly a wicked adventure. Hiking and camping is not my idea of a romantic honeymoon or any kind of vacation for that matter. After reading this, I’ll definitely be keeping it off my bucket list.
The characters are vividly portrayed and literally come to life on each page. You can feel their agony, their anger, their betrayal and their fear. The character growth in this story is very well developed, especially in Natalie’s case.
I felt like I was on a rollercoaster ride as I tried to figure out what was going on. Natalie and Doug are in danger every step of the way on what should have been a celebration of their marriage. This is a page-turner to say the least. It’s a well-written, captivating read. It’s the first time I’ve read anything by this author but it won’t be my last.
FTC Disclosure: I voluntarily reviewed an Advance Reader Copy of this book from NetGalley and the publisher. I was not required to write a positive review. All opinions expressed are my own.
They are on their own, going deep into the woods and putting their survival skills to good use. It doesn’t take long for them to realize they are not alone and danger lurks behind every tree. Their love may not be enough to get them out alive.
This book is aptly named as it is truly a wicked adventure. Hiking and camping is not my idea of a romantic honeymoon or any kind of vacation for that matter. After reading this, I’ll definitely be keeping it off my bucket list.
The characters are vividly portrayed and literally come to life on each page. You can feel their agony, their anger, their betrayal and their fear. The character growth in this story is very well developed, especially in Natalie’s case.
I felt like I was on a rollercoaster ride as I tried to figure out what was going on. Natalie and Doug are in danger every step of the way on what should have been a celebration of their marriage. This is a page-turner to say the least. It’s a well-written, captivating read. It’s the first time I’ve read anything by this author but it won’t be my last.
FTC Disclosure: I voluntarily reviewed an Advance Reader Copy of this book from NetGalley and the publisher. I was not required to write a positive review. All opinions expressed are my own.
November 3, 2017
(Spoilers abound!) One of the slowest "thrillers" I've ever read. Why is a survival, trapped-in-the-woods-with-a-cannibal thriller having its plot propelled by the 13-year-old niece? The niece's storyline was 1000% implausible, boring, annoying, and bogged everything down. The whole childhood-friend-drug-smuggling was also farfetched and superfluous. This book needed some HEAVY editing, the removal of both of those storylines, cutting about 150 pages, and a new title.
Notes while I was reading:
She's sitting on the canoe crossbar while they've already gotten underway, and hubby hasn't corrected her so they don't tip over until now? Pfft. Has Ms. Milchman actually ever canoed?
Why is this 13-year-old so obsessed with a random groomsman?
Girl's not wearing a sports bra on this trip?
EVERYTHING IS OVERWRITTEN
Notes while I was reading:
She's sitting on the canoe crossbar while they've already gotten underway, and hubby hasn't corrected her so they don't tip over until now? Pfft. Has Ms. Milchman actually ever canoed?
Why is this 13-year-old so obsessed with a random groomsman?
Girl's not wearing a sports bra on this trip?
EVERYTHING IS OVERWRITTEN
May 21, 2018
For years there has been a resurgence in the mystery/thriller world that I call the Nordic Noir invasion. That movement has been led by terrific writers like Stieg Larsson, Jo Nesbo, Camilla Lackberg, etc... Meanwhile, back stateside, there has been a lesser known but just as powerful new sub-genre in the mystery/thriller world I refer to as Adirondack Noir.
The Adirondack Mountains of upstate New York are majestic, mysterious, beautiful and full of history and stories. Several authors have set their stories in this area, which can be just as stark and desolate as those novels based in the Nordic region of Europe. One of the authors at the forefront of the Adirondack Noir movement is Jenny Milchman. She lives in the gorgeous Hudson Valley region of New York just North of NYC and has set her novels a little bit further north in the Adirondacks.
WICKED RIVER is Milchman's finest work to date --- and that is saying something! It is a dark, complex fever-dream of a novel that you just cannot shake or wake up from. There is an air of mystery around the entire novel and the characters are each so complicated it is difficult to ever get a good grip on exactly what is going on or driving them. It's best to just sit back and go along for the ride.
The action begins at the wedding of Natalie and Doug Larson. They are a well-to-do, NYC couple who have chosen the Adirondacks not only for their wedding ceremony but also their honeymoon. Just prior to the wedding, Doug and two members of his bridal party are seen having a heated discussion with two strangers who seemingly arrived out of nowhere to confront them. This is witnessed not only by Natalie but also her niece, Mia. Throughout the novel, Milchman switches between Doug, Natalie and Mia for different points of view. This verbal altercation is strange yet quite meaningful to the plot and the horrors that are to come.
After the ceremony, Doug and Natalie begin their honeymoon amidst the six million acre park that makes up the Adirondack Mountain range. They have chosen to start off their new life together in adventurous fashion by going on an 'off road' adventure that will include canoeing, camping out and foraging for themselves out in the open wilderness. There are checkpoints they are required to make or go to in case of trouble. What happens next is completely unexpected (and I will not reveal all here lest I spoil it for other readers). Let's just leave it that Doug and Natalie find themselves far off-track and injured. They are also not alone. WICKED RIVER opened with a scene that depicted a female hiker being abducted by a strange figure. It is this very same figure, who we later know is named Kurt, that comes upon Doug and Natalie. At first it seems like Kurt is their savior as he helps nurse them both back to health and provides them with food and shelter.
However, Kurt is the Adirondacks version of the boogey-man. A man who has been living off the grid for so long that he has lost almost any semblance of humanity and is beyond dangerous. Kurt has created his own little world in which only he gets to decide who lives or dies in it. Those who are not marked for death he gets obsessive about --- and there may be no means to escape. Now, he has focused his attention on Doug and Natalie. Any weird feelings that had already started in the young relationship between the newlyweds are quickly put aside as they will need all their wits about them to overcome Kurt. It is sort of like DELIVERANCE meets the HUNGER GAMES as there are many pitfalls in Kurt's Adirondack Kingdom and he is the sole games master.
Doug and Natalie figure out fairly quickly that Kurt is an unstable figure they need to get far away from. They know this long before they realize that the jerky they are eating is NOT venison. There is a scene where they come upon Kurt's 'smokehouse' that was straight out of TEXAS CHAINSAW MASSACRE. The novel comes with a reader's guide of questions as well as an insightful Q&A with Jenny Milchman. What I found most amusing is that she does not consider herself a writer of thrillers. She has a point, because WICKED RIVER is so well written and full of great characters and stunning plot twists that only a master writer could have created it --- thereby labeling her a thriller writer comes across as diminishing this accomplishment. WICKED RIVER is an amazing, hard to describe novel that borders on literary horror and will definitely haunt your dreams and serve as a cautionary tale for anyone seeking the adventure of an off road visit to the Adirondacks!
The Adirondack Mountains of upstate New York are majestic, mysterious, beautiful and full of history and stories. Several authors have set their stories in this area, which can be just as stark and desolate as those novels based in the Nordic region of Europe. One of the authors at the forefront of the Adirondack Noir movement is Jenny Milchman. She lives in the gorgeous Hudson Valley region of New York just North of NYC and has set her novels a little bit further north in the Adirondacks.
WICKED RIVER is Milchman's finest work to date --- and that is saying something! It is a dark, complex fever-dream of a novel that you just cannot shake or wake up from. There is an air of mystery around the entire novel and the characters are each so complicated it is difficult to ever get a good grip on exactly what is going on or driving them. It's best to just sit back and go along for the ride.
The action begins at the wedding of Natalie and Doug Larson. They are a well-to-do, NYC couple who have chosen the Adirondacks not only for their wedding ceremony but also their honeymoon. Just prior to the wedding, Doug and two members of his bridal party are seen having a heated discussion with two strangers who seemingly arrived out of nowhere to confront them. This is witnessed not only by Natalie but also her niece, Mia. Throughout the novel, Milchman switches between Doug, Natalie and Mia for different points of view. This verbal altercation is strange yet quite meaningful to the plot and the horrors that are to come.
After the ceremony, Doug and Natalie begin their honeymoon amidst the six million acre park that makes up the Adirondack Mountain range. They have chosen to start off their new life together in adventurous fashion by going on an 'off road' adventure that will include canoeing, camping out and foraging for themselves out in the open wilderness. There are checkpoints they are required to make or go to in case of trouble. What happens next is completely unexpected (and I will not reveal all here lest I spoil it for other readers). Let's just leave it that Doug and Natalie find themselves far off-track and injured. They are also not alone. WICKED RIVER opened with a scene that depicted a female hiker being abducted by a strange figure. It is this very same figure, who we later know is named Kurt, that comes upon Doug and Natalie. At first it seems like Kurt is their savior as he helps nurse them both back to health and provides them with food and shelter.
However, Kurt is the Adirondacks version of the boogey-man. A man who has been living off the grid for so long that he has lost almost any semblance of humanity and is beyond dangerous. Kurt has created his own little world in which only he gets to decide who lives or dies in it. Those who are not marked for death he gets obsessive about --- and there may be no means to escape. Now, he has focused his attention on Doug and Natalie. Any weird feelings that had already started in the young relationship between the newlyweds are quickly put aside as they will need all their wits about them to overcome Kurt. It is sort of like DELIVERANCE meets the HUNGER GAMES as there are many pitfalls in Kurt's Adirondack Kingdom and he is the sole games master.
Doug and Natalie figure out fairly quickly that Kurt is an unstable figure they need to get far away from. They know this long before they realize that the jerky they are eating is NOT venison. There is a scene where they come upon Kurt's 'smokehouse' that was straight out of TEXAS CHAINSAW MASSACRE. The novel comes with a reader's guide of questions as well as an insightful Q&A with Jenny Milchman. What I found most amusing is that she does not consider herself a writer of thrillers. She has a point, because WICKED RIVER is so well written and full of great characters and stunning plot twists that only a master writer could have created it --- thereby labeling her a thriller writer comes across as diminishing this accomplishment. WICKED RIVER is an amazing, hard to describe novel that borders on literary horror and will definitely haunt your dreams and serve as a cautionary tale for anyone seeking the adventure of an off road visit to the Adirondacks!
May 12, 2018
Thriller about a pair of newlyweds who get lost while hiking in the Adirondacks and run into a crazy man in the woods who wants to make sure that his new "guests" stay with him for good. It was an average read, reasonably entertaining and suspenseful, but it had too many completely unrealistic plot points to be truly satisfying.
July 18, 2018
I will say that hearing Jenny talk about what inspired this story made it all more enjoyable when I was sitting down to write my review. WICKED RIVER was my introduction to Milchman and I can't believe I haven't picked up more by her before - that's definitely changing!
A honeymoon canoeing trip in the Adirondacks sounds romantic, right? Well let me tell you, that is not the case for newlyweds Natalie and Doug. Everyone's fear of the woods is that you never truly feel like you're alone, well Natalie and Doug know they're not alone out in the millions of acres surrounding them. The term "home field advantage" came to mind when dealing with Kurt - the man living in the woods. Imagine having the woods turned against you and not knowing if you will be able to make it out alive.
As someone that has been on a camping trip up by Rainy River (basically at the Minnesota/Canada border) I would be absolutely terrified of this happening. I did not go into the woods while we were there. You don't know what's in there! Milchman taps into the fear of not knowing what's around you and created a truly evil character in Kurt - some of the things he does.
Overall, this was a page-turner from start to finish and I would highly recommend this. Probably not before going on a camping trip though...better save it for afterwards.
I give this 5/5 stars!
A honeymoon canoeing trip in the Adirondacks sounds romantic, right? Well let me tell you, that is not the case for newlyweds Natalie and Doug. Everyone's fear of the woods is that you never truly feel like you're alone, well Natalie and Doug know they're not alone out in the millions of acres surrounding them. The term "home field advantage" came to mind when dealing with Kurt - the man living in the woods. Imagine having the woods turned against you and not knowing if you will be able to make it out alive.
As someone that has been on a camping trip up by Rainy River (basically at the Minnesota/Canada border) I would be absolutely terrified of this happening. I did not go into the woods while we were there. You don't know what's in there! Milchman taps into the fear of not knowing what's around you and created a truly evil character in Kurt - some of the things he does.
Overall, this was a page-turner from start to finish and I would highly recommend this. Probably not before going on a camping trip though...better save it for afterwards.
I give this 5/5 stars!
July 3, 2018
This book starts off fast paced with a jogger running in the woods trying to escape capture from an unknown predator. Then the plot switches to Natalie and Doug's wedding. It is quickly apparent that something is awry in Denmark when Doug's groomsmen come close to blows with two strange men immediately before the start of the wedding. Even though the plot slows down at this point I was trying to figure how these new developments pieced together with the mysterious man in the woods. But as the two newlyweds embark on their honey moon Wicked River becomes a slow burn. And that's okay if that's what tickles your fancy, but I was expecting roaring rapids, tangled forests, and howling animals. I guess I was expecting a bit more of a presence by mother nature than simply sounds that go bump in the night. But as we all now the true malevolent presence is not nature but the evil that is found in man. In the end, Milchman ties together all of the subplots and wraps Wicked River with a feel good bow holding promises for a bright and happy future.
Did I like the book? I liked the story line (4 stars) but thought that a shorter book probably would have had better pacing. So overall Wicked River gets 3.5 stars from me.
Did I like the book? I liked the story line (4 stars) but thought that a shorter book probably would have had better pacing. So overall Wicked River gets 3.5 stars from me.
April 29, 2018
After reading this book I definitely won’t be planning any camping trips in the woods!
Natalie and Doug are looking forward to spending their honeymoon in the woods, to be at one with nature and be totally alone.
The trip starts off well but things soon start to go wrong.
Alongside this story is that of Kurt who has made his home in the woods but his survival is often at the cost of a passing hiker. He is a very strange man and when he spots Natalie and Doug in his area, he plans to persuade them to stay with him.
This is a gripping read and there’s a real race against time at the end.
Thanks to Sourcebooks Landmark and NetGalley for the opportunity to read this book.
Natalie and Doug are looking forward to spending their honeymoon in the woods, to be at one with nature and be totally alone.
The trip starts off well but things soon start to go wrong.
Alongside this story is that of Kurt who has made his home in the woods but his survival is often at the cost of a passing hiker. He is a very strange man and when he spots Natalie and Doug in his area, he plans to persuade them to stay with him.
This is a gripping read and there’s a real race against time at the end.
Thanks to Sourcebooks Landmark and NetGalley for the opportunity to read this book.
June 20, 2018
This was a fast, furious read that really grabbed me- and refused to let go until I’d completed all the ups and downs along with the protagonists.
Essentially, it reads like your (or mine, maybe) worst nightmare: newlyweds Natalie and Doug decide to go hiking in the remote Adirondacks for their honeymoon, but soon discover that they’re not alone- and that they don’t know each other nearly as well as they think. Because Kirk is out there, too, and he’s hunting for somebody to come and live with him.
One thing I really liked about this book was the multiple viewpoints that swept you from Natalie and Doug’s experience, into Kirk’s head, so you know what he’s thinking, to Mia, Natalie’s niece and the person that first realises something is wrong. It keeps the story fresh, and exciting- because you’re willing for Mia to put the pieces together, and find out exactly what Natalie and Doug have gotten themselves into, especially as Doug has a very particular reason for wanting to go to the most remote part of New York for their honeymoon…
As strong and memorable as Mia is, though- and as much as you find yourself rooting for her- the same can’t really be said for the two newlyweds. Doug starts the story as remote, angry and a bit of a bully, whilst Natalie is timid, and puts up with everything he does- so much so that I confess to rolling my eyes at the page a few times. The real excitement starts when things start to go downhill for them, and as they start to realise what really matters- perhaps it’s each other. Watching their characters- and relationship- develop as a result was really rewarding, for all the right reasons.
Watching them interact with Kirk, as well, was nail-biting, and the tension throughout the novel built to a fever-pitch. Jenny Milchman is a master of the nail-biting plot, as betrayals and twists are slowly unveiled, one after the other, as Natalie and Doug find themselves in ever-deeper waters. Plot twists come thick and fast, and the screw turns, so slowly that you don’t notice- but then you’re nervously biting your nails at the end and praying they make it out safely.
In the end, this is a book about relationships: how well do we know the people we’re closest to, and how can adversity bring us closer together? By taking us to the depths of the wilderness, Milchman shows that danger is when we realise what’s the most important to us- and find strengths that we didn’t know we had. Everybody comes out of this book transformed, and if that’s not an inspirational and fascinating ending to a novel I don’t know what is.
Three word review: dark. Dangerous. Tense.
Essentially, it reads like your (or mine, maybe) worst nightmare: newlyweds Natalie and Doug decide to go hiking in the remote Adirondacks for their honeymoon, but soon discover that they’re not alone- and that they don’t know each other nearly as well as they think. Because Kirk is out there, too, and he’s hunting for somebody to come and live with him.
One thing I really liked about this book was the multiple viewpoints that swept you from Natalie and Doug’s experience, into Kirk’s head, so you know what he’s thinking, to Mia, Natalie’s niece and the person that first realises something is wrong. It keeps the story fresh, and exciting- because you’re willing for Mia to put the pieces together, and find out exactly what Natalie and Doug have gotten themselves into, especially as Doug has a very particular reason for wanting to go to the most remote part of New York for their honeymoon…
As strong and memorable as Mia is, though- and as much as you find yourself rooting for her- the same can’t really be said for the two newlyweds. Doug starts the story as remote, angry and a bit of a bully, whilst Natalie is timid, and puts up with everything he does- so much so that I confess to rolling my eyes at the page a few times. The real excitement starts when things start to go downhill for them, and as they start to realise what really matters- perhaps it’s each other. Watching their characters- and relationship- develop as a result was really rewarding, for all the right reasons.
Watching them interact with Kirk, as well, was nail-biting, and the tension throughout the novel built to a fever-pitch. Jenny Milchman is a master of the nail-biting plot, as betrayals and twists are slowly unveiled, one after the other, as Natalie and Doug find themselves in ever-deeper waters. Plot twists come thick and fast, and the screw turns, so slowly that you don’t notice- but then you’re nervously biting your nails at the end and praying they make it out safely.
In the end, this is a book about relationships: how well do we know the people we’re closest to, and how can adversity bring us closer together? By taking us to the depths of the wilderness, Milchman shows that danger is when we realise what’s the most important to us- and find strengths that we didn’t know we had. Everybody comes out of this book transformed, and if that’s not an inspirational and fascinating ending to a novel I don’t know what is.
Three word review: dark. Dangerous. Tense.
June 28, 2018
Survival in wilderness and fighting AGAINST nature.
But not only.
I am drawn to stories of struggle and the triumph of the human spirit against life-threatening circumstances. Maybe also because I am not an outdoor type myself but reading books or watching movies about the extreme situations in which characters suddenly find themselves gives me a possibility to experience an adrenaline rush staying safe in my cozy little world.
Wicked River is one of those books, exciting and entertaining. Though I think that the book could be much better if it hadn't paid to much attention to some secondary character/-s who not just slowed down the whole story, but also started to increasingly annoy me while the thrilling tension rose. I don't want to question the story-line, I believe that actually everything COULD be possible, I have enough fantasy to imagine it, and yes, also in THIS way.
But the last action of some secondary character was just too much even for my outdoor naiveté. Without giving too much away: for me, THIS secondary character, who filled in too much place in this story for my taste, spoiled the book.
But still the adventure was worth it to live through.
***ARC provided kindly by the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.***
July 28, 2022
4 stars - English Ebook
Review follows later.
Review follows later.
November 11, 2018
I would have titled this book The Honeymoon from Hell! This was a random pick off the library shelf, with a bit of deja vu as I find myself back in an Adirondack forest. These are not the magical woods of Harry’s Trees (which I had just read) but a nightmare beyond compare. I read it until the wee hours of the morning - would have given it five stars but it was just TOO over the top with impossible events. Will definitely read more by this author. 🌲🌳🌲🌳
May 19, 2018
In Jenny Milchman's Wicked River, this thriller will take you on a wild non-stop ride on a river, so you'll better hang on tight. For Natalie Abbott, she had just gotten married to her husband Doug Larson. But things aren't what they seem to be for her. It all started with a huge argument with his friends and then things took off from them on a wild start. For their honeymoon, they decided to canoe along the Adirondacks and explored the river. From there, the rapids aren't the only thing that were rocky---tempers are high, when Natalie learns some hidden truths about Doug's past and the hidden stash of coke in the canoe. And that was only the start of their troubles, when a lone stranger used the woods as his private land and kills animals for his prey. When they get lost, they landed in the deep crevasses of the forest and tried to survive, while they fight for their lives with injuries, starving and dehydrated. But when they fought they had died, Kurt Pierson saves their lives with homemade medicines from Mother Nature. But this savior is just an act, when they wants them to stay on his land. While their family is frantic with worry for them, they sent out the police and search and rescue volunteers to look for them. For Natalie and Doug, they would do anything to fight for their lives and escape when given the chance to be safe.
July 19, 2018
I’ve read all of Jenny Milchman’s books and I honestly think that they get better and better. The River Wild takes us on an unexpected honeymoon adventure in the Adirondack wilderness. A true survivalist tale at heart pounding pace which kept me enraptured throughout.
January 3, 2019
Jenny Milchman is a master at descriptive language - when her characters are stranded in the woods, you feel stranded with them! Wicked River is a wild and breathless ride that reads like a movie. This page turner will rivet you to your chair until the very end. Bravo!
May 25, 2018
When NYC native, Natalie, said “I do” to her fiancé Doug, I’m not so sure she knew exactly what she was saying “I do” to… first she said “I do” to a new life with her new husband, and wilderness lover, Doug. During a thoughtfully planned out wilderness wedding, two sketchy men show up but Nat has no idea why (😳red flag!! Blaring red flag🚩!!!) the ceremony continues and once they have officially tied the knot, they embark on a wonderfully romantic wilderness get away (well for an outdoorsman maybe) I was screaming at Nat to turn around, demand a Carribean beach getaway but as characters often do what authors tell them…she didn’t listen!
Jenny Milchman was a master at creating a very suspenseful, edge-of-your-seat thriller full of “omg” moments! Thank God as things began to take a turn for the worse Nat had her lovingly prepared and trustworthy new husband with her (ahem… cough cough wink wink).
You know that age old saying “when it rains it pours”???? Well let’s just say for Nat and Doug… it was a not stop deluge of disaster!
Well at least Kurt (an obvious rustic mountain man who knows his way around a wooded disaster) was there to save the day! Oh wait… umm… about Kurt…
Ahhhhh!!! If you want to find out how Nat and Doug’s honeymoon really turns out, you will fly through “Wicked River” furiously and feel a definite shock and awe as you learn who is trustworthy, who is bat sh%# crazy, and who might be behind a very … interesting way to “make friends”!! Seriously… we loved Wicked River and we adore Jenny Milchman!
MARK YOUR CALENDARS!! Jenny will be joining Two Girls and a Book Obsession on August 5th at Clovis Point Vineyard for our “2nd Book and Wine Pairing” author signing event!
Jenny Milchman was a master at creating a very suspenseful, edge-of-your-seat thriller full of “omg” moments! Thank God as things began to take a turn for the worse Nat had her lovingly prepared and trustworthy new husband with her (ahem… cough cough wink wink).
You know that age old saying “when it rains it pours”???? Well let’s just say for Nat and Doug… it was a not stop deluge of disaster!
Well at least Kurt (an obvious rustic mountain man who knows his way around a wooded disaster) was there to save the day! Oh wait… umm… about Kurt…
Ahhhhh!!! If you want to find out how Nat and Doug’s honeymoon really turns out, you will fly through “Wicked River” furiously and feel a definite shock and awe as you learn who is trustworthy, who is bat sh%# crazy, and who might be behind a very … interesting way to “make friends”!! Seriously… we loved Wicked River and we adore Jenny Milchman!
MARK YOUR CALENDARS!! Jenny will be joining Two Girls and a Book Obsession on August 5th at Clovis Point Vineyard for our “2nd Book and Wine Pairing” author signing event!
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