"The Pines" ~ Blake Crouch

This book was recommended to me by my uncle.  I always pay attention when he does this for a couple reasons. The first is that he doesn't do it that often, so if he says take a look, I take a look.  Second he is one of those scary smart people who is not easily impressed.  That is not to say he isn't a cool guy, because he is very cool, but you aren't going to find him reading "Twilight" or a couple of my other guilty pleasures.  "The Pines" is a creepy, intense, mind bending, really good book.

"The Pines" opens with the main character, Ethan Burke, waking up hurt in an empty field.  He can't remember who he is or why he's there.  He sets out into town to find out what's going on and ends up in the hospital.  Eventually he remembers he is a secret service agent on his way to Wayward Pines, Idaho to investigate the disappearance of two other agents. Upon arriving in town he is involved in a car accident.  The townsfolk, including the sheriff give every appearance of helpfulness without actually providing any help.  All Ethan wants is a way to communicate with the outside world and he's not having much luck.  He and you are left with one really big question, "What is going on in Wayward Pines?"

I read this book in one day.  Crouch has a way of writing suspense and tension in the most everyday situations that I haven't seen in a long time.  The opening sequence of Ethan walking through town was so creepy and I could feel myself being pulled into the story.  My arms were tense and my brow was furrowed.  And that's just the beginning of the book for crying out loud!  It just keeps building from there.  Then just when you think it's going one way, the story shifts and you're shaking your head going "What? Huh? What?" Then it shifts again.  I don't usually talk about the end of the stories, because I don't want to spoil things, but WOW does this have one HELL of an ending that I did not see coming.

Crouch reminds me of Dean Koontz at his best.  I finished this book and went looking for more.  It was creepy and weird and good.  I can't tell you if it was well written or not.  I didn't pay that much attention, I was completely caught up in the story.  It was the perfect book to read right before Halloween.