Pines by Black Crouch
I burned through the second half of this book in one day. It is a grade-A thriller, superbly paced and well-thought out. The story has the feel of a Twilight Zone episode with a little bit of the creepy small-town crime drama of say Twin Peaks (which was the inspiration for the story).
Secret Service Agent Ethan Burke awakes in a small Idaho town severely injured and with amnesia. He isn’t sure what happened to him but later learns he had a car accident on his way into the town of Wayward Pines. He was sent there to investigate the disappearance of two other agents, investigating some obscure billionaire of tax fraud. During his recovery, Burke can’t find his ID and struggles to contact the outside world. Worry turns to suspicion, even paranoia as more and more odd little things keep happening to him. There is something wrong with Wayward Pines.
The isolation of creepy small-town is a powerful theme. Imagine an isolated community, American in every way, yet something sinister is taking place as well, hidden by suburban block parties, parent-teacher conferences, and Sunday Church. The people are living double lives, appearing to be middle America while also undertaking something evil. X-Files has had episodes like this with Satan worshippers, cannibalism, and of course small communities of aliens trying to live as humans. There is also the paper-thin veneer of the town, which reminded me of Twilight Episodes where the suburban or rural community isn’t real.
The protagonist, Ethan Burke, is an admirable, likable guy. His story is deeply compelling and fits well with his struggles in the novel. The secondary characters fill their roles well but you really do not get to see any of them develop much. This novel is Ethan’s story.
It did get tiring at times, following as Ethan struggled to find the truth and seemed to get injured over and over again. The mysterious power of the town hung over everything, which became frustrating the longer it was drawn out. Luckily Crouch’s book is a manageable 300 pages and gives you closure at the end.
The climax and big reveal at the end are satisfying but I don’t think will stand the test of time. I won’t spoil it, but the obvious influence of movies and TV shape it and might not really satisfy hardcore fans of X-Files and Twilight Zone. It might feel all too familiar.
This is the beginning of a trilogy and there is definitely some loose ends but I don’t know if I really am that interested in the sequels. The big reveal at the end will leave you in shock but also a little numb to whatever may happen afterwards. I wonder how it can get any weirder.
In the end I think I will read the sequel. Curiosity usually wins out.
I recommend this for people who loved Twilight Zone, X-Files, and Twin Peaks. It is also excellent for those who like classic horror movies about evils in small towns. Mystery and thriller lovers will also like it. Hardcore sci-fi fans may not be impressed largely because it borrows several elements from its predecessors. Still, it is executed well and worth picking up.
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