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The Captive
A rural noir about a woman on a pulse-pounding expedition to deliver a fugitive—and forced to confront her own past on the journey
In a secessionist rural state that has cut itself off completely from urban centers, where living is hardscrabble and poor but “free,” Brooke Holland runs a farm with her husband, Milo, and two daughters. Their life at the fringes of modern society is tenuous—they make barely enough from each harvest to keep going—yet Brooke cherishes the loving, peaceful life they have carved out for themselves. She has even begun to believe she is free from the violent history she has kept a secret from her family.
When escaped criminal Stephen Cawley attacks at the farm, Brooke’s buried talents surface, and she manages to quickly and harshly subdue him. She is convinced that he has come in retribution for the blood feud she thought she escaped years ago. Brooke sets out to bring Cawley to justice, planning to use the bounty on his head to hide her family far from danger. Fearing that other members of Cawley’s infamous family will soon descend, Brooke insists Milo and the girls flee with her, travelling miles on foot across an unforgiving landscape to reach the nearest marshal. Their journey, started at the onset of winter with little preparation, brings already strained family dynamics to the breaking point. As Brooke’s ghosts—both real and imagined—close in, the ruthlessness that let her survive her past may become the biggest threat to her hopes for a different future. What follows is a harrowing exploration of family loyalty, trauma, and resilience.
As haunting and propulsive as it is powerfully written, The Captive is a thrilling debut novel about the impossible choices we make to survive and protect the ones we love.
In a secessionist rural state that has cut itself off completely from urban centers, where living is hardscrabble and poor but “free,” Brooke Holland runs a farm with her husband, Milo, and two daughters. Their life at the fringes of modern society is tenuous—they make barely enough from each harvest to keep going—yet Brooke cherishes the loving, peaceful life they have carved out for themselves. She has even begun to believe she is free from the violent history she has kept a secret from her family.
When escaped criminal Stephen Cawley attacks at the farm, Brooke’s buried talents surface, and she manages to quickly and harshly subdue him. She is convinced that he has come in retribution for the blood feud she thought she escaped years ago. Brooke sets out to bring Cawley to justice, planning to use the bounty on his head to hide her family far from danger. Fearing that other members of Cawley’s infamous family will soon descend, Brooke insists Milo and the girls flee with her, travelling miles on foot across an unforgiving landscape to reach the nearest marshal. Their journey, started at the onset of winter with little preparation, brings already strained family dynamics to the breaking point. As Brooke’s ghosts—both real and imagined—close in, the ruthlessness that let her survive her past may become the biggest threat to her hopes for a different future. What follows is a harrowing exploration of family loyalty, trauma, and resilience.
As haunting and propulsive as it is powerfully written, The Captive is a thrilling debut novel about the impossible choices we make to survive and protect the ones we love.
272 pages, Kindle Edition
First published January 12, 2021
127 people are currently reading
3675 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 223 reviews
December 6, 2021
What a heart-thumping, fast-paced read!!!
This epic story has dystopian elements: You feel like you are in the Wild West, with criminals and dope-fiends everywhere - who seem even worse than Zombies! A very human tale of the battle of rival criminal clans, misconceptions, self-perception, and just the over-riding instinct for survival. I was riveted!
The action takes place in the dystopian future, somewhere out in the lawless badlands of what used to be North America. From the start, I was desperate to uncover Brooke's secrets. I literally got cranky when I would have to put my Ereader down and actually do some work! As I read, the characters walked out of the pages like living, breathing people and enacted each scene in my mind's eye.
I loved Brooke's gentle, kindhearted husband, Milo. His character was designed to be deliberately endearing to the reader, amidst so many ruthless, murderous villains. (I love authors who resist literary typecasting!!!)
Thank goodness the descriptions of all the evil doings were kept to the bare minimum. There were some graphic descriptions of a few fight scenes, but I was rooting for Brooke every step of the way!
While Milo and her daughters were appalled by Brooke's ability to subdue Stephen Crawley, I stood and cheered! What a total badass Brooke was! (And yet I am a staunch pacifist - so this shows you how good this author is, reeling me in despite my peace-loving beliefs.)
Towards the end, there was a slight lull in the perpetual action (no spoilers here), but I suspected that, refusing to be predictable, the author wanted to catch us off-guard, and then added a few unexpected twists and turns to keep us readers alert right to the very end. And just when you thought the worst was over, eh?!!!!
Take a treacherous journey along with Brooke and her family through some lawless, snow covered back country and enjoy the ride, like I did. This author writes so well, so vividly, that I was shocked to discover that this is her first published novel. A spectacular read: I thoroughly enjoyed it! Highly recommended.
(After some time away from this novel, I came to this conclusion: one of the themes in this novel is: "Is my enemy really my enemy, and if so, WHY?" This book forces us to examine our knee-jerk responses to trigger events, to make us stop and focus. We need to investigate before we take drastic action and get more information on which to make an informed decision. How can you make a decision based on gut feelings alone? Bound to lead to disaster.
Maybe that is what is really wrong with the human race: gut reaction/uninformed emotionalism versus rational or logical thinking/investigation and compassion? We should wait to hear the WHOLE story, from both sides, and reach a fair and middle ground wherever possible.)
My thanks to the author, publisher and NetGalley for a free ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review.
This epic story has dystopian elements: You feel like you are in the Wild West, with criminals and dope-fiends everywhere - who seem even worse than Zombies! A very human tale of the battle of rival criminal clans, misconceptions, self-perception, and just the over-riding instinct for survival. I was riveted!
The action takes place in the dystopian future, somewhere out in the lawless badlands of what used to be North America. From the start, I was desperate to uncover Brooke's secrets. I literally got cranky when I would have to put my Ereader down and actually do some work! As I read, the characters walked out of the pages like living, breathing people and enacted each scene in my mind's eye.
I loved Brooke's gentle, kindhearted husband, Milo. His character was designed to be deliberately endearing to the reader, amidst so many ruthless, murderous villains. (I love authors who resist literary typecasting!!!)
Thank goodness the descriptions of all the evil doings were kept to the bare minimum. There were some graphic descriptions of a few fight scenes, but I was rooting for Brooke every step of the way!
While Milo and her daughters were appalled by Brooke's ability to subdue Stephen Crawley, I stood and cheered! What a total badass Brooke was! (And yet I am a staunch pacifist - so this shows you how good this author is, reeling me in despite my peace-loving beliefs.)
Towards the end, there was a slight lull in the perpetual action (no spoilers here), but I suspected that, refusing to be predictable, the author wanted to catch us off-guard, and then added a few unexpected twists and turns to keep us readers alert right to the very end. And just when you thought the worst was over, eh?!!!!
Take a treacherous journey along with Brooke and her family through some lawless, snow covered back country and enjoy the ride, like I did. This author writes so well, so vividly, that I was shocked to discover that this is her first published novel. A spectacular read: I thoroughly enjoyed it! Highly recommended.
(After some time away from this novel, I came to this conclusion: one of the themes in this novel is: "Is my enemy really my enemy, and if so, WHY?" This book forces us to examine our knee-jerk responses to trigger events, to make us stop and focus. We need to investigate before we take drastic action and get more information on which to make an informed decision. How can you make a decision based on gut feelings alone? Bound to lead to disaster.
Maybe that is what is really wrong with the human race: gut reaction/uninformed emotionalism versus rational or logical thinking/investigation and compassion? We should wait to hear the WHOLE story, from both sides, and reach a fair and middle ground wherever possible.)
My thanks to the author, publisher and NetGalley for a free ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review.
January 11, 2021
4.5 stars (rounded up)
If you're looking for a quicker read that will keep you on the edge of your seat the entire time, you have found it. A brilliant debut by Canadian author, Fiona King Foster, there is no extraneous fluff to be had. This book is a very no nonsense and taut thriller/dystopian story about a woman how has escaped a former life only to be dragged back in unwillingly. I read the summary of this book months ago, but by the time I opened the book to read it I no longer remembered what it was about. I've made it a rule to avoid re-reading the book summary prior to starting the book and that has benefited me greatly.
The way Ms. Foster slowly reveals this other world (even the place is non de-script although I would guess it is somewhere in North America) is expertly done. You go back and forth between Brooke's past and present day in both narratives, which I thought was so clever because the only person who knows the whole story is Brooke. Not you (the reader), or her family truly know what is happening and we must wait patiently (or impatiently) to find out how everything fits together and what this new world is like.
I've said it before, but I'll say it again. There are a lot of many good books written for commercial consumption (you know the ones I'm talking about with the authors who pump out hit after hit after hit each year), but The Captive is the story that I seek out when I look at what books I want to read and review. This is a story that you probably haven't heard of and probably won't receive a lot of publicity or show up on any best lists, but it is very much worth your time. It is excellent and I strongly encourage you to read it.
Thank you so much to Ecco Books, Ashlyn Edwards and Fiona King Foster for the opportunity to read this book and provide an honest review.
Review Date: 01/11/2021
Publication Date: 01/12/2021
If you're looking for a quicker read that will keep you on the edge of your seat the entire time, you have found it. A brilliant debut by Canadian author, Fiona King Foster, there is no extraneous fluff to be had. This book is a very no nonsense and taut thriller/dystopian story about a woman how has escaped a former life only to be dragged back in unwillingly. I read the summary of this book months ago, but by the time I opened the book to read it I no longer remembered what it was about. I've made it a rule to avoid re-reading the book summary prior to starting the book and that has benefited me greatly.
The way Ms. Foster slowly reveals this other world (even the place is non de-script although I would guess it is somewhere in North America) is expertly done. You go back and forth between Brooke's past and present day in both narratives, which I thought was so clever because the only person who knows the whole story is Brooke. Not you (the reader), or her family truly know what is happening and we must wait patiently (or impatiently) to find out how everything fits together and what this new world is like.
I've said it before, but I'll say it again. There are a lot of many good books written for commercial consumption (you know the ones I'm talking about with the authors who pump out hit after hit after hit each year), but The Captive is the story that I seek out when I look at what books I want to read and review. This is a story that you probably haven't heard of and probably won't receive a lot of publicity or show up on any best lists, but it is very much worth your time. It is excellent and I strongly encourage you to read it.
Thank you so much to Ecco Books, Ashlyn Edwards and Fiona King Foster for the opportunity to read this book and provide an honest review.
Review Date: 01/11/2021
Publication Date: 01/12/2021
December 8, 2020
I received a digital copy of this book from the publisher, Ecco, via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
The Captive is a compelling, intriguing thriller. The plot moves along quickly. Rustic noir isn’t a subgenre I’ve come across before, and that mixed with the slightly dystopian setting kept me interested. The writing was solid. Unfortunately, it left me dissatisfied.
Our story takes place in near future in which a rural state has seceded from the Union and cut itself off from the rest of the US. Life here is very rural and agrarian, with a few small towns but no true urban areas. The people who live here have a hard life, but most consider the hardship worth the preported freedom they claim. This could be an idyllic culture if not for the drugs and the infighting said drugs bring with them. It’s essential a technologically deficient microcosm of the world in which we live.
I’m a sucker for well crafted rural settings, and that is to me Foster’s greatest strength in this book. She imbued the story with a very strong sense of place, and that is a large part of why I kept reading even when annoyed by other elements of the book. I could feel the cold and the wet, and I could see how it balanced with the beautiful. I love the dichotomy between danger and beauty that so defines nature in my mind, and that was well presented here.
The plot itself is an interesting one. Brooke, a wife and mother with a lot of skeletons in her closet, finds an enemy from her past hiding on her family’s farm. Terror and greed have her capturing said enemy and taking him to the outside world, where she can claim the bounty federal agents have placed on his head. The bounty is enough to give her and her family a fresh start somewhere new. The problem is, she’s hidden her past so well that her family doesn’t see why they could possibly need a fresh start. Brooke’s husband and children know nothing of her past, and can’t understand the person she has morphed into since discovering their trespasser.
And now we come to my problem with the novel: Brooke. Honestly, I had issues with all of the characters, and found the characterization to be the least believable and most obnoxious element of the story. The entire plot could’ve been resolved in 20 pages had Brooke actually communicated with ANYONE. She guarded her secrets like priceless jewels and then, when that decision endangered everyone and everything she loved, she seemed blindsided by it. What did you expect, Brooke?! TALK TO YOUR HUSBAND, BROOKE. Seriously every single problem in this book could have been solved by open and honest conversation. It drove me insane.
I think The Captive is going to be a popular book, especially for those who like their thrillers with unreliable narrators à la Gone Girl and The Girl on the Train. The dystopian rural noir setting is an unusual one, and it’s what drew me to the book in the first place and kept me reading. But if failures to communicate serving as the driving force behind a plot make you crazy, maybe skip this one.
You can find this review and more at Novel Notions.
The Captive is a compelling, intriguing thriller. The plot moves along quickly. Rustic noir isn’t a subgenre I’ve come across before, and that mixed with the slightly dystopian setting kept me interested. The writing was solid. Unfortunately, it left me dissatisfied.
Our story takes place in near future in which a rural state has seceded from the Union and cut itself off from the rest of the US. Life here is very rural and agrarian, with a few small towns but no true urban areas. The people who live here have a hard life, but most consider the hardship worth the preported freedom they claim. This could be an idyllic culture if not for the drugs and the infighting said drugs bring with them. It’s essential a technologically deficient microcosm of the world in which we live.
I’m a sucker for well crafted rural settings, and that is to me Foster’s greatest strength in this book. She imbued the story with a very strong sense of place, and that is a large part of why I kept reading even when annoyed by other elements of the book. I could feel the cold and the wet, and I could see how it balanced with the beautiful. I love the dichotomy between danger and beauty that so defines nature in my mind, and that was well presented here.
The plot itself is an interesting one. Brooke, a wife and mother with a lot of skeletons in her closet, finds an enemy from her past hiding on her family’s farm. Terror and greed have her capturing said enemy and taking him to the outside world, where she can claim the bounty federal agents have placed on his head. The bounty is enough to give her and her family a fresh start somewhere new. The problem is, she’s hidden her past so well that her family doesn’t see why they could possibly need a fresh start. Brooke’s husband and children know nothing of her past, and can’t understand the person she has morphed into since discovering their trespasser.
And now we come to my problem with the novel: Brooke. Honestly, I had issues with all of the characters, and found the characterization to be the least believable and most obnoxious element of the story. The entire plot could’ve been resolved in 20 pages had Brooke actually communicated with ANYONE. She guarded her secrets like priceless jewels and then, when that decision endangered everyone and everything she loved, she seemed blindsided by it. What did you expect, Brooke?! TALK TO YOUR HUSBAND, BROOKE. Seriously every single problem in this book could have been solved by open and honest conversation. It drove me insane.
I think The Captive is going to be a popular book, especially for those who like their thrillers with unreliable narrators à la Gone Girl and The Girl on the Train. The dystopian rural noir setting is an unusual one, and it’s what drew me to the book in the first place and kept me reading. But if failures to communicate serving as the driving force behind a plot make you crazy, maybe skip this one.
You can find this review and more at Novel Notions.
January 13, 2021
In The Captive, the exact year and setting are left vague. Brooke and Milo—parents of two daughters—live on a small farm and harvest cranberries. Society has collapsed. And people are now mainly divided by rural or city living.
With palpable tension between the two factions: those living in cities typically lean toward federal governing, while those outside the cities are governed by militias. Both factions also claim rule over events and citizens of their respective jurisdictions and take offense when the other faction attempts to intervene.
Due to societal breakdown, past technologies still exist, their availability is sparse, especially depending on where one resides. Those in cities live a more modernized lifestyle, with those in rural settings have fallen back to past living-standards.
While attending a public auction, Brooke learns from a federal marshal that a violent man from her past has surfaced in the area and is searching for her. Brooke also knows if this man is close by, other members of his family—some even more violent than he—certainly won’t be far behind. Brooke, with a secretive past of her own unknown to her family, realizes sudden measures must be taken to avoid not only danger to her, but also to the lives of her unsuspecting family.
The Captive is a well written, descriptive, rural noir that falls along the lines of a “road” or “pursuit” novel, with Foster introducing interesting, three-dimensional characters. As the story then unfolds in current times, flashbacks fill in Brooke’s past.
While the novel could be characterized as being a dystopian-type novel, Foster does not overemphasize societal breakdown in a way that might otherwise overshadow the characters and story.
Those who have read novels such as The Outlander by Gil Adamson and The Wolf Road by Beth Lewis should enjoy The Captive.
This review was originally published at MysteryandSuspense.com
Netgalley provided an ARC of The Captive upon the promise of a fair review.
January 17, 2021
I found THE CAPTIVE by Fiona King Foster breathtakingly tender and horrifying, impossible to put down. I compulsively finished this novel late last night and I'm still breathless. It's the reader who becomes the "captive"! What a world! What a story! It's an amazing thriller with a kick-ass woman/wife/mother at the center. Masterful.
January 6, 2021
It was slow reading. I found it a bit hard to follow and sometimes wordy.
February 5, 2021
3.5 The Captive is Fiona King Foster's debut novel.
Sometime in the near future, one state has decided to secede from the union. (An idea that has been bandied about by more than one state in the US.)
Brooke Holland, her husband, Milo, and their their two daughters make their home on a farm in that seceded state. They've carved out a life that sustains them. "Poor but free." And for fifteen years, Brooke has steered clear of revealing her past to Milo - until the day Stephen Cawley shows up at the farm. The Hollands and Cawleys have had a blood feud for generations. (I immediately thought Hatfields and McCoys.) There's a bounty on Cawley's head and Brooke sees it as a way to deliver him to the Federal Marshalls, collect the bounty and keep her family safe. That's the idea anyway, but the best laid plans.....
I liked the idea of the rebel state, imagining what that would look like. King Foster's setting is a throwback to rural history and suits the story being told. The juxtaposition of old and new, then and now, rural vs city, provides a great backdrop for a inevitable reckoning. In more than one way for Brooke.
Her past is slowly revealed in memories and gives the listener a better idea of who and why she has chosen to disappear down a remote country road. While there are plenty of action and tense situations, The Captive is a character driven novel, with Brooke at the helm. Mothers, daughters, families, love, loyalty loss and more all figure into King Foster's novel.
I'm not sure how I felt about Brooke. I applauded her loyalty to her husband and daughters, but the time for revealing the why of what they're doing came and left more than once. A lot of what happened could have been resolved by speaking the truth. And it made me a little frustrated with her. But, on the flip side, she believes she is protecting them. Milo, in fact, ended up being favorite character.
Without providing a spoiler, I did find one of the plot devices used in the final chapters out of sync with the tone of the journey there. But all in all, The Captive was an enjoyable listen and a great introduction for a new writer.
I chose to listen to The Captive. The reader was Courtney Patterson. She has a lovely voice, pleasant to listen to and clear and easy to understand. She provided many easily identifiable voices for the characters. (Teenager Holly's was perfect!) She has lots of movement in her reading, matching the action of the plot and the emotion of the characters. I had expected Brooke's voice would be a bit 'rougher' given her past. But she grew into the character I had imagined. I do enjoy listening to books as I find I become more immersed in the story. And that was true with The Captive
Sometime in the near future, one state has decided to secede from the union. (An idea that has been bandied about by more than one state in the US.)
Brooke Holland, her husband, Milo, and their their two daughters make their home on a farm in that seceded state. They've carved out a life that sustains them. "Poor but free." And for fifteen years, Brooke has steered clear of revealing her past to Milo - until the day Stephen Cawley shows up at the farm. The Hollands and Cawleys have had a blood feud for generations. (I immediately thought Hatfields and McCoys.) There's a bounty on Cawley's head and Brooke sees it as a way to deliver him to the Federal Marshalls, collect the bounty and keep her family safe. That's the idea anyway, but the best laid plans.....
I liked the idea of the rebel state, imagining what that would look like. King Foster's setting is a throwback to rural history and suits the story being told. The juxtaposition of old and new, then and now, rural vs city, provides a great backdrop for a inevitable reckoning. In more than one way for Brooke.
Her past is slowly revealed in memories and gives the listener a better idea of who and why she has chosen to disappear down a remote country road. While there are plenty of action and tense situations, The Captive is a character driven novel, with Brooke at the helm. Mothers, daughters, families, love, loyalty loss and more all figure into King Foster's novel.
I'm not sure how I felt about Brooke. I applauded her loyalty to her husband and daughters, but the time for revealing the why of what they're doing came and left more than once. A lot of what happened could have been resolved by speaking the truth. And it made me a little frustrated with her. But, on the flip side, she believes she is protecting them. Milo, in fact, ended up being favorite character.
Without providing a spoiler, I did find one of the plot devices used in the final chapters out of sync with the tone of the journey there. But all in all, The Captive was an enjoyable listen and a great introduction for a new writer.
I chose to listen to The Captive. The reader was Courtney Patterson. She has a lovely voice, pleasant to listen to and clear and easy to understand. She provided many easily identifiable voices for the characters. (Teenager Holly's was perfect!) She has lots of movement in her reading, matching the action of the plot and the emotion of the characters. I had expected Brooke's voice would be a bit 'rougher' given her past. But she grew into the character I had imagined. I do enjoy listening to books as I find I become more immersed in the story. And that was true with The Captive
June 12, 2021
This was so close to being an outstanding book - so much promise - but it lost its glimmer early on and I feel a bit cheated. So much to say here. I’ll admit right up front that I may be wrong about the following, as I skipped a great deal so probably missed out on crucial details.
The writing itself was competent and straightforward other than a few awkward phrases that took me out of the action - Brooke at one point kept something "in abeyance," a word that didn't match up with her character and that she wouldn't actually have used. Minor quibble.
The world-building was lacking - I thought since the author is Canadian it would have a perfect dystopian rural setting - the area around Buxton, Ontario which has a huge history - but it includes an interstate which made it clearly the US. Other than that detail everything seemed to be just “rural.” I also didn’t understand the political history of the fictional area, which again I may have missed details about.
The characters weren’t very appealing. Brooke’s secretiveness wasn’t completely logical to me, and Milo, who may be a person of colour literally, lacks colour as a character as he gave up a lucrative job as a high school teacher to follow Brooke to an isolated, failing farm, and I couldn’t find any explanation for that extreme decision. Brooke herself needed a course in how to communicate with your partner; of course if she’d spoken up at the beginning, there wouldn’t be a plot. She also displayed some very odd responses to danger and had a strange, almost detached relationship with her own daughters.
There were a few plot points that confused me . I just didn’t get the significance of that to the larger picture except that it showed Brooke not thinking clearly under pressure. As well, the whole drug-selling issue bored me which ruined the book since that seemed to be the whole basis of Brooke’s past. If I’d known the plot was going to revolve around drugs I’d not have picked the book up in the first place.
Having said this, I’d very happily look for whatever this author comes up with next. Yay Canadian writers!
2 1/2 stars
The writing itself was competent and straightforward other than a few awkward phrases that took me out of the action - Brooke at one point kept something "in abeyance," a word that didn't match up with her character and that she wouldn't actually have used. Minor quibble.
The world-building was lacking - I thought since the author is Canadian it would have a perfect dystopian rural setting - the area around Buxton, Ontario which has a huge history - but it includes an interstate which made it clearly the US. Other than that detail everything seemed to be just “rural.” I also didn’t understand the political history of the fictional area, which again I may have missed details about.
The characters weren’t very appealing. Brooke’s secretiveness wasn’t completely logical to me, and Milo, who may be a person of colour literally, lacks colour as a character as he gave up a lucrative job as a high school teacher to follow Brooke to an isolated, failing farm, and I couldn’t find any explanation for that extreme decision. Brooke herself needed a course in how to communicate with your partner; of course if she’d spoken up at the beginning, there wouldn’t be a plot. She also displayed some very odd responses to danger and had a strange, almost detached relationship with her own daughters.
There were a few plot points that confused me . I just didn’t get the significance of that to the larger picture except that it showed Brooke not thinking clearly under pressure. As well, the whole drug-selling issue bored me which ruined the book since that seemed to be the whole basis of Brooke’s past. If I’d known the plot was going to revolve around drugs I’d not have picked the book up in the first place.
Having said this, I’d very happily look for whatever this author comes up with next. Yay Canadian writers!
2 1/2 stars
September 30, 2020
Different and mesmerizing
This story is going to be hard to describe well. It is hard to determine when exactly, time wise, this takes place. It seems as though it would be set in the past yet there is cell service and internet. The living conditions are so simple and modest.
The characters are well constructed and the story alternates between Brooke’s current journey and her upbringing (and what an upbringing it is - no spoilers). She is clever and resilient but doesn’t trust anyone other than herself which leads to a few problems along the way. There were twists, some quite surprising.
As I read, I kept thinking about the Hatfields and the McCoys. This story has those rural, brutal moments, full of revenge. It seems to end on a more contemplative note. This was excellent, fast paced and completely different from anything I have read. I would highly recommend.
Thanks to NetGalley, the author and Ecco for a copy in exchange for a review.
This story is going to be hard to describe well. It is hard to determine when exactly, time wise, this takes place. It seems as though it would be set in the past yet there is cell service and internet. The living conditions are so simple and modest.
The characters are well constructed and the story alternates between Brooke’s current journey and her upbringing (and what an upbringing it is - no spoilers). She is clever and resilient but doesn’t trust anyone other than herself which leads to a few problems along the way. There were twists, some quite surprising.
As I read, I kept thinking about the Hatfields and the McCoys. This story has those rural, brutal moments, full of revenge. It seems to end on a more contemplative note. This was excellent, fast paced and completely different from anything I have read. I would highly recommend.
Thanks to NetGalley, the author and Ecco for a copy in exchange for a review.
March 13, 2021
Well I really wanted to like this one, but it just seemed to fall flat.
The Captive Is set in a secessionist state in Canada. There is almost a dystopian feel to the setting. However it doesn’t really seem to play that much of a role in the storyline. This book could easily have been set in eastern Kentucky or eastern Tennessee.
We follow Brooke As her past life collides with her current happy family life. At first you like Brooke. But then as the story moves along I found myself becoming more and more annoyed by her. There seems to be a lot of communication issues throughout the story. The end does make up for it, but not enough for me to really have enjoyed the plot.
I do think a lot of people will like this book. There is a wilderness setting to it and quite a bit of adventure. Overall, for me it was a two star read.
The Captive Is set in a secessionist state in Canada. There is almost a dystopian feel to the setting. However it doesn’t really seem to play that much of a role in the storyline. This book could easily have been set in eastern Kentucky or eastern Tennessee.
We follow Brooke As her past life collides with her current happy family life. At first you like Brooke. But then as the story moves along I found myself becoming more and more annoyed by her. There seems to be a lot of communication issues throughout the story. The end does make up for it, but not enough for me to really have enjoyed the plot.
I do think a lot of people will like this book. There is a wilderness setting to it and quite a bit of adventure. Overall, for me it was a two star read.
January 2, 2021
Brooke and Milo, along with their daughters Holly and Sal, live in a secessionist rural territory, cut off from urban areas and the federal government. While it’s hard work and survival is the name of the game, they are at least free to live a peaceful and loving life with their family. When a hardened criminal named Stephen Cawley comes to the town, Brooke realizes that her violent past and peaceful present must interact with one another. When Brooke decides to walk Cawley to the closet urban center through the mountains, along with her family, she must become the person she thought she had left behind and do whatever it takes to survive. If you’ve ever heard of the Hatfields and McCoy’s down in Kentucky, then this book will really spark your interest. Personally, I love stories about opposite gang members and the damage they cause, not only to themselves but others around them. This was an addictive thriller that has a great juxtaposition between a woman who did what she could to get out of that lifestyle, suddenly being thrown back in, along with her family that she’s still trying to shield. I thought this book was absolutely brilliant but it is incredibly violent.
June 27, 2021
dystopian story about a libertarian state separated from the US . noirish in its telling & great way to spend a few hours.
June 20, 2021
Brooke Holland has been running from her past for a long time. She thought she was away from that with her husband and her kids. Until someone shows up at her home from her past! Did her past finally catch up to her or does she have the chance to get away from it?
This book took place in the middle of nowhere Canada. It was wild to me because they didn't have internet, or television or a phone, or cars or anything. They traveled via horse!
It was a pretty good book though. Nothing crazy but a decent read for sure. I mean for a thriller, there was nothing really exciting but I enjoyed it nonetheless.
Would I recommend it?
Yes... but I wouldn't pay full price for it lol. I got it from the library so I'd recommend that.
This book took place in the middle of nowhere Canada. It was wild to me because they didn't have internet, or television or a phone, or cars or anything. They traveled via horse!
It was a pretty good book though. Nothing crazy but a decent read for sure. I mean for a thriller, there was nothing really exciting but I enjoyed it nonetheless.
Would I recommend it?
Yes... but I wouldn't pay full price for it lol. I got it from the library so I'd recommend that.
April 13, 2021
1 star
****Mild spoiler in review****
This book was terrible. Not in a way that is offensive or degrading to anyone but just the enjoyment level of this book was awful.
It starts okay we are in rural Canada somewhere and because of that environment horses are the mode of transportation and descriptions are very rustic. Almost gives off dystopian vibes.
Brooke is a mysterious woman but a big part of my dislike of this book is the meek husband and the two VERY annoying and whiny kids.
Like I don’t mind if the character is unprepared or unskilled to hide and survive. I like it that way, rooting for the underdog but where that is the idea behind the kids and husband they crossed the line into hopelessness. They dragged their feet and got in the way of each other every fucking chance. After this dragging out again and again it gets old fast.
Then I felt like the author spent too much time over describing things that didn’t need to. Especially when we were getting the backstory. It definitely could have been shorter and more to the point.
Then throughout the entire novel, there is the threat of being chased by more than just one outlaw. Like his family must be close behind and that never comes to fruition so definitely feel like that hurt the book because I just feel teased or strung along. Like really one dude high caused all this chaos. Sure.
****Mild spoiler in review****
This book was terrible. Not in a way that is offensive or degrading to anyone but just the enjoyment level of this book was awful.
It starts okay we are in rural Canada somewhere and because of that environment horses are the mode of transportation and descriptions are very rustic. Almost gives off dystopian vibes.
Brooke is a mysterious woman but a big part of my dislike of this book is the meek husband and the two VERY annoying and whiny kids.
Like I don’t mind if the character is unprepared or unskilled to hide and survive. I like it that way, rooting for the underdog but where that is the idea behind the kids and husband they crossed the line into hopelessness. They dragged their feet and got in the way of each other every fucking chance. After this dragging out again and again it gets old fast.
Then I felt like the author spent too much time over describing things that didn’t need to. Especially when we were getting the backstory. It definitely could have been shorter and more to the point.
Then throughout the entire novel, there is the threat of being chased by more than just one outlaw. Like his family must be close behind and that never comes to fruition so definitely feel like that hurt the book because I just feel teased or strung along. Like really one dude high caused all this chaos. Sure.
November 17, 2021
I wanted this to be good, but it just never got there.
Brooke finds a wanted man on her property and subdues him. There is a warrant out for his arrest and she quickly packs her Captive and family up to head to the nearest town to collect the reward money. What her family doesn't know is her connection to the fugitive.
There were such good narrations throughout the book that I decided to read the entire novel. Unfortunately, I was not blown away. The dialogue was terrible. I think the author was trying to convey a hurry-up attitude of Brooke, but it came off as lazy and irritating.
I wish the author would have spent more time with this book, because there were so many promising aspects. Vengeful, blood-thristy, drug-addicts, a distraught family that has no idea what's going on, a violent background, drug feuds, lost family, and death.
I would be willing to give this author another chance, but I wouldn't recommend this book in particular of hers.
Brooke finds a wanted man on her property and subdues him. There is a warrant out for his arrest and she quickly packs her Captive and family up to head to the nearest town to collect the reward money. What her family doesn't know is her connection to the fugitive.
There were such good narrations throughout the book that I decided to read the entire novel. Unfortunately, I was not blown away. The dialogue was terrible. I think the author was trying to convey a hurry-up attitude of Brooke, but it came off as lazy and irritating.
I wish the author would have spent more time with this book, because there were so many promising aspects. Vengeful, blood-thristy, drug-addicts, a distraught family that has no idea what's going on, a violent background, drug feuds, lost family, and death.
I would be willing to give this author another chance, but I wouldn't recommend this book in particular of hers.
December 26, 2020
3.5
The Captive by Fiona King Foster, is a debut novel that had me sucked in from page one. Everything about this read just fascinated me, and it was unlike anything I've read before. At times, I felt like I was in the novel, that's how well it reads.
.
Brooke and her husband Milo don't have much money, they live in an isolated area, and money is very scarce. One day, they're attending an auction where they hear an announcement that an outlaw, Stephen Cawley is wanted for federal crimes. After hearing this announcement, Brooke becomes slightly more distant and acts irrationally, or so we think.. A few days later, lo and behold Brooke finds Cawley hiding in her shed. Brooke manages to subdue him, and she convinces her family to walk the 100 miles to deliver him to the feds so they can collect the reward. Brooke becomes more distant with her family, and won't let anyone near Cawley. During this long travel, we learn that Brooke and Cawley actually know eachother, and their backstory is super fascinating. Brooke didn't have it easy as a child and neither did Cawley, they were children in a war between families, that they knew nothing about.
.
This book was such a quick read, and like I said, it had me hooked from page one. I loved hearing about Brookes childhood, the secrets that she has kept ever since, and just how tough she is. However, she was also not the brightest character, she was super irrational and did things that weren't the smartest. Although at times this book was super predictable, it still had enough twists and turns to keep me guessing. For a debut novel I think this was an excellent read.
The Captive by Fiona King Foster, is a debut novel that had me sucked in from page one. Everything about this read just fascinated me, and it was unlike anything I've read before. At times, I felt like I was in the novel, that's how well it reads.
.
Brooke and her husband Milo don't have much money, they live in an isolated area, and money is very scarce. One day, they're attending an auction where they hear an announcement that an outlaw, Stephen Cawley is wanted for federal crimes. After hearing this announcement, Brooke becomes slightly more distant and acts irrationally, or so we think.. A few days later, lo and behold Brooke finds Cawley hiding in her shed. Brooke manages to subdue him, and she convinces her family to walk the 100 miles to deliver him to the feds so they can collect the reward. Brooke becomes more distant with her family, and won't let anyone near Cawley. During this long travel, we learn that Brooke and Cawley actually know eachother, and their backstory is super fascinating. Brooke didn't have it easy as a child and neither did Cawley, they were children in a war between families, that they knew nothing about.
.
This book was such a quick read, and like I said, it had me hooked from page one. I loved hearing about Brookes childhood, the secrets that she has kept ever since, and just how tough she is. However, she was also not the brightest character, she was super irrational and did things that weren't the smartest. Although at times this book was super predictable, it still had enough twists and turns to keep me guessing. For a debut novel I think this was an excellent read.
January 14, 2021
Captive by Fiona King Foster is the author's debut novel. She has created an intense suspenseful story that kept me reading all night.
Brooke lives in a rural community that has seceded from the government. The citizens here live a life that is void of most modern comforts and technology. They prefer a quiet farming life. However, there is still crime.
Brooke has escaped from her crime family and settled on a farm with husband Milo and their kids. She has almost forgotten her former life until an escaped prisoner shows up and threatens her family. Brooke turns the tables on him and once she has subdued him makes the decision that her, Milo and the kids will travel by foot, in the winter, with no money, to turn him in and collect the reward money. Their trek through the cold not so isolated woods is a harrowing journey that will have grave consequences.
This is a quick read partly because the need to see the ending is so strong. There were some frustrating and unbelievable moments for me. First Brooke's husband knows nothing of her crime family or her relationship with the prisoner. Her stubborn selfishness to keep her secret endangered all their lives. Second why would you risk the lives of your children not to mention the trauma they will have to live with forever. Lastly, Brooke performs intense surgery to remove a bullet on a very awake patient. She has no medical degree! All these decisions infuriated me. I wanted better decisions from the protagonist or a hint of she is changing her ways from this experience.
I have to give the author props though. If she had not written such an intriguing premise I would not have cared so much. I think crime thriller fans will love this non stop adventure.
I received a free copy of this book from the publishers via NetGalley for a fair and honest review. All opinions are my own.
Brooke lives in a rural community that has seceded from the government. The citizens here live a life that is void of most modern comforts and technology. They prefer a quiet farming life. However, there is still crime.
Brooke has escaped from her crime family and settled on a farm with husband Milo and their kids. She has almost forgotten her former life until an escaped prisoner shows up and threatens her family. Brooke turns the tables on him and once she has subdued him makes the decision that her, Milo and the kids will travel by foot, in the winter, with no money, to turn him in and collect the reward money. Their trek through the cold not so isolated woods is a harrowing journey that will have grave consequences.
This is a quick read partly because the need to see the ending is so strong. There were some frustrating and unbelievable moments for me. First Brooke's husband knows nothing of her crime family or her relationship with the prisoner. Her stubborn selfishness to keep her secret endangered all their lives. Second why would you risk the lives of your children not to mention the trauma they will have to live with forever. Lastly, Brooke performs intense surgery to remove a bullet on a very awake patient. She has no medical degree! All these decisions infuriated me. I wanted better decisions from the protagonist or a hint of she is changing her ways from this experience.
I have to give the author props though. If she had not written such an intriguing premise I would not have cared so much. I think crime thriller fans will love this non stop adventure.
I received a free copy of this book from the publishers via NetGalley for a fair and honest review. All opinions are my own.
December 24, 2020
The Captive by Fiona King Foster falls under the genre of rural noir. This is a sub-genre that I am not sure I have read before. It takes place during an unspecified time in history but cell phones are present so we know we are dealing with recent time. There is a slightly dystopian quality to the novel which focuses on a family living in a rural community that has seceded from the federal state. The living conditions are somewhat harsh but the family is free.
At an auction in the county an announcement is made about an outlaw, named Stephen Cawley, being wanted for federal crimes. That same fugitive attacks the cranberry farm where Brooke, her husband Milo, and two daughters live. Brooke manages to skillfully subdue Cawley and the family sets out together on foot to travel the 100 miles to the federal outpost to deliver Cawley in exchange for a bounty that would see the family survive a year.
The author paints the bleak winter conditions and the fatigued travellers strikingly. I could feel the chill as they crossed a cold bog in their bare feet.
During the long travels, the story is interspersed with Brooke’s family history. I found this part of the story particularly satisfying and didn’t want to put the book down. Family feuds from within and between families, Brooke had an upbringing you wouldn’t expect of a farmer and family-driven person.
With a few twists to surprise the reader and a fiery ending, I enjoyed this book.
Thank you to @harpercollinsca for an ARC in exchange for an honest review. the Captive, by Canadian author Fiona King Foster publishes January 12, 2021.
At an auction in the county an announcement is made about an outlaw, named Stephen Cawley, being wanted for federal crimes. That same fugitive attacks the cranberry farm where Brooke, her husband Milo, and two daughters live. Brooke manages to skillfully subdue Cawley and the family sets out together on foot to travel the 100 miles to the federal outpost to deliver Cawley in exchange for a bounty that would see the family survive a year.
The author paints the bleak winter conditions and the fatigued travellers strikingly. I could feel the chill as they crossed a cold bog in their bare feet.
During the long travels, the story is interspersed with Brooke’s family history. I found this part of the story particularly satisfying and didn’t want to put the book down. Family feuds from within and between families, Brooke had an upbringing you wouldn’t expect of a farmer and family-driven person.
With a few twists to surprise the reader and a fiery ending, I enjoyed this book.
Thank you to @harpercollinsca for an ARC in exchange for an honest review. the Captive, by Canadian author Fiona King Foster publishes January 12, 2021.
January 13, 2021
I really enjoyed this one and I dont usually find myself drawn to suspense or thriller storylines but this one grabbed me and didn't let go!
Taking place in the near future, Brooke and her family live on a farm cut off from everything.
Its a quiet life and she appreciates the peacefulness it offers her considering her violent history, something her family knows nothing about. But when an escaped criminal strikes the farm her dark history bubbles to the surface. Brooke captures the criminal and wants to use him as an opportunity for her and her family to have a fresh start. But in order to do that they must journey in the rural terrain in winter and things become intense and dangerous, and her past haunts and threatens her and her families future.
I loved how much was going on in this story and the way Foster slowly revealed it all, it kept pulling me in deeper. The slightly dystopian setting was perfect too. Brook's character was intriguing, how she held back so much about her past back made for such strained relationships, especially with her husband. If you enjoy thrillers you should check this one out! Thank you to the tagged publisher for sending me this arc.
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For more of my book content check out instagram.com/bookalong
Taking place in the near future, Brooke and her family live on a farm cut off from everything.
Its a quiet life and she appreciates the peacefulness it offers her considering her violent history, something her family knows nothing about. But when an escaped criminal strikes the farm her dark history bubbles to the surface. Brooke captures the criminal and wants to use him as an opportunity for her and her family to have a fresh start. But in order to do that they must journey in the rural terrain in winter and things become intense and dangerous, and her past haunts and threatens her and her families future.
I loved how much was going on in this story and the way Foster slowly revealed it all, it kept pulling me in deeper. The slightly dystopian setting was perfect too. Brook's character was intriguing, how she held back so much about her past back made for such strained relationships, especially with her husband. If you enjoy thrillers you should check this one out! Thank you to the tagged publisher for sending me this arc.
•
For more of my book content check out instagram.com/bookalong
January 27, 2022
Really solid debut. I buzzed through this in one night. It had me turning the pages quickly to find out what was happening. The snowy & tense atmosphere made for perfect winter reading. I’d recommend this for fans of 4th of July Creek by Smith Henderson or if you like Jane Harper’s writing. I’d describe this as rural noir with a dystopian edge.
April 2, 2021
A little weird but meh
January 19, 2023
3.5 stars. Not my typical genre but it was a blind date with a book & I did find it interesting and different
December 21, 2025
This book was quite slow at the start and I had trouble getting into it. It then picked up and it became quite a good read.
December 25, 2025
2 stars
The beginning got my hopes up and then it just really didn’t deliver. Really odd reading experience.
The beginning got my hopes up and then it just really didn’t deliver. Really odd reading experience.
May 17, 2021
I really wanted to like this book and give it a higher rating. I kept trying. One of the reasons I like reading a lot is to get lost in the story. Setting the scene helps that a lot, but I feel like Foster lacks a bit here. She gives names of towns, but doesn’t really give you a context of where the story takes place, making it a little difficult to picture in my mind. Eventually, I just decided that, being a Canadian author, the story must take place in North America. Therefore, I am picturing the landscape of Northern Montana, Alberta Canada area. Next up for me, the storyline. The family lives in a dystopian world, completely different than what we know in modern day. I had trouble determining what time era this was set in. It has to be more modern because one of the characters has a cell phone, but there is no clear definition of this.
The story dives right into the point, The Captive, which is fine, but it seems to be a little lost at first. I spent so much time trying to figure out what was going on that it was hard to enjoy the story. The characters - Holly, the daughter, what a pain. She is attitude and teenager all wrapped into one little package. Lots of sass at every opportunity. The constant pushback got a old quickly. Milo, he is so weak. He is definitely a follower and not a leader. At the same time, I cannot imagine what it is like to be lied to and kept in the dark for so many years and finding out the person you love is not who you thought they were. Brooke, the complete flip on her personality was a little head spinning. If she just communicated with Milo, all of this could have been resolved and they could have worked together for their family. But, Brooke didn’t give Milo the opportunity, instead choosing to continue to lie to him. But I guess had she just communicated, we wouldn’t have a book.
After the story tried to take a turn, it felt like more of the same patterns. Finally we come to a "are they dead?" part related to multiple characters, including a chapter walking us through a fantasy world. I had a feeling the book was going to head in one direction and was so glad it didn't. I would have been rather angry had it. Then the ending. It just ends. No closure, no finality to the story, it just ends. Almost like the author ran out of time mid thought.
I wanted to give the book 2 stars, but decided to be generous with 3 since I felt compelled to keep reading just to see what would happen. The ending irritated me enough to wish I could give it 2.5 stars.
The story dives right into the point, The Captive, which is fine, but it seems to be a little lost at first. I spent so much time trying to figure out what was going on that it was hard to enjoy the story. The characters - Holly, the daughter, what a pain. She is attitude and teenager all wrapped into one little package. Lots of sass at every opportunity. The constant pushback got a old quickly. Milo, he is so weak. He is definitely a follower and not a leader. At the same time, I cannot imagine what it is like to be lied to and kept in the dark for so many years and finding out the person you love is not who you thought they were. Brooke, the complete flip on her personality was a little head spinning. If she just communicated with Milo, all of this could have been resolved and they could have worked together for their family. But, Brooke didn’t give Milo the opportunity, instead choosing to continue to lie to him. But I guess had she just communicated, we wouldn’t have a book.
After the story tried to take a turn, it felt like more of the same patterns. Finally we come to a "are they dead?" part related to multiple characters, including a chapter walking us through a fantasy world. I had a feeling the book was going to head in one direction and was so glad it didn't. I would have been rather angry had it. Then the ending. It just ends. No closure, no finality to the story, it just ends. Almost like the author ran out of time mid thought.
I wanted to give the book 2 stars, but decided to be generous with 3 since I felt compelled to keep reading just to see what would happen. The ending irritated me enough to wish I could give it 2.5 stars.
August 20, 2021
Okay, I devoured this book based purely on the fast-paced action and my desire to learn more about Brooke Holland, as her family is thrust into a run-for-your-lives situation. Brooke's husband and kids have no idea that she is a Holland, which I can only relate to the McCoys as in Hatfield and McCoy, the Hatfields represented here with the Cawleys. Some long-standing feud between drug families that Brooke sought to escape, until a Cawley shows up in her new life and suddenly all of her survival skills are put back into a test. Nothing about this really seemed realistic or within the realm of possibility in my personal life, but I really enjoyed being swept up in the family drama all the same!
December 10, 2025
2.5/5⭐️
This was not for me. It sort of felt like we were dropped into the middle of an already ongoing story. I wish the story had more world building. I feel like there was so much I wanted to know about the surrounding cities/towns/states but didn’t get much of a glimpse into that. Our main character is EXTREMELY hard to root for. I struggled to care about Brooke. She was secretive and not very loving towards her family.
Overall there just wasn’t much in this book that was memorable. I do appreciate the fact that the story doesn’t have your typical setting/timeline. When we join the family they’re living somewhere that has seceded from the rest of the country and are living in poverty with no reliable power sources or cars
This was not for me. It sort of felt like we were dropped into the middle of an already ongoing story. I wish the story had more world building. I feel like there was so much I wanted to know about the surrounding cities/towns/states but didn’t get much of a glimpse into that. Our main character is EXTREMELY hard to root for. I struggled to care about Brooke. She was secretive and not very loving towards her family.
Overall there just wasn’t much in this book that was memorable. I do appreciate the fact that the story doesn’t have your typical setting/timeline. When we join the family they’re living somewhere that has seceded from the rest of the country and are living in poverty with no reliable power sources or cars
January 31, 2022
This is a one sitting, the world's gone to hell in a handbag, nail biter.
October 16, 2024
(2.5 star rating) I got this book at the dollar tree store thinking maybe I got a good deal here on a crime thriller. It could've been better and the main protagonist Brooke could've been very less dumb and less equally annoying.
December 10, 2020
Let me relax my jaw and unclench my hands as this read made me tense throughout as all good thrillers do. The premise of this one is so interesting and it was one the reasons I could not resist reading it. I needed to resist reading it because my TBR is honestly embarrassingly long, but it just sounded so interesting and it definitely was! Now I have to say that I came away with rather mixed feelings about this one, although my overall impression is positive.
I never summarize books so if you are looking for a summary, I am going to fail you. I will say this is set in a dystopian society where there are "states" that have succeeded and now live by their own laws. In all honesty, spending all of this time with racist, white, violent folks is not exactly fun reading. While none of this is glorified in any way, it was emotionally exhausting. I feel that it is important to give this trigger warning.
In addition to this exhausting setting, our main protagonist makes decision after decision that left me as a reader absolutely frustrated. While the book slowly delves into the background of our main character in a way that makes her frustrating decisions easier to understand as the we delve further into the book, it still dissatisfied me as a reader.
Probably one of the most frustrating plot points involves children who are lost in the woods at one point in this tale. The adults in the novel were just a little too lax about it. It was UNFATHOMABLE to me that characters would have these long-ass conversations or even sleep while children were missing!! How were they not restless and uprooting every single tree to find these kids?!?!?!? Can you tell I hated this?!?!??! Do the exclamation points not prove this?!?!?!
All that aside, in terms of thrills and actually being a really, really interesting story, this one lives up to it. I had, have, a rollercoaster of emotions about it, but by the time I turned the last page I really found that I liked the tale overall. I think readers looking for a dark, gritty thriller will not be unhappy with this one. Just know there might be a few frustrations along the way.
I never summarize books so if you are looking for a summary, I am going to fail you. I will say this is set in a dystopian society where there are "states" that have succeeded and now live by their own laws. In all honesty, spending all of this time with racist, white, violent folks is not exactly fun reading. While none of this is glorified in any way, it was emotionally exhausting. I feel that it is important to give this trigger warning.
In addition to this exhausting setting, our main protagonist makes decision after decision that left me as a reader absolutely frustrated. While the book slowly delves into the background of our main character in a way that makes her frustrating decisions easier to understand as the we delve further into the book, it still dissatisfied me as a reader.
Probably one of the most frustrating plot points involves children who are lost in the woods at one point in this tale. The adults in the novel were just a little too lax about it. It was UNFATHOMABLE to me that characters would have these long-ass conversations or even sleep while children were missing!! How were they not restless and uprooting every single tree to find these kids?!?!?!? Can you tell I hated this?!?!??! Do the exclamation points not prove this?!?!?!
All that aside, in terms of thrills and actually being a really, really interesting story, this one lives up to it. I had, have, a rollercoaster of emotions about it, but by the time I turned the last page I really found that I liked the tale overall. I think readers looking for a dark, gritty thriller will not be unhappy with this one. Just know there might be a few frustrations along the way.
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