The Excursion

by T.O. Paine

ESCAPE WAS NEVER AN OPTION

Charly Highsmith is a survivor. Abandoned by her parents, she spent her teens looking after her autistic brother on the bitter streets of Denver, Colorado, with nothing but a jacket and a backpack.

But things are better now. Charly and Jacob live in a two-bedroom apartment near a mall, and with the passing of their long-lost father, they've inherited a cabin high in the Rocky Mountains. Charly's eager to go there. Relive the good times she had as a child, running through the forest with Jacob and her cousins.

Amanda the Overachiever. Cam the Recluse.

But when they arrive, the cabin isn't empty.

Barry the Millionaire. Kennedy the Social Media Magnet. Randall the Hunter.

Standing by the fireplace, Charly sees that look in her neurodivergent brother's eyes. There are too many people. He's going to run. He's going to burst into the unforgiving snowstorm, sprint around the frozen lake, and hide in the forest like he did when they were young.

So much for reliving the good times.

Randall the Hunter goes to the window. Opens the curtains. The blizzard rages outside. He says no one is leaving. He says nothing will stop the hunt. Nothing with stop the excursion.

Genres: Horror, Thriller, Fiction, Mystery, Thriller Suspense

420 pages, Kindle Edition

Published October 23, 2022

About the author

T.O. Paine is an award-winning author of fast-paced thriller suspense novels. He is a member of International Thriller Writers and holds a master’s degree in computer information systems. When he is not writing, you can find him running and cycling through the mountains of Colorado, USA. T.O. has run fifty marathons in fifty states, ridden his road bike over 10,000 miles up 10,000-foot mountains, and completed an IRONMAN.

He resides with his wife, two children, and two Boston terriers: Fiona the Ogre and Rudy the Trickster.

T.O loves to hear from thriller readers. Visit his website for information on upcoming releases, free stories, giveaways, and other thrilling content.

➜ GIVEAWAYS: topaine.com/giveaway
➜ FACEBOOK: facebook.com/topaineauthor
➜ INSTAGRAM: instagram.com/t.o.paine
➜ TWITTER: twitter.com/topaine
➜ EMAIL: topaine@topaine.com
➜ WEBSITE: topaine.com/

Reviews

[LIsa Noell "Rocking the chutzpah!" · Rating 4 out of 5]

My thanks to Dark Swallow books, T.O.Paine and Netgalley.
I found myself quickly swept up in this story.
The damn thing was just action packed!
Also, I'll confess that the story of these two siblings kind of broke my heart.
First off, if things are gonna go to hell, then I prefer a very cold environment! We have that here! Also, if things are very messed up, then we need a nutzo who thinks he is the best of the best of hunters. ✔
Dude was a freak!
Also, this book is about hunters who hunt people. Sick.
I kinda enjoyed the shit outta this book!

[Pat · Rating 3 out of 5]

2.5 stars rounded up.

Unfortunately this book was a bit of a miss for me. Charly and her neurodivergent younger brother, Jacob, have a pretty normal childhood until, when Charly is 10, her father says he has to go away “for work” but he’ll be back to visit them. But they never see him again. This causes their mother to go into a downward spiral of alcohol and drugs until she is completely neglecting them. Charly and Jacob leave their most recent crappy flat a day before they are to be evicted for non payment of rent. Charly does her best to look after Jacob but life on the streets is hard.

Fast forward 12 years or so and things are looking up. Their mother is in a care home but tells them their father has died and left them the cabin in Colorado that they loved staying at so much as children. In fact they will be very well off soon. Charly and Jacob decide to go to the cabin, even though it is the middle of winter, for old times sake. But when they arrive there is a bunch of other people there, including their cousins Amanda and Cam, and the trouble starts straight away. The cabin is being used as a base for ‘excursions’, hunting excursions. Nasty hunting excursions. Randall, the man running the show, is a caricature of a bad guy and he doesn’t work for me at all.

I liked the cold wintery setting but that was about it. There is a lot of running around in the snow while Randall tries his best to control the ‘excursion’ but it all seemed a bit pointless. There is a good twist at the end which saves the book from being a complete disaster. Many thanks to Netgalley and Dark Swallow Books for the much appreciated arc which I reviewed voluntarily and honestly.

[Grace Convertino · Rating 5 out of 5]

Abandoned by her father who took a better paying job away from home (and never returned) and her alcohol-and-drug addicted mother, Charly Highsmith was just barely a teenager and had already spent most of her life looking after her neurodivergent brother, Jacob. She moved in with boy after boy trying to keep a roof over her head after being forced to leave her brother at a shelter. Leaving him broke her heart, but it became impossible to live together on the freezing streets of Denver, especially with her belongings in a backpack and without proper protective gear. However, things seem to be looking up for the siblings, who now live in a decent two-bedroom apartment and have just inherited a lakeside cabin in the Rocky Mountains and a one-and-a-half million dollar trust fund available to Charly when she turns thirty, inherited from their recently deceased father. Their mother, now in hospice care, handed her the keys to the cabin. Charly decides to invite her cousins Amanda (the perfect one) and Cam (the reclusive and somewhat psychopathic one) to the cabin for a family reunion. When they finally reach the cabin through the blizzard, Charly and Jacob find that they are not alone, joined by Randall, the obsessive hunter, Barry the millionaire ready for the “excursion” promised by Randall, and Barry’s social-media-influencer girlfriend, Kennedy. Randall seems to think that the cabin belongs to his boss, Lance, and Charly believes she has been left the cabin and it is hers. When Randall sees the weather conditions, he forbids any of them from leaving or venturing outside to the boathouse. The hunt he has planned for Barry will go on, and the excursion will happen, no matter what—and nothing will stop them.

I had to take a moment at the end of the book to take a couple of deep breaths. I read the book in one sitting, and I’m certain as it progressed, I lost track of everything around me and forgot to breathe. The book was a dark psychological thriller, and the twists throughout were intense. It was well-written, taut, a little scary, incredibly descriptive, and it lured you in immediately then took you on, for lack of a better phrase, Mr. Toad’s Wild Ride. The subject matter was horrifying but absorbing, and I was fully immersed and engaged, sitting bolt upright and at the ready. WOW. I admit I never saw the ending coming—it was a total mind…bender. Just…wow. A tumultuous and captivating novel, The Excursion may not be for the faint of heart or weak in the stomach, but it’s worth every single breathtaking moment you spend reading.

I’d like to thank Booksprout, T. O. Paine, and Dark Swallow Books for the ability to read and review this ARC.

[Julie · Rating 3 out of 5]

Thank you Dark Swallow Books and NetGalley for the copy of The Excursion. Sadly, this book was not for me. None of the characters were relatable or likable and I didn’t see the point of the events in the past until the very end. The story had a lot of potential but the execution was off and it didn’t really engage me, especially since I read a short story with the same basic plot many years ago. If you like a twist that comes out of nowhere, this might be the book for you. 2.5 stars rounded up to 3.

[Alyssa Vang · Rating 4 out of 5]

What an amazing thriller ride by T.O. Paine! This one made me angry, anxious, and disgusted. Which I'm sure was the point! Randall was a vile man, which made him an awesome villain. I was getting an inkling of the big reveal at the end and was happy to see I was right! It was too bad that Charly and Jacob didn't get to make up with their cousins, but I'm glad they both made it through and seemed to have some closure about their dad. Overall, this was a great read, and I'm looking forward to reading more by this author!

[Brett · Rating 5 out of 5]

I enjoyed this thriller a lot! Thank you to Net Galley for the opportunity to read this advanced copy. The elements of suspense made me want to keep reading way past my bedtime every night . The characters were great. The connection between the two main characters was so strong. Charley’s main job in her life is to protect her younger brother with Autism. My son has autism and I just instantly connected to her with that. I did not see the twist at the end coming! This was such an incredible ride and I look forward to reading more from this author in the future!

[Kate Victoria RescueandReading · Rating 3 out of 5]

“It’s not the strongest of the species that survives, nor the most intelligent. It is the one that is most adaptable to change.” - Charles Darwin

This was a pretty fast paced and tense thriller!

You kind of could guess what would happen, but it’s still a great read! I liked the flashbacks and felt they didn’t slow down the story at all.
Randall was your typical sleazy bad guy, and obviously one of my least favourite characters.


Thank you to NetGalley, the author, & Dark Swallow books for a copy!

[Marilyn Wilson · Rating 5 out of 5]

When I finished this book, I sat back and said "Wow". Charly has taken care of her autistic brother, Jacob, her whole life. Abandoned by their parents, she has no choice, but she loves Jacob so much. Her ill Mother summons her to the Assisted Living and tells her that her father is dead and has left her the family cabin and a trust that she will get in two years. Charly decides to take Jacob to the cabin and asks her cousins to join them. The only good times Charly has known were at the cabin, with both of her parents and her cousins. She drives through a blizzard to get there and when they finally arrive, there are other people at the cabin having an "excursion". Charly must outsmart Randall to save herself and her brother. Nonstop action and full of surprises.

[Emma · Rating 4 out of 5]

Woo, this is one excursion I will take a hard pass on thanks! The one IN the book. The book itself is definitely a trip you want to take! This really reminded me of the Robert Hansen case and his favourite story ‘The Most Dangerous Game’. Not only is this a steady building story of mystery and suspense, it is also a look at a group of diverse and complex individuals and an exploration via dual timelines into how family dynamics and life events can impact and shape the people we become. There is also some great, accurate neurodiverse representation which we definitely need more of in books. Although a little slow even for me in places, overall I thought this was a really atmospheric read - especially great for winter!

[Billie · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a brilliant read.
Wonderful well written plot and story line that had me engaged from the start.
Love the well fleshed out characters and found them believable.
Great suspense and found myself second guessing every thought I had continuously.
Can't wait to read what the author brings out next.
Recommend reading.

I read a complimentary advance copy of the book; this is my voluntary and honest review.

[Catherine Sewell · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a page turner that takes your emotions on a rollercoaster with every turn. It takes you into the childhood of a very dysfunctional family and how it has affected them as adults. Then we find ourselves stranded in a blizzard with strangers with our lives in danger. The plot twists and heart pounding scenario will keep you guessing until the end. A must read for sure.

I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

[Kay Oliver · Rating 3 out of 5]

Halloween 2022 Read #21

Ominously intriguing. This book hooked me. The writing was so fast paced, filled with mystery and suspense. It's like 'Lord of the Flies' meets 'The Most Dangerous Game.' It was very predictable but still a fun read. The characters were excellent. A retrieve villain who made my blood boil, and odd sibling pairing with a past, and a wealthy southern man with serious narcissism. A pretty good read but not Paine's best.

[Jenna Hammer · Rating 5 out of 5]

Excited to receive this free copy from a Goodreads Giveaway! Will update my review once I finish

[Patricia Revzin · Rating 5 out of 5]

The word “excursion” can evoke images of a special and often pleasurable experience with family or friends. I was hooked on the story from the very first chapter. The plot of T.O Paine’s latest domestic thriller, however, is dark and sinister, with many unexpected twists. There are two points of view told in alternating chapters: Charly Hightower’s and Randall Thorne’s. For years, twenty-eight-year old Charley has been caring for her autistic younger brother Jacob after their father abandoned his family, leaving them with their drug addicted mother who is now in hospice care.
When her mother gives her the keys to the family cabin in the Rock Mountains, Charly takes Jacob and their two cousins to the cabin for a reunion. Upon arriving, they encounter Randall, Barry (a multimillionaire), and Barry’s girlfriend Kennedy. Randall explains that he and his clients are there on a hunting excursion organized by his boss Lance who owns the cabin and runs Zaroff Excursions. With the onset of a blizzard, Randall forbids anyone to go beyond the boathouse. And so the real hunt begins.
Each chapter is full of tension and heart-pounding suspense, making this book a fast-read. The prose is sharp, the dialogue crisp, the style conversational, and the setting vividly descriptive. While Randall and Barry are typical “bad guys,” Charley comes across as a brave young woman, fierce in her determination to not only survive but also to adapt to her challenging circumstances.
The concluding chapters and epilogue wrap up any loose ends and reinforce the themes of resilience of the human spirit, survival and adaptation, and the redemptive power of love. This book is perfect for fans of thrillers as well as anyone who enjoyed Hunger Games and Lord of the Flies.
Thanks to Dark Swallow Books for an early copy in exchange for my review.

[julie · Rating 5 out of 5]

Charly Highsmith is a survivor. Abandoned by her parents, she spent her teens looking after her autistic brother on the bitter streets of Denver, Colorado, with nothing but a jacket and a backpack.
But things are better now. Charly and Jacob live in a two bedroom apartment near a mall, and with the passing of their long lost father, they've inherited a cabin high in the Rocky Mountains. Charly's eager to go there. Relive the good times she had as a child, running through the forest with Jacob and her cousins.
Amanda the Overachiever. Cam the Recluse.
But when they arrive, the cabin isn't empty.
Barry the Millionaire. Kennedy the Social Media Magnet. Randall the Hunter.
Standing by the fireplace, Charly sees that look in her neurodivergent brother's eyes. There are too many people. He's going to run. He's going to burst into the unforgiving snowstorm, sprint around the frozen lake, and hide in the forest like he did when they were young.
So much for reliving the good times.
Randall the Hunter goes to the window. Opens the curtains. The blizzard rages outside. He says no one is leaving. He says nothing will stop the hunt. Nothing with stop the excursion.
Really enjoyed this book totally recommend
Thank You NetGalley and Dark Swallow Books
I just reviewed The Excursion by T. O. Paine. #TheExcursionTOPaine #NetGalley

[Christina M Swan · Rating 1 out of 5]

This one fell completely flat for me! A THRILLER without the THRILL!

[MommaGoz · Rating 2 out of 5]

I want to thank T.O. Paine and Goodreads for gifting me a copy of this book! I honestly feel bad about the review I'm about to give as I'm so grateful to have received this book. But Mr. Paine asked for honest feedback.

This is my first T.O. Paine book and am eager to read other titles from him. This book however did not do it for me. The dialogue was unbelievable in many cases and while there was decent character development it just never flowed for me.

There were some scenarios that just played flat. High tension situations that are met with basic comments and/or lack of reaction like someone yells but there's no exclamation point.

Why would Charly leave all their belongings, including her phone, in the car when Barry and Kennedy give her and Jacob a ride? And when they drive off she immediately demands they turn around to get it? It didn't make sense to me.

When Charly and Amanda see each other for the first time at the cabin, they just start chatting like it's no big deal at all that other people are in the cabin intending to stay.

They're in a blizzard, Charly didn't bring their gear to the cabin yet she's running around outside for how long and has no issues with frostbite or issues with her feet?

Barry, a grown man reacts to Randy telling him to leave by essentially throwing a tantrum. I get he's supposed to be a spoiled rich guy but his character wasn't painted as a tantrum throwing type so it didn't read as realistic.

Or when Kennedy goes to the boathouse and finds Charly in the cage. She's not freaked out at all but instead says this gives Charly time to talk. She should have been freaking out!

There were also a few spelling and grammar errors that lessened the reading experience.

These points might seem trivial, like the frostbite issue, but they just didn't seem realistic to me personally and that took away my enjoyment of the book. That said I've never written a book so can only imagine how difficult a creative process it is.

I do appreciate that her father's disappearance is cleared up at the end and that Randall got what he deserved. I look forward to reading other books from Mr. Paine and again appreciate the opportunity to read and review The Excursion.

[Bambi Rathman · Rating 5 out of 5]

The Excursion......This book was a palm sweating, nail biting, edge-of-my seat read. I had to read it with the lights on. This was more than a "leisurely journey" that I couldn't put down....kind of like something you don't want to look at but you can't help it. I found myself deep into the story and totally lost track of time. The twists, turns, take-a-breath for a second and right back to the intense, fast paced action that really never slowed down. I don't usually read this genre but Mr. Paine certainly pulled me into this terror filled psychological thriller from the first page until the shocking and surprising ending. And everything in between was blowing my mind. The setting of the story was like another character that played so much of a part in the events that take place. I especially could relate to the location because I grew up in Colorado. The characters he has written in this story were complicated and most had some kind of personality/mental issues that Mr. Paine portrayed very well in each one. This is a dual timeline that was blended together into the story well, too. It was also dual points of view between the main character, Charly, who becomes one of the hunted and Randall, who is the hunter. It was interesting being taken into the minds of each one. This was one terrifying, gruesome, outlandish, and frightening book for me...but, like I said, I couldn't stop reading it!

I want to thank Mr. Paine for my copy of the book and the "escape" to a place I am glad I only read about. I will certainly not go on an excursion to a cabin in the mountains with strangers in a blizzard any time soon. Like never. I want to thank Mr. Paine for all the goosebumps, damp palms, hair raising pages and gasps I experienced from reading this book. And the inscription in the book is so true...."Sometimes we need a little escape." Wow! That was some "escape" and "Excursion"! My heart was pounding! All thoughts and opinions in this review are my own.

[Tiffany aka Chai Tea And Books · Rating 4 out of 5]

*rounded up from 3.5 stars*

This is a dual timeline novel based on Charly, a young woman who takes care of her younger brother Jacob. This book was okay for me, I kept reading because I wanted to see how everything ended, but I wasn’t glued to the pages. I had to push myself to keep going back to it, it wasn’t a page turner. The twist was also predictable, and while I was rooting for Charly and Jacob, I found the rest of the characters annoying or uninteresting.

Charly cares for Jacob, her younger brother. It’s been just the two of them since her dad left them when she was 10 and her mom began her journey spiraling down into drugs and alcohol. In the current timeline, Charly goes to say goodbye to her mother who is in hospice care. When she gets there, her mom hands her legal papers and a set of keys: her dad’s will and estate. He had passed from a heart attack. The keys were to a cabin that they went to often before he left. The timeline in the past starts during the vacation at the cabin when her dad tells her that he is leaving for work, but he would see her soon. He didn’t.

Charly decides that she needs to go see the cabin, and invites her cousins to join her and Jacob there. When they get there, there are strangers there. These strangers say the cabin is theirs and are there for an excursion. They are going for a hunt. They won’t tell anyone what they are hunting, and no one can leave because of a blizzard. And the hunt has just begun.

[Booksta · Rating 4 out of 5]

📖 𝕖𝔸ℝℂ ℝ𝕖𝕧𝕚𝕖𝕨 📖

· · • • • ✤ • • • · ·
𝙏𝙞𝙩𝙡𝙚: 𝘛𝘩𝘦 𝘌𝘹𝘤𝘶𝘳𝘴𝘪𝘰𝘯
𝘼𝙪𝙩𝙝𝙤𝙧: 𝘛. 𝘖. 𝘗𝘢𝘪𝘯𝘦
𝙂𝙚𝙣𝙧𝙚: 𝘚𝘶𝘴𝘱𝘦𝘯𝘴𝘦 𝘵𝘩𝘳𝘪𝘭𝘭𝘦𝘳
𝙋𝙖𝙜𝙚𝙨: 398
𝙊𝙫𝙚𝙧𝙖𝙡𝙡: ⭐⭐⭐⭐/5
𝙎𝙤𝙣𝙜: 𝘔𝘜𝘕𝘒𝘐𝘉 - 𝘓𝘰𝘷𝘦 𝘝𝘴 𝘓𝘪𝘦
· · • • • ✤ • • • · ·

*** Thank you to the author @t.o.paine for giving me a change to read this book.***


__________💭𝚃𝚑𝚘𝚞𝚐𝚑𝚝𝚜💭___________

“𝘎𝘪𝘷𝘦 𝘮𝘦 𝘢 𝘤𝘢𝘭𝘭 𝘸𝘩𝘦𝘯 𝘺𝘰𝘶’𝘳𝘦 𝘳𝘦𝘢𝘥𝘺. 𝘐 𝘱𝘳𝘰𝘮𝘪𝘴𝘦, 𝘰𝘯𝘦 𝘥𝘢𝘺, 𝘺𝘰𝘶’𝘭𝘭 𝘭𝘰𝘰𝘬 𝘣𝘢𝘤𝘬 𝘰𝘯 𝘵𝘩𝘪𝘴 𝘥𝘦𝘤𝘪𝘴𝘪𝘰𝘯 𝘢𝘴 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘴𝘪𝘯𝘨𝘭𝘦-𝘮𝘰𝘴𝘵 𝘥𝘦𝘧𝘪𝘯𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘮𝘰𝘮𝘦𝘯𝘵 𝘰𝘧 𝘺𝘰𝘶𝘳 𝘭𝘪𝘧𝘦. 𝘛𝘩𝘦 𝘮𝘰𝘮𝘦𝘯𝘵 𝘺𝘰𝘶 𝘥𝘦𝘤𝘪𝘥𝘦𝘥 𝘵𝘰 𝘱𝘳𝘰𝘷𝘦 𝘺𝘰𝘶’𝘳𝘦 𝘯𝘰𝘵 𝘰𝘯𝘭𝘺 𝘢 𝘮𝘢𝘯, 𝘣𝘶𝘵 𝘢 𝘨𝘰𝘥 𝘢𝘮𝘰𝘯𝘨𝘴𝘵 𝘮𝘦𝘯.”


The Excursion has it all: suspense, thriller, drama, tragedy. This book will make you angry, anxious and disgusted at times. Randall is a vile and awful man, but that made him a perfect villan for this story.

I liked that the story was told from dual POV's, Charly and Randall's. The story was intense you are not sure who will end up alive and who won't. That made this book a nice read for this Spooky Season. That ending was also pretty unexpected. I did not see that coming.

Overall, I enjoyed this story only thing is I wish got to see more of a background story of the characters. I wish we what made them become who they are.

[Kris Marie · Rating 3 out of 5]

Overall, an enjoyable read. As the temperatures have started dipping below freezing in my neck of the woods, and Halloween being just around the corner, this was the perfect book to cozy up with. I was easily transported to this snowy cabin in the woods with Charly and Jacob. The Excursion has it all: suspense, thriller, drama, tragedy.

I do find myself wishing there had been more character development for Cam, Jonathan, and Amanda. They're all very complicated and chaotic characters. I'd love more insight in to what shaped them into the type of person each is, and what lead them to make the choices they did throughout their lives.

The only thing about this book that I didn't enjoy at all, is all the "mocking" Randall did! I was ready to take him on an Excursion myself.

I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

[Christinaraven · Rating 4 out of 5]

I rather enjoyed this thriller even though it did at times make me roll my eyes and want to slap the characters. But I thought that was part of the fun of the story. Basically it is the story of a few people stuck in a cabin in the middle of nowhere during a snowstorm with a few crazy people in this mix. The main character thought she was going to a cabin that was part of her childhood to meet her cousins but ends up in a crazy adventure that kept me reading to the end to see who would survive to the end and how. A few surprises, some eye rolls, and characters that drove me crazy, but enjoyed the story for being a bit different. A good story if you want a psychotic thriller that is not extremely dark and scary.

[Debbie Eyre · Rating 5 out of 5]

A well written, gripping thriller that will make the hairs stand up on the back of your neck! Abandoned by their father who left and never came back and then their mother whom then turned to drink and drugs, we meet Charly and her brother Jacob as they hit the streets together to find their way. We then find ourselves 12 years in the future and they find out about a cabin where their father used to take them when they were younger and he was still around, so they decide to travel there but when they arrive all is not as it seems. It’s fast paced, thrilling and full of suspense and my stand will have you gripping the edge of your seat.

[AM SMOLANDER · Rating 3 out of 5]

I read this thriller as an ebook and it was tense, thrilling and dark. I found it a very terrifying read and I couldn’t believe what I was reading in places. It was the first novel by the author that I’ve read and I would be interested to read more by the author in the future.

I’m giving this novel 3 stars as I found it very suspenseful and quite scary, which a lot of fans of thrillers will enjoy I’m sure. I think other readers will like this novel. I liked the setting in this thriller, I could almost feel this snow, icy wind and below freezing conditions.

I did not see the ending coming ad this was a great surprise.

[Tina Lincoln · Rating 5 out of 5]

Family Hunting Cabin
Charly takes care of her brother, who is a special needs child. She finds out that her Dad, who died years ago, left her the cabin in his will. So she takes her brother and they are going there, in a snowstorm! She has no other place to go. Her brother has an episode, and she gets her car stuck. What she finds is not at all what she remembers. The people who are there,... who are they, and why do they say it is not her cabin? What is a hunting excursion?
This is one wild story that you will remember!
Thank you, T.O. Paine, for a great story!
I won this book through a giveaway.

[April Davis · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thank you to T.O. Paine for the book I won in a giveaway. My opinions are my own.

I enjoyed the book. It was a nice palate cleanser between bigger books in a long series. The story was fast paced and the premise was intriguing. What I like to call potato chip reading. Just one more chapter.. until suddenly your at the end.
I didn't particularly care for the dialogue between the child characters. They didn't speak like kids. Other than that, I was glad to have the opportunity to read this book and will definitely read more by this author.

[Delphia Von Heeder · Rating 5 out of 5]

The Excursion is a thriller by T O Paine. I thought this was an interesting thriller. The characters are well written and I liked that the story was told in chapters from either Charly and Randall's point of view. The story was intense and I was not sure who was going to be alive by the end of the book! If you enjoy thrillers, The Excursion is a must read. I received an arc for free and am leaving my review voluntarily.

[WILMA from the Netherlands · Rating 4 out of 5]

A dark and horrifying psychological thriller

I really enjoyed this thriller! The elements of suspense kept me reading until past midnight. The characters were great. The connection between the two main characters was very strong. What I didn't see coming was the twist at the end. This was such an incredible rollercoaster of a ride and I look forward to reading more from this author!.

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[Brenda M. Smith · Rating 4 out of 5]

This thriller by T. O. Paine is centered around Charly , who along with her autistic brother Jacob has lived an incredibly rough life. Most of the characters in this story were not very likable. In fact, I really only enjoyed Jacob. I’ve started referring to certain people as “slickhead” because of him. Charly is naïve and childish. The setting of the wintry mountain cabin is nice but the characters are all awful. Especially the caricaturish Randall. Rounding up to 3.5 stars.

[Christine Townes · Rating 3 out of 5]

Unique characters

I enjoyed the book overall. I loved that it includes an autistic person and doesn't have him come across helpless. The only reason I have it 3 stars is because I don't see why it kept going from the past to the current so often. Plus things certain characters said \ phrases kept being repeated through out the book. Plot was good. I would read another book by this author.