Wayward by Blake Crouch - 4 stars

[Ellen]

The tiny Idaho town of Wayward Pines is still the focus of Crouch's second book in the Pines trilogy. Set 2000 years in the future, the residents are adjusting to their new homes and neighbors and the fact that everything and everyone they knew were gone hundreds of years ago. Sheriff Ethan Burke is one of the few people aware of what exactly is on the other side of the electrified fence that surrounds the town. That area is inhabited by "abbies" (abnormals), a feral race of human-like creatures who would kill the Wayward Pines residents without hesitation. Burke is also aware that the town's founder, science genius David Pilcher, may be just as dangerous as the abbies. He controls the townspeople with constant surveillance in every home, workplace, school and streets. After Ethan stumbles upon a murder victim who turns out to be Pilcher's daughter, the sheriff knows that the young woman's death is meant to be a warning to those who hope to escape Wayward Pines and Pilcher's heavy-handed control. Ethan knows he must stand up to Pilcher if he, his family, and the entire town have any chance of normalcy - but Pilcher is ready.

This was a good sequel to "Pines" and I will definitely read the final book. The TV series, while good, has gone in a somewhat different direction than the novels, but it's worth watching.

[Kathy]

Blake Crouch has become one of "new" favorite authors