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Wayward Pines #1-3
Wayward Pines : L'Intégrale
The entire Wayward Pines Trilogy in one collection.
Pines
The international runaway bestseller is now a Major Television Event from executive producer M. Night Shyamalan, starring Matt Dillon and premiering May 14th on FOX.
Secret service agent Ethan Burke arrives in Wayward Pines, Idaho, with a clear mission: locate and recover two federal agents who went missing in the bucolic town one month earlier. But within minutes of his arrival, Ethan is involved in a violent accident. He comes to in a hospital, with no ID, no cell phone, and no briefcase. The medical staff seems friendly enough, but something feels…off. As the days pass, Ethan’s investigation into the disappearance of his colleagues turns up more questions than answers. Why can’t he get any phone calls through to his wife and son in the outside world? Why doesn’t anyone believe he is who he says he is? And what is the purpose of the electrified fences surrounding the town? Are they meant to keep the residents in? Or something else out? Each step closer to the truth takes Ethan further from the world he thought he knew, from the man he thought he was, until he must face a horrifying fact—he may never get out of Wayward Pines alive.
2013 International Thriller Award Nominee
Wayward
The second book in the Wayward Pines Series—now a Major Television Event from executive producer M. Night Shyamalan, starring Matt Dillon and premiering May 14th on FOX.
Welcome to Wayward Pines, population 461. Nestled amid picture-perfect mountains, the idyllic town is a modern-day Eden…except for the electrified fence and razor wire, snipers scoping everything 24/7, and the relentless surveillance tracking each word and gesture.
None of the residents know how they got here. They are told where to work, how to live, and who to marry. Some believe they are dead. Others think they’re trapped in an unfathomable experiment. Everyone secretly dreams of leaving, but those who dare face a terrifying surprise.
Ethan Burke has seen the world beyond. He’s sheriff, and one of the few who knows the truth—Wayward Pines isn’t just a town. And what lies on the other side of the fence is a nightmare beyond anyone’s imagining.
The Last Town
The third book in the Wayward Pines Series—now a Major Television Event from executive producer M. Night Shyamalan, starring Matt Dillon and premiering May 14th on FOX.
Secret Service agent Ethan Burke arrived in Wayward Pines, Idaho, three weeks ago. In this town, people are told who to marry, where to live, where to work. Their children are taught that David Pilcher, the town’s creator, is god. No one is allowed to leave; even asking questions can get you killed.
But Ethan has discovered the astonishing secret of what lies beyond the electrified fence that surrounds Wayward Pines and protects it from the terrifying world beyond. It is a secret that has the entire population completely under the control of a madman and his army of followers, a secret that is about to come storming through the fence to wipe out this last, fragile remnant of humanity.
Blake Crouch’s electrifying conclusion to the Wayward Pines Series—now a Major Television Event Series debuting Summer 2014 on FOX—will have you glued to the page right down to the very last word.
Pines
The international runaway bestseller is now a Major Television Event from executive producer M. Night Shyamalan, starring Matt Dillon and premiering May 14th on FOX.
Secret service agent Ethan Burke arrives in Wayward Pines, Idaho, with a clear mission: locate and recover two federal agents who went missing in the bucolic town one month earlier. But within minutes of his arrival, Ethan is involved in a violent accident. He comes to in a hospital, with no ID, no cell phone, and no briefcase. The medical staff seems friendly enough, but something feels…off. As the days pass, Ethan’s investigation into the disappearance of his colleagues turns up more questions than answers. Why can’t he get any phone calls through to his wife and son in the outside world? Why doesn’t anyone believe he is who he says he is? And what is the purpose of the electrified fences surrounding the town? Are they meant to keep the residents in? Or something else out? Each step closer to the truth takes Ethan further from the world he thought he knew, from the man he thought he was, until he must face a horrifying fact—he may never get out of Wayward Pines alive.
2013 International Thriller Award Nominee
Wayward
The second book in the Wayward Pines Series—now a Major Television Event from executive producer M. Night Shyamalan, starring Matt Dillon and premiering May 14th on FOX.
Welcome to Wayward Pines, population 461. Nestled amid picture-perfect mountains, the idyllic town is a modern-day Eden…except for the electrified fence and razor wire, snipers scoping everything 24/7, and the relentless surveillance tracking each word and gesture.
None of the residents know how they got here. They are told where to work, how to live, and who to marry. Some believe they are dead. Others think they’re trapped in an unfathomable experiment. Everyone secretly dreams of leaving, but those who dare face a terrifying surprise.
Ethan Burke has seen the world beyond. He’s sheriff, and one of the few who knows the truth—Wayward Pines isn’t just a town. And what lies on the other side of the fence is a nightmare beyond anyone’s imagining.
The Last Town
The third book in the Wayward Pines Series—now a Major Television Event from executive producer M. Night Shyamalan, starring Matt Dillon and premiering May 14th on FOX.
Secret Service agent Ethan Burke arrived in Wayward Pines, Idaho, three weeks ago. In this town, people are told who to marry, where to live, where to work. Their children are taught that David Pilcher, the town’s creator, is god. No one is allowed to leave; even asking questions can get you killed.
But Ethan has discovered the astonishing secret of what lies beyond the electrified fence that surrounds Wayward Pines and protects it from the terrifying world beyond. It is a secret that has the entire population completely under the control of a madman and his army of followers, a secret that is about to come storming through the fence to wipe out this last, fragile remnant of humanity.
Blake Crouch’s electrifying conclusion to the Wayward Pines Series—now a Major Television Event Series debuting Summer 2014 on FOX—will have you glued to the page right down to the very last word.
1136 pages, Mass Market Paperback
First published May 5, 2015
About the author
Blake Crouch
87 books62.9k followersBlake Crouch is a bestselling novelist and screenwriter. He is the author of the forthcoming novel, Dark Matter, for which he is writing the screenplay for Sony Pictures. His international-bestselling Wayward Pines trilogy was adapted into a television series for FOX, executive produced by M. Night Shyamalan, that was Summer 2015’s #1 show. With Chad Hodge, Crouch also created Good Behavior, the TNT television show starring Michelle Dockery based on his Letty Dobesh novellas. He has written more than a dozen novels that have been translated into over thirty languages and his short fiction has appeared in numerous publications including Ellery Queen and Alfred Hitchcock Mystery Magazine. Crouch lives in Colorado with his family.
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Displaying 1 - 19 of 19 reviews
September 1, 2015
I read these books because I enjoyed the TV series and was interested in a more in-depth view of the world Crouch created and its repercussions. I was expecting an end-of-the-world scenario in the realm of The Hunger Games or Divergent (just not for teens).
While this series does deliver on that premise, these are really more horror novels than suspense/psychological thrillers. There were many, many graphic descriptions of violence and disturbed personalities; however, the premise was so out-there that these things didn’t disturb me enough to keep me from continuing. I was intrigued enough to complete the series and I’m glad I did—this trilogy had the satisfying ending that so many series lack.
I would recommend you go into Wayward Pines knowing that you’re not going to get any food for thought about the state of society or the future of the human race, just fast-paced, horror novel-level entertainment... good fun.
While this series does deliver on that premise, these are really more horror novels than suspense/psychological thrillers. There were many, many graphic descriptions of violence and disturbed personalities; however, the premise was so out-there that these things didn’t disturb me enough to keep me from continuing. I was intrigued enough to complete the series and I’m glad I did—this trilogy had the satisfying ending that so many series lack.
I would recommend you go into Wayward Pines knowing that you’re not going to get any food for thought about the state of society or the future of the human race, just fast-paced, horror novel-level entertainment... good fun.
September 27, 2017
Excellent series!
January 19, 2025
(Using this as a way to register "Psychosis" as one of my books of 2025 since it is not available to review on its own)
Interesting take on the origins of the Abbies, I think I like this version better than the one in the original trilogy, it makes more sense and is more scientifically accurate.
Otherwise the plot follows the first book, except for the end which is honestly not as good as it was in the original work. But it is an understandable choice given that they had to make it make sense as a standalone movie.
A shame it wasn't actually made into a film because it would have been an amazing thriller. Guess I'll have to give the TV show a shot when I get the time!
Interesting take on the origins of the Abbies, I think I like this version better than the one in the original trilogy, it makes more sense and is more scientifically accurate.
Otherwise the plot follows the first book, except for the end which is honestly not as good as it was in the original work. But it is an understandable choice given that they had to make it make sense as a standalone movie.
A shame it wasn't actually made into a film because it would have been an amazing thriller. Guess I'll have to give the TV show a shot when I get the time!
June 2, 2026
Special Agent Ethan wakes up on a street in the town of Wayward Pines. A small, picturesque town, it is also where Ethan's former partner disappeared along with another special agent, Evans. Injured and suffering from a terrible headache, Ethan tries to piece together his memories and remembers his mission to find the missing agents.
Soon, while struggling through broken memories and the strange, cold attitude of the townspeople, he discovers that it is almost impossible to leave the town. After connecting with a waitress named Beverly, whose feelings toward the town are just as suspicious as Ethan's own, they decide to escape together.
Then all hell breaks loose... and Ethan finally understands that rebellion comes with a cost.
The plot twists are pretty good. Most of them I did not see coming, especially the ending of the second book. Decent villains, relatable characters, an interesting plot, and terrifying monsters.
There is a love triangle, or quadrangle... maybe even a quintuple? Whatever it is, it is so messed up. If it really happened in real life, it would be major tea.
Ethan had an affair with Kate before she disappeared. He has strong feelings for her despite being married. Every time he sees Kate or touches her, he feels some kind of electric connection or something like that. Overall, they had great sex and whatever other shit happened during their affair. But I really do not think it was necessary to constantly mention how much Ethan longs for Kate while also declaring that he loves his wife Theresa and his son Ben.
WTF? Just make up your mind, man!
Sometimes it is even annoying how often Ethan goes back and forth between these two women. Then the story adds Adam and Harold into the mix. These are grown adults, yet they cannot seem to tell the difference between love and lust and act like confused teenagers. This whole affair, love or not love drama takes up so many pages. I found most of it unnecessary.
I liked the side characters. They feel very human, and some of their deaths are genuinely sad. The fight scenes are very enjoyable, there is plenty of bloodshed, and the story is packed with page turning events.
I briefly watched the TV series and glad they wiped out most of this love quintuple nonsense.
Soon, while struggling through broken memories and the strange, cold attitude of the townspeople, he discovers that it is almost impossible to leave the town. After connecting with a waitress named Beverly, whose feelings toward the town are just as suspicious as Ethan's own, they decide to escape together.
Then all hell breaks loose... and Ethan finally understands that rebellion comes with a cost.
The plot twists are pretty good. Most of them I did not see coming, especially the ending of the second book. Decent villains, relatable characters, an interesting plot, and terrifying monsters.
There is a love triangle, or quadrangle... maybe even a quintuple? Whatever it is, it is so messed up. If it really happened in real life, it would be major tea.
Ethan had an affair with Kate before she disappeared. He has strong feelings for her despite being married. Every time he sees Kate or touches her, he feels some kind of electric connection or something like that. Overall, they had great sex and whatever other shit happened during their affair. But I really do not think it was necessary to constantly mention how much Ethan longs for Kate while also declaring that he loves his wife Theresa and his son Ben.
WTF? Just make up your mind, man!
Sometimes it is even annoying how often Ethan goes back and forth between these two women. Then the story adds Adam and Harold into the mix. These are grown adults, yet they cannot seem to tell the difference between love and lust and act like confused teenagers. This whole affair, love or not love drama takes up so many pages. I found most of it unnecessary.
I liked the side characters. They feel very human, and some of their deaths are genuinely sad. The fight scenes are very enjoyable, there is plenty of bloodshed, and the story is packed with page turning events.
I briefly watched the TV series and glad they wiped out most of this love quintuple nonsense.
October 8, 2026
I came to the Wayward Pines trilogy expecting a clever premise, and what I didn't expect was how relentlessly Blake Crouch moves the story. *Pines* opens with Ethan Burke waking up hurt and stripped of his identity in a town that is too pleasant to trust, and from there Crouch never lets the tension settle. The chapters are short, the scenes end at the moment you most want them to continue, and the information comes in measured doses. Each answer arrives just as the previous mystery starts to feel familiar, and each one opens a larger question.
What impressed me most is that the pace changes with each book without slowing down. *Pines* is pure disorientation, a paranoid thriller in which the reader knows as little as Ethan does. *Wayward* moves into a slower, more claustrophobic kind of suspense as Ethan, now sheriff, learns how the town actually runs and what it costs to keep the secret. *The Last Town* drops the restraint completely and becomes a sprint, with the threat beyond the fence finally pushing into the story. Read back to back, the three books feel like one continuous escalation rather than a series with natural stopping points. I never found a good place to put it down.
Crouch writes lean. He doesn't spend pages on description or backstory unless it pays off soon, and that economy is a big part of why the momentum holds across all three books. Some characters are thinner than I would have liked, and a few plot turns are easier to accept if you keep moving, but the speed is the point, and Crouch knows it.
Paul Michael Garcia's narration suits the material. He keeps the delivery tight and tense without overplaying it, which lets the short, punchy chapters work as intended.
If you like a thriller that respects your time and keeps raising the stakes, this collection is an easy recommendation. I went through it much faster than I planned to.
What impressed me most is that the pace changes with each book without slowing down. *Pines* is pure disorientation, a paranoid thriller in which the reader knows as little as Ethan does. *Wayward* moves into a slower, more claustrophobic kind of suspense as Ethan, now sheriff, learns how the town actually runs and what it costs to keep the secret. *The Last Town* drops the restraint completely and becomes a sprint, with the threat beyond the fence finally pushing into the story. Read back to back, the three books feel like one continuous escalation rather than a series with natural stopping points. I never found a good place to put it down.
Crouch writes lean. He doesn't spend pages on description or backstory unless it pays off soon, and that economy is a big part of why the momentum holds across all three books. Some characters are thinner than I would have liked, and a few plot turns are easier to accept if you keep moving, but the speed is the point, and Crouch knows it.
Paul Michael Garcia's narration suits the material. He keeps the delivery tight and tense without overplaying it, which lets the short, punchy chapters work as intended.
If you like a thriller that respects your time and keeps raising the stakes, this collection is an easy recommendation. I went through it much faster than I planned to.
October 17, 2023
I picked up this trilogy on my sibling's recommendation, with the context that the author wrote it as a sort of homage to Twin Peaks. It's hard to discuss any detail about the trilogy without major spoilers, so in terms of content I'll only say that I had a very enjoyable time being confused by what was going on and was honestly surprised (in a good way) by the reveals.
That said, the mystery is mostly unveiled in the first book, and by the third book everything is essentially already known — leading to a primarily action story as you see how things play out. The cinematic writing style makes the action enjoyable and the books are overall easy to read, but if your main concern is figuring out what's going on you can probably stop after the first book. Although I was a bit frustrated at the very end with the main character's decisions (in particular, a decision that seemed to run counter to the story's point), in general I thought the author did a good job creating a dystopian setting and exploring how the main character worked through it, with all his flaws and limitations.
Read on Five Sentence Reviews
That said, the mystery is mostly unveiled in the first book, and by the third book everything is essentially already known — leading to a primarily action story as you see how things play out. The cinematic writing style makes the action enjoyable and the books are overall easy to read, but if your main concern is figuring out what's going on you can probably stop after the first book. Although I was a bit frustrated at the very end with the main character's decisions (in particular, a decision that seemed to run counter to the story's point), in general I thought the author did a good job creating a dystopian setting and exploring how the main character worked through it, with all his flaws and limitations.
Read on Five Sentence Reviews
December 25, 2023
3.75/5
I reviewed this to provide an overall rating in my hubris. It's definitely a series with many satisfying moments. While it is not the most cerebral series in the Pantheon of science-fiction (yes, I sound pretentious, I know), the Wayward Pines trilogy delivered an action-packed, high stakes thrill ride that set out to do what it intended: provide a banger of a story.
While the novels dip slightly in quality (if only because Pines was a huge banger that I went into blind) as the trilogy progresses, the conclusions and story beats were all incredibly satisfying, hosting great dialogue and very memorable characters.
I reviewed this to provide an overall rating in my hubris. It's definitely a series with many satisfying moments. While it is not the most cerebral series in the Pantheon of science-fiction (yes, I sound pretentious, I know), the Wayward Pines trilogy delivered an action-packed, high stakes thrill ride that set out to do what it intended: provide a banger of a story.
While the novels dip slightly in quality (if only because Pines was a huge banger that I went into blind) as the trilogy progresses, the conclusions and story beats were all incredibly satisfying, hosting great dialogue and very memorable characters.
August 2, 2023
This is a review of Book #3… the first 2 are reviewed separately.
No way! The ending was a surprise! I had to knock off one star for the violent scenes. Also the book was so very depressing. I finished it on a gloomy, rainy day. Of course I want a book 4! I have such mixed feelings about this book… So creative but so hopeless and depressing, yet hopeful.. but barely.
No way! The ending was a surprise! I had to knock off one star for the violent scenes. Also the book was so very depressing. I finished it on a gloomy, rainy day. Of course I want a book 4! I have such mixed feelings about this book… So creative but so hopeless and depressing, yet hopeful.. but barely.
April 1, 2025
Finished all 3 books in this series and really enjoyed them, especially the last one. I wish there were more. Maybe he will start a new series where this one left off. If you like Blake Crouch’s other books, you will probably like these also.
June 10, 2026
I loved this trilogy, it felt very reminiscent of Twin Peaks in the atmosphere it created. The story was built brilliantly and the final book felt intense with all the build up from that.
The ending leaves you hanging - would love to have more, a continuation and more finality to the story, but it's also a good way to finish the trilogy.
The ending leaves you hanging - would love to have more, a continuation and more finality to the story, but it's also a good way to finish the trilogy.
November 13, 2023
Entertaining
April 18, 2024
Can't remember the last time I was this into a series
Could t read it fast enough. Not perfect but great!
Could t read it fast enough. Not perfect but great!
July 2, 2026
All of the protagonists by Blake Crouch are super relatable. Mysterious circumstances, intense, graphic creatures. Gripping and great read!
Read
August 30, 2026I don't remember if I did the audiobooks or saw the film adaptation first, but both are terrific!
Posted 2026
Posted 2026
June 12, 2015
Amazon has the first book of this series on their Kindle page as part of a "Sci-Fi 4 stars and up" section, so I read some of the reviews and picked up the first book rather than buying all three of the trilogy at once. I figured I could buy them separately but no need to waste money in case it wasn't a good story.
Spoiler: it's a great story.
We're introduced in the first book to Ethan Burke, secret service agent. Ethan has travelled to Wayward Pines to find two missing secret service agents, one of whom used to be his partner (and mistress). Ethan wakes up in Wayward Pines with no initial memory of why he is there or how he got there and is told by hospital staff he was in a terrible car accident, which unfortunately killed the other agent who was with him. Ethan's suspicions are raised when the hospital doctor never comes by to see him, and the nurse seems to not know where his phone, wallet or briefcase is. Ethan checks himself out and while encountering townspeople his suspicions and anxiety only continue to grow. Why is everyone staring at him? Why is everything so perfect? Why are there little speakers in bushes emitting cricket noises? Why doesn't his wife or special-agent-in-charge answer when he calls them? As Ethan starts to investigate his fellow agent's disappearance, with little to no help from the town Sheriff, he becomes more and more aware that the town isn't what it appears to be, and with small assistance from a few rebel townspeople, he eventually uncovers the sinister mystery behind Wayward Pines. But now that he knows, what can or will he do to help?
I don't want to write any spoilers so I'll just say the first book covers what I wrote about above; the second book focuses on Ethan settling into the town and trying to make a decision about what he should do, if anything; and the third book covers what Ethan decides to do and the consequences thereof.
I really enjoyed the storyline in this book; it was extremely creative and the suspense kept you coming back for more. For those of us who consider ourselves very logical and common sense, the mystery of Wayward Pines is just going to eat at you! What I liked about the books was that it doesn't seem that far-fetched - I think sometimes the problem with books like this is the author goes into more of a fantasy-realm where you're living completely in imagination. But I felt like the idea was realistic enough that I was able to get behind it and not be rolling my eyes.
I didn't give the books 5 stars because I felt the writing was a little amateur at times; when I'm pulled out of the story by clunky dialogue that doesn't flow, it makes an impression on me. Not saying everyone will feel this way, but I did occasionally and it degraded the experience for me.
Definitely recommend if you're into mystery sci-fi with a hint of crime novel thrown in!
Spoiler: it's a great story.
We're introduced in the first book to Ethan Burke, secret service agent. Ethan has travelled to Wayward Pines to find two missing secret service agents, one of whom used to be his partner (and mistress). Ethan wakes up in Wayward Pines with no initial memory of why he is there or how he got there and is told by hospital staff he was in a terrible car accident, which unfortunately killed the other agent who was with him. Ethan's suspicions are raised when the hospital doctor never comes by to see him, and the nurse seems to not know where his phone, wallet or briefcase is. Ethan checks himself out and while encountering townspeople his suspicions and anxiety only continue to grow. Why is everyone staring at him? Why is everything so perfect? Why are there little speakers in bushes emitting cricket noises? Why doesn't his wife or special-agent-in-charge answer when he calls them? As Ethan starts to investigate his fellow agent's disappearance, with little to no help from the town Sheriff, he becomes more and more aware that the town isn't what it appears to be, and with small assistance from a few rebel townspeople, he eventually uncovers the sinister mystery behind Wayward Pines. But now that he knows, what can or will he do to help?
I don't want to write any spoilers so I'll just say the first book covers what I wrote about above; the second book focuses on Ethan settling into the town and trying to make a decision about what he should do, if anything; and the third book covers what Ethan decides to do and the consequences thereof.
I really enjoyed the storyline in this book; it was extremely creative and the suspense kept you coming back for more. For those of us who consider ourselves very logical and common sense, the mystery of Wayward Pines is just going to eat at you! What I liked about the books was that it doesn't seem that far-fetched - I think sometimes the problem with books like this is the author goes into more of a fantasy-realm where you're living completely in imagination. But I felt like the idea was realistic enough that I was able to get behind it and not be rolling my eyes.
I didn't give the books 5 stars because I felt the writing was a little amateur at times; when I'm pulled out of the story by clunky dialogue that doesn't flow, it makes an impression on me. Not saying everyone will feel this way, but I did occasionally and it degraded the experience for me.
Definitely recommend if you're into mystery sci-fi with a hint of crime novel thrown in!
December 26, 2025
I used this to review Psychosis an additional book from the saga which explore a different ending. it was really cool but I prefer the original story which has more depth to it but it's still interesting
May 30, 2015
After seeing the TV show, I HAD to do a re-read. I wanted to see how different it was. I flew through them the first time. I'm intrigued on how they will play it out in the next few episodes.
February 23, 2026
je log pour psychosis, c’est assez golmonesque mdrr
Displaying 1 - 19 of 19 reviews