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Ruin Falls
In a suspenseful follow-up to her critically acclaimed Cover of Snow, Jenny Milchman ratchets up the tension with this edge-of-your-seat story of a mother determined to find her missing children.
Liz Daniels has every reason to be happy about setting off on a rare family vacation, leaving behind her remote home in the Adirondack Mountains for a while. Instead, she feels uneasy. Her children, eight-year-old Reid and six-year-old Ally, have met their paternal grandparents only a handful of times. But Liz’s husband, Paul, has decided that, despite a strained relationship with his mother and father, they should visit the farm in western New York where he spent his childhood.
On their way to the farm, the family stops at a hotel for the night. In the morning, when Liz goes to check on her sleeping children, all her anxiety comes roaring back: Ally and Reed are nowhere to be found. Blind panic slides into ice-cold terror as the hours tick by without anyone finding a trace of the kids. Soon, Paul and Liz are being interviewed by police, an Amber Alert is issued, and detectives are called in.
Frantic worry and helplessness threaten to overtake Liz’s mind—but in a sudden, gut-wrenching instant she realizes that it was no stranger who slipped into the hotel room that night. Someone she trusted completely has betrayed her. Though she knows that Ally and Reid are safe, Liz will stop at nothing to find them and get them back. From her guarded in-laws’ unwelcoming farmhouse to the deep woods of her own hometown, Liz follows the threads of a terrible secret to uncover a hidden world created from dreams and haunted by nightmares.
Praise for Jenny Milchman and Ruin Falls
“[Jenny] Milchman has a gift that allows her to delve deep into the mind and psyche of her characters, and fans of dark plots like the works of Gillian Flynn will find another author to savor.”—RT Book Reviews
“Essential for psychological thriller fanatics . . . Extreme, heart-pounding action follows this determined mother as she risks everything to save her children.”—Library Journal
“[Jenny Milchman] carves out a new niche with this unusual mix of ecothriller and family suspense drama.”—Booklist (starred review)
“Milchman weaves a complex and intriguing tale, adeptly pacing the narrative as danger escalates. . . . Most impressive, though, is Liz’s transformation from a meek wife . . . to a strong, capable woman determined to rescue her children at any cost to herself.”—Publishers Weekly
“Absorbing from start to finish: Jenny Milchman writes a deeply felt and suspenseful story of a woman whose life is upended by a death and a dark secret.”—Nancy Pickard, bestselling author of The Scent of Rain and Lightning
“Milchman can evoke the shadows and fears of a rural community like no one else.”—DuJour
From the Hardcover edition.
Liz Daniels has every reason to be happy about setting off on a rare family vacation, leaving behind her remote home in the Adirondack Mountains for a while. Instead, she feels uneasy. Her children, eight-year-old Reid and six-year-old Ally, have met their paternal grandparents only a handful of times. But Liz’s husband, Paul, has decided that, despite a strained relationship with his mother and father, they should visit the farm in western New York where he spent his childhood.
On their way to the farm, the family stops at a hotel for the night. In the morning, when Liz goes to check on her sleeping children, all her anxiety comes roaring back: Ally and Reed are nowhere to be found. Blind panic slides into ice-cold terror as the hours tick by without anyone finding a trace of the kids. Soon, Paul and Liz are being interviewed by police, an Amber Alert is issued, and detectives are called in.
Frantic worry and helplessness threaten to overtake Liz’s mind—but in a sudden, gut-wrenching instant she realizes that it was no stranger who slipped into the hotel room that night. Someone she trusted completely has betrayed her. Though she knows that Ally and Reid are safe, Liz will stop at nothing to find them and get them back. From her guarded in-laws’ unwelcoming farmhouse to the deep woods of her own hometown, Liz follows the threads of a terrible secret to uncover a hidden world created from dreams and haunted by nightmares.
Praise for Jenny Milchman and Ruin Falls
“[Jenny] Milchman has a gift that allows her to delve deep into the mind and psyche of her characters, and fans of dark plots like the works of Gillian Flynn will find another author to savor.”—RT Book Reviews
“Essential for psychological thriller fanatics . . . Extreme, heart-pounding action follows this determined mother as she risks everything to save her children.”—Library Journal
“[Jenny Milchman] carves out a new niche with this unusual mix of ecothriller and family suspense drama.”—Booklist (starred review)
“Milchman weaves a complex and intriguing tale, adeptly pacing the narrative as danger escalates. . . . Most impressive, though, is Liz’s transformation from a meek wife . . . to a strong, capable woman determined to rescue her children at any cost to herself.”—Publishers Weekly
“Absorbing from start to finish: Jenny Milchman writes a deeply felt and suspenseful story of a woman whose life is upended by a death and a dark secret.”—Nancy Pickard, bestselling author of The Scent of Rain and Lightning
“Milchman can evoke the shadows and fears of a rural community like no one else.”—DuJour
From the Hardcover edition.
352 pages, Paperback
First published April 22, 2014
182 people are currently reading
2001 people want to read
About the author
Jenny Milchman
17 books625 followersJenny Milchman is the USA Today bestselling author of three novels, as well as the forthcoming Wicked River. Her books have won the Mary Higgins Clark and Silver Falchion awards, been praised by the New York Times, San Francisco Review of Books, the AP, and many other publications.
Jenny has given over five hundred workshops and talks on the writing and publishing process. She sits on the board of directors of International Thriller Writers, is a member of the Sisters in Crime speakers bureau, and founded Take Your Child to a Bookstore Day, which is celebrated annually in all fifty states and on five continents.
Jenny has given over five hundred workshops and talks on the writing and publishing process. She sits on the board of directors of International Thriller Writers, is a member of the Sisters in Crime speakers bureau, and founded Take Your Child to a Bookstore Day, which is celebrated annually in all fifty states and on five continents.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 288 reviews
March 29, 2016
I didn't really enjoy this. It was predictable and alarming.
Also, the one thing that I loved about Milchman's writing - her rich prose - has been stripped away from this book as if someone told her that it was dumb.
I know some people didn't like her way of writing (I read over 50 reviews for Cover of Snow), but I really found her beautiful way of stating things to be her saving grace. Without that aspect, her writing is just average and mediocre.
I can't recommend this.
Also, the one thing that I loved about Milchman's writing - her rich prose - has been stripped away from this book as if someone told her that it was dumb.
I know some people didn't like her way of writing (I read over 50 reviews for Cover of Snow), but I really found her beautiful way of stating things to be her saving grace. Without that aspect, her writing is just average and mediocre.
I can't recommend this.
September 18, 2018
I think I wrote this before. This book drove me crazy but I could not quit reading it. When I finished I felt things were pretty anti-climatic. The part that drove me crazy was that every few chapters there would be a chapter about something totally unrelated although you knew it had to be related or it would not have been in the book. I felt things did get wrapped up pretty good and everyone gor free but still after all the intenseness of the book the ending was a little slight. It's a good book if you like mysteries and have the patience for things to unravel. I want to read another book by this author mainly to see if she uses this same writing style in everything she does.
April 2, 2014
Jumbled and difficult to read
"Ruin Falls" is a jumbled, meandering hodgepodge of a book. It is written from many points of view and it took 2/3 of the book before the story came together and I was able to finally figure out what was happening.
Liz is the main protagonist of the story. Out of the blue, her husband Paul takes off with their children - with no warning and no explanation to Liz. Terrifying to a mother - yes - but the terror, fury at her husband, hopelessness all seemed to be muted in the story. Character development was at a bare minimum on all the characters. The plotline was as crooked as Lombard Street in San Francisco. Motivations for the different characters was as murky as the rest of the story.
The last 1/3 of the book did start to come together and questions were answered which is why I gave the book two stars instead of less. It's too bad the first part of the tale wasn't as good as the last part. I know that authors don't want to reveal everything up front but there does need to be continuity and enough explanations to at least hold the reader's interest.
If this hadn't been an Advanced Reading Copy that I needed to finish so I could review it, I would have quit reading probably a third of the way in.
"Ruin Falls" is a jumbled, meandering hodgepodge of a book. It is written from many points of view and it took 2/3 of the book before the story came together and I was able to finally figure out what was happening.
Liz is the main protagonist of the story. Out of the blue, her husband Paul takes off with their children - with no warning and no explanation to Liz. Terrifying to a mother - yes - but the terror, fury at her husband, hopelessness all seemed to be muted in the story. Character development was at a bare minimum on all the characters. The plotline was as crooked as Lombard Street in San Francisco. Motivations for the different characters was as murky as the rest of the story.
The last 1/3 of the book did start to come together and questions were answered which is why I gave the book two stars instead of less. It's too bad the first part of the tale wasn't as good as the last part. I know that authors don't want to reveal everything up front but there does need to be continuity and enough explanations to at least hold the reader's interest.
If this hadn't been an Advanced Reading Copy that I needed to finish so I could review it, I would have quit reading probably a third of the way in.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
September 8, 2016
Ruin Falls begins with a family vacation to visit seldom seen grandparents. Before they reach their goal, Liz Daniel's children are taken from a hotel. Worse yet, it eventually seems that the culprit is her husband.
A frantic Liz tries to unravel the reasoning behind her husband's decision to take their children.
I'm afraid the novel didn't do much for me. Liz failed to sufficiently engage my sympathy, but that may have been partly because Paul's reasons for taking the kids seemed kind of silly. The utopian venture did not feel realistic at all, and the secrets in Paul's past were also a little difficult to swallow.
Read in February. Blog review scheduled for March 31.
NetGalley/Random House/Ballentine
Mystery. April 22, 2014. Print version: 352 pages.
A frantic Liz tries to unravel the reasoning behind her husband's decision to take their children.
I'm afraid the novel didn't do much for me. Liz failed to sufficiently engage my sympathy, but that may have been partly because Paul's reasons for taking the kids seemed kind of silly. The utopian venture did not feel realistic at all, and the secrets in Paul's past were also a little difficult to swallow.
Read in February. Blog review scheduled for March 31.
NetGalley/Random House/Ballentine
Mystery. April 22, 2014. Print version: 352 pages.
April 25, 2014
3.5 Loved the suspense and for the greater part of the book I had no clue what was going on, or where Liz's children were. There were so many layers to be uncovered, though I did feel that the relationships between characters could have been stronger. Not so sure I bought into Paul's character or ever really got to know him very well although much about his live came into the surface during the story. Did enjoy Liz's transformation from a weak woman, who needed someone to tell her what to do to a tiger mom fighting for her children. Good, solid suspense novel.
May 9, 2014
Meh.... I was excited to read this book, but after about 40-50 pages, quickly got frustrated. The story jumps to many different characters and perspectives, many of whom are not introduced well. I got lost a few times. Even within the main characters story, things were confusing and jumped around quite a bit.
The writing was mediocre, the characters weren't sympathetic and I didn't understand their reactions to many things in the story. I considered not finishing the book. Eventually the story came together but the story that ended up being told was not that interesting.
Skip this book.
The writing was mediocre, the characters weren't sympathetic and I didn't understand their reactions to many things in the story. I considered not finishing the book. Eventually the story came together but the story that ended up being told was not that interesting.
Skip this book.
May 6, 2014
I made it through 3 discs in the audiobook, but I can no longer bear to listen to that narrator speak in that quavering, near-hysterical tone of voice every single time the mother speaks. And how much time has been wasted describing how hot and humid it is?? Yes, yes, I know your clothes are sticking to your back, the steering wheel is scalding, you can hardly breathe, the sweat is running in rivulets down the guy's temples, blah blah blah. Enough with the heat already, we get it. Anyway--I am not finding the story compelling enough to make me suffer through the melodramatic narration.
May 20, 2014
I wanted to like this book, but just didn't find any redeeming qualities. The characters were flat, the story disjointed, and the entire plot didn't seem well thought out (much like the place where the kids ended up). By the end, I was skimming just to finish it.
May 5, 2014
Too many layers, and too many peripheral story lines and characters. COVER OF SNOW was more tightly constructed. Liz's reactions and actions are perfectly normal but the descriptions are over the top. The sex scene in the middle of the suspense is one example. The relationship with Liz's own parents also seems forced and not adequately explained. The way that the expectant mother is steered toward the PEW group is not credible. I still found that I wanted to finish to see when or if her children would be returned to her.
May 8, 2014
My Thoughts
Liz is heading of on vacation with her husband Paul and two children. They make a last minute decision to spend the night at a hotel. When Liz gets up in the morning, her children are gone. Who took them and where are they?
This is one of those stories where the suspense start almost immediately. I thought the author did a great job of developing the Liz character. We get to see Liz face the reality of how she lived her life before her children disappeared. She has to change how she looks at things and learn to depend on herself to be able to find them. This is the second book I’ve read by Ms. Milchman and I thoroughly enjoyed both. I look forward to reading more.
Thanks to Random House Publishing - Ballantine, via Netgalley, for allowing me to read this in exchange for an unbiased review.
Liz is heading of on vacation with her husband Paul and two children. They make a last minute decision to spend the night at a hotel. When Liz gets up in the morning, her children are gone. Who took them and where are they?
This is one of those stories where the suspense start almost immediately. I thought the author did a great job of developing the Liz character. We get to see Liz face the reality of how she lived her life before her children disappeared. She has to change how she looks at things and learn to depend on herself to be able to find them. This is the second book I’ve read by Ms. Milchman and I thoroughly enjoyed both. I look forward to reading more.
Thanks to Random House Publishing - Ballantine, via Netgalley, for allowing me to read this in exchange for an unbiased review.
June 18, 2014
I had read reviews of Ruin Falls after I finished reading Cover of Snow. The reviews gave me hope that the author was improving her writing technique. So it was disconcerting that, although I had some interest in the beginning of the story, the character development was not satisfactory and the story became so unrealistic that it was difficult to follow. I had even hoped that because I live in the Adirondacks there would be some interesting or recognizable location knowledge. There was none! So I believe I'm done with this author. Stay with Julia Spencer Fleming if you really want Adirondack flavor.
May 22, 2014
I enjoyed Jenny Milchman's first novel, Cover of Snow, so much that it was hard to imagine how she could do any better on her second outing. With Ruin Falls, I certainly got the answer, and it was "very well, thank you". In fact, I thought Ruin Falls was even better than Cover of Snow. I have to say, I really love it when I find a new author and their books get better and better, so I hope this is a trend that will continue.
Ruin Falls is the story of Liz Daniels, who leaves her secluded home in the Adirondack Mountains to go on a family vacation for the first time in years. When her husband, Paul, changes their plans and decides to stop at a hotel for the night, everything seems fine. It is when Liz wakes in the morning to find her children are missing that we get a glimpse of the way Liz's life is headed. Then when she finds out that the person who took them is someone that she thought she could trust, we really understand how badly her life is going to fall apart. Undeterred, Liz hits the road on a journey that will hopefully allow her to find her children and bring them home safely.
As a story, Ruin Falls is all about layers. Layers that at times make the story seem ambiguous, but in a good way. Early in the first few chapters their are two events that clue the reader in on the fact that all is not what it seems for the Daniels family. The first is the sheer panic that comes over Liz when the family stops for snacks at a fast food restaurant and six-year-old Reid wanders away. As Liz and Paul search the place for him, I got the feeling that her panic was more than the norm for a mother with a missing child. Then as they get back on the road, they are accosted by a crazy pick up truck driver who seems to be having a road rage event. I loved the sense of innuendo in these and other scenes that appeared throughout the book. It really set the tone for me and got me thinking about just where the story was going and what was really going on, a feeling that stayed with me until the end. In this same vein, I really enjoyed the interspersed chapters that introduced other characters that appeared to have no connection to the Daniels family. Rather than confuse or distract me, I found myself wondering what the connection was (I was sure there was one), which in turn kept me anxiously turning the pages. As the story progressed, and the layers were peeled away, I enjoyed watching it all come together.
As a mom of two boys, I found myself really identifying with Liz. Although I hope it never will, if something like this ever happened to me, I would hope that I would be just as focused and driven to find answers as she is. Liz is by far the character that the book focuses on the most, and therefore she is the one that I felt I learned the most about. Most of the other characters were definitely secondary, and while I would like to ave learned a bit more of some of their stories, I don't think more detail on them would have improved the story at all. In fact, with all the layers of the story, keeping the character development rather simple really worked for me as it allowed me to stay focused on why the children were taken and how Liz was going to get them back.
I give this book 5 out of 5 stars, mostly because it was a delight to read and kept me engaged from beginning to end. I will be the first one to complain when authors muddy a story with too many devices, but for me, the layers of this story and the outlying characters only enhanced my enjoyment. I highly recommend this book to everyone who likes a story that keeps you guessing where it is ultimately going to end up.
Thanks to Ballantine Books for making this title available through Edelweiss in exchange for my review.
Ruin Falls is the story of Liz Daniels, who leaves her secluded home in the Adirondack Mountains to go on a family vacation for the first time in years. When her husband, Paul, changes their plans and decides to stop at a hotel for the night, everything seems fine. It is when Liz wakes in the morning to find her children are missing that we get a glimpse of the way Liz's life is headed. Then when she finds out that the person who took them is someone that she thought she could trust, we really understand how badly her life is going to fall apart. Undeterred, Liz hits the road on a journey that will hopefully allow her to find her children and bring them home safely.
As a story, Ruin Falls is all about layers. Layers that at times make the story seem ambiguous, but in a good way. Early in the first few chapters their are two events that clue the reader in on the fact that all is not what it seems for the Daniels family. The first is the sheer panic that comes over Liz when the family stops for snacks at a fast food restaurant and six-year-old Reid wanders away. As Liz and Paul search the place for him, I got the feeling that her panic was more than the norm for a mother with a missing child. Then as they get back on the road, they are accosted by a crazy pick up truck driver who seems to be having a road rage event. I loved the sense of innuendo in these and other scenes that appeared throughout the book. It really set the tone for me and got me thinking about just where the story was going and what was really going on, a feeling that stayed with me until the end. In this same vein, I really enjoyed the interspersed chapters that introduced other characters that appeared to have no connection to the Daniels family. Rather than confuse or distract me, I found myself wondering what the connection was (I was sure there was one), which in turn kept me anxiously turning the pages. As the story progressed, and the layers were peeled away, I enjoyed watching it all come together.
As a mom of two boys, I found myself really identifying with Liz. Although I hope it never will, if something like this ever happened to me, I would hope that I would be just as focused and driven to find answers as she is. Liz is by far the character that the book focuses on the most, and therefore she is the one that I felt I learned the most about. Most of the other characters were definitely secondary, and while I would like to ave learned a bit more of some of their stories, I don't think more detail on them would have improved the story at all. In fact, with all the layers of the story, keeping the character development rather simple really worked for me as it allowed me to stay focused on why the children were taken and how Liz was going to get them back.
I give this book 5 out of 5 stars, mostly because it was a delight to read and kept me engaged from beginning to end. I will be the first one to complain when authors muddy a story with too many devices, but for me, the layers of this story and the outlying characters only enhanced my enjoyment. I highly recommend this book to everyone who likes a story that keeps you guessing where it is ultimately going to end up.
Thanks to Ballantine Books for making this title available through Edelweiss in exchange for my review.
August 6, 2014
This book started off interesting enough. A woman's children are kidnapped and she begins the search to find them.
SPOILERS!
Then we find out that her husband (who she felt she was happily married to) was the one who took her children. Okay, still interesting and I am curious to find out why he would take the children. Then we are introduced to random people who are all interested in this secret message board on the internet. I was thinking it was some sort of cult or something, but it turned out to be that Paul (her husband) wanted to build an agricultural community in the middle of an empty forest.
The character development was awful. I didn't feel I got to know any of the characters motivations, thoughts or feelings. It all sort of skimmed the surface. The only one who was well developed was Liz, the main character. But everyone around her was just sort of there. Plus, she randomly sleeps with the local police chief who is helping look for her kids. It was random and a bit weird that in the middle of locating her kids (and at that point, she has had several break ins and encounters with a violent, dangerous man who she thinks is near her children), she would just have sex with this guy.
I couldn't wait for this book to be over...but even saying that, it sort of randomly ended. Liz found the community and the bad guy dies and her husband is shot. Then she is left there, in the middle of the forest, with this group of people who had all loved her husband and were building a farming community. No reactions from the other side characters we'd met along the way, no wrap up at all about what happened next. I couldn't believe that she would end it where she did.
SPOILERS!
Then we find out that her husband (who she felt she was happily married to) was the one who took her children. Okay, still interesting and I am curious to find out why he would take the children. Then we are introduced to random people who are all interested in this secret message board on the internet. I was thinking it was some sort of cult or something, but it turned out to be that Paul (her husband) wanted to build an agricultural community in the middle of an empty forest.
The character development was awful. I didn't feel I got to know any of the characters motivations, thoughts or feelings. It all sort of skimmed the surface. The only one who was well developed was Liz, the main character. But everyone around her was just sort of there. Plus, she randomly sleeps with the local police chief who is helping look for her kids. It was random and a bit weird that in the middle of locating her kids (and at that point, she has had several break ins and encounters with a violent, dangerous man who she thinks is near her children), she would just have sex with this guy.
I couldn't wait for this book to be over...but even saying that, it sort of randomly ended. Liz found the community and the bad guy dies and her husband is shot. Then she is left there, in the middle of the forest, with this group of people who had all loved her husband and were building a farming community. No reactions from the other side characters we'd met along the way, no wrap up at all about what happened next. I couldn't believe that she would end it where she did.
June 16, 2014
Read my full review: http://bit.ly/1pCauEi
My opinion: I couldn't figure out what I disliked about this book. There were aspects of it that I felt wandered. I ended up looking at a Goodreads friend's review and she nailed it. While the premise of the story is excellent, the author weaves in too many variables or "layers" to be uncovered that really distracted from the storyline. It was almost as though the twists were too contrived. As a result, I simply found myself bored at times when the book jumped around.
I would still read more by this author; however, her books will not be a top priority as some of my other authors.
My opinion: I couldn't figure out what I disliked about this book. There were aspects of it that I felt wandered. I ended up looking at a Goodreads friend's review and she nailed it. While the premise of the story is excellent, the author weaves in too many variables or "layers" to be uncovered that really distracted from the storyline. It was almost as though the twists were too contrived. As a result, I simply found myself bored at times when the book jumped around.
I would still read more by this author; however, her books will not be a top priority as some of my other authors.
August 27, 2014
This mystery started out very promising, but then quickly devolved into an absurd, ludicrous tale, complete with a requisite sex scene. Don't waste your time with this one.
October 14, 2014
Review originally posted:Traveling With T
When Liz and Paul take their children on a vacation to see their paternal grandparents, Liz feels a sense of worry. Mainly she chalks it up the fact that the kids have only seen the grandparents a few times and relations between son and father are a bit strained. But, because she loves her husband and feels this trip is important- they go. Liz has no idea of what kind hellish world she’s walking into.
On the way up there, hot and humid weather, hungry children and just getting tired of road-tripping, Paul decides that they should stay in a hotel room. Maybe even get a suite and rekindle some of that magic between him and Liz. The kids love the idea and Liz is also for it. The next morning, though, begins the nightmare.
The kids are missing. First, Liz is sure they just went exploring. Then, as the day goes on and facts come to light, she realizes that her kids are not exploring. They are with someone that Liz thought she could trust, forever and always. She never expected to feel this sense of violation, this level of trust broken.
As Liz comes to grips with who has the kids- she begins to wonder why. Why take the children? With a mother’s love- she knows she will find her kids- and find out why they were taken. From digging into an online world of people who fear the end of the world and are preparing to live off the land to finding clues at her inlaws’- Liz begins to put together the pieces. The how, the why, and the who- now she just has to find the where. Where are her children? And are they in danger? And more importantly- how far will the people involved go to keep her quiet?
Traveling With T’s Thoughts:
This is Jenny Milchman’s second book- and while I’ve had the pleasure of meeting her twice- this is my first book to read by her. (Too many books + too little time = not being able to read all the books I want in a timely manner. )
When Rhiannon (Ivory Owl Reviews) and I were discussing books for Book Talk- well, we were having a problem. It was just too many. But, seeing RUIN FALLS on my shelf and chatting with Rhiannon about the possibility of choosing that- and well, it all clicked into place. Plus, it’s October. We needed something thriller-ish. And boy, did we get it.
The good: Jenny Milchman uses tension very well. Early in the book, there are a few clues that will tell you this is not just an all American family- though, you might not be able to place your finger on exactly what is wrong with the picture. Secrets, secrets, secrets- Jenny uses secrets very well!
Other good things: While the cast of characters might be a bit much for some- stick with the story. They all make sense in the end. The connections are there, even if it does seem like an odd bird has wondered in the picture. What I really like about the characters is that each person knows something- so you read a few pages, you get a question…. You read a few pages more, you get an answer. Or a clue. Or something. You basically begin to feel like Sherlock Holmes walking around crowing “Elementary, my dear Watson” as the clues begin to take shape and you start to see where this is headed. However- don’t crow too loudly- because Jenny does have a couple of surprises- even after you think you know it all.
There is a chapter in this book that, I swear, it’s almost like the book is playing it’s own scary music. I’m reading and I find myself curling in a ball- wanting to know and not to know!
The bad: It’s more of a bad-ish thing- there was some hinting around about two characters that never really seemed to go anywhere. One could assume some things- but it was never really resolved or completely fleshed out. I do wonder if it was supposed to be more of a red herring- type thing and to distract from some future twists. Def not a deal-breaker, though.
Overall, with the short chapters, the secrets and the proper use of tension- Jenny Milchman has her a winner with RUIN FALLS.
*Ruin Falls was purchased for my personal collection of books. All thoughts and opinions are mine alone.
Happy Reading and Bookishly Yours,
Book Talk with R and T
When Liz and Paul take their children on a vacation to see their paternal grandparents, Liz feels a sense of worry. Mainly she chalks it up the fact that the kids have only seen the grandparents a few times and relations between son and father are a bit strained. But, because she loves her husband and feels this trip is important- they go. Liz has no idea of what kind hellish world she’s walking into.
On the way up there, hot and humid weather, hungry children and just getting tired of road-tripping, Paul decides that they should stay in a hotel room. Maybe even get a suite and rekindle some of that magic between him and Liz. The kids love the idea and Liz is also for it. The next morning, though, begins the nightmare.
The kids are missing. First, Liz is sure they just went exploring. Then, as the day goes on and facts come to light, she realizes that her kids are not exploring. They are with someone that Liz thought she could trust, forever and always. She never expected to feel this sense of violation, this level of trust broken.
As Liz comes to grips with who has the kids- she begins to wonder why. Why take the children? With a mother’s love- she knows she will find her kids- and find out why they were taken. From digging into an online world of people who fear the end of the world and are preparing to live off the land to finding clues at her inlaws’- Liz begins to put together the pieces. The how, the why, and the who- now she just has to find the where. Where are her children? And are they in danger? And more importantly- how far will the people involved go to keep her quiet?
Traveling With T’s Thoughts:
This is Jenny Milchman’s second book- and while I’ve had the pleasure of meeting her twice- this is my first book to read by her. (Too many books + too little time = not being able to read all the books I want in a timely manner. )
When Rhiannon (Ivory Owl Reviews) and I were discussing books for Book Talk- well, we were having a problem. It was just too many. But, seeing RUIN FALLS on my shelf and chatting with Rhiannon about the possibility of choosing that- and well, it all clicked into place. Plus, it’s October. We needed something thriller-ish. And boy, did we get it.
The good: Jenny Milchman uses tension very well. Early in the book, there are a few clues that will tell you this is not just an all American family- though, you might not be able to place your finger on exactly what is wrong with the picture. Secrets, secrets, secrets- Jenny uses secrets very well!
Other good things: While the cast of characters might be a bit much for some- stick with the story. They all make sense in the end. The connections are there, even if it does seem like an odd bird has wondered in the picture. What I really like about the characters is that each person knows something- so you read a few pages, you get a question…. You read a few pages more, you get an answer. Or a clue. Or something. You basically begin to feel like Sherlock Holmes walking around crowing “Elementary, my dear Watson” as the clues begin to take shape and you start to see where this is headed. However- don’t crow too loudly- because Jenny does have a couple of surprises- even after you think you know it all.
There is a chapter in this book that, I swear, it’s almost like the book is playing it’s own scary music. I’m reading and I find myself curling in a ball- wanting to know and not to know!
The bad: It’s more of a bad-ish thing- there was some hinting around about two characters that never really seemed to go anywhere. One could assume some things- but it was never really resolved or completely fleshed out. I do wonder if it was supposed to be more of a red herring- type thing and to distract from some future twists. Def not a deal-breaker, though.
Overall, with the short chapters, the secrets and the proper use of tension- Jenny Milchman has her a winner with RUIN FALLS.
*Ruin Falls was purchased for my personal collection of books. All thoughts and opinions are mine alone.
Happy Reading and Bookishly Yours,
Book Talk with R and T
November 24, 2014
I've seen a lot of criticisms for this novel's short comings, but they feel a little unfair. Perhaps it's the number of gloriously reviewed books that I've read lately...only to find them lame and pathetic, but while there is some merit in the criticism, this is overall a good book. A solid 3.5 by an author who has the potential to be 5 star.
The good stuff:
This is a decently plotted mystery with a fair level of action.
The pace is engaging, and unlike some of the critics, I liked the sporadically introduced storylines. They provided a break in the pace and tied together nicely at the end.
I also liked that the characters were hiding in plain sight. Yes, it was a little weird, but people are weird. Especially environmentalists and apocalypse preppers.
I liked the ending. It was appropriate.
The ...eh stuff:
The forced romance angle to make sure all the mystery romance people would read it. Eh.
The completely checked out parents. Eh.
The sticky-fingered child. Eh.
The villain the Shoemaker. He almost made it to the Ugh list. Anyone that narcissistic would have killed his wife prior to taking the kid.
The ...UGH stuff:
The glaring plot hole. Paul has been gone with no contact for 24 hours after disappearing during a police interview? That's at minimum a "missing person." At maximum, filing a false police report, obstruction of justice, and a few other charges. No law enforcement officer is going to just let a guy who has reported his children missing disappear during an interview and then go, "Oh, domestic dispute. No worries." Considering the number of children who have ended up dead after that scenario...no way.
Little-psycho Tom. His character perturbed me with his inconsistent portrayal. I think I "get" that she wanted the character to seem affected by Psycho Dad and yet also capable of redemption. It just wasn't as well done as it could have been.
For those who want to see what makes a REALLY bad book, read Allende's *Ripper* or *The Three.* Those two will make you want to burn a book. For real.
The good stuff:
This is a decently plotted mystery with a fair level of action.
The pace is engaging, and unlike some of the critics, I liked the sporadically introduced storylines. They provided a break in the pace and tied together nicely at the end.
I also liked that the characters were hiding in plain sight. Yes, it was a little weird, but people are weird. Especially environmentalists and apocalypse preppers.
I liked the ending. It was appropriate.
The ...eh stuff:
The forced romance angle to make sure all the mystery romance people would read it. Eh.
The completely checked out parents. Eh.
The sticky-fingered child. Eh.
The villain the Shoemaker. He almost made it to the Ugh list. Anyone that narcissistic would have killed his wife prior to taking the kid.
The ...UGH stuff:
The glaring plot hole. Paul has been gone with no contact for 24 hours after disappearing during a police interview? That's at minimum a "missing person." At maximum, filing a false police report, obstruction of justice, and a few other charges. No law enforcement officer is going to just let a guy who has reported his children missing disappear during an interview and then go, "Oh, domestic dispute. No worries." Considering the number of children who have ended up dead after that scenario...no way.
Little-psycho Tom. His character perturbed me with his inconsistent portrayal. I think I "get" that she wanted the character to seem affected by Psycho Dad and yet also capable of redemption. It just wasn't as well done as it could have been.
For those who want to see what makes a REALLY bad book, read Allende's *Ripper* or *The Three.* Those two will make you want to burn a book. For real.
August 25, 2014
Suspense and mystery abound when a young mother discovers that her children have been kidnapped ... what would you do?
In Ruin Falls, author Jenny Milchman weaves a fast-paced and chilling psychological thriller that will make your heart race, you won't be able to put it down!
While on a family vacation in the Adirondack Mountains of western New York State, Liz Daniels wakes up in their hotel room and discovers that her children, eight year old Reid and six year old Ally are missing. Panic stricken and frantic, Liz realizes that the person who she thinks has taken her children has betrayed her trust ... and like any mother, she will stop at nothing to find and get them back.
Ruin Falls is an intriguing story that takes the reader on an emotional roller coaster ride as they follow Liz Daniels' desperate search for her missing children. With every suspenseful heart pounding and palm sweating turn of the page, the unexpected and shocking twists and turns will keep the reader captivated as this psychological thriller unfolds. It is a realistic story that will have the reader pondering "what would I do if this happened to me."
Ruin Falls is a riveting psychological thriller that is filled with enough intense drama and tension that will keep the reader sitting on the edge of their seat from beginning to surprising conclusion! This is a must read for fans of mystery, suspense, and psychological thriller genres!
Kudos to author Jenny Milchman on an amazing sophomore novel! I look forward to reading more of her novels in the future.
Disclaimer: I received a copy of the book from the author / publisher via JKS Communications in exchange for my honest review.
http://jerseygirlbookreviews.blogspot...
In Ruin Falls, author Jenny Milchman weaves a fast-paced and chilling psychological thriller that will make your heart race, you won't be able to put it down!
While on a family vacation in the Adirondack Mountains of western New York State, Liz Daniels wakes up in their hotel room and discovers that her children, eight year old Reid and six year old Ally are missing. Panic stricken and frantic, Liz realizes that the person who she thinks has taken her children has betrayed her trust ... and like any mother, she will stop at nothing to find and get them back.
Ruin Falls is an intriguing story that takes the reader on an emotional roller coaster ride as they follow Liz Daniels' desperate search for her missing children. With every suspenseful heart pounding and palm sweating turn of the page, the unexpected and shocking twists and turns will keep the reader captivated as this psychological thriller unfolds. It is a realistic story that will have the reader pondering "what would I do if this happened to me."
Ruin Falls is a riveting psychological thriller that is filled with enough intense drama and tension that will keep the reader sitting on the edge of their seat from beginning to surprising conclusion! This is a must read for fans of mystery, suspense, and psychological thriller genres!
Kudos to author Jenny Milchman on an amazing sophomore novel! I look forward to reading more of her novels in the future.
Disclaimer: I received a copy of the book from the author / publisher via JKS Communications in exchange for my honest review.
http://jerseygirlbookreviews.blogspot...
November 11, 2014
Liz Daniels, her husband, Paul, and their children, Ally, six, and Reid, eight, are taking an rare and unexpected vacation, to visit the remote home in the Adirondack Mountains in western New York State where Paul’s parents have always lived. “Rare” and “unexpected” because Paul has been virtually estranged from his parents, visits to them being very few and far between. En route to the farm, they decide to stop at a hotel for the night. Shockingly, the following morning, the children are nowhere to be found. But as the day progresses, the full reality of what had apparently transpired is more ghastly than any of the scenarios Liz had imagined, as nearly impossible as that seemed. Things only escalate from there, as the suspense, mystery, and sense of menace grow exponentially. Liz’ terror and grief are palpably drawn by the author, as are the descriptions of the countryside and farmland she traverses in her ensuing search.
Paul is a college professor in a rural agricultural school, and the theme of environmental politics, and environmental sustainability, is central to the plot. Though they knew each other for nearly two decades, there appear to be a myriad of things Liz had never known about him.
Somewhat confusingly at first, after the initial chapters describing these events, the reader is introduced to different families, each with their own complexities. A pattern emerges, that of women completely controlled by the men in their lives. The author of course ultimately ties everything together as the tale unfolds.
While this novel is a worthy successor to the author’s first novel, “Cover of Snow,” I found in the end that I didn’t love it quite as much. Which is not to say that it is not worthwhile reading: It certainly is that.
Paul is a college professor in a rural agricultural school, and the theme of environmental politics, and environmental sustainability, is central to the plot. Though they knew each other for nearly two decades, there appear to be a myriad of things Liz had never known about him.
Somewhat confusingly at first, after the initial chapters describing these events, the reader is introduced to different families, each with their own complexities. A pattern emerges, that of women completely controlled by the men in their lives. The author of course ultimately ties everything together as the tale unfolds.
While this novel is a worthy successor to the author’s first novel, “Cover of Snow,” I found in the end that I didn’t love it quite as much. Which is not to say that it is not worthwhile reading: It certainly is that.
October 13, 2014
2.0 out of 5 stars -- Road trip nightmare...
The Daniels family is taking a rare family vacation away from the Adirondack Mountains and decides on an unexpected overnight stay in a hotel room.
This was supposed to be a suspenseful thriller about a woman who wakes one morning to discover that her children are missing from their room. Worse yet, it's her husband who has taken them and who has also vanished. The police are unable to help because it is deemed a domestic issue rather than a crime. The family dynamics and relationships are completely dysfunctional and friendships are questionable.
From that premise, the narrative deteriorates into a whimpering mess of a frantic mother and the ridiculous notions of where the husband and children have gone and why. The mother, Liz, annoyed me from almost the first pages of the book and I never felt any empathy for her despite the author's efforts to make me feel her emotional pain and give a care. The villains were cardboard stereotypes whose motivations were never fully explored or explained. I was not drawn into the drama, and some scenes almost made me scoff out loud. The "deep secret" was not only completely predictable, but anticlimactic.
In short, I'd love to have back the couple of hours I wasted and would not have finished this book except that I had chosen it from Amazon Vine and thus had to read it to write a review. Skip it.
The Daniels family is taking a rare family vacation away from the Adirondack Mountains and decides on an unexpected overnight stay in a hotel room.
This was supposed to be a suspenseful thriller about a woman who wakes one morning to discover that her children are missing from their room. Worse yet, it's her husband who has taken them and who has also vanished. The police are unable to help because it is deemed a domestic issue rather than a crime. The family dynamics and relationships are completely dysfunctional and friendships are questionable.
From that premise, the narrative deteriorates into a whimpering mess of a frantic mother and the ridiculous notions of where the husband and children have gone and why. The mother, Liz, annoyed me from almost the first pages of the book and I never felt any empathy for her despite the author's efforts to make me feel her emotional pain and give a care. The villains were cardboard stereotypes whose motivations were never fully explored or explained. I was not drawn into the drama, and some scenes almost made me scoff out loud. The "deep secret" was not only completely predictable, but anticlimactic.
In short, I'd love to have back the couple of hours I wasted and would not have finished this book except that I had chosen it from Amazon Vine and thus had to read it to write a review. Skip it.
June 29, 2014
I guess overall I can say I liked this book, but it was oddly structured at times. The main character of the story was Liz and her search for her missing children, but there are plenty of side chapters where you read about other characters, and it isn't until the last quarter of the book where you understand how they all tie into each other. There is growing dread as Liz uncovers all sorts of things about her husband's past she was unaware of, and a growing sinister presence lurking around the edges of the her life. I have to say that I found Liz deeply frustrating and bordering on unlikeable at times, with some of her reactions (I am thinking of her anger at Andy touching her daughter's stuff) completely outsized for what was presented to us. There were also intriguing hints of stuff that were never really fleshed out (particularly with Jill's assessments of Paul and Lia). My biggest problem with this book was the ending. It just ended so abruptly. No epilogue, nothing to hint at where the characters went from there. It was like the author had nothing more to say and that was it. That was my biggest problem with this book. It built up expectations for something even more sinister and dark, and it wasn't exactly fleshed out in the end, in my opinion.
June 2, 2014
Milchman writes a chilling, suspenseful tale twined around the theme of how little we may know about those closest to us. The protagonist's character arc, from one afraid to make decisions to a woman ready to go the ends of the earth--or at least through the wild, unmarked wood--to get her children is excellent.
I particularly like how Milchman uses her protagonist's knowledge of plants, roots, and trees to both find clues and to save herself. My new favorite: woodbine!
I particularly like how Milchman uses her protagonist's knowledge of plants, roots, and trees to both find clues and to save herself. My new favorite: woodbine!
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
August 12, 2016
This is such a truly astounding mystery! At the end, I want to start again! I pride myself on imagination, but I could never create, nor guess in advance, the countless,continuous,unexpected,convolutions. How I love this book!
July 27, 2015
implausible plot + stereotypical characters = unimpressive read.
September 1, 2020
Boy did this have the most unnecessary romance of all time.
February 7, 2021
Liz Daniel seems to have it all: two children whom she loves and love her dearly, and a faithful husband who is taking the family on a vacation. Although strained, the family is going to visit Paul’s parents who they have little contact with. On the first day of their journey across Adirondack state park, Liz recommends the family stop and rest in a hotel on their way. The following morning, Liz’s world is rocked when she finds that her children are no longer in their beds and disappeared from the hotel at some point during the night. As the police get involved, Paul flees the scene, indicating he had something to do with the disappearance of the children. Liz begins her quest to uncover where her husband has taken her children, and why he has taken them.
While I found the fundamental plot interesting enough to hold my attention, the narrative is disjointed in much of what Milchman writes. The reader is not provided with enough information regarding other characters in the novel to understand why the chapter perspectives keep changing. The chapters that feature Liz remain on a steady course building in action and tension, however, every other chapter is written about another character that resides in the Utopian camp that Paul has fled to with his children. The reader is unaware of this as the novel progresses, making it hard for the reader to be invested in the individual lives of each of these characters. I found myself drifting and skimming these chapters because I cared more about Liz than these people who seemed to have no buy in or relevance to the story. Additionally, I found that each of these characters were slightly underdeveloped making them difficult to remember or connect with.
Additionally, I found a major flaw with Liz in this novel as she remained with Paul despite what seemed to be highly abusive behavior that always seemed to be an issue but never really was discussed. Although I want to believe that individuals are sometimes in such situations, the one between Liz and Paul did not seem all that believable. Overall, I have to give the novel a ⅖.
While I found the fundamental plot interesting enough to hold my attention, the narrative is disjointed in much of what Milchman writes. The reader is not provided with enough information regarding other characters in the novel to understand why the chapter perspectives keep changing. The chapters that feature Liz remain on a steady course building in action and tension, however, every other chapter is written about another character that resides in the Utopian camp that Paul has fled to with his children. The reader is unaware of this as the novel progresses, making it hard for the reader to be invested in the individual lives of each of these characters. I found myself drifting and skimming these chapters because I cared more about Liz than these people who seemed to have no buy in or relevance to the story. Additionally, I found that each of these characters were slightly underdeveloped making them difficult to remember or connect with.
Additionally, I found a major flaw with Liz in this novel as she remained with Paul despite what seemed to be highly abusive behavior that always seemed to be an issue but never really was discussed. Although I want to believe that individuals are sometimes in such situations, the one between Liz and Paul did not seem all that believable. Overall, I have to give the novel a ⅖.
May 8, 2020
Is there any worse nightmare when you are a child than getting lost or losing your parents? Probably not. The worst nightmare of all is when you become a parent and you think you've lost your child or children. I guess that's why so many novels turn on that scenario--and why we often are willing to read them. Maybe to read something pretend in case it offers us some bit of knowledge that would be useful if, God forbid, it ever became our reality. That's about the only reason to read this. The whole peripheral issue of living off the grid was pretty boring. So many extra characters that didn't really add anything except another character.
December 25, 2017
Liz, Paul and their two children are off on a vacation to the home of Paul's parents. Tired, they spend the night at a hotel. In the morning, Liz finds that her children Ally and Reid are missing. Hours later, Paul also disappears. It seems that he has run off with the children for some reason. Most of the book is, of course, filled with Liz trying to track down the kids. In the process, she learns many secrets about her husband. Can she find them in time?
August 11, 2019
Gave it 2 stars. This book is kinda slow. Had to put it down quite a bit. I finished it because I wanted to know the how it ended. Did not care for the ending. There wasn't enough there
April 10, 2020
This book started out really good. In the middle it started to fizzle out. The ending was weird.
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