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Deadfall
Twin brothers Ty and Cory Bic are on the run. When they encounter a dying deer in the middle of a remote mountain road with fresh tire tracks swerving down into a ravine, they know they have to help. But when they reach the wrecked car the vehicle appears empty, with signs that the driver escaped.
Until they hear a sound coming from the trunk.
Ty and Cory are escaping demons of their own. But what they discover in the trunk puts them in the crosshairs of something darker and more sinister than their wildest nightmares.
Told through a gripping, lightning-fast narrative that alternates between present and past, this unputdownable survival thriller unravels the tangled circumstances that led Ty and Cory to the deer in the road and set them on a perilous course through the wilderness of the Pacific Northwest.
Until they hear a sound coming from the trunk.
Ty and Cory are escaping demons of their own. But what they discover in the trunk puts them in the crosshairs of something darker and more sinister than their wildest nightmares.
Told through a gripping, lightning-fast narrative that alternates between present and past, this unputdownable survival thriller unravels the tangled circumstances that led Ty and Cory to the deer in the road and set them on a perilous course through the wilderness of the Pacific Northwest.
384 pages, Paperback
First published December 4, 2018
49 people are currently reading
1702 people want to read
About the author
Stephen Wallenfels
7 books133 followers I wrote freelance in the health and fitness industry for twelve years before re-committing myself to my first love - writing fiction. After publishing several short stores for kids, I wrote and published my first novel, POD (namelos.com | Penguin/Ace), a YA scifi survival story set in Prosser, Washington and Los Angeles, California.
My second novel, BAD CALL (2017 with Disney/Hyperion) is a YA survival thriller set in one of my favorite stomping grounds, Yosemite National Park.
My third novel, DEADFALL, December 2018 - Disney/Hyperion) is another YA survival thriller set in the Pacific Northwest.
I grew up in the northeast and enjoyed backpacking and later, during my college years in California and Montana, rock climbing and wilderness survival.
My favorite books to read (and write) are centered around real characters dealing with extraordinary circumstances and how they rise to meet those challenges.
My passions are my family, reading, writing, cooking, racquet sports, and the environment--particularly climate change. The basic rule in wilderness survival is shelter first.
My second novel, BAD CALL (2017 with Disney/Hyperion) is a YA survival thriller set in one of my favorite stomping grounds, Yosemite National Park.
My third novel, DEADFALL, December 2018 - Disney/Hyperion) is another YA survival thriller set in the Pacific Northwest.
I grew up in the northeast and enjoyed backpacking and later, during my college years in California and Montana, rock climbing and wilderness survival.
My favorite books to read (and write) are centered around real characters dealing with extraordinary circumstances and how they rise to meet those challenges.
My passions are my family, reading, writing, cooking, racquet sports, and the environment--particularly climate change. The basic rule in wilderness survival is shelter first.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 117 reviews
October 30, 2021
Coming off an eight-year break from his 2009 young-adult debut, Pod, Stephen Wallenfels released two novels in two years, culminating in Deadfall. The narrative switches between the past and present, two situations in which teenage twin brothers Cory and Ty Bic are at risk from a variety of felons...including their own father. Cory and Ty are in a hurry as they drive along the secluded mountain road in a stolen car. The last thing they want is a delay, but they come upon a dead deer in the road and see skid marks from a car heading over the ravine. Anyone in that vehicle must be dying or dead, and Cory's conscience won't let him leave the scene. Cautiously the brothers make their way down to the abandoned car, but don't grasp what they've gotten themselves into until they hear banging on the locked trunk. Someone is tied up in there, the only person—except Cory and Ty, now—who can attest to the driver's crimes. The driver doesn't intend to let anyone leave the scene alive.
What led Cory and Ty to this place? The road to hell began sixteen months ago. Benny Bic never treated his sons well, but on their sixteenth birthday he brought them to these mountains to show off a nifty hideaway he once found, camouflaged inside a tree stump. "Stumptown" has furniture, tools, and other amenities, and Benny wants to move here someday. Life hasn't been the same since Cory and Ty's mother left, but putting up with Benny was never easy, particularly for Cory. The heavier, mentally softer twin was always their father's literal and figurative punching bag. Before moving to Stumptown, Benny needed to make some good money, and he hit on a scheme with the help of a shady old friend named Tirk. Cory didn't want to know the details of their father's business Benny attended to at all hours of the night in the shed outside their house, but it led them into something nasty. That's why Cory and Ty are running from a murderer sixteen months later near Stumptown, hoping Benny's crimes won't cost them their lives. Can the prey survive being stalked by a predator more clever than they know?
Half of Deadfall is flashbacks that eventually bring us up to date on what's happening now, so I won't divulge any more of the plot. The elements for a quality psychological thriller are present, but the story is complicated and relies heavily on coincidence, which docks its believability more than a bit. Still, Stephen Wallenfels has talent, and I'm close to rounding my one-and-a-half-star rating to two. Matt Griffin's cover art for the first edition is superb, the car idling under dark, menacing trees, headlights obscured by fog. It gives the feel of an eerie suspense novel. Deadfall lacks excitement, but there's some entertainment value to be had, and that's worth something.
What led Cory and Ty to this place? The road to hell began sixteen months ago. Benny Bic never treated his sons well, but on their sixteenth birthday he brought them to these mountains to show off a nifty hideaway he once found, camouflaged inside a tree stump. "Stumptown" has furniture, tools, and other amenities, and Benny wants to move here someday. Life hasn't been the same since Cory and Ty's mother left, but putting up with Benny was never easy, particularly for Cory. The heavier, mentally softer twin was always their father's literal and figurative punching bag. Before moving to Stumptown, Benny needed to make some good money, and he hit on a scheme with the help of a shady old friend named Tirk. Cory didn't want to know the details of their father's business Benny attended to at all hours of the night in the shed outside their house, but it led them into something nasty. That's why Cory and Ty are running from a murderer sixteen months later near Stumptown, hoping Benny's crimes won't cost them their lives. Can the prey survive being stalked by a predator more clever than they know?
Half of Deadfall is flashbacks that eventually bring us up to date on what's happening now, so I won't divulge any more of the plot. The elements for a quality psychological thriller are present, but the story is complicated and relies heavily on coincidence, which docks its believability more than a bit. Still, Stephen Wallenfels has talent, and I'm close to rounding my one-and-a-half-star rating to two. Matt Griffin's cover art for the first edition is superb, the car idling under dark, menacing trees, headlights obscured by fog. It gives the feel of an eerie suspense novel. Deadfall lacks excitement, but there's some entertainment value to be had, and that's worth something.
March 27, 2019
It was a little confusing but I loved this book. I felt so bad for Corey and Ty. They deserved a better life and I’m happy they got it. I’m happy that justice was found and Cory can be who he wants to be. Benny was a dick and deserved to get burned. I’m happy there was a divorce and they got a good home. I’m trying to be vague but I’m really happy about this book.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
December 11, 2018
Hard-hitting thriller
TRIGGER WARNINGS:
Emotional, physical and sexual abuse, implied rape, sex trafficking, violence.
This was a dark, difficult book for me to read. Don't get me wrong - it's an excellent book. But know that just because this book has two teen brother protagonists, that doesn't make it a teen book.
It bounced back and forth between the past and present events in Ty and Cory Bic's lives, which I thought was handled very well by the author. And the momentum and suspense kept building in intensity until a thoroughly satisfying conclusion.
It was difficult for me because this book triggered some very panicky feelings in me. The reasons aren't important but just go in forewarned - this is one intense story.
I received this book from Disney Books through Net Galley in the hopes that I would read it and leave an unbiased review.
TRIGGER WARNINGS:
Emotional, physical and sexual abuse, implied rape, sex trafficking, violence.
This was a dark, difficult book for me to read. Don't get me wrong - it's an excellent book. But know that just because this book has two teen brother protagonists, that doesn't make it a teen book.
It bounced back and forth between the past and present events in Ty and Cory Bic's lives, which I thought was handled very well by the author. And the momentum and suspense kept building in intensity until a thoroughly satisfying conclusion.
It was difficult for me because this book triggered some very panicky feelings in me. The reasons aren't important but just go in forewarned - this is one intense story.
I received this book from Disney Books through Net Galley in the hopes that I would read it and leave an unbiased review.
December 23, 2018
Review to come!
December 5, 2018
Warnings: child abuse, child sexual abuse, sex trafficking, violence
This mystery thriller delivers its story in two timelines- the present where these twins find a girl trapped in the boot of a car in an accident, and their life 16 months before, counting down to how they came to be on that road. Both timelines are through Cory's perspective, but the present is in first person, and the past in the third person, a choice that felt a bit jarring in the start but which I got used to as I went along. Their story chronicles the birthday trip that their abusive father takes them to, before moving them to another town, getting mixed up in shady stuff and dying, then the boys being delivered into a foster home of a would-be politician who seems too good to be true; the main mystery of the story being what made them run away and be on their way to their father's hideout, and who is the one who kidnapped the girl.
The book builds up suspense well, and with the alternating chapters usually ending in cliffhangers, it just keeps you reading and reading. As the story progresses, many thing emerge that could be the reason for them running away so it always seems like - is this it? Also, the now chapters are like a survivalist thriller, Cory and Astrid trekking through a forest/mountain trail, with her injured and them low on supplies and the threat of her kidnapper loose and probably about to attack just adsd to the tension. Cory is a smart protagonist, cunning but also a gentle soul. His and Ty's relationship seems distant at times, to the point where it seems like Ty could be bad, but then there are instances where Ty shows where his moral code lies. The twists are not all that surprising, because there are plenty of clues leading up to it, but it is nevertheless exciting because of the writing itself. Bonus: there isn't a romance sub-plot.
In short, a tense mystery to keep you entertained.
Is it diverse? The book has a gay and fat main character.
Received an advance reader copy in exchange for a fair review from Disney-Hyperion, via Netgalley.
This mystery thriller delivers its story in two timelines- the present where these twins find a girl trapped in the boot of a car in an accident, and their life 16 months before, counting down to how they came to be on that road. Both timelines are through Cory's perspective, but the present is in first person, and the past in the third person, a choice that felt a bit jarring in the start but which I got used to as I went along. Their story chronicles the birthday trip that their abusive father takes them to, before moving them to another town, getting mixed up in shady stuff and dying, then the boys being delivered into a foster home of a would-be politician who seems too good to be true; the main mystery of the story being what made them run away and be on their way to their father's hideout, and who is the one who kidnapped the girl.
The book builds up suspense well, and with the alternating chapters usually ending in cliffhangers, it just keeps you reading and reading. As the story progresses, many thing emerge that could be the reason for them running away so it always seems like - is this it? Also, the now chapters are like a survivalist thriller, Cory and Astrid trekking through a forest/mountain trail, with her injured and them low on supplies and the threat of her kidnapper loose and probably about to attack just adsd to the tension. Cory is a smart protagonist, cunning but also a gentle soul. His and Ty's relationship seems distant at times, to the point where it seems like Ty could be bad, but then there are instances where Ty shows where his moral code lies. The twists are not all that surprising, because there are plenty of clues leading up to it, but it is nevertheless exciting because of the writing itself. Bonus: there isn't a romance sub-plot.
In short, a tense mystery to keep you entertained.
Is it diverse? The book has a gay and fat main character.
Received an advance reader copy in exchange for a fair review from Disney-Hyperion, via Netgalley.
April 22, 2019
Stephan Wallebfels’ “Deadfall” is a survival action horror book that is a fresh change of pace compared to the other books I have read this year. The story is about two brothers, Ty and Cory, which find themselves in a predicament when they investigate a car wreck. The brothers notice that no one was injured and the driver managed to escape the wreck. They both think everything is okay until they hear a noise in the trunk. There is something new about the imagery in this book whether it’s the writing style or the general theme of the book, this alone makes the book worth reading. The book will keep you on the edge of your seat the entire way through. The characters are well developed throughout the story and it builds a connection for them and their situation. The book switches between the past and present perspective throughout the book which adds to the overall understanding of the book. The flashbacks let the reader know all the events that led up to the two brothers committing multiple felonies on an otherwise normal day. The book is told through flashbacks all the way up until the present day of when the brothers find the wrecked car in a ravine. The situation adds the “psychological thriller” element to the book. I would recommend this book to just about anyone because of its uniqueness you don’t really have to have a specific taste to read it. Overall a good light read that is suspenseful with a hint of mystery and action.
January 10, 2019
I really, really liked this book! I read the author's other novel, Bad Call and liked it as well. But Deadfall was on a whole new level of awesome.
Deadfall is told by alternating between Cory and Ty's current situation (finding a car accident with someone tied up in the trunk) and the events leading up to it. If Hatchet, The Outsiders, and Breaking Bad had a baby, this would be it.
I loved the slow buildup of tension, the alternating timelines, and the way everything played out. I loved the dynamic between the twins and their awful father, their foster family, and each other. Ty is trouble, just like his dad. He has anger issues and violent tendencies. But Cory is soft, sweet, and wants to be a chef. The story is told from Cory's point of view, so we get to see how his kind and gentle nature fares against the awful things surrounding him.
Content: Strong language, lots of f-bombs, kidnapping, violence, murder, and child abuse. This is definitely a book for older teens. Ages 16+.
Source: The publisher sent me a copy of this book.
Deadfall is told by alternating between Cory and Ty's current situation (finding a car accident with someone tied up in the trunk) and the events leading up to it. If Hatchet, The Outsiders, and Breaking Bad had a baby, this would be it.
I loved the slow buildup of tension, the alternating timelines, and the way everything played out. I loved the dynamic between the twins and their awful father, their foster family, and each other. Ty is trouble, just like his dad. He has anger issues and violent tendencies. But Cory is soft, sweet, and wants to be a chef. The story is told from Cory's point of view, so we get to see how his kind and gentle nature fares against the awful things surrounding him.
Content: Strong language, lots of f-bombs, kidnapping, violence, murder, and child abuse. This is definitely a book for older teens. Ages 16+.
Source: The publisher sent me a copy of this book.
October 3, 2021
4.5
I finished this book in one day. I couldn't stop reading, the turning narrative really kept you wanting the next piece of information. The plots really merged into a grandiose of an ending. I'm glad this was from Cory's perspective as I found Ty difficult to relate and feel sympathy for. The author did a good job of Cory perceiving it at his brothers tendencies of their dead beat, bottom feeder of a father. The parallels made you dislike Ty sometimes, but feel for Cory even more. In the end all you wanted to do was root for Cory and hope the best for him.
Deadfall was a great story for those who love wilderness survival, karma, and brotherhood adventure. I'd warn on some trigger warnings, mostly to abuse physically and verbally. There weren't any super descriptive scenes that I found too troubling. A mild warning though. Fantastic story that will you keep you very hooked.
I finished this book in one day. I couldn't stop reading, the turning narrative really kept you wanting the next piece of information. The plots really merged into a grandiose of an ending. I'm glad this was from Cory's perspective as I found Ty difficult to relate and feel sympathy for. The author did a good job of Cory perceiving it at his brothers tendencies of their dead beat, bottom feeder of a father. The parallels made you dislike Ty sometimes, but feel for Cory even more. In the end all you wanted to do was root for Cory and hope the best for him.
Deadfall was a great story for those who love wilderness survival, karma, and brotherhood adventure. I'd warn on some trigger warnings, mostly to abuse physically and verbally. There weren't any super descriptive scenes that I found too troubling. A mild warning though. Fantastic story that will you keep you very hooked.
November 8, 2018
The change in chronology from about sixteen months ago to the present is what kept the action moving as twin brothers discover a girl in a trunk and are then part of a more sinister plot that leaves them battered and broken when that sometimes seemed tame to the things they experience from their deadbeat and abusive father.
It's a bit bloated but felt action-oriented and thriller-esque for fans of this mystery thriller genre with typical elements to help master the trope but some unexpected discoveries that shock readers.
It's a bit bloated but felt action-oriented and thriller-esque for fans of this mystery thriller genre with typical elements to help master the trope but some unexpected discoveries that shock readers.
January 1, 2019
This story was a good survival story and a good story about trauma in children and overcoming bad circumstances. Mind you, it’s a very dramatized story about that, but nonetheless it worked. The actual thriller aspect was a lot less heavy than the synopsis suggested. However, the writing style of flashbacks was great storytelling and the characters, especially Cory, were pretty well-rounded. I really enjoyed this one, even more than the last Stephen Wallenfels I read, and look forward to more from him.
July 5, 2019
Cory and Ty live with their abusive, meth-addicted, drug-dealing father. When their father, Benny, gets mixed up in something that he can’t get out of, the boys move to an idyllic town with a former judge, future senator, foster father, but not all is right with this rosy world. A deer, a wrecked car, a girl in a trunk, and a stump/bug-out deep in the woods make this a highly engaging, suspenseful story.
September 11, 2022
wouldve been 3.5, maybe even 4 on a good day, if it had managed to actually utilise the split narrative. sometimes it does manage to pull off the trope of 'one thing gets revealed in the past pov thats relevant in the present pov' but then despite the effective delivery of that, cory then just. repeats it to us in the present pov like we didnt just read the last chapter. sorry boy im taking points off for that bc it made me :(
December 2, 2022
It was a slow start but I enjoyed the story overall and liked how it all came together at the end.
July 9, 2025
In Deadfall, the main characters Cory and Ty go through some awful situations, and this allows you to empathize with them so much more. In my opinion, not much happens during the middle portion of the book, but the story remains intriguing and it pulls through by the end.
December 21, 2020
Deadfall was a quick, thrilling read. When I reached the end of one chapter, I'd look forward to reading the next. The pacing was on point. The narrative was complimented by good writing and great details.
I nearly gave this a flat four-star rating because of a couple plot points. One seemed awfully convenient and somewhat forced. As a developmental editor, I know this happens when an author visualizes a plot point and it makes perfect sense in his/her head, but the delivery is weak or not executed properly. Another plot point I predicted early on. However, I believe Wallenfels redeemed himself with the overall plot.
4.5 Stars from me !!!
I nearly gave this a flat four-star rating because of a couple plot points. One seemed awfully convenient and somewhat forced. As a developmental editor, I know this happens when an author visualizes a plot point and it makes perfect sense in his/her head, but the delivery is weak or not executed properly. Another plot point I predicted early on. However, I believe Wallenfels redeemed himself with the overall plot.
4.5 Stars from me !!!
May 25, 2018
Deadfall began with real promise, its structure – alternating between the increasingly recent past and the present in the style of a film noir – plus some choice ‘reveals’ along the way meant I was keen to keep reading and find out how the increasingly complicated plot would tie up in the end. However, it proved far too long with too many confusing passages which served to undermine its own ending.
The plot revolves around twin brothers Corey and Ty Bic and their life with their abusive father Benny and subsequent foster-guardian, would-be-politician and polymath Harvey Mott. The twins discover that Harvey is not everything he appears to be and concurrently dark figures from their past begin to reappear, forcing the reader to question how this narrative will link up with one set just a few months in the future. These alternate chapters - set ‘Now,’ and which Corey himself narrates, show the twins on the run when they discover a car wreckage and find a teenage girl tied up in the trunk. Suddenly Corey, Ty and their new companion are forced to flee through the woods to escape her unknown kidnapper.
At its best, these alternating chapters really gave the plot some drive. This was particularly the case towards the end of the novel, when each chapter ended on a convincing cliff-hanger. However, it took far too long to reach this point and felt overloaded with too many unnecessary names, character traits and plot twists. I appreciate that attention to detail has its merits but the detail here doesn’t reward the reader upon the novel’s conclusion – either as relevant to the plot resolution or as pre-planned red-herrings. Ultimately they end up detracting from what is, at its core, a strong story.
There were also moments throughout the book that felt a little untidy, and proved confusing. These were mostly, but not exclusively, passages that were dialogue heavy. Chapters with long conversations tended to drag and offer little to the plot, whereas the shorter, punchier ones really kept up momentum without, in my opinion, compromising integrity of character.
The story at its heart is strong, and there were moments of Horowitz-esque brilliance, but this novel was dragged out for too long.
The plot revolves around twin brothers Corey and Ty Bic and their life with their abusive father Benny and subsequent foster-guardian, would-be-politician and polymath Harvey Mott. The twins discover that Harvey is not everything he appears to be and concurrently dark figures from their past begin to reappear, forcing the reader to question how this narrative will link up with one set just a few months in the future. These alternate chapters - set ‘Now,’ and which Corey himself narrates, show the twins on the run when they discover a car wreckage and find a teenage girl tied up in the trunk. Suddenly Corey, Ty and their new companion are forced to flee through the woods to escape her unknown kidnapper.
At its best, these alternating chapters really gave the plot some drive. This was particularly the case towards the end of the novel, when each chapter ended on a convincing cliff-hanger. However, it took far too long to reach this point and felt overloaded with too many unnecessary names, character traits and plot twists. I appreciate that attention to detail has its merits but the detail here doesn’t reward the reader upon the novel’s conclusion – either as relevant to the plot resolution or as pre-planned red-herrings. Ultimately they end up detracting from what is, at its core, a strong story.
There were also moments throughout the book that felt a little untidy, and proved confusing. These were mostly, but not exclusively, passages that were dialogue heavy. Chapters with long conversations tended to drag and offer little to the plot, whereas the shorter, punchier ones really kept up momentum without, in my opinion, compromising integrity of character.
The story at its heart is strong, and there were moments of Horowitz-esque brilliance, but this novel was dragged out for too long.
May 1, 2022
Ty and Cory Bic, twin brothers, find themselves caught up in the path of past demons that have come back with a vengeance. While joyriding through the mountain trails of the pacific northwest, Ty and Cory come across a deer that’s been hit and dragged off to the side of the road. Upon investigating the scene, they find tire tracks leading down the mountainside— a car crash. When Ty and Cory follow the tracks, they find an overturned car, and the driver is nowhere to be found. Ty and Cory are about to leave the scene to look for the driver when they hear a banging coming from inside the trunk. Deadfall flips back and forth in time, going from a third-person past centered around the brothers’ interactions with their father, Benny, to a first-person narration in the present from Cory’s perspective. As the novel progresses, we slowly begin to see how these two timelines are connected, and Ty and Cory’s situation becomes more intense and more dangerous.
Deadfall is a thriller of a story. Full of mystery, suspenseful narration, and downright scary and ominous imagery, the book makes for a great novel to read during the daytime in broad daylight. This novel should only be read at night alone if you want to have nightmares. I would recommend this book to any reader who loves a good, suspenseful mystery that goes more in-depth into the characters than simply railroading them along the plot to get to a twist ending or a climactic moment. A very fun read!
Deadfall is a thriller of a story. Full of mystery, suspenseful narration, and downright scary and ominous imagery, the book makes for a great novel to read during the daytime in broad daylight. This novel should only be read at night alone if you want to have nightmares. I would recommend this book to any reader who loves a good, suspenseful mystery that goes more in-depth into the characters than simply railroading them along the plot to get to a twist ending or a climactic moment. A very fun read!
February 5, 2019
Deadfall by Stephen Wallenfels is a book about twin brothers, their horrible father and how they ended up in the foster care system.
My above description of this book sounds vague and that is because I want it to be. This is one of those books where you need to read everything in order to understand all the events and I don't want to spoil that for anyone so I will keep it vague.
I will say, however, that the beginning of the book was pretty slow for me. I really didn't enjoy the parts where it went back to the past and showed the father. I did end up liking that part a bit further on in the book when the action started to pick up but in the beginning, I was dreading it.
This book contains crime, sexual stuff, a gay character, drugs, violence, the woods, snow, a deer, car accident, explosion and many other very interesting things that really draw the reader into the story. I was very glad the story was told more from Cory's perspective because I don't think I would have liked reading from Ty's very much. Cory was a great voice for the story.
In the end, I didn't think I was going to enjoy this book because I have a weird thing where I hardly ever enjoy books told from the boys perspective unless is it dual back and forth, but I really liked the book and I liked Cory's voice throughout the story.
Overall, I gave the book 4/5 stars.
My above description of this book sounds vague and that is because I want it to be. This is one of those books where you need to read everything in order to understand all the events and I don't want to spoil that for anyone so I will keep it vague.
I will say, however, that the beginning of the book was pretty slow for me. I really didn't enjoy the parts where it went back to the past and showed the father. I did end up liking that part a bit further on in the book when the action started to pick up but in the beginning, I was dreading it.
This book contains crime, sexual stuff, a gay character, drugs, violence, the woods, snow, a deer, car accident, explosion and many other very interesting things that really draw the reader into the story. I was very glad the story was told more from Cory's perspective because I don't think I would have liked reading from Ty's very much. Cory was a great voice for the story.
In the end, I didn't think I was going to enjoy this book because I have a weird thing where I hardly ever enjoy books told from the boys perspective unless is it dual back and forth, but I really liked the book and I liked Cory's voice throughout the story.
Overall, I gave the book 4/5 stars.
September 4, 2018
I was lucky enough to read an ARC of this slow burn, psychological thriller. I found myself heavily invested in the characters, hoping against hope for the Bik brothers. Cory stole my heart. My other favorite character was Benny. He was unpredictable, terrifying and spot on. The scene with Benny and the brothers on the bridge is horrifyingly realistic. The tension never flags and the pace picks up when they discover the girl in the trunk, but without the prior character development, I wouldn't have cared as much about the outcome. If you're a fan of Winter's Bone, this is your book.
July 29, 2018
I didn't find the narrative interesting. The story starts in the past, 16 months ago, and then jumps to the present. For some reason, I wasn't interested in the past though I know it was somehow tied to the present.
In short, this book was not for me.
Thank you Netgalley for providing mt with a free copy of this title.
In short, this book was not for me.
Thank you Netgalley for providing mt with a free copy of this title.
August 13, 2019
"They reached the tree.
'Want me to count?' Ty said.
'Sure.' Cory closed his eyes. He heard a soft click behind them. His breath caught in his throat.
Ty counted. 'One Mississippi... two Mississippi...three Mississippi...'
At ten they slowly turned around. Benny was gone."
Cory and Ty Bic are running from something in a stolen car. Somewhere in the woods, they come across a deer that had been struck by a car, and tire tracks that went off the road. When the reach the car, there is destruction and blood, no driver. Just when they're about to leave, they hear a thumping coming from the trunk.
Cory and Ty have a tough past. Their father, Benny, was a horrible person, more horrible than they first expect. The twins are trying to escape the consequences, but it's turning out to be more complicated than they'd ever imagine, even deadly.
Alternating the present and past leading up to the wrecked car encounter, Cory tells the story of what led them to the moment where they'd be running for their lives and saving others.
I really liked the premise of the story, and was hooked at the beginning. The pacing was well written at first. I had a lot of questions and concerns at the beginning, but those problems were answered later in the story. For the most part, this story held my attention and had me glued to the pages.
There were a few things that didn't make sense to me. I don't know what the significance of having Cory's past narrated in third person and his present narrated in first person, and again the epilogue narrated in third person again. It was enough to confuse me just a little bit, and there was an instance where in a "present" chapter, Cory's first person narration switched over to third person in a sentence, by accident I'm sure. I just didn't really see the point of switching it up, other than for a clear distinction between the two story lines.
There's a lot that's covered in this book, especially heavy topics. So much is happening and so many characters are introduced, that it becomes a little overwhelming at times. I appreciate all that there is to read about, but there was so much to digest that, when things connected with each other, it seemed more like a forced coincidence than something that'd actually happen.
There are parts that I wish were more developed, especially the ending. I suppose the whole book was an explanation to what led up to that point in time, but after we find the answer, the story just kind of ends.
Oh, and another minor thing. For as many ibuprofen as they were popping, I was wondering if that would've killed them before they even had the chance to escape. How can Cory know how to splint a broken arm with his limited surroundings but not know that 5 pills at a time isn't safe?
I liked the relationship between Cory and his twin. Their personalities and differences were well written, and something refreshing from the typical "similar twin" characters that are often written. The little details, like Cory's passion for cooking, and Ty's obsession with Swedish fish made these characters human and easy to sympathize with.
If you're thinking about reading this, I'd definitely give it a try. It's certainly a thriller that has a few twists and turns in it.
"After ten steps I realize there are no sounds behind me. I look back. She hasn't moved. She looks at me, then down the hill, then back to me. I hold my hands out like What's the deal? She points to my tracks, then looks at the ground around her, searching for something. She spots a stick, picks it up, and starts scratching in the snow. I walk down to see what she's doing, my irritation growing with every step. In big bold letters she writes:
HE WON'T STOP
Then:
HE WILL KILL US!
I try to act as if her words don't shake me to my core. 'He'll have to find us first.'"
'Want me to count?' Ty said.
'Sure.' Cory closed his eyes. He heard a soft click behind them. His breath caught in his throat.
Ty counted. 'One Mississippi... two Mississippi...three Mississippi...'
At ten they slowly turned around. Benny was gone."
Cory and Ty Bic are running from something in a stolen car. Somewhere in the woods, they come across a deer that had been struck by a car, and tire tracks that went off the road. When the reach the car, there is destruction and blood, no driver. Just when they're about to leave, they hear a thumping coming from the trunk.
Cory and Ty have a tough past. Their father, Benny, was a horrible person, more horrible than they first expect. The twins are trying to escape the consequences, but it's turning out to be more complicated than they'd ever imagine, even deadly.
Alternating the present and past leading up to the wrecked car encounter, Cory tells the story of what led them to the moment where they'd be running for their lives and saving others.
I really liked the premise of the story, and was hooked at the beginning. The pacing was well written at first. I had a lot of questions and concerns at the beginning, but those problems were answered later in the story. For the most part, this story held my attention and had me glued to the pages.
There were a few things that didn't make sense to me. I don't know what the significance of having Cory's past narrated in third person and his present narrated in first person, and again the epilogue narrated in third person again. It was enough to confuse me just a little bit, and there was an instance where in a "present" chapter, Cory's first person narration switched over to third person in a sentence, by accident I'm sure. I just didn't really see the point of switching it up, other than for a clear distinction between the two story lines.
There's a lot that's covered in this book, especially heavy topics. So much is happening and so many characters are introduced, that it becomes a little overwhelming at times. I appreciate all that there is to read about, but there was so much to digest that, when things connected with each other, it seemed more like a forced coincidence than something that'd actually happen.
There are parts that I wish were more developed, especially the ending. I suppose the whole book was an explanation to what led up to that point in time, but after we find the answer, the story just kind of ends.
Oh, and another minor thing. For as many ibuprofen as they were popping, I was wondering if that would've killed them before they even had the chance to escape. How can Cory know how to splint a broken arm with his limited surroundings but not know that 5 pills at a time isn't safe?
I liked the relationship between Cory and his twin. Their personalities and differences were well written, and something refreshing from the typical "similar twin" characters that are often written. The little details, like Cory's passion for cooking, and Ty's obsession with Swedish fish made these characters human and easy to sympathize with.
If you're thinking about reading this, I'd definitely give it a try. It's certainly a thriller that has a few twists and turns in it.
"After ten steps I realize there are no sounds behind me. I look back. She hasn't moved. She looks at me, then down the hill, then back to me. I hold my hands out like What's the deal? She points to my tracks, then looks at the ground around her, searching for something. She spots a stick, picks it up, and starts scratching in the snow. I walk down to see what she's doing, my irritation growing with every step. In big bold letters she writes:
HE WON'T STOP
Then:
HE WILL KILL US!
I try to act as if her words don't shake me to my core. 'He'll have to find us first.'"
November 11, 2025
This should have been a bestseller. Deadfall is pure adrenaline rush as it tells a story that bounces between the past and present, in equally engaging stories of deceit, fear and heartpound.
Ty and Cory Bic are very different but inseparable brothers. Cory is a closeted kid who loves cooking and video games, while Ty is more into the carefree, wild and rude. And Ty certainly takes after their father Benny in a few ways, but don’t let Ty hear I said that. Benny’s clear substance abuse led to their mother eventually spray painting a farewell message on their fridge and leaving their lives forever. Shortly after, Benny took his two sons to a hideaway in the wilderness called Stumptown, a secret bunker with a stove, lanterns, cans of food, and magazines on Marilyn Monroe from the 50’s…so you could say that that canned food must be botulism sludge by now. No one had been to this unknown place in 60 years, and Benny introduces it as their sort of hideout.
Well, a little over a year later, Ty and Cory find themselves in a pickle that brings them back. They are in a stolen car running from someone, and as they’re going, they see a car rolled over in the trees. The goodness in Cory’s heart forces them to stop and check things out. They find a girl in the trunk, tied up with duct tape around her mouth and gasoline all over her clothes. When they manage to free her, she isn’t speaking, and it becomes apparent whoever tied her up meant to kill her…and is not about to let the three of them go. With that, we hear two different stories in tandem; their run from this lunatic, and how they found themselves on the run.
A brief way of describing Deadfall is it’s the kind of story I dreamt of writing as a little kid but with the grunge and hatred of reality mashed into it. I’ve always been a fan of books about characters in low-class desperate circumstances, because these people have always existed and their troubles are often more than I can possibly imagine. I’ve always been a fan of stories where people scheme, orchestrate, and run from the authorities. Well, running from the authorities turns out to not really be a subject here, but we know Cory and Ty are running from someone and stole a Volvo in doing so. Close enough in my opinion. I’ve always been a fan of the idea of hiding out where no one can find you, not your worst enemies, not the authorities, not a soul. When I was a kid, the idea of a Stumptown of my own appealed to me because in the back of my head I knew that a place off the grid that only I knew the location of is something I might require one day, especially if I was hiding secret documents or a war fugitive. There’s the fact that having food in a secret wildlife cavern would be very dangerous because of the raccoons, bears, coyotes, without some proper security. But all you’d need is some funds and imagination and you’d be set. Stephen Wallenfels has crafted a book of half wish fulfilling fantasy, half true grit, and I couldn’t put it down.
I don’t want to spoil what happens to Cory, Ty and Benny. Let’s just say there are some staggering twists that bring the characters to new places over the months before meeting the girl, and not all of it is bad, believe it or not. One part is a journey of life, and then there’s trying to save a life.
The ending might be a bit too tidy for my taste, but I can live with that. I devoured this book and really appreciated how it didn’t pull the punches of what it’s like growing up in a household with a dangerous parent, and the pace of both stories had me always excited for what came next.
- This review was originally published in 2023 on my website, williammcginn.com -
Ty and Cory Bic are very different but inseparable brothers. Cory is a closeted kid who loves cooking and video games, while Ty is more into the carefree, wild and rude. And Ty certainly takes after their father Benny in a few ways, but don’t let Ty hear I said that. Benny’s clear substance abuse led to their mother eventually spray painting a farewell message on their fridge and leaving their lives forever. Shortly after, Benny took his two sons to a hideaway in the wilderness called Stumptown, a secret bunker with a stove, lanterns, cans of food, and magazines on Marilyn Monroe from the 50’s…so you could say that that canned food must be botulism sludge by now. No one had been to this unknown place in 60 years, and Benny introduces it as their sort of hideout.
Well, a little over a year later, Ty and Cory find themselves in a pickle that brings them back. They are in a stolen car running from someone, and as they’re going, they see a car rolled over in the trees. The goodness in Cory’s heart forces them to stop and check things out. They find a girl in the trunk, tied up with duct tape around her mouth and gasoline all over her clothes. When they manage to free her, she isn’t speaking, and it becomes apparent whoever tied her up meant to kill her…and is not about to let the three of them go. With that, we hear two different stories in tandem; their run from this lunatic, and how they found themselves on the run.
A brief way of describing Deadfall is it’s the kind of story I dreamt of writing as a little kid but with the grunge and hatred of reality mashed into it. I’ve always been a fan of books about characters in low-class desperate circumstances, because these people have always existed and their troubles are often more than I can possibly imagine. I’ve always been a fan of stories where people scheme, orchestrate, and run from the authorities. Well, running from the authorities turns out to not really be a subject here, but we know Cory and Ty are running from someone and stole a Volvo in doing so. Close enough in my opinion. I’ve always been a fan of the idea of hiding out where no one can find you, not your worst enemies, not the authorities, not a soul. When I was a kid, the idea of a Stumptown of my own appealed to me because in the back of my head I knew that a place off the grid that only I knew the location of is something I might require one day, especially if I was hiding secret documents or a war fugitive. There’s the fact that having food in a secret wildlife cavern would be very dangerous because of the raccoons, bears, coyotes, without some proper security. But all you’d need is some funds and imagination and you’d be set. Stephen Wallenfels has crafted a book of half wish fulfilling fantasy, half true grit, and I couldn’t put it down.
I don’t want to spoil what happens to Cory, Ty and Benny. Let’s just say there are some staggering twists that bring the characters to new places over the months before meeting the girl, and not all of it is bad, believe it or not. One part is a journey of life, and then there’s trying to save a life.
The ending might be a bit too tidy for my taste, but I can live with that. I devoured this book and really appreciated how it didn’t pull the punches of what it’s like growing up in a household with a dangerous parent, and the pace of both stories had me always excited for what came next.
- This review was originally published in 2023 on my website, williammcginn.com -
December 12, 2018
3.5 Stars
Deadfall is a thrilling new young adult mystery that fans of survivalist fiction are going to love. Here's what I liked and disliked about the book:
Liked:
Characters - The twins, Ty and Cory, are completely different in almost every way but they stick together and have each others' backs no matter what. I liked getting to know both of them throughout the story, especially Cory who we get to know even better in the 'present' part of the book because he narrates it.
Writing Style - I love that this was written in a different way than most books. It alternates between the past and the present with both narratives adding together to create the overall story line and plot. We get lots of backstory from the past part of the story and we see how that past has effected each twin in the present while running from the villain. I liked watching how the stories eventually lined up and everything fell into place, although I personally had seen it coming. I normally don't like the third person point of view style, but the author uses it to narrate the past portion of the book. It didn't bother me as much as I thought it would and it made it easier to learn more about each twin and their situation. The present is told from the first person POV, from Cory's perspective. I love the first person and I'm so glad the author did this in the story. We get a more intense feeling of tension and suspense with the first person than can usually be gained by any other writing style. Which is exactly what happens here. The blend of the two varying styles was a nice touch and makes the story stand out from others in the same genre.
Didn't Like: This is my own personal opinion and has nothing to do with the author or the work. I know others are going to feel completely differently than I did, but I want to be thorough and mention everything in my review, including things that I didn't care for. In this case, it was the predictability. Almost from the beginning I knew where things were going to go because of the not-so-original plot, and by the middle of the book I knew exactly what was going to happen. When I read stories, especially mysteries and thrillers, I like to be kept guessing as long as possible. This just didn't live up to that for me personally and made the reading experience a little less positive than it could have been otherwise.
Disclosure: I received a copy of the book in exchange for an honest review.
Deadfall is a thrilling new young adult mystery that fans of survivalist fiction are going to love. Here's what I liked and disliked about the book:
Liked:
Characters - The twins, Ty and Cory, are completely different in almost every way but they stick together and have each others' backs no matter what. I liked getting to know both of them throughout the story, especially Cory who we get to know even better in the 'present' part of the book because he narrates it.
Writing Style - I love that this was written in a different way than most books. It alternates between the past and the present with both narratives adding together to create the overall story line and plot. We get lots of backstory from the past part of the story and we see how that past has effected each twin in the present while running from the villain. I liked watching how the stories eventually lined up and everything fell into place, although I personally had seen it coming. I normally don't like the third person point of view style, but the author uses it to narrate the past portion of the book. It didn't bother me as much as I thought it would and it made it easier to learn more about each twin and their situation. The present is told from the first person POV, from Cory's perspective. I love the first person and I'm so glad the author did this in the story. We get a more intense feeling of tension and suspense with the first person than can usually be gained by any other writing style. Which is exactly what happens here. The blend of the two varying styles was a nice touch and makes the story stand out from others in the same genre.
Didn't Like: This is my own personal opinion and has nothing to do with the author or the work. I know others are going to feel completely differently than I did, but I want to be thorough and mention everything in my review, including things that I didn't care for. In this case, it was the predictability. Almost from the beginning I knew where things were going to go because of the not-so-original plot, and by the middle of the book I knew exactly what was going to happen. When I read stories, especially mysteries and thrillers, I like to be kept guessing as long as possible. This just didn't live up to that for me personally and made the reading experience a little less positive than it could have been otherwise.
Disclosure: I received a copy of the book in exchange for an honest review.
July 26, 2020
Deadfall is by far one of the best books I've read in a while. To be honest? I feel like I'm on a winning streak. Even the mediocre books I've read I enjoyed to an extent. Deadfall has all the grit of an adult suspense novel with the emotion that rocked me from Patrick Ness's Knife of Never Letting Go. Twin brothers have a rather tumultuous relationship with each other and their abusive father Benny. Since their mother left, they've been at his mercy, having to look out for each other in brawn and wit. When Benny gets involved in the dirty business of trafficking, the boys play ignorant. The less you know, the less risk you pose. But Benny has been skimming the honey pot, and the boss came to collect. After the fire, the boys are thrust into the system, but the eldest is a witness/suspect of their father's death now ruled as a homocide. While trying to forget their troubles and move on, their new foster home poses its own secrets. The Mott family, led by a political man running for Senator, appears to be the trustful sort, until the two brothers get involved in another incident revealing his own dirty business. Once again, they're on the run. After setting up to release the information online to expose the would-be Senator, they steal his car with enough supplies to live for awhile on their own and head to stumptown.
That is, until they spot a car on the ditch. A girl is tied up in the trunk. And the driver, now a familiar player in this game, is hot on their tail.
I don't want to spoil everything, but I will say that the twists are never ending, well-paced, and everything in the story comes around full circle. While a part of me wishes the depths of the politician's dirty laundry somehow connected with the Benny and the business, it still manages to fit in neatly with the rest of the story. This book is certainly gritty, and it is not for the faint of heart. But for the ones who've faced the trials of abusive parenthood, drug abuse, or worse, I think this story would hit home in a new kind of way. In relation to the hardship that only exists in our nightmares, it is a stark reminder that no matter how much we know, we never truly know it all. This, in no means, pardons us to make assumptions on another person's background, but it should humble us, reminding everyone that victimhood isn't a competition. That our circumstances can make OR break us, and it is up to our own individual determination and strength to see through our own survival.
That is, until they spot a car on the ditch. A girl is tied up in the trunk. And the driver, now a familiar player in this game, is hot on their tail.
I don't want to spoil everything, but I will say that the twists are never ending, well-paced, and everything in the story comes around full circle. While a part of me wishes the depths of the politician's dirty laundry somehow connected with the Benny and the business, it still manages to fit in neatly with the rest of the story. This book is certainly gritty, and it is not for the faint of heart. But for the ones who've faced the trials of abusive parenthood, drug abuse, or worse, I think this story would hit home in a new kind of way. In relation to the hardship that only exists in our nightmares, it is a stark reminder that no matter how much we know, we never truly know it all. This, in no means, pardons us to make assumptions on another person's background, but it should humble us, reminding everyone that victimhood isn't a competition. That our circumstances can make OR break us, and it is up to our own individual determination and strength to see through our own survival.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
November 19, 2018
This story begins when Benny Bic takes his twin 16-year-old sons Cory and Ty on a road trip for their birthday. Benny is a drunk who has taken to physically abusing Cory since his wife left the family a couple of years earlier. Ty is the one who is the most like their father, including his anger issues. Cory is more sensitive. He's fat, bright, interested in cooking, and is coming to believe that he is gay.
The road trip isn't something either of the boys want to do. They wind up hiking into the wilderness where, after scaring them by seeming to abandon them, Benny shows the boy a secret hideout in an old burnt out stump that he discovered some years earlier. He also tells them that their home has been sold and that they are moving to Portland so that he can go into business with a low-life named Tirk.
Benny moves the kids into a former crack house and begins to get involved with Meth. After he double crosses his partner, he's murdered and the boys are thrown into foster care with the bad guys on their trail.
The story is told in a somewhat linear fashion alternating between the boys life in Portland, in Luster, and in Stumptown. It talks about their life in foster care with former judge turned political candidate Harvey Mott and his family, and what they discover about him. It also adds suspense when the boys decided to run away to winter in Stumptown and discover a car with a girl in the trunk who's still be pursued by those who put her there.
The story was fast-paced and action-packed. I liked getting to know Cory and watch him grow through the story. The only complaint I have is the number of coincidences that litter the story. The judge picked the boys because he remembers seeing them along with their parents one time when Benny was up before a judge. The kidnapped girl connects to their father and the other villains after them.
The road trip isn't something either of the boys want to do. They wind up hiking into the wilderness where, after scaring them by seeming to abandon them, Benny shows the boy a secret hideout in an old burnt out stump that he discovered some years earlier. He also tells them that their home has been sold and that they are moving to Portland so that he can go into business with a low-life named Tirk.
Benny moves the kids into a former crack house and begins to get involved with Meth. After he double crosses his partner, he's murdered and the boys are thrown into foster care with the bad guys on their trail.
The story is told in a somewhat linear fashion alternating between the boys life in Portland, in Luster, and in Stumptown. It talks about their life in foster care with former judge turned political candidate Harvey Mott and his family, and what they discover about him. It also adds suspense when the boys decided to run away to winter in Stumptown and discover a car with a girl in the trunk who's still be pursued by those who put her there.
The story was fast-paced and action-packed. I liked getting to know Cory and watch him grow through the story. The only complaint I have is the number of coincidences that litter the story. The judge picked the boys because he remembers seeing them along with their parents one time when Benny was up before a judge. The kidnapped girl connects to their father and the other villains after them.
December 7, 2018
Special thanks to NetGalley for providing me with an ARC of this book!
If you advertise a book that involves two brothers on the run who find a kidnap victim in the trunk of a car, I will probably be enticed. Given that reality, it's not surprising that I was interested in DEADFALL by Stephen Wallenfels. I was lucky enough to get an eARC from NetGalley. So I dove in, hoping for something that would keep me on the edge of my seat.
Cory and Ty, twin brothers who have been through a lot together, are on the run in a stolen car. But when they pull over after seeing signs of an accident, the find a busted up car and no one in sight. That is, until they hear a knocking from the trunk. What they can't know is that while what they are running from is terrible, they may be encountering something far worse.
Cory was the main focus in this book, as in the current timeline it was from his first person point of view and in the past it was mostly focused on him, despite being in the third person. He was a sympathetic character with enough depth to be interesting, but with enough mystery to keep the reader wondering what makes him tick. I liked the way the story was laid out, in the present with the kidnapped girl, Astrid, and in the past seeing how Cory and Ty went from being in the custody of their abusive Dad to a better life they eventually abandon. While Cory was a compelling protagonist and I was interested to see how Cory and Ty got to the predicament they were in at the start of the book, DEADFALL didn't really push any limits or take me in completely. I kept waiting for it to get more interesting, but it never really moved past obvious build ups into territory that wowed me. It's a pretty straight forward story that doesn't have many twists or turns.
DEADFALL was fine, but it didn't stand out from your average YA thriller.
If you advertise a book that involves two brothers on the run who find a kidnap victim in the trunk of a car, I will probably be enticed. Given that reality, it's not surprising that I was interested in DEADFALL by Stephen Wallenfels. I was lucky enough to get an eARC from NetGalley. So I dove in, hoping for something that would keep me on the edge of my seat.
Cory and Ty, twin brothers who have been through a lot together, are on the run in a stolen car. But when they pull over after seeing signs of an accident, the find a busted up car and no one in sight. That is, until they hear a knocking from the trunk. What they can't know is that while what they are running from is terrible, they may be encountering something far worse.
Cory was the main focus in this book, as in the current timeline it was from his first person point of view and in the past it was mostly focused on him, despite being in the third person. He was a sympathetic character with enough depth to be interesting, but with enough mystery to keep the reader wondering what makes him tick. I liked the way the story was laid out, in the present with the kidnapped girl, Astrid, and in the past seeing how Cory and Ty went from being in the custody of their abusive Dad to a better life they eventually abandon. While Cory was a compelling protagonist and I was interested to see how Cory and Ty got to the predicament they were in at the start of the book, DEADFALL didn't really push any limits or take me in completely. I kept waiting for it to get more interesting, but it never really moved past obvious build ups into territory that wowed me. It's a pretty straight forward story that doesn't have many twists or turns.
DEADFALL was fine, but it didn't stand out from your average YA thriller.
January 17, 2021
3.75*
I quite enjoyed this book. I thought that it was a pretty good thriller. It had quite and interesting story line and it was pretty suspenseful. It is written in a way that makes the story jump from past to present. I was very invested in both sides of the story.
One of the problems I had with this book was that it did take a little bit for me to get into. The beginning of the story is nothing like how the rest of the story goes so it did take a while for me to get really invested in the story. In the beginning the before was a lot more boring than once you got more into the book. Once I got around 120 pages into the book then I started becoming more invested in the before story. The present story started off suspenseful so that it was kept me hooked, and the reason I kept on reading.
I did really enjoy this book. The story line was quite unique and it had a lot of twist and turns that kept me hooked. I did kind of guess a bit of the huge plot twist but, I didn’t guess it until like 20 pages before it happened. It was a more realistic story and that’s what made it very Erie. But it didn’t blow me away. It was a good book and enjoyable but there was nothing that stood out that would make it a 5 star read. Some parts of the story were very unique but other parts just felt like every thriller ever.
I did enjoy the character of this book quite a lot. The two main character are twin brothers and they were very enjoyable characters to follow. The main character Cory was a very level headed and calm character which I enjoyed because I hate reading the perspective of an overdramatic characters in thrillers.
Overall I did enjoy this book, it just wasn’t a book that blew my mind and left me dying to know what was next. It wasn’t a book that is gonna stick with me.
I quite enjoyed this book. I thought that it was a pretty good thriller. It had quite and interesting story line and it was pretty suspenseful. It is written in a way that makes the story jump from past to present. I was very invested in both sides of the story.
One of the problems I had with this book was that it did take a little bit for me to get into. The beginning of the story is nothing like how the rest of the story goes so it did take a while for me to get really invested in the story. In the beginning the before was a lot more boring than once you got more into the book. Once I got around 120 pages into the book then I started becoming more invested in the before story. The present story started off suspenseful so that it was kept me hooked, and the reason I kept on reading.
I did really enjoy this book. The story line was quite unique and it had a lot of twist and turns that kept me hooked. I did kind of guess a bit of the huge plot twist but, I didn’t guess it until like 20 pages before it happened. It was a more realistic story and that’s what made it very Erie. But it didn’t blow me away. It was a good book and enjoyable but there was nothing that stood out that would make it a 5 star read. Some parts of the story were very unique but other parts just felt like every thriller ever.
I did enjoy the character of this book quite a lot. The two main character are twin brothers and they were very enjoyable characters to follow. The main character Cory was a very level headed and calm character which I enjoyed because I hate reading the perspective of an overdramatic characters in thrillers.
Overall I did enjoy this book, it just wasn’t a book that blew my mind and left me dying to know what was next. It wasn’t a book that is gonna stick with me.
March 11, 2019
My Dad liked to say, “If he didn’t have bad luck…he would have no luck at all.” Our two lead protagonists in “Deadfall” are twin brothers who have drawn a major short stick in the game of life. An absentee mother, a sociopath and abusive father who also dealt in making meth and female trafficking when he wasn’t torturing his twin boys, Ty and Cory. It seemed like a never-ending life of misery for the young 16-year old boys. When their father is brutally killed, they get an opportunity to live in a wealthy foster home beyond their wildest imagination with a charismatic foster father that offers everything they never received from their biological father. Unfortunately, appearances can be deceiving, and they are caught up in a web of intrigue and abuse that they had not anticipated. Trying to survive on their wits they work to save a girl accidentally found in the hood of the car as they are making a getaway from all of the troubles they have left behind. Saving her turns out to be the hardest thing they have ever done and yet changes their lives. At one point, Cory is talking to the young female victim and he states: “I’m thinking that if there were a competition for the most messed-up family in the world, my little clan would be a contender for the top prize.” Through sheer force of will and perseverance our twin brothers, who never give up on one another, find a way to redemption. Excellent book and well-written. It’s a survival fiction with a strong ending. ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ Read it. #survival #victims #abuse #lifetmeofabuse #overcoming #neverGivingUp #fightingForRight #moralCompass #goodvsevil #good #evil #book #criminalFiction #dysfunctionalfamily #books #read #redader #bookstagram #bookworm #booklover #Deadfall #StephenWallenfels #Hyperion #lindaleereads2019
July 29, 2018
A trapped in the wilderness thriller that seems to be Wallenfells go to has just enough intrigue to keep you guessing as the past and present meet resulting a bloody conclusion.
“Deadfall” goes back and forth in time telling the story of twin brothers Ty and Cory trying to make a life with an absent mother and deadbeat dad whose get rich quick plans go from bad to worse. I’m the present, the brothers are in the woods in a stolen car when they come upon a crash with something darker lurking within the wreckage and have to work with what they’ve got in order to survive the night.
This book has a full circle type feel to it where it ends and begins in a similar location but with very different emotions at play which I think was a nice way to wrap up the events of the novel which go from bad to worse as it plays with the idea that monsters are both people you expect and those who hide behind that of normality. I liked both brothers a lot though there was more focus on Cory than that of Ty but their relationship was really cemented in that of survival as they both grew up in an abusive household and had no one else to lean on but each other.
Overall this book isn’t bad but it’s also not necessarily great? It has a lot of themes in it that are very grown up and for me that was fine but for a different and probably younger audience I’m not sure how suitable the subject matter would be but that’s not up to me to decide.
**special thanks to the publishers and netgalley for providing an arc in exchange for a fair and honest review!**
“Deadfall” goes back and forth in time telling the story of twin brothers Ty and Cory trying to make a life with an absent mother and deadbeat dad whose get rich quick plans go from bad to worse. I’m the present, the brothers are in the woods in a stolen car when they come upon a crash with something darker lurking within the wreckage and have to work with what they’ve got in order to survive the night.
This book has a full circle type feel to it where it ends and begins in a similar location but with very different emotions at play which I think was a nice way to wrap up the events of the novel which go from bad to worse as it plays with the idea that monsters are both people you expect and those who hide behind that of normality. I liked both brothers a lot though there was more focus on Cory than that of Ty but their relationship was really cemented in that of survival as they both grew up in an abusive household and had no one else to lean on but each other.
Overall this book isn’t bad but it’s also not necessarily great? It has a lot of themes in it that are very grown up and for me that was fine but for a different and probably younger audience I’m not sure how suitable the subject matter would be but that’s not up to me to decide.
**special thanks to the publishers and netgalley for providing an arc in exchange for a fair and honest review!**
June 16, 2023
I was not expecting to love this book as much as I did.
this story feels so different compared to what I have read recently in terms of ya thrillers and it was kind of refreshing to have a new story to read and digest.
there were times where I didn’t get why we kept flipping so much between past and present, but of course it made sense after a while and I found myself physically reacting at some of the cliffhangers and the shocking reveals and having the past perspective added so much to it.
I’d say the craziest reveals had to be that tweaker teeth was involved in astrids kidnapping (plus tirk and benny as well) and definitely the harvey reveal with kayla. from the moment the twins were taken to the ski lodge I knew something was up. those plot twists added so much to the story and made me addicted to wanting to finish this book.
I don’t feel there’s anything I would take away on this, every character was so unique and likable in their own ways (except for the ones who are purposefully bad of course) and I found myself sympathizing or getting mad or being shocked with them as well. cory being the main narrator was a great choice, it’s great to see his flow of conciousness compared to ty and how he has learned to react to ty’s anger and how alike he is to benny.
I’m sad to have ended this book only because I really loved it and that happened so quickly, again I didn’t expect it to be this good, but I’m glad I bought it a few years ago and glad I finally decided to read it. will be reading others from this author!
this story feels so different compared to what I have read recently in terms of ya thrillers and it was kind of refreshing to have a new story to read and digest.
there were times where I didn’t get why we kept flipping so much between past and present, but of course it made sense after a while and I found myself physically reacting at some of the cliffhangers and the shocking reveals and having the past perspective added so much to it.
I’d say the craziest reveals had to be that tweaker teeth was involved in astrids kidnapping (plus tirk and benny as well) and definitely the harvey reveal with kayla. from the moment the twins were taken to the ski lodge I knew something was up. those plot twists added so much to the story and made me addicted to wanting to finish this book.
I don’t feel there’s anything I would take away on this, every character was so unique and likable in their own ways (except for the ones who are purposefully bad of course) and I found myself sympathizing or getting mad or being shocked with them as well. cory being the main narrator was a great choice, it’s great to see his flow of conciousness compared to ty and how he has learned to react to ty’s anger and how alike he is to benny.
I’m sad to have ended this book only because I really loved it and that happened so quickly, again I didn’t expect it to be this good, but I’m glad I bought it a few years ago and glad I finally decided to read it. will be reading others from this author!
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
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