Play Book Tag discussion

College students Jack and Wynn believe they are about to have the adventure of a lifetime. The friends have planned a canoeing, fishing and camping trip on Northern Canada's Maskwa River. On one of their first few days on the river the men smell distant smoke and soon learn that a raging forest fire is moving in their direction. The men feel certain that they will be able to reach their destination before the flames cause them any trouble. As Jack and Wynn paddle through the water they hear a man and woman arguing on the fog-shrouded river bank. The men pass by but, thinking they should warn the couple about the encroaching fire, they turn back. They search the area but are unable to find the man and woman. The next day the friends see the man, now alone, paddling his own canoe. Jack and Wynn call the man over to their camp and thus begins a nightmare that they could never have imagined. Where is the woman? And why does the man have blood on his clothing?

I was not invested in this book at all during the first third or so. There is only so many canoeing, fishing and camping terms I can absorb before I'm overloaded with info I don't understand. But then the story opened up and it was exciting and suspenseful. Jack and Wynn are wonderful characters; Jack is the practical, down-to-earth guy and Wynn is the artistic dreamer who believes the best about everyone. They complement each other very well and the reader just knows their trip will be amazing and successful. The situations they confront will test both of them more than they could have ever thought possible. So, 3 stars for the first third of the book and 5 stars for the last third evens out to a solid 4.

This is on my Tbr and was on top, but I didn't get to it soon enough so it sank. I need to dive down and bring it back.

Thanks for the wonderful review to remind me I want to read this soon.

This is on my list too! I really liked Heller’s first two books, and was less enchanted with Celine, but am definitely not writing him off yet this one looks great!