Resthaven

by Erik Therme

[Terri M. LeBlanc]

Author Erik Therme has been In the Spotlight twice here at Second Run Reviews and this is the first novel I’ve read by him. Resthaven is a young adult thriller novel and is told in an unique fashion.

Like binge watching your favorite series on Netflix, Resthaven is a single narrative told over the course of one thrilling night in an abandoned rest home. There are no chapters and few breaks in the story. The way the novel is constructed lends itself to a reading it in a single sitting rather than in short doses over several days. This was by far my favorite thing about Resthaven. Resthaven fell short for me on two points though.

1. The characters. I did identify with Kaylee, but her connection to the other girls in the story left me feeling flat. The tension between her and the other girls, which is the main reason for them being at the rest home, was not strong enough. I didn’t feel the animosity between the girls and so their driving need to initial escape the situation wasn’t as compelling or strong. The girls had to be in physical danger before their need to escape made me feel anxious.

2. The rest home. I will admit that when it comes to “seeing” myself in a location and “walking” around it in my imagination, my skills are seriously lacking. As a result, I got more turned around and lost in Resthaven than the characters. And since the location plays an important part in the telling of this story, when the characters were not standing still, I was lost.

Resthaven is a new adventure in binge reading. Geared towards young adults, anyone looking for a unique approach to the thriller genre may appreciate Therme’s Resthaven.


This review was originally posted on Second Run Reviews