Item: The River
Rating: 4.00
Author: quirkycat

by Peter Heller

NATIONAL BESTSELLER • From the best-selling author of The Dog Stars comes the story of two college students on a wilderness canoe trip—a gripping tale of a friendship tested by fire, white water, and violence.

"A fiery tour de force … I could not put this book down. It truly was terrifying and unutterably beautiful."—The Denver Post

Wynn and Jack have been best friends since college orientation, bonded by their shared love of mountains, books, and fishing. Wynn is a gentle giant, a Vermont kid never happier than when his feet are in the water. Jack is more rugged, raised on a ranch in Colorado where sleeping under the stars and cooking on a fire came as naturally to him as breathing. When they decide to canoe the Maskwa River in northern Canada, they anticipate long days of leisurely paddling and picking blueberries, and nights of stargazing and reading paperback Westerns. But a wildfire making its way across the forest adds unexpected urgency to the journey.

One night, with the fire advancing, they hear a man and woman arguing on the fog-shrouded riverbank; the next day, a man appears on the river, paddling alone. Is this the same man they heard? And if he is, where is the woman? From this charged beginning, master storyteller Peter Heller unspools a headlong, heart-pounding story of desperate wilderness survival.

Book Summary:

Wynn and Jack have a friendship many would envy. They love spending time together, ideally in the great outdoors. That's why they're going to canoe the Maskwa River together. Unfortunately, things aren't going to go as planned.

First, there's the smoke. This level of smoke indicates a forest fire like they've never seen before. So there goes their hope of a casual trip down the river. Next, there are at least two groups of humans in the area who will bring their own complications into this already deadly affair.

My Review:

So, I'm a bit behind on the times. The River came out in 2019, yet I only read it because it came up in my book club (thank you!). I am so glad that it did, though, as it would have been a shame to miss out on this one.

I adored Wynn and Jack. They have a friendship that most of us can only wish for. They're dedicated to one another, share the same hobbies, and don't mind going to extremes to enjoy those hobbies. It's endearing.

That element certainly made everything that followed more intense. It's hard seeing characters you adore in a life-or-death situation. In this case, they're actually in several, all layering together. It makes for a complex read where you're never really sure how deep the truth goes.

The River is an intense and emotional read. It's fantastic and daring, but it also hit me in the gut on several occasions. And yes, I am planning on reading the sequel. Apparently, I'm not done letting Peter Heller beat up my emotions.

Highlights:
Mystery/Thriller
Complex Survival Story
Best Friends

Trigger Warnings:
Animal Death
Familial Death

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The River

by Peter Heller

Reviewed by Quirky Cat on Oct 16, 2023

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