I have discovered a wonderful new author to read in the thriller genre: Blake Crouch. Originally I began reading Pines because it was a free read from Kindle. I finished reading it because it was difficult to put down!

The story begins simple enough: Secret Service Agent, Ethan Burke wakes up in a place called Wayward Pines. He was in an accident. His partner died in the car accident.

There is something wrong with Wayward Pines. He appears to be the only person in the entire hospital. Nurse Pam is a psychopath with a hypodermic needle, and the psychiatrist, well, he doesn’t seem like a psychiatrist.

Now, let’s check in with Ethan’s family – his wife and son, who receive a very creepy visit from a man on a dark and stormy night at their home in Seattle. Theresa Burke believes Ethan to be dead, but the visitor says he can take her to her husband. At first she is willing, and then she and her their son, Ben, are gased and  kidnapped. You know they are on their way to Wayward Pines.

What is going on in the idyllic place where the perfect little town has a feeling of peace on the surface. Everyone knows everyone else. The children are happy. It is almost the perfect image of a 1950s American town that no longer exists. Is it a social experiment? Is it a madman’s dream? Does everyone want to be in Wayward Pines?

There are many questions you ask along with Ethan Burke, and just like Ethan you go along to have the questions answered; however, the answers aren’t the ones you expect. I didn’t expect the answers Ethan uncovers. It was a surprise, and yet all the answers were right there – I just didn’t put them together correctly!

This is the first book in the Wayward Pines series, and already I am looking forward to reading book 2, Wayward.

There is more to this story in Wayward Pines. I can’t tell you anything about the blurb I read for this second installment at the end of Pines. I suggest you read it yourself and get hooked.

For this book I would give it a well-earned five out of five stars.