Pines by Blake Crouch is the first book in the Wayward Pines Trilogy. This series of books launched an excellent TV show on Fox a few years back that, unfortunately, only last two seasons. Nevertheless, I encourage you to watch it, as it is highly entertaining. I listened to the audiobook version of Pines, published by Brilliance Audio. Is it any good? Read on for my thoughts.
Publisher’s Summary
The one-million copy bestseller that inspired the Fox TV show.
Secret service agent Ethan Burke arrives in Wayward Pines, Idaho, with a clear mission: locate and recover two federal agents who went missing in the bucolic town one month earlier. But within minutes of his arrival, Ethan is involved in a violent accident. He comes to in a hospital, with no ID, no cell phone, and no briefcase. The medical staff seems friendly enough, but something feels…off. As the days pass, Ethan’s investigation into the disappearance of his colleagues turns up more questions than answers. Why can’t he get any phone calls through to his wife and son in the outside world? Why doesn’t anyone believe he is who he says he is? And what is the purpose of the electrified fences surrounding the town? Are they meant to keep the residents in? Or something else out? Each step closer to the truth takes Ethan further from the world he thought he knew, from the man he thought he was, until he must face a horrifying fact—he may never get out of Wayward Pines alive.
2013 International Thriller Award Nominee
My Thoughts
Blake Crouch is a gifted author whose imaginative abilities are astounding. The premise for Pines is intriguing, and the execution superlative. Ethan Burke is a character I can relate to and I felt invested in the entire time. The supporting cast is also delightfully unique, rich with character develop that makes them feel like real sentient beings. This audiobook was narrated by Paul Michael Garcia, and he did a lovely job with the material. His voice is pleasant, doesn’t get in the way, and delivers Blake Crouch’s prose in an impactful and emotive manner. Pines an excellent start to a trilogy of books that took the world by storm. I strongly recommend it, and I look forward to sharing my thoughts with you on its two sequels: Wayward and The Last Town.