Hannah Jayne's The Escape is a thrilling page-turner that, really, keeps you guessing until the final quarter of the book. We open with quite the exciting beginning when two high school students -- Adam, a popular jock, and Fletcher, a more reserved loner -- go missing while on a hike together. Avery, the chief of police's daughter, is a friend of both boys and assists in the search and finds Fletcher, brutally injured and bloody in the woods. What follows is a psychological nightmare for the two teenagers as the search for Adam takes numerous twists and turns as the town, fearful over the attack, is afraid of what lurks in their once-peaceful community.

The writing of this novel is definitely engaging; I found myself unable to put the book down at times, wanting to keep reading and finding myself continuing chapter after chapter until it was done. The characters -- especially Avery and Fletcher -- are quite engaging, and the relationship that develops between them and the rather brilliant way the story swaps between their perspectives helps add to the thrills and suspense of the story. It does get quite dark at times -- obviously, we are dealing with high schoolers getting violently mauled -- and there is a bit of language from the halfway-point on, but the story and characters really keep it to be a thrilling read.

Now, if it's so good, why only a 4-star rating, you might ask? Unfortunately (and I'll avoid saying too much for spoilers' sake), the ending leaves a bit to be desired. It might be because the ending wasn't the one I wanted, but it felt so tragic for one of the characters that it honestly left me disappointed this was the route the author took, but regardless, that's the beauty of storytelling -- it's up to the author to decide what happens, not the reader. But not only that, it seemed like the book wrapped up in one or two pages when a good 10-page epilogue would have vastly enhanced the ending, giving better closure to the characters. I had to double check to make sure there wasn't anything else left besides the acknowledgements, because it was that abrupt. Regardless, it is still a thrilling read, and one I recommend for fans of the YA suspense/mystery genre.

*Finished January 23, 2023* ( )

Fletcher Carroll and Adam Marshall couldn't have run in more different crowds. Fletcher keeps to himself, while Adam is a popular Dan River Falls High jock. Yet one day, they are both reported missing. They went into the forest to take a hike together and never came home. Avery Templeton, the Police Chief's daughter, is enlisted to help with the search party.

When Avery comes upon Fletcher, it's almost like she walked into a horror film. He's got blood covering his body, his voice is raspy and terrified, and most bizarrely, he has absolutely no memory of what happened. Avery used to be friends with Fletcher, and since she found him, she feels responsible for helping him remember. But Fletcher isn't sure if he wants to remember. What if what he remembers is a deranged stranger? Or even worse, what if it's someone close to him?

"The Escape" is a fast-paced thriller, always twisting and turning, and you never know where it's leading next. Don't read this one on a camping trip. ( )

Review courtesy of Dark Faerie Tales

Quick & Dirty: A psychological thriller, a little more than the normal whodunit.

Opening Sentence: “Come on, loser! Adam yelled over his shoulder.”

The Review:

I was grabbed and hauled along for the ride. Two boys go for a hike in the woods, Adam and Fletcher. In less than 24 hours they go missing and a search is organized. Avery is the police chief’s daughter and she is the one who stumbles onto Fletcher. He’s badly beaten and barely alive, but Adam is nowhere to be found. A couple of days later Adam is found dead.

So the set-up is there, all the players are laid out and now we are off on the ride to figure out who did it. Let me say, that I did enjoy the book immensely; it was suspenseful and kept you on the edge. That is what I like in a thriller, not suspecting until near the conclusion who really killed Adam. Avery is a resourceful and intelligent main character trying to solve who attacked one of her friends and killed another. One of the things I really liked about her and why she made a strong connection with me is her willingness to stand up for what she believes in. That is a strong message for a YA book and a really positive one for young girls. Doing what you know or believe to be right might not be the popular choice, but it makes you a better person. Avery is the very definition of that, she goes out of her way throughout the whole book to be a friend and a real human being.

I really hate spoilers, so I am going to throw in some teasers so you can see what I mean. The elements involved really make you wonder what is going on. Is there something sinister, paranormal or what, and playing that guessing game really is what makes this book good. For example, before Fletcher even comes home from the hospital he is hearing voices, or whispers. In that same instance Avery runs into a police officer who says he was just visiting Fletcher, but when Avery asks Fletcher about it he has no clue who the police officer is. There are more of these scenes in the book and they all help set up the suspense and keep you guessing about what really happened.

Notable Scenes:

“The person who did this to Fletcher- the person who attacked him and Adam-had to be a monster.”

“Oh my God, I’, like every stupid girl in a horror movie.”

“Adam was pointing to a crisscross of bleached, white bones.”

FTC Advisory: Sourcebooks Fire provided me with a copy of The Escape. No goody bags, sponsorships, “material connections,” or bribes were exchanged for my review. All quotes may be different in the finished copy. ( )