Blasé almost in predictability, not a narrative I'd recommend ahead of similar more neatly crafted ones in this genre.

This is the book that you read and realize that you are holding your breath and reading as fast as you can. It will infiltrate your dreams.

So very sorry, I requested this by mistake. I mixed up the title with another book and this isn't my cup of tea, I wouldn't do it justice.

Thank you for the opportunity, again sorry for the mix up

A tension filled gal pal adventure-gone-wrong — a sort of “Deliverance” for the new millennium. Note to self: do not go whitewater rafting.

The following review appeared on my blog on January 13, 2017:

There's no doubt that Winifred Allen needs a vacation. Grieving both the loss of her brother and the end of her marriage, the 39-year-old could use a break. An extreme river rafting adventure isn't quite what she had in mind, but when her BFFs suggest it for an upcoming girl's trip, Wini can't talk her way out of going. Reluctantly, she joins her three besties as they head into Maine's Allagash Wilderness.

Wini's concern grows when she meets the river guide, 20-year-old college student Rory Ekhart. He's nice to look at, sure, but does he know what he's doing? It's not long before they find out. A freak accident leaves the group stranded in the woods. Soon, they're struggling to survive—against nature, each other, and a host of other dangers lurking in the wilderness. Can they all make it out alive? Or will their gal pal adventure mean the end of their friendship forever?

I enjoy a good man vs. nature survival story where ordinary people have to dig deep for the will to survive an extraordinary situation. The River at Night, a debut novel by Erica Ferencik, tells just such a story. Naturally, it's an exciting, fast-paced adventure tale full of twists and turns, danger and drama. Yes, it's far-fetched—I mean, would a group of inexperienced middle-aged women really sign up for an extreme, week-long outdoor adventure led by a kid they know little about? And what is the likelihood that everything would go wrong pretty much right from the start? Well, it makes for a thrilling story, anyway. In the end, I didn't love The River at Night, but it did keep me engrossed and guessing—two hallmarks of a good, gripping page turner.

(Readalikes: I can't think of any specific books, but The River at Night did remind me of the movie The River Wild)

Grade: B-

If this were a movie, it would be rated: R for language, violence, blood/gore, and sexual content

To the FTC, with love: I received an e-ARC of The River at Night from the generous folks at Scout Press/Simon and Schuster via those at Wunderkind PR and NetGalley. Thank you!

This book wasn't what I expected. Overall, I enjoyed the story & premise of friends getting together for "girl time"... but the violence implied and written about was kind of hard to read. However, that being said, I couldn't put the book down & stayed up all night reading the book. Must read book if you enjoy being on the edge of your seat & not wanting to stop until you get to the end.

This was a fast-paced and scary story. I really liked it a lot and I got swept into the story right away.

Do you know the feeling of the river's swell against your body, even when you've been out of it for hours? Chafed the skin under your arms and thighs on the inner tube? Felt the panic when the river separated you from your family or friends, taking you on a separate current, leaving you falling behind? Then get ready and pack your Dramamine because this story's going to take you on a sick ride.

Even in the beginning, our narrator Winnie's account of the group dynamics and the planned trip gave me a bad feeling. Even her gut instinct kept telling her to bail. However, their friend Pia was like a mystical pied piper, luring Winnie, Rachel, and Sandra into following her even when they all doubted her. It was like riding a rollercoaster of fear and pride because no one wanted to be the one to turn down her down. It was like she bullied them into accepting a dare.

Just like my friend Liz says: "You know if you don't come we'll talk about you."

Their ramshackle accommodations and Pia's increasing infatuation with their twenty-year-old guide Rory was irritating. But things quickly got worse, and before they knew it, they were fighting the river and the elements just to get out alive. There are worse things out there in the beautiful Maine wilderness than bears.

A fast-paced explosive read that will leave you feeling like you were in the storm with them. Great book! Thanks

Wini, Pia, Rachel, and Sandra have always taken trips together, but white water rafting is a new one for them. At Pia's insistence, the four women are heading off on a five day trip that'll be packed with camping, hiking, and rafting - on a river very few have the opportunity to ride. And in spite of her many reservations, Wini agrees to go.

Unfortunately, an accident on the river turns their vacation into a dangerous fight for survival.

Oh, Wini. You're something of a creature after my own heart. I am notorious amongst our friends for being a bit of a stick in the mud when it comes to outdoor activities. I'm not into camping at all and frankly I'm a bit too out of shape to really enjoy hiking. Nope, I'm happy at home with my books - where it's warm and not icky.

And that brings me to rafting and why my friends would hate that I even read this book. Our good friends are rafting guides! And they're constantly trying to get me out on the river! And it's one thing I might actually do - if we were canoeing the mellow Whiskey Chitto back home, that is.

So see, Wini and I are simpatico!

The River at Night begins with a bit of a Descent feeling to it. Which I loved! Pia is gung ho for the trip: Pia chose everything, including the guide (the son of her father's friend). And the fact that it's a river many don't raft (because of the access to a put-in, supposedly) is a big red flag for the reader. And then there's a weird run in with an area hunter before they arrive at their destination, emphasizing again the fact that almost no one rafts this river...

But it turns out the river may not be their biggest concern. With all kinds of beasties and creatures roaming the wilds of Maine, there's plenty for Wini to fear.

Things get off to a good start for the women. In spite of reservations, they're in high spirits and excited to spend time together. Of course things go downhill fast. Just one day into the trip, in fact.

I loved The River at Night! I thought it was a fabulous debut and absolutely great page-turning fun! The characters are fabulously drawn, as are the relationships between them. These are women who have known each other for over a decade - the best of friends - but as with all friends there's an underlying tension between them. I think Ferencik captures that well, illustrating the bonds and friction that make up close relationships. And while there's not much time to focus on each woman's background (it is a rather slim read - just under 300 pages - and there's the whole rafting trip gone wrong to focus on), I found that Ferencik did manage to inject quite a bit of detail (subtle and otherwise) about each of them and their histories. I felt comfortable with these women, like I knew them and knew them well!

Of course all of that adds to the overall experience of this read, and again it was a page-turning one. The story is packed with tension and action, enough so that I desperately wanted to finish in one sitting - I was close, up again and finishing at 5 am!

Favorite Quotes:

I slept caged in a dream of violence with no narrative, like a scrap of old film with only a few frames still visible.

She tended to marry well – divorce even better – but never seemed to truly settle into domestic peace.

I wondered how the sky could feel so vast at times, so alive with the complex narrative of clouds and sun, moon and stars; at others, so nothing, so commonplace and unremarkable. Was it because of where we were, or because I so seldom looked up?

Full on darkness, and all its terrors. I suddenly understood cultures that believed in demons and chimeras, werewolves and gollums. With no walls around us, no light or source of warmth, what besides the monstrous makes sense. Every sound was a beast.


My Review:

The River At Night was enthralling, smartly written, and hypnotically descriptive. Lushly detailed with words that painted each vivid scene to involve every one of my five senses. I not only experienced a movie reel running in my head – I could hear, feel, taste, and smell each item mentioned. It was magic. Ms. Ferencik is a master wordsmith with an arsenal of beautiful terms and a robust vocabulary that flowed and danced into an intriguing and compelling story. The writing was stellar, witty, deftly crafted, and often poetic, and at other times it crackled and popped with clever ironic observations and insights rife with underlying humor. Written from a first person POV, I either inhabited or was close beside Wini from beginning to end. I was there paddling along in the raft with them and saw the forest through her eyes, felt the coldness leech into her bones, and sensed her fear as well as the sorrows and losses that gripped her heart. I was transported. I just wish I could have been expending the same amount of calories as well.

4.25-4.5 STARS

Once a year, Wini and her 3 best friends--Rachel, Sandra & Pia--embark upon an adventurous girl’s trip at the prompting of the group’s “leader,” Pia. This year, Pia’s idea of “fun” is a white water rafting trip in a remote area of Maine. Although filled with trepidation, Wini pushes her fears aside, and reluctantly agrees to go.

Many of the rapids that the group will be traversing, can be treacherous at best. Luckily for them, their guide Rory, has navigated the rapids successfully several times before. Experienced and knowledgeable about the potential perils that the group might face, Rory is diligent in his guidance and instructions. But when the unforeseen suddenly occurs, the 4 women are left all alone, forced to overcome numerous obstacles in their search to find a way back home.

The very premise of the story was intriguing and enough to draw me in right from the start. I liked the concept of 4 women battling nature in their attempt to beat the odds. The characters were unique and diverse but not always likeable. In fact, some were downright annoying. But it was Wini that stood out amongst the rest. In both mind and spirit, Wini prevailed as the strongest of the group. While initially timid and unsure, ultimately, she dug deep and found her inner strength.

For more than half the book, I found the story thrilling and engaging. But then, suddenly, the story veered in another direction, taking a turn towards the absurd. What I initially thought would be a story of man vs nature, quickly turned into a story of man vs man. Still, I found “The River at Night” to be a unique and captivating read and one I would highly recommend.

Ok mystery but not special enough to spend a tight book budget on.

Scrappymags 3 word review: Run!!!!! (One word. Booooyah!)

Shortest Summary Ever: 4 friends in their 40's acquiesce to the pleadings of their girl-pack leader (the pretty one, of course) and embark on an Outward Bound-like white water rafting trip in Maine. Bad stuff goes down. That's pretty much the basics.

What's good under the hood: The dynamic of the friendships between the girls is massively relatable. I could easily picture my college gal-pal crew on an adventure like this, though regrettably, while I'm not the pretty one, an adventure like this sounds like one of my classic hair-brained ideas. Sorry girls. The bickering and grievances between the girls is dead-on; heck who hasn't had sister-like tiffs with their friends? This made me giggle as I could easily swap the book characters with my crew.

The River is a quick read, compact and would be a great audio book for in the car (unless you're on your way to a white water rafting trip). Sharply paced. Direct. Edge-of-your-seat moments though not too scary (again, unless you're about to go white water rafting). Definitely worth the read.

Highly recommended to: adventure seekers, female readers with a tight group of friends (book would 80% appeal to women I believe), those who like outdoor adventure or dream of it, those who want a quick escape book.

What's bad or made me mad: I actually wanted more. Not quite Deliverance more (that movie scarred me for life), but I wanted to be more terrified. The problem was I accidentally read a review that compared the book to Deliverance. I HATE that because I believe that's what set my expectation level and that made me think the absolute worst, so what ensued wasn't well.. that bad. I think the problem is that terror level would require a longer book which many authors (ok publishers) seem to avoid but I prefer intense and riveting more than quick and efficient. This book could have ruined my white-water rafting goals for life.

A huge thanks to NetGalley and Gallery, Threshold, Pocket Books for an advanced copy in exchange for this review.

"The thing is I don't mind the occasional twinge, because it takes me back there, to all that happened on that river in those woods, and reminds me that there are things that I should never forget. Not that I ever could."

Looking for a book that will keep you up past your bedtime? I just finished reading "The River at Night" and holy smokes, I couldn't put it down! This book is a suspenseful thrill ride and it surprised me in so many ways!

Suspenseful!

While reading "The River at Night", I immediately related to the narrator, Winifred. I'm not much of an outdoors-y type, and felt for her trepidation regarding the trip from the start. I was shocked by the complete lack of training and preparation that the characters in this book experienced prior to hitting the river. One of my reads in 2016, "Braving It" followed a father and daughter as they trained to spend time in Alaska, part of which included preparing for a canoeing trip. ( P.S. If you enjoy living vicariously through people doing outdoorsy things, I recommend this book!) The contrast between the months of preparation that the father/ daughter completed and the quick pep talk the girls in this book received from their guide, Rory- made me incredibly nervous for them- even though I knew full well that their trip would not go as planned! The author, Eric Ferencik, did such an amazing job building suspense throughout this book.

Dynamic Characters

I really enjoyed reading the characters Ferencik crafted in this novel. Each of the women on the trip is unique and struggles during their harrowing journey in their own way. I'm kind of *the worst* at confusing characters, jumbling them up and forgetting who is who, particularly when they are all female/ male etc. And I did not have that problem at all with this group. In the course of the novel, you meet several other characters in the woods, each of whom is just as interesting, and in some way unexpected, as the main group of characters. So hard to discuss without spoilers! - but be prepared from some hair raising twists!

It felt so real...

Part of the excellent feeling of suspense throughout the book, it just how real the setting feels! The thanks at the end of the book, includes a note by the author for the people of Maine whom she visited with during her time writing this book. It was clear that a lot of care went into the details of the river and the forest, and this comes through in a way that made me feel like I was right there with the characters!

" What did the mountains care about our plan to climb them, rafting the waters that divided them? They had eternity before us, and eternity after us. We were nothing to them."

Things I Felt Were A Little Off

I really enjoyed reading this book and would absolutely recommend it to another reader- but there were a couple of things that I felt were a little off. First, going back to my reading about other river canoeing preparations - who in their right mind would trust this guy, Rory, to take them down the river? I wish that there had been a tad more explanation there, because I found it hard to suspend my disbelief that much. Also, there is a weird inner monologue Winnie has about her friend's grappling with alcoholism that was bizarrely unfeeling and fairly rude that didn't fit for me with her character. The most frustrating part, however, was one of the character's concerns about the guide having a gun on the trip. Um, you're alone in the middle of the woods- concerned just moments ago about a bear- and you're going to give the guide a hard time about protecting the group?! Yeesh!

Girls Getaway - 4.5 stars...

I love outdoor adventure/survival stories so when I saw this one featured whitewater rafting in Maine I couldn't pass it up.

Four friends- Pia, Rachel, Sandra & Wini, all in their mid 30s, are fed up with their current lives and just need a break to have some serious girl fun. Pia, the daring, adventerous ringleader thinks they should all go on a 5-day whitewater rafting trip down a very secluded river with no public access that's owned by a friend of her father's; and where she leads they follow.

When an accident happens on their second day on the water though, their 'girls getaway' takes a very different turn. But that's only the beginning of their nightmare, someone out there doesn't want them to get-a-way at all...

I got so engrossed in this story and the outdoor, off-the-grid setting, I read right through to 91% before I even came up for air! So I would say it was definitely a page turner with just the right amount of suspense and action. There was a bit of girl drama though as the girls emotions were frayed and put to the test. I'm usually never a fan of drama, real or fictional, but this wasn't over the top and I felt like most was actually inherent to the story.

There was also a little bit of humor in the story and I found myself laughing at a few parts, especially the witty snipes that occurred during and after the sex scene on the first night camping at the river. That was hilarious! I think most people have been there before and can appreciate the similarities. I don't want to spoil the scene so I'm not going to go into any details, you'll have just read it.

I thought the ending especially with the 'mother' left a little room for maybe a possible sequel. If there ever is a second book, I would definitely like to read it. I also thought the story would make a great movie and would love to see it in the theater.

First of all, I just want to say that these women are totally cray cray. White water rafting with a guide who has only done it five times? Ummm, heck no.

The story, absolutely thrilling. I just could not put this book down. It definitely had me mesmerized and my heart beat rising. The things that these four women went through were just hold your breath, keep on reading and see what happens. I mean you lose your guide and your raft halfway through your trip and your lost out in the middle of nowhere. The author does a very good job of putting in the plot twists and really making it seem real.

I definitely enjoyed reading this book and was thoroughly entertained and still feel my pulse racing. If your into thrillers, I think you would find this one right up your alley.

Huge thanks to Gallery Books for approving my request and to Net Galley for providing me with a free e-galley in exchange for an honest review.

The River at Night is a story of a group of four women from Boston who take a river rafting trip in a remote part of Maine. The women are a long-time group of best friends who get together for adventurous outings together. On this trip, they will run into tragedy and terror.

The narrator is Winifred, called Win or Wini by her friends. She is a relatively introverted individual, compared to her friends. She likes city life and lacks wilderness skills. She is reluctant to go along on this trip, but is talked into it by her more extroverted friend, Pia.

Things go OK for the first part of their trip, with a few bumps along the way when Pia does something the other women become angry at her for. However, things take a tragic turn when they have an accident on the water and lose their guide. Left by themselves in the wilderness, with no map, no supplies, no wilderness skills, and no clue where they are, the women must come together in order to survive and make their way out.

They find seeming salvation when they stumble upon a woman and her son who are living a sort of hermit-like existence in a decrepit shack in the wilderness. The woman, Simone, and her 23-year-old son, Dean, have been living there since Dean was a child of five. Dean is mute and communicates using sign language, which Wini understands since she had a brother who was also mute. Wini is the only one who can understand what Simone tells Dean and she is terrified.

The rest of the story becomes a Deliverance-like tale of survival as the group tries to find a way back to civilization. Will the women make it out alive? Will they learn to cooperate for their own sake? What is the real story behind Dean and Simone?

I found this story to be incredibly suspenseful and quite a wild ride! You can imagine how you would react if you were suddenly thrown into a similar situation. How would you survive in an unfamiliar wilderness area with no equipment at all? Add in the challenge of locals who are anything but friendly and you have the makings of a scary tale!

The main character of Wini is well-developed ad has background information so the reader can see her perspective on these events. The secondary characters have less background, but the reader does get enough information to tell what their personalities are like and how they might react to the events. The main puzzle is Dean and his mother. How did they manage to hide out in the woods for so long and why did they do it? That’s a pretty interesting backstory too.

I recommend this book to anyone who enjoys outdoors action stories, thrillers, or adventure tales. It is very suspenseful and you will find yourself glued to the pages!

Wini needs a life change. She’s stuck in a dull routine, lonely, and scared of life. What could be a better cure than a thrilling white water rafting trip for their annual girls’ weekend? She is scared to death but is going to be brave and go anyway…after some serious badgering from her friends. Life has been a little rough on all four of them so a getaway seems just the ticket; if only things had gone as planned.
This was definitely an exciting ride and a page-turner even though it did not go as I expected it to! Ms. Ferencik’s descriptions of the Maine wilderness were great; I could not only picture it perfectly but I almost felt like I could smell and feel the woods myself.
Two things bothered me about this story. One, you were past 40% into the story before the action really started and two, I was looking for more depth in regards to the friendship dynamics. Relationships between women are complex and in stressful times can be even more so. I was hoping for more in depth talk about how the women and their relationships changed during and after this trauma.
This was a rather quick read and was rather entertaining although a bit odd at times, I enjoyed the ride!

Erica Ferencik's debut thriller, "The River at Night" is a cross between a man vs. nature survival story and "Deliverance" with a little female friendship drama added to the mix.

Play-it-safe Wini is reluctant to join her three best friends on an adventurous girls' weekend whitewater rafting and camping in the northern Maine wilderness, but she finally lets herself be persuaded. It may just be the worst decision she's ever made, because the trip goes horrifically, unimaginably wrong, almost from the start. Wini and her friends will have to battle the ferocious river -- and more -- just to make it out of the woods alive.

I'm pretty tired of reading about kidnapped children and abusive husbands, and I enjoyed the freshness of a thriller in which Mother Nature is the main antagonist. Wini is the polar opposite of me -- she's from Boston and not at all comfortable in the outdoors, whereas I love the mountains and hiking is one of my favorite hobbies, but I did still like some of her insights into the power and wonder of nature:

"It was beautiful and frightening to see how nature didn't give two shits about houses, buildings, and bridges, that it would shrug us off the first chance it got. I opened the window a few inches. Afternoon blew in on a fresh, clean breeze -- full of chlorophyll and wood and cold mountain water -- it shocked me fully awake and almost made me high."

While the book is far from perfect, I found it to be a thoroughly entertaining page-turner with a refreshing plot. Check it out when you're in the mood for an intense thriller of a different stripe.

*I received a free advance copy from the publisher in exchange for an honest review.

Reviewer's Note: I received a free galley of this book via NetGalley. Thank you to the author, Erica Ferencik, and her publisher, Gallery Books, for access to this book.

Erica Ferencik's The River at Night is a page-turner, one of those books that keeps you reading up half the night wanting to know exactly how it is going to end. Three women are convinced by their good friend to take an adventure camping-rafting trip in a remote part of the country where there is no cell phone service and few people live. All four women on the trip are feeling the trappings of being middle-aged, whether that means the emotional damage the years can rack up, the demands of parenthood, the stress and monotony of a 9-5pm job, and the disappointments of failed relationships and marriages.

A multi-day rafting trip promises an escape from these four women's hang-ups. There are many red-flags, but the women's need to withdraw from their quotidian lives prevents them from fully acknowledging them. Their young and handsome college-age river rafting guide dismisses them, reflecting his naivete and youth more than his knowledge of rafting and the river that will pose a threat to them.

The narrator, Win, is especially convincing. As someone who is also a middle-aged women, I could relate to her sadness and loneliness, as well as the frustrations of being an older woman in a youth-driven workplace and culture. She was relatable, authentic, and real. I didn't feel as though she was a character on paper; it felt as though she was truly someone who I could see befriending in my day-to-day life.

The first half of the book builds up to a crescendo where a devastating event occurs, one that will forever alter all of the characters' lives. The backdrop of the forest and its merciless nature helps drum up the suspense, as does the sometimes strained relationships of the four women. The women's inability to trust one another also lurks in the background, making the reader wonder if the true horror is not the natural world surrounding the women but rather the human beings who inhabit it.

The second half of the book has several plot twists, including some that let me down as a reader. However, the beautiful prose and well drawn characters made up for what the plotline lacked.

Overall, this book is a quick and exciting read that delves into the risks we take when our lives seem stale or at a standstill. I recommend this book for readers interested in suspense, female relationships, and the dangers of both the human and natural world.