The Book Nook

Wade into this outdoor thriller Lovers of open-air adventure and those familiar with fishing or paddling may want to test the waters of “The River”. Award-winning adventure writer Peter Heller has penned a tense drama that nicely incorporates elements of mystery and suspense in a fast-paced story. If you’re someone who likes new novels, the book was published this year. The plot centers on Wynn and Jack, who met as college freshman. In spite of different backgrounds and personalities, they’ve forged a strong friendship based on a shared love of outdoor activities and Western novels. Jack comes from a Colorado ranching family and knows his way around horses and canoes. Camping out since childhood has given him solid survival skills. He’s quiet, competent and distrustful of others. Wynn is much different. Hailing from Vermont, he’s a chatty guy who sees the goodness in everyone and readily trusts strangers. He has a gentle nature and a mind for philosophy. Even when fishing the two have opposite preferences. Jack prefers to stay on dry land or fish from a boat while Wynn is happiest when immersed up to his thighs in water. Both are avid anglers who love canoeing or kayaking in all kinds of weather, including storms. Now college juniors, they’ve decided to take a break from school and have embarked on a late fall canoe in northern Canada. Their approach to packing is minimal and they plan to supplement their diet with berries and fish. In the absence of classes and deadlines, they’re looking forward to a few weeks of fishing, stargazing and canoeing. You can safely guess the serene journey they’ve envisioned will not match reality. From the start, the author sets an ominous tone. His opening sentence is “They had been smelling smoke for two days”. If the persistent smell is from a forest fire, there could be more dire consequences than just having to pick up their leisurely pace. A few pages into the story Wynn and Jack have two strange encounters. The first is when they meet a pair of rednecks who are less interested in being warned about a possible forest fire and more interested in partying. Later Wynn and Jack hear what sounds like a couple arguing and decide to give them a wide berth and continue paddling. As the possibility of a forest fire become a probability, they debate whether to backtrack and warn the couple. The slowly-revealed backstories give readers insight into the boy’s characters and we can envy their easy camaraderie. That’s about to change. Their friendship will be tested by lack of planning paired with overconfidence in their abilities. There will also be personality clashes as situations demanding quick, crucial decisions are fired at them. Each choice has serious consequences and the stakes are as high as they get. Youthful strength may not be enough with so many factors outside of their control. While the setting is outdoors, the author explores internal subjects such as loyalty and friendship. Love and loss also play a part and is mentioned with an empathetic touch. Heller knows how to inject menace from both people and the backcountry. There’s a delicious tension that’s communicated in short, lyric sentences. The dangers presented by nature cannot be negotiated and, like a wild river, the book gains speed and rushes along to an exciting end. I was tempted to tear through the book to see what happens next, but realized this was a story that deserved to be savored. There were many thrilling parts and well-described scenes that made this a compelling read. That’s due entirely to the author’s knowledge of his subject matter and his writing skill. Heller’s familiarity with nature and his personal experience with outdoor adventure is evident in the level of detail as he paints his pictures of the surroundings. While there is some terminology specific to fly fishing and paddling, it’s not a deterrent to anyone unfamiliar with either. The prose has wonderful pacing and is frequently poetic, with many quotable sections. His descriptions of wilderness are so comprehensive that nature seems to be a separate character, albeit one with a dual nature. An awe-inspiring thing of joy and beauty one moment and a predatory stalker the next. The author’s love of the wilderness comes through each page and I wasn’t surprised to learn that he’s an experienced outdoorsman and journalist. Currently a resident of Denver, Colorado, Heller is a contributing author to Outdoors magazine and National Geographic Adventure. He’s also been a long-time contributor to National Public Radio and has written non-fiction books that focus on water activities. Whether you read this by the light of a campfire or snuggled into a cozy spot indoors, you’re sure to enjoy this taut thriller.