Well written with multiple story lines that had me flipping pages. ( )

Not my favorite Claire Cray, but still very enjoyable, as far as contemporaries go. It was very atmospheric — I loved her descriptions of those small towns and the wild primeval woods so much! I would’ve liked it more if James hadn’t spent approximately 30% of this book drunk off his ass, though. ( )

Overall it was quite an enjoyable book with characters you couldn't help rooting for. Some aspects were more predictable than others but fun nonetheless. I can say that I rather liked how everything wasnt entirely explained in the end. There is a realism to not having all the answers so the hint of mystery behind what exactly happened to Beau all those years ago was perfect. ( )

Cray has quickly become one of my favourite authors of the genre because of her excellent characterisation, fun plots, and well-written sex scenes. This book definitely has all three.
James, after having all the family he knows murdered mysteriously, goes across country from New York to the Olympic forest to seek out a mysterious plot of land he inherited from his mother. He didn't know previously of her ties to that part of the country and, while still reeling from the murders, tries to go off grid while also looking into her past. It doesn't go smoothly as one would expect but he does encounter a very kind, handsome stranger named Hunter that ends up having a lot more to do with his mother's, and his, past than James could have imagined.
Both James and Hunter are very likeable and even though James is on the edge and grew up rich in New York City, he doesn't come across as snooty or naive. Hunter is more of a good ol' boy that worked his way up from less than nothing after his favourite sister's suicide and then coming out to his Fundamentalist family. You're definitely rooting for both of them from the start.
The only part that disappointed me was that the plot contains nothing paranormal or fantastical which I expected from the official summary that mentioned a Twin Peaks-type vibe. The only thing I thought it had in common with TP was setting. It's very much just a mystery with some triller elements and some of the revelations uncovered aren't really explored enough for them to even matter (like the Native stuff). I also didn't care for Beau that much or how he's written as this very mysterious, otherworldly person that just happens to share a face with James. When they finally meet, they are also a little too flirty though I think Cray meant for it just to show how much of a bond twins have, even when strangers. But he's just a long-lost twin with nothing weird about him besides his personality and a knack for growing illegal weed. A bit more editing wouldn't have gone amiss.
Overall a very fast but satisfying (if you don't think about it too hard) read that takes place in one of my favourite parts of the United States. ( )