Review: A great thriller
Rating: 4 out of 5
Date: 11 28, 2011
From the moment I read the synopsis about this book, I knew I wanted to read it.  Something impressive about this book is that it has been translated from Russian. You can definitely see some of the author's Russian heritage in the book from some of the names used, foods mentioned.  To me that gave it more of a real feeling.  I didn't feel like I could just insert any name.  Just another way to show the author's talent in making her audience feel at home and comfortable reading her book, to draw them near.In the synopsis we learn that Inga was kidnapped and held captive with other girls and finds a way to escape.  You can imagine why she was kidnapped.  Then she runs out into the night, her captors right behind her.  You think she isn't going to make it, but then out of nowhere there is a car.  It's driver, Alman, gets out, fends off her captors and saves her.But not everything is always as it seems.  Should she really be so thankful?  Alman seems very nice.  He offers her a warm shirt to cover with, he fought off the captors, he takes her home and offers her shelter through the night from the cold rain.  How bad can he be?  He seems like a good man and she consents.  Is this where the audience normally starts yelling at the movie screen?But Alman, that man has excuses, and reasons for not taking her.  She meets his family; they all seem nice enough for having met a stranger in the dark of night.  But something doesn't add up, something is just a bit....off.  And how could any modern family not own a phone in a day and age when even the smallest of children have their own phones?I really enjoyed reading this book.  In the beginning you can see how young and nave Inga is.  But as the book reads on, she becomes smarter and tougher.  Also a bit more aggressive and sarcastic (a quality I *always* enjoy!)  There were lots of twists and turns, although much of the book takes place in one location.  You really get to get inside Inga's head and feel every feeling, understand every thought.  And while on one hand you could criticize her for even getting into the situation she has in the first place, you realize by her naveté that she is young and has made the same mistake so many other young adults have made.There is also the story of a young man named Anthony.  Anthony is battling his own inner demons and just came to Quiet River to relax while visiting his grandmother.  Why is every person he meets so interested why he came there and when he is going home?  Sure, it's a small town, but there has to be something more to it.  And Anthony is a lawyer, he likes to get to the bottom of things.  It's very interesting to see how his analytical mind breaks things down, and how he gets tangled up in this situation. Let's hope he can make it out of this vacation alive!