Review: Roller Coaster Thrill of a Read
Rating: 5 out of 5
Date: 03 14, 2013
I received an advance reading copy of this book in return for a honest reviewThe sequel to I Hope You Find Me picks up several weeks after the cataclysmic events which closed the first book. Riley is slowly recovering from her injuries and trying to overcome the trauma she suffered both physically and mentally.Once again Trish Marie Dawson has the ability to draw you right into the minds of the characters and you can picture yourself sitting on the deck of the lodge looking out over the lake. Tranquil and perfect in every way you would think until you notice the shadowy figure who appears on the edge of the forest and eventually even in Riley's bedroom.As Riley and Connor make preparations to undertake a probably foolhardy mission with Kris they are troubled by unsettling visions and beset with doubts. Only Riley seems convinced that their journey into the heart of Orange County will succeed and has to push hard to get others to accept her decision.What I love about these books is the attention to detail. There is an abundance of tiny little vignettes as the trio ride horses (Riley has the unfortunate habit of falling off a motorbike so horses seem a safer option) towards their destination that brings the book to real life, whether it describing finding fresh fruit in an abandoned garden or the horror of a mass grave containing thousands of only partially buried bodies, you can share their joy or horror at each new scene.The story truly explodes into a full blown cinematic epic upon their arrival in L.A as they discover once again that it is not the dead they need fear; it is the living!The closing third of this book as Riley pursues an increasingly hazardous attempt to save a girl she feels responsible for is a helter-skelter thrill ride that had me literally perched on the edge of my seat!Riley's journey from grade school teacher to kick-ass heroine is believable and compelling from the first to last and you will find yourself cheering one moment and biting back tears the next.Trish Marie Dawson has to be congratulated for once again producing a first class read that captures the reader with the power and assurance of Stephen King's The Stand in its scope and atmosphere.I heartily recommend this book to all fans of post-apocalyptic fiction and have no hesitation in rating it 5/5!