Thief River Falls by Brian Freeman

⭐⭐⭐⭐/5

I loved Thief River falls! It was intense and moving. The ending was a tad predictable but not so bad to stop me from reading. The protagonist was relatable, likable and strong. 

🔺Spoilers Ahead🔺

It starts with an excerpt of Thief River Falls, a thriller of author Lisa Power. A disturbing scene of a small boy, seemingly unconscious to the men burying him in a gravesite on a rainy night.  He's seen too much of something and must be taken care of.  But he's not dead. He waits for the strangers to leave. Then weakly digs his way out, gasping at the surface for fresh air. 

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Lisa wakes up with a start, just in time to make her appearance at book club her novel is featured, via video-call. She connects the call, answers all her fans' questions. Hesitates and dodges some unnecessary personal questions. When she asks for any final questions the husband of the host to the book club steps in, "I have a question. I was wanted to know if you have ever been afraid that someone will bring your books to life."

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She woke up that night, dreaming someone was at her door. But then she heard the actual pounding of her front door. She checks the door and finds a boy hiding on her front patio. A young boy, drenched from the night rain, dirty, freezing and scared. 

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The boy refuses to give Lisa his name. She nicknames him "Purdue," after the boy in her thriller. She goes throughout the book dodging all the obstacles of Purdue being caught, killed. 

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Finally, they both reach the tracks, of a train that will take Purdue to Canada. To start a free, happy, loving life. However, they are surrounded by law enforcement so only one can go, while the other is a decoy. 

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The books' twists and turns were exciting and in all of its' finality: touching. Those who read it will understand me when I say that it is also very important to what is missing in our current culture. And that's all I have to say, without COMPLETELY spoiling the ending. 

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A story about love, loss, forgiveness, perseverance, strength and bravery. A definite quality addition to your bookshelf.