Her name was Caitlin, she was eighteen, and her own heart would sometimes wake her--flying away in the dream-race where finish lines grew farther away not nearer, where knees turned to taffy, or feet to stones. ~ Opening of Descent
Descent by Tim Johnston, narrated by R.C. Bray and Xe Sands
Descent by Tim Johnston, narrated by R.C. Bray and Xe Sands
Algonquin Books, 2015 (Highbridge, 2015)
Crime Fiction (Thriller); 384 pgs (11 hrs, 31 min)
What was supposed to be a nice family vacation in the Rocky Mountains turns into a nightmare when eighteen year old Caitlin Courtland goes missing, and her younger brother is injured and left behind. Not all was perfect in their family before, but recent events tear them apart. Angela, Caitlin's mom, returns to Wisconsin, ripped apart emotionally. Her father, Grant, stays behind in Colorado, numb and searching.
One of a parent's worst fears is when his or her child goes missing. Caitlin had a bright future ahead of her. She was a track star and college bound. Her family does not know whether she is alive or dead. Each of her family members is going through their own private hell. Author Tim Johnston captures their anguish and grief, as well as their fear and guilt. I struggled with the first section of the book after Caitlin goes missing. Angela and Grant are in such a dark place, and no wonder given their circumstances. Their helplessness was palpable. The novel picked up for me when Sean and Caitlin re-entered the picture. Sean is on the road by himself, going through the motions of surviving, not looking for trouble, but trouble sometimes finding him. Caitlin is trapped, scared and feeling completely isolated.
Just as the novel started off a bit slow for me, the narration took me a little bit to get used to. This is only my second experience with a dual person narrated book, but my first of a book written in third person. Once I got acclimated it, however, I was completely swept into the story, narrated by Xe Sands and R.C. Bray. Both are talented narrators and really brought Descent to life for me.
Tim Johnston's Descent is dark and emotional, one that was, at times, difficult to listen to. Yet it is also a very captivating and insightful novel. The author shows humanity at its lowest and also at its strongest. Each character, including the minor ones, are layered and real. I cannot remember who recommended this book to me, but I am so glad I listened to it.
To learn more about Tim Johnston and his work, please visit the author's website or visit him on Twitter.
To learn more about R.C. Bray and his work, please visit the narrator's website or visit him on Twitter.
To learn more about Xe Sands and her work, please visit the narrator's website or visit her Twitter.
To learn more about R.C. Bray and his work, please visit the narrator's website or visit him on Twitter.
To learn more about Xe Sands and her work, please visit the narrator's website or visit her Twitter.
© 2016, Wendy Runyon of Musings of a Bookish Kitty. All Rights Reserved. If you're reading this on a site other than Musings of a Bookish Kitty or Wendy's feed, be aware that this post has been stolen and is used without permission.
Wow, this sounds like a good book! I'll have to check if the library has it!
ReplyDeleteEustacia - I hope you do get a chance to read it. It is really good.
DeleteI think this might work well for me when I take a road trip.
ReplyDeleteKathy - I can see this one being good for a road trip. :-)
DeleteI received this one as an ARC in the mail over a year ago I think. I read it, but didn't review it. For some reason, it didn't work for me. Maybe I would have liked it better as an audio book.... I do have a very visual scene of the escape from the cabin and the snow. Actually, as I think about it, there are number of scenes that have stayed with me--Grant remaining in Colorado and refusing to give up and Sean on the road and outside the diner. Johnston is a very visual writer, even if I disliked the book.
ReplyDeleteJenclair - I'm sorry this one didn't work for you, Jenclair. I worried that it might not for me for a bit there near the beginning. I am glad it picked up though. I really liked the audio once I got used to the dual narrators.
DeleteI don't do audio, but I think I'd like to read this book. Sounds intense!
ReplyDeleteRita - I'd be curious to know what you think of it if you do pick it up! Especially since Jenclair didn't care for it while I liked it.
DeleteSounds like an intense read. I'll have to see if my library has a copy.
ReplyDeleteLark - It was pretty intense, especially once it got going.
DeleteThis sounds super intense and once it got going it sounds really great. I tend to avoid missing kids books even if the kid isn't really a kid but I like how this one is divided. I'll have to check it out.
ReplyDeleteKatherine - I think you might like the outcome on this one given it's a missing person's book. I hope you like it if you do read it.
DeleteThis book sounds intense and emotional. It's hard to read about missing children but yet it's a reality which happens all around the world. I'll keep this book in mind.
ReplyDeleteMelody - It really was. Books like this can be very difficult to read emotionally, can't they?
DeleteI have heard (read?) nothing but great things about this book!
ReplyDeleteLisa - I really enjoyed it. :-)
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