Survival Games

This book was difficult for me to read not because it wasn't compelling, it was. I found myself getting more and more angry and wanting to jump into the book and take on Red Sizemore myself. As an avid outdoorsman it was very interesting to read the observations of the woods, the different "survival" skills that the characters employ. This is not a feel good, but certainly worth the read.

If this book had Stephen King's name instead of Charles Gaines, it would have sold a million plus copies. I haven't read a thriller this engaging in quite awhile. Since I spent a good deal of time around the New Hampshire area he writes about, I enjoyed it even more. On the surface, this novel is a suspense thriller, but farther down, it has a lot to say about couples, friendships and relationships. Red Sizemore is one sick character, but we understand why he is the way he is from Gaines' characterization. The author spends more time on Bill and Claire than he does on Dray and Portia, but I don't think that detracts in any way from the book. Survival becomes the central point of the book as the two male characters made their fortune by starting a survival games company years before the book opens. When two men kidnap their wives, they have to call upon these wilderness skills to get them back. While a bit gory in parts, the stalking parts of the book are fascinating. I can't believe this was not made into a movie -- it would be easy to capture on film. A thoroughly enjoying read from cover to cover.