River of Wrath

St. Benedict, #2

by

Alexandra Weis and Lucas Astor

Exciting, with a palpable feeling of foreboding from the first page!

Months after the events of Halloween night and the death of the psychotic scion of the wealthy and influential Devereaux family, the bones of another young woman are found half-buried in the sand of the beach of the Bogue Falaya River in St. Benedict, Louisiana. Discovered after the deaths of several local high school students, residents are scared. But Leslie Moore, whose twin sister, Dawn, was one of the victims, and her friends, Sara, Kelly, and Taylor, know more than they're telling about what's happening in the formerly sleepy little town. 

As the pressure of keeping their secret takes its toll on the four girls, a new boy arrives in town, and he's eager to make new friends and seemingly learn all he can about the Devereauxs, especially Gage, the current head of the family. But when one more young woman is found dead at the river's edge, rumors fly, and suspicions start to take over. Is Luke Cross who he says he is? And does the girls' paranoia perhaps have a foothold in reality? It certainly feels to Leslie like she's being watched. 

River of Wrath is the sequel to River of Ashes and is the second book in the Alexandra Weis and Lucas Astor co-penned St. Benedict series. From the first page, there is an uneasy atmosphere in the town, and revelations from the main character, Leslie Moore, will undoubtedly establish the 'why?' But menace and foreboding continue to creep across every page as an unknown entity stalks Leslie and her friends. 

The book is an ultimate page-turner, and you don't need to have read the first book to enjoy this one. However, the setup in River of Ashes provides a clearer understanding of the existing relationships and the trauma experienced before the current action, making for a more satisfying story overall. The authors have created a believable small town in southeastern Louisiana, populated by an entire community. Even with the plethora of characters, the book is easy to read and follow, and the pages seemed to fly by as the story unfolded. As a bonus, I want to compliment the creators on the eye-catching book cover and the atmospheric graphics on each chapter's first page, giving the impression of peering into the trees edging the Bogue Falaya or surrounding the abbey. 

The characters engaged me immediately. Leslie, grieving the loss of her twin and feeling some responsibility for her death, is also neck-deep in regret over her complicity in what happened to Beau Devereaux. In addition, she's confused by her attraction to Luke and conflicted about her decision to break things off with her longtime boyfriend, Derek, who isn't making it any easier. Taylor is obsessed with the Devereaux family's background, seeking the key to understanding what happened to her and the others. Sara, confident and callous, is self-absorbed and self-serving, while Kelly is fearful. They are all slowly falling apart. The reader is a spectator to the waking nightmare the girls' lives have become since the events of book one. 

The feeling of foreboding is palpable throughout, and shocking twists and turns make for an exciting story you won't want to put down. I recommend RIVER OF WRATH to readers who enjoy contemporary young adult thrillers that have a touch of the paranormal and fans of the previous book in the series. 

I voluntarily reviewed this after receiving an Advanced Review Copy from the author through Partners in Crime Virtual Book Tours.