As with most of the Crouch books I've read, it's full of high-tension action. I enjoyed this part. I liked less the parallel stories. I also am unclear as to why this book is categorized as horror. Definitely creepy, but nothing about it fit the horror genre for me - not that I was looking for that, but my brain was certainly ready for it based on the description. The only horror for me was what happened to Lana, and that was largely because the man who did it to her was evil.

I disliked every single character, including Abigail. The themes of greed and moral bankruptcy, crises of faith, oppressive patriarchy, taking advantage of the disadvantaged, what veterans deserve, etc. are all important things to explore, but it was all at the surface level. I guess when the action moves as fast is it does in Crouch's writings, it can get a bit difficult to delve while keeping events moving forward.

Overall, I enjoyed the book. I think I liked some of his others more than this one. It could make a good movie. 

Right... I should probably have trusted my instincts and left this book be. This will teach me to never trust a blurb, and to pay more attention to the reviews instead. Still, I loved the picture the blurb of what was supposed to be a supernatural horror slash survival thriller painted, and I did enjoy my first three experiences with Blake Crouch's writing... So I caved and decided to read it anyway. BIG mistake. Basically everything in the blurb is a big fat lie. There is no supernatural element, there is no paranormal horror to spice things up. Sure, the survival part is still there... But the main focus is basically on a whole boatload of people being killed in the most gruesome and graphic way possible. I don't mind things getting dark and violent, but only if it serves a purpose and if it adds something to the plot. In the case of Abandon, it was just gore galore and SO many deaths that I started skimreading the scenes because I just wanted it to be over. The story uses a dual timeline structure, and while the present timeline set in 2009 was initially engaging enough, I absolutely hated the 1893 timeline from the very start. It has an overload of characters, and to make things worse just about the only purpose of most of them is to die in different horrible ways. This also applies to most of the present characters by the way... And that whole hint at a paranormal angle with the psychic and paranormal photographer in the blurb? Another big fat lie, and they could have been circus clowns and it wouldn't have made any difference in the plot. There are so many over the top and farfetched events, there are so many cliches, there are so many unbelievable and extremely frustrating twists... And in the end I wish I had just abandoned this book instead of ploughing on. This is all? Not even close. There is also the religious angle and the fact that the dialogue in the 1893 didn't feel right for the time period... And the fact that basically all men in both timelines are complete bastards. I can keep talking (ranting), but I guess I've made it clear by now that Abandon and me most definitely didn't get along.