Twisted Pines is an intriguing tale that utilizes elements from multiple genres to produce a unique effect on the reader. Mixing science fiction, thriller, mystery and action, this story unfolds in a mostly linear fashion while offering up a healthy dose of surprise twists and turns.

The plot of Twisted Pines centers around the experiences of a first-year film school student named Abe. After completing his first year at UCLA, he decides that taking a job as a summer camp counselor is a better option than going back to his hometown to spend the summer with his mother. Being a film student, he is on the lookout for a story and a story worth telling is certainly what he finds. The big question is, however, who will be the ones to hear his tale?

The narration provided by the protagonist helps the reader identify with him, the setting, and characters he becomes acquainted with at the summer camp, Mendocino Pines, as well as the premise that the story is built upon. Readers can easily relate with the well-crafted characters, plot and setting, as a result. As a perfect complement to the natural feel that the story provides, there is an ominous, otherworldly force intertwined with the protagonist’s story that provides most of the entertainment value of Twisted Pines.

The only small issue I had was that I felt like there was a lack of sensory cues in descriptions. I felt that there was a lot of ‘telling’ instead of ‘showing’, mostly because we’re in the ‘inner voice’ of the protagonist.

Otherwise, Lane Baker has crafted a wonderfully interesting story that is definitely worth a read. Written for young adults, Baker uses aspects of classic thrillers along with science fiction to craft a unique story. For readers who like to be surprised at the end of a novel as well as those who like a vivid storytelling style, Twisted Pines could very well be right up their isle.

Pages: 220 | ASIN:  B07VCC2GRB