I was excited to see a new book by Peter Heller, author of The Dog Stars, The Painter, and The Whale Warriors. Heller is an adventure writer. His books all feature wilderness and conquering, or better, interacting with nature. In The River two college friends plan a leisurely canoe trip north to Hudson Bay. Things don’t go as planned.

Shortly after the trip begins Jack and Wynn spot a massive forest fire heading in their direction. Being on the river won’t save them – forest fires burn between 1500 and 2000 degrees and they’ll be flash baked if they are in the fire’s path. Jack and Wynn try to warn the two other pairs they come across on the river.

This book reminded me a lot of Heller’s 2012 novel The Dog Stars. The Dog Stars featured two men in the wilderness, similar to his characters in The River, dealing with savage elements trying to disrupt the their peace.

I’d recommend this to readers who like thrillers and adventure novels.