About the Book A high stakes drama set against the harsh beauty of the Maine wilderness, charting the journey of four friends as they fight to survive the aftermath of a white water rafting accident, The River at Night is a nonstop and unforgettable thriller by a stunning new voice in fiction. Winifred Allen needs a vacation. Stifled by a soul-crushing job, devastated by the death of her beloved brother, and lonely after the end of a fifteen-year marriage, Wini is feeling vulnerable. So when her three best friends insist on a high-octane getaway for their annual girls trip, she signs on, despite her misgivings. What starts out as an invigorating hiking and rafting excursion in the remote Allagash Wilderness soon becomes an all-too-real nightmare: A freak accident leaves the women stranded, separating them from their raft and everything they need to survive. When night descends, a fire on the mountainside lures them to a ramshackle camp that appears to be their lifeline. But as Wini and her friends grasp the true intent of their supposed saviors, long buried secrets emerge and lifelong allegiances are put to the test. To survive, Wini must reach beyond the world she knows to harness an inner strength she never knew she possessed. With intimately observed characters, visceral prose, and pacing as ruthless as the river itself, The River at Night is a dark exploration of creatures--both friend and foe--that you wont soon forget-- Book Synopsis A raw, relentless, and heart-poundingly real (Ruth Ware, New York Times bestselling author) thriller set against the harsh beauty of the Maine wilderness, The River at Night charts the journey of four friends as they fight to survive the aftermath of a white water rafting accident. Winifred Allen needs a vacation. Stifled by a soul-crushing job, devastated by the death of her beloved brother, and lonely after the end of a fifteen-year marriage, Wini is feeling vulnerable. So when her three best friends insist on a high-octane getaway for their annual girls trip, she signs on, despite her misgivings. What starts out as an invigorating hiking and rafting excursion in the remote Allagash Wilderness soon becomes an all-too-real nightmare; a freak accident leaves the women stranded, separating them from their raft and everything they need to survive. When night descends, a fire on the mountainside lures them to a ramshackle camp that appears to be their lifeline. But as Wini and her friends grasp the true intent of their supposed saviors, long buried secrets emerge and lifelong allegiances are put to the test. To survive, Wini must reach beyond the world she knows to harness an inner strength she never knew she possessed. With intimately observed characters and visceral prose, The River at Night will leave you gasping, your heart racing, eyes peering over your shoulder to see what follows from behind (Mary Kubica, New York Times bestselling author). This is a dark exploration of creatures--both friend and foe--that you wont soon forget. Review Quotes Praise for The River at Night A gal-pal vacation goes over the falls and into hell. You wont put it down.-- Kirkus Reviews The River at Night is a white water thrill ride to be sure. But its more than than that. Erica Ferencik digs deep into friendship, midlife angst, and how we can surprise ourselves when the worst things happen. Wini is a character I can imagine myself knowing, sharing secrets over coffee. I pulled for her the whole way, through all the rapids, all the bends and twists of this terrific debut. --New York Times bestselling author Lisa Unger The River at Night will take you on a heart-pounding literary ride through the harsh and gorgeous Maine wilderness...Ferenciks debut novel will keep you on the edge of your seat. -- The Riveter [An] adrenaline rush of a novel.-- Publishers Weekly A twisting, turning thrill ride of a novel, The River at Night will sweep you along, pull you under and not let you come up for air until youve turned the last page. Erica Ferencik expertly captures the wild, untouched Maine landscape and the ferocity of both nature and humankind. --New York Times bestselling author Jennifer McMahon Author Erica Ferenciks storytelling [is]...brutally effective...hurtling Rivers harrowing narrative along in a visceral, white-knuckle rush.-- Entertainment Weekly Ferenciks debut novel is a must-read for anyone who loves high intensity thrillers. Her use of foreshadowing and flair for suspense is impeccable; it sets the stage for a terrifying few days in the wilderness of northern Maine. Rich imagery and attention to detail are just a few of the reasons why Ferencik is one of the best new thriller writers out there!-- RT Book Reviews In the tradition of James Dickeys Deliverance, this exciting survival tale hooks from the first page.-- Library Journal Lost in the brutal Maine wilderness, four women struggle to survive, testing the boundaries of their friendship and the limitations of their own strength and mortality. Terrifying and wholly visceral, The River at Night will leave you gasping, your heart racing, eyes peering over your shoulder to see what follows from behind. Take a deep breath before you begin because its the last youll have until youre through. --New York Times and USA Today bestselling author Mary Kubica This novel quickly becomes a dark, more-twisted-than-the-river tale of secrets as night falls in the wilderness.-- Marie Claire The River at Night is a dark, twisting, unrelenting thriller that kept me frantically turning the pages well into the night. Erica Ferencik skillfully combines jolting plot twists, lyrical prose, and a beautifully brutal setting, cementing The River at Night as my favorite debut novel of the year.--New York Times bestselling author Heather Gudenkauf The River at Night is both a haunting, twisting thrill-ride through the Maine wilderness, and a story of friendship, humanity, and the will to survive. Terrifyingly real and impossible to put down.--New York Times bestselling author Megan Miranda Erica Ferenciks The River at Night is a high-octane debut, a thriller that combines the watery adventure of Deliverance with the twisting psychological suspense of Lisa Unger. This is a taut, tense novel that rushes like the fastest rapids. Grab a hold now and enjoy the ride!--Bestselling author David Bell Ferencik pushes her characters to the edge in a starkly beautiful and unforgiving wilderness, where their worst nightmares become all too real. A harrowing, devastating, and superbly written thriller, The River at Night grabbed hold of me and didnt let go until the final, perfect sentence.--Bestselling author A.J. Banner Raw, relentless and heart-poundingly real, this book knocked me off my feet like a river in spate.--New York Times bestselling author Ruth Ware With a title like The River at Night , the plot had to be swift and twisting, yet what enraptured me completely was Winis bigger triumph over the wilderness of the heart, a vivid journey amplified by a deeply textured depiction of both the devastating and glorious ways that true friendship can tear us down ... and build us back up again. Ferenciks writing pulses with a dangerous energy akin to the river she depicts.--New York Times and USA Today bestselling author Vicki Pettersson About The Author Erica Ferencik is a graduate of the MFA program in creative writing at Boston University. Her work has appeared in Salon and The Boston Globe , as well as on NPR. Find out more on her website EricaFerencik.com and follow her on Twitter @EricaFerencik. She is the author of The River at Night , Into the Jungle , and Girl in Ice .