Review : In a Dark Dark Wood by Ruth Ware
In a Dark Dark Wood by Ruth Ware
Pages : 352
Genre : Psychological Thriller
Stand alone
My Rating : 3.5/5
About the Book :
Nora hasn’t seen Clare for ten years. Not since Nora walked out of school one day and never went back.
There was a dark, dark house
Until, out of the blue, an invitation to Clare’s hen do arrives. Is this a chance for Nora to finally put her past behind her?
And in the dark, dark house there was a dark, dark room
But something goes wrong. Very wrong.
And in the dark, dark room….
Some things can’t stay secret for ever.
My Thoughts :
I’m not sure what I expected from In a Dark Dark Wood, but still it surpassed expectations I didn’t know I had!
How to describe it? In a Dark Dark Wood reads both as a psychological thriller and a horror novel, and it reminded me a lot of all these slasher movies I used to love as a teen. A group of people, some strangers to one another, some not, mysteriously reunited, deep in the wood with barely a phone connection. From there things can only go wrong, of course!
I guess what surprised me was how much fun I had reading it, and how quickly I flipped through the pages – even though the conclusion felt predictable and the flashforwards didn’t really build up the suspense they were supposed to. Yet I really enjoyed the narration and the setting (it made me look forward to our summer trip to the forest – which hopefully will be less murdery!) Nora had a compelling voice, and I was very interested in discovering her secret. Plus, the dynamics between her, Clare and Flo were captivating to read.
I had expected something a little heavier and darker from the story, but in the end I didn’t mind that it felt a little “lighter”. I read it on the plane and at the beach, and it was perfect for such an occasion : easy to jump in and out of, and just enough gripping to have me entertained. So while it wasn’t my favorite thriller of 2016, I wouldn’t hesitate to recommend it to fans of the genre.
