In a dark, dark wood—Review

In a dark, dark wood
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.

-Goodreads Synopsis

Author: Ruth Ware

My Rating: 4/5

My Favourite Quote: “The night was drawing in, and the house felt more and more like a glass cage, blasting its light blindly out into the dusk, like a lantern in the dark. I imagined a thousand moths circling and shivering, drawn inexorably to its glow, only to perish against the cold inhospitable glass.”

I was initially a bit hesitant to pick this book up, and I ended up putting it down more than once in the store. But I kept coming back to it because the cover and the title seem so intriguing, and I’m happy to report that it was a good decision!

I think the main aspect about this book that made me doubt it, is that the story centers around a bachelorette party. Which while I’m sure could be fun, that kind of party atmosphere doesn’t really interest me normally. So while the bachelorette party aspect threw me off, I found quickly that the main character has the same reservations  about the party as I did which makes for an interesting premise.

The story follows Nora who has been invited to a bachelorette party for her old best friend from grade school and high school, who she hasn’t spoken to for years. So is initially very uncertain whether she wants to go or if the invite was actually meant for her.  Tensions begin to build and it becomes clear that something about this situation is very wrong.

I found this book to be legitimate page turner, and it turned out to be a really fun fun, quick read! I thought the thriller atmosphere was really well done. The party takes place in a large modern glass home in the middle of the woods, and I find this to be a super spooky setting. I have always thought that glass homes in the woods seem quite vulnerable, and I’ve spent enough nights alone in a cottage to find this atmosphere very believable.

I genuinely believed the characters  in this book. I think Nora is a pretty relatable and likeable person. I really believed her hesitations and her anxiety in her situation. I also thought that the other characters were incredibly well written, you really believe their motivations and actions as you get to know them.

My one critique would be that near the end of this book the pacing gets quite slow, which is excruciating as you just need to know what happens! I think this is most likely a purposeful effect to increase the suspense, but I am a weak person who had to quickly go forward in the book to resolve the tension and go back and read like a normal person.

In short, I really enjoyed this book. I think this is a good read if you are looking for a captivating thriller to spend the night with! Though, I probably wouldn’t read this if I was alone in the woods, but that’s just me.

If you have also read this book I’d love to hear your thoughts!