What I Loved:

In a Dark, Dark Wood was a thriller with a ton of twists and turns! I loved a lot of them. This was so much going on in this story and it was so fun to try to figure it all out.

How I Felt:

This was a fun, interesting story to read. It was dark and full of questions. I did struggle with some things in the book, which is ultimately why I brought my rating down from a 4 to a 3.

Quick overview of My Thoughts:

* Great overall plot and story
* Excellent thriller moments that leave you on the edge of your seat

* Missed the mark on character development
* Unexplained character choices that left me with questions

The Characters: I really didn’t connect with any of the characters. There are so many secrets that it made it a bit difficult to be truly invested in someone. I found Clare, the bachelorette, to be so sugary sweet, it grated on me. Lee, the main character, was irritating. I couldn’t understand why she would choose to go to this “hen” party (bachelorette party) when she hadn’t seen, nor spoken to, Clare in years. She clearly did not want to go, and I though that was an odd choice. The rest of the people that are gathered for this party are also odd. Overall, the characters are not the reason you should read this book.

The Writing: So, why would you read it? The writing is good. The story is told in present day with Lee waking up in a hospital, and then flashing back to what happened over the weekend. It was a great way to give bits of information to the reader as the story progressed. The story is structured well and progresses very thriller like with those climax moments towards the end.

Content Warnings: Reference to abortion. One scene with the use of cocaine in it.

Overall: I enjoyed this book for its thriller value. It had me wanting to turn the pages to see what would happen next. I don’t think I would read this book again, but I am glad I read it the first time.

To Read or Not To Read:

If you are a fan of Ruth Ware, you should read this one. If you haven’t read Ruth Ware before, this was worth reading. If you enjoy the little creepy things that build a good thriller’s story, you’ll enjoy this book.

Where to Find This Book:

In a Dark, Dark Wood by Ruth Ware is available at these sites.

Amazon Kindle | Amazon | Goodreads

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. 

Just the Facts:

• In a Dark, Dark Wood by Ruth Ware
• Genre: Thriller / Mystery / Suspense
• Page Count: 354 pages
• Publisher:  Gallery/Scout Press
• Pub Date: August 4, 2015

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