Book review: In A Dark Dark Wood by Ruth Ware, chilling, scary and compulsive!

 In a Dark Dark Wood by Ruth Ware (30th July 2015)

Sixteen year old Leonora  (Nora) Shaw, upset and let down, turned her back on her old life.  Now, ten years later, still fragile she accepts an invitation to her childhood best friend’s Hen weekend in Northumberland.  Within minutes of her arrival Nora realises she’s made the wrong decision.  The small group don’t gel and there is a malignant aura and then things go dreadfully wrong, someone is murdered and Nora is hospitalised and the chief suspect.

In a Dark Dark Wood  is atmospheric and taut with edge of

the seat malevolence.  The slightly improbable idea that Nora would attend a hen party without being invited to the actual wedding is well worth ignoring as the overall story transcends this one small point.  The imagery of dark cinematic shots sweeping in across a snow covered landscape to the remote and very strange house in the middle of the woods is almost Hithcockian and the character’s distinctive personalities have you guessing and double guessing who will eventually flip.  Told partly through flashback the plot inexorably moves on as we learn more

about Nora’s past and her relationships.  Well executed with some clever scenes (like the ouiji board one) to ratchet up the tension. I was so engrossed I read this in one sitting.  A great story for the beach- maybe avoid it if you’re holidaying in a secluded cottage in a wood though!

Available on Amazon kindle £4.35 HB £7 audio download £19.24

http://www.amazon.co.uk/Dark-Wood-Ruth-Ware/dp/1846558913/ref=sr_1_1_twi_2_har?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1438857603&sr=1-1&keywords=in+a+dark+dark+wood+ruth+ware