Helpful Score: 10
After reading Ware's second novel "Cabin 10" and enjoying it, I wanted to read her first novel. Truly painful, too many books to try to finish this story. If you like overly dramatic 20somethings, whining and living in their past this one is for you. I really didn't care who was dead or why, as I just couldn't stand one more minute in the woods with this group.
Mystery writer Leonora "Nora" Shaw wakes up in a hospital with several injuries. As she goes in and out of consciousness, Nora hears the police in the hallway talking about a murder. Nora doesn't remember what happened, how she ended up in the hospital, or who is dead. She recalls receiving an invitation to a bachelorette party for her old high school friend Clare, a person she hasn't seen or talked to in over ten years. Nora is reluctant to attend until she learns that another friend, Nina, has also been invited. When Nora arrives at the mysterious glass house in the woods, she learns that Clare is marrying James, the man who broke Nora's heart ten years ago. As the party begins, Nora can't wait for it to end so he can get out of there. And when someone dies, the accusations fly.
The first half of this book drew me in. I loved the descriptions of the house which was located deep in the woods. There was no cellphone reception, so the party was cut off from the real world. The people attending the party ranged from annoying to self-centered to just plain weird. I wouldn't have wanted to be there. In the middle of the book, you learn who was killed. After that the pace of the book slows down and Nora makes some dumb decisions. I guessed the killer and the motive in the middle of the book. I'm not sure what took the police or Nora so long to figure it out. At least it was entertaining listening to them slowly tell us what happened. My rating: 4 Stars.
The first half of this book drew me in. I loved the descriptions of the house which was located deep in the woods. There was no cellphone reception, so the party was cut off from the real world. The people attending the party ranged from annoying to self-centered to just plain weird. I wouldn't have wanted to be there. In the middle of the book, you learn who was killed. After that the pace of the book slows down and Nora makes some dumb decisions. I guessed the killer and the motive in the middle of the book. I'm not sure what took the police or Nora so long to figure it out. At least it was entertaining listening to them slowly tell us what happened. My rating: 4 Stars.
On the cover it says 'prepare to be scared..really scared' by Reese Witherspoon, however I don't agree with that
I think this is a well written suspense, it has kind of a haunting tone to it
Although anything compared to Gone Girl and Girl on the Train I don't usually try as I didn't like the writing of those two
It isn't a gory bloody thriller but just a suspense that keeps you turning the pages.
I think this is a well written suspense, it has kind of a haunting tone to it
Although anything compared to Gone Girl and Girl on the Train I don't usually try as I didn't like the writing of those two
It isn't a gory bloody thriller but just a suspense that keeps you turning the pages.
Loved, LOVED this book. Ruth Ware is one of my favorite mystery writers. This book is not predictable by any means with twists and turns that are relate-able but edgy. This murder mystery literally is not solved until the last page.
Ruth ware does an amazing job at keeping you on the edge of your seat and tugging at your heartstrings
This book starts out a bit slow in order to set up the plot.But it is an easy read and I did want to know what had happened (as is referred to throughout the story). Towards the end it was a bit easy to figure out some of it, but I still liked it quite a bit.
I was thinking that this was going to be a very very scary kind of book due to the cover(yes, I know, don't judge a book by its cover) and the reviews and chat about this story but that wasn't the case at least for me. It was very fast paced, developed quickly,kept you guessing and made you wonder a lot but it didn't have that holy sheep dip what is coming next style of writing to it. About 3/4 of the way into it I realized that I was pretty sure I had it figured out. Great book for a intense quick read. I did wonder a lot at why a 26 yr old would still be hung up on her teenage boyfriend.
Pretty good story. Had a hard time about 2/3 way in where it stalled a bit but then it got better. Will definitely read more from this author.
Book Description:
What should be a cozy and fun-filled weekend deep in the English countryside takes a sinister turn in Ruth Ware's suspenseful, compulsive, and darkly twisted psychological thriller.
Leonora, known to some as Lee and others as Nora, is a reclusive crime writer, unwilling to leave her ânestâ of an apartment unless it is absolutely necessary. When a friend she hasn't seen or spoken to in years unexpectedly invites Nora (Lee?) to a weekend away in an eerie glass house deep in the English countryside, she reluctantly agrees to make the trip. Forty-eight hours later, she wakes up in a hospital bed injured but alive, with the knowledge that someone is dead. Wondering not âwhat happened?â but âwhat have I done?â, Nora (Lee?) tries to piece together the events of the past weekend. Working to uncover secrets, reveal motives, and find answers, Nora (Lee?) must revisit parts of herself that she would much rather leave buried where they belong: in the past.
My Review:
I did like this book by Ruth Ware much better than Woman in Cabin 10 and The Lying Game. It was fast-paced and more suspenseful with twists and turns that kept the pages turning. I thought it had great character development and an interesting plot. Started out a little slow in the beginning but by the middle of the book, I was riveted. It was a book that kept me guessing until the very last page. Can't wait to see the movie. I would highly suggest this book to those who love psychological thrillers with interesting characters.
What should be a cozy and fun-filled weekend deep in the English countryside takes a sinister turn in Ruth Ware's suspenseful, compulsive, and darkly twisted psychological thriller.
Leonora, known to some as Lee and others as Nora, is a reclusive crime writer, unwilling to leave her ânestâ of an apartment unless it is absolutely necessary. When a friend she hasn't seen or spoken to in years unexpectedly invites Nora (Lee?) to a weekend away in an eerie glass house deep in the English countryside, she reluctantly agrees to make the trip. Forty-eight hours later, she wakes up in a hospital bed injured but alive, with the knowledge that someone is dead. Wondering not âwhat happened?â but âwhat have I done?â, Nora (Lee?) tries to piece together the events of the past weekend. Working to uncover secrets, reveal motives, and find answers, Nora (Lee?) must revisit parts of herself that she would much rather leave buried where they belong: in the past.
My Review:
I did like this book by Ruth Ware much better than Woman in Cabin 10 and The Lying Game. It was fast-paced and more suspenseful with twists and turns that kept the pages turning. I thought it had great character development and an interesting plot. Started out a little slow in the beginning but by the middle of the book, I was riveted. It was a book that kept me guessing until the very last page. Can't wait to see the movie. I would highly suggest this book to those who love psychological thrillers with interesting characters.
I read Ware's second novel, The Woman in Cabin 10, about a month ago and thought it was a really good thriller in the Agatha Christie vein. Dark, Dark Wood was okay but I thought it was very predictable and not quite as good as Cabin. The protagonist, Leonora/Nora/Lee, is a novelist living a solitary life in London when out of the blue she is invited to a "hen" party for an old girlfriend named Clare who is getting married. (The hen party is something similar to a bridal shower/bachelorette party). She is reluctant to go to this but another friend, Nina, was also invited so they both decide to attend on a whim. The hen party takes place in a remote location in the woods inside an eerie glass house with no cell service. This party lasts a couple of days and along the way Nora finds out that Clare is marrying Nora's old boyfriend, James, who she broke off with 10 years before and never got over. So why was Nora invited? And what are the real motivations going on at the party. As I said, I found that once the main occurrence happens, it is pretty predictable about who is behind it and why. This was a quick read but not really scary as advertised on the book cover. Only a mild recommendation for this one.
In a Dark, Dark Wood was suspenseful and entertaining, altho a few characters made me wonder WHY protagonist would put up with them. Anytime someone asks, "Why did I come?" makes me think they are weak and manipulated. The story got better after I put aside my feelings of "Then why DID you come, and why don't you just GO HOME!" But then we wouldn't have a story, would we?
Moves slowly at first, then picks up mid-way thru and the ending was a real page turner! Better than Woman in Cabin 10, which made me feel like author couldn't decide which ending to use so dangled them all together in a miss-mosh. At least Dark Dark Wood had a definite ending.
Moves slowly at first, then picks up mid-way thru and the ending was a real page turner! Better than Woman in Cabin 10, which made me feel like author couldn't decide which ending to use so dangled them all together in a miss-mosh. At least Dark Dark Wood had a definite ending.
I read the author's second novel, The Woman in Cabin 10, and thought it was ok. Nothing spectacular. In reading reviews for In a Dark Dark Wood, I thought I'd give her another try. While Reese Witherspoon calls this book scary, I didn't think it was particularly scary at all. I did however, really enjoy this book. I read it in a day and figured out the ending, but still enjoyed it very much.
I have tried several English books and could never finish them for one reason or another. This book held my attention and I was able to finish it. It wasn't hard to figure out, but it still held suspense. Not bad for a first time novelist. I would consider reading more books by this author.
Wisp-thin plot, padded out with lots of implausible nonsense about a group of deeply unpleasant people, guests at a hen-do (aka "bachelorette party") at a remote location which ought to have "Crime Scene" on a banner over the front door.
What little plot there is relies on the characters having no common sense whatsoever. Suspense is clumsily constructed by interrupting the endless tedium of the hen-do with brief chapters in which we are told Something Awful has happened -- by, conveniently, a character with amnesia.
Awful: avoid.
What little plot there is relies on the characters having no common sense whatsoever. Suspense is clumsily constructed by interrupting the endless tedium of the hen-do with brief chapters in which we are told Something Awful has happened -- by, conveniently, a character with amnesia.
Awful: avoid.
Loved this book,although toward the end, you can start to see where it's ultimately leading. Still great page-turner. You won't want to put it down until it's done.
This was advertised as scary book, don't read at night, etc. In my opinion I have read scarier and it didn't take long to figure out the plot. I am currently reading The woman in cabin 10, and so far I like it better. too much hype on this one.
I couldn't believe for one minute that Nora, a 26 year old woman was still mourning for her lost lover who broke up with her when she was 16! Come on; not realistic.
So Nora was invited to a "hen" party by a friend she hadn't spoken to since she was 16! It turns out the friend Clare, is marrying her old boyfriend. I couldn't imagine why she accepted the invitation but on she goes.
SPOILER
As the story develops, weird things happen along with lots of booze and drugs; her old boyfriend shows up unannounced, he gets shot; secrets unfold and Nora wakes up in the hospital and doesn't remember what happened.
This was an okay mystery and wanna be thriller.
So Nora was invited to a "hen" party by a friend she hadn't spoken to since she was 16! It turns out the friend Clare, is marrying her old boyfriend. I couldn't imagine why she accepted the invitation but on she goes.
SPOILER
As the story develops, weird things happen along with lots of booze and drugs; her old boyfriend shows up unannounced, he gets shot; secrets unfold and Nora wakes up in the hospital and doesn't remember what happened.
This was an okay mystery and wanna be thriller.
