The best time of the year has come once again. The air is getting colder, and the days are shorter. The prime cosy time is upon us, and nothing like a chilling and dark mystery to rock you back to sleep. There is something delicious about reading murder mysteries and creepy stories in autumn. Maybe it’s the change to darker days or the association with Halloween. Either way, reading is always better when it’s colder outside and nothing like picking up a Ruth Ware to make the most out of it.

Author: Ruth Ware Pages: 338 Genre: Mystery, Thriller, Drama, Horror First Publication: July 2015

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Synopsis

Nora hasn’t seen Clare for ten years. Not since the day Nora walked out of her old life and never looked back. Until, out of the blue, an invitation to Clare’s hen party arrives. A weekend in a remote cottage – the perfect opportunity for Nora to reconnect with her best friend, to put the past behind her.

But something goes wrong. Very wrong.

And as secrets and lies unravel, out in the dark, dark wood the past will finally catch up with Nora.

Thoughts and Feelings

When I picked In a Dark Dark Wood, I had no idea it was Ruth Ware’s debut novel. And knowing that wouldn’t have changed my experience reading it. My expectation going in was already low, even though it’s a Ruth Ware. The only book I read from her was The Woman in Cabin 10, and I enjoyed it, but… it wasn’t my favourite thriller. Also, it was a mediocre reading month for me, so I wasn’t expecting this book to change that. And maybe, those low expectations helped to enjoy this book as much as I did. I went in completely blind and had a great time. The only information I had was the synopsis, and I recommend doing the same.

The story starts with Nora at the hospital after getting into an accident. She’s confused. She doesn’t know what she has done or what exactly happened. And then, the story goes back to when Nora receives the invitation to Clare’s hen party, which sets everything in motion. The chapters are separated into two timelines: the past, as we follow along the events after the invitation, and the present, when Nora is at the hospital. Although it might be a bit confusing because there is no indication at the start of each chapter which timeline we are reading. At first, I found it odd, but it made perfect sense further into the story.

The writing style worked very well for me. I was captivated and engaged chapter after chapter, even when the story was a bit slower. It’s not a very big book, so it gets to the point quickly. The creepy atmosphere towards the end was very entertaining, and I thought it was a great book!

Truth be told, the mystery was predictable. Although I feel there was more to the story to keep it interesting, even without the whole “whodunit” aspect. Although, I can see why this is not her most loved book. Usually, no one likes a predictable mystery. The idea is to be surprised, to be mind-blown. And for me, this book came to show I don’t care about predictability if everything else in the story appeals to me. Nina is a lovable character. There are hidden secrets, loads of drama, and a creepy atmosphere in the middle of the woods. So I was having the time of my life. I didn’t care if I knew the killer since the first page. I had everything else to enjoy.

I confess I was still hoping to find a plot twist here and there, maybe an unreliable narrator, but nothing like that happens. Even though I loved this book, having something like that would spice up the story. Like any other mystery/thriller reader, I enjoy being tricked, kept on the edge of my seat, and a little creeped out even. And the story delivered two out of those three things. So if secrets, drama, and a remote cottage in the middle of the woods sound great to you, then maybe you’ll enjoy this book as I did. I only know I had too much of a great time not to recommend it.