After that last stinker of a book, I didn't read anything at all for a few days. Of course, I wasn't going to let one bad book ruin reading for me, but I couldn't decide how best to cleanse my palate. Another classic I've been meaning to read my whole life? Something light and easy? Or how about an old favorite?
Yes, I decided, that one.
The Ruins has been one of my favorite novels since I first read it, which was…wow…almost SEVENTEEN years ago now. That's hard to believe. I'd read Smith's first book, A Simple Plan, which is more thriller than horror, and loved it, but when I read the much more horrific-sounding synopsis for The Ruins, I knew I had to get it right away, so I pre-ordered it from my local bookstore and showed up on release day practically salivating.
I think it might be the least disappointed I've ever been in a book.
The story is riveting. You know that old horror trope? The one where people go somewhere they clearly shouldn't only to find…dun dun dun…trouble? Of course you do. It's all over the place. The Ruins doubles down on the concept, putting its characters in a tricky situation and then compounding the terror with an even creepier subplot. If you've seen the movie or heard about the book, you might already know the specifics, but I don't want to spoil it any more than that. Just know that this is the kind of book that glues you to your seat, or Kindle, or headphones, or whatever it is you use to read. Smith's prose is terrific, his characters are unforgettable, and his storytelling is second to none.
Re-reading books isn't something I do often, but this is the fourth time I've read The Ruins, and I know it won't be the last.
If you like a good story, you owe it to yourself to read this one.
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