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Book Review of In a Dark, Dark Wood

In a Dark, Dark Wood
perryfran avatar reviewed on + 1180 more book reviews


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.