The Ruins - Scott Smith - Book Review

 

        I have been in a reading slump in the horror genre. Nothing has interested me for some time. Then I came across this book, which Stephen King gave a positive note about. That was enough to make me try it.

        Four friends go on vacation to Mexico, during which they befriend a German and some Greeks. One day, the German sets out to find his brother, who had gone after an archaeologist girl he seemed to have a crush on. They follow a crude map, reach a Mayan village, and finally find the ruins. They proceed to the ruins despite the villagers' warnings. What starts as a search trip turns into something worse. The villagers won't let them return either. What awaits them in the ruins? Why did the villagers try to dissuade them initially? What happens to them forms the story.

        To start, I had expected a different storyline while reading the blurb. Once the story got going, it was different from what I expected. But the read was very interesting. The story takes its own sweet time to develop and is medium-paced. It is easy to get distracted, but the storyline kept me interested. As the story progresses, we get a solid idea of how the whole thing is going to end. But the author succeeds in keeping the engagement factor going. There are many squirmish moments with mentions of bodily fluids. This might discomfort some of the readers. The physical and mental breakdown of people with the passage of time is well portrayed. It tires us out at times, making me want the story to end. But the author takes his time in moving the story forward, and that was a clever move. The seven main characters were well written, and despite their shortcomings, we feel pity for them. The hill where they were stranded, along with the vines, set the perfect backdrop for this novel, and it shockingly breaks the grit and sanity of a human.

        In short, a good book that keeps us engaged even with a predictable storyline. It might not be everyone's cup of tea. Horror and thriller readers can surely give it a try. 

Note: There is a movie based on this book, which I have yet to watch.