Reviews

In a Dark, Dark Wood by Ruth Ware

havenokay's review against another edition

dark tense fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? No
• Loveable characters? No
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

2.5

allbettesareoff's review against another edition

dark emotional mysterious tense fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? No
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.75

Ruth Ware will stun readers with this thrilling murder mystery that is sure to leave them breathless. In a Dark, Dark Wood has been compared to the likes of The Girl on the Train, but its setting and time constraints set a far more sinister tone more akin to Gone Girl. 

 

The breakneck plot follows Leonora Shaw as she reunites with her ex-best friend for an awkward hen-do in the middle of the woods. One friend, one estranged, and three strangers don’t make a bachelorette party—especially when one guest isn’t even invited to the wedding. And when things start to get off-putting and everyone is on edge, who can Nora trust? More importantly, why can’t she remember how the night ended? 

 

Crammed with clues and corkscrews, In a Dark, Dark Wood traces parallel lines as Nora relives the terrifying weekend and tries to piece together what really happened that sent her to the hospital and left another dead. She can’t trust anyone else, but can she trust herself? An edge-of-your-seat kind of thriller from the first sentence with a conclusion that hits the spot, Ware’s novel does exactly what a book like this should. 

 

Curl up with something hot to drink, but turn the lights off at your own risk. In a Dark, Dark Wood is not for the faint of heart. 

hrcobb's review against another edition

adventurous mysterious tense fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? No

4.5

So fun. A Ruth ware classic imo!

mmajer's review against another edition

2.0

I thought this book had an intriguing premise- a bachelorette (“hen”) party is held at a house out in the creepy secluded woods with no one around for miles. What could go wrong? This book was super predictable

Spoiler

and I guessed who murdered whom very early on.

I also once again did not develop an emotional connection because I don’t seem to ever like any of Ruth Ware’s characters. Her books are very easy to get into though- so maybe that’s why I keep reading them.

ninasbooks57's review against another edition

4.0

Fast read! This book left the hair on the back of my neck standing in some parts!! I even started doubting the main characters sanity!! The only reason I gave a 4 instead of a 5 was that the F- word was used way too much and in sentences where it didn’t even make sense. Otherwise great read!!

sneeps's review against another edition

1.0

Not scary at all, but a mildly spooky mystery. Zero chills or thrills were raised but I was very interested in solving the mystery, though the end was....kind of boring. The characters were all one-dimensional and strangely adolescent, it felt like the bulk of the dialogue was people being catty to each other and emotionally immature outbursts. No one was particularly likable or believable, and I honestly didn't care if the protagonist lived or died.
**Slight spoilers**


Melanie had the most realistic background and behavior - a young mother nervous about leaving her baby for the first time, and feeling too old for the juvenile behavior of the other guests. In a strange turn of events for a "scary" story, she leaves the party early and .... just doesn't come back? Makes it home safely? I kept expecting to stumble across her frozen corpse in the woods but no.

All in all, my feeling throughout reading this book was that a good, interesting premise and setting had been wasted on dull, awful characters and an uninteresting plot.

bethanrm's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional mysterious sad tense medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.0

abrodzeller's review against another edition

dark mysterious tense medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? No
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.75

I enjoyed reading this book, but the ending fell kind of flat. There was so much build up in the last 50 pages of all the 500 different scenarios of who was the culprit that it didn't leave much room left to wonder what actually happened. 

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Murder, Gun violence, and Toxic friendship

Minor: Abortion

csnurr's review against another edition

2.0

What a dumb motive

ambloome's review against another edition

2.0

A group of friends and strangers attend a bachelorette weekend, and things go awry.

It was alright, but definitely no gripping thriller novel as advertised. I threw an extra star in there for Imogen Church, I loved her narration!