Book Review - In a Dark, Dark Wood by Ruth Ware

Title: In a Dark, Dark Wood
Author: Ruth Ware
Genre: Mystery/ Thriller
Published: 2015
 
Description: When reclusive writer Leonora is invited to the English countryside for a weekend away, she reluctantly agrees to make the trip. But as the first night falls, revelations unfold among friends old and new, an unnerving memory shatters Leonora’s reserve, and a aunting realization is not alone in the woods.
 
Review: As a fan of psychological thrillers, I was looking forward to “In a Dark, Dark Wood”. It’s Ruth Ware’s debut novel. I have read three other books by her, mostly solid, disliked one of them. The ominous title and the promise of a claustrophobic setting led me to believe this would be a blood-curdling story. Unfortunately the reality turned out to be a lot less thrilling.
 
The story follows Leonora (Nora), a crime author who largely isolates herself from her past. To her great surprise, she is invited to the bachelorette party of Clare, an old high school friend she hasn’t spoken to in ten years. Together with a select group of friends, she travels to a remote, ultra-modern glass house deep in the forest of Northumberland. What begins as an awkward weekend full of old tension and secrets quickly escalates into a full-blown nightmare when someone is killed and Nora wakes up injured in the hospital, with no memory of exactly what happened that night.  
 
The dynamic between the characters was pretty much the best thing about the book. Constant passive-aggressive comments, clearly underlying emotions from the past that haven't been worked through yet, and jealousy. I eat this up.
 
Although the atmosphere in the glass house feels quite oppressive at first, the book quickly loses steam afterwards. My biggest frustration lies in the plot development. A good thriller relies on unexpected twists, but unfortunately, I saw the so-called twists in this book coming a mile away. Nothing about the dénouement was surprising to me. The motives and the culprit were pretty obvious that the book really left me unsatisfied. Add to that the fact that the main character makes choices that are downright illogical, and the suspense is completely gone.
 
For first time mystery/ thriller readers this would be a solid choice, but if you are well-read in this genre you can skip it. It’s pretty average, and due to the unsurprising developments it never manages to rise above that.
 
Rating: 2,5/ 5

Book Review - The Caretaker by Marcus Kliewer

Title: The Caretaker
Author: Marcus Kliewer
Genre: Horror/ Thriller
Published: 2026
 
Description: Macy Mullins can’t say why the job posting grabbed her attention. It had the pull of a fisherman’s lure, barbed hook and all. Vaguely ominous. But after an endless string of failed job interviews, she’s not exactly in the position to be picky. She has rent to pay, groceries to buy, and a younger sister to provide for.
 
Besides it’s only a three days’ work…
 
Three days, cooped up in a stranger’s house, surrounded by Oregan Coast wilderness.
 
What starts as a peculiar side gig soon becomes a waking nightmare. An incomprehensible evil may dwell on this property. And Macy might jus be the only thing standing between it and the rest of humanity.
 
Review: After enjoying Marcus Kliewer’s previous book, “We Used to Live Here’, I was really looking forward to his latest release, “The Caretaker”. Although, in hindsight, I thought his debut was just a tiny bit better, Kliewer has once again proven with this new book that he is a master at creating an ominous atmosphere and gives us yet another original horror/ thriller.
 
The story follows Macy, who takes a job as a caretaker at a remote, mysterious estate. What begins as a quiet, well-paid routine job quickly turns into a full-blown nightmare. The enormous house harbors dark secrets, and before long, terrifying, inexplicable events begin to occur, blurring the line between reality and paranoia.
 
Just like “We Used to Live here”, this book was once again incredibly creepy and nerve-wrecking. Kliewer is so good at building up the underlying tension that I simply couldn’t put the book down; I just had to keep reading. Still, in the end, I couldn’t give this book 5 stars either, for exactly the same reason as with “We Used to Live Here”: there are simply too many unanswered questions. Although a bit of mystery is inherent to this genre, in this specific case I also found the ending not entirely satisfying. It left me with a feeling that was just a little too vague.
 
In short, a must-read for fans of psychological horror and nonstop suspense. And if you don’t mind that not all pieces of the puzzle will fall into place, this is the book for you.
 
Rating: 4/ 5

Movie Review - The Wrecking Crew

Director: Ángel Manuel Soto
Genre: Action/ Comedy
Runtime: 124 minutes
Year: 2026
Starring: Dave Bautista, Jason Momoa, Temuera Morrison, Morena Baccarin, Romaita Fox, Frankie Adams, Claes Bang, Jacob Batalon, Stephen Root

Description: Estranged half brothers Jonny (Jason Momoa), a volatile suspended cop, and James (Dave Bautista), a disciplined Navy SEAL, reluctantly reunite in Hawaii after their private investigator father is murdered, triggering a dangerous clash with Yakuza operatives.

Review: With “The Wrecking Crew” director Ángel Manuel Soto brings a true throwback to the action comedies of the 80s and 90s. The film relies entirely on the immense physical strength and comedic talent of the lead actors. Although the chemistry between powerhouses Jason Momoa and Dave Bautista is undeniable and the action scenes are delightfully over-the-top, the film’s predictable plot leaves it stuck in the middle of the pack withing the buddy genre.

The film follows two estranged half-brothers after the mysterious death of their father, who was working as a private detective in Hawaii. Both men reluctantly return to the island. As they struggle their deep-seated frustrations, they become entangles in a dangerous conspiracy rife with political corruption, illegal casinos, and ruthless yakuza operations. Together, they must dismantle the criminal organization to protect their family.

The biggest stringy is undoubtedly the duo. Jason Momoa is clearly having a blast playing the impulsive loose cannon, which clashes perfectly with Dave Bautista’s deadpan and serious demeanor. Their bickering and witty banter carry the film during the moments when the story stalls.

The action is also top-notch: hard-hitting, old-school stunts with plenty of very brutal confrontations that fans of the genre are sure to appreciate. Where the film falls short is in originality. It follows the familiar “Lethal Weapon” formula so closely that almost every plot twist can be predicted miles in advanced. And the villains lack the depth to truly make an impression.

“The Wrecking Crew” is highly entertaining, perfect for an evening of mindless entertainment. The fantastic chemistry between Bautista and Momoa elevates the film, but the lack of an original story keeps this action comedy just average.  

Rating: 3/ 5

Movie Review - Disclosure Day

Director: Steven Spielberg
Genre: Science Fiction/ Thriller/ Mystery
Runtime: 145 minutes
Year: 2026
Starring: Emily Blunt, Josh O’Connor, Colin Firth, Colman Domingo, Eve Hewson, Wyatt Russell
 
Description: If you found out we weren’t alone, if someone showed you, proved it to you, would that frighten you?
 
Review: Expectations were high with the release of “Disclosure Day”. After all, an ambitious thriller that promises to explore the line between truth and conspiracy always grabs my attention. Unfortunately, the film fails to fully capitalize on the potential of its rock-solid premise.

The film follows a whistleblower and a team of investigative journalists who uncover a global conspiracy. On the day the government is forced to release shocking, top-secret documents, the so-called Disclosure Day, chaos erupts behind the scenes. As the clock ticks and shadowy forces try to destroy the evidence, the team must pull out all the stops to bring the truth to light before it’s too late.

The biggest strength of “Disclosure Day” is undoubtedly its central mystery. The premise is intriguing from the very first minute, and the film initially succeeds in creating a constant atmosphere of paranoia. In addition, the film is carried by an outstanding lead performance; Emily Blunt is excellent and, with her strong, nuanced acting, manages to anchor the film’s emotional core, even when the script lets her down. However, the film stumbles over its own ambitions. The plot is unnecessarily complicated, with countless side plot, plot twists, and characters who ultimately add little to the story. As a result, the whole thing feels very messy. Instead of a tight, suspenseful build-up, you lose track of the story halfway through due to the overload of information and the rushed editing.

“Disclosure Day” definitely has its strong moments, but it vacillates too much between an intellectually thriller and a chaotic science fiction movie to be truly convincing.

Rating: 2,5/ 5

Book Review - The Blonde Dies First by Joelle Wellington

Title: The Blonde Dies First
Author: Joelle Wellington
Genre: Horror/ Young Adult
Published: 2024
 
Description: Devon is always being left behind by her genius twin sister, Drew. At this point, it’s a fact of life. But Devon has one last plan before Drew leaves for college a whole year early: The best summer ever. After committing to the bit a little too much, the twins and their chaotic circle of friends learn why you don’t mess with a Ouija board if you want to actually survive the best summer ever, and soon find themselves being hunted down by… a demon?
 
But while there’s no mistaking the creeping, venomous figure is not from around here, their method doesn’t feel very demonic at all. In fact, it’s downright human. Going after them in typical slasher movie kill order. And that means Devon, the blonde, is up first and her decade-long crush Yaya, is the Final Girl who must kill or be killed to end the cycle.
 
Devon has never liked playing by anyone else’s rules though, not even a demon’s, and the longer this goes on, the more she feels Drew and Yaya slipping away from her even as she tries to help them all survive. Can they use their horror movie knowledge to flip the script and become the hunters instead of the hunted? Or will their best summer ever be their last?
 
Review: With “The Blonde Dies First” author Joelle Wellington attempts to capture the essence of a nostalgic, self-assured horror movie in book form. Although the concept is full of potential and the nods to classic slasher films like “Scream’ are entertaining in theory, the execution unfortunately falls short. The results is a predictable story that fails to sustain the suspense.
 
Seventeen-year-old Devon Harris is blonde, outgoing, and terrified of losing her brilliant twin sister Drew, who is leaving college a year earlier than planned. To make their last few months unforgettable, Devon creates a list called ‘the best summer ever’ for their close-knit group of friends from Brooklyn. The plan goes completely off the rails when they play with a Ouija board at a party. They accidentally unleash a malevolent demon that begins hunting down the friends one by one. Strangely enough, the demon follows the strict rules of a cliché horror movie. Since Devon is the blonde girl of the group, she knows one thing for sure; according to the laws of the slasher genre, she’s next in line. The friends must all use their knowledge of horror movies to turn the script around and survive.
 
Devon is the protagonist and I found it hard to root for her. She is constantly jealous of her sister Drew and she was very self-centered. The group of friends is diverse, which is very positive. But due to the large number of characters, most of them remain stuck in one-dimensional archetypes. As a result, their interactions quickly become repetitive.
 
For a book that relies on parodying horror tropes, it lacks any real suspense. The murders and the character’s actions are painfully predictable. Moreover, the chapters are very long, and the plot becomes highly repetitive halfway through.
Wellington attempts to tackle serious contemporary issues, such as gentrification in Brooklyn and racial tension with the police. Great addition, giving the story a bit more depth. But they are not further explored and stay on the surface.
 
I think this is one of those books that will be enjoyed more by a younger audience, since it is a young adult book. It was not scary and although I liked the book poking fun at the slasher genre, I found the book cliché, slow and lacking tension.
 
Rating: 2/ 5

Book Review - Devolution by Max Brooks

Title: Devolution
Author: Max Brooks
Genre: Horror
Published: 2020
 
Description: As the ash and chaos from Mount Rainier’s eruption swirled and finale settled, the story of the Greenloop massacre passed unnoticed, unexamined… until now.
 
But the journals of resident Kat Holland receovered from the town’s bloody wreckage, captures a tale too harrowing to be forgotten.
 
Kate’s is a tale of unexpected strength and resilience, of humanity’s defiance in the face of a terrible predator’s gaze, and inevitably, of savagery ad death. Yet it is also far more than that. Because if what Kate Holland saw was real, then we must accept the impossible. We must accept that the creature known as Bigfoot walks among us and that it is a beast of terrible strength and ferocity.

Review: Following the iconic “World War Z” (which I have not read), Max Brooks returns with “Devolution”. This time he swaps the zombies for a legend that’s just as terrifying: Bigfoot. Brooks opts for a pseudo-documentary style, which creates a realistic and oppressive atmosphere. Although the book is definitely worth reading, it also has a few drawbacks that prevent it from being quite a masterpiece.
 
The story follows the residents of Greenloop, a state-of-the-art, eco-friendly, and completely self-sufficient residential community in the forests of Washington State. When the nearby Mount Rainier erupts, the high-tech village becomes completely cut off from the outside worlds. The residents, accustomed to luxury and technology, are completely unprepared for the approaching winter. Their situation deteriorates dramatically when a hungry, aggressive tribe of Bigfoot-like creatures is driven from their habitat by the natural disaster and chooses Greenloop as their new hunting ground. What follows is a bloody struggle for survival, told largely through the recovered diary of resident Kate Holland.
 
Brooks excels at slowly building tension. The transition from a naïve, ecological utopia to a brutal struggle for survival is fascinating and psychologically well-developed. The details about how the creatures hunt and communicate feel scientifically grounded and terrifyingly realistic. The final third of the book is a nail-biting page-turner that you won’t be able to put down.
 
The biggest problem is the pace in the first half. Brooks spends a great deal of time on interviews, background information, and character development. Although this contributes to world-building, it simply takes too long before anything interesting happens. You really have to push through and eventually will see it’s worth your time.
 
“Devolution” is a strong, clever horror story with a fantastic climax. It is very violent, trigger warnings for violence and gore. But importunely the story takes a little too long to get going.
 
Rating: 3,5/ 5

Book Review - Serial Killer Support Group by Saratoga Schaefer

Title: Serial Killer Support Group
Author: Saratoga Schaefer
Genre: Thriller/ Horror
Published: 2025
 
Description: When Cyra Griffin’s younger sister is murdered by a serial killer, Cyra knows better than to expect justice from the hands of the police department. With the investigation already dying its own slow death, Cyra follows the blood trail and finds her own way forward.
 
Using insider information Cyra infiltrates a support group for serial killers by pretending to be one herself in the hopes of finding the person who ended her sister’s life. Proving herself to them comes at a cost, but it’s one Cyra is willing to pay in the name of revenge.
Unfortunately, the dangerous men in the group aren’t the only obstacles in Cyra’s path for vengeance, and the further Cyra descends into the deadly world of serial killers, the harder it becomes to hold on to her own humanity.

Review: For fans of pitch-black humor and unconventional thrillers, Saratoga Schaefer’s debut is an absolute must-read. “Serial Killer Support Group” thoroughly shakes up the classic thriller genre with a daring, feminist, and slightly bizarre premise. The result is and addictive game of cat and mouse that constantly keeps the reader guessing.
 
When Cyra Griffin’s younger sister is brutally murdered by a serial killer and the police quickly let the investigation fizzle out. Cyra refuses to accept this and decides to take matters into her own hands. Through an insider in the police force, she discovers the existence of a top-secret support group in the city: a support group for serial killers. Driven by revenge, Cyra manages to infiltrate the group and pretends to be a cold-blooded killer herself. Her goal is simple: to unmask her sister’s killer.
 
This book is a delightfully crazy ride that entertains from the very first page. Schaefer has a sharp, witty writing style that allows her to effortlessly combine the gruesome subject matter with a healthy dose of irony and dark humor. Cyra is a fantastic, unconventional protagonist; she is determined, physically strong, and morally flexible enough to fully draw you into her mission.
 
The build-up tension is very well-executed. The constant threat that Cyra will be exposed among the group of trained psychopaths creates a continuous, underlying sense of unease. As the story approaches its climax, the author also treats you to a number of sharp, unexpected plot twists.
 
The various killers in the groups all have fascinating, twisted backstories. I would have liked a bit more depth and interaction among them during the group sessions.
 
“Serial Killer Support Group” is a refreshing, thrilling and delightfully macabre debut that’s perfect for fans of “Dexter”. This is the second book I read by Saratoga Schaefer and I really love her work so far. An author to keep a close eye on.
 
Rating: 4/ 5