In a Dark, Dark Wood by Ruth Ware

This was on the NYT bestseller list for a while, so I put in a request for it at WHPL.  It took nearly all summer.  To be honest, I'm not sure it was worth the hype!  I did not feel all of the characters were developed well enough to flesh out the plot.  I feel like I know more about the sassy gay friends than the main antagonist.  More on that in a minute.

Clare is getting married.  Her best friend and maid of honor (and seriously obsessed bordering on crazy) Flo is throwing her a hen party.  This is what we call a bachelorette.  The story takes place in England, but there is not enough to confuse the reader with British vs. American English.  Flo invites dozens of people, but only a handful show up.  These include Nina (one of the sassy gay friends), Tom (the other), Melanie (a new Mom), and Leonora (who has not seen Clare in 10 years and is not invited to the wedding). 

Now, WHY do we need TWO stereotypical homosexual characters?  I mean, every stereotype known is thrust on these two characters--from Nina being a big girl to Tom being in theater--it was overkill.  Trying to be inclusive?  Didn't know which fit better (gay guy or lesbian woman)?  It was almost silly.  Melanie also serves no purpose other than to find the phone line has been cut when she tries to call home to check on her new baby. 

Someone cuts the phone lines.  There are footprints in the snow.  Drunk (and some high) playing with a Ouija board.  Sound a little cliche?  It was. 

We later learn Leonora once dated the future groom.  When he is shot in the dark, it becomes a blame game.

I won't spoil who did it vs. who gets the blame.  I barely made it to that point anyway.

All in all, I can't say I'd recommend this one!  I really wanted to, but without any feeling toward the characters (neither love nor hate), I had no vested interest and really didn't care by the end.

Speaking of which, there is a cliff hanger at the end.  If you haven't figured it out by reading my previous posts....I HATE THAT!!!!!  And it was a STUPID one at that!!!!!

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