THE RUINS by Scott Smith
Scott Smith has written a novel that out-creeps Stephen King, out-plots John Grisham, and out-emotionalizes Danielle Steel. Yes, his new novel THE RUINS does all that and more. This book is like a car wreck, and I mean that with all due respect. You don't want to look/read but you can't tear your eyes away from the scene/pages. You hurtle through the book at breakneck speed gasping for breath as each horrific event occurs. And even after you have closed the book the memory of the plot lingers in the crevices of your mind, tormenting you on and on.
The story concerns four college age friends who are on vacation in Mexico. Eric and Jeff are best friends as are their girlfriends Amy and Stacy. They spend their time on the beaches and having a good time. They meet up with a German named Mathias and also a Greek who has the strange name of Pablo. Mathias speaks a little English but Pablo speaks none. He communicates with the group through hand signals.
Eventually Mathias states he has to go inland to search for his brother Heinrich. Heinrich has taken off with a girl and is somewhere near an archeological dig. He has sent Mathias a map and Mathias intends to use that to find him. Jeff says he and his friends will go with him, and eventually Pablo also joins in the search.
The group heads inland and eventually come to a village where some Mayans live. They can't communicate with them and the people actually appear hostile. This is one of the indications that maybe this adventure to find Heinrich was not the best idea. They do find the location specified on the map but they can't find Heinrich. What they do find is a barren mound surrounded by vines and other vegetation. This place looks like a form of paradise but turns out to be their worst nightmare.
Smith builds his suspense one page at a time and never lets the terror retreat once it has been revealed. He keeps the reader guessing but also makes sure the plot is clearly defined. Still even after Smith has unleashed the monster the reader's mind does not want to grasp what is the horrible truth.
Logic makes you feel Smith's plot could never happen, but there is enough of a doubt that you do consider the reality. That is what makes the pages of this story so suspenseful and so dreaded as each ensuing action unfolds. You don't want to know what happens but you don't want to stop reading either.
The way Smith structures his story is brilliant; the way he creates his characters is dynamic; and the way he holds his audience in thrall is pure genius. THE RUINS is a novel that will haunt your dreams and pervade your waking thoughts too. Read it with the lights on and hopefully in a place without too much vegetation.
THE RUINS is published by Alfred A Knopf. It contains 319 pages and sells for $24.95.