In a Dark, Dark Wood by Ruth Ware
Narrated by Imogen Church
Simon & Schuster Audio
Publication Date: February 16, 2016
Date Read: March 18, 2016
Source: Library
Length: 9 hours 34 Minutes
★★★★☆
Someone’s getting married. Someone’s getting murdered.
In a dark, dark wood
Nora hasn’t seen Clare for ten years. Not since Nora walked out of school one day and never went back.
There was a dark, dark house
Until, out of the blue, an invitation to Clare’s hen do arrives. Is this a chance for Nora to finally put her past behind her?
And in the dark, dark house there was a dark, dark room
But something goes wrong. Very wrong.
And in the dark, dark room….
Some things can’t stay secret for ever.
This was a fantastic audiobook. I think that the narration really took a very good story and made it great. I think that I would have liked reading a print copy of the book but I loved listening to this story. I couldn’t get enough of Nora. I felt like I was in her head and had all of the same questions that she did. This was an audiobook that I couldn’t stop listening to. I am so glad that I decided to experience this story in this manner.
Nora is a writer. She lives a very structured life and is happy with it. She is a little surprised to be invited to Claire’s hen party because she hasn’t even talked to her childhood friend in 10 years. She talks to another childhood friend and they decide to go together. The party is being hosted by Claire’s current best friend at a relative’s home in the woods.
The group of people that are together for the party are all colorful characters. I was never quite sure of Claire. I didn’t feel like she was exactly trustworthy but I hoped that she really was as nice as she seemed. I liked Tom but he didn’t always seem to fit in with the group. Nina was easy to like and usually said exactly what she was thinking. Flo was odd. She was so uptight over throwing the perfect hen party that she took a whole lot of the fun out of it.
There are really a couple of different mysteries to be solved in the book. I wanted to know why Nora was there in the first place. I wondered what really happened between Claire and Nora all of those years ago. I really wanted to know what actually happened at the party and how it all came together. This wasn’t a scary book for me at all. I wouldn’t even call it creepy but I was on the edge of my seat wanting to know what really happened.
The narration of this audiobook was spectacular. This is the first time that I have listened to an audiobook narrated by Imogen Church but she is now one of my favorite narrators. The way she was able to represent Nora really made the story because I felt like I was a part of it. She handled a wide range of emotions perfectly and told the story in a manner that kept me completely focused on her voice. I just loved her accent and can’t wait to listen to another audiobook read by this talented narrator.
I would recommend this book to fans of mystery thrillers. I would highly recommend that potential readers consider listening to the audiobook if at all possible. I am convinced that the audio really makes the story even better. I really enjoyed Ruth Ware’s debut novel and look forward to reading more of her work in the future.
About the AuthorRuth Ware grew up in Lewes, in Sussex. After graduating from Manchester University she moved to Paris, before settling in North London. She has worked as a waitress, a bookseller, a teacher of English as a foreign language and a press officer. She is married with two small children, and In a Dark, Dark Wood is her début thriller.
Her hen night was very tasteful and nobody got murdered.
Yay!! I'm so glad you enjoyed this. Wasn't Imogen Church fantastic! Seriously I think for the last few chapters I just stood completely still in the middle of the kitchen because all of my focus was on what was going to happen next which I don't think has ever happened with an audio book. I definitely agree on the audio book making it great. Like you I think I would've enjoyed it in print but I absolutely loved in audio. So glad you enjoyed it!
I just loved Imogen Church. Amazing narrator! I was trying to work while I listened to this book. Audio was the way to go.
I’ve seen this book around, but I never really knew what it was about. All I knew was that I loved the cover. The story sounds mysterious, so I might have to check it out.
Aj @ Read All The Things!
I love the cover! I hope you get a chance to check it out, AJ!
If I ever come across this one, I'll be sure to get the audio version. A great narrator can do wonders with a story. Great review!
I was so glad that my library had the audio. I think that audio just made the story so much more.
You've got me convinced. This sounds like a good thriller.
I hope you get a chance to read this one, Sophia! Such a wonderful story.
I am glad to hear you enjoyed this one. It's one I would like to read–or maybe I should try to listen to it! You make the audio version sound so good!
The narrator just brought this story to life. If you listen to books, audio is definitely the way to go.
I got this as some free prom from the publisher awhile back, but dang, now I'm wanting to listen to the audio instead. I'll have to listen to a sample. The book sounds really good, though.
I just loved the narrator. I hope to find other books that she has done.
Narrators make or break audiobooks for me. The Wrath and the Dawn, for one was a book I've given up listening to because I'm not enjoying the tone of the speaker. I'm glad this book hit all the cylinders!
Narrators really do make a big impact. Thanks for letting me know about The Wrath and the Dawn's narrator. I will stay away from that one.
aahh, my type of read~ I'd love to read this. The audiobook sounds good but I'm not an audiobook person though. I'll most likely look for a physical book (or plainly an ebook if I can't find it).
I hope you enjoy it when you get a chance to read it, czai! I haven't always been able to focus on audiobooks but they seem to work for me at this point.