Hola readers! Let’s discuss the first book of this year- The House In The Pines by debut author Ana Reyes (2023). After catching up on Little Secrets and Jar of Hearts by Jennifer Hillier last year I kept off from thrillers for a while. I needed a break!

But boy am I glad to have started the new year with Ana Reye’s The House In The Pines!

The House In The Pines spooked me out like no other story in my recent memory. It is utterly engrossing psychological suspense that puts you under a spell 😉 and before you realize what is happening to you?! It is already too late.

Yes, this book is all what the reviewers are raving about everywhere! A Reese Witherspoon book club pick, it is exactly what she describes it as an absolute can’t-put-it-down story. Or as in my case, can’t-stop-listening-till-you-get-to-the-end!

Shall we delve a bit into the story now?

Story

At it’s core it’s a story about young Maya ,her friend Aubrey and Frank. An unexplainable death of her best friend Aubrey in the presence of her then boyfriend Frank , a drug addiction that soon followed, a father she lost before she was born as left Maya vulnerable and unreliable.

Seven years ago Maya tried telling everyone but no one believed her. Frank was responsible for her best friend Aubrey’s death and now a similar incident appears on YouTube, this time the girl is different but the man she is with is the same – Frank.

The mystery lies in how Frank killed Aubrey when he didn’t even touch her – Maya was there when it happened. The story flips back and forth between the present day and seven years prior.

The cabin, the house in the pines – why does it keep coming back to Maya?

Chilling to the bone, addictive, engrossing eerie are some of the words I would use to describe the plot. Ana Reyes words twist and turn, pulling you further in to the life of Maya’s world as she finally takes it upon herself to explain what happened to Aubrey all those years ago.

Verdict

This is my first read of 2023 and now I am worried if I have been spoilt for choices. I will have to hunt high and low to find a story that will wash down the affect this book left on me.

Truth be told I didn’t want it to end! Though I would recommend reading this one in broad day light. You don’t want to do what I did! Going to bed while listening/reading this book is not a good idea! Trust me on this and you can thank me later!

This book is for those who enjoy a creepy dark thriller that catches you off guard. The mysterious plot was truly captivating, intriguing and there was a magic about the story that pushed it to even higher heights.

I like mysteries and this book kept me up! It’s not your typical thriller, you won’t see the end coming. It’s not what you would expect but nonetheless the story keeps you engrossed.

I would recommend this book to anyone who enjoys reading a psychological thriller!

“A reader lives a thousand lives before he dies . . . The man who never reads lives only one.” ~ George R.R. Martin