THE RUINS
By Scott Smith
Alfred A. Knopf
$24.95, hardcover, 319 pages; ISBN 1-4000-4387-5 (2006)
I picked up this book for two reasons. First, I read Scott Smith's first book A Simple Plan and liked it very much. As I recall, Billy Bob Thornton and Bill Paxton starred in the movie.
The second reason I read the book: Stephen King. This is the blurb that appears on the back of this book:
"Simply the best suspense novel of the this year – hell, of the 1990s. Think of James M. Cain, think of Thomas Harris – even think of Jane Smiley's A Thousand Acres, to which Smith's book bears a weird thematic resemblance … Think of whomever you want, but read this book. Better than any 'best-selling' suspense novel to hit the lists since The Silence of the Lambs."
— Stephen King
I mean really, who can resist a plug like that?
And what did Smith do to get Stephen King to fawn this much praise on the book? Before reading The Ruins, I figured that Smith must have either paid King a bunch of money, called in a huge favor, performed some sexual act not fit to write about on this blog, or is somehow related to him.
Either that, or it's just a damned fine novel.
It is.
The story is simple (as was Smith's first book). Two young American couples just out of college go to Mexico and on a whim, help some newly met friends find a brother who has gone to some remote Mayan ruins in search of a girl. When the group gets there, they find a partially hidden path that leads to a hill covered with vivid green vines that sprout a dense blanket of brilliant red flowers.
Once they climb the hill, they find that the Mayans – armed with rifles and bows – won't let them off. They also quickly discover the dead body of the brother buried beneath a mound of vines. The group finds other bodies and gradually understands that they've lost all touch with civilization and are in serious trouble. Terror is all around them …
Buy it at Amazon here.
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