The Ruins by Scott Smith

Sorry I haven't posted a review in a while. I've been so caught up in reading the Pretty Little Liars series and just haven't had time to put them down and write! I will probably just do a review of the whole series when I'm done, so I decided to review one of my favorite books for you.

"Do not pick up a copy ... if you have anything else you need to do in the next eight hours or so". Four American tourists vacationing in Cancun make friends with a German traveler and join the hunt for his brother, who has mysteriously vanished after following a new flame to an archeological site. As they venture into the jungle, their day of adventure turns into horror, where both the natives and the jungle are aligned against them, and their own relationships unravel under the strain.
Dark and sinister, The Ruins is a horror must-read, and not just once, but again and again! The third time around I am still enraptured by Scott Smith’s amazing story-telling and word-weaving talent. One of only a few books I have read that places you right in the middle of the setting amongst the characters. The writing is so vivid and real you can feel the tension and panic building, feel the ache of thirst in your throat, the slither of the vine as it moves across your skin, probing its way under your flesh. Keep in mind this book is not for the faint of heart or weak-stomached; the gory descriptions are so lifelike it is as if they are happening in real time. Not only does Smith deliver a thrilling adventure novel, but also delves into the human psyche, uncovering aspects of human nature that we would rather not think about. An instant horror classic, The Ruins (and its accompanying movie) is a story that sticks with you long after reading it.