Title: THE HOUSE IN THE PINES
Author: Ana Reyes
ISBN: 978 0593 4737 19
Publisher: Dutton
Pages: 336
Source: Review copy from Jonathan Ball Publishers
Armed with only hazy memories, a woman who long ago witnessed her friend’s sudden, mysterious death, and has since spent her life trying to forget, sets out to track down answers. What she uncovers, deep in the woods, is hardly to be believed….
Maya was a high school senior when her best friend, Aubrey, mysteriously dropped dead in front of the enigmatic man named Frank whom they’d been spending time with all summer.
Seven years later, Maya lives in Boston with a loving boyfriend and is kicking the secret addiction that has allowed her to cope with what happened years ago, the gaps in her memories, and the lost time that she can’t account for. But her past comes rushing back when she comes across a recent YouTube video in which a young woman suddenly keels over and dies in a diner while sitting across from none other than Frank. Plunged into the trauma that has defined her life, Maya heads to her Berkshires hometown to relive that fateful summer–the influence Frank once had on her and the obsessive jealousy that nearly destroyed her friendship with Aubrey.
At her mother’s house, she excavates fragments of her past and notices hidden messages in her deceased Guatemalan father’s book that didn’t stand out to her earlier. To save herself, she must understand a story written before she was born, but time keeps running out, and soon, all roads are leading back to Frank’s cabin….
Official Summary
20 March 2023
Thank you to Jonathan Ball Publishers for this review copy. This book jumped to the top of my TBR pile because the reviews on this one have been so different. When you reach for this book you can expect an unusual read that is guaranteed to keep you guessing. While reading this book you are never sure where it is going. When the plot is revealed – you find yourself a little ahead of the characters.
The author moves between past and present from chapter to chapter keeping you on the edge of your seat as the various pieces of the story are revealed. She draws all the pieces together very nicely at the end. My one complaint is that Ruby’s part was not fully explained.
Seven years ago, Maya witnessed her best friend Aubrey dying. Aubrey’s death was unexplained, and Maya insisted that her boyfriend, Frank Bellamy had something to do with Aubrey’s death. No one believed her and Maya was sent to see a therapist. Now living in Boston with a loving boyfriend, Maya’s old demons are brought back to her when she sees a YouTube video of a young woman dying in a restaurant. The person next to this woman as she dies is Frank Bellamy. Determined to prove that Frank is somehow responsible for the deaths, Maya returns home. She has no proof and no one will believe her. Is Maya losing her mind or is there more to Frank Bellamy than anyone knows?
This was an unusual story that left me flipping the page a little faster than normal. I found myself engrossed in Maya’s story very quickly and it took me a while to see where this was going. I enjoyed the uncertainty about Maya’s sanity.
Maya was an interesting character. You are left questioning her sanity and when the plot is revealed you have to feel sorry for everything she endured. This woman spent seven years second-guessing herself and you have to admire her bravery as she faces her past trying to find the truth.
I understand why this book has received mixed reviews. The final plot did not feel all that realistic. Imagining that this could be real is a scary thought and I would much rather convince myself that it is not possible. Yet, I have to say I enjoyed this book. It kept me glued to the pages from start to end, making it an entertaining read that I enjoyed.
If you are looking for a twisty, gripping read that will leave you curious about the plot, then you will love this book.
About the Author
Author bio from the author’s site
Ana Reyes has an MFA from Louisiana State University and a BA from the University of Massachusetts, Amherst. Her work has appeared in Bodega, Pearl Noir!, The New Delta Review and elsewhere. She lives in Los Angeles with her husband and teaches creative writing to older adults at Santa Monica College. The House in the Pines is her first novel.
Thank you, Jonathan Ball Publishers for this review copy. This book is a beautiful addition to my bookshelf. Have you read this one? If you have, remember to share your thoughts by leaving a comment below.
