The Ruins

The Ruins is a novel by Phoebe Wynne that transports readers to a beautiful, doomed French chateau in 1985. As the summer heat intensifies, the adults lose sight of themselves, and darkness creeps around them. In 2010, one of the three young girls returns to the chateau and uncovers what truly happened that summer. The novel captures the glittering allure of the Mediterranean and the dark shadows that wait beneath the surface.

Format: Hardback
Length: 400 pages
Publication date: 07 July 2022
Publisher: Quercus Publishing

The Ruins by Phoebe Wynne is a captivating novel that transports readers to a beautiful and doomed French chateau. Through vivid descriptions and immersive atmospherics, Wynne creates a dream-like experience that captivates the reader.

The story revolves around Ruby, who has spent every summer of her twelve years at the chateau with her family. It is her favorite place, offering a respite from the strictures of her formal childhood. However, this year, uninvited guests descend upon the chateau, and everything changes.

As the adults within the chateau lose sight of themselves, old disputes resurface, tempers flare, and morals loosen. The atmosphere becomes increasingly tense and foreboding, and darkness creeps in. Ruby and her two young friends, aware of the danger, try to stay out of sight and avoid any trouble.

However, they soon discover that it is impossible to escape the chateau's grip. The summer spirals down to a fateful night, and an incident occurs that can never be undone. The consequences of that night haunt the characters for years to come, leaving them forever changed.

In 2010, one of the three young girls, now grown and newly widowed, returns to the chateau. Determined to free herself from its hold, she uncovers the truth behind what happened that long, dark summer.

The Ruins is a masterfully crafted novel that delves into the psychological complexities of human nature. It explores the glittering allure of the Mediterranean and the dark shadows that lie beneath its surface. Wynne's writing is vivid and evocative, drawing the reader into the characters' lives and emotions.

The chateau itself becomes a character in the novel, with its grandeur and decay reflecting the state of the characters' souls. The ruins themselves are a haunting reminder of the past and the consequences of our actions.

Overall, The Ruins is a must-read for anyone who enjoys psychological suspense, atmospheric horror, and a haunting exploration of the human condition. It is a novel that will stay with you long after you finish reading.

Weight: 622g
Dimension: 163 x 242 x 36 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9781529408812