This is a book in two parts.

The first part is a five-star read for me. We have a real sense of dread. Four old college friends go on a walking holiday together and get lost in the woods in Sweden/Norway. Horrifying enough as two of them are completely out of shape and should not be doing this Hike at all putting the others at risk. Terrifying as they are lost and being hunted by something unimaginable.

There are important themes of whether past college Friendships can last into your thirties. Especially for those who have taken different life paths. “Everyone is fucked up, Luke. Damaged. We’re all messed up, underneath. Doesn’t matter what kind of house you live in.” There is the inevitable debates do the more abled leave the weak to go find help or do they stick together. Which is the clever and which the more honourable choice? Overall I found this an intense but realistic character study of men approaching middle age and was truly horrified by the thought they may not get back home to their damaged but nevertheless important lives.


The second part of the book is how

Spoiler

Death Metal Teens hold one of the man protagonists captive and want to sacrifice him to a supernatural being

. They are characterised weakly. The plot is repetitive and annoying. There are lengthy conversations while the protagonist is trying to fight for his life. The main protagonist is extremely insulting to women (calling them fat smelly cunts) and the author in his portrayal of Norwegians.


Then ending (last chapter) is excellent and another five star. There was no better way to end up both the above stories (though I rather wish the second story hadn’t happened).

I will admit though I rather enjoyed Neville’s prose. “Some teeth long for ripping, gleaming wet from black dog gums. So you keep your eyes closed at the end. You don't want to see such a mouth up close. before the bite, before its oblivion in the goring of your soft parts, the speckled lips will curl back in a whinny of excitement. You just know it.” I will definitely pick up another of his books but will be a little more careful about choosing which of his books to read next time.

Recommended to those who like Horror stories and are happy to accept they will enjoy one part of the book far more than the other.