Book Review: Nine Perfect Strangers
"Nine people gather at a remote health resort. Some are here to lose weight, some are here to get a reboot on life, some are here for reasons they can’t even admit to themselves. Amidst all of the luxury and pampering, the mindfulness and meditation, they know these ten days might involve some real work. But none of them could imagine just how challenging the next ten days are going to be.
Frances Welty, the formerly best-selling romantic novelist, arrives at Tranquillum House nursing a bad back, a broken heart, and an exquisitely painful paper cut. She’s immediately intrigued by her fellow guests. Most of them don’t look to be in need of a health resort at all. But the person that intrigues her most is the strange and charismatic owner/director of Tranquillum House. Could this person really have the answers Frances didn’t even know she was seeking? Should Frances put aside her doubts and immerse herself in everything Tranquillum House has to offer—or should she run while she still can?
It’s not long before every guest at Tranquillum House is asking exactly the same question."
~ From Goodreads ~
This was a terrifying book to read for me! I have stayed a couple of times at Ayurvedic hospitals and resorts in the past. So imagining something like this happening is pretty easy for me. In fact, I have imagined up quite a few scary scenarios about health resorts during those stays. Why didn't I think of writing those down??? I guess I was too scared to give those fears words and an outlet, lest they should really happen.
This book also reminded me of "Pyjamas are forgiving", a book by Twinkle Khanna. It is more or less the same premise.
Each of the nine strangers has a story to tell. Obviously! Everyone has a story to tell, right? The cast has been well introduced and they do feel real and relatable. Every story of every person indicates their reasons for attending this 10 day "camp".
The stories are obviously not linear. They are revealed through the chapters and the interactions between these strangers. I personally enjoyed this style. It was like putting pieces of puzzles together.
I did expect the kind of turn this book would take, but I didn't expect the level of horror it created in me. The storyline played out pretty well. It is perfect for Television. I am glad it is coming out as a miniseries this year. I would love to see how they have adapted/modified it to fit that medium.
Intriguing... I had never heard of this book, and now you've piqued my curiosity. Once I work through my own "TBR pile."
ReplyDeleteHa ha.. Good luck with that! I got overwhelmed with my TBR last month and completely stopped reading. Now I am just reading whatever I want to. :-)
DeleteThe plot sounds interesting but horror isn't exactly my favourite genre so I might keep this as a future read, for the time when I am keen to give it a read. Thanks for sharing your review, Jyothi.
ReplyDeleteIt's not horror per say. Its just a feeling of horror. In me. Maybe not in others.
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