Book Review: Disappearance at Devil’s Rock by Paul Tremblay
Title: Disappearance at Devil’s Rock
Author: Paul Tremblay
Release date: June 21, 2016
I just want to start off by saying – reading this book and posting this review was in no way done with the hopes of me “cashing in” on the random influx of new folks following this site and my reviews! For those who missed it – two years ago I read and reviewed Paul’s fantastic ‘The Cabin At the end of the World.’ Then, on Sept 22, 2022, M. Night Shyamalan dropped the trailer for ‘Knock at the Cabin,’ his adaption of Paul’s book. For some unknown reason – my review skyrocketed in views. We’re talking 20,000 on that day. My review was the 5th result on any Google searches for Paul’s book or the movie. As of writing this, the review is just about to cross over the 40,000 page visits mark. My second highest visited page – my review for ‘COWS’ at 3500.
So, my point – A – thanks again Paul for a sprinkling of your mojo and B – I had already started this bad boy before that review even dropped! So, there! HA!
Anyways – if you’ve followed my Pyper fandom, you’ll know my buddy George is equally a massive fan of Tremblay. We share two difference – 1 – I’ve read more Tremblay books than George has read Pyper (hitch up those britches and get reading!) and 2 – George literally bought a cabin in the woods…
I have had ‘Disappearance at Devil’s Rock’ for a bit now, and when it finally popped to the top of my TBR, I dove in. I will say, I went in almost completely blank. I might’ve read the synopsis at one point, but that had long since slithered out of my brain.
What I liked: The story follows a group of boys living in a small town. One night, they sneak out, one of them taking some of their dad’s beer, and head to a massive rock they frequent in the woods. While there, something happens and one of the boys takes off, disappearing in the woods.
From there, Tremblay takes his time in unravelling the chaos that occurred and the horrifying ripples young Tommy’s disappearance creates with his family and with his friends.
The book is filled with moments of despair, heartbreak but also chills and unnerving moments. Tremblay does a phenomenal job of keeping his cards close to his chest and when the reality of what happens is revealed, it is done with a verbal vomiting that will shatter the reader.
I also really loved how well done the kids were in this story. How they acted and reacted like real world kids. You could feel the fear of consequences coming off the page each and every time something new was shared and they had to fess up.
The ending was just so beautiful and sad. This reader cried. I’m never ashamed to admit when a book moves me to tears. But the way Paul closed this one out was just so perfect and so achingly well done.
What I didn’t like: I did find the book took its time to really grab me and hold me. There was a lot of extra details and descriptions (which do carry throughout) that bogged it down a bit, but once things picked up they really raced through.
Additionally, and this is maybe my fault a bit, but this book is similar to Matt Wesolowski’s ‘Six Stories’ series in that it offers up the potential of horrific other world possibilities but never fully goes there and worked to simply tease the reader. Re-reading the synopsis, I could see that would’ve been something I would’ve known beforehand, but it still always bums me out when a book gets tantalizingly close to going full creature and then keeps them in the shadows.
Why you should buy this: If you’re a fan of Tremblay, you’ve probably already read this or own this. If you’re new to his work, this is definitely a solid point to start with, showing his phenomenal ability to craft characters and the way he delicately pieces together the plot-puzzle, always making sure to keep one piece hidden under his palm.
4/5
