Book Review: The Cabin at the End of the World by Paul Tremblay

When Eric and Andrew bring their adopted daughter to a remote cabin, their vacation is interrupted by four strangers who try to force them to sacrifice themselves to save the world. Eric thinks he believes the world is ending, by Andrew remind skeptical even as violence ensues and one by one, their captors die.

This book is a taught, bloody thriller that leaves you wondering what is true. Is the world ending? Isn’t it? What does sacrifice mean if there is nothing left? Questions that Tremblay leaves you to think about.

My only issue with this novel is how Tremblay goes back and forth between first and third person a lot near the end, which I found jarring. But the writing otherwise was immersive while avoiding being long winded. Perhaps it was intentional, going from ‘we’ and ‘us’ to ‘he’ and ‘they’ and then back again was meant to show the internal struggles of Eric and Andrew as they deal with their grief and trauma.

The Cabin at the End of the World is worth your time. It’s a quick read, one you won’t be able to put down.