The Troop by Nick Cutter 

Published: February 2014

Lord of the Flies meets The Ruins in this frightening novel written in the bestselling traditions of Stephen King and Scott Smith.

 Boy Scouts live by the motto “Be Prepared.” However, nothing can prepare this group of young boys and their scoutmaster for what they encounter on a small, deserted island, as they settle down for a weekend of campfires, merit badges, and survival lessons.

 Everything changes when a haggard stranger in tattered clothing appears out of nowhere and collapses on the campers’ doorstep. Before the night is through, this stranger will end up infecting one of the troop’s own with a bioengineered horror that’s straight out of their worst nightmares. Now stranded on the island with no communication to the outside world, the troop learns to battle much more than the elements, as they are pitted against something nature never intended…and eventually each other.

“Lean and crisp and over-the-top….Disquieting, disturbing,” says Scott Smith, author of The Ruins and A Simple Plan, The Troop is a visceral burn of a read that combines boldly drawn characters with a fantastically rendered narrative—a terrifying story you’ll never forget.

The cover art lures the reader in. It is so articulate and creative it resembles a high-end piece of art.

This book was certainly unique. Half was mystery, the other half was equal amounts of horror and disturbing sequences. I thoroughly enjoyed the mystery behind the story. The rush of adrenaline and fear of thinking, no one is left to save them.

There were many qualities like the great, Lord of the Flies. It was almost like a facelift on the classic tale better suited for a generation that doesn’t flinch at the sight of gore or at the thought of death. Despite the similarities, this book does have an original premise and a very unique execution of the storyline.

There wasn’t a character that I found to be particularly enjoyable. Each was flawed in their own terms. For me, this is what drove me to keep reading. I disliked the characters so much I wanted to continue to see if they would in fact redeem themselves if the opportunity came.

This story is not for the faint of heart. It is filled with very graphic scenes of gore, and an absolutely disgusting account of an animal suffering. I shudder at the memory of that text.

All the things that we believe go bump in the night are found in this book. Vile creatures, worms, insects, brutality….the list could go on and on. This book had its highs and lows, but for me–not my particular cup of tea. I found it to be much too gory and the brutality took away from the story. I am too weak for true terror!