Tense, chilling and filled with suspense, Outside is one hell of a messed-up story about survival in the harsh elements of a remorseless terrain as well as from dangerous secrets that find the light of day. Ragnar Jonasson has delivered a layered and unrelenting thriller that contains a slow but constant drip of “oh shit” moments, giving readers no choice but to keep turning pages with an urgent desperation to find out how the story ends.
Four friends set off on a hunting trip in the Icelandic highlands when the weather turns against them and they’re stuck in an unforgiving blizzard. Fortunately, they are able to find emergency shelter in a small cabin. But it turns out they’re not alone. And perhaps even more frightening, dark secrets start coming to light that threaten to tear them apart. So while they are safe from the elements for the moment, they might not be safe from each other. And one thing is for certain. They’re not all coming out of this alive.
In a well-conceived and perfectly executed concept, Jonasson tells this story chapter by chapter from the point of view of one of the four friends. He progresses the story seamlessly while lending a different voice and perspective to each chapter. This technique is highly effective as it shows the thought processes and increasing anxiety each one of them is going through. Which significantly ratchets up the suspense and tension felt by the reader.
Additionally, the inhospitable environment that is Iceland in the winter brings an added dimension to Outside, almost as if the setting is its own character. You don’t just read about the icy wind, the harsh conditions, the inability to see farther than a few feet in front of you, or the distressing feeling of being stuck in a blizzard. You experience them as if you’re there right beside the characters. You involuntarily shiver from the cold being described on the page, even if you’re sitting in your temperature-controlled home, office or favorite reading location.
Outside will leave you reaching for a warm blanket and a mug filled with a steaming hot beverage, wondering how you would react if thrust into this situation and pondering if your own friends are hiding massive secrets from you. It’s a mind-bending mystery that burrows inside your head and sets up shop, refusing to leave even when you’ve finished the book. If you want an intense and fucked up story, look no further.
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