The Ruins

· Random House
10 reviews
Ebook
528
Pages
Eligible

About this ebook

🌿'Superior horror literature' New York Times
🌹'A story so scary you may never want to go on vacation again' USA Today
🌿'There's no let-up, not so much as a chapter-break where you can catch your breath' Stephen King
🌹'Smith has tapped into our collective fear that nature is finally battling back and given us a decidedly organic nightmare' Gillian Flynn
__________________

Craving an adventure to wake them from their lethargic Mexican holiday before they return home, four friends set off in search of one of their own who has travelled to an archaeological dig in the Mayan ruins.

After a long journey into the jungle, the group come across a partly camouflaged trail and a captivating hillside covered with red flowers. Lured by the lush scenery, the group moves closer until they happen across a gun-toting Mayan horseman who orders them away. In the midst of the confrontation, one of the group steps inadvertently backwards into the flowering vine. And at that moment their world changes for ever...

🌿 Readers are raving about THE RUINS 🌿

🌹'A masterclass on delivering a hair-raising experience'
🌹'Awesome, gruesome, classic horror'
🌹'The best Stephen King novel that Stephen King never wrote'
🌹'A masterpiece of the genre'

🌿'Superior horror literature' New York Times 🌹'A story so scary you may never want to go on vacation again' USA Today 🌿'There's no let-up, not so much as a chapter-break where you can catch your breath' Stephen King 🌹'Smith has tapped into our collective fear that nature is finally battling b...

Discover more

Ratings and reviews

10 reviews
Chris Hicks
April 21, 2026
enjoyable! Very interesting story with a good twist. kept me reading!
Did you find this helpful?

About the author

Scott Smith was educated at Dartmouth College and Columbia University. He is the author of the bestselling novel, A Simple Plan. He lives in New York.
Scott Smith was educated at Dartmouth College and Columbia University. He is the author of the bestselling novel, A Simple Plan. He lives in New York.

Rate this ebook

Tell us what you think.

Reading information

Smartphones and tablets
Install the Google Play Books app for Android and iPad/iPhone. It syncs automatically with your account and allows you to read online or offline wherever you are.
Laptops and computers
You can listen to audiobooks purchased on Google Play using your computer's web browser.
eReaders and other devices
To read on e-ink devices like Kobo eReaders, you'll need to download a file and transfer it to your device. Follow the detailed Help Center instructions to transfer the files to supported eReaders.