The House in the Pines - by Ana Reyes

About the Book

"A captivating psychological suspense debut about a young woman still haunted by her teenage best friend's death who learns of an eerily similar death and must find her way back to a cabin in the New England woods, armed only with hazy memories, to finally find out the truth that has eluded her. Maya was a high school senior when her best friend Aubrey mysteriously dropped dead in front of the enigmatic man, Frank, they'd been hanging around with all summer. Seven years later, Maya is just managing to move on; she lives in Boston with a loving boyfriend and is finally kicking the secret Klonopin habit that's allowed her to cope with what happened all those years ago. But her past comes back to haunt her when she discovers a recent YouTube video in which a young woman suddenly keels over in a diner sitting across from none other than Frank. Plunged back into the trauma that has defined her life, Maya heads to her small Berkshires hometown to finally figure out the truth about what happened. With guidance from the half-written book by the father in Guatemala she never knew, Maya's quest for answers forces her to relive that fateful summer-the influence Frank once had on her and the jealousy that nearly destroyed her friendship with Aubrey-finally leading her back to Frank's cabin in the woods. The House in the Pines is an utterly unique and surprising thriller about the subtlety of memory and manipulation, confronting the past, and the powerful and lasting bonds of family and friendship"--

Book Synopsis

A debut thriller about the subtlety of memory and manipulation, in which a young woman must find her way back to a New England cabin, armed with only hazy, haunting memories and a half-written book by the father in Guatemala she never knew, to finally uncover the truth that could save her.

Maya was a high school senior when her best friend, Aubrey, mysteriously dropped dead in front of the enigmatic man named Frank whom they'd been hanging around with all summer.

Seven years later, Maya lives in Boston with a loving boyfriend and is kicking the secret addiction that's allowed her to cope with what happened all those years ago; the gaps in her memories and the lost time that she can't account for. But her past comes rushing back when she comes across a recent YouTube video in which a young woman suddenly keels over and dies in a diner while sitting across from none other than Frank. Plunged back into the trauma that has defined her life, Maya heads to her Berkshires postindustrial hometown to relive that fateful summer--the influence Frank once had on her, and the obsessive jealousy that nearly destroyed her friendship with Aubrey. And before too long all roads are leading back to Frank's cabin...

Utterly unique and captivating, The House in the Pines keeps you guessing about whether we can ever fully confront the past and return home.

Review Quotes

"Reyes' debut is a gripping, intelligent thriller that chilled me to the bone. With its intricate plotting, gorgeous prose and complex, richly drawn characters, The House in the Pines is that rare book that you live inside from the first page to the last. I didn't want it to end--and I can't wait for readers to discover my new favorite author."
--Andrea Bartz, New York Times bestselling author of We Were Never Here, The Herd and The Lost Night

"The House in the Pines is a compelling thriller built on a foundation of a nuanced literary sensibility. Reyes weaves together several books' worth of story--lost novels, unsolved murders, rocky relationships, and substance abuse, to name a few--into one gripping and nimble page-turner with an assuredness that makes it look easy. Don't miss this memorable debut from a talented new voice."
--Emily Nemens, author of The Cactus League

"I've never read a mystery novel with a plot as intriguing and surprising as House in the Pines. The novel's characters were as fascinating as the situations they found themselves in. I couldn't put it down."
--Catie Disabato, author of U Up? and The Ghost Network

"Ana Reyes' debut is chilling, atmospheric, and addictive--a perfect thriller. I didn't want it to end."
--Anna Dorn, author of Exalted

About the Author

Ana Reyes has an MFA from Louisiana State University. Her work has appeared in Bodega, Pear Noir!, New Delta Review, and elsewhere. She lives in Los Angeles where she teaches creative writing to older adults at Santa Monica College. The House in the Pines is her first novel.