Rules of Frost by Brendan Duffy

"The Shining" meets "Jumanji". I've seen these movies before.

Rules of Frost immediately hooked me with its premise: A nearly deserted boarding school over winter break, a blizzard cutting everyone off from the outside world, and a mysterious game that quickly turns dangerous. It has all the ingredients for an atmospheric survival horror story, and the isolated setting is one of the book's strongest assets.

The game itself was also an interesting concept. Watching the remaining students become increasingly invested in completing its quests, even when common sense should have told them to stop, felt believable. As a teacher, I could easily imagine kids getting caught up in the excitement and peer pressure, which added an extra layer of tension.

Unfortunately, the story never fully came together for me. Much of it felt derivative, relying on familiar horror conventions rather than offering a fresh take on them. The isolated campus, relentless snowstorm, dwindling resources, and looming danger created a creepy atmosphere, but they also reminded me of stories that have explored similar ideas with greater originality. Because the plot followed such familiar beats, very little surprised me along the way.

I also struggled to connect with the characters. Although each of the remaining students and teachers had distinct personalities and backstories, I never became emotionally invested in their fates. That lack of connection made it difficult for the suspense to have the impact I was hoping for. Instead of sitting on the edge of my seat, I found myself emotionally detached and waiting for the story to deliver the kind of twist that would make everything click.

To the author's credit, I did not correctly predict the identity of the true villain. However, the reveal felt more surprising than earned, and the final resolution required more suspension of disbelief than I could give, leaving me disappointed by the ending.

Readers who enjoy atmospheric boarding school horror, survival stories, and isolated winter settings may have a better experience than I did. Content warnings include violence, death, child endangerment, psychological horror, and scenes of peril in extreme winter conditions.

While the premise and setting held plenty of promise, the familiar story beats, lack of emotional connection to the characters, and an ending that didn't work for me ultimately made this a two-star read. 

My sincere thanks to NetGalley and Atria Books for the advanced reader copy in exchange for an honest review. 

Don't Answer the Door by Nicci French (Maud O'Connor #4)

 It's never who you most expect. Never.

I had never read anything by Nicci French before, so I wasn't quite sure what to expect. Five hours later, I had finished Don't Answer the Door and was left wondering why I'd waited so long to pick up one of their books. (Fun fact: Nicci French is actually a husband and wife team of authors.) 

The story begins with the shocking murder of Amy Barton. We appear to have an obvious suspect - the husband, of course. While the local investigators are ready to wrap things up neatly, Detective Maud O'Connor is sent from London to observe the investigation. After all, having an all male investigative team isn't a good look for the murder of a woman. So everyone expects DI O'Connor, as the token female, to sign off on the existing theory and head home. Instead, she does what every good detective should do: She starts asking questions.

Maud quickly became my favorite character. She's intelligent, tenacious, and quietly confident, refusing to be intimidated or dismissed in an environment where she's clearly expected to stay in her lane. I always enjoy a strong female protagonist who earns respect through competence rather than theatrics, and Maud does exactly that.

What impressed me most, though, was the way Nicci French handled the story itself. Just when I thought I had everything figured out, the novel shifted in a direction I never anticipated. Every time I felt confident about where things were headed, the authors subtly pulled the rug out from under me. Nothing felt forced or unfair; it simply reminded me that I wasn't nearly as clever as I thought I was.

I appreciated that the suspense never relied on graphic violence or cheap shock value. Instead, it came from the investigation, the characters, and the growing need to see justice served. I became completely invested in discovering not only what had happened, but whether the truth would ever come to light.

The title couldn't be more fitting, and the ending absolutely sticks the landing. Every thread is tied together in a satisfying way, and I closed the book with complete satisfaction.

If you're looking for a compelling crime novel with memorable characters, a smart investigation, and twists that genuinely surprised an experienced thriller reader, Don't Answer the Door is an easy recommendation. It earned every one of its five stars, and it certainly won't be my last Nicci French novel.

My sincere thanks to NetGalley and William Morrow Paperbacks for the advance reader copy in exchange for an honest review.