Who would have guessed that a book could be scarier than a movie? I love horror novels, but I will also be the first to admit that sometimes the scare factor isn’t quite there. It’s hard to compete in a genre where you can see a movie on the big screen with all the tension building music and gory details. Nick Cutter proved once and for all that just because it’s a book doesn’t mean it can’t give you a good scare. The Troop is a horrifying read that makes you want to turn on every light in your house and never go camping again. 

Synopsis 

A troop of Boy Scouts and their Scoutmaster head out to Flastaff Island for a weekend camping trip away from their families, technology, and civilization as a whole. This is a place the troop is well acquainted with, this weekend should have been familiar to them, safe. Though a crashed boat and a sickly malnourished man would change all of that. Upon closer inspection of the sick man, the Scoutmaster sees that something is terribly wrong. It may just be a trick of the light but he can swear that there is something inside of him. Something writhing under his skin and it wants to be free. Without any connection to civilization and 2 days left on the island, five Boy Scouts must learn how to survive not only in the wilderness, but also whatever is on the island with them. 

Opinion 

As mentioned before, I am a huge horror novel fan. I think they really do add a new dimension for the genre. What it loses in the visual media, it makes up for with being able to really flesh out a scene and make sure that every little detail is acknowledged. No one takes advantage of this like Nick Cutter. There were many times where I had to put this book down and stare at the ceiling as I contemplated what I just read.

Cutter definitely does not hold back, the way he describes scenes is so detailed that it is almost like playing a small movie in your head. I knew exactly what those boys were looking at as they were fighting for their lives in those woods. I felt like I could see what they were seeing, I felt their fear. The best way to describe his writing is just real, it’s not overly exaggerated or full of fancy prose, he just writes a scene as if it was something he was watching happen directly in front of him. It doesn’t give the reader anything to hide behind, what you read is raw and horrific. 

characters

Having children as the  main characters also adds an extra dimension to the horror. These children truly do go through hell and there is no mercy spared on them.  Reading about an adult going through this would be horrific enough, but the perspective of children just takes it to a whole new level. We as humans hate to see children in distress and reading about it really isn’t any better. Writing through a child’s perspective also allows Cutter to take emotions to the next level. These kids are not only dealing with the external horrors, but also with the natural turmoil of growing up.  

Final Thoughts 

This book definitely isn’t for everyone, the content is disturbing and with children as the primary target. This is definitely one that I will stress you should check trigger warnings for before purchasing. Besides that I think this is the closest you will get to a horror movie experience through a book. I truly had moments where I gasped or cringed like I would when watching a gory slasher. Nick Cutter is one of the best horror writers out right now and delivers a really fun read for fall. So if you are comfortable with the content I would highly recommend picking The Troop up for a scary read. 

Final Rating 3.8/5

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