The Troop

Alright, so a theme seems to be developing here, but in this case, ‘Don’t mess with nature’ gets a Canadian island treatment (those poor Boy Scouts). And, of course, a storm is coming. And, of course, the communications go out. I was gripped and frankly grossed out by this Stephen King-esque tale. 

There are also shades of Frankenstein and Lord of the Flies, and I love a horror novel that asks the question of which monsters are worse—the ones we create or the ones that lurk inside. 

I love horror novels that center on a group of characters, in this case, a scout troop in the wilds of an island off Canada. I enjoy the dynamics that can be explored when an ensemble cast like this is set against a terrible threat.

Despite my usual preference for supernatural horror, I also enjoyed this one for its scientific explanations of what the troop faces. It was a clever and disturbing exploration of where science can sometimes lead to awful outcomes.

This was my first Nick Cutter reading but it won’t be the last. He created a most terrifying scenario that is so close to reality it’s disturbing.

I couldn’t help but be reminded of Lord of the Flies but much more violent. He truly kept turning the horror crank with each dripping chapter. I couldn’t stop listening to this story. 

The Troop is a masterclass of combining colorful language with true stomach-churning horror.

As someone who appreciates how the written word can be manipulated and played with like an artist with a brush, I found Cutter’s prose to be at once devastating, humorous, and sadistic with its cleverness and creativity. And lovers of the genre will find a lot to appreciate in its narrative: biological madness, depraved sociopathy, body horror to the nth degree, you’ll find it in The Troop, a book that will leave you awake thinking about it all night, and not just from fear.

I only recently read this book after hearing a lot of good things and boy were they right.

This is a deeply tragic but gripping story. With well developed and sympathetic characters, a good ‘twist’ towards the end, and an ending that’s open to debate. I loved the use of extratextual materials to supplement the narrative, I’m a big fan of epistolary fiction (fiction told through letters, diaries, newspaper articles, etc.).

I was surprised to have liked this book as much as I did because I’m not always a fan of gore and this book will make your skin want… show more.