We\u2019ve all fantasized about escaping our hectic lives, right? Booking a secluded Airbnb, embracing the peace and quiet, maybe even finding a little romance. But what if that idyllic getaway turned into a nightmare? That\u2019s the premise of Jeneva Rose\u2019s latest thriller, \u201cYou Shouldn\u2019t Have Come Here.\u201d It\u2019s a tantalizing setup that initially draws you in, but ultimately leaves you feeling a bit\u2026 well, lost in the Wyoming wilderness.<\/p>\n
Grace Evans, our protagonist, is your typical overworked New Yorker desperate for a change of scenery. When she books a stay at a remote Wyoming ranch, it seems like the perfect opportunity to unplug and reset. And hey, the ruggedly handsome owner, Calvin Wells, doesn\u2019t hurt either. Rose does a good job establishing the initial allure and tension:<\/p>\n
\u201cThe ranch was large and rustic with a wraparound porch and big bay windows. There was a shed and a barn. Ducks, chickens, sheep, cows, and horses roamed freely in a fenced-in pasture with a large pond in the center of it.\u201d<\/p>\n
You can practically smell the fresh air and feel the stress melting away. But of course, this is a thriller, so red flags start popping up faster than prairie dogs. No cell service? A missing woman? Creepy locals giving ominous warnings? Check, check, and double-check.<\/p>\n
Rose populates her fictional Dubois with an assortment of small-town characters. Some, like the nosy shopkeeper Betty and Calvin\u2019s jealous friend Charlotte, feel like stock players from central casting. Others, particularly Calvin\u2019s troubled brother Joe, hint at more complex backstories.<\/p>\n
Grace herself is a bit of a cipher. We\u2019re told she\u2019s a high-powered banker, but her personality never quite comes into focus. Is she genuinely falling for Calvin, or is she playing some deeper game? The ambiguity works to build suspense\u2026 to a point.<\/p>\n
Calvin is the more intriguing of the two leads. His grief over past losses<\/a> and his isolation on the ranch make him a sympathetic figure, even as his behavior grows increasingly erratic. Rose does a nice job drip-feeding information about his past, keeping us guessing about his true nature.<\/p>\n One of the novel\u2019s strengths is its evocative use of setting. Rose clearly did her research on Wyoming ranch life, and it shows in vivid details:<\/p>\n \u201cThe majestic Rocky Mountains loomed over the land, casting a permanent cover to all who neared. Buffalo and elk roamed the plains, a piece of land that forever will be and always was theirs, one of the few places that still was true.\u201d<\/p>\n The isolation of the ranch becomes a character in itself, ratcheting up the tension as Grace finds herself increasingly cut off from the outside world.<\/p>\n \u201cYou Shouldn\u2019t Have Come Here\u201d starts strong, with a steady build of unease as Grace settles into ranch life. Is Calvin the perfect host or a potential threat? What happened to the missing woman? Why does everyone in town seem so on edge?<\/p>\n Rose keeps us guessing for a good portion of the book, doling out reveals and red herrings at a decent clip. There are some genuinely creepy moments, like Grace\u2019s discovery of a pit filled with animal carcasses, that will have you double-checking your locks at night.<\/p>\n However, around the midpoint, the plot starts to feel a bit\u2026 overstuffed. We\u2019ve got potential serial killers, family secrets, small-town conspiracies, and more. While this kitchen-sink approach keeps things unpredictable, it also strains credibility. Some twists feel more contrived than organic, as if Rose is working overtime to keep us off balance.<\/p>\n The pacing also becomes uneven in the latter half. Scenes that should be nail-biters sometimes drag, while major revelations can feel rushed. It\u2019s as if the author is trying to juggle too many plot threads and loses control of a few.<\/p>\n Without spoiling anything, the final act of \u201cYou Shouldn\u2019t Have Come Here\u201d takes some big swings. Rose clearly aims to subvert our expectations, which is admirable. However, the execution doesn\u2019t quite stick the landing. Some readers may find the conclusion exciting and unexpected. Others might feel it comes out of left field, undermining the careful groundwork laid earlier in the novel.<\/p>\n Beneath the twists and turns, Rose does touch on some interesting themes. The idea that we can never truly escape our past resonates throughout the story. Both Grace and Calvin are running from something, only to find themselves trapped in new dangers.<\/p>\n The novel also explores the ways trauma can warp a person\u2019s sense of reality and morality. Joe\u2019s storyline, in particular, delves into how unresolved guilt can fester and destroy relationships.<\/p>\n There\u2019s also a cautionary tale about the risks of trusting strangers in our increasingly connected (yet paradoxically isolated) world. The Airbnb setup taps into very real anxieties about privacy and safety in the sharing economy.<\/p>\n Rose\u2019s prose is generally straightforward and effective, keeping the pages turning. She has a knack for building tension through small details.<\/p>\n However, there are moments where the writing feels a bit clunky or on-the-nose. Dialogue can sometimes veer into exposition dumps, and certain metaphors land with a thud rather than a punch.<\/p>\n Fans of Rose\u2019s previous thriller, \u201cThe Perfect Marriage\u201d and \u201cHome Is Where the Bodies<\/a>\u201d will find some similar DNA here \u2013 unreliable narrators, domestic secrets, and twisty reveals. \u201cYou Shouldn\u2019t Have Come Here\u201d also shares some thematic territory with recent isolation thrillers like \u201cThe Sanatorium\u201d by Sarah Pearse or \u201cRock Paper Scissors\u201d by Alice Feeney.<\/p>\n The Wyoming ranch setting might appeal to readers who enjoyed C.J. Box\u2019s Joe Pickett series, though Rose\u2019s take on rural life is decidedly more sinister.<\/p>\n \u201cYou Shouldn\u2019t Have Come Here\u201d is a novel with moments of genuine intrigue<\/a> and atmosphere, but it doesn\u2019t quite live up to its full potential. Rose clearly has talent for creating unsettling scenarios and keeping readers guessing. However, the overabundance of twists and some pacing issues prevent the book from truly soaring.<\/p>\nSetting: Wyoming as a Character<\/h3>\n
Plot: A Bumpy Ride Through Twists and Turns<\/h2>\n
Pacing Issues and Credibility Strains<\/h3>\n
The Big Reveal: A Mixed Bag<\/h3>\n
Themes: Trust, Trauma, and the Danger of Escapism<\/h2>\n
Writing Style: Serviceable But Occasionally Clunky<\/h2>\n
Comparison to Other Works<\/h2>\n
The Verdict: A Mixed Bag with Potential<\/h2>\n
Strengths:<\/h3>\n