THE CABIN AT THE END OF THE WORLD

RELEASED 26 JUNE 336 pages | Paperback Author Paul Tremblay Publisher Titan Books

The certainty of belief is central to Paul Tremblay’s claustrophobic home invasion thriller. Eric and Andrew head out to a rural cabin with their adopted daughter, Wen, for a few days of offline R&R. There’s no mobile reception (uh-oh...) and precious little to do apart from play boardgames. Then four armed strangers break in and declare that they need the family’s help to save the world – and they won’t leave until Eric and Andrew have made a terrible choice.

Tremblay goes out of his way to make you understand – even empathise – with these invaders. Their actions are appalling, but they sincerely believe that they are necessary for the survival of humanity. Are they right? The book is careful to provide a counterargument to everything they say, but there’s always a lingering doubt – and that leads to some unpleasant implications. The book is fiercely anti-prejudice, but if the cult are correct, then God – or at least some powerful entity – has chosen to specifically pin the apocalypse on a gay couple.

Cabin is a tough read. If not precisely frightening, its nihilism and dread linger. There’s a lot to unpack, and you’ll be thinking about it long after the final page – whether you like it or not. Will Salmon