You Shouldn’t Have Come Here by Jeneva Rose

The Lure of Escape Gone Wrong

We’ve 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’s the premise of Jeneva Rose’s latest thriller, “You Shouldn’t Have Come Here.” It’s a tantalizing setup that initially draws you in, but ultimately leaves you feeling a bit… well, lost in the Wyoming wilderness.

A Promising Start on Shaky Ground

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’t hurt either. Rose does a good job establishing the initial allure and tension:

“The 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.”

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.

Characters: A Mixed Bag of Country Folk

Rose populates her fictional Dubois with an assortment of small-town characters. Some, like the nosy shopkeeper Betty and Calvin’s jealous friend Charlotte, feel like stock players from central casting. Others, particularly Calvin’s troubled brother Joe, hint at more complex backstories.

Grace herself is a bit of a cipher. We’re told she’s 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… to a point.

Calvin is the more intriguing of the two leads. His grief over past losses 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.

Setting: Wyoming as a Character

One of the novel’s strengths is its evocative use of setting. Rose clearly did her research on Wyoming ranch life, and it shows in vivid details:

“The 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.”

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.

Plot: A Bumpy Ride Through Twists and Turns

“You Shouldn’t Have Come Here” 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?

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’s discovery of a pit filled with animal carcasses, that will have you double-checking your locks at night.

Pacing Issues and Credibility Strains

However, around the midpoint, the plot starts to feel a bit… overstuffed. We’ve 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.

The pacing also becomes uneven in the latter half. Scenes that should be nail-biters sometimes drag, while major revelations can feel rushed. It’s as if the author is trying to juggle too many plot threads and loses control of a few.

The Big Reveal: A Mixed Bag

Without spoiling anything, the final act of “You Shouldn’t Have Come Here” takes some big swings. Rose clearly aims to subvert our expectations, which is admirable. However, the execution doesn’t 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.

Themes: Trust, Trauma, and the Danger of Escapism

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.

The novel also explores the ways trauma can warp a person’s sense of reality and morality. Joe’s storyline, in particular, delves into how unresolved guilt can fester and destroy relationships.

There’s 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.

Writing Style: Serviceable But Occasionally Clunky

Rose’s prose is generally straightforward and effective, keeping the pages turning. She has a knack for building tension through small details.

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.

Comparison to Other Works

Fans of Rose’s previous thriller, “The Perfect Marriage” and “Home Is Where the Bodies” will find some similar DNA here – unreliable narrators, domestic secrets, and twisty reveals. “You Shouldn’t Have Come Here” also shares some thematic territory with recent isolation thrillers like “The Sanatorium” by Sarah Pearse or “Rock Paper Scissors” by Alice Feeney.

The Wyoming ranch setting might appeal to readers who enjoyed C.J. Box’s Joe Pickett series, though Rose’s take on rural life is decidedly more sinister.

The Verdict: A Mixed Bag with Potential

“You Shouldn’t Have Come Here” is a novel with moments of genuine intrigue and atmosphere, but it doesn’t 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.

Strengths:

• Atmospheric Wyoming setting
• Strong initial premise and build-up of tension
• Some genuinely creepy moments
• Exploration of interesting themes around trauma and trust

Weaknesses:

• Pacing issues in the latter half
• Some plot twists feel contrived
• Underdeveloped secondary characters
• Occasionally clunky prose

Final Thoughts: Worth a Read, With Reservations

If you’re a die-hard thriller fan looking for a quick, twisty read, “You Shouldn’t Have Come Here” might scratch that itch. Just be prepared for a bumpy ride that doesn’t always make logical sense. The novel is at its best when it leans into the paranoia and isolation of its remote setting. It’s less successful when it piles on twist after twist in an effort to keep us guessing.

Jeneva Rose shows promise as a thriller writer, and I’m curious to see how she develops in future books. With some tighter plotting and character work, she could become a real force in the genre. As it stands, “You Shouldn’t Have Come Here” is an uneven but occasionally entertaining read that lands squarely in three-star territory.

So, should you book a stay at this literary Airbnb? Maybe. Just don’t be surprised if the amenities aren’t quite what you expected.