Release date: October 9 2025
Publisher: Orion Books
Pages: 240
Find it: Goodreads Waterstones
Source: I received an E-ARC via Netgalley
Rating: 3.25/5 stars

Synopsis

The virgin rainforest seems a paradise to Englishman Simon Corbett. A last chance to salvage his career. A final refuge from a terrible secret.

But the jungle is no Eden. It hides secrets of its own. It does not forgive.

As Simon is drawn deeper into its haunted shadows, he learns to his horror that the past will not stay buried. For there are places in the forest where the line between the living and the dead is thinner than the skin of water.

Review

Rainforest is the new terrifying horror tale from Dark Matter author Michelle Paver. Dark Matter is one of my all time favourite books, and I’ve reread it many times, so I was very much looking forward to reading this dark tale, this time set deep in the rainforest. Simon Corbett is an entomologist, determined to salvage his career; he takes a job in the heart of the jungle. As Simon carries out his research, he soon learns that something dark and deadly might be lurking in the jungle with him.

Rainforest is a really interesting read. It’s less than 250 pages, so it’s pretty fast-paced and a book I read really quickly. I thought the setting was fascinating and loved the depictions of the rainforest. Paver is an absolute master at building tensions, and there were a few scenes that definitely sent a shiver down my spine. The scenes where Simon is lost in the jungle were excellent, and they were the highlight of the story for me.

While I enjoyed the plot, I found it difficult to like Simon. He is a thoroughly unlikeable character, and I found it difficult to read from his perspective. Simon does some pretty questionable things, and the story explores grief, obsession, and stalking. While this isn’t my favourite from Michelle Paver, it was still a fascinating read, and if you’re looking for an atmospheric horror tale that you can read in one sitting, you’ll definitely want to pick up Rainforest.