Eerie, terrifying, and unputdownable, The Ruins is Scott Smith's first novel since his acclaimed debut A Simple Plan earned rave reviews and stormed bestseller lists.

The Ruins follows two American couples enjoying a pleasant, lazy beach holiday together in Mexico. On an impulse, they go off with newfound friends in search of one of their group—the young German, who, in pursuit of a girl, has headed for the remote Mayan ruins, site of a fabled archeological dig.

This is what happens from the moment the searchers-moving into the wild interior—begin to suspect that there is an insidious, horrific "other" among them....

Praise for A Simple Plan by Scott Smith

" Simply the best suspense novel of this year—hell, of the 1990s.... Better than any 'best-selling' suspense novel to hit the lists since Silence of the Lambs ."— Stephen King

" Smith demonstrates the eerie ease with which the mundane can descend to the unthinkable... Smith's imagination never palls ."— Publishers Weekly  

" The reader is drawn along by fascination. It's like watching a train wreck: there is nothing to be done, but it is impossible to turn away.... "— Chicago Tribune

" Spectacular... the year's finest literary shivers.... Grade: A+ "— Entertainment Weekly

Scott Smith was educated at Dartmouth College and Columbia University. He lives in New York City.

Patrick Wilson has starred on Broadway in Barefoot in the Park, Oklahoma! (Tony Award nominated), and The Full Monty , (Tony nomination, Drama League Award). His film credits include Little Children, Phantom of the Opera, Hard Candy , and the HBO Mini series Angels in America (Golden Globe and Emmy nominations).