Prime logo Prime members: New to Audible?
Get 2 free audiobooks during trial.
Pick 1 audiobook a month from our unmatched collection.
Listen all you want to thousands of included audiobooks, Originals, and podcasts.
Access exclusive sales and deals.
Premium Plus auto-renews for $14.95/mo after 30 days. Cancel anytime.
The Ritual  By  cover art

The Ritual

By: Adam Nevill
Narrated by: Matthew Lloyd Davies
Try for $0.00

$14.95/month after 30 days. Cancel anytime.

Buy for $18.91

Buy for $18.91

Pay using card ending in
By confirming your purchase, you agree to Audible's Conditions of Use and Amazon's Privacy Notice. Taxes where applicable.

Publisher's summary

When four old University friends set off into the Scandinavian wilderness of the Arctic Circle, they aim to briefly escape the problems of their lives and reconnect with one another. But when Luke, the only man still single and living a precarious existence, finds he has little left in common with his well-heeled friends, tensions rise.

With limited experience between them, a shortcut meant to ease their hike turns into a nightmare scenario that could cost them their lives. Lost, hungry, and surrounded by forest untouched for millennia, Luke figures things couldn't possibly get any worse. But then they stumble across an old habitation. Ancient artifacts decorate the walls and there are bones scattered upon the dry floors.

The residue of old rites and pagan sacrifice for something that still exists in the forest. Something responsible for the bestial presence that follows their every step. As the four friends stagger in the direction of salvation, they learn that death doesn't come easy among these ancient trees....

©2011 Adam Nevill (P)2018 Tantor

Featured Article: From Page to Scream—35 Spine-Chilling Listens that Inspired Horror Movies


There’s nothing better than turning off all the lights, grabbing a cozy blanket, and settling in with a good horror flick. Many of those standout suspenseful flicks have distinguished literary roots—based on books written by some of the most masterful authors in the genre. Here’s a spotlight on the books behind exceptional horror movies—a few of our favorite spooky or terrifying tales that will no doubt have you sleeping with the lights on.

What listeners say about The Ritual

Average customer ratings
Overall
  • 4 out of 5 stars
  • 5 Stars
    611
  • 4 Stars
    424
  • 3 Stars
    185
  • 2 Stars
    59
  • 1 Stars
    29
Performance
  • 4.5 out of 5 stars
  • 5 Stars
    736
  • 4 Stars
    284
  • 3 Stars
    105
  • 2 Stars
    38
  • 1 Stars
    16
Story
  • 4 out of 5 stars
  • 5 Stars
    534
  • 4 Stars
    352
  • 3 Stars
    196
  • 2 Stars
    59
  • 1 Stars
    33

Reviews - Please select the tabs below to change the source of reviews.

Sort by:
Filter by:
  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

Really great!

Nevill is so descriptive when it comes to what these characters are facing that many times I felt I could hear and smell the environments myself! I listed to this after watching the movie and wish I had done the reverse (who would've thought?!). I enjoyed the movie and loved the book even more. Some of the plot that did not make it into the movie (and, after some research, is not even that popular amongst a handful of readers) I found to be some of my favorite aspects of the story. Davies does an awesome job with the accents and inflection and really reads it as I imagine I would do so myself.

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

7 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

Hate to be “That” person

But the book is far superior to the movie. Fully recommend.
The writing is tense and keeps ya listening and the performance is equal to the material. Well done Adam Nevill & Matthew Lloyd Davies. Well done.

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

6 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    3 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    2 out of 5 stars
  • CW
  • 12-21-18

great theme poorly researched and implemented.

bought this hoping it would compliment the movie. the arguing and drama between them was unrealistic and made it difficult to follow.

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

2 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    3 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    3 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    3 out of 5 stars

Interesting premise, dragged on way too long

I liked the story overall. The friends isolated and in danger made for some horrid scenes. But so much of the story was in Luke’s head that I grew tired of it.

The narrator was fine until it got to the Norwegian accents. Way too overdone and nearly unintelligible. All I could think of was the Swedish Chef from the Muppets.

The story ends with a whimper, just kind of dies out with no real resolution.

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    4 out of 5 stars

A Fantastic and Original Horror Story

The Ritual is a wonderful and original Horror Story by Adam nevill with the highlight of a fantastic performance by Matthew Lloyd Davis!

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    4 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

Great story, silly narration

The narrator’s attempted use of a Norwegian accent made a scary story seem rather silly.

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

  • Overall
    4 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    3 out of 5 stars

Dark and beautiful

This story is dark and beautiful, focusing on the characters who enter the forest at their own risk. I find myself lost with them and experiencing the twists and turns as they do. If you enjoy dark pagan stories I recommend this one. I only wish there was more appearances and descriptions of the beast that stalks the unsuspecting hikers.
Like I mentioned you really focus on the characters and their emotions throughout the story rather than the supernatural aspects. Other than the brutal deaths, It’s subtle but effective.

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

  • Overall
    4 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    4 out of 5 stars

Great Narrator. Decent Book

The Narrator was amazing. The book should probably have been shorter. 6 words where 3 would have been better. Good premise tho. I think the movie might have been better.

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

  • Overall
    4 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    4 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    4 out of 5 stars

scary woods!

So the first half was just absolutely great. It was genuinely thrilling and scary. The second half kind of dragged but picked up again. I do feel like the ending leaves a bit to be desired. Kind of felt like the story deserves a stronger ending. Excited to watch the movie I hear is on Netflix. I wonder of the faster pacing of movies will make the second half of the story better. Hopefully they switch up the ending too.

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

Scary in all the best ways

This was a page turner and had all kinds of different horror elements. The last 1/3 dragged just a bit but the overall story and the hair raising ending more than made up for it. 5/5 man I thoroughly enjoyed myself.

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!