The Drop by S R Masters
Four friends, one stalled roller coaster, and a long night where gravity feels like a suggestion rather than a guarantee.
Pre-Reading Thoughts
A thriller set entirely on a stalled roller coaster is such an instantly compelling premise. The combination of physical danger, isolation, and emotional history promised a tense, claustrophobic story where survival depends as much on confronting the past as escaping the present.
Post-Reading
As I thought… The character work is where this really shines. The complicated friendships, old resentments, and buried betrayals unfold naturally over the course of the night, giving emotional weight to their situation. Being trapped forces honesty in a way that feels believable, and the shifting dynamics between them keep the tension alive even when the ride itself isn’t moving.
There’s also something deeply unsettling about the setting itself. Suspended hundreds of feet in the air, exposed to heat, exhaustion, and their own thoughts, the vulnerability feels constant and inescapable.
It surprised me by… How much of the story leans into the emotional and psychological aspects of being trapped, rather than purely the mechanical or logistical side. The focus stays firmly on who these people were to each other - and who they are now - rather than trying to turn the situation into a purely technical survival puzzle.
For me personally, the physical mechanics of the ride occasionally pulled me out of the moment, as I found myself questioning how certain elements worked. Other readers will likely have no trouble staying immersed, especially since the emotional stakes remain strong throughout. The story ultimately succeeds more as a character-driven thriller than as a purely technical survival scenario.
🎵 Music Pairing
Featured Song: Running Up That Hill – Kate Bush All tension, emotional reckoning, and the desperate wish to undo the past.
Vibe Album:Â Hounds of Love Introspective, atmospheric, and quietly intense.
Artist Recommendation:Â Phoebe Bridgers Emotional excavation wrapped in calm, controlled delivery.
Vibe Check
Colour Palette:Â Bleached metal, desert gold, rust red, endless sky blue
Soundtrack:Â Wind against steel, nervous laughter, silence stretching too long
Season:Â High summer, when heat becomes something oppressive
Mood:Â Suspended between past and present
Scent:Â Hot metal and dry air
Tarot Pull: The Hanged Man
Suspension. Waiting. Endurance. The Hanged Man represents being trapped in a moment where action isn’t possible, and the only path forward is through perspective. The characters are forced into stillness - not just physically, but emotionally - confronting truths they’ve avoided. Survival depends less on escape and more on what they’re willing to finally see.
For Fans Of
Book:Â One by One
Movie:Â Final Destination 3
One-Sentence Verdict
A tense, character-driven survival thriller that explores the emotional weight of being trapped - both in the air and in the past.
