This was spooky, unsettling, and very much a page turner! I had seen a lot of press around it and It looked right up my street. It did not disappoint - with shades of a CL Taylor novel I really enjoyed learning about these thoroughly unpleasant characters and finding out how they were all linked.

I hadn’t read a book by Lisa Unger in a long time, and boy do I wish I’d left well enough alone. The promise of a locked room mystery is one I can never resist, but this is definitely one of those times where I could have used a bit more strength to resist the temptation.

‘Secluded Cabin Sleeps Six‘ was almost able to add a sleeping number seven to the list as I yawned and struggled my way through the first half of this book. It takes for-bloody-ever for these three couples to even arrive at the cabin. Which is most decidedly nothing like a cabin at all. Pretty much all these characters get to talk and have a point-of-view. And guess what? They’re all hiding something, and they’re a bunch of massively unlikeable, privileged, blind and whiny people. Not to mention stereotypical. The rich narcissist who only cares about himself, the hippie yoga woman, the dependable first-time mum, the wacky hasn’t-yet-grown-up one, the strong and silent type … and I couldn’t care one iota about any of them.

Added to that there are even more POVs. There’s the cabin owner, whose chapters bring absolutely nothing to the story. An “unknown” person who is clearly up to no good, and if you pay attention you can pretty much figure out who this is in the first quarter. And on top of that, there are also flashback chapters with yet another character. At some point, these threads will all come together in a rather over-the-top conclusion that left me utterly cold.

I personally found this to be a convoluted mess of messy things. The location lacked atmosphere. The plot was slightly chaotic, and with numerous twists too far. There is no chilling, thrilling suspense. And if you take away all the eating, drinking and doing of drugs the characters get up to, the book would have been at least 100 pages shorter. Even the addition of a ghost story vibe didn’t help. It felt a bit desperate, to be honest. A rather sad attempt to add some tension, which was sorely lacking throughout the entire story. It seemed like for most of the story I was just waiting for someone to die, and even that moment ended up being entirely underwhelming.

This was unfortunately one of those books that made me feel I had wasted precious hours, and wished there was a way I could get those back.

[Thank you for allowing me the opportunity to read this one. I'm sorry my review isn't more positive.]

I was lucky enough to be sent this book as an ARC from NetGalley, for review.

I think that overall, I was a little underwhelmed. While there was nothing "wrong" with this book, I do think that the premise and ideas have been done time and time before. I love a good thriller, but because of this I have read many and can often see twists and turns coming.

I enjoyed the exploration of the relationships of the characters, and how everyone had something to "hide" but, again, we have seen that before. I think my favourite aspect was the integration of DNA and genetic origins within this book, and how it explored the genetics of 'evil'. Is this a bit far fetched? Yes. But, did it make the book more interesting? Also yes.

I also find it interesting that the "bad guy" was introduced to us with their POV chapters. The narrative flicked through different characters perspectives, as well as different time periods, but was still easy to follow and cohesive - which I think is quite difficult to do with that type of narrative! However, I definitely guessed what I think was supposed to be the "twists", which was a little disappointing to me.

Overall, I did enjoy this and got through it quickly. But I found the predictability and unoriginality a little underwhelming, so I would like to explore the author and see if she had a book better suited to me personally!

Thank you to Lisa Unger, LegendPress, and NetGalley for providing me with a copy of a digital advanced reviewer copy in exchange for an honest review!

This book follows three couples that vacation to a luxury cabin in the mountains for a winter getaway. They get stormed in and have no road access to leave the property. The property host is becoming overbearing. The couples learn about that dark history of the property. Will the couples make it through the weekend unscathed?

The title caught me and I immediately ran to put it on my TBR. After reading the book, the title is ominous enough, but going in blind left me a little dumbfounded with the plot not lining up with my idea of what was going to happen. There were way too many storylines to follow. I couldn't keep up and found myself jumping back to previous chapters just to remind myself what happened. The book ended with some of those storylines unresolved, which I do not appreciate in a standalone book. It felt as if the author was trying too hard to engage the reader and it just left us frazzled.

This book was amazing! I couldn’t put it down. Absolutely terrifying and thrilling at the same time. One of my favorite books!!

Although this book had a slow start it soon build up and I couldn’t put it down until I finished it. I really enjoyed this one immensely. The atmosphere was terrific and I was guessing the ending all the way through. My thanks to Netgalley and the publishers for giving me the opportunity to read this book in return for an honest review.

I generally liked the plot of this novel and liked the concept behind it. However, I found it kind of hard to keep up with since there were so many characters and how much it jumped around. It also didn't help that some of the characters went by different names throughout the course of the book. I think I was able to understand it all by the end but felt like it could've been a little easier to follow.

Thank you to NetGalley and Legend Press for this ARC!This was one of my most anticipated releases of 2023 and I was so excited when I received it. Unfortunately this just wasn’t for me.

We’re following six different POV’s; Hannah who’s brother Mako has rented a luxury cabin in the middle of nowhere for them to all have fun and unwind. Cricket, Hannah’s best friend who is bringing her mysterious new boyfriend. Bracken, the host who owns the cabin, a woman who watches the cabin and clearly has an agenda and Henry whose story starts in the 90’s. We don’t really know how all of these POV’s relate to each other, only that these three couples are staying at the cabin and every one of them has secrets. During their first night at the cabin, a storm sweeps in and leaves them stranded and in danger.

Let me start with what I liked. This author clearly knows how to write atmosphere. I felt like I was in the woods with these characters, the smells, the sights were all described impeccably. The story is really strong for the first 100 or so pages and I was sucked right in.

However, my God did I hate these characters. Not a single one of them had any redeeming qualities in my opinion, in fact I was rooting for some of them to be picked off and not in a fun way. I love unlikeable characters when they are SUPPOSED to be unlikeable but we were supposed to actually root for these characters. The pacing was also really off, I don’t think this book needed to be nearly 400 pages long. The way everything came together was interesting but I felt like this book was just trying to do too much at once.

This book attempts to touch on the #metoo movement but it does it so poorly it should have just left it alone. As a victim of sexual violence I was horrified at the ending of this book and how everything basically got swept under the rug, let’s be honest. I can’t go into too much detail because of spoilers but just know that these characters get away with way too much. The gravity of their actions was never acknowledged.

I enjoyed the writing style and would definitely check out more of this authors books, this one just wasn’t for me and actually made me quite angry. This one was released on 13th February if you want to check it out yourself.

3.5 stars.

The "Cabin in the woods" genre...I'm in!
The "suspense/who's the bad guy" plot...I'm sooo in!
But I have to say, it was confusing. There were too many POVs and it felt a little bit messy.
I knew everything was definitely going to connect at the end, but I felt kinda lost at some point.
I feel like a couple of characters were irrelevant to the story and would have loved to have a deeper background for them.
However, the plot was pretty cool, totally my kind of stories.
It was my first time reading Lisa Unger and I will definitely repeat.

Thank you NetGalley and Legend Press for a free digital copy of Secluded Cabin Sleeps Six by Lisa Unger in exchange for an honest review. Three couples stuck in a luxury cabin in the woods during a huge storm. Oh, did I mention, the cabin has a violent past? The couples' isolated get-away doesn't turn out to be what they expected, when past secrets start to surface. I thought this book was very entertaining and kept me on the edge of my seat. There were a number of characters, and at times, it was hard to keep track of the characters and dueling timelines, but both timelines melded together perfectly in the end. Such a fun read!

Three couples, friends since high school, are off from Florida to Georgia for a weekend of rest and relaxation. Hannah and her husband Bruce, Cricket and her new beau, Joshua, and Mako (Hannah’s brother) and his wife, Lisa. Mako, the head of an up-til-now successful technology company has selected an over the top, secluded cabin in the woods (although calling it a cabin is an understatement - more like a mansion). After the long drive, they enjoy dinner made by a private chef and begin to relax around the pool when everything goes haywire. A severe storm is approaching, Lisa is not feeling well, each character has some history that is about to come into play, and someone is intruding on their fun. A second story line follows Henry, a man with a difficult upbringing. He was raised by his mother never having known his father, and he wants to discover more about his genetic background.

There were two main story lines (there was actually a third one that really never came into play) that evolve from the viewpoint of each of the characters. They come in random sequence and timeframe, so at times things got confusing - difficult to remember who was who and what was each character’s part in the plot. When the story lines converge though, the tension rises and the underlying truths about each character become clear. Overall, it wasn’t a bad read, but it was not a great one either. The title was a pretty good hint at what was to come while the details (I am trying to avoid spoilers) were perhaps a bit unique.

This is the 20th book written by Lisa Unger - all standalones as far as I know - so I wanted the chance to check her out. I will give her another try in the future. My thanks to Legend Press and NetGalley for the opportunity to read and review the ARC of this book.

Thanks to publisher for giving me this ARC

I really enjoyed this oil as it’s not your average thriller book that gets thrown out it was so much more and kept me hooked.

Thanks again

Secluded Cabin Sleeps Six draws you in slowly as meet you the cast of characters who will soon be in the midst of secrets, lies and an approaching storm in that secluded cabin

Three couples are staying in the cabin for a much needed retreat courtesy of Mako. He has invited his sister and her husband and another couple will join them.

The cabin is not what it seems nor are the couples. How big are the secrets and who can you trust. The tension is felt in every page.

The creepy owner and chef complete the picture and make it more ominous.

I dont want to give to much away but I will say that Lisa Unger takes you on a journey of suspense and the question of DNA and its consequences of the ancestry tests.

My light stayed on as I raced to the final page and this book will stay with me for quite some time.

Thanks to NetGalley and Legend Press for an intriguing read

4.5★s
“What’s interesting is the families that pretend to be happy, that have a carefully constructed facade, just barely propped up by secrets and lies. One breath and it all falls down.”

Secluded Cabin Sleeps Six is the twentieth novel by award-winning, best-selling American author, Lisa Unger. In today’s high-pressure world, what could be better than a weekend getaway in a secluded cabin in the woods in Georgia? Hannah’s brother Mako is treating them all: Hannah and Bruce, Hannah’s best friend Cricket and her new man, Joshua, Mako and his wife Liza. What they find on the Friday afternoon, though, is more like a mansion: every luxury, including a hot tub, a chef and waitress.

Hannah hopes Bruce will take a break from work; Bruce hints at problems with her brother’s gaming software franchise; Mako seems intent on playing the magnanimous host; Liza is struck down with a migraine just when she would like to be connecting with Mako; Cricket thinks she’s falling in love; and their host, Bracken Jameison, is looking forward to some interesting viewing from his cameras.

No one is expecting that, within hours of their arrival, one of their number will be missing, with fresh blood indicating this is no benign walk-off-in-a-huff.

Unger sets a scene with so much potential for conflict: Hannah, anxious about leaving her toddler for the first time, and worried about Bruce’s uncharacteristic behaviour; Liza holding a guilty secret whose consequence might break her marriage; Cricket’s anticipation about her brand new relationship clashing with her ongoing attraction to her ex; a new beau on the scene who is an unknown quantity; an unsettling murder/suicide story about the cabin; a cabin host whose disregard of his guests’ privacy might be something other than titillation.

Then there’s the disgruntled PA bent on revenge. Add to that the intrigue generated by the apparently unrelated narrative, set twenty years earlier, of a boy named Henry whose origin and connection are a mystery. Also, for some, troubling DNA test results. And the edges of a hurricane that will, in all likelihood, cause a power outage. Lies and secrets, red herrings and distractions, all make for plenty of tension that keeps the reader guessing right up to the nail-biting climax. A page turner.
This unbiased review is from an uncorrected proof copy provided by NetGalley and Legend Press.

A thriller that focuses on keeping secrets of the past and present hidden - until those involved come to unearth them.
I was very intrigued by the premise of this book, and always find thrillers at cabins in the middle of the woods a page- turner. I have read other Unger novels and so I was a tad disappointed with this one. I found how it jumped between perspectives and flashbacks somewhat difficult to follow at times. However, being a true thriller and mystery fan, I needed to know how it ended and was able to read it relatively quickly.

This book had a very slow start. It ended up having a few good twists, but overall I didn’t feel like this book was very believable and very slow throughout. It had a few exciting moments but then didn’t hold up to the hype for me.

"Three couples go away for the weekend in a secluded but high-end cabin in the woods. There’s many secrets between them, the cabin’s host is a real weirdo, and a major storm is incoming. And don’t forget the strangers they keep seeing in the shadows."

I thoroughly enjoyed the pace and excitement in this story! There were a lot of perspectives, but was eager to figure out details and how it was going to end!

Thank you to Netgalley, the author, and publisher for a copy of this book for a honest review!

This was just what I love in a book: a good old fashioned thriller with a creepy setting, really bad vibes people, and a few different narratives to happily confuse you along the way.

Three couples go away for the weekend in a secluded but high-end cabin in the woods. There’s many secrets between them, the cabin’s host is a real weirdo, and a major storm is incoming. And don’t forget the strangers they keep seeing in the shadows.

It’s a fast-paced easy read thriller, I highly recommend it! I hadn’t read any Lisa Unger books before, but this one certainly won’t be my last. Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for the ARC in return for an honest review.

“What could be more restful, more restorative, than a weekend getaway with family and friends?”

And so the setting for Secluded Cabin… is established. Six close friends head off to the Georgia mountains, but there’s immediate tension between them and the reader has no idea who to trust. And then a huge storm hits and all hell breaks loose…

I expected to love this book but actually struggled with it and I can’t quite put my finger on why. I think I mostly just found everyone really unlikeable, and the flashback sections kept jolting me out of the tension at the cabin.

2.5 stars rounded up to 3.

This book started so well! The setting was great and there were lots of dodgy sounding characters. I didn't like any of them (except one, Hannah you have my heart) as they were all deceitful and I struggled to identify with them.

Unfortunately, I think there were too many perspectives. There was one storyline in particular that didn't really fit with the rest of the book, and I'm not entirely sure it was needed. It was a bit repetitive with key bits of information being repeated by different characters (I know this is to show that they know, but it was almost word for word and came across clunky).

The amount of points of view, combined with the events made it feel really chaotic, often helpful in a thriller but it missed the mark this time.

It was a quick read, one that kept me turning the pages to find answers. But sadly there were some parts I struggled with.