Thank you to NetGalley
I’ll give this book 3.5 stars.

I found the characters to all be annoying and some just down right creepy.
A bit convoluted with a mix of story lines - decent mystery.

Thank you Netgalley for the advance reader copy of Secluded Cabin Sleeps Six by Lisa Unger in exchange for an honest review. I really wanted to enjoy this book more. I loved the premise and the story was intriguing and a great idea for a scare, but it kept losing my attention with the overwhelming details. How everyone was related or knew each other got confusing and needed to be simplified. Maybe I'll try this book again later when I'm in a better headspace.

"Secluded Cabin Sleeps Six" was a little all over the place. I definitely liked the concept of nature vs. nurture and how we create our own family regardless of blood. I also thought that the chapters written from alternating perspectives kept the book moving along. But I really don't think that the rental house owner's character was needed though. He was creepy and I don't like how he randomly went from a weird stalker to a normal guy who just had it rough as a child (??). Were we supposed to be rooting for him in the end...? An interesting read - 4 stars.

Secluded Cabin, Sleeps Six - Lisa Unger 3*

A group of family and friends head off to spend some quality time together. They are a mixed bunch, with a load of secrets between them.

When they arrive at the isolated vacation rental, they soon realise just how remote it is and this causes the first doubts to appear. When members of the group go missing, and there’s a massive storm, matters only get worse.

As a rule I really enjoy this author’s work. Sadly this offering is well off her usual mark. A weird and convoluted storyline, disjointed characters and a poor ending make this a struggle to read. Also, there are lots of errors and the book needs a really good proof read and edit. Hopefully all this will be done before the publication date.

In all a storyline that had promise but became bogged down with meandering and repetition.

2.5* rounded up to 3*

Thank you NetGalley.

The promise of a luxury getaway with a twist? Sign me up!

Described as a locked-room thriller where three couples vacation at a remote cabin in inclement weather. I hate to disagree on all fronts.

The first third went by at a snails pace. There were multiple occasions where I contemplated DNF’ing this one but my curiosity got the best of me. Too many characters, plots and timelines. Hard to follow who, what, where.

I have to give credit where credit is due. It did pick up the pace (eventually) and everything came together (in the end), however it wasn’t enough for me. The genealogical premise was interesting but the motives a bit far fetched.

This didn’t work for me but it might work for you! Check it out if it sounds up your alley.

This book is set to be released on Nov 8, 2022 (not February 2023 as stated). I wish the publisher would hold off on the Nov date as the book needs editing so badly. Way too many mistakes.
The story felt like something terrible was going to happen, but it took it's time getting there. It is very much a page turner and what the true meaning of family is. Is it nature or nurture that is responsible for our deeds? It is a tale of regrets, secrets and lies. Who are the good guys and who are not?? The story starts off about a family getaway to a cabin in the woods. It then goes back about 21 years to a story about a boy who seemingly has no connection to the story. Henry lives with his mother and as no clue about who his father is. After his mother is killed, he goes into a group home. A kindly policeman helps him try to find his long-lost relatives. DNA plays a huge part in the story, and everything comes together one stormy night at the cabin. The ending tied everything up quite nicely. With proper editing this could be a best seller but some of the errors like the letter F that started so many words was disconnected from the word ie: ( f ollowed, f iref ly) Too many to mention. Some grammatical errors were also noted. Overall, a good story marred by too many mistakes. Could be 4 or even 5 stars but I give it 3 in the form I just read.

This is a great book. Edge of your seat drama, lots of interwoven storylines, lots of interesting characters that you don't know who to trust. A well written thriller, full to the brim with twist and turns. Very well written.

This thriller was a lot. There were a lot of characters, a lot of timelines, and a lot of hanging plot lines.

I loved the secluded cabin setting, but the multitude of characters without depth made this one really hard to enjoy.

Thank you NetGalley and the publisher for my complimentary copy.

This thriller is a mixed bag of nuts…seriously. Having said that, the characters, all quite unlikeable, are complex, brooding and hiding secrets. Three couples go on a weekend away at a luxury secluded cabin. A dangerous storm is heading their way, what could go wrong? Themes of sexual abuse, mental illness, and complex family issues. I enjoyed this ride! A quick read, short chapters and multiple POV. This would make a good Netflix thriller.

Three couples head off to spend a restful week in an opulent cabin, but it quickly becomes apparent that nothing is as it seems...

There was a little bit too much going on in this book for me, since it stopped any real tension from building. The twists were fairly good, but overall it just didn't work for me!

I received a copy from the publisher in exchange for an honest review

This took me forever to get into and read. I almost quit a few times. One of my least favorite books l've read this year. If you're going to involve rape as a major plot line and work it into your book over and over again, why market this like it's just a spooky thriller with a storm looming..?
The author really loved talking about how thin female characters were and wrote about boobs like a jr higher:*)
This was worse than a very bad soap opera. Poorly written and not scary whatsoever.

3.5 Stars Rounded Up!

There was a whole lot going on in this book.

A group of 6 (siblings, friends, and their partners) head to a remote cabin in the woods for a weekend getaway. There’s a deadly storm heading their way, and the landlord isn’t quite what he seems. Dark secrets, affairs, and complicated pasts are soon revealed.

At the same time, we are following a young man named Henry who is on a quest to figure out who he is and where he came from.

This was a easy thriller read for me. Even with the multiple storylines it never really felt confusing; although, it did feel a little messy. One storyline never even truly resolved, and it felt like it was only added to throw you off. It felt extraneous and honestly didn’t add much to the story.

As I mentioned already, there was almost too much going on in this book. There was already multiple storylines to follow along with, but then every single character had a dark secret except for maybe one. It just didn’t feel believable that every single character ended up being a terrible person pretty much.

As a toddler mom, I really enjoyed the way the author wrote Hannah’s character and about being a new parent. It was incredibly relatable.

Trigger Warnings: miscarriage, rape/sexual abuse, animal abuse, drugs.

Thank you to NetGalley and Legend Press for providing an ARC in exchange for my honest review.

Thanks to Netgalley and Legend Press for providing this ARC in exchange for an honest review.

3 couples head to a secluded cabin with opulent amenities for what should be a relaxing weekend but most of them are hiding something and they begin to realize they are in danger.

4.5 stars.

I have really loved some of this author's books and really not loved others. This one was on the high side. I have been in an enormous book slump lately and I actually wanted to pick this one back up when I put it down, so that was a good sign. Often I find I don't like the closed door mystery because of the rapid introduction of too many characters but that wasn't a problem here. I was engaged throughout. While I do agree with other reviewers that there were some threads that were started and not resolved, I will let it slide because this is one of the better books I have read in awhile. I hope this one has broken me out of my slump and I look forward to her next offering.

First and foremost I would like to thank NetGalley and the publisher for allowing me to read the ARC of this novel**

Life gets so overwhelming and we find ourselves wishing we could take a week off just to unwind and relax. We catch ourselves looking at rental homes planning out everything we do…but what if the cabin or home we rent is the supposed place of a murder?

Hannah and her brother Mickey or also known as Mako; are two siblings whose sibling relationship is so strong that nothing can break it…or so we think.

When Mako decides to invite Hannah, her husband Bruce, their best friend Cricket and her date along with his wife on a relaxing week long stay at a famous cabin; you tend to wonder what could wrong.

In this highly intense thriller; you’ll be asking yourself what do all six of the people have in common? What’s the motive? Who will make it out alive?

Lisa truly has outdone herself with this novel. Is blood truly thicker than water? You’ll have to read to find out

I know this will be very successful, but I don't know why. It is a simplistic, convoluted mess. At least people are reading. ARC provided by NetGalley in exchange for a fair review.

Secluded Cabin Sleeps Six is the first book I've read by Lisa Unger. I found it on NetGalley and decided it was time to give the author a chance. And it worked out. I thoroughly enjoyed the book for many reasons. We get a few chapters to meet a dysfunctional family; one where two siblings have a bond, but their mother is a loon, it seems. She waffles between nice and mean, is very controlling, and definitely has a chip on her shoulder. No one wants to take the DNA tests they receive as a mysterious Christmas gift that year. Then the story switches to another set of characters who tug a our heartstrings. Immediately I thought - a switched at birth storyline. But no... I won't tell you if that's the truth or a quip. Find our for yourself, friends!

DNA proves to be a critical piece of this puzzle. When 3 couples decide to take a trip to an expensive cabin as an early summer retreat, we know someone is planning something far more sinister. Likely not the protagonist, but authors have gone there before. Unger dazzles many red herrings and side stories, to the point even me, the king of complex mysteries, was worried it would get off track a few times. But it kept coming back to the main points, and by 2/3 in, everything started to fit together. We also knew the culprit, and his/her accomplices, but not the entire story of why and how the protagonist quite fit into it all. Messy and complex, with a few moments that were far too over the top for most readers (yet I loved them)... and by the end, I was smiling. I will definitely read another book by the author, and I am excited to see where it takes me.

I love Lisa Unger books but hadn't read any for a while. This one was a hook right from the beginning with the family christmas and you can sense the tension bubbling under the surface of all the relationships. I couldnt wait to find out how the flashbacks and characters all fitted together in the end and it kept me guessing right until the last couple of chapters. The suspense of wondering what was going to happen was good. I did feel like Bracken was going to have more impact but i like the way his story played out too. A great thinking point too about DNA and genetics too...how much of your behaviour is purely diwn to genetics?!

Secluded Cabin Sleeps Six is a rollercoaster locked room thriller with unpredictable twists and turns. Lisa Unger's writing style hooked me from page one, and I devoured 65% in one go! Three couples head to a secluded cabin to spend time together and press pause from the high-stake, competitive work environment. However, this vacation soon becomes one from hell as lies, betrayal and secrets are unearthed. The flashbacks tied exceptionally well to the current events, even though the number of characters involved overwhelmed me. I loved the exploration of family ties, genealogy and the power of choice that shapes the destiny of individuals. The dark and light elements of human characteristics are explored in depth, enhancing my reading experience. Hannah & Bruce were my favourite couple, and I was rooting for them throughout the book. The ending was well executed. I know I will be keeping an eye out for Lisa Unger's books in the future.

Thank you, NetGalley & Legend Press, for giving me an ARC. This honest review is left voluntarily.

I really enjoyed this book! I finished 80% of it in one sitting because i could wait to find out what happened! Great character shaping, good ending. I’d read this author again! Thanks NetGalley for an ARC!

“What people show the world is rarely the whole truth, especially these days when everything must be curated and cropped, filtered and brightened. Real life is messy and complicated. Ugly.”

Three couples rent a luxury cabin in the woods for a weekend getaway to die for. Hannah’s loving and generous tech-mogul brother Mako found the listing online. It’s his birthday gift to Hannah and includes their spouses and another couple. But the dreamy weekend is about to turn into a nightmare. A deadly storm is brewing. The rental host seems just a little too present. The personal chef reveals that the house has a spine-tingling history. And the friends have their own complicated past, with secrets that run blood deep. How well does Hannah know her brother, her own husband? Can she trust her best friend? And who is the new boyfriend, crashing their party? Who is the stranger among them?

I loved this book in the beginning, like couldn’t put it down. I was so drawn to this creepy isolated cabin and these family members and their myriad of secrets. But by about the halfway point it became a little disjointed. There are two storylines running but it’s not until you are almost done with the story that you learn how they are intertwined, and it’s almost as if it doesn’t even matter at that point. I had some issues with just how many things were happening, making the storyline a bit choppy.

I very much enjoyed the audio. The narrator did a great job of making each voice distinct as there are a lot of characters. That really helps me keep everyone straight while listening.

Thank you to Netgalley, Harper Audio, Legend Press, and the author for the ARC and ALC in exchange for an honest review.