Wow! I was on the edge of my seat the entire book and could not put it down! This was my second Sue Watson novel and it did not disappoint!

In The Lodge, we follow matriarch Angela as she invites the members of her family to celebrate her birthday at a remote lodge. Among the guests are her son Scott, wife Danni, children- Sam, Georgia, and his new baby, ex wife Fiona, and chef Jenna. As if having the current and ex wives under one roof isn't enough drama for the weekend away, Jenna isn't who she claims to be. The book follows as the drama ensues between the family members and as the police begin to investigate the happenings of the weekend.

The book was full of twists and turns and whenever I thought I had it figured out, BAM, another twist. A delicious rollercoaster that made me feel like riding again and again.

Thank you to Netgalley, the author, and publisher of the book for giving me an advanced copy of this book in exchange for my honest review. I greatly appreciate it.

****SPOILERS AHEAD***

To the those mentioned above--I feel that the premise of the book was excellent--a fresh idea on an old trope. It was an original idea having the ex wife and current wife and children of both relationships to come together under one roof for the purpose of a birthday celebration. I don't feel like this would happen in everyday life however, especially considering how rotten the pretense to the divorce was for Fiona and how Danni and Scott did her wrong sneaking around right under her nose. I don't feel this is very believable that she would agree to go along for this weekend. The author touches on this stating that Fiona is conflicted about attending because of the past and how she found out about Scott's affair and whatnot, but I still feel this is a bit far-fetched.

On to the ending of the book--I was shocked that the final twist happened so late in the book, in the epilogue as most books this is just the wrap up chapter/ending and no real twists are exposed here. That was a great addition and I wish more books would continue the twists this far into them. I do feel that Angela was an easy cop-out for the murderer and this could have been explored more throughout the final chapters of the book.

Overall a great book---4.3 stars! Would definitely recommend.

This book starts with a dead body and a stalker and it just gets better.

Fiona is not impressed when her ex mother in law, Angela, invites her to Cornwall, in the middle of Winter to celebrate her birthday. Also invited are Fiona's two children, now students, her ex husband Scott (with whom Fiona has a "complicated" relationship), his new wife Danni and their baby. What a pressure cooker. Throw in a snow storm and a murder. Can things get any worse? Unfortunately the answer is yes!!

Told mainly from the point of view of Danni and Fiona this book is a master piece of misconceptions and how intricate human relationships are.

Obviously this set up can only end in disaster but the numerous twists and turns that take us to that final page really had me gripped.

I always enjoy Sue Watson's chatty style of writing and she does family conflict and drama so well it keeps you totally engrossed. Oh the bitchiness is off the scale but that's not surprising with the ex-wife holed up with the new wife, husband, mother-in-law, two adult kids and a personal chef who has past connections to some of the characters. It was supposed to be a birthday celebration but turned into carnage, both verbally and physically with lots of nasty secrets coming out. The second half is packed with twists and the ending, well That was a shocker!!!

Fiona is the last person I would choose to spend even a single day with. Discussions went on forever, and people's reactions were constantly being observed during chats.This story was nothing but repetition from a helicopter mother on steroids, and the conclusion was presented from such an odd position that I was left wondering: Is that it?
An independent review NetGalley / Bookouture

This book had a really interesting premise and the varied POVs really amped up the tension throughout the story. The ending also had a twist that I didn’t see coming, which had good groundwork in hindsight. However the writing itself was not as sophisticated as I think it could have been, and there was a loose end/red herring that wasn’t quite tied up. It was a fun read overall and I liked the author’s plotting.

Phoebe and Danny or two women who were both married to Scott phoebe was his first wife and had been married to him for 17 years and they had two kids Sam and Georgette Sams in Uni in Georgette isn’t high school Danny cheated with Scott Owen Phoebe they were both teachers and due to an anonymous Facebook post were called out and this is the catalyst that caused Scott’s divorce to Phoebe and oh yes he and Danny have a little 12 month old baby named Olivia. Scott is an only child to his mother Angela who is turning 75 and when she cryptically says to Danny and Phoebe at separate times that this is possibly her last birthday it gilts both women into acquiescing in agreeing to a family weekend getaway add a beautiful lodge on the coast in Carmel. Both women are insecure when it comes to the other Phoebe couldn’t come to grips with her divorce and still call Scott and they still talk for hours and he comes over and spend time with her and her two kids something Danny cannot stand. Phoebe can’t stand when the kids go over to Scott’s house and spend time over there and she’s jealous of any part Danny plays in her children’s life. It’s so bad the kids don’t even mention anything about what they do when they’re over there. Needless to say they’re all heading up to the coast for a family weekend vacation with grandma Angela. When they all arrive separately they’re shocked to learn Angela invited Jenna hey girl who obviously has a past with Danny and Scott and although Danny‘s dislike of the girl is obvious Scott on the other hand placate her and ask is if she is just a young up start looking for a mentor A roll it seems he is happy to play. She claims to have studied in French corner blue and is going to be the family chef for the weekend but Danny isn’t buying it at all it is clear that Danny knows something about Jenna and what she knows isn’t good. For the most part Danny and her opinion is a relevant to the rest of the family with the exception of Sam and Georgette who clearly care for her but as far as Phoebe Scott and Angela goes whatever they liked about Danny is rubbing off fast it doesn’t help when Phoebe and Scott act like a couple of teenagers throwing pillows at each other threatening tickle contests and sharing inside jokes that don’t include Danny Danny tries to put this all behind her but the more Jenna fawns over Scott in the more Phoebe acts like they’re still together the more Danny unravels. Her outburst and actions are making things uncomfortable especially for Phoebe as soon as Danny arrives Phoebe couldn’t get over how she immediately had the baby to Angela and throughout the night she continuously leaves the baby with whoever will take her but when Jenna access a DNA is losing her mind and she will be more than happy to take care of little Olivia she totally loses the plot and yanks her baby back from Jenna send it happens in front of everyone else. At first Phoebe likes Jenna and thinks she is a wonderful cook something Danny Scoffs at. Phoebe is also worried because Angela seems not to be acting right and after knowing her for almost 20 years Angela says things that takes phoebe by surprise and is worried the older woman is losing her mind. Before it’s over everyone in the family will be in present at the lodge due to an active murder investigation good more than that they seem to have blizzard after blizzard and they’re also snowed in so the Jay of Angeles birthday Danny goes for an early morning walk and never returns Scott is beside himself with grief and worry and Jenna tries to take control and follows Scott around like a shadow by the time police start investigating it’s been days and there’s no way Danny can still be alive not to mention she said she was pregnant again so there is more than her life at stake. I haven’t even told 1/3 of the story there is so much who shot John in this book there is backstabbing double dealing I’m at first I really didn’t like neither lady phoebe nor Danny but ultimately I did root for Phoebe and felt bad for Danny but through it all I did not and still don’t like Jenna… I would’ve given this book 5 stars but there were moments in the book we’re always like “really, no one notices…“ like when Jenna showed up at the lodge dressed exactly like Danny and all her husband could say is that Jenna most admire Danny because flattery is a form of affection… And also how could they have not known who put those post on Facebook but either way despite all that this is one super twisty phenomenal thriller and just like all the books lately just when you think it’s over it’s really not! This author has some really awesome books but I do believe in the lodge she has totally outdone herself and I totally and honestly mean that. It seems lately all the thriller writers have up their game and Sue Watson has definitely proven she cannot only meet it but raise ita couple of notches. I want to thank Bookoucher and Net Galley for my free Ark copy please forgive any mistakes as I am blind and dictate my reviewA

The Lodge is a murder mystery set at a wintery lodge in the middle of a snowstorm. A family, including the new wife of a successful businessman and his ex-wife, gather together for their mother-in-law's birthday. When police show up at the door because they have discovered a hit-and-run (which is clearly no accident), everyone at the lodge falls under suspicion. Complicated family dynamics with children, exes, and a hired chef who isn't who she says she is, supercharge the atmosphere with anxiety and dread. When a member of the family at the lodge goes missing and everyone is required to stay there until the investigation is complete, true personalities come out of the woodwork, and the villain is more difficult to pin down than ever before.

This was so good! The Lodge was a slow burn, but instead of taking away from the story, it added to it and allowed plenty of time for good character development. The story is told from alternating POVs between the ex wife and the new wife. Each chapter had me bouncing back and forth saying, "THIS one is the villain... no.... THIS one!" The plot was well-woven and kept me guessing right up until the very end! I was terrified when I reached the epilogue, because there were still many questions left unanswered, but rest assured, they are all addressed by the end.

The Lodge is a heart-pounding read with an interesting cast of characters that will keep readers up late into the night! I highly recommend adding it to your TBR. The family drama, personal secrets, interconnected relationships, and nuanced ending gave me exactly what I wanted from the story. This is a book that you will want to read on a cold day curled up with a blanket and a warm drink. Thank you to the publishers at NetGalley and Bookouture for sending me an e-ARC!

Went on a bit of a journey with this one. At the start I just hoped this was a very early version, as there were a lot of tpyos and grammatical errors. But I was able to ignore it and get into the story. I liked the premise, and although every single character was unlikable, there was an addictive tension. It did feel a bit disjointed. Fiona finds Nick's keyring in the lodge on the first evening, but goes several chapters/days without even thinking about it? Sometimes they worry about Angela's confusion, other times no mention at all? Still, I was intrigued, especially when Danni disappeared. But by the 75% mark I had to stop. It feels like two or three stories trying to be one story, and as such none of the story lines are consistent. Also at this point it was clear whole sentences were missing, so it made even less sense. I've given it 2 stars because I think what it was trying to be was good.

Read this if you like:
locked room settings
dysfunctional families
rivalry
birthday weekend going wrong
social media trolling
secrets
double POVs

This is my first snow themed read of the year, and I really looked forward reading this one as the days are getting shorter and colder. But unfortunately this book wasn’t for me.
It started out great with an intriguing prologue where you get a glimpse of someone being murdered which ensures that you are immediately triggered and sets off with a mysterious and tensional vibe.
But after a few chapters into the story I already had my suspicions about how the story is put together and what the motives are of the MCs.
The double POv caused a lot of tension in the story but to be honest, I couldn’t connect with any of the characters. Their flaws and insecurities are the main subject which make them not very likable and they don’t really develop throughout the story. Besides the tension, nothing really happens throughout ¾ of the story it just keeps rippling along and you really have to push through it to get to the final twists, which unfortunately I had already guessed except the one in the epilogue that after all turned out to be a pleasant surprise.

The setting of a luxurious cabin and a troubled family definitely is a good combo, but unfortunately the outcome could’ve been plotted better to get some more action into the story.

Thank you @netgalley & @bookouture for this ARC.

2,5☆

Woah! That was one crazy ride! This is the first book by this author for me but I will for sure pick up more! I love a good thriller where at some point in the book you go.."wait...am I the crazy one?". This one delivered that!

Thank you to #NetGalley, #Bookouture and Sue Watson for the opportunity to read an advance copy of The Lodge, to be published October 23, 2023. 4/5 Stars for this psychological thriller that involved a woman (Fiona) and her two adult children, her ex-husband (Scott) and his new wife (Danni) and child, her former mother-in-law (Angela) and a chef (Jenna). This group of people on holiday together is a recipe for disaster, which comes in a variety of ways, including interpersonal spats, jealousy, adultery and murder for starters. It gets more involved from there. Great Read! #NetGalley #Bookouture #SueWatson #TheLodge

"The Lodge" left me wanting more from a thriller. It suffered from a slow pace, repetitiveness, and a lack of engaging content, resulting in a lackluster reading experience. In the end, it failed to captivate my attention, and the payoff was far from satisfying. This thriller lacked the thrills I had hoped for and ultimately left me disappointed.

This family has so much drama and so many secrets! I was on the edge of my seat the whole time. Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the opportunity to read this ARC in exchange for my honest review.

The Lodge
By: Sue Watson
4⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Imagine getting an invite to your ex mother-in-laws getaway and having your ex husband and his new wife and child here. You go under the impression she is sick, but she always supported you.

Everyone is at The Lodge and the snow is everywhere and now that everyone has gotten together someone comes up missing!!!

The Lodge is on a cliff and there was an argument! Nothing is what is seems in this novel. I always look forward to Watson novels and as usual it nail bitting.

Due out October 24, 2023 with Bookouture.
#thelodge, #suewatson, #bookouture, #bookreview, #booksconnectus, #bookstagram, #stamperlady50

Another great read by Sue Watson.
Really loved the setting and the claustrophobic nature of it. All the different threads were brought together really well for the reveal.
Told from the point of view of Fiona and Danni, ex wife and new wife of Scott who together with Scott’s mum, Scott and Fiona’s children, Scot and Danni’s baby and Jenna the chef. This unlikely group are brought together in a remote lodge to celebrate Angela-Scott’s mum’s birthday. The weather is already bad when they all start to arrive and starts to get worse leading to them being snowed in, unable to leave home as planned after the weekend. The police arrive to tell them about a hit and run near to their lodge and that they think one of their party is responsible. Tensions run high with people suspecting each other as well as previous tensions being heightened in the situation. When one of their group goes missing the tension increases.

Well..
I wasn’t expecting THAT.

I flew through the pages of this book. It was easy to read and unputdownable. I had to know what happened to a main character and who did the hit and run. Without giving anything away, EVERYONE had motive and it could have been anyone.

I love claustrophobic books like this. Stuck in a lodge surrounded by nothing but snow and the ice cold sea. No where to go and unable to leave. That’ll make anyone go stir crazy. But stuck with your ex husband’s new wife and baby? Or your husband’s ex wife? Or your ex friend? What could go wrong?


The characters weren’t particularly likable as they all had their faults and secrets. This worked well for the story. 10/10 recommend.

Thank you to NetGalley and Bookouture for the ARC. All opinions are solely my own

⭐️⭐️⭐️ of 5

A beautiful lodge at the Cornish shore in the middle of a blizzard. Cozy or dangerous?

Not quite the holiday an average ex wife would entertain attending. However, when Fionas former mother in law entreaties her to help celebrate what might be her last birthday ion a picturesque weekend getaway , Fiona reluctantly agrees. The attendees include her ex husband Scott and new wife, danni and their 1 yr old daughter, Fiona’s own 2 teenaged children Sam and Georgia, Angela her mother in law and chef, Jenna.

Tensions arise even before everyone arrives and only mount as the hours creep by and with the snowstorm there’s no escaping the stifling confinement. We hear Fiona’s resentful struggle in witnessing Scott’s new family life with the woman he left her for and Dani’s insecurities when face to face with the polished ex wife each fighting for their own niche in this family dynamic.

Police come to question them all about a hit and run victim leaving them all suspicious of one another. After one goes for an early morning walk and doesn’t return suspicions and secrets roil to the surface.

Told by Fiona’s and Dani’s pov, each chapter succinctly states how they are feeling and what they’re observing. I enjoyed the narrative from their perspective and it works well as suspense building. Maybe another limited pov from Jenna could have added a bit more depth.

Unreliable narrators add to the sense of impending disaster. The setting works well for the purpose. BUT, not every straight male character needs to be an angry, abusive entitled misogynist. It’s ok, a man can be a decent person and women can and should still be empowered. The two concepts can coexist. The ending ties up most loose ends (I’m still wondering about that keychain) and ends on a self reflective question.

Thrillers tend to be a hit or miss for me, and sadly this ended up mostly being a miss. I found it to be quite repetetive, and the suspense never really built up properly. (I’m also not sure the side plot with the hit-and-run victim was necessary.)
On the positive, it was a fast read; I finished it in two days, because I DID want to find out what was going on. Sadly the payoff wasn’t really there for me, though.

Sue Watson writes a fantastic psychological thriller which at times had me on the edge of my seat. Just a heads up for readers there may be a few spoilers ahead….

I was able to guess from early on in the story who the person was that got hit by the car without the police identifying them until much later in the story. However, the chapter where we learn why that character did what they did was something I wasn’t able to figure out and had me feeling compassion and understanding for that character and their actions. I also was not able to figure out the disappearance of Danni. I was constantly questioning the characters and asking myself “who’d done it?” all while actively trying to figure out the motive for such an act. Sue writes a gripping psychological thriller about a dysfunctional family with jealously, revenge and buried secrets all intertwined . This is a slow burn but only helps build the tension and suspense throughout the book and within the lodge itself. I thoroughly enjoyed this book and loved the last sentence where she asks a question to the reader. I thought that was a fantastic way to finish a book and very thought provoking as the reader. Thank you to Sue Watson, Bookouture and NetGalley for the ARC.

An enjoyable and fun easy read about a dysfunctional blended family on holiday in Cornwall where they get snowed in for a week. An adulterers mother manages to get the ex-wife to attend her 75th birthday, add the two young adults from the first marriage and a baby from the second marriage and a lazy 'cordon bleu' chef with attitude who knows most of the characters. The story is told by the ex-wife Fiona and the new wife Danni, who hate each other and fight for attention from the others. There are plenty of secrets and lies which lead to many twists and turns. Throw in two murders to solve and it is a very entertaining story with some great scenes between the characters. Who cares if you have to suspend disbelief a few times. I would have preferred the end to have been mainly at the lodge in real time as opposed to an epilogue one year later summary.
Great for an entertaining winter weekend break read. Many thanks to the author, publisher and NetGalley UK.