While I thought parts of the story were interesting, as a whole it was too slow and not much happens for 80% of the book.

From my blog: Always With a Book

I have long been a fan of Lisa Unger, ever since reading Fragile a few years back. I love that her books are dark and twisty and that you think you know what it going on, but you could not be more wrong.

I loved this creepy locked-room mystery. Right from the start, I was pulled in and while I didn’t necessary love the characters, I found myself intrigued by their behaviors. Having the story told from multiple points of view adds to the suspense. The introduction of the DNA tests definitely gave me pause and had me wondering how that would work its way into the overall plot, and of course the secluded cabin in the woods with a threatening storm coming lent itself to an atmospheric, tense read.

There are a lot of moving parts to this story and I loved how it all eventually comes together. I loved that the way this was written, with all the characters having their own secrets and complicated relationships with each other, naturally leads you to be suspicious of them. Each time I thought I had figured things out, there would be a new twist that would shake everything up.

I’m hesitant to say much more about the book for fear of spoilers, so I will say this…I loved this book. It might be my new favorite of Lisa Ungers books. It’s definitely an entertaining, dark, binge-worthy read and I highly recommend it.

I didn't finish this one. It just could not hold my attention. I hope to get back to it eventually and give it another try.

Thank you #NetGalley for this ARC.

Y'all, this one was just not for me.

It had too many twists, including some real, real over the top ones. There was also so much going on, some really heavy themes, and it was just again too much for me to read. I also struggled to keep track of all the storylines and narrators and connections, and well, everything

Thanks to NetGalley for the look at this recent release.

3.5 Stars. When three couples rent a luxurious cabin for a dream weekend getaway, the last thing they expected was for it to turn into a nightmare. After the isolated cabin loses power, things seem to head south. As the night goes on, the six friends begin to question how well they truly know one another, and what secrets they hide.

This locked-room mystery delivers all the elements of a quintessential thriller novel. Multiple point of views and different timelines keep you in suspense as the reader, but did jump around a bit. While the novel had many typical thriller elements, the storyline also took a unique direction. Overall, it was fairly fast-paced and a decent read!

Thank you NetGalley and Park Row Books for my gifted e-ARC!

Wowzers! This story did NOT disappoint! Lisa Unger is truly a wonderful thriller/suspense author and I am so here for her words!

A weekend getaway at a luxury cabin in the woods. Three couples with a raging storm headed their way. What could go wrong? Meanwhile, Henry, a young man who lost his secretive mother to murder, has worked tirelessly to find his family and to figure out what happened and why his Mom was always so quiet about her past.

This story was chalk full of good secrets and wildness. The plot twists, the turns we’re all perfectly integrated into the novel. I absolutely enjoyed it and never figured it out until the ending. A truly great read! Four stars for this incredible whodunnit.

I will be withholding my review until Harper gives their Harper Collins union workers a fair contract. Thank you again for the copy.

When a family decides to enjoy a couples retreat in a secluded cabin in rural Georgia, everything goes wrong: a terrifying storm, a suspicious boyfriend, secrets and lies, and someone lurking on the edges, ready to bring all the secrets to light…

This book was sufficiently spooky without terrifying me, and sufficiently shocking without being ridiculous. The characters were developed well, and the multiple timelines and POVs blended together easily. I love a good thriller and this was one of my favorites this year! If you want a locked-room mystery with some thrill but not too much scare, this is perfect for you!

The idea for this book was really great and I enjoyed bits of this but overall, it fell flat. I really enjoyed the stories that took place in the past but the storyline at the cabin was dull and boring. I was hoping for more.

This was a fast-paced mystery that kept us interested and guessing. The setting makes it the perfect cozy winter read (even though it isn't a winter book!). Although we enjoyed most of the book, the overall backstory seemed a bit far-fetched (there was too much happening- removing one or two of the events from the story would have made it a tighter novel). Overall, a pretty enjoyable read!

3.5 Stars rounded up: It's Hannah's birthday, so her tech mogul brother treats her and her husband, a friend and her new boyfriend and himself and his pregnant wife to a weekend getaway at an isolated luxury cabin in the woods, complete with spectacular views, a hot tub and a personal chef. It sounds like a wonderful weekend, but from the beginning when they can't find the place and they are in a dead zone, you know things are going to go wrong. There is a storm brewing and they are told about the cabin's spine tingling history by the chef. What secrets are they keeping? Who is this new boyfriend who has crashed the party?

From the beginning, I knew something was going on, just by the title, but it took awhile to sort everything out. There seems to be two totally unrelated stories going on. We have the group at the cabin, then there is a storyline about a bunch of people who have found out by doing a DNA test that they are related, related to a murderer. Several people who were also related have died, so I a sure that one of the people at the cabin must have been conceived by this sperm donor, but who? This second story is being told by Henry, and I was curious about his story. I really enjoy Lisa Unger's books, but this one didn't do it for me. There were some extraneous storylines that just cluttered things for me and the people at the cabin were not all that likeable. As we learn about their past, I was not impressed with them and got to the point that there was only one that I really cared about, and that was Hannah's sister-in-law. As we got to the end of the book and things began to come together, I became more invested. The genetic story interested me more than the other, but the ending was a bit of a letdown. Overall, this was just and okay read/listen for me.

Rating 4/5
Plot 4/5
Writing 3/5
Character Development 4/5

[I voluntarily reviewed a complimentary copy of this book]

“Secluded Cabin Sleeps Six” by Lisa Unger tells the story of three couples who rent a cabin in the woods. The six friends are excited for a weekend filled with laughter and fun times however with a deadly storm arriving and the friends learning about the eerie history of the beautiful cabin things begin to change. The friends also have a complicated history and find themselves questioning if they can trust one another.

If you’re looking for a mystery/thriller rec with a suspenseful plot this is a good one. Walking into this book, I knew there would be a lot going on as there are six main characters and several storylines, however, it was an interesting read! It’s a very face-paced book filled with a lot of suspense!

I truly enjoyed this locked room mystery that involved three couples staying at a cabin in the woods.
Hannah and Bruce are married and recently had a baby, they both need a vacation but are nervous to leave their baby for the first time. They take the offer of Mako whose Hannah’s brother on the all paid for mini vacation at the cabin.
Mako is extremely wealthy from his computer company that involves online gaming. His wife Liza is a yoga instructor who has her own online following for her streaming lessons.
Cricket has been a childhood friend of Hannah’s and she even dated Mako in high school, Cricket is bringing her new boyfriend Joshua to the getaway.
When everyone arrives the host of the cabin shows up and immediately you can feel something is off, he warns them of the oncoming storm. As the night progresses it’s revealed that everyone is hiding something, and when a person from the group disappears and the storm cuts the power off, you soon realize that their not alone someone is lurking in the woods waiting to pounce.
I truly enjoyed this book it got me out of my reading slump and I didn’t see how the story was going to end. Please be aware of the triggers sexual assault and rape.

This was a fun take on a locked room mystery. I was interested from the start and I enjoyed the extensive set up. Being completely separated from society is a modern nightmare. I had a little trouble keeping all the characters straight but the two main storylines eventually came together. The way it happened was surprising and one of the best reveals of the book!

This book was okay. I didn't love the writing style or the characters. The narrative was so concerned with pregnancy, getting pregnant, and infancy -- it really started to grate on me. This one was definitely not for me.

I really enjoyed this book. It was very chilling, suspenseful, and it kept me on the edge of my seat wanting to know more. I also thought it was very creative and had interesting twists and turns. Was a bit predictable at times and the ending was a little bit dragged out, but otherwise loved it. Will be recommending this book as a bookseller!

Imagine this…a luxury cabin in a beautiful location, a relaxing weekend, a group of six friends and family. Sounds like the perfect getaway, doesn’t it? Well, turns out it isn’t! I knew it was too good to be true! The premised of Lisa Unger’s latest novel sounded tailor-made for me and I was not wrong in the slightest. It was a tremendously entertaining read.

Hannah’s brother, Mako, invites her and her husband Bruce and Hannah’s best friend and her new boyfriend, to go along him and his wife Liza, for a relaxing weekend in a luxury cabin in the midst of Georgia woods to disconnect from daily pressures. What started out as an enjoyable trip soon takes a dark turn as tensions brew between them and it becomes clear that someone is watching them. Someone is out there in the woods and has pretty different ideas in mind for their weekend.

I had only read two books by Lisa Unger, one I loved, one that was just ok, and I’m glad to say Secluded Cabin Sleeps Six was closer to the first one. I became immediately engaged in the story. The strange behavior and odd vibes some of the characters gave away, and the weird dynamics between them piqued my interest right away. All their secrets were knocking on the door but, whose past was knocking harder?

There’s a storyline from the past that, for the most part, I could not see how it would tie up with Hannah and co’s predicament, but once pieces started falling into place I could not turn pages fast enough! Was the resolution completely bonkers and over the top? Absolutely! Did I enjoy every single minute of it? Hell, YES!

I really loved the atmosphere the author conveyed while in the cabin. The secludedness along the upcoming storm and some ghostly tales managed to create a real sense of isolation and claustrophobia.

The story was a bit convoluted but it was so much fun to try and keep up with all the different sides of it. There were several twists and turns that will have you making crazy theories.

Secluded Cabin Sleeps Six is the perfect choice if you’re in the mood for some good old fashioned escapism.

Thanks to NetGalley and Park Row for providing an eARC in exchange for an honest review.

Secluded Cabin Sleeps Six by Lisa Unger is a thriller about three couples that get away for the weekend to a luxury cabin in the woods. These couples quickly start to turn on each other, Who can they trust? Who has ulterior motives? What is actually going on? This was a quick read and super enjoyable. Highly recommend! Thanks to NetGalley for the free digital review copy. All opinions are my own.

This reviewer supports the HarperCollins Union. I've read and written a review, but won't be uploading it here or on any other platforms until the HarperCollins Union has a fair contract.

Six people arrive at a luxurious, but secluded, cabin for a weekend. Several are related to each other and nearly all of them have intertwined histories that go back to their childhoods. Add to the mix a little tension between brothers-in-law, secrets, business concerns, and muddled relationships, and you have a perfect storm brewing. Oh wait, there really is a storm moving in, too.

Lisa Unger’s Secluded Cabin Sleeps Six is a tension-filled, edge of your seat kind of book. There are several points of view throughout the story and slowly the motives and agendas of the characters are revealed. The characters are diverse but most of them failed to elicit very much sympathy from me. The epilogue provided closure but seemed to be a little too tidy, considering the huge mess that was either revealed or developed over the weekend in the secluded cabin.

But still, Secluded Cabin Sleeps Six provided an interesting story and it would be a good read for a long plane ride. It deserves 3.5 stars.

Many thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for providing a copy of this book for review.