Caleb hits on the theme of family and desperation often in his work. What would you do to keep them safe? How would you live with yourself if you couldn't? How far are you willing to compromise your morals and your mental well-being for the sake of others?

In The Girls in the Cabin, we find out one man's answers to those questions. Just when we think he's safe, the rug is pulled out from under him and his family, leading one to wonder, where the hell is Caleb getting all these damn rugs?!The plotting in this one is firmly entrenched in the phenomenal characters. His single father is sympathetic, but frustrating. The occupants of the cabin are curious and fearsome. The setting is daunting—a character in its own right. Not only the cabin, but the wilderness that engulfs it.

I've seen Caleb mess with horror, with urban fantasy, with time periods ranging from medieval to eighties and nineties, but I might be most intrigued by what he's doing with his thrillers. Fans of Catriona Ward, Karin Slaughter, and Gillian Flynn, eat your heart out.

Oh ... this book had so much potential. Great storyline - kept me guessing for a long time. The problem, well there were a few. One, the back and forth between past and present was choppy. Not to mention, at times I felt like when I reading the past that I was way back in the past not just the 1980's. Another issue was that parts were too verbose with a lot of unecessary words that quite honestly took away from the suspense the author was trying to build. I didn't hate it because I did finish it. Not sure this is one I would recommend.

Thank you #netgalley and 3joffebooks for the eARC.

Thank you for allowing me the opportunity to view this book. I am not going to put a review on my page. I did not like this book. The transition between timelines did not read well. Therefore, I thought it was hard to follow the story.

Thank you NetGalley for the ARC of The Girls in the Cabin.
This one follows dual time lines with a past dysfunctional family where we meet a young girl who is severely abused and we experience her secret friendship with another girl that helps her to cope, while present day we meet a widowed father who is on a camping trip with his two daughters in attempt to reconnect with them after the loss of their mother. A serious injury occurs and the families meet in the present day, and pure disturbing mayhem ensues from there.
This is definitely a horror novel in my opinion. I think the ARC was listed as psychological thriller. There is quite a bit of body horror, a few surprising twists, and overall it was super disturbing and not for the faint of heart. I enjoyed the different perspectives of each chapter, as well as dual time lines that eventually meet up. Definitely a fast read and the disturbing scenes will live with me. There’s a scene with an eye “injury” that I am never going to forget!!!!
Overall, a good horror novel. 4/5 stars for me

Chris is already on thin ice with his kids. Following the death of his wife, he is desperately trying to salvage what little is left of his relationship with his eldest daughter, as well as trying to help his youngest daughter to speak again following the trauma of losing her mother.

But things don’t go to plan. After a series of accidents and mishaps on what was supposed to be a family-salvaging hike leave them stranded in the middle of a Colorado snowstorm, things become even more complicated. Luckily for the family, they stumble upon a cabin in the middle of nowhere owned by a kindly woman named Clara who is more than willing to take them in and do what she can to help.

But Clara’s cabin is full of memories and secrets, secrets that will put Chris and his children in a tense fight for survival.


This book was everything. I was stressed, I was mad, I was crying, I was scared, I was feeling the full range of emotions at all times. It’s thrilling and disgusting and heartbreaking all at once. I did predict the twist pretty early on but even so I was enthralled and could not put this book down. It was very well written and extremely exciting. I recommend it for fans of Stephen King and for folks who love complicated heroes and villains. Everyone in this book felt like a real person.

I’ll be buying this book for a couple people in my life when it comes out, that’s how much I enjoyed it.

The Girls in the Cabin releases on 6/8.

4/5✨.

Please be aware this book involves tough subject matter including child SA, animal cruelty, and other difficult topics.

Thank you to NetGalley and Joffre Books for sending me a copy of this book in exchange for my honest feedback.

The heart of this electrifying novel is the family at its center, a recent widower and his two young daughters, a family he is desperately trying to stop from breaking apart beyond repair. There was anguish and desperation and love that I really felt from these characters as they endured the experiences in the book. Their relationships felt authentic, and that really kept this novel compelling. The other characters were less compelling, insofar as they were more or less what was to be expected, given their positioning in the story. Before discussing that, though, it is important to applaud how adeptly Stephens swings to different subgenres within the thriller genre, starting with a survivor/against-the-elements story that was bone-chilling and tense and kept me riveted, only to transform into a whole different beast shortly thereafter. Throughout the writing was strong. The dialogue felt genuine, and the writing was direct and powerful, keeping me locked into what was going on while also continually alluding to the bigger story at play, especially as different chapters moved back and forth in time to tell two different, converging stories. It definitely kept the story moving fast enough that I didn’t want to put it down, but it did breath enough to let me have emotional investment in the characters, a difficult balance that was done really well. In addition, there are a number of gnarly, super-effective horror set pieces scattered throughout, and they really kept the adrenaline levels high and were used well.

The reason the novel doesn’t get a full five stars for me is that it was somewhat predictable. As soon as certain characters/storylines were introduced I saw the whole plot of the novel laid out in front of me, almost beat-for-beat. It was all cleverly written with the right amount of red-herring subterfuge mixed in, so the plot wasn’t betrayed by shoddy writing. It was just simply a plot that was expected, and pretty much every twisty part of it was easy to see from very early on. The characters who are not part of our family trio are all pretty much exactly who you expect them to be, they felt pretty generic in that regard, even though the journey that took them to where we meet them was unique, if that makes sense. I don’t want to be more specific than that, avoiding spoiling it for anyone who maybe doesn’t see it as early as I did. I had a lot of fun reading the story, again, as mentioned above, genuine main characters that were packed with vitality and individuality and pathos, who I cared for, and a well-written story that moved at a great pace and kept me invested. I don’t want it to come across that it isn’t a fun read and definitely worth the time to read. I was simply disappointed that the plot felt composed of different pieces that have all been done before, and that’s fine, that’s the nature of art, but I don’t want to be able to anticipate all those seams before I am a quarter of the way into a story, and then just having my expectations fulfilled every step of the way. I want something with this level of writing and these interesting characters to surprise me, and although I enjoyed every page of this book I wasn’t particularly surprised. Still a solid book, more than worthy of four stars and definitely a lot of fun, recommended for anyone interested in heartfelt family dynamics put to the test in a gripping thriller.

I want to thank the author, Joffe Books, and NetGalley, who provided a complimentary eARC for review. I am leaving this review voluntarily.

Well, I definitely wasn't expected that!

When newly single father Chris and his two daughters seek refuge at an old farmhouse, they are immediately grateful to be out of the snow storm. Freezing, lost and with his youngest daughter's leg broken, they simply couldn't go any further. Little did they know, Clara's cabin holds many dark secrets and one very unwelcome guest.

I loved this. The writing was superb and kept me on the edge of my seat the whole way through. Chris was a great character, believable in his actions. The 'dinner party' was tense, and the flash backs to Clara's childhood were nauseating. This book needs all the trigger warnings but most are mentioned and not too graphic.

Unfortunately, I did guess the main twist early on. I was so sure of it that I read the book with it in the back of my mind from the start. It didn't effect the story and I was still surprised along the way. The ending had my stomach in knots and I honestly had no idea how Chris and the kids were going to get out of this. My first Caleb Stephens but not my last.

**Thanks to Joffe Books and Netgalley for my free review copy.

A father takes his two daughters on a hiking trip to see if he can reconnect with his daughters. One daughter gets lost and gets injured and they stumble upon a house during a snowstorm where the occupants appear lovely... or are they?

This was a thrilling and fast paced read. I found Chris a great character, who was very relatable as he had his flaws and was navigating grief and parenthood. I enjoyed the alternating chapters between characters and years, particularly enjoying the flash backs.

There were some pretty gruesome scenes, these were done well without being too over the top. Lots of twists, lots of action, great character development and everything was rounded up nicely at the end.

Great book for fans of Criminal Minds or the movie "Split".

Set in the stunning wilderness of the Colorado Flat Tops, this addictive thriller packed with shocking twists will make you question everything you think you know about family.


That would be the part of the description that really made me want to read this book. It is also EXTREMELY true! This book follows Chris, whose wife died, and his two daughters who go on a camping trip in the mountains. It is not a pleasant trip as Kayla is very upset with her father. Upon arrival one of his daughters Emma, runs off into the woods after a cute bunny rabbit. Chris and his other daughter Kayla try to find her before a storm comes. When they find her, she is injured and needs help. Chris ventures out looking and finds a cabin that looks like it may be a good spot to rest and take a breather. The inhabitants seem to be friendly and allow them to stay for the night. Though once there things do not seem as they should. Something is just not quite right. The phone lines don’t work and the storm is getting worse but Chris decides to try to get some sleep. However, the night does not provide much sleep for him. Now a daughter is missing and they are in a fight for their life. Can they find help?

I have to say that some of the book was predictable but the author did a great job of adding other plot twists to keep the storyline entertaining. and the reader on a roller coaster ride waiting for the end. Caleb Stephens has yet again written a thriller that kept me engrossed and unable to put this book down. The characters were very well written with flaws that are so real. The dialogue between them is what really made this book great. I love a great thriller and I ABSOLUTELY. love this one.

Disclaimer: the blurb about the book has some inaccuracies. I am not sure if they are enough to change how people feel about the book but I at first thought I was reading the wrong one.



5 out of 5 stars



Thank you to NetGalley as well as the author/publisher for giving me the opportunity to read this book in exchange for my unbiased and honest review.

ARC REVIEW

Chris goes on a camping trip with his 2 daughters in order to to keep his family together. One of his daughters Emma gets injured and they stubble across a cabin to help his daughter..
But is the help they receive what they hoped?
With phone lines down, his daughter goes missing, a woman who isn't who she seems to be and a tall dark mystery figure....

I enjoyed this read. For me it left me on the edge of my seat and I wanted to continue reading to find out what was coming next.
When I was reading this book I felt like I was watching a movie. Could feel the tension from the characters.

First time read from this author and definitely won't be the last!!
#NetGalley #THEGIRLSINTHECABIN

This book felt influenced by Misery, and even maybe a little by The Ritual, in the choice of setting and the atmosphere. Caleb Stephens has written a thriller that uses shock to propel the reader through a chilling story that asks the question of how far would you prepared to go to protect yourself and the people you care about?

The answer: there doesn't seem to be a limit. And in this book, the characters show time and time again just how much they are willing to sacrifice.

Despite the thrills in the book, and the twists (not all surprising, mind you), there is one negative I need to mention, and that is the old trope of creating child characters who are too clever and too calm for the situation. It happens with the youngest child in this story. It's a trope that irks me each time I see it, especially if the context of the story doesn't match the character.

Still, even with that aspect to the story, I enjoyed this read. The pace is spot on, the author uses space and atmosphere to full advantage, and I do like the use of the small footprint to keep the action confined to a house and farm. The scenes envelop you when reading this, and the writing is at times very visceral. The author has balanced this story well.

Thanks to the author, the publisher, and Netgalley, for providing a read now copy of this book. All views are my own.

To quote one of the characters: “What in the actual fuck?”😭

To put it lightly, this novel is a true tour-de-force, delivering a thrilling and suspenseful ride that will leave you breathless. The story is haunting, eerie, and will keep you on the edge of your seat until the very end without letting up.

The book follows the story of Chris, a single father who takes his two daughters on a hike in the mountains of Colorado to rekindle their relationship after the loss of their mother to cancer. However, things take a turn for the worse when they get caught in a storm and Emma, Chris's younger daughter, gets injured. In their desperate search for help, they stumble upon a cabin in the woods that to reader automatically doesn't seem quite right. Things quickly take a sinister turn as they get themselves in even a worse situation than they were originally in.

The book's storyline is centered around it's remarkable characters that you can't help but empathize with. Chris is a sympathetic character, but not without his flaws that are throughly explored. Kayla is a complex character who struggles with coming to terms with her father and who still harbors both guilt and grief, and Emma is a brave and resilient character who manages to keep going despite her predicament. The cabin's occupants are both inquisitive and intimidating, and the setting is overwhelming, almost like a character. The suspenseful plot is heightened by not only the cabin but also its surroundings.

If you love psychological thrillers, this book is a must-read. The characters are complex, the setting is daunting, and the plot is fast paced. The author's talent for suspenseful storytelling is on full display here, and the result is a novel that is both gripping and unforgettable.

Thank you to Netgalley for providing me with an arc in exchange for an honest review.

3.5 stars rounded to 4!

I want to start off by thanking Caleb Stephens, Joffe Books, and NetGalley for this arc read, I really enjoyed this even though I guessed a major twist, I had a hard time putting this down! I am going to keep this very vague as I think it is best to just pick this book up without knowing much.

You follow along our main characters Chris, Kayla and Emma who recently lost their wife and Mother Lexi. Kayla and Emma are not on speaking terms with Chris after trying to get over the loss of their mother and what he did to them…

After his coworker tells him about the trips he and his boys took, Chris decides a camping trip is just the thing to help fix what is broken between him and his daughters… but what Chris doesn’t know is this trip will be a true test of survival for him and his family.

Chris and Kayla lose Emma while camping and they must find her before the storm starts… follow along with our main characters while they try to find and save Emma but stumble upon a cabin where the owner is hiding a horrible secret.

I highly recommend just picking this book up, it was a fast and fun read for me. This is something I could recommend to everyone, especially people who love thrillers.

What a great read. This book had me not wanting to put this book down It was so good. I am looking forward to reading more books from this Author.


A father takes his two daughters on a hiking trip to see if he can reconnect with his daughters. One daughter gets lost and gets injured. The family now gets stranded in a snowstorm. When they finally find shelter are they really safe there.

Overall I really enjoyed the story line of this book, but I was not prepared for the level of violence. I personally do not enjoy graphic descriptions of mutilation and gore so I had to skip over them to continue the story. i was invested enough to keep reading and I was glad I hung in there until the end.

PSYCHOLOGICAL THRILLER TO THE HILT! Caleb Stevens leaves no detail unturned. Such an amazing description of characters, situations and landscape.
Chris takes his girls on a hike in the mountains of Colorado as a tribute of sorts for his wife and the girls mother they lost recently to cancer. On a desperate attempt for Chris to rekindle his damaged relationship with Kayla, his oldest daughter, he’s hoping some time alone hiking and exploring will break down some barriers. Little did he know a storm was moving in fast. He stepped away from the campsite to do some fishing and asked Kayla to keep an eye on her younger sister, Emma. Kayla wonders off a bit as she’s looking at her dads cell phone and when they come back, Emma is missing. After desperately looking and searching in the pelting rain they spot her but her ankle and leg has been smashed by a boulder. After the miraculous succession to move the boulder, they find a place to shelter for the night knowing Emma’s leg is broken. The next morning Chris spots a cabin after treacherously hiking in the surmounting storm. Feeling relief after being invited into the warmth and safety of the cabin, they can’t easily relax or breathe easy, something isn’t quite right. Chris knows he needs to get Emma to a hospital but there’s no phone signal, and the storm is worsening. They agree to spend the night. After a sleepless night, Chris is more than ever determined to get help for Emma. Questions arise, who all lives in the cabin? Are they safe? Will they ever get help?
Without giving anything away, I was horrified.
If you love a psychological thriller, pick this one up ! It’s hard to put down!
Thanks to NetGalley for the ARC

This was the first I have read from this author. This was a quick easy read that I enjoyed and would probably read this author again.
Thank you netgalley for the chance to read and review this book

Girls in the Cabin is the first book I have been chosen to review on NetGallery. Now to figure out how to write an honest review without spoilers!

A grieving family goes camping to fix all their problems and everything that could go wrong does and you will be left asking yourself “Oh no! Will they survive the night?” but I didn’t really connect with any of the characters so I wasn’t to worried about the outcome.

Enter the woman in the cabin… PREDICTABLE!!! and I never know what’s going on with the twists and turns.

It was a quick read but at times wordy. The descriptions in some parts are so lengthy and other parts were just not there. Almost unrealistic at times, like in the corniest ways. (These people were way too battered and beat to do this much running!) Overall, it was ho hum but a quick read with some twists and turns.

Unsettling, brilliantly plotted, wonderful character development and impossible to put down. The twists and turns in this exceptional psychological thriller guide the story to a staggering finale. Highly recommended read and worthy of five stars.

This one sounded like it was going to be crazy. There was just too much going on in this one that added nothing to the overall story. I did not like this.