P U B D A Y R E V I E W
Secluded Cabin Sleeps Six by Lisa Unger - 3.5 stars

Start date: Nov 1
Finish date: Nov 4
Pub date: Nov 8

-multiple POV
-secluded weekend getaway
-dual timelines

Trigger Warnings found at the bottom of this review.

Thank you to Netgalley, the publisher, and the author for my digital copy!

The first half of this gets 3 stars, but the second half gets 4, resulting in my 3.5 star rating.

THE PROS
While there were a lot of characters, I didn't have a hard time keeping track of who's who. The author did a good job of introducing the characters to achieve this. The second half was intriguing and exciting, I finished it really quickly once I got to 50%. The writing was good! There were a few parts that seemed repetitive but all in all, I think it was well-written.

THE CONS
I felt that some of the characters and storylines just weren't necessary. Parts of it were predictable, I was hoping for something more shocking. The characters ultimately ended up being unlikeable, based on some of the decisions they made.







TW: miscarriage, infertility, cheating, rape, animal abuse (mentioned)

Well...without a doubt I can say that this book kept me entertained and intrigued! Multiple point of view storylines are a personal favorite so I loved that element.

Six people, three couples, one birthday, countless secrets. What is set out to be a posh relaxing weekend quickly turns into more of a creepy nightmare.

Often times Secluded Cabin Sleeps Six felt over the top, a bit far fetched, and kind of all over the place, but again, entertaining none the less. Just when I decided I wasn't sure where this ride was taking me, everything started to click and come together. Thank you to NetGalley and Harlequin Trade Publishing, Park Row for an ARC with my promise of an honest review. 3.5 stars rounded up to 4.

a 4.5 stars thriller read.

I started this one really blind, I don't know anything, not even read the blurb, and I'm glad, I really enjoyed it from the beginning till the end.

What I like:
- The characters, well not all, well all these characters are not a saint, everyone has dark secrets, some just do what they have to do because they're family, and some just pure evil. I have some fav characters that I want them to survive, I don't want anything bad happen to them, because they deserve happy ending, they're just deserve to have second chance, to righ the wrong.
- the story, it revolves around DNA, so it's pretty unique and it takes "blood is thicker than water" to another level.
- the pace, it's a fast-paced read, with back and forth between present and past, that add to the suspense, I keep guessing is this man is a bad guy, is this woman a bad person, is this what cause this revenge, or is this the motive. Yes I love it.
- the suspense, when the storm brewing and they're all trapped in that cabin, well no need to say that everything is getting ugly very fast, it's just so intense.

what I don't like:
- it has a good ending but I wished that one character get some ugly punishment, because that person totally deserves it.
- there's some storylines that kinda not finished, I need more answers.

recommended: yes, it's a fast-paced fun captivating suspense mystery thriller read with some twists and surprises.

Very good winter thriller.

Six people related by birth, marriage, friendship and lies go away on a weekend trip to a secluded cabin. Sounds like fun right?

Very well written, great character development and a storyline that has me thinking no thanks to a DNA test!!

Thank you for the opportunity to read this.

This is the PERFECT thriller for the winter season! I loved the vibes. Good character development, solid writing, and awesome descriptions. Lisa Unger is always a win.

The plot of the story itself was alright but I wasn’t gripped by the book. It took me a little while to finish reading, as I didn’t like many of the characters.

Lisa Unger has done it again. I've been a fan since Beautiful Lies in 2006 and I am never disappointed. I especially like that in her books even the tertiary characters are completely developed with fully defined backstories. Combine that with a well paced plot and I read it almost straight through. Highly recommended as are all of Lisa Unger's books.

Thanks to NetGalley and Park Row publisher for an advanced reader copy.

Three couples are vacationing in a secluded luxury cabin in the woods. What could possibly go wrong…
Read this one if you enjoy the “locked in” trope. There are multiple characters, multiple POV’s and past and present timelines, but I found it easy to follow. The beginning was a little slow, but picked up about 50% in. All characters were unlikable, had their own secrets and were suspicious. The suspense, the twists and the ending were just ok. I didn’t find there were any big surprises that I didn’t see coming.

Thank you to HTP and NetGalley for an advanced copy in exchange for my honest review.

Alright well I will never be taking a DNA test thank you for that. This is fun book. You have six people who all are all friends going to a cabin because Mako wants to celebrate their friendship and help everyone get away for a bit. Yet when six people who are all holding in dark secrets get together during a stormy night something is bound to come out. Little did any expect that a simple DNA test would lead a killer to their front steps. The whole concept for this book is just fun. It really highlights how decisions made throughout our life can come back and bite us in the butt. OR even the choices that were made for us in the case of one of the characters. I think readers are really going to enjoy how everything ties together in the end. It is a long wait for everything to come together, but I promise it does. It is not totally the smoothest tie in, or at least I didn’t feel like it was. But the book wraps up nicely and you are not left with any lose ties. I still enjoyed this book and Lisa Unger has become one of my favorite authors to recommend when someone is looking for a suspense story.
Thank you so much to Harlequin Trade Publishing and Netgalley for allowing me to read an advance copy of this title.

I’m a huge Lisa Unger fan so I was super excited to read her latest. This one is classic remote cabin getaway goes terribly wrong, with a few twists. As characters come on the scene (lookin at you creepy Trina) you start to wonder what’s simmering underneath.

Lots of characters are introduced and you think who ARE all these people and how are they gonna intersect? Who’s the bad one? Are they all bad? Wait, THAT one is the villain? What’s her deal and what is she up to? Who’s that guy and is he a red herring? That’s my favorite part of these type of books. Keeps ya on your toes. 😉

If you like locked-room mysteries with modern twists, you’ll enjoy this one. I will say the plot gets a bit convoluted at times because there’s so much going on. Dare I say, too much going on? Confessions on the 7:45 still stands as my favorite Unger title, but I read this one in 2 days so that’s always the sign of a WINNER for me. Library Journal and Kirkus both gave it Starred Reviews, too

Huge thank you to #NetGalley and #ParkRowBooks for the ARC in exchange for my honest review.

In Secluded Cabin Sleeps Six, we follow three couples to a cabin (if that’s what you want to call it) for what was meant to be a relaxing and fun weekend.

It turns into a 𝙣𝙞𝙜𝙝𝙩𝙢𝙖𝙧𝙚 before they can even enjoy their first night together.

Another sluggish start, but the pace did pick up around the 50% mark. Initially, I found it a bit confusing to follow the many POVs and different timelines. One, maybe two of the characters seemed unnecessary and merely meant to be fillers or to throw the reader off. That being said and in spite of the story becoming predictable, the last half of the book certainly moved more quickly and everything came together at the end.

There were no particularly likeable characters, in my opinion, and I was troubled to find out that some of the female characters could so easily cover for and continue to support someone who has committed some pretty horrible things in the past.

All in all, I don’t think it was a terrible book but it just wasn’t for me. I feel like it could have been executed a little bit better.

Thank you @netgalley and @htpbooks for the advance copy in exchange for an honest review.

It was supposed to be a weekend of rest and relaxation for the three couples in a cabin in Georgia that was designed to spoil its’ guests with a private chef, a hot tub, hiking trails and beautiful views. What they were not prepared for was was a major storm or the intruder who intended to kill them all. The cabin was rented by Mako and his wife Liza. While she is generally quiet, he is a character that is larger than life. Everything has to be his way and he loves showing off his wealth. Hannah is his sister, who has always supported him and made excuses for his behavior. Her husband works for Mako but sees him for who he really is. Cricket, a family friend, is also there to introduce them to her new boyfriend Joshua. Each person is harboring secrets that, if revealed, could destroy lives.

Lisa Unger also introduces Henry’s story. Henry’s mother Alice constantly moved them from place to place and he never knew his father. When she is murdered he is taken in by a foster mother. Alice’s murder goes unsolved, but the detective in charge puts him in touch with an aunt. His search for his father’s identity becomes an obsession that almost destroys the life that he has built. What he discovers about his history has him racing to the Georgia cabin in an effort to avert a disaster. Unger provides a story of pure suspense that is guaranteed to provide chills. I would like to thank NetGalley and Harlequin Trade Publishing/Park Row for providing this book for my review.

Secluded Cabin Sleeps Six is that thriller I’ve been waiting for for a while now. Stop reading now if you haven’t finished and don’t want spoilers, because I’m going to discuss some major plot points. I’ve been fascinated by genetic tracking for a while, especially when it’s used for solving cold cases. There some of that in this addictive read, but there’s also the intriguing twist of sperm donation and less than desirable inherited characteristics. What is nature versus nurture? Can evil be passed through DNA? SCSS is my favorite Lisa Unger to date. I loved the setting, I loved the characters, and I loved how she wove the two stories together for a epic ending. I’m going to be thinking about this one for a while.

What's it about (in a nutshell):
Secluded Cabin Sleeps Six by Lisa Unger is a psychological thriller about a retreat that turned deadly for six friends and family members who are keeping many secrets.

Initial Expectations (before beginning the book):
This is my second Lisa Unger book – the first being Confessions on the 7:45 in 2020. And from my experience with that tale, I expect lots of twists and turns and shocking revelations. I feel reasonably confident that I won't be disappointed.

Actual Reading Experience:
The entertainment value of this thriller is off the charts. It's messy but also shocking, and I love surprises! I could never have predicted where this story was going to go…EVER! I don't think that dark, but I love an author who does!
I loved the family themes, too. I think they can easily be overlooked with all that is going on, but they are there, and they are worth mentioning. The overriding theme is not a unique one, but it is one that I love when I find it – that of a family is not just blood; it's the people that are there for you in times of joy and in times of need or sorrow. Genetics aren't the sum of who you are – what you do with what you are given defines you.

Characters:
Character development took a back seat to the plot. Still, it's those secrets that prevent character development that also fuel the pace. So basically, I felt like the story traded character development for pace, and I was okay with that.
Some characters were worthy of my love and admiration. A definite standout is Henry, who I had no idea how he fit into the story until near the end, but I was so touched by all that he went through that I didn't care that he was an outlier.
Hannah is also a character I could get behind. She loves her husband and child immensely and would do anything for her family, including her brother. She makes mistakes but owns up to them, and I had to respect that. She is the perfect choice for narrating the majority of the story. However, her insecurities annoyed me a little bit at the beginning.

Narration & Pacing:
The narration is done through multiple POVs, with most of the chapters told by Hannah. All are in the first-person narration, which is excellent for keeping the suspense high and the secrets hidden. I kept all the characters straight, but some are more confusing than others because of their placement and the lack of knowing their relationship to the story's central theme.
Events picked up around halfway, but I felt the pace stayed high from beginning to end. It went from high to hold-on-to-your-hats speed, which I love, love, love!

Setting:
I loved the setting. How many of us have looked at a gorgeous rental property and contemplated renting it for some time away. And the more secluded, the better when you want to get away from it all. So, this gorgeous cabin in the Georgia woods twenty miles from any town would be the place to catch the eye and make each of us act. But we all know bad things lurk in the woods – scary things that leave us vulnerable and dangerous things that put our lives in peril. I can't think of a more perfect setting for this book. I just can't.

Read if you like:
• Great use of setting
• Multiple POVs
• Family themes
• Loads of secrets and shocking twists and turns
• A fast-paced from beginning to end
• Highly entertaining

A huge Thank You to The author, The publisher and NetGalley for providing the e-arc in exchange for an honest review.
This was AMAZING!

3.5 stars

Short and sweet review time.

I really enjoyed this book, but in the end, it didn’t check all the boxes for me.

🤎 𝐖𝐡𝐚𝐭 𝐈 𝐋𝐢𝐤𝐞𝐝

🍁I appreciated the alternating storylines that came together in a surprising way for an eye-opening reveal.

🍁Isolated settings and locked room mysteries are two of my favorite elements, and this book has both in spades.

🤎 𝐖𝐡𝐚𝐭 𝐂𝐨𝐮𝐥𝐝 𝐇𝐚𝐯𝐞 𝐁𝐞𝐞𝐧 𝐁𝐞𝐭𝐭𝐞𝐫

🍁There was a bit of misdirection that caused the plot to become a bit muddled for this reader.

🍁I felt that the large number of characters – some entirely unnecessary – caused a bit of frustration in trying to keep track of who’s who.

With all of that said, this was a fast-paced enjoyable read. I hope you love it.

My thanks to @parkrowbooks and @netgalley for the opportunity to read this book before its publication date

This was actually my first Lisa Unger novel. I really enjoyed her writing style. This one is about three couples that rent a cabin deep in the forest. But crazy things begin to happen, and one of them even goes missing.

The plot isn't super unique. I feel like I've read a book similar to this before. There are a lot of characters in this book and I sometimes felt like I couldn't keep track of who was who. But, I was hooked from the beginning and really enjoyed this book.

I'm a fan of John Dickinson Carr and other Golden Age mystery writer so locked room mystery means that there will be a body in a locked room, no way to access it but a murder took place. It's an impossibile crime in a locked room.
This is a thriller featuring a limited number of suspects, a tons of storylines and I enjoyed it as it kept me on the edge and I couldn't guess the twists or the culprit.
Entertaining, complex, a bit confusing at times.
Recommended.
Many thanks to the publisher for this arc, all opinions are mine

There are so many mysteries out there with the locked room concept and being secluded. I really enjoy Lisa Unger's novels so I was hoping that Secluded Cabin Sleeps Six would be a big hit. Sadly I found it more of the middle range of the popular genre.

So much was happening in the novel that it was impossible to figure out what was the focus. There were marriages/relationships falling apart, sibling drama, DNA mysteries, random storylines that had me wondering what was happening. I didn't enjoy not knowing what was in the past vs present and the Henry storyline took away from the current day cabin drama, which I was really liking.

The ending left more to be desired and I found that it wrapped up a bit too nicely.

Thank you to Netgallery and Harlequin Trade Publishing, Park Row for an ARC in exchange for my honest review.

I finished this book about 3 months ago, and I found that when I came back to review it, I couldn't really remember much about it! So it seems that this was a rather forgettable read! I gave it 4 stars on Goodreads, so I did like it at the time I finished it. A serviceable suspense/mystery title that will entertain you, but probably not stay with you for long if you read a lot of these types of books.