This was a mixed-feeling thriller for me. It was so full of details and characters and backstory that my mind was pinging all over the place trying to figure it out. The thrill part of it was not as big as I was expecting with all the other content, but I was still weaving spider webs trying to connect all the dots and was satisfied when everything was toed up nicely. I was, perhaps, a little let down with the "locked room" aspect - it felt a little predictable and forced. I have many mixed feelings about the characters too. So many feelings. Overall, a quick and engaging read that I would recommend.

As much as I was intrigued by the concept of this one, it didn't quite get there for me. I felt like the differing perspectives didn't really fit together for most of the story. Things like that can cause me to not be able to really get into the story and that's what I found happening here. By the end everything did come together, but the pacing was off since I kept being thrown off by the disjointed perspectives. Also, there weren't really any characters that were reliable or likeable, so that's another thing that was pulling me out of the story. Once completed I can definitely see how the story can be enjoyed, it is certainly twisty and does come together in the end - but this one just wasn't entirely for me.

Hmmm. This started off strong but kinda took a weird turn at some point. I just didn’t expect the DNA testing / ancestry angle to be a such a huge part of the book. Overall, there were a lot of moving parts and way too many characters, imo, which resulted in superfluous characters, unnecessary red herrings, and many lose ends. It got a bit convoluted at the end but still entertaining. I think it’s definitely worth a read but it wasn’t my favorite of Unger’s.

Rating: 3.5 stars (rounded up to 4).

Thank you, NetGalley and Park Row, for the eARC in exchange for my honest review!

I like the twists and turns. I would have liked it to be a bit shorter. The characters were well written and the dialogue was versed well. I would have liked a bit more action at the begging of the story to set the scene. Overall fun read!

This book had me wondering from the start. The writing is good with lots of descriptive phrases that put you into the cabins waiting for the next to die.
Brilliant!

Wow, this was such a fun and quick read! It was fast paced with so many secrets to uncover! Had a lot of fun reading this!

I think this was my second Lisa Unger Read, and I may have liked it more than the first one I read! The unreliable characters, and not knowing whom to trust is what I liked the most!!

A locked room mystery set in a rental house in the middle of nowhere? Sign me up! The story kept my interest, but I did feel like a few of the side stories were a bit muddled and didn't go anywhere. Otherwise, this was a great mystery to read during the fall. Thanks to Netgalley for the free copy in exchange for an honest review.

Lisa Unger's "Secluded Cabin Sleeps Six" is a locked room thriller that attempts to keep readers on the edge of their seats. The narrative is set in a remote cabin, a classic setting for a thriller, and Unger does a commendable job of creating an atmosphere of suspense and mystery.
The book is a bit lengthy, which may be a deterrent for some readers. The pacing could have been tighter, and some sections felt unnecessarily drawn out. This occasionally disrupted the flow of the story and made it a bit challenging to maintain interest.
The plot, while intriguing, had elements that seemed a bit far-fetched. Some of the twists and turns felt forced and not entirely believable, which detracted from the overall suspense and thrill of the story.
Unger introduces a large cast of characters in this novel. While this adds to the complexity of the story, it also makes it a bit difficult to keep track of everyone. Some readers might find this overwhelming and confusing.
Despite these criticisms, Unger's writing style is engaging and she does a good job of creating a sense of unease and tension. However, compared to her other works, "Secluded Cabin Sleeps Six" falls a bit short. It's not a bad read by any means, but it's not Unger at her best.
In conclusion, "Secluded Cabin Sleeps Six" is an okay read for fans of the genre and Lisa Unger's previous works. However, those new to her writing might want to start with her other novels. This book is a testament to Unger's storytelling abilities, but it's not her most compelling work.

A new spin on an old genre. I can never get enough of a good whodunit. Several couples try to get away to a secluded luxury cabin. A storm threatens the trip, and strange things start to happen right off the bat. It's a classic, with a fun twist!

Secluded Cabin Sleeps Sox:

“Some people were born with it—that beautiful ease, that aura of never worrying about making it, surviving. Some stood on the other side of the glass, watching.”

Thank you @harperaudio for my gifted copy.

You know what’s sad? I saw this on my NetGalley list of books to still give feedback on and I thought, “well, I already have” Guess what? I didn’t. It’s so generic and boring, that it’s just another churn out mystery thriller that is not memorable.

I was excited for this locked room mystery type with a cabin, but this was messy. Now, I LOVE mess. I love domestic mess, but this was snooze messy.

I was expecting a solid And Then There Were None locked room mystery masterpiece, and maybe it’s my fault for having such high expectations. But it’s Lisa Freaking Unger, I’m allowed to have high expectations.

Sadly a huge miss, but can’t wait for the next one to come out!

This book was great, except I feel like the end could be more complex. Lisa Unger is an amazing author, and I almost feel like she dropped the ball at the end. She weaved this awesome web of characters with a wonderful link to modern day ancestry investigation/tracing, and at the end there needed to be a little more for me.
The book follows multiple characters in a family (Leo, Sophia, Hannah, Mako, Cricket) and their significant others. They rent a cabin, Mako's idea, and it's more like a breathtaking hideaway. They go to get away, and enjoy some bonding time together. Then things take a turn for the worse and the intertwined story of Henry finally makes sense. What starts as a perfect relaxing getaway, quickly turns into a horror movie script.
Even though I felt the ending could be explored a little more, this was still a great book and is definitely worth the read!

I always enjoy a good locked room mystery story. I enjoyed the secluded cabin setting and the premise of friends getting back together where everyone has their secrets. Did I think it was anything shocking or unique? Not really. But did I enjoy it? Yes, of course.

Unger's latest was a decent (if at times over the top) mystery-thriller that is sure to have you not want to partake in 23andMe.

Stay-at-home mom Hannah, her computer whiz husband Bruce, tech guru brother Mako, yogi SIL Lisa, best friend Cricket and Cricket's new boyfriend Joshua find themselves at a state-of-the-art cabin in the woods for a weekend getaway. Little do they know their host, Bracken, watches their every move, although he has no idea the darkness of the secrets each of the six guests carry.

While I am generally a fan of a rotating POV, cycling between four seemed to be a bit much. Bracken's chapters didn't add much to the plot besides a touch of voyerism a la Joe Goldberg; it felt about as natural to the plot as the fact that the cabin in the woods was on a haunted property.

What did distingushed this one for me was the DNA plot line. In addition to Unger's well-thought out characterization, the story felt more elevated than a simple cabin in the woods.

Thank you to NetGalley and to the publisher for this ARC in exchange for an honest review.

In Secluded Cabin Sleeps Six by Lisa Unger, readers will be transported into a world of secrets, lies, and betrayal that will leave them on the edge of their seats. The story follows three couples renting an isolated luxury cabin in the woods for a weekend getaway until they quickly realize they may not be alone. With an impeccable blend of suspense and mystery, this is one thriller that readers won't want to put down until they get all the answers—highly recommended!

A Cozy Thriller with Room for Improvement

"Secluded Cabin Sleeps Six" by Lisa Unger offers readers a mix of mystery and suspense set against a backdrop of isolation. While the book has its moments of intrigue, there are areas where improvement could enhance the overall reading experience.

Unger's writing style sets the tone for a claustrophobic and tense atmosphere, creating an eerie ambiance that fits well with the secluded cabin setting. The story's premise promises a gripping mystery, and the initial build-up succeeds in keeping readers engaged.

The characters, while not extensively developed, serve their roles within the plot. Their interactions and dynamics contribute to the unfolding mystery, though some deeper characterization could have added more emotional depth to the narrative.

The book's pacing, however, tends to be inconsistent. There are moments of intense suspense followed by lulls that disrupt the flow of the story. Tightening the pacing and maintaining a more consistent level of tension could have heightened the sense of urgency and suspense.

As the story progresses, the mystery's resolution comes with a mix of satisfaction and disappointment. While some revelations are well-executed and unexpected, others feel forced or lacking in believability. The final reveal leaves certain loose ends that could have benefited from more thorough explanation.

Furthermore, the setting of the secluded cabin, while initially promising, becomes slightly repetitive as the story unfolds. More exploration of the cabin's atmosphere and its effects on the characters' psyche could have enhanced the story's psychological aspects.

In conclusion, "Secluded Cabin Sleeps Six" has the potential to be a compelling psychological thriller, but it falls short in some key areas. The writing style and initial mystery hold promise, yet pacing issues and a somewhat uneven resolution prevent it from reaching its full potential. With more consistent pacing, deeper character development, and a more satisfying resolution, this book could become a standout in the genre.

Thank you NetGalley for an arc of this thriller! I love.a creepy thriller set in a secluded scary setting, and this one set in a remote luxury cabin with 3 couples fit that bill. The characters were all unreliable, so their POVs in the story were a bit stressful at times to say the least. Besides being unreliable though, the characters were all very unlikeable and several of them seemed pointless at times. Overall a fun thriller with just a few holes for me but I still enjoyed it overall.

Thrillers with characters that are unlikeable are usually the best kind, and this was certainly the case with this book. I was really kept guessing, which is exactly what I hope for with a thriller. I will recommend this book to my thriller-loving friends.

Don't get me wrong here because I DID enjoy the book... to an extent. I've seen this thriller/mystery trope too many times so it was very easy to compare to others. The characters were bleh and somewhat annoying. It was easy to get through, but then I felt nothing when I finished the book.

Thank you NetGalley and the publisher for the eARC!

This book just wasn't for me. I wanted to like it, I tried to like it, but I just didn't like it.

Secluded Cabin Sleeps Six is a psychological thriller about three couples who go to a luxery cabin for a relaxing getaway, but secrets are revealed and a hurricane is on the way.

First of all there are far too many characters to remember and keep track of, not to mention the many many different points of view. I'm a big fan of multiple POVs but this was extreme.

The plot was too out of the box for me with this one. I won't do with any spoilers, but it's just a bit too out there. While I know there is a lot happening with genetic testing, this was just too much. And there were plot points that were not ever revisited.

I was excited for the claustrophobic secluded feel of this one, but the actual storyline just wasn't it for me.

Thank you to the author, publisher, and NetGalley for an advanced copy of this book in exchange for my honest opinion.