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.

Secluded Cabin, Sleeps Six sounds exactly like what it is – a mystery revolving around a gullible group of people who allow themselves to be lured into a dangerous situation.

Hannah and Bruce have it all – or so it would seem on the surface. They’re upper-middle class Floridians with a beautiful baby daughter, a loving extended family and plenty of money. Bruce’s company, a tech troubleshooting firm, keeps him busy and Hannah has a growing concern about the seeming distance in their relationship recently, but for the most part they know they are lucky. Most people would kill to be in their shoes.

Cricket has been friends with Hannah and her family since high school. She’s been so much a part of their lives, it’s like Cricket’s actually kin. She hasn’t, however, been as lucky as they are, and while Cricket does okay career-wise, love has eluded her. Until now. Joshua is to die for – he’s everything she has ever dreamed of in a partner and she can’t wait to introduce him to the people that matter to her most.

Mako has been killing it in life and in love. His company is extremely successful, providing him with wealth and privilege, and he adores his lovely and kind wife Liza. The friends who supported him as he built his company, especially his beloved sister Hannah, her husband Bruce, and their good friend Cricket, are a large part of what has enabled his prosperity, and he is determined to share some of his bounty with those he loves. To that end he rents a luxury cabin in the mountains and invites them all to enjoy a decadent weekend getaway.

Six young, beautiful, successful people. An opulent, picturesque setting. Everything looks perfect. But of course, looks can be deceiving.

I’m gonna get the content warnings out of the way first. This is a mystery, so there are some dark subjects discussed; among them are sexual assault and harrassment, rape, voyeurism, murder and suicide. The issue of enabling is also discussed – how often is our silence on something that is uncomfortable a quiet endorsement of things that are unacceptable?The role genetics plays is also discussed: Are we born with a predisposition for evil or do our choices define us? The author does a good job of showcasing how most of us are products of both, how we are all flawed and that the line between good and evil is a lot thinner and murkier than we often believe.

With the exception of two characters, our motley crew is pretty damaged, and it’s a credit to Ms. Unger’s talent that I liked many of them in spite of that. Cricket is a party girl, caught in an abusive relationship from her past. The man is married and often either cruel or dismissive of her feelings, hooking up with her for sex and follwing the encounter with insults and scorn. She doesn’t know what it will take for her to step out of that dynamic, she just knows she is getting increasingly desperate to do so. Mako has a dark side that he tries to counterbalance by clinging to good people like Liza and Hannah, but he has a tendency to drag them towards his own evil rather than walking into the light with them. He fears someone knows just how far he’s fallen and he’s determined not to let them make him pay for his mistakes. Liza lives her life mindfully, optimizing peace and calm and selling that to others via her role as an influencer – until issues with Mako make her tumble. Now it looks like she has made a mistake she will have to take violent measures to get rid of. Hannah’s surface life is suburban perfection – but there is an incident from her past that haunts her, a moment where she fears she made a wrong choice and cost another woman everything. Bruce has a secret that could destroy his marriage; he isn’t sure that revealing it is the solution but he is becoming increasingly concerned that keeping it is an even worse option. Joshua made some poor choices which have left him at the mercy of a fairly bad person. He’s not sure how to get out from under them, he just knows it has to happen soon.

Those are the guests, but as isolated as the luxury retreat is, there are other people in those scenic woods with them. Bracken, the resort owner, has long felt like an observer of life rather than a participant in it. He has a dirty little secret that has allowed him to take his examination of others to a whole new level but now it seems someone has discovered it and he’s not quite sure how to handle that. Trina, an unexpected and uninvited extra staying in a small cabin near them, has daddy issues that are the mother of all her problems – and she has some pretty serious problems. Henry, racing towards the scene for fear the situation is about to explode, suspects something pretty terrible about someone he loves and he isn’t sure how to fix it.

And then there are the alleged ghosts, victims of a tragedy from a long time ago in that location. Is history about to repeat itself?

I really liked the nuance the author uses to show us that most people are a mix of good and bad traits, right and wrong decisions, and a combination of genetics and choices. Our DNA might give us superficial beauty but it can’t turn us into great people. It might make us smart but our choices are what make us righteous. I liked the arc of flawed people learning to do better and the irredeemable meeting justice. I also appreciated the pacing and how the mystery unravels – we begin with a sense of menace and a lot of possibilities as to what is causing that until we reach an explosive conclusion.

Secluded Cabin, Sleeps Six is not going to be for everyone. The flawed protagonists do some truly despicable things and only two of the characters are genuinely ‘good’ people. But this tale is a wonderful mystery that asks a lot of intriguing questions about right and wrong and just what makes a person choose one over the other. I would recommend it to anyone who enjoys a dark, nuanced suspense novel.

I'm a fan of Lisa Unger but for me this novel fell a little flat due to the numerous characters and the way that the action was moving. I don't know if it was a pacing issue or what caused me to feel like things were going up and down and up and down. It was just an ok read, not my favorite by this author. Thank you netgalley for this arc in exchange for my honest opinion.

While parts of this book were entertaining, I felt like it needed more focus to be successful. There were too many plot lines that did not come together in a satisfying way at the end. I wish the book chose one plot to focus entirely on (perhaps the dna plot OR the creepy cabin cameras) instead of trying to combine three different books in one. I felt like the book had a bit of false advertising, as the “secluded cabin” is only one part of the story, and not even the main part. So, while there were moments that I enjoyed, the execution led to an overall “meh” experience.

This one had notes of Ruth Ware’s debut “In a Dark, Dark Wood”. It’s a creepy locked door mystery,, and while I figured out the major twist before it happened, it didn’t detract from my enjoyment of the book. Overall, a solid 3 stars: it didn’t surprise me, but kept me interested.

Not gonna lie, this was my first novel from the author and it definitely started with a kick! In my defense I do own books by her but I have not made my way to them yet. The scenery was my favorite part here. The cabin sounded as one I will definitely stay just not the secluded part lol. I love a good ole mystery and whodunnit and his one delivered just as much! Perfect to sit down and read it at once because it’s a page turner!

Lisa Unger is a prolific thriller writer; I've read many of her books and they do not disappoint. This was no exception. Tech mogul, Mako books a relaxing trip for his sister, Hannah, her husband and another couple. The buildup is a slow burn. There is an interesting integration of DNA testing into the plot. I liked that unique addition to the locked room mystery.
Everyone has secrets, the characters are deeply flawed. The interest went up and down for me and then way up with the ending which brings this to a 3.5 star book for me.

Using a unique tool to drive her thriller, Ms Unger delves into the popularity of DNA testing to trace family relationships. The setting is perfect: an isolated “cabin” deep in the woods of Georgia that she describes so well the reader could be lurking in the trees. The novel is peopled with those harboring secrets that ultimately lead to the real meaning of family. Very enjoyable read.

Thanks to NetGalley and Park Row for the ARC to read and review.

I had a hard time getting into this book. All of the different characters and stories didn’t work for me. I had a hard time keeping track. I ended up DNFing the book because I really could not stay interested.

Lisa Unger does it again!

I read and LOVED Confessions On The 7:45 and couldn't wait to get my hands on Secluded Cabin Sleeps Six!

There's just something so special about Ungers writing! I can't get enough!

Lisa Unger is all about intense writing that will keep the reader guessing continuously, like her previous books from “Last Girl Ghosted” and “Confessions on the 7:45”. While I enjoyed the previously mentioned books this one was not my cup of tea. There were multiple POVs, which are one of my favorite writing styles, and I kept thinking I had it figured out, Unger was sure to be able to pull the rug out from under me and had me rethinking everything I thought I knew.

The story begins with a family holiday gathering that revolves around the anticipating of heading up to this beautiful secluded cabin [that sleeps six] that the brother of one of the main characters is paying for. No one can find much information about the place other than it’s five star reviews but one character does find an off-putting review that has her questioning whether the new mom should really go or not. They all arrive and though the place is breath taking there is just something not quite right.

What I did not like is that the ending did not need to continue on as long as it did. I understand it was to wrap up all of the questions but it could have been much shorter. I also believe the holiday gathering the beginning went on a bit longer than necessary. After finishing the book, I felt there were too many perspectives within the book, and some could have been left out. Even with leaving them out the story still would have been portrayed clearly.

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️💫
This is one of my favorite books by this author. It’s about some grown siblings and their significant others going on vacation together in a secluded cabin. Things quickly go awry….
I had a hard time putting this one down! There is a very interesting aspect of DNA weaved into the storyline. Definitely recommend!

“𝑴𝒂𝒚𝒃𝒆 𝒇𝒂𝒎𝒊𝒍𝒚 𝒊𝒔 𝒎𝒐𝒓𝒆 𝒕𝒉𝒂𝒏 𝒘𝒉𝒆𝒓𝒆 𝒚𝒐𝒖 𝒄𝒐𝒎𝒆, 𝒎𝒂𝒚𝒃𝒆 𝒊𝒕’𝒔 𝒂𝒍𝒔𝒐 𝒘𝒉𝒆𝒓𝒆 𝒚𝒐𝒖’𝒓𝒆 𝒈𝒐𝒊𝒏𝒈, 𝒘𝒉𝒂𝒕 𝒚𝒐𝒖 𝒃𝒖𝒊𝒍𝒅 𝒘𝒊𝒕𝒉 𝒕𝒉𝒆 𝒄𝒉𝒐𝒊𝒄𝒆𝒔 𝒚𝒐𝒖 𝒎𝒂𝒌𝒆.”

This is my first Lisa Unger read and it will not be my last; I really love a locked room mystery!

Unger creates a spooky setting with the luxury “cabin” deep in the woods. The main characters are interesting and have many layers. I at first worried all the different perspectives would be tricky to keep straight, but this was not the case; each has a grey moral ground and secrets that you cannot wait to see revealed. They are selfish in their own ways, flawed with layers and mistakes, which makes for such great reading. There is a feeling of tension and being watched, especially once someone goes missing and the storm starts - it becomes truly eerie. I also loved that the way Unger weaved a couple seemingly unrelated narratives into the story and revealed their connection with some good solid twists. The mystery is heightened by the topics of genetics, chosen family and the search for answers; Unger certainly highlights that family isn’t always about biology but about the actions of those around us.

Secluded Cabin Sleeps Six is a story of genetics and chosen family, secrets, lies, wealth, finding answers, and connection. It’s a quick paced suspense novel that made for a wonderful ScaredStraightReads book club pick; it’s encouraged me to pick up some other Unger books in 2023. Thank you to Harlequin Trade Publishing, Park Row and NetGalley for the ARC!

This book kept me up late. Very exciting and well written. The characters were interesting, they all seemed to have hidden secrets. I found the theme was very interesting. Of course the Florida storm just added to the atmosphere. Good research here. I felt for Liza when she had a migrane, I have experienced them before, so I can relate. I would certainly recommend this book, it wasn't perfect but it was still a good read.

So many characters and storylines to keep track of. I had high hopes for this read. Secluded cabin, 3 couples and family secrets - could make for an engaging read. But for some reason this one did not do it for me. I think there were too many characters each with their own storyline. Made it hard to keep everyone straight.

I enjoyed the premise of this one but it seemed a little bit slow moving for me and honestly a bit complicated. Overall I enjoyed the story but it seemed like some of the parts were drawn out much longer than they needed to be but, it was wrapped up nicely at the end.

I loved the vibes of this locked room thriller! The book alternates between the couples at the cabin and two characters who seemingly have nothing to do with the initial story. I enjoyed the mix of twisted family dynamics as well. 4 stars!