I enjoyed the mystery behind this book. The family dynamics kept it interesting. It is well written. I recommend this book. I received an advance ebook from the publisher and Netgalley. Thank you for allowing me to give my unbiased review

The Lodge was certainly twisty, with some true surprises!

Things I enjoyed about this book:
- I was amped for the setting; this gorgeous, snowed-in cabin. I don't feel like it was used as much as it could have been, but was still perfect for this story to take place.
- Plot points I did not see coming. Typically thrillers/mysteries don't shock me anymore, but I loved how various pieces were figured out by the characters.
-This was a super quick read and easily consumable. If you're looking for a book that will keep you on your toes, fly by, and make you do some sleuthing, this is it.
- The end does make you answer some questions about what is morally right and wrong, and how far you will go for your family.

Things that detracted from my enjoyment:
- Every single character is an unreliable narrator, and frankly, I didn't like any of them. I kept waiting for a moment of redemption that would make me want to be on anyone side, but that never happened.
- The police refusing to allow anyone to leave the cabin. That was odd and not something that I think would actually happen for a week at a time. On top of that the weather wouldn't permit the guests to leave anyway, but that was a point that I think didn't need to be there.
- There were so many storylines running together that at times it got convoluted.

Overall, a good, quick read. Thank you to NetGalley and Bookouture for an opportunity to read this book!

It’s my first trapped in a snow storm book of the season. It starts out so innocent and then packs a punch after bodies are piling up. Everyone has a secret as exes and family maybe play not so well together.

I always love Sue Watson books. They always have moments where I did not see that coming. There are multiple narrators in this one and whomever is narrating, it’s almost like we are in their head as they not only tell the story, but justify anything they may have done. And those mini cliffhangers at the end of the chapters really had it so I did not want to put this one down.

I could never figure out which, if any, of Scott’s women I could like or even trust. The ex-wife, the current wife, or the maybe new mistress all had reasons to give me pause. Then throw in his mother and his daughter and it was like there were five versions of the truth running around with me having no idea who might even be close to reliable.

This really was a good read/listen and lured me in and kept me guessing.

Alison Campbell and Tamsin Kennard narrated the audiobook and really did a great job of voicing the characters and bringing the story to life. They had me loving the moments when I switched from reading to listening. I’m not sure I had a favorite reading or listening to this one. You can’t go wrong either way.

If you’re a psychological suspense fan and haven’t read a Sue Watson, this one is a great start and perfect for the start of winter.

This was my first Sue Watson book and won't be the last! It did not disappoint and got me out of a very long reading slump.

This book is full of twists and keeps the reader guessing. With the use of dual narrators you got two people's persepectives, Fiona the ex wife and Danni the new wife. A loving Grandmother wanting all her family together for her birthday regardless of however awkward it would be. She decided to arrange a weekend at a lodge. It was a true 'who done it?' story and I was nowhere near guessing correctly.

A story to keep you gripped and on the edge of your seat.

I adore a Sue Watson book. I have been so excited to have a newbie to read and it hasn’t disappointed.

Watson is a brilliant writer. The Lodge is another gem which has delivered on every level. This book has been twisty and unpredictable.

I loved the bitchiness that unfolded in this book. The secrets have unveiled and I’ve been completely hooked by this one.

This is an addictive read which I found unpredictable. It moves at the perfect pace and has kept me guessing.

I’ve read many books by this author and they get better and better. I have no hesitation in recommending this book to other readers.

This is a gem from beginning to end

🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟

Twists and secrets galore. This is Sue Watson at her very best.A great book
Thanks to Netgalley for the opportunity to read this ARC in return for an honest review

Thanks to netgalley for the chance to read this book,

Angela insists that her son, ex wife, crurrent partner and his children spend the weekend together at a lodge. The lodge is in a brilliant setting, its glass fronted and surrounded by snow. There is an argument, someone goes missing and they think someone is either injured or dead. The husband secret is set be revealed and not everyone came to play happy families, someone came to get revenge. But will they…..

I've been a fan of Sue Watson for some time now. She is definitely an autobuy author for me so I was delighted to be approved by Netgalley and Bookoutre to receive an ARC of her latest novel, The Lodge.

A dysfunctional family are brought together to spend a long weekend celebrating matriarch of the family, Angela's 75th birthday. Angela hopes a weekend at a luxury lodge in the depths of winter will help heal family rifts. She's even hired a chef for the weekend. However there is a snow storm and the family are unable to escape the lodge and the tension explodes in a mix of secrets, jealousy and revenge.

I thought the writing was superb and created an atmospheric setting for this locked room thriller. You could cut the tension with a knife. As is expected with thrillers there were plenty of twists, red herrings and clues to unravel.

I really loved the characters, although no-one is who they appear to be. The story is told from the POVs of Fiona, the ex-wife and Danni, the new wife. The complicated family dynamics add to the tension and creates an air of anxiety.

I would recommend this one to anyone who loves a good psychological thriller. It had me gripped and on the edge of my seat.

Such a fantastic, suspenseful, ‘cabin in the woods’ read! Loved this perfect thriller just in time for the holidays! So many twisty turns that I did not expect! I just loved both Fiona and Danni! Great plot, characters and ending!

Thank you NetGalley and publisher!

“I’d been wearing the shade of wronged-wife-bitterness for too long, I was ready for something more positive. So that weekend I would swathe my pain and rage in muted shades of grey. Exuding love, light and acceptance in winter white wool lounge pants paired with a dove-grey fluffy hoodie, I planned to slay .” Yesss girl, SLAY

A glass fronted lodge. A blinding snowstorm. A husband, his mother, current wife, ex wife, and children at said lodge. Add to the mix a cook with possible sinister motives and one murdered man on the road leading up to the lodge. Can this family make it out of their weekend away without killing each other?

4.5 stars!! Oh man was this book addictive. I listened to this exclusively and the audio was done SO WELL. With dual narrators you got the different voices and tones for each wife, Danni and Fiona. There were so many moving parts here and so many questions as the story progressed. Who is loyal? Who is stepping out on their spouse? Are the kids in on the drama?

This was a fast paced thriller that I just could not put down. And that twist at the end?! I did NOT see that coming. Well done, Sue Watson. Well done.

Thank you to Netgalley, Bookouture, and Bookouture Audio for the ARC and ALC in exchange for an honest review.

The Lodge was extremely atmospheric! I felt like I was snowed in at the lodge with the family! This story was full of twists and turns. You didn’t know who you should trust and that kept me hooked.

BLOG TOUR REVIEW


Review for 'The Lodge' by Sue Watson.


Read and reviewed via NetGalley for Sue Watson, Bookouture publishers, Bookouture Audiobooks and Bookouture anonymous


Publication date 24th October 2023


This is the fifth book I have read by this author. I have previously read 'First Date', 'The New Wife', The Nursery, 'The Wedding Day' and 'The Forever Home' and I highly recommend each and every one!!


This novel consists of a prologue, 30 chapters and an epilogue. The chapters are short to medium in length so easy to read 'just one more chapter' before bed...OK, I know yeah right, but still just in case!


This book is fantastically written with vivid descriptions that absolutely grip the readers attention and puts them right in the middle of it all making your heart pound and you constantly second guessing.


Another huge success by Sue!!! This book has got to be the most heart racing books I've read in a long time, if not ever!!! It had me hook, line and sinker from the first page and I could not put it down!!! Every time I said one more chapter it ended on a cliffhanger and I just had to know what was going on!!! This kept on happened over and over until before I knew it I had devoured the whole book in one sitting!! If you are going to read this then clear your day because it is truly unputdownable. I started this yesterday afternoon and finished it at approx 2am, read it in one sitting and although I'm knackered today it was 1000000% worth it!!! I absolutely adore the fact that it is set in an isolated lodge where the characters are all confined to due to the weather as well as under police instructions. Any books set in spooky or isolated areas always get bonus points from me as it definitely ups the suspense levels several notches!!! Sue's evocative writing and Tamsin and Alison's fantastic narratives ensures you are whisked away to the isolated lodge in Kynance Cove in Cornwall leaving you shivering in the cold and guessing who did what and who he something to hide. I loved that you got to meet a small selection of characters each with different characters and that there was a mix of personalities and limited suspects!!! It keeps you constantly guessing who did what!! It is filled with family, arguments, deceipt, lies, love, secrets, twists, turns and everything you could want from a psychological thriller along with some MASSIVE BOMBSHELLS which will leave you absolutely shocked!!! I for one was NOT expecting that at all!!! The fact that there wasn't just one bombshell that shocked me, towards the end it was like a war one of them and I was absolutely blown away. My jaw literally hit the floor!!! I don't think I have ever been as gobsmacked as I have after reading this absolutely gripping page turner! This book is rammed with suspense and tension and will keep you biting your nails, on the edge of your seat with your heart pounding while your flipping the pages because you just cant stop. Sue when are you getting this made into a movie so I can be the first in line for it!!! Another fantastic success as always!!

This is one of the few books that I have listened to 100% on Audiobook. If I listen to a book on audiobook I usually also read the physical book between but for the second time I listened to the whole book and I was impressed! I must say a HUGE congratulations to the narrators Alison Campbell and Tamsin Kennard who both did an amazing job bringing this story and the characters to life. I have previously listened to 'Her First Child' by Sheryl Browne, 'The Suspect' by Kathryn Croft and 'My Daughters Boyfriend' and 'Her Husband's Mistake' by Daniel Hurst that were all also narrated by Tamsin Kennard and I would highly recommend listening to or reading them all as it they re other fantastic page turners from other great authors!! I would listen to it in the car and while walking at any opportunity. I'm not only looking forward to reading more books by Sue but also to listening to more books narrated by both Tamsin and Alison!




One thing I loved about this book is that was only a small group of characters making it a very locked door type mystery. Each of the characters had their own unique personalities as well as each seeming to have something to hide. It leaves you trying to work out who is hiding what and if any of the characters can be trusted. Angela is the reason they all come together as it is her 75th birthday. She is the mother of Scott who is husband of Danni and father of Sam, Georgina and Olivia. Sam and Georgina's mother is Fionna and Olivia's mother is Danni. Low and behold Angela has invited the whole dysfunctional family to celebrate and in non other place but a lodge and in one that gets snowed in none the less!!! As there are such a small number of characters I am not going to go in to detail about them as it will be too much of a risk that I will give something away. What I will say is that Sue's fantastic evocative descriptions and writing skills along with Tamsin and Alison's amazing narrative skills bring each and every one of the characters to life in front of the readers eyes. I was completely invested in each and every one of them and although there were several occasions where I was shouting and screaming at certain characters there were others my heart went out to. I won't say anymore but a huge well done to Sue, Tamsin and Alison on the creation of these characters and bringing them to life. Regardless of whether you love them or hate them they each bring something to the storyline to make it as intriguing and addictive as it is.

Sue I really hope you are working on your next psychological thriller at this moment because this book will go far!!! A HUGE CONGRATULATIONS on what promises to be a MASSIVE success and here's to your next 🥂!!

Make sure you read to the very end of the book to read the prologue and first two chapters of Sue's 'The Sister-In-Law'. I haven't read this yet but after reading these chapters I cannot wait to get my hands on a copy!!


Overall an absolutely heart racing, claustrophobic, nail biting, unputdownable thriller with a bomb shell you will not see coming!!!


361 pages/ 9 hours 35 minutes


This book is just £1.99 to purchase, free with kindle unlimited, £8.99 on paperback, £16 for the audiobook via Amazon which I think is an absolute bargain for this book!!!


Rated 5/5 (I LOVED it ) on Goodreads, Instagram, Amazon UK and Amazon US and on over 30 Facebook pages plus my blog on Facebook.


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Fiona has agreed to attend her former mother-in-law, Angela’s 75 birthday party. Angela has rented a remote luxury lodge in Cornwall. Joining them will be Fiona’s ex-husband, Scott, his new wife, Danni and their year-old baby daughter, Olivia. In addition, Fiona and Scott’s son and daughter, Sam and Georgia, will be there as well. In order for everything to be nice, Angela has hired Jenna, a young woman who says she is a Cordon Bleu chef to do the cooking, but she is also known to Danni who hates her.

As they arrive, snow is coming down very hard. Soon, the police arrive to say that someone headed to their lodge was critically injured in a hit-and-run. Everyone professes innocence.

As the get together brings its tensions, so do the increasing snowstorms. Emotions are high and soon someone has gone missing. Could they have been met with a murderer? If so, who would have wanted to harm them?

This is a very twisty novel with every page revealing more and more secrets. I liked most of the characters except for one. However, giving out that name would be giving out spoilers. Be prepared to be kept on the edge of your seat with this one and enjoy!

Copy provided by NetGalley in exchange for a fair and honest review.

A husband, an ex-wife, new wife, a baby teenage kids, an aged mother and a private chef come together to celebrate a birthday over the weekend in a snowed-in lodge.

This was one of the most suspenseful family dramas I have read. Everyone is not as they seem to be. Did I mention all of them were unlikeable characters?? I loved the alternating PoVs of Fiona, the ex-wife and Danni, the new wife and it was interesting to read their thoughts brimming with jealousy for each other.

The slow start was a bit frustrating but the writing was impressive enough to keep me engaged with the characters and their motives. This was an atmospheric read with many jaw dropping moments and the final reveal was totally unexpected.

Thank you @bookouture for having me on the @booksontour and @netgalley and @suewatson for the eARC to read and review.

Not at all a pleasant read, and all the better for it

Have you ever felt obliged to attend a family, or social gathering, out of love for the person whose special occasion it is, even though you really, really didn’t want to go? Have you steeled yourself to put a brave smile on your face because, even though you just know you’re going to hate every minute of it, you don’t want to be the one person that everyone else said spoiled the whole thing? And then, after you’ve arrived at the location, found yourself loathing it every bit as much as you had feared and started to count the minutes in your head until you think it’s OK to make your excuses and leave, hopefully before a row erupts?

As you may have guessed, I have. And I suspect that Sue Watson has too, because the atmosphere she has created in her latest book, The Lodge, is absolutely bang on. A luxurious, glass-fronted lodge with an outdoor hot tub, located on the cliffs of the Cornish coast sounds like a wonderful place to celebrate a milestone family birthday … provided that the family that’s celebrating isn’t yours. Then, just to make a blazing family row even more inevitable and turn it into the true holiday from hell, Sue takes it to extremes by having 75-year-old Angela inviting not only her son Scott, but both his new wife and his ex-wife – how could she ever have thought, or even dreamed that that would go well? – and then having heavy snow confining them all to the house and creating the classic, locked room mystery setting.

The story is told by the ex-wife, Fiona, and the new wife, Danni, both of whom got on my nerves from the start. Fiona is angry and bitter, Danni is insecure and needy. Both of their narratives are catty and whiny and bitchy and that’s before we even get to Scott. Why either of these women wanted to sleep with him in the first place is a mystery. He doesn’t want a partner, he wants a new, pretty, shiny toy that he only stays interested in until something newer, prettier and shinier comes along. Even the screams and cries of baby Olivia did my head in, and I couldn’t even hear them.

There were many times that I had to put my kindle down because I just didn’t want to be in that lodge, with that family any longer. Actually, I wanted to get into the car and drive as far away from them as I possibly could. So it says a lot about Sue Watson’s writing that, on each occasion that I stopped reading, after just a few minutes break I picked my kindle back up again because I just couldn’t help but want to find out more.

That’s a good thing, because there’s a lot more to find out. Next … the police arrive. And things get even worse. What starts out as a tense atmosphere becomes a terrifying one, as the characters start to not only hate being in each other’s presence, but realise that they have reason to fear it. In the way that she does so well, Sue includes revelation after revelation, each of which takes the story in a whole new direction and none of which I had seen coming. Until … the ending. I mean it as a compliment when I say that it’s horrible. To avoid spoilers, I’ll say only that several characters make arguments to justify their actions. But I’d have happily locked all of them up and thrown the key away.

As a psychological thriller – which is what this book is, first and foremost – The Lodge is wonderful. My gripes lie in some of the plot details. For starters, I’m guessing that neither Sue nor her editor are avid readers of police procedural novels. My problem is that I am, and much of the storyline in this book couldn’t have happened the way it did if the police had done what they surely ought to have done at the very beginning and examined someone’s car. And then there’s the location. If it’s important for heavy snow to feature – and it is – why set the book in Cornwall, which is known for it’s mild winter climate? Why not in Scotland, which would have otherwise worked just as well?

My last moan is one that I know it’s unfair to pick on Sue for, because I’ve had it explained to me previously that the blurb on a Bookouture book cover isn’t normally written by the author. Dare I suggest though that perhaps it should be. Because it includes a quote – in bold letters – that doesn’t actually appear anywhere in the book. This isn’t the first time that I’ve had this sort of issue with a Bookouture novel, and it’s all the more annoying when the parts that the authors are responsible for – the writing in between the covers – is so often so very, very good.

My conclusion, then, is quite an easy one. I’d be happy to award five stars for the way the characters annoyed me, because I can see that it was intentional and necessary. But it’s left me in a mood that has me deducting one for some fine and largely irrelevant details, that didn’t need to annoy me that bit more.

My thanks – and despite my moans above, I do mean that – to the author, Bookouture and Netgalley for the digital ARC of this book, which was published on 24th October. I have reviewed the book voluntarily and honestly, and have published my review on my blog at www.mycosybooknook.wordpress.com, as well as Amazon and my social media pages.

Thank you for letting me read this arc copy. The storyline was fantastic and genuinely kept me hooked! Characters were well developed and the storyline was interesting. Perfect for fans of psychological thrillers

In "The Lodge" readers will find a captivating and emotional story that delves into family, loyalty, and love.

Angela, who is turning 75, organizes a family weekend at a stunning lodge on the Cornish coast, fearing it maybe her last birthday celebration. Her son, his wife & baby, 2 teenage children, and his ex-wife have all been invited to this extraordinary family affair. The combination of a blizzard and being stranded brings out old resentments and jealousies, resulting in a recipe for disaster.

Just when you think you have everything all worked out, Sue throws another spanner in the works. I frequently thought I had predicted the book's trajectory and events, only to be taken aback repeatedly.

To make matters worse, the police have arrived and stated that an accident has occurred, being treated as a hit-and-run!!

I found the story enjoyable and the setting captivating. This book's captivation lies in the author's ability to hide many things, even from the reader. The reader is kept on edge as secrets come to light and the plot unfolds, just like the characters. By using different perspectives, the plot becomes richer and readers gain personal insights into each character. I found the character interactions to be enjoyable - the tension in the air was intense - I empathized with the betrayed wife, and I had my own theories. Even though a few of them were correct, I didn't predict the final surprises.

Thanks to NetGalley, Bookouture and Sue Watson for an advanced copy in exchange for an unbiased and honest opinion.

I thought this was a pretty good book. I didn't care for some of the characters though. It was well written and the twist at the end was something I did not see coming!
Who wants to go on a secluded vacation with their ex-husband, his new wife, and their baby? Probably nobody. Fiona gave in to her ex mother-in-law's requests to go for her birthday but she is not looking forward to it. Danni was the other woman that broke up Fiona and Scott's marriage, now she has to spend a long weekend with her.
After everyone has gotten settled at the lodge, the police show up to let them know that someone has been intentionally run down and killed on the road to their lodge. The police believe that one of them did it.

A relaxing vacation with your family in the mountains. That sounds like a fun time. Now throw in your mother in law, ex husband and his current wife. Now that sounds like a real nightmare. For most people you would never put yourself in that position. When they all arrive at the cabin is one over the top reveal after the next. Nothing about this book is realistic. It’s sort of like watching a soap opera. If that’s your sort of thing you will probably enjoy it.

The Lodge is another great one from author Sue Watson.

Family matriarch Angela has invited her family to a remote Lodge for her 75th Birthday.Sounds like fun right? Not so much. Along for the trip are her son, his two teenage children, his ex-wife, his current wife and their one year old daughter. Not sounding like so much fun now is it? It is not.

Lots of bickering and jealousy and some just being clueless makes for a crazy weekend. . A nearby hit and run and a snowstorm add to the drama.

A well thought out plot, lots of intrigue and speculation make for an interesting read. A great read for a cold and blustery day.

Thanks to netgalley and Bookouture for the arc.