4⭐
Genre ~ domestic thriller
Setting ~ Cornwall
Publication date ~ October 24, 2023
Page Count ~ 361 (30 chapters p+e)
Audio length ~ 9 hours 25 minutes
Narrators ~ Tamsin Kennard, Alison Campbell
POV ~ dual 1st
Featuring ~ forced proximity, snowed in, infidelity, secrets, lies, references to r@pe

Fiona's ex mother in law has invited her, and her two older teens, to the lodge to celebrate her 75th birthday. She adores Angela and they have remained close after the divorce, but there's one little problem ~ her ex husband, Scott, his new wife, Danni, and their baby, Olivia, will be there, too. Did I mention that Scott left Fiona for Danni after their affair was leaked? Oof, that's sounds like it'll be a great holiday away...not! Add in Jenna, an ex friend of Danni's, and we have a whole cast of unlikable characters.

Let's talk about some these unlikable characters ~ Scott was a real tool and not just because he's a cheater. Can't think of one choice I liked that Fiona made. Danni was insecure and acted quite frantic at times. Jenna was super annoying. And I know it's terrible, but even the baby got on my nerves with her wailing. I didn't mind Angela so much.

Don't even get me started on the police ~ they could have easily solved the case of the hit and run in 16 seconds flat if you ask me. Maybe I have just read too many thrillers or watched too many cop shows.

Overall, the start was slow with cattiness galore, but I did enjoy the whole snowed in, forced proximity premise. It is jam packed with family drama, tension, and jealously to the max! I'm pleased to report that I did not see the murderer coming, so yay!

Narration notes:
Their male voices leave a little to be desired, but overall good. They both showed proper emotion when it was needed.

4.5 ⭐

This one is the perfect winter thriller!

Everyone is invited to a beautiful lodge for Angela's birthday. She keeps saying it could be her last so everyone comes. And by everyone, we have her son, his new wife, his ex-wife, and his kids. Plus, a fancy chef to cook for everyone. A snowstorm blows in and everyone is stranded at the lodge, but the police are investigating a death from the night everyone arrived. Everyone is tense to be all together. Then, one of them goes missing. What is everyone hiding?

This one had lots of secrets. There are affairs and so many surprising twists! I did not see any of the secrets that were revealed and the ending is quite the SHOCKING surprise! This one is pretty fast-paced with enough twists to keep you reading.

It’s the matriarch Angela’s birthday, possibly her last she hints. This guilt is enough to bring together her dysfunctional family; her son and his new wife and baby, the ex-wife he cheated on, their two older children and her stalker oh and of course the chef to feed them all - doesn’t everyone take a chef on holiday?!
The snow comes in and what was due to be an intolerable weekend celebration becomes longer. As you can imagine (in fact if you’re like me probably have imagined) the death of one of the party ensues. But who did it and why, let’s face it, it could have been any of them. Add to this the hit and run murderer, who is being hunted by the police, potentially loitering outside. This is one locked room style murder that will keep you turning the pages. This is hands down one of my favourite reads this year and I will definitely be looking for more from this author going forward. A strong 5⭐️
On a personal note and possibly tiny spoilers - don’t read on if you don’t want to know. Was I the only one screaming ‘He’s gay!!’, and ‘the roux’ until near the conclusion?

I can't believe I've not read a Sue Watson book before. I loved this story of a grandmother desperate for one last weekend away with her family.

Although the family comprises of her son, his new wife and baby, the ex-wife and their adolescent children. A weekend away in a lodge with a chef on board as well. Not everyone is entirely happy to be there for obvious reasons. Many of the group have secrets and not everyone wants to share them.

Then there's a hit and run outside and the group are snowed in asked to remain by the police while they search for clues. Could someone inside the lodge be the killer?

Great premise, fantastic narration and I couldn't stop listening. This won't be my last Sue Watson book.

Thanks for the advanced copy.

There was a lot going on in this book. I liked the narrator, but felt the audiobook could've benefited from multiple narrators. The plot was a little unbelievable for me, which made it hard for me to get into it. I felt myself getting distracted frequently throughout the first half of the book. I had a hard time getting through it. Overall, I feel like there are many other books in this genre I would recommend over this one.

The Lodge by Sue Watson
Narrated by Alison Campbell, Tamsin Kennard

I received an advance review copy for free thanks to NetGalley and Bookouture Audio and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

Blurb

‘Please – someone – help us. We’re at The Lodge, the snow is everywhere. We’re trapped. There was an argument last night… things got out of hand. Someone went missing in the middle of the night. We think they might be dead…’

Two days ago the Wilson family checked into the imposing, glass-fronted Lodge, surrounded by snow and perched perilously on the edge of a cliff looking out to a grey sea. Not everyone was looking forward to the family get-together. But mother-in-law Angela insisted the winter trip would help heal their rifts…

The new wife who feels like an imposter. She doesn’t trust anyone – even her husband. But is she trustworthy herself?

The ex-wife who feels that all eyes are on her. She’s here for the sake of her children, but she fails to hide her seething jealousy towards her ex-husband’s new family…

The mother-in-law who can’t help but interfere. She planned the family holiday to get everyone together, but does she really want to keep the peace?

The husband torn between his ex-wife and his new wife. He says he wants to do right by his family, but he’s been telling lies to them all. Now his darkest secret is about to be revealed.

After a night of arguments, morning breaks with a single scream. Not everyone came to The Lodge play to happy families. Someone came to get revenge…

My Opinion

I went into this book without really knowing anything about the plot. Set in a cabin in the middle of a snowstorm, what could possibly go wrong? This was full of twists and will keep you guessing as to who is to blame. I changed my mind a few times. This is a slow-burn book with information getting drip fed to the reader.

The book is told through alternating perspectives. A great thriller. For me, I found that this worked well as an audiobook.

Rating 4/5

An odd guest list. A murdered man. And soon to be a missing women. I really enjoyed this twist who done it type mystery. Didn’t expect the twists and turns

One very dysfunctional family and a whole world of twisted lies and sordid secrets.
I'm a huge fan of Sue Watson's writing and devoured this one in just days. The audiobook was brilliantly narrated. So much drama and suspense I could not put it down. A big fat 5 stars from me!

Great audiobook! Excellent job on the voices for each character - very easy to tell the difference.
Angela, the matriarch, has requested her family to vacation together. Her family used to stay at a resort when her son was younger. This son who has an ex-wife, two children, a current wife and a baby.
Also invited - a chef, to provide the meals. But the family knows her - except the ex-wife.

Some very good twists. Enjoyable. Great read!

Excellent!! A picturesque, not so happy family vacation turns incredibly wrong. From start to finish, the story and narration kept my attention. The twists and turns blew my mind. The narrators did a fantastic job with this amazing thriller. Sue Watson hits another home run!

Thank you, Bookouture and NetGalley, for an advanced audio ARC in exchange for an honest review!

From bitter beginnings to dark secrets….

Book Information

“The Lodge” by Sue Watson is a 350-page mystery/thriller with a planned publication date of October 24, 2023. The audio version is narrated by Tamsin Kennard & Alison Campbell. It spans 9 hours and 34 minutes. Thank you to Bookouture Audio for providing me with an advance reader copy of this book for review.

Summary

A couple of days ago, the Wilson family arrived at a grand Lodge perched on a cliff by the sea, hoping for a peaceful reunion. But not everyone was thrilled. The new wife had trust issues, the ex-wife felt jealous, and the mother-in-law was interfering. The husband, caught in the middle, had been keeping a dark secret. It’s a powder keg---and there are plenty of sparks.

My Thoughts

"The Lodge" by Sue Watson is a book that presents a compelling premise with a lot of potential for mystery, suspense, and psychological thrills. However, my reading of the book might be somewhat of an outlier, as many others have reviewed it very favorably. It seems like this is one of those cases where a book just doesn't resonate with everyone, as I didn't enjoy it as much as others did.

On the positive side, the book boasts an engaging premise set in a beautiful and well-thought-out environment. The prose and language used are commendable, and the technical aspects of the writing are well-executed. If you're a fan of books heavy on family dynamics, and unreliable narrators, or enjoy exploring insecure and manipulative characters, you might find this novel appealing. The story is skillfully told through the dual perspectives of the wife and the ex-wife, a narrative technique that effectively propels the plot forward. In the audio version of the book, the two narrators did an excellent job of conveying the story, especially considering the numerous characters involved.

However, there were aspects of the book that I didn't enjoy as much. The first half of the book proved to be quite a challenge to get through. It consisted of pages and pages, as well as chapters and chapters, that portrayed two women as insecure, petty, insulting, bitter, and snide. While character development is crucial, I found this part to be overwhelming and overdone.

In most books, establishing a connection between the reader and the characters is key. Unfortunately, in "The Lodge," that connection didn't happen for me. Instead, I either disliked or grew tired of the characters to the point where I didn't care if they survived the story.

The second half of the story redeemed itself with numerous reveals, twists, turns, and new information, though it did become somewhat repetitive. It transitioned from being twisty to convoluted, and I was frustrated with how even an incompetent police force should have been able to resolve the book's initial conflict in a matter of minutes, thus preventing the issues that arose later in the story.

The ending might come as a shock to some readers, but I had already assumed the identity of the guilty party, even though the specifics around it were somewhat different from what I had initially thought.

Recommendation

While "The Lodge" holds promise with its engaging premise and skillful writing, it may not be a perfect fit for those who struggle with a slow start or have difficulty connecting with the characters. On the other hand, if you're a fan of books that delve deep into family dynamics, employ unreliable narrators, and explore the complexities of insecure and manipulative characters, this novel might just be your cup of tea. Personally, though, it didn't quite hit the mark for me.

Rating

2.5 Snowy Stars

When I started this novel, I would have sworn to you I’d read it recently already. I must have read something very similar in setting, but for the life of me I cannot think what it was. A luxurious remote cabin with a cordon bleu chef for the weekend? Snow falling. A murder. I’ve definitely been here before. However….. I had not read this exact story.

A domestic thriller I guess. A whodunnit if you will. Family dynamics are all over the place in this one. The new wife and the ex wife and both of their children united to celebrate the “probably last” birthday of the mother in law. What could possibly go wrong?! A lot! There’s a stalker thrown into the mix to heighten the drama aswell. Thoroughly enjoyable and a quick pace which made for a one sitting listen for me. I loved the ending. Particularly the question to the reader. Excellent! The quality of the narration was brilliant also.

Thank you to NetGalley and Bookouture Audio for the opportunity to listen to this audiobook in return for an honest review.

4ish stars

This was a pretty good winter-y thriller. The ending wasn’t a complete shock, but I also didn’t predict all the details, so that was fun. I enjoyed it.

Enthralling mystery with unexpected twists. Very well written & gripping. The audiobook’s narration is amazing.

Thank you to the publishers and NetGalley for the ARC.

I absolutely devoured this book. It has messy family drama, gossip secrets, and they are all trapped by snow in a lodge. I couldn’t stop reading this book. I can’t recommend it enough. It was very fast paced.


So an ex wife is invited to a birthday trip for her ex mother in law whom she is still very close. She wants to decline because not only is she invited, her ex husband, and his new wife and baby will be there too. But her ex mother in law says it will be her last birthday…

She goes.

At her arrival in the snow lodge she is met with the realization that she has been bumped down in the family hierarchy. As everyone else arrives, tragic news that a pedestrian was hit by a car and dragged brings the police and the direction that this group cannot leave the lodge.

Now, the tension builds as the snow falls and secrets threaten to implode the tenuous family structure….




I received an audiobook from netgalley.

What an amazing psychological thriller this book was. I loved the modern day references which I found really relatable.

The characterisation was portrayed brilliantly by the narrators of the audiobook and I really enjoyed listening to the book. My mind was constantly spinning and second guessing every character in the book, and each chapter left you questioning yourself, which I really enjoyed.

There is a lot of ‘building up’ to the point in this book, which I know has been criticised, however, I felt this was necessary to create the whole premise of the book, so this is not something I saw as a negative.

The twists in this book were more prominent than a country road; and I really appreciated the fact that I did not guess the ‘who dunnit’.

100% recommend picking this book up. I might even pick it up myself to give it a read, rather than a listen.

A really big thank you to NetGalley and Bookouture for sending me this ALC for my honest feedback.

The Lodge by Sue Watson starts strong with the drama and strife between the members of the family. I loved that we heard from both Fiona and Dani and saw how their assumptions created the anger and resentment each felt for the other. However, somewhere along the way things become illogical and I wasn't able to suspend myself for it. It doesn't help that the ending is horrible. And an epilogue that is 40+ minutes??

Alison Campbell and Tamsin Kennard are both great narrators. I preferred Tamsin as she gives each character a distinct voice and emotional depth that brings each to life.

Last month I read The Sister-in-Law by Sue and rated it 1 star. I find The Lodge to be an improvement on the former and rate it 3 stars because I thoroughly enjoyed the beginning before it veered off. However, I will not read any more books by this author.

Thank you to Bookouture Audio for providing me with an ALC.

Oh Sue Watson! This was quite a wild ride and although I sometimes thought it was a wee bit too much it comes to a very satisfying conclusion!!!!
And I love listening to Alison Campbell, Tamsin Kennard!!!
Thank you #NetGalley #Bookouture Audio for this audiobook

A gripping thriller from beginning to end.
The story centres around a family get together to celebrate Angela's 75th birthday at a snowed in lodge in Cornwall. On the guest list are Angela's son, his current wife and new baby, his ex wife and their two older children and a resident 'cook'! What could possibly go wrong?!
Told from three different points of view, lots of twists and turns, a whole host of intriguing characters and narrated brilliantly. Don't miss the epilogue!
I am grateful to Netgalley and the publishers for an advanced listener copy of this book and am leaving my honest review voluntarily.

This was an enjoyable book with multiple twists. You are lead not to trust any character entirely and perhaps you shouldn’t.
A rather unconventional family send a holiday down in Cornwall amidst a snowstorm when the police visit to ask questions about a hit and run that took place around the time they arrived one by one. Danni, the new young wife of the father of the group, finds the whole event too much to cope with and soon disappears, adding further stress to the remaining characters. Throw in an ex wife, drug dealing liar and a couple of rather drippy teens and you have an interesting mix of elements.
The tale is all a little far fetched but extremely readable. Funnily enough, the least believable element for me was the impassable snow down on the Lizard. Yes, it’s possible to have snow down here in Cornwall but it’s rarely impassable by 4x4 and rarely lasts as long as in this book. Sounded more like Scotland to me.