A good read
Will have you gripped
It’s set over two timelines
Another great book by Sarah
Thanks NetGalley

I went into The Cabin in the Woods not knowing what to expect, and the story turned out to be very unexpected! We start at an isolated cabin in the cold woods of upper state New York. Rose Reid tells us her present time story in the first person point of view. She is one edge at every little sound in the woods. We know she is running from something bad, but we don't yet know what.

The POV switches back and forth between present day and the past. I guess the reason this seems to be used so much these days in mystery stories is that is it a very effective way of unraveling the story bit by bit, without giving too much away all at once. Rose came from a very hard background, and the author's description makes it feel very realistic. A chance meeting with a man, her seeming Prince Charming, turns her life around and she goes from the proverbial rags to riches.

So how did she end up in a cabin in the woods, struggling to survive? This is the crux of the story. Rose is a likeable character who has overcome a lot, and will have to overcome adversity again in order to survive. I found this story creative and fresh, and the last quarter of the story literally kept me awake until 3 am, to find out the ending.

I rate this book 4.5 very entertaining stars!

This story unfolds in a past and present format and the contrast between the now and then shines starkly through the narrative. We begin this with Rose and her lowly origins so-called trailer trash and the offspring of two drug-addicted parents. Then there’s her almost Cinderella rescue whilst working as a waitress by her wealthy and successful future husband and then, by comparison, her now current situation of an escaped psychiatric patient hiding out vulnerable and scared in an isolated cabin in the woods. Terrified of every unexpected bump and noise in the night it all felt so very ominous and was so initially vague that it caused me to do a lot of speculating on how this current reality had managed to transpire.

As this progresses it expertly reels you in dropping nuggets that slowly reveal a much more twisty and less clear-cut picture than at first is evident. Rather than have all the facts at hand this leaves you wondering why Rose is now so frightened, what has happened, and how did the fairy tale life manage to come crashing down like it's done when initially the picture painted was the exact opposite. Though I could definitely observe problematic behaviour occurring in Rose's marriage.
This then slowly peels back the curtain and when the full story is finally revealed it was definitely worth all of the anticipation. This was a riveting psychological thriller that certainly delivered on its initial promise.

This was well written and captured my attention almost instantly it managed to keep me guessing and I raced through this very fast I was just that invested in the outcome. I recommend this one highly it delivered in every way and I would certainly read another book written by this author with no issue. I voluntary reviewed a copy of The Cabin in The Wood.

The Cabin In The Woods by Sarah Alderson was not what I expected. Based on just the title and cover, I was expecting more of a spooky story. It turned out to be more of a domestic thriller in the vein of BA Paris's Behind Closed Doors. I enjoyed the story and it was a relatively quick read.

I don't really have a lot to say that won't spoil the plot. Rose was a character that the reader wants to root for. I enjoyed how the mysteries of what has happened in her life and what brought her to the remote cabin she is hiding out in. The story was well-paced and easy to follow even as it jumped back and forth in time to reveal a little more here and a little more there. There were definitely emotional, gut-wrenching moments that made me relate strongly with Rose and feel more invested in her plight. The author did a good job of making me realize as the book went along that though I THOUGHT I knew what was going to happen next, I didn't always.

This author is new to me and I look forward to reading more by her in the future.

⭐⭐⭐⭐ -- Great cover on this book!

This was a thoroughly entertaining and quick read. I finished it in one day! Great writing. Fast paced. A riveting plot that had me hooked from the first page. All wrapped up in a very satisfying ending. The only tiny negative thing I could say about this one is that, it is maybe a teeny bit far fetched towards the end. Still, that was a really minor issue for me. This definitely gets two solid thumbs up from yours truly! 👍🏻👍🏻

**ARC Via NetGalley**

A woman was hiding in a cabin in the wood. She was careful to hide her presence, and took all the precautions to ensure the cabin was secure. Why was she there and what was she afraid of?

I was expecting more of a slasher thriller with this one, but unfortunately I got it wrong. I wasn’t too disappointed though, because this was still the kind of thriller that I liked.

My only ‘complaint’ was that there was too much reliant on one particular side character to progress the plot. Having said that, the claustrophobic atmosphere described when Rose arrived in the cabin at the start of the book was superb.

I’d definitely suggest jumping in to this one without knowing much, as it was quite simple and easy to follow.

I absolutly loved this book.

This is a page turner that kept me up reading

I love the whole fairytale gone wrong plot and I was desperate to know who Rose really was and why she was on the run.

She was such a mysterious character and so sympathetic. I was really cheering for her.

Absolutly a wonderful thriller.

I found this one utterly boring. I’m sure other people enjoy it but it just didn’t draw me in and I found myself skimming to finish the story faster.

Thank you Netgalley for this ARC of The Cabin the the Woods by Sarah Alderson.

Rose in the on the run, she's full of terror and needs a place to hide. The cabin could offer that refuge, or it could bring danger even closer.

This is the probably with reading a bazillion thrillers a year. If it doesn't have that out of left field hook, that slightly different spice, it's going to be forgotten about. Unfortunately, this was about as canned as they come. And on top of that, there just wasn't much heart? I felt so little for any of the characters the entire time, I felt like I was watching just the bones of a good story go by, something that still required innards and a fancy outfit.

The Cabin in the Woods by Sarah Alderson is a psychological thriller about Rose Reid, a girl who grew up with nothing, who then found her Prince Charming, and who ended up hiding in a cabin in the woods. Why is she in hiding? This book alternates between Rose's past life and her present timeline, and it's definitely unputdownable. Highly recommend this enjoyable and quick-paced read! Thanks to NetGalley for the free digital review copy. All opinions are my own.

I’m going to be in the minority here, but this one was just meh for me. I liked the alternating timeline between now & then.

I think I expected too much? It read more like a domestic suspense/thriller, which isn’t a bad thing. But I was expecting a more darker read.

I won’t say much more, cause in this case, the less you know, the better.

Thanks to Netgalley, the publisher & Sarah for the ARC.

A fast paced thriller, difficult to tear yourself away from. Well written and expertly crafted.

The Cabin in the Woods is a crafty & twisted thriller full of thrills, twists, and creepy atmosphere. Rose had a tough childhood and she couldn’t believe how quickly her life changed upon meeting Ryan. Ryan was charming, smart, and came from a position of power and financial status, everything Rose didn’t have. Within months, the pair get married and things seemed perfect, almost too perfect. How did Rose, a wealthy socialite, end up living under a new alias in the middle of the woods? Who or what is she hiding from?

This story has a dual timeline that switches between the past and present-day and the alternating chapters move things along at a brisk pace. The story pulls you right into this book from the very beginning. The back and forth between the present and past made for a very interesting story to follow as know very little about the story in between. This thriller unfolds the mystery of how Rose Reid went from an impoverished upbringing to being a wealthy socialite to now hiding in an abandoned cabin in the woods. The chapters are short, making this a quick and exciting read.


Alderson’s writing style flows smoothly and keeps the reader engaged with every word. The characters especially Rose is excellently written; you can feel her paranoia, helplessness, vulnerability and fear come across.

There are some plot twists that made you question the logic or require suspension of belief. The ending felt a bit dragged without any explosive twist or major reveal. There were a few unanswered questions but no major plot holes as such.

Overall, The Cabin in the Woods is a real page-turner with a likable character and a great narrative. The story was engaging right from the start. It moves at a really brisk pace and there are several twists and turns which will keep you hooked till the end. There were some implausible twists but overall the story will keep you entertained. If you enjoy a fine thriller, you will enjoy this.


<b> Many thanks to NetGalley, and Avon Books for the ARC. </b>

*Thank you to Avon Books, Sarah Alderson and NetGalley for an ARC in exchange for an honest review*

Previously published at https://www.mysteryandsuspense.com/the-cabin-in-the-woods/

“Heaven has no rage like love to hatred turned, nor hell a fury like a woman scorned.” –William Congreve

When we first meet Rose Reid, she is hiding in a cabin in the woods upstate, having dyed her hair platinum and aware of every noise outside. We then go back twenty-two years where Rose is hiding in a dirty trailer with her sister, Daisy, from her violent drug-addicted parents. The reader is then taken to the time where Rose meets her beloved husband, Ryan and their fairytale romance and wedding. Everything was perfect; their marriage, their life, and most of all, their beautiful daughter Sienna. It was amazing until it wasn’t.

When Sienna is born, Rose cannot bond with her. She resents her every time she cries and has no desire to spend time with her. Ryan packs her off to a luxury facility, where she is diagnosed with postpartum depression and put on medication. She comes back a new person, loving and doting on her daughter but what is going on with Ryan? Why is he gone all the time? Rose suspects he is having an affair as he does not seem to want to spend time with her, only gravitating to Sienna. When she sees scratches on Ryan’s back, her worst fear is confirmed. Or is it? When she is approached by a woman at a gala, she is attending with him, and told Ryan is a monster, she realizes this fairy tale has been nothing but lies. Some fairy tales really don’t have happy endings.

This is an absolute page turner from start to finish! I could not put it down until the very last page. The pace of the story has the reader ripping through pages as more and more is revealed. The story line is not original, but it is so well written that you feel you have read a masterpiece. Alderson is adept at dropping little bombs that rock the reader and leave them stunned. I am not a big fan of dual timelines but it works here. Rose is a strong and interesting character, who has not had the best luck in her life and I was really rooting for her. She had to learn to trust people will protect her and they did. She will remain one of my favorite characters of this year.

What I loved about The Cabin in the Woods is the characterization. Every character has a purpose and none of them are perfect. I also liked how Alderson connected Rose’s childhood to the person she is now, preparing her for the worst of times because of childhood in an abandoned trailer. Well done, Ms. Alderson!

Beware there are multiple trigger warnings in this excellent mystery including rape, death, postpartum depression, drug addiction and suicide.

Oh my! This book was amazingly clever. The things you think you know about the characters are not quite right. Everyone is complex especially rose. I was under the authors spell. This book was wild and intriguing. I was up until dawn reading the ending. This book is dynamite.

The Cabin in the Woods is a masterclass in how to write a thriller. Filled with intrigue, and heart stopping moments of tension, I was totally enthralled from start to finish.

Rose Reid is missing, escaped from a psychiatric unit.

We know she's hiding out in a remote cabin.

But why?

As we move back in time, we get to fill in the blanks and understand her fears.

But even when we think we know, we don't.

Such a brilliant story, full of twists that were far from predictable. And a truly satisfying conclusion.

Wow oh wow what an absolute ride this book was!

Gripped from the very first page I simply flew through this one and I swear my heart rate was off the scale for most of it.

This is exactly how I like my thrillers to be - edge of your seat, blink and you'll miss something, a full on rollercoaster from start to finish.

With more twists than you can shake a stick at The Cabin in the Woods is a must for you thriller fans out there!

Luckily I have Sarah Alderson's previous 2 books languishing on my bookcase so I can't wait to get stuck into these.

I have one question? When is this going to be made into a TV series??

🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟 from me.

In this modern ‘rags to riches’ story that turns in on itself, we meet Rose Reid who is hiding in an isolated cabin in the woods somewhere. With no electricity or running water and nursing severe injuries from a car crash, things are looking bad for Rose. But how did it come to this when her previous life, with her meteoric rise from dysfunctional childhood to wealthy socialite, had been so promising? I couldn’t turn the pages fast enough to uncover the intimate reasons why Rose had become a runaway. A highly recommended read for all who enjoy fast-paced thrillers with strong characterisation. Thank you to NetGalley and to the publishers for the free ARC that I received in exchange for this unbiased book review.

"The Cabin in the Woods" by Sarah Alderson hooked me from the very first page and kept me turning till the finale. It's a quick read because I was so hooked I didn't want to put it down. I liked that the book wasn't weighed down with anything unnecessary, the author kept the story moving and flowing well with the past and present intertwined. This is an absolute recommend to thriller lovers like myself!

Thank you to the publisher and Netgalley for the opportunity to read this in exchange for an honest review.

I loved this fast paced story and the characters. The characters were well thought out and I felt a connection to them even if k didn’t actually like them. The story unfolds at a great pace and keeps you wanting more. I would definitely read more from this author as I absolutely loved the style of writing