Secluded Cabin Sleeps Six by Lisa Unger.

A locked room \ psychological thriller and one I easily devoured. This is my first Lisa Unger book and it definitely won't be my last.

This book follows many points of view and is somewhat easy to follow. We have three couples, Mako and Liza, Hannah and Bruce, Cricket and her new partner Joshua. All related or friends/found family. The three couples travel away for a weekend in a secluded cabin. Mako has organised the weekend and hasn't spared a penny with a private chef, hot tub and amazing views for the three couples. What could possibly go wrong? A whole lot that is for sure. A massive storm comes and they are all stuck when a big tree comes down on to the road. This is when all the fun things happen or not fun depending on who you are. Someone is out for revenge towards the family, but why?

The book jumps from past and present and covers a lot of issues surrounding DNA testing and donors and of course the family drama. I enjoyed the atmosphere Lisa created with his book. The secluded cabin, I could just picture being in that exact same spot as the characters. I did enjoy piecing the puzzle together and having the DNA aspect involved (my first in a crime thriller).

Thank you Netgalley and Legend Press for a copy of this book for my honest review.

Locked-room mysteries are very popular right now, and Lisa Unger has jumped on the wagon with this one. Secluded setting, characters with mysterious backstories, a wild storm trapping those characters, hidden connections between the characters…these elements are all in the book. The general premise is that a tech millionaire invites his sister, her best friend, and their significant others to join him and his wife at a remote but luxurious cabin for a mini-vacation. While there, the couples fight for their lives in the face of a raging storm and a murderer out for revenge. Some of the characters are not who they seem. Their connection to the couples is unclear as their stories are told in flashbacks, but it's clear that these flashbacks will eventually come together with the present story unfolding at the cabin. It's fun to try to figure out who each of the "cloaked" characters will turn out to be as the book heads toward its denouement.

The backstories and flashbacks are confusing at first, and the number of characters as well as their hidden identities make for a complicated plot line. It's hard to like many of the characters, although there are a few that draw our sympathy and even admiration. The book deals with family in a variety of ways, including birth families vs. found families, family loyalties gone wrong, and the impact of DNA. There is quite a bit of discussion of genealogy and how modern genetic testing kits carry with them the possibility of disrupting our lives.

The book has some flaws, with some plot dead ends serving more as red herrings than useful exposition. In the end, a suspension of disbelief is necessary. Motivations for some of the characters seem stretched. However, the book is highly entertaining with evocative writing about the locale and the storm. Once that storm begins, the book is unputdownable.

Lisa Unger is and continues to be my auto-buy author for thriller books. This book was not at the same mark as her other books for me but it still kept me turning page after page, which speaks to the way LU pulls you into her universe. This one unfortunately had too many characters and it's hard to relate to any of them. I feel like with fewer POVs, this would've been much more enjoyable. I would still recommend it though, as long as your expectations are well-adjusted!

I felt this book was very good, but I also felt it was sort of predictable. I did like the concept of how the author portrayed the owner of the property.

A creepy, fast-paced thriller I couldn’t put down. The book switches between past and present and is essentially an unsolved puzzle up until the end. There are a lot of characters to keep track of which can be confusing at times but I really enjoyed this one!

Although this book had a slow start, I could not get enough of all the twists and turns in the story. I enjoyed how each chapter was from a different persons view. I stayed up way too late trying to figure out what would happen next. I wouldn’t recommend reading this on weekend getaway to the woods. Ever noise will have you jumping.
This was my second Lisa Unger book and it will definitely not be my last!

This book! 😳 the suspense keep me on edge of my seat. The book alternatives from past to present view points of various main characters. 3 couples take a trip to a vacation cabin in woods. They hope for some much needed distress and relaxation from various things in life and work. The story takes a few twist and turns as you learn more about the history of these friends and family members. The book was fast paced and kept me intrigued to know who, what, why about the events that unfolded. Many thanks to Legend Press and NetGalley for the eARC. All opinions expressed in this review are my own

Secluded Cabin Sleeps Six was my first Lisa Unger novel and I can’t wait to read her others after not being able to put this one down.

Three couples rent a luxury cabin in the woods that comes with its personal chef and beautiful views. A bit or R and R and is what they all needed after Hannah’s brother insisted they have a weekend away for her birthday. It is Hannah’s first time leaving her baby Gigi but she agrees it would be nice to spend some time with her brother, his wife Liza and her best friend Cricket and her new boyfriend Joshua who everyone is eager to meet and to have some quality alone time with her husband Bruce who has been quite mysterious as of late.

The cabin also comes with its own spine tingling history and ghost stories that the chef tells them the first night and a host who is a little too present.

From the start I knew I’d be hooked with such a variety of characters. Although there were quite a few to begin with you I quickly learnt who is who.

I would recommend this to anyone who enjoys reading thrillers, in particular locked room ones.

I want to thank Netgalley and Legend Press for generously providing me with this book in exchange for an honest review.

Secluded Cabin Sleeps Six is Lisa Unger's 20th novel and shockingly my first by her. It will certainly not be my last. It is a locked room style psychological thriller told from multiple POVs. At times you will question how one thing is going to fit into the narrative, but fear not as it will all come together in fantastic twisty fashion.

Three couples meet at a secluded luxury cabin in the woods for a relaxing weekend getaway. The cabin is beautiful and isolated. The views are amazing. There's even a personal chef! What more could you want for a relaxing weekend getaway? Hannah's brother Mako has booked the perfect vacation for he and his wife Lexi, Hannah and her husband Bruce and her best friend Cricket and her latest beau Joshua. Six young, attractive and successful people are vacationing in a beautiful cabin setting. As the saying goes if something is too good to be true then it usually is. The cabin owner gives off strange vibes and lingers a little too long. The personal chef tells them about the cabins sordid murderous past and the group have their own complicated history and issues. It quickly becomes clear that Hannah can trust no one. Someone plans to exact revenge on their group, but the question is who and why?

A special thank you to NetGalley and Legend Press for my ARC in exchange for my honest review.

***ARC provided by NetGalley***

This book has me at the title and I was ready to settle into a good locked room thriller. What I got was a good premise for a mystery in the woods with a secluded cabin as the back drop. The multiple points of view and shallow characters left a puzzle that started off great and ended up with let’s just move this thing along. While a great idea, the story was too heavy on the suspension of disbelief. I really wished there was more to the story than the predictable end.

I wasn’t able to finish this book in time for the archive date- it hadn’t been set, and then it was due in a matter of days before I realized. That being said, I did try to read a few chapters and found the multiple POVs a bit confusing and really wasn’t sure about the plot line overall. A friend of mine has actually read this book since it was released and was very disappointed and thought it didn’t improve from the initial chapters, so I have decided to pass on rushing to complete it. I have really enjoyed books from Unger in the past, so I’m disappointed this novel wasn’t for me.
Thank you NetGalley and LegendPress for the chance to receive this ARC.

Secluded Cabin Sleeps Six Lisa Unger

5 stars

I love Lisa Unger’s books and chose this one purely because of the author’s name. I was not disappointed. As the title suggests three couples decide to take a break away from it all in a secluded cabin. However we soon find out that all is not as it seems, all the couples are interconnected in some way even though they do not know why at the start of the book. The owner of the cabin seems to be too present at all times and he too has a guilty secret.

The book jumps from the past to the present and slowly builds up the tension that exists between the three couples. We also hear from the different perspectives of all the participants and when the truth is finally revealed it is devastating.

I really enjoyed the atmosphere that is built up throughout this book and was completely hooked on finding out how everything ended.

I would recommend this to anyone who enjoys a good atmospheric thriller with a great storyline.



Karen Deborah
Reviewer for Net Galley

Secluded Cabin Sleeps Six, by Lisa Unger, was a slow start for me. Once I got the characters straight in my mind (can you say note cards?), the pace picked up and this mystery had me hooked. Though I almost gave up on this one, I am glad I finished it. Thank you, NetGalley and the publisher, for providing me with an ARC ebook in exchange for my honest review.

Review Date: January 26, 2023
Publication Date: February 28, 2023

I am sorry to say but I had to DNF this one at 30%. I really wanted to love this book considering the setting, family drama, secrets but there are just way too many characters and POVs. Once Trina was introduced, I was done! Not for me.

Thank you NetGalley, Legend Press and the author for ARC in exchange for my honest review.

Secluded Cabin Sleeps Six is a fast-paced mystery about family and what it means to be related to someone. I loved the creepy cabin setting and the way the story flashed from past to present and between different characters. It kept my interest from the beginning and had me guessing until the end. This was mr first book by Lisa Unger and I would definitely read her again. Thank you NetGalley and the publisher for an advance copy of this book.

This was my first Lisa Unger read, although I have one of her others on my physical book shelf! Her newest thriller Secluded Cabin Sleeps Six was such a fantastic introduction to her writing. From the prologue, the reader is gripped with a mystery and the tone is set. Perhaps what I loved most about this thriller in articular was the multiple perspectives by the larger cast of characters. We met three couples and got to be in their shoes several different times. In addition to this, there were two timelines. Both of these factors really built a great suspenseful mystery. To me, a successful thriller allows the reader to become the detective. I personally enjoy having lot's of characters, different timelines, two mysteries that you know are going to come together. I want to theorize and turn those pages. Lisa Unger created a story that was impossible to put down. Her characters were well developed which must have taken a lot of devotion considering there were 6+ of them. Each character also had an intimate relationship with one another which was so unique. We got to experience so many forms of human behaviours and relationships. The setting was atmospheric with the secluded cabin in the woods and that isolated, spooky feeling. She used the weather as an element to the plot which helped to drive it further. A lot of times with thrillers, the ending can make or break the story. I was completely satisfied with how everything was tied up and the pace of that build up. I can't wait to read more by Lisa Unger.

An enjoyable read with great promise. I felt the POVs were too many and not fleshed out enough, introduced and went nowhere. The DNA aspect was really interesting and could've been explored further, as well as the host.
Overall an OK read and good for people who enjoy dark atmospheric thrillers.
Big thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

Hannah and her husband Bruce have been invited by her brother Mako and his wife Lisa to join them for a weekend getaway in an isolated but luxurious cabin in the woods in Georgia. Hannah’s best friend and ex-girlfriend Cricket has been invited to join them along with her new boyfriend Joshua.

Hannah is uncomfortable leaving her baby Gigi for the first time, even though she’s being looked after by Bruce’s mum who Gigi adores, and she’s also worried about the big storm approaching the coast. However, she’s also been concerned about Bruce lately, as he’s been working too hard and has been distracted, obviously keeping something from her, so she’s hoping a weekend away will help bring them closer again. He’s not the only one keeping secrets on this trip which, as we have already guessed from the set up (isolated cabin in the woods, poor phone and wifi coverage, huge storm on its way), is about to go spectacularly wrong.

Although slow to wind up, there is plenty of suspense to be had in this busy thriller. There is a lot going on besides the weekend in the cabin. None of the characters are being honest with each other and some are hoarding big secrets that are just about to become danger for themselves and others. In addition to the three couples staying at the cabin, there is the shady owner, someone watching the cabin, a ghostly figure and DNA testing that has revealed more than people wanted to know. It’s all slightly over the top, but makes for a compulsive weekend or vacation read – though perhaps not in a remote cabin in the woods.

4/5 Stars

What could be more restful, more restorative than a weekend getaway with family and friends? An isolated luxury cabin in the woods, complete with spectacular views, a hot tub and a personal chef…

This story was a bit of a slow slog to start - there are a lot of characters to meet, however, it’s written in a way that allows the reader to understand how these characters all interact with one another.

From the start of the narrative, it’s easy to see that there’s a lot happening “under the surface”. The multiple narrator aspect allows you to see the relationships between the characters from different perspectives; it’s clear that there are bubbling tensions before the group goes on their weekend retreat. There’s also a historical timeline interspersed with the “current” story, which adds another level of complexity.

Many of the prominent characters in this story are also unlikeable. There’s nothing specific that you could cite, there’s just a low-level of discomfort when you read about them. And as the story progresses, this starts to make perfect sense.

Unfortunately, this is one of those fabulously complex stories that you cannot talk clearly about without giving away something significant to the plot. If you are a fan of thrillers, I cannot recommend this book more.

I enjoyed this! Good suspense but felt there was a lot of stories going on at once, in particular one regarding the host that doesn’t really ever come to anything? A good read overall and enjoyed the “origins” side of it!