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The Cabin #2
The Cabin II: Asylum
The hugely anticipated follow-up to Matt Shaw's best-selling horror story 'The Cabin'.
"I sat up and rested my back against the soft padded wall. I wonder whether the padding on the wall is to stop me from hurting myself, as they had explained when I first got here, or to drown the sounds of my banging and screaming as I beg for them to let me out; not that they ever will."
Deemed unfit to stand trial after murdering his family, Craig was sent to the very Asylum (centred around the ghost stories) which led to his downfall. Here he hoped for nothing more than peace and quiet, as he struggled to get to grips with what he'd done, but the vengeful spirits had other ideas as they set about revealing their secrets to him.
"I sat up and rested my back against the soft padded wall. I wonder whether the padding on the wall is to stop me from hurting myself, as they had explained when I first got here, or to drown the sounds of my banging and screaming as I beg for them to let me out; not that they ever will."
Deemed unfit to stand trial after murdering his family, Craig was sent to the very Asylum (centred around the ghost stories) which led to his downfall. Here he hoped for nothing more than peace and quiet, as he struggled to get to grips with what he'd done, but the vengeful spirits had other ideas as they set about revealing their secrets to him.
100 pages, Kindle Edition
First published December 17, 2012
17 people are currently reading
331 people want to read
About the author
Matt Shaw
534 books2,222 followersBiography
MATT SHAW was born, quite by accident (his mother tripped, he shot out) September 30th 1980 in Winchester hospital where he was immediately placed on the baby ward and EBay. Some twelve years later (wandering the corridors of the hospital and playing with road kill when he was on day release), the listing closed and he remained unsold, he was booted out of the hospital to start his life as a writer and hobbit – beginning with writing screenplays and short stories for his own amusement before finally getting published when he was twenty-seven years and forty-five seconds old.
Once Published weekly in a lad's magazine with his photography work, Matt Shaw is also a published author and cartoonist. Has to be said, can be a bit of a flirt and definitely, without a shadow of a doubt, somewhat of a klutz.
Favourite books
"Roald Dahl's Collection of Short Stories"
Tim Burton's Melancholy Death of Oyster Boy
Anything, really, written by himself. Because he is that good.
MATT SHAW was born, quite by accident (his mother tripped, he shot out) September 30th 1980 in Winchester hospital where he was immediately placed on the baby ward and EBay. Some twelve years later (wandering the corridors of the hospital and playing with road kill when he was on day release), the listing closed and he remained unsold, he was booted out of the hospital to start his life as a writer and hobbit – beginning with writing screenplays and short stories for his own amusement before finally getting published when he was twenty-seven years and forty-five seconds old.
Once Published weekly in a lad's magazine with his photography work, Matt Shaw is also a published author and cartoonist. Has to be said, can be a bit of a flirt and definitely, without a shadow of a doubt, somewhat of a klutz.
Favourite books
"Roald Dahl's Collection of Short Stories"
Tim Burton's Melancholy Death of Oyster Boy
Anything, really, written by himself. Because he is that good.
Ratings & Reviews
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 39 reviews
April 26, 2017
4 stars!
This quick review is for both "The Cabin" and "The Cabin II: asylum" I decided to both reviews in this the last book of the duet since they are both short reads.
"The Cabin" book one we meet Craig, his wife, and two daughters. They are on their way to the family cabin where Craig wants some peace and quiet to finish his novel. Weird things start to happen, ghost stories are whispered and then that ending holy crap....onto book two!
"The cabin II: Asylum" we start right where book one ended and just when I thought things couldn't get more insane I was so wrong. This definitely was fast paced, creepy never a dull moment, what the hell is real and what isn't kinda book. That ending?! Never even thought it but, then again the pace of the story doesn't give you a chance, which I loved. Creepy and suspenseful book, indeed. I'm definitely intrigued by this author will check out more of his books. 🖤
This quick review is for both "The Cabin" and "The Cabin II: asylum" I decided to both reviews in this the last book of the duet since they are both short reads.
"The Cabin" book one we meet Craig, his wife, and two daughters. They are on their way to the family cabin where Craig wants some peace and quiet to finish his novel. Weird things start to happen, ghost stories are whispered and then that ending holy crap....onto book two!
"The cabin II: Asylum" we start right where book one ended and just when I thought things couldn't get more insane I was so wrong. This definitely was fast paced, creepy never a dull moment, what the hell is real and what isn't kinda book. That ending?! Never even thought it but, then again the pace of the story doesn't give you a chance, which I loved. Creepy and suspenseful book, indeed. I'm definitely intrigued by this author will check out more of his books. 🖤
February 6, 2022
So yeah, this one was a disappointment for me. Mostly because after reading the 1st book I was excited to continue a solid creepy story and get some answers. There were some decent scenes, normal asylum stuff with padded rooms, long corridors with flickering lights, etc. A scary ghost kid is always appreciated so thumbs up for that.
But it felt like Matt Shaw got to the end and was like "Fuck it, I don't know." And I was left feeling like I wasted my time. It's OK though, I'm not breaking up with Matt Shaw books and I'm sure the next one will be great.
But it felt like Matt Shaw got to the end and was like "Fuck it, I don't know." And I was left feeling like I wasted my time. It's OK though, I'm not breaking up with Matt Shaw books and I'm sure the next one will be great.
October 30, 2017
This is probably the most difficult review I've written. Not because it goes against the stream of positive reviews I've read, but I truly respect the hell out of this author. I feel the need to explain why I'm giving it such a low rating.
The kindest way to put it would be to say that I did not agree with the ending and leave it at that. If you want to read this story in the future, I'm warning you that there are spoilers about the ending from here on.
I hope you enjoy it and disagree with my review.
If you read the rest, please know that I think Matt Shaw is the SHIT, most of the time. I am a huge fan of his work and read it whenever I get the opportunity.
However:
This was a 5 star story right up to the end of chapter 7. I was dumbstruck and (yes, I know it's silly, but I was really invested in it and loving every sick second of it) just a little bit pissed off when I got to the end.
How in the hell can you fuck up a great story by giving it this weak and lazy ending?!
Bare with me for a minute. In the eighties, there was a hugely popular television series called DALLAS -- ask mommy or your grandparents, they will know what I'm talking about. The villain was called J.R. Ewing and, somewhere along the way, he got shot (if I can remember correctly) and died. Soon after, the writers of the show discovered that they were losing huge amounts of viewers because of it - killing him off had been a mistake. How could they bring him back without turning the drama into a sci-fi comedy? Hhhhmmmmmm...
We-eeeelllll, we can always tell the audience that it was only somebody's dream. Nothing that happened was real, la-tee-da, and we'll just act like it had been our plan all along.
I was still a kid back then, too young to really grasp what was going on in the story, but I remember somebody making a statement the next day - for the life of me, I can't remember who it was - that it was an insult to the intelligence of the viewers. It was lazy and weak, because you either wanted to undo what you have done with the story, or you had no idea how to end it and wanted to get it over with.
I don't know what motivated Mr. Shaw to write this ending - was it time constraints, pressure from an editor or publisher, or did he want to give it a happy ending just to test the waters.
What I do know, and have to believe, is that I haven't read Matt Shaw to see how everybody lived happily ever after - if I wanted that Mills & Boons bullshit, I wouldn't have been interested in this kind of story in the first place. This ending feels completely wrong. I hated it, I'm sorry to say, but I'm still a fan of his other work.
If you're thinking that I'm just full of shit, you're welcome to your opinion, but Shaw is better than this story.
The kindest way to put it would be to say that I did not agree with the ending and leave it at that. If you want to read this story in the future, I'm warning you that there are spoilers about the ending from here on.
I hope you enjoy it and disagree with my review.
If you read the rest, please know that I think Matt Shaw is the SHIT, most of the time. I am a huge fan of his work and read it whenever I get the opportunity.
However:
This was a 5 star story right up to the end of chapter 7. I was dumbstruck and (yes, I know it's silly, but I was really invested in it and loving every sick second of it) just a little bit pissed off when I got to the end.
How in the hell can you fuck up a great story by giving it this weak and lazy ending?!
Bare with me for a minute. In the eighties, there was a hugely popular television series called DALLAS -- ask mommy or your grandparents, they will know what I'm talking about. The villain was called J.R. Ewing and, somewhere along the way, he got shot (if I can remember correctly) and died. Soon after, the writers of the show discovered that they were losing huge amounts of viewers because of it - killing him off had been a mistake. How could they bring him back without turning the drama into a sci-fi comedy? Hhhhmmmmmm...
We-eeeelllll, we can always tell the audience that it was only somebody's dream. Nothing that happened was real, la-tee-da, and we'll just act like it had been our plan all along.
I was still a kid back then, too young to really grasp what was going on in the story, but I remember somebody making a statement the next day - for the life of me, I can't remember who it was - that it was an insult to the intelligence of the viewers. It was lazy and weak, because you either wanted to undo what you have done with the story, or you had no idea how to end it and wanted to get it over with.
I don't know what motivated Mr. Shaw to write this ending - was it time constraints, pressure from an editor or publisher, or did he want to give it a happy ending just to test the waters.
What I do know, and have to believe, is that I haven't read Matt Shaw to see how everybody lived happily ever after - if I wanted that Mills & Boons bullshit, I wouldn't have been interested in this kind of story in the first place. This ending feels completely wrong. I hated it, I'm sorry to say, but I'm still a fan of his other work.
If you're thinking that I'm just full of shit, you're welcome to your opinion, but Shaw is better than this story.
April 1, 2014
Oh My!!! Wow...I LOVED IT!! What a MIND-FUCK....
Must conference with my angels on viewpoints ------ review to come!
Must conference with my angels on viewpoints ------ review to come!
March 18, 2015
**4 "INSANE IN THE MEMBRANE " STARS ***
.... Yes, I predicted N-O-T-H-I-N-G !!!!! ... Was kind of hoping for a little more umph! Still a compelling read regardless and impossible to review without spoiling The Cabin.
Guess I'll have to shut up now.... I know *sigh*, right?
For more reviews, Free E-books and Giveaways
.... Yes, I predicted N-O-T-H-I-N-G !!!!! ... Was kind of hoping for a little more umph! Still a compelling read regardless and impossible to review without spoiling The Cabin.
Guess I'll have to shut up now.... I know *sigh*, right?
For more reviews, Free E-books and Giveaways
April 2, 2014
My thoughts
The ending
I think that pretty much sums it all up...
The ending
I think that pretty much sums it all up...
April 1, 2014
omg I just do not know what to say about this accept this author is a genius, a brilliant writer and takes my breath away, I thought Buried was good. The Cabin series is better way way better.
Wow just Wow
Wow just Wow
June 18, 2014
HOLY SHIT!! That was FREAKIN intense!
My mind is exhausted from all this fucked up mind games and unexpected twists....you can never see what's coming!!!
It was creepy and brilliant!!
My reactions through the story...
Oh his poor family can't believe what happened to them everything is falling apart..!
And then after i became engrossed in the story and trying to understand what's happening..!!
slowly the revelations became too much.....
and then that freakin mind blowing ending......it was abso-friggin-lutely amazing! My mouth was about to catch flies!! It was INSANE!! WOW!
My mind is exhausted from all this fucked up mind games and unexpected twists....you can never see what's coming!!!
It was creepy and brilliant!!
My reactions through the story...
Oh his poor family can't believe what happened to them everything is falling apart..!
And then after i became engrossed in the story and trying to understand what's happening..!!
slowly the revelations became too much.....
and then that freakin mind blowing ending......it was abso-friggin-lutely amazing! My mouth was about to catch flies!! It was INSANE!! WOW!
April 14, 2014
Creepy goodness.
April 7, 2014
holy shit!!! that was brilliant, this one is going in the favourite shelf, i loved every minute of this book really didn't want it to end. I'm loving Matt Shaw's work, keep them coming Matt!!
December 27, 2023
The story was fantastic and was better than the first but I really didn't care for the ending. There was no explanation of why he had a psychotic episode and no explanation as to why this episode revealed his father had an illegitimate son he drove to commit suicide. Just felt it could've used a little bit more explanation and that's why it's only 4 stars. Maybe I'm nitpicking and maybe that's the masterpiece behind it.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
November 6, 2017
See THE CABIN/THE ASYLUM anthology for detailed review.
April 9, 2023
There's a good book in here somewhere, but the way that it is written just didn't work for me. As a follow-up to The Cabin, this one is a disappointment.
November 29, 2013
The story picks up almost immediately after the horrifying climax of the first book, The Cabin, with Craig locked in a padded cell. What follows is a series of freaky events and a conclusion that will blow your mind.
I’m not going to give anything away here because there’s nothing worse than a spoiler. However, I will say, the story is a lot of twists and turns that will have you holding your breath as you begin to discover the answers held within the depressing walls of the Asylum. It’s spooky and brutal as you re-live Craig’s turmoil but Shaw holds the reader captive on his tension-filled journey.
You could probably get away with reading this a standalone, just about, as enough detail on the first book is given. But, in all honesty, why deprive yourself? Grab The Cabin and The Cabin II: The Asylum, settle down on a quiet night and prepared to be creeped out.
Reviewed by Charlotte Foreman on behalf of BestChickLit.com
I’m not going to give anything away here because there’s nothing worse than a spoiler. However, I will say, the story is a lot of twists and turns that will have you holding your breath as you begin to discover the answers held within the depressing walls of the Asylum. It’s spooky and brutal as you re-live Craig’s turmoil but Shaw holds the reader captive on his tension-filled journey.
You could probably get away with reading this a standalone, just about, as enough detail on the first book is given. But, in all honesty, why deprive yourself? Grab The Cabin and The Cabin II: The Asylum, settle down on a quiet night and prepared to be creeped out.
Reviewed by Charlotte Foreman on behalf of BestChickLit.com
February 7, 2013
This is the second story involving Craig and his family. Set immediately after the events of Cabin, Craig is now at the Asylum having tests to see if he is fit to stand trial or not. Afraid for his life in a place where not everything is as it seems, Craig must solve the mystery of the screaming boy or his life will never be the same again...
This was a great follow up to The Cabin, and a must if you have read the first. The pace was relentless, and the atmosphere creepy in a place where everything is topsy turvy. It was very genuinely scary in places and had my heart racing as I tried to work out what was going on and what was real or not. I really enjoyed this, and the twist at the end came like a sledgehammer and could only have come from the mind of Matt Shaw!!
This was a great follow up to The Cabin, and a must if you have read the first. The pace was relentless, and the atmosphere creepy in a place where everything is topsy turvy. It was very genuinely scary in places and had my heart racing as I tried to work out what was going on and what was real or not. I really enjoyed this, and the twist at the end came like a sledgehammer and could only have come from the mind of Matt Shaw!!
December 22, 2013
Questions Answered
This book was brilliant. Any questions you have about The Cabin will be answered here. Craig finds himself in a insane asylum for murdering his family. His time spent here he learns who the screaming boy really is.....a lot of twists and turns and just totally entertaining! A MUST READ!!!
This book was brilliant. Any questions you have about The Cabin will be answered here. Craig finds himself in a insane asylum for murdering his family. His time spent here he learns who the screaming boy really is.....a lot of twists and turns and just totally entertaining! A MUST READ!!!
April 4, 2014
Review to come...
May 17, 2020
Oh Jesus, Jesus!!
Christ for heaven's sake. What I just finished right here I can't even operates my brain through it. Total insane, this after part of The Cabin blow my expectations fully away on to the higher ground...
Craig the man who's been responsible for killing his family completely lost his sane life and become consulted a specialist doctor. The doctor to whom he was observed under tried himself many test on him to give back his normal life or say to help him to start a new chapter of his life. The troubling fact is the doctor himself didn't seemed a good character either to Craig and he was not wrong at the time being...
Craig in that story going through a lot as his mental health completely brake down, very often he coule see his dead daughters and go after them. It was really emotional and sad to read you know. While going after them he again found himself in the same position as if he never moved from there. It was frightening too at the same the way those unnatural events kept happening with Craig while he was in his unstable mind of state. But that's not all the twist you could think of but a boy named Anthony! So, the main question is who the boy really and what's his agenda in this book. While Craig fighting his damaged mental stage and at the same time found a nurse called Vicky the women who did try her best to comfort him, it's all Craig could do but going or say getting back his lost family that he killed by his own hand. Wait, wait! Wait a second, think twice before made the conclusion. There's a biggest surprise awaiting just for you to reveal. Do not hesitate even for a single second this time but just read the hell out of it to find out the real twist or say surprise...
Only 5 is not enough for this one I believe but yeah I know I have no choice about this matter. Thanks to Matt Shaw...
Christ for heaven's sake. What I just finished right here I can't even operates my brain through it. Total insane, this after part of The Cabin blow my expectations fully away on to the higher ground...
Craig the man who's been responsible for killing his family completely lost his sane life and become consulted a specialist doctor. The doctor to whom he was observed under tried himself many test on him to give back his normal life or say to help him to start a new chapter of his life. The troubling fact is the doctor himself didn't seemed a good character either to Craig and he was not wrong at the time being...
Craig in that story going through a lot as his mental health completely brake down, very often he coule see his dead daughters and go after them. It was really emotional and sad to read you know. While going after them he again found himself in the same position as if he never moved from there. It was frightening too at the same the way those unnatural events kept happening with Craig while he was in his unstable mind of state. But that's not all the twist you could think of but a boy named Anthony! So, the main question is who the boy really and what's his agenda in this book. While Craig fighting his damaged mental stage and at the same time found a nurse called Vicky the women who did try her best to comfort him, it's all Craig could do but going or say getting back his lost family that he killed by his own hand. Wait, wait! Wait a second, think twice before made the conclusion. There's a biggest surprise awaiting just for you to reveal. Do not hesitate even for a single second this time but just read the hell out of it to find out the real twist or say surprise...
Only 5 is not enough for this one I believe but yeah I know I have no choice about this matter. Thanks to Matt Shaw...
June 13, 2025
“Tell me about the boy. The one with the scar down his neck…”
This opens right where book one left off.
In the wake of the deaths of his family (wife Susan; daughters Ava and Jamie), Craig has been institutionalized.
Fragmented memories. Dreams. Visions. Hallucinations.
The boy: Anthony Ward.
The urban legend: hear the screams, and you’ll die in exactly one year.
Vicky Sheldon.
Grandfather.
Brother.
The truth.
Dark and disturbing.
Nails the ending. Makes up—so much—for the messiness in the first book.
*It’s interesting to note that this book is actually edited. There are still mistakes, of course, but it’s so much better than most of Shaw’s work.
All these images, the messages from my family—someone is trying to tell me something and I need to know. I want to know.
This opens right where book one left off.
In the wake of the deaths of his family (wife Susan; daughters Ava and Jamie), Craig has been institutionalized.
Fragmented memories. Dreams. Visions. Hallucinations.
The boy: Anthony Ward.
The urban legend: hear the screams, and you’ll die in exactly one year.
Vicky Sheldon.
Grandfather.
Brother.
The truth.
Dark and disturbing.
Nails the ending. Makes up—so much—for the messiness in the first book.
*It’s interesting to note that this book is actually edited. There are still mistakes, of course, but it’s so much better than most of Shaw’s work.
All these images, the messages from my family—someone is trying to tell me something and I need to know. I want to know.
May 13, 2020
Really liked Book 1 which left me wanting more. Book 2? Just left me with a headache. Ridiculous ending which just seemed to come out of left field and left me thinking I could have read something else in the time I spent reading this. Even worse? It's tainted my affection for the first book as its kind of changed the second half of the first (can't say too much without spoiling) . Yep, not often I say this but I hated this one.
January 10, 2022
THE CABIN II: ASYLUM - 5/5
By Matt Shaw
**SPOILER ALERT**
Sometimes, a horror story just HAS to have a happy ending. This is genuinely one of the only times I have been happy about it.
Following on immediately from the events of THE CABIN, we quickly follow the dark twisted events that happened previously. This time, a slightly quicker descent into madness and slightly more graphic too.
But that ending - it genuinely made my black heart happy.
By Matt Shaw
**SPOILER ALERT**
Sometimes, a horror story just HAS to have a happy ending. This is genuinely one of the only times I have been happy about it.
Following on immediately from the events of THE CABIN, we quickly follow the dark twisted events that happened previously. This time, a slightly quicker descent into madness and slightly more graphic too.
But that ending - it genuinely made my black heart happy.
October 19, 2022
Although this is a second book in the cabin series. This second book reminds me of supernatural.
If you are a fan if supernatural this you will love this book. What we get to see is Matt Shaw writing a script for an episode.
We have the following
An unused asylum building
Ghosts trying to say something
Screams
Flickering lights
Get comfy and ready for a great book and make sure there are no interuptions
If you are a fan if supernatural this you will love this book. What we get to see is Matt Shaw writing a script for an episode.
We have the following
An unused asylum building
Ghosts trying to say something
Screams
Flickering lights
Get comfy and ready for a great book and make sure there are no interuptions
June 4, 2019
Not impressed
Sorry Matt, this one did nothing for me. No horror or surprises at all. I love good horror and something that makes my heart beat faster and the hair on my neck stand up. This book is not it. Sorry
Sorry Matt, this one did nothing for me. No horror or surprises at all. I love good horror and something that makes my heart beat faster and the hair on my neck stand up. This book is not it. Sorry
October 26, 2022
I liked this more than the first one. It was wholesome, albeit a bit confusing at times. Loved the stuff that was uncovered
September 26, 2025
It wasn't as powerful as the first one, but it gave good closure to the overarching story.
April 19, 2016
I gave the original Cabin only 2 stars and because of that, truth be told, I didn't really have any high expectations for this follow-up.
Boy was I wrong.
How Matt has constructed this story it could have gone very badly as the dreams and visions which jump around really required some seriously tight editing to pull his vision off. For me, it really worked, the confusion created, the atmosphere and claustrophobia in the asylum was spot on.
How the book is written is a departure from Matts other books, maybe The Big Blue follows something similar? not sure. Either way I really could not put the book down. The story exposes the answers to your questions very skilfully, and the ending worked a treat. This is such a good book. Highly recommended.
Boy was I wrong.
How Matt has constructed this story it could have gone very badly as the dreams and visions which jump around really required some seriously tight editing to pull his vision off. For me, it really worked, the confusion created, the atmosphere and claustrophobia in the asylum was spot on.
How the book is written is a departure from Matts other books, maybe The Big Blue follows something similar? not sure. Either way I really could not put the book down. The story exposes the answers to your questions very skilfully, and the ending worked a treat. This is such a good book. Highly recommended.
May 26, 2014
2.5 stars
I didn't find this one quite as suspenseful as the first one.
But worth the read to find out what the true story is, and what really happened!
I would not read this one without having read the first one, as it follows up the story of the first one!
Recommended for anyone that has read the first one, and wants to find out more about the story!
I didn't find this one quite as suspenseful as the first one.
But worth the read to find out what the true story is, and what really happened!
I would not read this one without having read the first one, as it follows up the story of the first one!
Recommended for anyone that has read the first one, and wants to find out more about the story!
July 4, 2014
Asylum begins where The Cabin leaves off and it is even more clever than The Cabin. Together they make for an explosive and entertaining read. I loved the nuances that Matt puts into every novel. I love the twists, the turns, the creeping down the dark recesses of this very talented man's mind. But I don't think I want to live near him.......
November 13, 2015
What can I say??
The second book is even better than the first!
The second book is even better than the first!
February 6, 2016
What an ending!!!! This book made me feel about as crazy as the lead character. I could feel my face twisting & contorting just as his would've been!!! Oh the torture. I'll definitely be reading this & the original The Cabin again so I can get lost & have the crap scared out of me again!!! Way to go with this book, Mr Shaw!!
Displaying 1 - 30 of 39 reviews