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The Family Cabin
There’s a young woman tied up in the basement of our cabin.
It was supposed to be a fun weekend at our family cabin. I was going to surprise my husband, Mike, with a small get-together for his 40th birthday.
Something is wrong, though. Mike isn’t himself lately. He goes out often and by himself, leaving me and our young son. Our happy marriage is fading away, and I don’t know why.
This weekend is just what's needed to cheer him up. It’s what we need for us.
When I get to the cabin and set up, I hear sounds coming from the basement. That’s when I see her. A young woman tied up and scared.
She cries out for me to help her. Before I can, Mike comes to the cabin early.
Who is she? Why is she here?
What has my husband done?
The new psychological thriller from the author of The In-Laws and The Patient’s List. If you’re a fan of gripping thrillers by the likes of Daniel Hurst or Freida McFadden, The Family Cabin will keep you on the edge of your seat.
It was supposed to be a fun weekend at our family cabin. I was going to surprise my husband, Mike, with a small get-together for his 40th birthday.
Something is wrong, though. Mike isn’t himself lately. He goes out often and by himself, leaving me and our young son. Our happy marriage is fading away, and I don’t know why.
This weekend is just what's needed to cheer him up. It’s what we need for us.
When I get to the cabin and set up, I hear sounds coming from the basement. That’s when I see her. A young woman tied up and scared.
She cries out for me to help her. Before I can, Mike comes to the cabin early.
Who is she? Why is she here?
What has my husband done?
The new psychological thriller from the author of The In-Laws and The Patient’s List. If you’re a fan of gripping thrillers by the likes of Daniel Hurst or Freida McFadden, The Family Cabin will keep you on the edge of your seat.
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First published February 14, 2023
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 395 reviews
June 20, 2023
Dawn Nelson plans to surprise her husband Mike with a birthday party at their secluded family cabin. He has been a bit down recently, with his fortieth birthday coming, so she invited a few good friends to have a fun celebration. But when she arrives early at the cabin, Dawn is the one who gets the surprise when she finds a woman (Amber) chained in their basement.
This was quite a captivating and chilling read with a lot of twists and turns. I had a hard time putting this book down, I wanted to see what was going to happen next. I found Amber to be quite a feisty and gutsy young lady. Some characters were really creepy and evil.
This was my first read by James Caine, I look forward to reading more of his books.
This was quite a captivating and chilling read with a lot of twists and turns. I had a hard time putting this book down, I wanted to see what was going to happen next. I found Amber to be quite a feisty and gutsy young lady. Some characters were really creepy and evil.
This was my first read by James Caine, I look forward to reading more of his books.
March 27, 2023
If you’re thinking of planning a surprise party, DON’T! Dawn wants to surprise her husband on his fortieth birthday. In an unsettling twist, she is the one who is surprised. Hidden in the basement of the family cabin where the anticipated celebration is planned to occur, is Amber chained as a prisoner. Who is this woman and is Dawn’s husband her captor? This is a dark, disturbing and chilling thriller that kept me up way past my bedtime. It’s fast paced with jaw dropping twists throughout. It ends with a shocking conclusion I never saw coming. Thank you BookSirens for my ARC. ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
February 17, 2023
This was my first novel from James Caine, and it certainly will not be my last!! I thoroughly enjoyed this book— it was a very intense read from the beginning! The story kept me turning the pages quickly, reading well past midnight. The different POVs—shifting between Amber and Dawn—were very well structured and certainly added to the suspense of the story. The twists were hard to predict, and the plot honestly kept me really guessing about how it would all end. Just when you thought you may have figured things out, you realize you were wrong! I love when a book does that!
I really liked the ending of the book. It didn’t leave you with feelings of disappointment or lack of closure. The author did a great job of bringing everything together at the end and leaving little room for lingering questions, which I appreciate. But as much as I liked the ending, I would have enjoyed also seeing Dawn’s POV in the epilogue. It felt a bit unfinished without “hearing from” Dawn one last time. That’s all I’ll say because I don’t won’t to give anything away!
A huge thank you to BookSirens and James Caine for gifting me the ARC of this book! I appreciate you trusting me with an honest review!!
I really liked the ending of the book. It didn’t leave you with feelings of disappointment or lack of closure. The author did a great job of bringing everything together at the end and leaving little room for lingering questions, which I appreciate. But as much as I liked the ending, I would have enjoyed also seeing Dawn’s POV in the epilogue. It felt a bit unfinished without “hearing from” Dawn one last time. That’s all I’ll say because I don’t won’t to give anything away!
A huge thank you to BookSirens and James Caine for gifting me the ARC of this book! I appreciate you trusting me with an honest review!!
March 4, 2023
Dawn Nelson decides to throw a small surprise fortieth birthday party for her husband Mike, hoping to improve his mood. Mike has not been himself lately: distracted, morose, and spending a lot of time away from home, leaving Dawn alone with their young son. Dawn invites only one other couple, Sarah and Vic, and leaves her son with her parents. The cabin that Mike’s father left to him is the perfect setting for the weekend, though it has been a bone of contention for Mike’s younger brother Rick, a strange man around whom Dawn is most uncomfortable. Mike’s father was an angry, unpleasant man, and Dawn felt neither wanted nor accepted by him either. She blames Rick’s behavior on him and on the fact that the boys’ mother left them for their father to raise when Mike was only six. When Dawn arrives early to set up, she hears a noise in the basement. She descends the stairs to find the door to the butcher room closed and locked (Mike, his father, and his brother were hunters). When she opens the door, Dawn discovers to her horror a young woman chained and handcuffed. She promises to help, but before she can do anything, Mike arrives early. Dawn tells the woman to stay quiet, and closes her back in the room to rush up to Mike, trying to behave normally. Who is this young woman? Why is she here, and locked downstairs? Worst of all, what has Mike, the husband she loved and thought she knew, done!?
An engrossing and tautly written book, “Family Cabin” had my attention right from the beginning. (The idea of a surprise birthday party made me cringe while reading, as I neither like surprises nor surprise parties). The huge twist to the plot came approximately midway, and it was stunning. However, I felt the story was not as engrossing from that point, though the strong sense of tension remained prevalent throughout. There were a couple of smaller twists, but none like that initial horrifying bombshell, which was a huge reveal. Unoriginally, however, the story is revealing itself at the height of a severe snowstorm, and feels like a locked room trope, a backstory that is a very familiar theme in many psychological thrillers to add to a sense of isolation. The book also could have used a bit more editing for typos, especially with spelling and possessive tense. For that, and for the lessening of tension after the first shock, I’ve given the book three and a half stars, rounded up to four. That being said, it was an enjoyable, twisted thriller, and one I would recommend to readers of the genre.
I’d like to thank BookSirens and James Caine for the opportunity to read and review this ARC.
An engrossing and tautly written book, “Family Cabin” had my attention right from the beginning. (The idea of a surprise birthday party made me cringe while reading, as I neither like surprises nor surprise parties). The huge twist to the plot came approximately midway, and it was stunning. However, I felt the story was not as engrossing from that point, though the strong sense of tension remained prevalent throughout. There were a couple of smaller twists, but none like that initial horrifying bombshell, which was a huge reveal. Unoriginally, however, the story is revealing itself at the height of a severe snowstorm, and feels like a locked room trope, a backstory that is a very familiar theme in many psychological thrillers to add to a sense of isolation. The book also could have used a bit more editing for typos, especially with spelling and possessive tense. For that, and for the lessening of tension after the first shock, I’ve given the book three and a half stars, rounded up to four. That being said, it was an enjoyable, twisted thriller, and one I would recommend to readers of the genre.
I’d like to thank BookSirens and James Caine for the opportunity to read and review this ARC.
April 6, 2023
I just want to know how this got published and why the editor has a job. Errors galore, the prose was practically unreadable. Author should have sold what may have been a decent story to a better writer.
February 10, 2023
I got this book for free with promise to give it a honest review.
Amber organized a birthday surprise weekend for her husband Mike and invites a friendly couple into a family cabin in the woods.
She arrives a bit earlier than anyone only to find a young woman in handcuffs in the basement of the cabin.
Instead of calling police she starts to act as nothing happened and is a playing the role of a happy wife while suspecting everybody around.
I think that in this book a lot of things could be done better. Things are going slow and in a kind of loops. In my opinion a lot of thinks are not credible and heroes are not built strong enough. On the course of the whole book I was asking myself: Really? And you want me to believe it?
I finished the book only because I had to do it for the free copy that I got.
Amber organized a birthday surprise weekend for her husband Mike and invites a friendly couple into a family cabin in the woods.
She arrives a bit earlier than anyone only to find a young woman in handcuffs in the basement of the cabin.
Instead of calling police she starts to act as nothing happened and is a playing the role of a happy wife while suspecting everybody around.
I think that in this book a lot of things could be done better. Things are going slow and in a kind of loops. In my opinion a lot of thinks are not credible and heroes are not built strong enough. On the course of the whole book I was asking myself: Really? And you want me to believe it?
I finished the book only because I had to do it for the free copy that I got.
April 3, 2023
One of the worst books I’ve ever read and SO MANY ERRORS. I’m all for self publishing if that’s your path but please for the love of god hire an editor.
February 15, 2023
This is why I hate surprises!
Dawn wants her husband Mike's 40th birthday to be special since he's been in a bit of a slump, so she plans a surprise weekend away with friends at their cozy Family Cabin™. With their son at her parents' house, they won't have a care in the world while they're snowed in.
The cabin is very secluded and has been in the family for ages. It's where Mike and his brother Rick grew up. When their abusive curmudgeon of a father passed, much to Rick's chagrin, the cabin was left to Mike.
When Dawn arrives first to prepare for the weekend, there's a bit of a problem. There's a missing girl in the basement of this cabin! She tells Dawn her name is Amber and Dawn shushes her until she figures out what to do.
Who PRAY TELL left a missing girl in the basement? Was it someone who saw an empty cabin as an opportunity or someone she knows? She better start finding out or she'll end up in the basement too!
I loved Caine's last book, The In Laws. I thought it was fresh and surprisingly twisted. I was hoping this would rattle me the same and it absolutely did. It was so outrageous, I had to laugh at times. I was screaming inside! This author has a way of writing that really draws you in and keeps you anxiously turning pages. A nailbiter, if I bit my nails.
Caine is a new expert at taking you out to a secluded location and ratcheting up the tension and I love it. Keep it coming!
Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for the chance to read and review.
Dawn wants her husband Mike's 40th birthday to be special since he's been in a bit of a slump, so she plans a surprise weekend away with friends at their cozy Family Cabin™. With their son at her parents' house, they won't have a care in the world while they're snowed in.
The cabin is very secluded and has been in the family for ages. It's where Mike and his brother Rick grew up. When their abusive curmudgeon of a father passed, much to Rick's chagrin, the cabin was left to Mike.
When Dawn arrives first to prepare for the weekend, there's a bit of a problem. There's a missing girl in the basement of this cabin! She tells Dawn her name is Amber and Dawn shushes her until she figures out what to do.
Who PRAY TELL left a missing girl in the basement? Was it someone who saw an empty cabin as an opportunity or someone she knows? She better start finding out or she'll end up in the basement too!
I loved Caine's last book, The In Laws. I thought it was fresh and surprisingly twisted. I was hoping this would rattle me the same and it absolutely did. It was so outrageous, I had to laugh at times. I was screaming inside! This author has a way of writing that really draws you in and keeps you anxiously turning pages. A nailbiter, if I bit my nails.
Caine is a new expert at taking you out to a secluded location and ratcheting up the tension and I love it. Keep it coming!
Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for the chance to read and review.
April 13, 2023
Dawn wants to surprise her husband, Mike, for his birthday so she invites 2 friends and heads up to the family cabin. Mike doesn't realize the two friends are showing up so that will be the surprise. However, when Dawn arrives at the cabin to decorate and prepare, there is a shock for her. She acts in community plays, so she uses her acting skills, which we hear about 200 times, to act like nothing is wrong when her husband shows up. Also, Mikes brother Rick shows up to wish him a happy birthday. On the way in, Dawn ran into the one neighbor they have in this remote area. He lives alone in a cabin down the road. Soon the 2 friends show up and notice something is off with Dawn. This happens fairly early in the book. We learn what Dawn came upon in the cabin and the book goes on from there. And on. And on. And on. So, we know early on what the twist is. There is another predictable twist at the end, but for the most part, the book has revealed itself early on. I had a big problem with the likability of the characters in this book. The plot did not work for me. Although it was a quick read, I was glad it was finished. Not my cup of tea at all.
September 11, 2024
“The bad guys get away. They were wise words that I should have listened to,” (227).
Insanity again… absolute insanity. If the rest of his books are like this I’m gonna need therapy after this week.
It's Dawn's husband's 40th birthday, and she's decided to celebrate with a weekend getaway to their family cabin, joined by their friends Victor and Sarah. What’s supposed to be a weekend of fun and drinks quickly turns into something entirely different.
Dawn has been honing her acting, pushing aside her true feelings and channeling other characters. She's lucky to have these skills, because she'll need them to survive this weekend.
This is my second book by James Caine, and I can hardly believe it. You won’t be able to put it down. Just when you think the madness is settling—BAM—another plot twist hits. It’s every bit as gripping as *The Boss*.
You think you know where the story is going but then it gets all jumbled. It doesn’t go where you think it will. You don’t know who to trust and who not to trust.
Loved this book and holy sh*t was it insane.
Insanity again… absolute insanity. If the rest of his books are like this I’m gonna need therapy after this week.
It's Dawn's husband's 40th birthday, and she's decided to celebrate with a weekend getaway to their family cabin, joined by their friends Victor and Sarah. What’s supposed to be a weekend of fun and drinks quickly turns into something entirely different.
Dawn has been honing her acting, pushing aside her true feelings and channeling other characters. She's lucky to have these skills, because she'll need them to survive this weekend.
This is my second book by James Caine, and I can hardly believe it. You won’t be able to put it down. Just when you think the madness is settling—BAM—another plot twist hits. It’s every bit as gripping as *The Boss*.
You think you know where the story is going but then it gets all jumbled. It doesn’t go where you think it will. You don’t know who to trust and who not to trust.
Loved this book and holy sh*t was it insane.
February 19, 2023
WOW!!
Dawn plans a surprise 40th birthday party for her husband, at the family cabin for the weekend.
She invites another couple to join them. She’s 1st to arrive and finds a woman chained in the basement. Who did this? It truly makes you think who and why.
I could not put this book down, it drew me in quickly and it was well written. It kept my heart pounding and anticipation gone wild. OMG what a great book!! You’ve got to read this!!
Much thanks to book sirens, the publisher and amazing Author for a free read for my honest review!
Dawn plans a surprise 40th birthday party for her husband, at the family cabin for the weekend.
She invites another couple to join them. She’s 1st to arrive and finds a woman chained in the basement. Who did this? It truly makes you think who and why.
I could not put this book down, it drew me in quickly and it was well written. It kept my heart pounding and anticipation gone wild. OMG what a great book!! You’ve got to read this!!
Much thanks to book sirens, the publisher and amazing Author for a free read for my honest review!
June 18, 2023
Horrible, just horrible. I didn’t like the writing style but the story was just ridiculous on so many levels. A woman escapes being chain in a basement and finds help, then instead of immediately getting into his car and driving away she asked to use the bathroom and food ? Oh come on.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
March 13, 2024
Boring
Sorry to say but I found this incredibly boring. It dragged on with what I felt was insignificant details. I found myself skipping pages to get through it. Wasn't for me at all.
Sorry to say but I found this incredibly boring. It dragged on with what I felt was insignificant details. I found myself skipping pages to get through it. Wasn't for me at all.
June 29, 2023
I loved this up until about 60-65%, then it wasn't as fast paced and interesting. The ending also wasn't the best, but overall I still thought it was pretty good.
July 3, 2023
I actually couldn’t finish this book. It was soooooo bad. The writing was bad and felt very amateurish. I found several typos. The story just seemed too obscure and they tried too hard to make it twisty. The characters had no character. And just overall a terrible read for me. I read the last 2 chapters just to see if things ended the way I predicted, they did in a way, but still just a really bad read for me and I don’t say that about many books.
February 11, 2023
I thoroughly enjoyed this but it had nodes to a few other stories that I have read or watched.
This is the type of book that you just go with, yes there are elements that stretch credibility but that is half the fun.
Great afternoon read.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
This is the type of book that you just go with, yes there are elements that stretch credibility but that is half the fun.
Great afternoon read.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
July 4, 2024
Well written. Great plot. Great execution.
.
.
October 3, 2024
Kinda shocked for all the reviews honestly.
I did not like this at all and it was definitely the writing style. I am partial to female writers, so maybe that’s why?
I did not like this at all and it was definitely the writing style. I am partial to female writers, so maybe that’s why?
February 10, 2023
Thank you to #NetGalley and #Bookouture for allowing me to read and review #TheFamilyCabin by #JamesCaine. I thoroughly enjoyed reading this my first book by this author. I will be enjoying more of his works. It was very suspenseful and held into me till the very end. Well Done!!!
May 22, 2025
A fast paced "who dunnit" with lots of twists and turns. Not great literature but kept me entertained.
March 18, 2023
Holy hippopotamus! This book! ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
I finished this book in one afternoon. I have not done that in years! I had to see how it ended before going to bed. I think I got whiplash from all the plot twists in this psychological thriller. Every time I thought I figured out the direction the story was going, it took a turn down another path.
A fast-paced read that keeps you guessing with a couple "Oh Sh$t" moments thrown in, too! This was my first book by James Caine but I'm already adding his others to my library.
Thanks to BookSirens for the opportunity to read this advanced review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
I finished this book in one afternoon. I have not done that in years! I had to see how it ended before going to bed. I think I got whiplash from all the plot twists in this psychological thriller. Every time I thought I figured out the direction the story was going, it took a turn down another path.
A fast-paced read that keeps you guessing with a couple "Oh Sh$t" moments thrown in, too! This was my first book by James Caine but I'm already adding his others to my library.
Thanks to BookSirens for the opportunity to read this advanced review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
September 2, 2023
I came across this book while looking for a nice mystery/horror to read. I normally gravitate towards dark romance and fantasy but I absolutely love a good mystery book!
My first impression was noticing all the descriptive details.... and there was a lot! To the point that I started speed reading through them. I think you can only describe a snowy surrounding so much!
There's also a lot of repetition when it comes to the thought processes of the characters. We don't need it repeated every few sentences, we got it!
I was pushing myself to keep reading the first 49% of the book and then bang! the story came alive!
The last half of the book kept my interest... I wasn't sure who was involved, it became a who done it kind of read. All the characters we were introduced to are now possible villains. I was glad that the author answered all the questions I had, that all the loose ends were tied up for me.
Needless to say I felt like the ending was rushed.
Overall, the author did a great job filling in the cracks. I walked away from the book satisfied with the closure I got.
I just didn't have the sense of "Wow that was a great book".
My first impression was noticing all the descriptive details.... and there was a lot! To the point that I started speed reading through them. I think you can only describe a snowy surrounding so much!
There's also a lot of repetition when it comes to the thought processes of the characters. We don't need it repeated every few sentences, we got it!
I was pushing myself to keep reading the first 49% of the book and then bang! the story came alive!
The last half of the book kept my interest... I wasn't sure who was involved, it became a who done it kind of read. All the characters we were introduced to are now possible villains. I was glad that the author answered all the questions I had, that all the loose ends were tied up for me.
Needless to say I felt like the ending was rushed.
Overall, the author did a great job filling in the cracks. I walked away from the book satisfied with the closure I got.
I just didn't have the sense of "Wow that was a great book".
February 13, 2023
Wow, this was an excellent thriller. I was totally gripped from the first page! It was very fast-paced and exciting. I will be looking forward to reading more from this author.
I received a free copy of this book for a voluntary review.
I received a free copy of this book for a voluntary review.
June 29, 2024
We get it! YOURE AN ACTRESS
February 12, 2023
Dawn is at their family cabin getting it ready for her husband Mike’s 40th birthday. When she finds a girl locked in there basement meat locker she wants to help but the girl is chained to the wall and dawn doesn’t have the keys. She instantly thinks this is her husband doing‘s in has plans to call the police but before she can call them her husband shows up and she is forced to pretend everything is normal. They go to the grocery store while they’re gone it seems Amber has disappeared. then the friends she’s invited show up. And dawn must put her acting skills to work. It’s her husband a killer and if so who did he get to move the girl out the basement while they were at the grocery store? This book was so crazy oh I love James Keynes books and this is a great example of why. OMG what a twisty complex whiplash inducing story! I loved this book and highly recommend it I received it from NetGalleyg and Bookoucher but I am leaving this review voluntarily please forgive any mistakes as I am blind to dictate my review.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
February 12, 2023
I devoured this book in one day!
In this story, Dawn decides to throw her husband, Mike, a surprise party at their family cabin. When she arrives, first and alone, she finds a woman handcuffed and locked in the basement. Can she save her?! Who kidnapped her?!
This was such a fast paced read. There were no lulls at all and the suspense carried all the way through. There were many suspects throughout, and it kept me guessing for so long.
I loved how this was based in Alberta! 🇨🇦 Very neat to have a book take place in a handful of spots you’ve been. I also loved the dual POVs.
Highly recommend this book if you love realistic thrillers and suspense. Totally binge-able!
Thank you Victory Editing & NetGalley for this ARC
In this story, Dawn decides to throw her husband, Mike, a surprise party at their family cabin. When she arrives, first and alone, she finds a woman handcuffed and locked in the basement. Can she save her?! Who kidnapped her?!
This was such a fast paced read. There were no lulls at all and the suspense carried all the way through. There were many suspects throughout, and it kept me guessing for so long.
I loved how this was based in Alberta! 🇨🇦 Very neat to have a book take place in a handful of spots you’ve been. I also loved the dual POVs.
Highly recommend this book if you love realistic thrillers and suspense. Totally binge-able!
Thank you Victory Editing & NetGalley for this ARC
December 13, 2025
I recently read these two fast-paced psychological thrillers by James Caine and I was not disappointed. The Family Cabin follows a very good twisted plot of a family bond and grappling sense of unease and distrust. On the other hand, The Couple at the lake house highlights how far you are willing to go to become the biggest fan of someone's work.
Incredibly well written and as expected James Caine's definitely surpassed my expectations. I have been an ardent reader of his works and every time he drops a new book I'm eager to read it.
Incredibly well written and as expected James Caine's definitely surpassed my expectations. I have been an ardent reader of his works and every time he drops a new book I'm eager to read it.
February 14, 2023
Firstly I would like to thank Book Sirens for giving me an ARC of this book! I always appreciate receiving these.
I really enjoyed this book! It was an amazing page turner with different plot twists and many theories to come up of. I would definitely recommend to read this book. I also would love to see this become a movie. It was very well written and I’m so glad i read this book.
I really enjoyed this book! It was an amazing page turner with different plot twists and many theories to come up of. I would definitely recommend to read this book. I also would love to see this become a movie. It was very well written and I’m so glad i read this book.
November 26, 2025
Bad. Knew who it was straight away and it got official like before 50% of the book. The rest gave absolutely nothing. I did not connect to the characters, it was so unrealistic and the ending was very unsatisfying.
Please get an editor, there were so many mistakes in here, I can’t even count them all.
Please get an editor, there were so many mistakes in here, I can’t even count them all.
February 14, 2023
A relatively short, fast paced thriller that will have you up past your bedtime! Some of the decisions made by the main character were questionable and makes you wonder where she got her common sense while rolling your eyes, but it kept me guessing and entertained.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 395 reviews