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Garrets Lodge
Something is stirring in the woods outside Custer Falls. A haunted place that's been waiting a very long time.
After Wanda's indefinite psychological suspension from the police department and her daughter's suspension from school for sticking up for a friend, Wanda decides it's time to get away for a while. What better way to do that than going on a hike with friends?
Stevie and Honey are on the lam from a heist gone wrong in South Dakota and stop for help at a family friend's hideout in Custer Falls. When police discover them, Stevie, Honey, and their hoodlum associates are forced to flee into the woods.
They all think the woods will be their salvation until they find Garrets Lodge.
After Wanda's indefinite psychological suspension from the police department and her daughter's suspension from school for sticking up for a friend, Wanda decides it's time to get away for a while. What better way to do that than going on a hike with friends?
Stevie and Honey are on the lam from a heist gone wrong in South Dakota and stop for help at a family friend's hideout in Custer Falls. When police discover them, Stevie, Honey, and their hoodlum associates are forced to flee into the woods.
They all think the woods will be their salvation until they find Garrets Lodge.
- GenresHorror
369 pages, Kindle Edition
Published June 26, 2024
20 people are currently reading
96 people want to read
About the author
D.W. Hitz
41 books176 followersD.W. Hitz loves the outdoors and enjoys making it a background character in his work. He devours stories in all mediums. He enjoys writing in the genres of Horror, Supernatural/Paranormal Thriller, and Science Fiction/Fantasy. He aspires to tell stories that thrill the heart and stimulate the imagination.
When not writing, D.W. enjoys spending time with his family, hiking, camping, and playing with the dogs.
Be sure to sign up for his Patreon today at https://patreon.com/dwhitz to stay up to date with news and exclusive offers, plus discounts on signed books.
When not writing, D.W. enjoys spending time with his family, hiking, camping, and playing with the dogs.
Be sure to sign up for his Patreon today at https://patreon.com/dwhitz to stay up to date with news and exclusive offers, plus discounts on signed books.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 32 reviews
June 21, 2024
Welcome back to Custer Falls!
This time readers are sucked into a twisted woodland nightmare of a tale. Garrets Lodge used to be a bright and hospitable cabin for travelers to spend a night of ease in. Then the darkness arrived and over a hundred years later, the shadows are drawing more evil and more victims in.
We follow a variety of characters: a group of friends and their kids on a hike, a gang on the run, and the lawmen chasing after them. Their fates soon become entwined, and you’ll be biting your nails, hoping that at least the kids will survive.
I found Wanda a mixed character for sure. In equal parts I sympathized for her, but was also increasingly frustrated by her. She felt kind of useless, constantly turning her back to the danger and making the situation worse. The whole Custer Falls police force really needs to step it up in general IMO.
Hitz really created a horrifying plot with grisly scenarios, lots of tie ins to other Custer Falls stories, and multiple narrators with detailed backgrounds. You can read this as a standalone, but I do recommend checking out the other books in the series at some point as well!
This time readers are sucked into a twisted woodland nightmare of a tale. Garrets Lodge used to be a bright and hospitable cabin for travelers to spend a night of ease in. Then the darkness arrived and over a hundred years later, the shadows are drawing more evil and more victims in.
We follow a variety of characters: a group of friends and their kids on a hike, a gang on the run, and the lawmen chasing after them. Their fates soon become entwined, and you’ll be biting your nails, hoping that at least the kids will survive.
I found Wanda a mixed character for sure. In equal parts I sympathized for her, but was also increasingly frustrated by her. She felt kind of useless, constantly turning her back to the danger and making the situation worse. The whole Custer Falls police force really needs to step it up in general IMO.
Hitz really created a horrifying plot with grisly scenarios, lots of tie ins to other Custer Falls stories, and multiple narrators with detailed backgrounds. You can read this as a standalone, but I do recommend checking out the other books in the series at some point as well!
June 26, 2024
We are back in the wonderful world of Custer Falls, I love revisiting this place, you never know what you're going to get but you can guarantee it will be an incredible stay. (Also, none of the books that focus on the Falls, extreme or otherwise, need to be read in any particular order, they are all very worthy standalones, but it is nice when you get that comfortable feeling of familiarity whilst reading any of them, if you have visited previously!) This time we pay a visit to Garrets Lodge….for a deeply unsettling, tense, mysterious and ethereal story of dark entities, astral projection, possession, cannibalism and sinister supernatural discoveries.
This story gives you a real sense of claustrophobia, a suffocating feeling of being watched, it leaves you on edge, unsettled, chilled, and it will get your heart racing and your adrenaline pumping! An all encompassing darkness envelops you in its bleak embrace, making your hairs stand on end and your skin crawl with icy shivers. It's also a story that shows the strength of women, their power and determination in the face of evil towards themselves and their loved ones. Especially women that have survived abuse in their lives before.
10 year old Angel is a strong little girl, she can and does stand up for herself when needs be, although she cant always remember why. She also has a special ”gift”, she can see things, vividly, good and bad things, but mostly bad. They can be terrifying, and when they start to merge into reality, she is pulled along with them and taken to some frightening places where she experiences some truly horrific scenarios.
Angel’s mother, Wanda, is reliving a terrible trauma from before and it's affecting her relationship with her daughter. She calls in a couple of friends and they all head to the woods to go camping and spend a bit of time bonding and forgetting their troubles. Wanda always feels at peace in the woods, it's a kind of sanctuary for her. But not this time, this time something feels off, and after a close encounter with the wildlife, they take a wrong turn and when a snowstorm hits, they need to seek shelter, and fast…. Luckily, they stumble across a lodge, and they can breathe a sigh of relief. Only its short lived, as they become possessed with the thoughts and feelings of the previous residents that inhabited the deeply creepy cabin. A cabin that comes with the perfect hosts! But that turns out to be the least of their worries when they get some unexpected extra guests too.
Something in the woods is calling to them all, putting them into trancelike states, giving them a loss of control and causing them to witness the most horrific atrocities from another time. Atrocities that still linger today, and that cause the current guests at the lodge to act on impulses and urges they wouldn't normally consider, things above and beyond evil, leaving behind nothing but free spirits….
The utter trauma and insane hallucinations, aural and visual, that Angel goes through is unreal. How that poor young girl keeps herself together in the most disturbing circumstances, is beyond me, but it shows a strong female character, a strength beyond any normal 10 year old, or any adult for that matter!
Hitz leaves the best bit until the very end, with no hints or clues along the way, it hits you, hard, like an icy cold fist to the face, and it will leave you reeling!
Hitz is absolutely killing it! Every book he writes is a masterpiece of dark, disturbing, deliciousness! And I am so here for it! 🖤
This story gives you a real sense of claustrophobia, a suffocating feeling of being watched, it leaves you on edge, unsettled, chilled, and it will get your heart racing and your adrenaline pumping! An all encompassing darkness envelops you in its bleak embrace, making your hairs stand on end and your skin crawl with icy shivers. It's also a story that shows the strength of women, their power and determination in the face of evil towards themselves and their loved ones. Especially women that have survived abuse in their lives before.
10 year old Angel is a strong little girl, she can and does stand up for herself when needs be, although she cant always remember why. She also has a special ”gift”, she can see things, vividly, good and bad things, but mostly bad. They can be terrifying, and when they start to merge into reality, she is pulled along with them and taken to some frightening places where she experiences some truly horrific scenarios.
Angel’s mother, Wanda, is reliving a terrible trauma from before and it's affecting her relationship with her daughter. She calls in a couple of friends and they all head to the woods to go camping and spend a bit of time bonding and forgetting their troubles. Wanda always feels at peace in the woods, it's a kind of sanctuary for her. But not this time, this time something feels off, and after a close encounter with the wildlife, they take a wrong turn and when a snowstorm hits, they need to seek shelter, and fast…. Luckily, they stumble across a lodge, and they can breathe a sigh of relief. Only its short lived, as they become possessed with the thoughts and feelings of the previous residents that inhabited the deeply creepy cabin. A cabin that comes with the perfect hosts! But that turns out to be the least of their worries when they get some unexpected extra guests too.
Something in the woods is calling to them all, putting them into trancelike states, giving them a loss of control and causing them to witness the most horrific atrocities from another time. Atrocities that still linger today, and that cause the current guests at the lodge to act on impulses and urges they wouldn't normally consider, things above and beyond evil, leaving behind nothing but free spirits….
The utter trauma and insane hallucinations, aural and visual, that Angel goes through is unreal. How that poor young girl keeps herself together in the most disturbing circumstances, is beyond me, but it shows a strong female character, a strength beyond any normal 10 year old, or any adult for that matter!
Hitz leaves the best bit until the very end, with no hints or clues along the way, it hits you, hard, like an icy cold fist to the face, and it will leave you reeling!
Hitz is absolutely killing it! Every book he writes is a masterpiece of dark, disturbing, deliciousness! And I am so here for it! 🖤
July 1, 2024
D. W. Hitz knocked this one out of the park, as usual. His writing style always pulls me into the story, and his character development is top notch. I was creeped out the entire book, and all the twists and turns kept me on the edge of my seat. Although this one wasn't quite as gore or sex filled as his other books, the creep factor and subject matter made it extremely intense and scary. Great book! I can't wait to read the next one!
June 7, 2024
In the woods outside Custer Falls, Wanda, her daughter, and some friends are on a camping excursion to get away from it all. Stevie, Honey, and their associates are on the run after a heist gone wrong. Rand, Marshall, and his dog Ivan are cops who set out on their own to find them. The stories eventually converge deep in the woods when something draws them all to Garrets Lodge. Unfortunately, they don’t find the refuge they are looking for.
This is a creepy and sometimes disturbing read, with a great little twist at the end. I really enjoyed following each character’s part in the horrors that occur at Garrets Lodge. This was my first book by D.W. Hitz, but it definitely won’t be my last!
This is a creepy and sometimes disturbing read, with a great little twist at the end. I really enjoyed following each character’s part in the horrors that occur at Garrets Lodge. This was my first book by D.W. Hitz, but it definitely won’t be my last!
June 25, 2024
I love what Hitz has done with these books. I believe this is the fifth or sixth book that's centered around Custer Falls and the absolutely bat shit craziness that happens there. He's created a bloody and deadly world that I am always eager to return to.
Garrets lodge wasn't quite as bloody or as sex filled as a lot of the other Hitz books I've read, but there was still enough to make me squirm a few times. In fact, it has some seriously messed up scenes.
There are two main groups of characters that we follow in this tale. We have a group of women who go hiking with their children and a group of criminals on the run. Both groups seek refuge in an old abandoned cabin in the woods, but the cabin isn't quite as abandoned as they thought. As someone who loves hiking, this was definitely nightmare fuel.
This is definitely one you don't want to miss. And if this is your first visit to Custer Falls, I highly recommend checking out the other books set here as well.
I received a copy of this in exchange for an honest review.
Garrets lodge wasn't quite as bloody or as sex filled as a lot of the other Hitz books I've read, but there was still enough to make me squirm a few times. In fact, it has some seriously messed up scenes.
There are two main groups of characters that we follow in this tale. We have a group of women who go hiking with their children and a group of criminals on the run. Both groups seek refuge in an old abandoned cabin in the woods, but the cabin isn't quite as abandoned as they thought. As someone who loves hiking, this was definitely nightmare fuel.
This is definitely one you don't want to miss. And if this is your first visit to Custer Falls, I highly recommend checking out the other books set here as well.
I received a copy of this in exchange for an honest review.
August 10, 2024
I am never ever going on a hike, I suspected such things were to be avoided but this cemented it for me.
Such a good read, it hooks you.
Also no lodges for me, ive yet to read about a lodge where anyone had a good time.. Maybe it's my reading choices but, mmmh not a chance.
Such a good read, it hooks you.
Also no lodges for me, ive yet to read about a lodge where anyone had a good time.. Maybe it's my reading choices but, mmmh not a chance.
June 19, 2024
Welcome to Cluster Falls, a small town that just doesn't feel quite right. The locals are friendly enough but seem to hold everyone at arms length and they keep to themselves around outsiders. Nestled deep in the woods is the once welcoming Garrets Lodge. Something sinister has taken hold and people have have mysteriously gone missing.
You begin by meeting Wanda and her daughter Angel who are just trying to get away from their troubles for a few days. Angel definitely gave me some Sixth Sense type of vibes and her mother has been through a traumatic experience of her own. They meet with their friends and go for what was supposed to be a nice hike through the woods.
Stevie and Honey are on the run after a hesist gone bad. They run to Cluster Falls to seek out a business associate of Stevie's father in hopes he may be able to help them out and get them on a better path. Little do they know they are walking into a shootout that leaves them on the run.
A mysterious snowstorm leaves them desperate and looking for shelter. What happens when their paths cross? What is the evil lurking inside the cabin in the middle of the woods? Who will survive?
D.W. Hitz has a writing style all his own and writes with such descriptive wording you feel as though you are trekking through that snowstorm with the feeling that something just isn't right stirring in your stomach. The characters are well developed and the plot is wonderfully executed with an amazing twist at the end.
Just remember the next time you're out in the woods and something isn't quite right that maybe you should listen. Maybe turning around could be the best decision you can make.
You begin by meeting Wanda and her daughter Angel who are just trying to get away from their troubles for a few days. Angel definitely gave me some Sixth Sense type of vibes and her mother has been through a traumatic experience of her own. They meet with their friends and go for what was supposed to be a nice hike through the woods.
Stevie and Honey are on the run after a hesist gone bad. They run to Cluster Falls to seek out a business associate of Stevie's father in hopes he may be able to help them out and get them on a better path. Little do they know they are walking into a shootout that leaves them on the run.
A mysterious snowstorm leaves them desperate and looking for shelter. What happens when their paths cross? What is the evil lurking inside the cabin in the middle of the woods? Who will survive?
D.W. Hitz has a writing style all his own and writes with such descriptive wording you feel as though you are trekking through that snowstorm with the feeling that something just isn't right stirring in your stomach. The characters are well developed and the plot is wonderfully executed with an amazing twist at the end.
Just remember the next time you're out in the woods and something isn't quite right that maybe you should listen. Maybe turning around could be the best decision you can make.
June 19, 2024
When trapped in a sudden blizzard, finding an abandoned cabin, one would think this was a good thing. Not so in this book. Two different groups of people are on a collision course of despair and danger with no idea. I really found this book terrifying. The atmosphere provided by the author had me wondering why people ignore their instincts. When Wanda and other members of her group felt unease when entering the woods they ignored that little voice and kept going. I have had those feelings before and I listened. I, of course, was not these people in the book and this ignoring brought more to the story. Being the reader and knowing things before the characters made me want to yell, “Don’t go that way!” or “Turn around now!”. Of course my words were unheard. I liked this about this book, it was like watching a movie where everyone yells at the screen. Not to mention the influence the cabin had on the people within. Everyday people began hearing voices and they listened to those voices. This book was very brutal and I gasped out loud during many scenes. An excellent horror read….maybe with the lights on!
June 18, 2024
D.W. Hitz has fast become a go-to author for me, as no book of his has ever let me down: from folk horror extravaganzas to extreme gore nightmares, he just never disappoints. With 'Garrets Lodge,' a standalone novel set in the fictional small town of Custer Falls, Hitz raises the bar even higher, since the book has perfect pacing, a large cast of riveting characters compellingly handled, and an incredible well-crafted plotline exemplary of the best horror novels. In fact, I got some strong vibes from several of my favorite horror movies throughout the book, from "The Sixth Sense" and "The Shining," to "The Last House On The Left." Intentionally or not, their basic premises are given some unique spins and create a horror novel I heartily recommend to even the most hardened horror fan!
The story is complicated (in a good way): two different narratives crash into each other, bringing into the scene a third one, because of which everything explodes into absolute supernatural mayhem and psychological terror. The first narrative employs the mother-daughter trope to introduce us to Wanda and her ten-year-old daughter, Angel; Wanda is deeply traumatized, trying to keep everything together for Angel's sake - but the little girl has some secrets of her own, due to which this plotline soon turns spooky, creepy, and downright scary. Enter Wanda's idea to invite her friends and their daughters to go hiking in the woods. The second narrative is focused on crime, rather than the paranormal; a heist goes sideways, the last surviving members ask a friend for help, but luck is definitely not on their side since, almost immediately, they're all fugitives running from the law. Enter the idea of finding shelter in the woods. What neither group realizes is that deep in the Custer Falls Forest, there's something awful (and I mean this very seriously: AWFUL) waiting for them. Not to mention that the fugitives are hardly the right people to meet on a hike! They're nasty, violent, and desperate. Wanda and the girls are in for a very unpleasant surprise. But that's the least of everyone's problems. The horror in Garrets Lodge will give you nightmares!
Hitz always does a fantastic job bringing his stories to a satisfying close, and, by the end of the book, I'd come to understand completely what drove the characters to do what they did. I loved 'Garrets Lodge.' It's a good thing this is a fictional place (or is it?)
If you're looking for your next scary, harrowing, and brilliantly plotted horror book, full of characters you'll care about -give this book a shot. I guarantee you won't be disappointed!
The story is complicated (in a good way): two different narratives crash into each other, bringing into the scene a third one, because of which everything explodes into absolute supernatural mayhem and psychological terror. The first narrative employs the mother-daughter trope to introduce us to Wanda and her ten-year-old daughter, Angel; Wanda is deeply traumatized, trying to keep everything together for Angel's sake - but the little girl has some secrets of her own, due to which this plotline soon turns spooky, creepy, and downright scary. Enter Wanda's idea to invite her friends and their daughters to go hiking in the woods. The second narrative is focused on crime, rather than the paranormal; a heist goes sideways, the last surviving members ask a friend for help, but luck is definitely not on their side since, almost immediately, they're all fugitives running from the law. Enter the idea of finding shelter in the woods. What neither group realizes is that deep in the Custer Falls Forest, there's something awful (and I mean this very seriously: AWFUL) waiting for them. Not to mention that the fugitives are hardly the right people to meet on a hike! They're nasty, violent, and desperate. Wanda and the girls are in for a very unpleasant surprise. But that's the least of everyone's problems. The horror in Garrets Lodge will give you nightmares!
Hitz always does a fantastic job bringing his stories to a satisfying close, and, by the end of the book, I'd come to understand completely what drove the characters to do what they did. I loved 'Garrets Lodge.' It's a good thing this is a fictional place (or is it?)
If you're looking for your next scary, harrowing, and brilliantly plotted horror book, full of characters you'll care about -give this book a shot. I guarantee you won't be disappointed!
July 11, 2024
Danger lurks everywhere in Custer Falls. We meet Wanda again in a different terrifying situation. This is meant to be a stand alone though, and it isn't extreme. There is plenty of gore though. It's interesting to see Wanda's and Angel's mom-daughter relationship. They love each other, but have their issues. Wanda has PTSD and a cop on leave. Angel knows she needs to be strong for her mother.
Wanda has a clear cut concience of right and wrong. Angel has this philosophy too, helping both her mom and her best friend. Angel is one of my favorites in this book.
The sense of claustrophobia got me! Being trapped in a house during a snow storm is my worst nightmare, and I live in a state where we get a lot of it. I really liked how he added a realistic crime horror with a paranormal one. This is an excellent addition to the Custer Falls books, I really recommend it!
Wanda has a clear cut concience of right and wrong. Angel has this philosophy too, helping both her mom and her best friend. Angel is one of my favorites in this book.
The sense of claustrophobia got me! Being trapped in a house during a snow storm is my worst nightmare, and I live in a state where we get a lot of it. I really liked how he added a realistic crime horror with a paranormal one. This is an excellent addition to the Custer Falls books, I really recommend it!
June 21, 2024
DW Hitz comes back with another amazing story! It left me feeling uneasy from the beginning, and didn’t let up. I liked how it starts off as two separate events that eventually bring everything together. If you’re looking for a good outdoor/woods horror, you’re going to want to grab this one.
November 20, 2024
This is my first visit to the non extreme side of Custer Falls, but don’t worry there is plenty of blood and horror!
The story starts with two separate groups, both with completely different objectives. However just how fate would have it, the two parties cross paths. What waits for them behind the doors of that creepy old lodge is much more sinister than one would ever imagine! Thoroughly enjoyable read.
The story starts with two separate groups, both with completely different objectives. However just how fate would have it, the two parties cross paths. What waits for them behind the doors of that creepy old lodge is much more sinister than one would ever imagine! Thoroughly enjoyable read.
January 6, 2025
Bibliophilia Templum review
https://bibliophiliatemplum.wordpress.com
Garrets Lodge, a Custer Falls novel by incredible horror author D.W. Hitz, is a relentlessly brutal reading experience. It’s an intense and driving story, and Hitz’s immersive storytelling had me feeling this one in my body, mind, and soul.
Although Garrets Lodge is not considered extreme horror, the subject matter, violence, and gripping bloody horrors beg to differ. Mostly the subject matter. Readers expecting a more subdued Custer Falls story may be in for a bit of a shock. While comparatively it is far less explicit and graphic and gory than others, the horrors are not less vivid and striking, and the subject matter is particularly boundary-crossing—in a good way, in my opinion; however, some readers might find it to be a bit much.
This is an incredibly poignant story for many reasons, one being the aforementioned subject matter. Another reason is the diverse and evocative characters. But it’s also the story itself and Hitz’s masterful writing. The history of the lodge is the epitome of sinister, and the terrors that ensue inside it are absolutely chilling.
Garrets Lodge is an intense and riveting horror story that will make you laugh, gasp, and exclaim out loud. I am constantly amazed by D.W. Hitz’s unapologetic willingness to “go there” in his writing, to slap you with the unexpected, take things in a hard turn, and drive the breath from your lungs with the horrors he unleashes. And extreme horror or not, Garrets Lodge is no exception. This is an unequivocal 5-star horror read.
https://bibliophiliatemplum.wordpress.com
Garrets Lodge, a Custer Falls novel by incredible horror author D.W. Hitz, is a relentlessly brutal reading experience. It’s an intense and driving story, and Hitz’s immersive storytelling had me feeling this one in my body, mind, and soul.
Although Garrets Lodge is not considered extreme horror, the subject matter, violence, and gripping bloody horrors beg to differ. Mostly the subject matter. Readers expecting a more subdued Custer Falls story may be in for a bit of a shock. While comparatively it is far less explicit and graphic and gory than others, the horrors are not less vivid and striking, and the subject matter is particularly boundary-crossing—in a good way, in my opinion; however, some readers might find it to be a bit much.
This is an incredibly poignant story for many reasons, one being the aforementioned subject matter. Another reason is the diverse and evocative characters. But it’s also the story itself and Hitz’s masterful writing. The history of the lodge is the epitome of sinister, and the terrors that ensue inside it are absolutely chilling.
Garrets Lodge is an intense and riveting horror story that will make you laugh, gasp, and exclaim out loud. I am constantly amazed by D.W. Hitz’s unapologetic willingness to “go there” in his writing, to slap you with the unexpected, take things in a hard turn, and drive the breath from your lungs with the horrors he unleashes. And extreme horror or not, Garrets Lodge is no exception. This is an unequivocal 5-star horror read.
June 30, 2024
There's something so satisfying about reading a Hitz book. Any time I pick one up, I know I'm in for atmosphere, a beautifully written cast of characters, and horrifying, blood-soaked adventure!
With as many of his as I've read, one would think I'd've learned by now not to get too attached to any one character. It's always a toss-up of who will survive and who will be intact by the end of a Hitz book, but he makes it so hard not to get attached to the good guys. I couldn't help but get invested in these characters and what was happening to them, despite knowing there was a good chance that one/several weren't going to come out the other side.
I'm so fascinated by Custer Falls and the world that Hitz has built. Each book in the series builds so well on what's been written before, and it's such a great reading experience. This series has quickly become one of my favourites, and each release is more eagerly anticipated than the last. I don't know what I'm going to do if Hitz ever quits giving me new stories and characters in this world.
A big thank you to the author for the copy, and I can't wait to read what you put out next!
With as many of his as I've read, one would think I'd've learned by now not to get too attached to any one character. It's always a toss-up of who will survive and who will be intact by the end of a Hitz book, but he makes it so hard not to get attached to the good guys. I couldn't help but get invested in these characters and what was happening to them, despite knowing there was a good chance that one/several weren't going to come out the other side.
I'm so fascinated by Custer Falls and the world that Hitz has built. Each book in the series builds so well on what's been written before, and it's such a great reading experience. This series has quickly become one of my favourites, and each release is more eagerly anticipated than the last. I don't know what I'm going to do if Hitz ever quits giving me new stories and characters in this world.
A big thank you to the author for the copy, and I can't wait to read what you put out next!
July 23, 2024
Garrets Lodge takes us back to Custer Falls. Just when you think things can’t get worse in this small town, it does. Wanda and her group planned for a relaxing outing, but Custer Falls had other plans.
Once again, Hitz brings all the creepiness, puts the characters through some intense scenes and creates an unsettling and tense atmosphere. I honestly felt like I could have been in the abandoned cabin with the characters. I could feel the chill in the air and the fear and uncertainty. Add in some possessions and a few unhinged bad guys, and you’re in for a fantastic read.
Between the plot and the characters, this was a book I didn’t want to put down. I absolutely loved Angel. She deals with so much scary stuff for her age, but she handles it like a champ. Definitely my favorite character in this book.
If you haven’t been to Custer Falls yet, now is your chance. Brave the blizzard trapped in an isolated cabin with some maniacs and ghosts with some unfinished business. You seriously cannot go wrong reading any of the Custer Falls books. They have quickly become a favorite of mine, and I’d recommend them to any horror lover.
Once again, Hitz brings all the creepiness, puts the characters through some intense scenes and creates an unsettling and tense atmosphere. I honestly felt like I could have been in the abandoned cabin with the characters. I could feel the chill in the air and the fear and uncertainty. Add in some possessions and a few unhinged bad guys, and you’re in for a fantastic read.
Between the plot and the characters, this was a book I didn’t want to put down. I absolutely loved Angel. She deals with so much scary stuff for her age, but she handles it like a champ. Definitely my favorite character in this book.
If you haven’t been to Custer Falls yet, now is your chance. Brave the blizzard trapped in an isolated cabin with some maniacs and ghosts with some unfinished business. You seriously cannot go wrong reading any of the Custer Falls books. They have quickly become a favorite of mine, and I’d recommend them to any horror lover.
June 13, 2024
I seem to be getting books with the same trope lately. It’s criminals hiding out with some type of supernatural force in their midst. Luckily, I think this has been my favorite of those, so far.
This is a seriously dark book. There’s a bunch of micro storylines that never really get resolved, so presumably these are references to Hitz’s other books based in Custer Falls. This is only my second Hitz book and there were a few I would’ve liked clarity on, but it didn’t affect my opinion of the overall book.
The bad dudes are fairly stereotypical bad dudes, but once the supernatural element enters the story it becomes more unpredictable and wild. Lots of blood in this one, but still found it within my wheelhouse.
4 solid stars. Recommended to those looking for a gory, supernatural horror thriller.
This is a seriously dark book. There’s a bunch of micro storylines that never really get resolved, so presumably these are references to Hitz’s other books based in Custer Falls. This is only my second Hitz book and there were a few I would’ve liked clarity on, but it didn’t affect my opinion of the overall book.
The bad dudes are fairly stereotypical bad dudes, but once the supernatural element enters the story it becomes more unpredictable and wild. Lots of blood in this one, but still found it within my wheelhouse.
4 solid stars. Recommended to those looking for a gory, supernatural horror thriller.
June 15, 2024
This novel concerns three mothers and their children who are going on a hike. they look for refuge during a snowstorm and find a cabin. However, they end up at the wrong place at the wrong time. A group of criminals are also hiding out in this cabin to try and avoid the police. These two groups come together, but always not as it seems. The cabin is haunted and some very vengeful ghosts are also at work. This was an extremely creepy novel. Some of the scenes will live in my head, rent free for years. There was a lot of great character development and I really wanted our heroines to survive. This book had some truly shocking moments that I did not see coming. This was my first book from this author, but it definitely will not be my last.
July 21, 2024
Group of friends go on a hike in the woods….. seems innocent enough…
Group of criminals flee into same woods…. With a few cops not far behind.
Throw in a supernatural element, a deadly snowstorm, and a vacant lodge in the woods… you think you know where it’s all going.. but you are wrong. Dead wrong.
The history of the lodge is so twisted and haunting.
The story is beautifully written intertwining the disturbing past horrors of the lodge with the groups fighting for survival. There are definitely twists you don’t see coming….
This is one of the best books I’ve read this year. Can’t wait to read more from this author.
Group of criminals flee into same woods…. With a few cops not far behind.
Throw in a supernatural element, a deadly snowstorm, and a vacant lodge in the woods… you think you know where it’s all going.. but you are wrong. Dead wrong.
The history of the lodge is so twisted and haunting.
The story is beautifully written intertwining the disturbing past horrors of the lodge with the groups fighting for survival. There are definitely twists you don’t see coming….
This is one of the best books I’ve read this year. Can’t wait to read more from this author.
June 16, 2024
Another great book by DW! This time in Custer Falls, you’re drawn into a twisted tale deep in the woods at an old, run-down cabin called Garret’s Lodge. You have some family and friends that seek shelter there from a snow storm. Mix in some drug runners that seek shelter hiding from the cops searching for them, plus some ghosts and you get some interesting things happening in this cabin. This story is not extreme like DW’s other works, but it has its moments and it’s a great story that I found very enjoyable from beginning to end! Highly recommend!
June 27, 2024
I was gifted this ARC. Garrets Lodge was a wild ride! I experienced just about every feeling on the spectrum while I was reading it. I’m honestly at a loss at what to even say about this book. I’m not sure what I was expecting out of this read but it sure wasn’t what I got. I really liked getting the whole story from the varying perspectives throughout the story. If you’re down for a psych thriller, mixed with supernatural elements, and dash of cannibalism to top it off, this is the book for you. 5⭐️
June 30, 2024
This is the latest book in the Custer Falls series. I just love this world D.W. created. This time a group of campers and criminals meet up in the woods unintentionally.
This is more of a slow burn compared to the other books in the series, but it's much more rewarding. Angel stole the show, not because she has same name, I promise. However, each character in this book was well developed and I love great characters.
All I can say is Garrets Lodge is more than any camper could bargain for, haha.
Loved this one.
This is more of a slow burn compared to the other books in the series, but it's much more rewarding. Angel stole the show, not because she has same name, I promise. However, each character in this book was well developed and I love great characters.
All I can say is Garrets Lodge is more than any camper could bargain for, haha.
Loved this one.
June 26, 2024
Safe Haven
A group of hikers get caught in a snowstorm. Robbers on the run get caught, too. They all think they found shelter, but Garrett's lodge is hiding something monstrous.
A group of hikers get caught in a snowstorm. Robbers on the run get caught, too. They all think they found shelter, but Garrett's lodge is hiding something monstrous.
July 13, 2024
This is the first book I've read by this author, and I quite enjoyed it. I seem to be on a 'bad things happen in the wilderness ' kick, and this one fit that mood. I connected with the characters and the writing and stayed up late reading just 'one more page' until I finished it.
August 22, 2024
I absolutely loved this story. It kept me interested and was entertaining. I enjoyed this much more than Bloodtooth. Seems like if I would have read this first I might have understood and enjoyed Bloodtooth more. I loved the aspect of how the lodge was such a force in the behaviors of the people that came in contact with it.
April 4, 2025
My stomach is still turning. I spent some time at Garrets Lodge and it was full of dark and disturbing chaos. I was immediately interested when I saw it described as, “a haunted Cabin at the End of the World where Texas Chainsaw Massacre happened”. It was my first by D.W Hitz, though I may need a break before I can return to Custer Falls.
In the past, I have hiked in the winter…but never again. And let this be a reminder for reasons why we DON’T enter creepy, evil houses in the middle of the wilderness.
In the past, I have hiked in the winter…but never again. And let this be a reminder for reasons why we DON’T enter creepy, evil houses in the middle of the wilderness.
June 26, 2024
D.W. Hitz is one of those authors whose writing style just hits for me. 🎯 I loved Wanda and her group, their stories keeping my pulse racing. I hated Shamus and his crew, but I loved getting to know about them through the story. Despite how eager I was to discover what ultimately twisted Garrets Lodge into such a hateful and evil place, I loved how meaty the story was and how it was paced. If you love a good horror story set in the woods/primal settings then you’re not gonna wanna miss this one!
July 27, 2024
Thank you, D.W. Hitz
It's a Great weekend for a mom and daughter bonding camping trip in Custer Falls.
A group of hoodlums escape into the woods with the police manhunt on their trail.
There are three different complex stories happening at the same time. The different parties all converge near Garrett's Lodge. Find out what happens when the different parties meet in this haunted cabin in the woods.
D.W Hitz loves camping. It shows in his many stories. This Splatterpunk story did not disappoint.
It's a Great weekend for a mom and daughter bonding camping trip in Custer Falls.
A group of hoodlums escape into the woods with the police manhunt on their trail.
There are three different complex stories happening at the same time. The different parties all converge near Garrett's Lodge. Find out what happens when the different parties meet in this haunted cabin in the woods.
D.W Hitz loves camping. It shows in his many stories. This Splatterpunk story did not disappoint.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
June 1, 2025
Garrets Lodge is a standalone novel set in the town of Custer Falls, a town that is steeped in creepy and weird happenings which this time, follows two vastly different groups of characters that end up crossing paths in such a terrifying way that you'll be lucky not to be falling on the floor from sitting on the ege of your seat for so long.
The first cast of characters is made of of Wanda, a suspended police officer with a dark past and her ten year old daughter Wanda who has some spooky secrets of her own which come into play later on in the story. After her daughter has a particularly hard time at school, she decides that they need a break and so set out on a camping trip. Wanda invites a new friend who had recently moved to Custer Falls and together with her best friend and her daughter they venture into the mountainside.
The other cast of characters strikes a stark contrast. Stevie, an incompetant criminal and his girlfriend Honey seek a job from one of the local crimelords after a job goes wrong but are then dragged into a shootout with police. They band together and make their escape into the woods, the same woods Wanda and company are in.
As an aside to these two main groups, there are a couple of police members and their dog Ivan who are involved in the story as they attempt to search for the criminals away before the state authorities take over the pursuit.
The story brings the two groups together at Garrets Lodge and they all soon find out that what initially looks like shelter from the sudden storm they find themselves in is hiding a secret that is far more dangerous and terrifying then anyone could imagine.
This is a brilliant book and is way up there on my list of favourite reads for this year. The way the story threads are executed and intertwined is expertly done and the buildup to the horrorfying events in Garrets Lodge is full of dread, and creepiness which makes the what happens there so much more impactful.
I enjoyed how each of the characters were so different from each other and how their past influenced their behaviours and I really felt for Wanda, her daughter and her friends who were just trying to escape a stressful situation only to find themselves in a horrific situation.
A very easy recommendation this one.
The first cast of characters is made of of Wanda, a suspended police officer with a dark past and her ten year old daughter Wanda who has some spooky secrets of her own which come into play later on in the story. After her daughter has a particularly hard time at school, she decides that they need a break and so set out on a camping trip. Wanda invites a new friend who had recently moved to Custer Falls and together with her best friend and her daughter they venture into the mountainside.
The other cast of characters strikes a stark contrast. Stevie, an incompetant criminal and his girlfriend Honey seek a job from one of the local crimelords after a job goes wrong but are then dragged into a shootout with police. They band together and make their escape into the woods, the same woods Wanda and company are in.
As an aside to these two main groups, there are a couple of police members and their dog Ivan who are involved in the story as they attempt to search for the criminals away before the state authorities take over the pursuit.
The story brings the two groups together at Garrets Lodge and they all soon find out that what initially looks like shelter from the sudden storm they find themselves in is hiding a secret that is far more dangerous and terrifying then anyone could imagine.
This is a brilliant book and is way up there on my list of favourite reads for this year. The way the story threads are executed and intertwined is expertly done and the buildup to the horrorfying events in Garrets Lodge is full of dread, and creepiness which makes the what happens there so much more impactful.
I enjoyed how each of the characters were so different from each other and how their past influenced their behaviours and I really felt for Wanda, her daughter and her friends who were just trying to escape a stressful situation only to find themselves in a horrific situation.
A very easy recommendation this one.
June 18, 2025
Wanda, her daughter Angel and their friends decide to do a spot of camping. Everything is great until they're caught up in a sudden snow storm and are forced to seek shelter in a lodge hidden in the woods.
Unbeknownst to them, a group of criminals are also in the forest, running from the police, having just brutally murdered the cops that confronted them. And they also find the cabin.
I have absolutely loved all of the books in the Custer Falls series, and I couldn't wait for this one. It wasn't my favourite, but I enjoyed it all the same. As always, we have a whole variety of characters, a horrifying story and gory deaths.
A must-read if you love weird and gruesome books.
Unbeknownst to them, a group of criminals are also in the forest, running from the police, having just brutally murdered the cops that confronted them. And they also find the cabin.
I have absolutely loved all of the books in the Custer Falls series, and I couldn't wait for this one. It wasn't my favourite, but I enjoyed it all the same. As always, we have a whole variety of characters, a horrifying story and gory deaths.
A must-read if you love weird and gruesome books.
March 20, 2025
I received a review copy of this work from D.W. Hitz in exchange for an honest review.
This book was riveting. An epic of crime, of family, of the supernatural. Multiple perspectives handled deftly with intricate plotting. The characters were well developed and deep with even the worst character having some depth. Recommended both for just reading as well as for the brawl.
This book was riveting. An epic of crime, of family, of the supernatural. Multiple perspectives handled deftly with intricate plotting. The characters were well developed and deep with even the worst character having some depth. Recommended both for just reading as well as for the brawl.
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