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The Girls in the Cabin
10 hours, 3 minutes
*** Best Psychological Thriller in the 2023 Best Thrillers Book Awards!***
DISCOVER ONE OF THE MOST GRIPPING THRILLERS YOU’LL HEAR THIS YEAR.
A father will do anything to keep his daughters safe. But the phone lines are down. The roads are blocked. And the woman in the cabin is hiding a terrible secret . . .
This camping trip is Chris’s last chance to repair his relationship with his daughters, Kayla and Emma. Nothing’s been the same since they lost their mom. But things go wrong as soon as they get to the mountains.
When they make camp, nine-year-old Emma runs off into the woods. By the time they find her, there’s a snowstorm rolling in. And Emma’s leg is badly broken. They need to find shelter, fast.
They think they’re safe when they come across an old farmstead. The woman inside welcomes them in from the howling blizzard and straps up Emma’s leg.
They settle down for the night, but when Chris wakes at dawn and looks over . . . Emma is gone.
And this family’s nightmare is only just beginning.
An utterly breathtaking thriller perfect for fans of Harlen Coben, Gregg Olsen, Mary Kubica, Lisa Jackson and Stephen King’s Misery.
Set in the stunning wilderness of the Colorado Flat Tops, this addictive thriller packed with shocking twists will make you question everything you think you know about family.
*** Best Psychological Thriller in the 2023 Best Thrillers Book Awards!***
DISCOVER ONE OF THE MOST GRIPPING THRILLERS YOU’LL HEAR THIS YEAR.
A father will do anything to keep his daughters safe. But the phone lines are down. The roads are blocked. And the woman in the cabin is hiding a terrible secret . . .
This camping trip is Chris’s last chance to repair his relationship with his daughters, Kayla and Emma. Nothing’s been the same since they lost their mom. But things go wrong as soon as they get to the mountains.
When they make camp, nine-year-old Emma runs off into the woods. By the time they find her, there’s a snowstorm rolling in. And Emma’s leg is badly broken. They need to find shelter, fast.
They think they’re safe when they come across an old farmstead. The woman inside welcomes them in from the howling blizzard and straps up Emma’s leg.
They settle down for the night, but when Chris wakes at dawn and looks over . . . Emma is gone.
And this family’s nightmare is only just beginning.
An utterly breathtaking thriller perfect for fans of Harlen Coben, Gregg Olsen, Mary Kubica, Lisa Jackson and Stephen King’s Misery.
Set in the stunning wilderness of the Colorado Flat Tops, this addictive thriller packed with shocking twists will make you question everything you think you know about family.
11 pages, Audible Audio
First published May 17, 2023
1722 people are currently reading
16445 people want to read
About the author
Caleb Stephens
24 books579 followersCaleb Stephens is an award-winning thriller author based in Denver, Colorado. He's the author of the psychological thrillers You'll Never Know, If You Lie, and The Girls in the Cabin, and a two-time Colorado Book Award finalist. When he's not writing, Caleb enjoys spending time with his family and his dog, Bodhi — ideally while drinking a strong cup of coffee.
To learn more about his work and grab a free story, check out his website www.calebstephensauthor.com, and follow him on TikTok and Instagram @calebstephensauthor.
To learn more about his work and grab a free story, check out his website www.calebstephensauthor.com, and follow him on TikTok and Instagram @calebstephensauthor.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 661 reviews
February 28, 2025
"Winner: Best Psychological Thriller in the 2023 Best Thrillers Book Awards."
After reading the synopsis for The Girls in the Cabin I was a bit dubious about whether this would be as good as If You Lie, (another novel by Stephens) which I recently completed and absolutely loved.
Fast forward... It floored me. The synopsis barely touches on the action and both psychological and physical horrors contained within these pages.
The ultimate locked room novel where a father and his two daughters are caught in a early Colorado blizzard while on a week long camping trip. Father, Chris, was determined to make this trip as an homage to Lexi, his late wife and mother of his children. Before dying of cancer Lexi had always wanted to go as a family on the exact trip Chris and (his less than excited) daughters, 16-year-old Kayla and 7-year-old Emma are on when everything turns on a dime.
Emma suffers a horrible leg injury when run over by a boulder. With no cell service and the temperatures dropping drastically they must find shelter or die. Just as they are about to lose all hope for salvation the three happen upon a farmhouse in the middle of nowhere. Their prayers have been answered, right? Think again.
Even though this won a an award for best psychological thriller in 2023 it could also be classified as a horror novel in my humble opinion. I was not expecting the gruesome and graphic scenes which had my stomach roiling more times than I can count.
The character development is phenomenal as the chapters alternate between the past and future with all of the characters. This aspect adds incredible insight into motivations and relationships.
This is not a five star rating only because it was a bit too predictable. That being said, the action, horror and suspense more than kept me spellbound.
Highly recommend.
After reading the synopsis for The Girls in the Cabin I was a bit dubious about whether this would be as good as If You Lie, (another novel by Stephens) which I recently completed and absolutely loved.
Fast forward... It floored me. The synopsis barely touches on the action and both psychological and physical horrors contained within these pages.
The ultimate locked room novel where a father and his two daughters are caught in a early Colorado blizzard while on a week long camping trip. Father, Chris, was determined to make this trip as an homage to Lexi, his late wife and mother of his children. Before dying of cancer Lexi had always wanted to go as a family on the exact trip Chris and (his less than excited) daughters, 16-year-old Kayla and 7-year-old Emma are on when everything turns on a dime.
Emma suffers a horrible leg injury when run over by a boulder. With no cell service and the temperatures dropping drastically they must find shelter or die. Just as they are about to lose all hope for salvation the three happen upon a farmhouse in the middle of nowhere. Their prayers have been answered, right? Think again.
Even though this won a an award for best psychological thriller in 2023 it could also be classified as a horror novel in my humble opinion. I was not expecting the gruesome and graphic scenes which had my stomach roiling more times than I can count.
The character development is phenomenal as the chapters alternate between the past and future with all of the characters. This aspect adds incredible insight into motivations and relationships.
This is not a five star rating only because it was a bit too predictable. That being said, the action, horror and suspense more than kept me spellbound.
Highly recommend.
January 16, 2024
The whole time I was reading this I felt like it was a 4-4.5 star read, but now that I’ve finished I’m comfortable giving it a 5. While k was reading it- because I sort of knew what the twist was I was thinking, “well- I figured out the twist so it can’t be a 5 star read”… but you know what? I feel like not every book has to have mind blowing, you don’t see it coming twists to make it effective. This book had me on edge the whole time. I was nervous… the WHOLE time. So… 5 stars lol
Chris takes his two daughters on a hike through the Colorado wilderness a year after his wife passes from cancer, in hopes of reconnecting his shattered family. When honest is injured and the desperately search for help… what looks promising at first becomes the real nightmare and the race against time to survive.
Chris takes his two daughters on a hike through the Colorado wilderness a year after his wife passes from cancer, in hopes of reconnecting his shattered family. When honest is injured and the desperately search for help… what looks promising at first becomes the real nightmare and the race against time to survive.
August 29, 2023
Chris and his two daughters go across country to camp out in the mountains where his loving wife always wanted to go but he was always too busy to take the trip with her. Now that she's been gone for only six months he wants to bond again with his girls to right the wrongs he had done in the past. Kayla, a fifteen year old will barely talk to him without anger in her voice because she will never forgive him for what he did and Little Emma has not spoken a word since the day her mom passed away.
Chris loves his daughters dearly and hopes this trip will bond them together in a new way of hopefully starting over and becoming the family that his wife had always wanted. Now, an unexpected blizzard in the mountains while Emma has broken her leg with other damage make getting back to their car impossible as they have lost their way and they walk for hours with Chris carrying unconscious Emma with only snow, wind and trees surrounding them at every step. Without shelter soon they will succumb to the elements and it will be all Chris's fault and he hates himself for thinking he could make things right with Kayla when now she will never understand his love for all of them.
Finally, lips and fingers blue, teeth chattering, non-stop shivering with the freezing cold they come upon an old cabin with a light in the window. A woman named Clara lives here with her mentally disabled son named Billy and Chris his so thankful for her kindness so he finally can get Emma to the hospital but naturally the phone doesn't work due to the snowstorm so Clara expertly patches up Emma's leg so she will be in less pain although Kayla seems suspicious and a nervous, frozen wreck. They sense something wrong yet Clara is so kind and and generous to them that they feel guilty for thinking any negative thoughts but who are these people that live in the middle of nowhere in this odd cabin with signs of hoarding in every room while they wear the strangest clothing that doesn't fit them properly yet their host is so very gentle, intelligent and welcoming yet Chris and Kayla know something is very wrong but what other choice do they have. Before long this family will discover their nightmare is only just beginning since Clara has dangerous secrets from her past and before long Chris will be fighting to save.all their lives from an unknown presence who only wants Clara to themselves even if her death and theirs must be the final outcome.
What in the crazy world has happened? This nightmare can't be real because this is stuff that can only be found in a horror movie!
This book had everything, tension, mystery, suspense, horror, chilling details of murder, secrets, pain suffering and more. I just enjoyed this book so much! The writing and the storytelling were so captivating and creepy that I couldn't turn the pages fast enough while being entertained with each chilling chapter. All the characters were amazing with their detailed descriptions and prior life history. By the end of the book every question I had was finally answered and the story also had an unexpected satisfying ending as well. Some may find the book predictable but I certainly did not! There was one particular, fantastic twist where my eyes bugged out and my jaw just dropped open and I sad "Wow, Wow, Wow!". I just love when that happens! This was my first book by Caleb Stephens and now I'm a fan and can't wait to read more of his books. I highly recommend this book to all dark mystery/thriller and horror readers!
I want to thank the publisher "Joffe Books" and Netgalley for the opportunity to read this digital copy and any thoughts or opinions expressed are unbiased and mine alone!
I have given this book a rating if 4 1/2 MESMERIZING AND CREEPY 🌟🌟🌟🌟🌠 STARS!!
Chris loves his daughters dearly and hopes this trip will bond them together in a new way of hopefully starting over and becoming the family that his wife had always wanted. Now, an unexpected blizzard in the mountains while Emma has broken her leg with other damage make getting back to their car impossible as they have lost their way and they walk for hours with Chris carrying unconscious Emma with only snow, wind and trees surrounding them at every step. Without shelter soon they will succumb to the elements and it will be all Chris's fault and he hates himself for thinking he could make things right with Kayla when now she will never understand his love for all of them.
Finally, lips and fingers blue, teeth chattering, non-stop shivering with the freezing cold they come upon an old cabin with a light in the window. A woman named Clara lives here with her mentally disabled son named Billy and Chris his so thankful for her kindness so he finally can get Emma to the hospital but naturally the phone doesn't work due to the snowstorm so Clara expertly patches up Emma's leg so she will be in less pain although Kayla seems suspicious and a nervous, frozen wreck. They sense something wrong yet Clara is so kind and and generous to them that they feel guilty for thinking any negative thoughts but who are these people that live in the middle of nowhere in this odd cabin with signs of hoarding in every room while they wear the strangest clothing that doesn't fit them properly yet their host is so very gentle, intelligent and welcoming yet Chris and Kayla know something is very wrong but what other choice do they have. Before long this family will discover their nightmare is only just beginning since Clara has dangerous secrets from her past and before long Chris will be fighting to save.all their lives from an unknown presence who only wants Clara to themselves even if her death and theirs must be the final outcome.
What in the crazy world has happened? This nightmare can't be real because this is stuff that can only be found in a horror movie!
This book had everything, tension, mystery, suspense, horror, chilling details of murder, secrets, pain suffering and more. I just enjoyed this book so much! The writing and the storytelling were so captivating and creepy that I couldn't turn the pages fast enough while being entertained with each chilling chapter. All the characters were amazing with their detailed descriptions and prior life history. By the end of the book every question I had was finally answered and the story also had an unexpected satisfying ending as well. Some may find the book predictable but I certainly did not! There was one particular, fantastic twist where my eyes bugged out and my jaw just dropped open and I sad "Wow, Wow, Wow!". I just love when that happens! This was my first book by Caleb Stephens and now I'm a fan and can't wait to read more of his books. I highly recommend this book to all dark mystery/thriller and horror readers!
I want to thank the publisher "Joffe Books" and Netgalley for the opportunity to read this digital copy and any thoughts or opinions expressed are unbiased and mine alone!
I have given this book a rating if 4 1/2 MESMERIZING AND CREEPY 🌟🌟🌟🌟🌠 STARS!!
August 10, 2023
After reading ‘Feeders’ by this author, I was given the opportunity to read his other books, this being one of them...and man, this was such a good book, with an almighty twist, which slaps you hard in the face.
Kayla and Emma have gone hiking in the mountains with their dad Chris, as a memorial for their mum, who loved to hike, and who sadly lost her battle with cancer. Emma gets lost and gets injured pretty horrifically. Once finding her, they walk through a snowstorm, until they come to a cabin, which is opened by a woman, who offers to help...
This is a psychological thriller which has more than enough horror to satisfy my hunger. This book was intense, scary, and emotional, and had me fiercely turning each page, in anticipation.
Caleb Stephens is definitely an author to look out for, and I will gladly read anything he writes. Highly recommended, and no less than...
5 ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
(just for Billy, alone 😢)
Kayla and Emma have gone hiking in the mountains with their dad Chris, as a memorial for their mum, who loved to hike, and who sadly lost her battle with cancer. Emma gets lost and gets injured pretty horrifically. Once finding her, they walk through a snowstorm, until they come to a cabin, which is opened by a woman, who offers to help...
This is a psychological thriller which has more than enough horror to satisfy my hunger. This book was intense, scary, and emotional, and had me fiercely turning each page, in anticipation.
Caleb Stephens is definitely an author to look out for, and I will gladly read anything he writes. Highly recommended, and no less than...
5 ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
(just for Billy, alone 😢)
December 12, 2025
the setup…
It’s been a tough time for Chris McKenna and his two daughters, 15-year old Kayla and 7-year old Emma. His wife and their mother Lexie died from breast 6-months after her diagnosis and Emma hasn’t spoken a word since. He plans to move them from Boston to Denver and has planned this backpacking trip to the Colorado Flat Tops as a way to start repairing his relationship with Kayla and to break the news about the move. Things go sideways when Emma wanders away and gets seriously injured. As they look for shelter in the middle of a torrential rain, they come upon the home of recluse Clara Carver and her son Billy. What initially felt like a respite becomes a nightmare when they’re trapped after a sudden blizzard and Emma goes missing.
the heart of the story…
The trauma for Chris and his daughters never seems to let up as he tries to figure out this woman who was far from normal. Adult son Billy clearly is mentally stunted, the mind and behavior of a young child. The story transitions from the present to the 1990s in Clara’s point of view, learning of her troubling childhood, subsequent marriage and friendship with the scary Sydney. I knew it would eventually connect and loved how it slowly began to take shape and make some kind of sense.
the narration…
It’s a full cast narration and is superb. Amy Bentley, Kelsey Jaffer, Chris Ciulla, Shaun Taylor-Corbett & Courtney Fabrizio made a harrowing story feel real!
the bottom line…
I’ve found a new favorite author and storyteller. This is my second and I’m determined to further explore his backlist. It’s a chilling story with twisty turns as Chris tries to save his family. I did figure out the big reveal early on but it didn’t matter. I was riveted through the end. 4.5 stars
Posted on Blue Mood Café
(Thanks to Brilliance Audio and NetGalley for my complimentary copy. All opinions are my own.)
It’s been a tough time for Chris McKenna and his two daughters, 15-year old Kayla and 7-year old Emma. His wife and their mother Lexie died from breast 6-months after her diagnosis and Emma hasn’t spoken a word since. He plans to move them from Boston to Denver and has planned this backpacking trip to the Colorado Flat Tops as a way to start repairing his relationship with Kayla and to break the news about the move. Things go sideways when Emma wanders away and gets seriously injured. As they look for shelter in the middle of a torrential rain, they come upon the home of recluse Clara Carver and her son Billy. What initially felt like a respite becomes a nightmare when they’re trapped after a sudden blizzard and Emma goes missing.
the heart of the story…
The trauma for Chris and his daughters never seems to let up as he tries to figure out this woman who was far from normal. Adult son Billy clearly is mentally stunted, the mind and behavior of a young child. The story transitions from the present to the 1990s in Clara’s point of view, learning of her troubling childhood, subsequent marriage and friendship with the scary Sydney. I knew it would eventually connect and loved how it slowly began to take shape and make some kind of sense.
the narration…
It’s a full cast narration and is superb. Amy Bentley, Kelsey Jaffer, Chris Ciulla, Shaun Taylor-Corbett & Courtney Fabrizio made a harrowing story feel real!
the bottom line…
I’ve found a new favorite author and storyteller. This is my second and I’m determined to further explore his backlist. It’s a chilling story with twisty turns as Chris tries to save his family. I did figure out the big reveal early on but it didn’t matter. I was riveted through the end. 4.5 stars
Posted on Blue Mood Café
(Thanks to Brilliance Audio and NetGalley for my complimentary copy. All opinions are my own.)
August 8, 2024
3.5⭐️ I wanted a little more from the ending. I think an epilogue in Clara’s POV would have wrapped it up a little more for me. I did really enjoy it, but I got the twist ruined for me by reading someone’s review before hand. Which honestly was really annoying actually so PLEASE use the spoiler warning and maybe just don’t ruin a major/only twist in a review. Please and thank you!
September 6, 2023
This accomplished what it was supposed to do - as in yes it creeped me out. Father and two girls trapped by weather and with one child injured, find sanctuary in isolated home. Enough said. Let it surprise and scare you.
December 14, 2025
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️/🎧🎧🎧🎧🎧
“The truth is, we’re all just here one minute, walking around and pretending like we’ll live forever, and gone the next.”
What begins as a struggle against the cold and isolated elements, turns into an all out fight for survival for Chris and his young daughters Kayla and Emma. With Emma injured and a storm coming in, they’re relieved to have found Clara, a nice woman who lives in a cabin. Little do they know things are about to take a turn for the worse...
Through multiple POVs we get to know each character’s feelings and motivations, which builds a lot of emotional investment. The pacing is steady with an atmosphere of isolation, dread and impending doom, and then things go DARK and spiral into chaos and violence. There are brief mentions of childhood abuse along with moments bordering on torture that had me squirming in my seat and holding my breath! Touching on themes of grief, trauma and mental illness, Caleb Stephens certainly knows how to put you smack dab in the middle of things by writing visceral situations that brim with realism and emotional turmoil.
I cannot say enough about each of the narrators in this ensemble cast. They’re all amazing performers with emotion infused voices for their respective characters along with excellent modulation. They brilliantly bring to life Stephens’ evocative and mesmerizing prose. For those who enjoy audiobooks this is a MUST. LISTEN!
The core of this story is about family and the things we’ll do for love. If you enjoy relatable and sympathetic characters mixed with some insanity and a tad of gore, you NEED to read this. THE GIRLS IN THE CABIN is a taut, tense and unpredictable tale that is bound to hold you captive!
____
Narrators:
Amy Bentley; Kelsey Jaffer; Chris Ciulla; Shaun Taylor-Corbett; Courtney Fabrizio
Thank you to Caleb Stephens and Amazon Publishing for my gifted copies. All opinions are my own.
“The truth is, we’re all just here one minute, walking around and pretending like we’ll live forever, and gone the next.”
What begins as a struggle against the cold and isolated elements, turns into an all out fight for survival for Chris and his young daughters Kayla and Emma. With Emma injured and a storm coming in, they’re relieved to have found Clara, a nice woman who lives in a cabin. Little do they know things are about to take a turn for the worse...
Through multiple POVs we get to know each character’s feelings and motivations, which builds a lot of emotional investment. The pacing is steady with an atmosphere of isolation, dread and impending doom, and then things go DARK and spiral into chaos and violence. There are brief mentions of childhood abuse along with moments bordering on torture that had me squirming in my seat and holding my breath! Touching on themes of grief, trauma and mental illness, Caleb Stephens certainly knows how to put you smack dab in the middle of things by writing visceral situations that brim with realism and emotional turmoil.
I cannot say enough about each of the narrators in this ensemble cast. They’re all amazing performers with emotion infused voices for their respective characters along with excellent modulation. They brilliantly bring to life Stephens’ evocative and mesmerizing prose. For those who enjoy audiobooks this is a MUST. LISTEN!
The core of this story is about family and the things we’ll do for love. If you enjoy relatable and sympathetic characters mixed with some insanity and a tad of gore, you NEED to read this. THE GIRLS IN THE CABIN is a taut, tense and unpredictable tale that is bound to hold you captive!
____
Narrators:
Amy Bentley; Kelsey Jaffer; Chris Ciulla; Shaun Taylor-Corbett; Courtney Fabrizio
Thank you to Caleb Stephens and Amazon Publishing for my gifted copies. All opinions are my own.
November 25, 2025
This one had me gripped. To the point that my already scant social media usage was set aside just so I could dedicate my full attention on this.
Like most thrillers, I went into this blind and that’s what I recommend.
A father and his two daughters are on a hiking trip in the Colorado wilderness to reconnect after their mother passes away. When a storm moves in and the youngest injures her leg, the family must find shelter and get help.
I found the reveal very obvious, but the book doesn’t rely on that. Instead, it focuses on the character’s inner turmoil and headspace.
Everyone has a POV, but it is such a tight cast that it isn’t difficult to follow along.
This is aided by the audiobook narration which had multiple narrators and the voices were a performance.
This is dark and thrilling and a story of resilience. Everyone is given a backstory and motivations.
I normally struggle visualising scenes, but this was vivid in my head.
HOWEVER, I didn’t like the description of one of the characters who is basically described as dumb and an adult child: ‘I searched his face to figure out what’s wrong with him… he looks normal enough. Doesn’t have the facial features of someone with downs. No flattened nose or thin upper lip…’.
That rubbed me wrong.
Audiobook arc gifted by publisher.
Bookstagram
Tiktok
Like most thrillers, I went into this blind and that’s what I recommend.
A father and his two daughters are on a hiking trip in the Colorado wilderness to reconnect after their mother passes away. When a storm moves in and the youngest injures her leg, the family must find shelter and get help.
I found the reveal very obvious, but the book doesn’t rely on that. Instead, it focuses on the character’s inner turmoil and headspace.
Everyone has a POV, but it is such a tight cast that it isn’t difficult to follow along.
This is aided by the audiobook narration which had multiple narrators and the voices were a performance.
This is dark and thrilling and a story of resilience. Everyone is given a backstory and motivations.
I normally struggle visualising scenes, but this was vivid in my head.
HOWEVER, I didn’t like the description of one of the characters who is basically described as dumb and an adult child: ‘I searched his face to figure out what’s wrong with him… he looks normal enough. Doesn’t have the facial features of someone with downs. No flattened nose or thin upper lip…’.
That rubbed me wrong.
Audiobook arc gifted by publisher.
Bookstagram
Tiktok
November 23, 2025
A freakin AWESOME thriller!! It was very intense which made my experience even better! I love fiction books that deal with survival. Particularly out in nature. This was the camping trip nightmare that tops all others!! So much happened in this story that I feel like I spent a good portion of my time watching it all play out in my mind. In reality though I read this book pretty quick. Especially since it had me so absorbed in it! This poor family has my heart. But, definitely, so does Clara. I usually really enjoy books that entail the certain mental health diagnosis that is part of this story. It made for an added element of entertainment. I feel for anyone that has this diagnosis. Anyway, I most CERTAINLY recommend this book!! This is a book I could read again down the road.
June 1, 2023
The camping trip is Chris's last chance to keep his family together. His wife is gone and, after what he did, his daughters aren't speaking to him. But things go wrong as soon as they get to the mountains. Kalya is still so pissed at him, and Emma runs into the woods. By the time they find her, she's broken her ankle and there's a bad storm rolling in. They need to shelter fast. They think they've found sanctuary when they come across an old farmstead. The woman inside welcomes them in out of the howling blizzard and straps up Emma's ankle. But the phone lines are down. The roads are blocked. And the woman in the cabin is not what she seems....
The storyline feels quite haunting. I was hooked from the first page. The pace is steady and there's some good twists. Chris will do anything to protect his daughters. The story goes from one disaster to the next. There are some brutal but well written scenes. This is an engaging quick read that held my attention throughout.
I would like to thank #NetGalley #JoffeBooks and the author #CalebStephens for my ARC of #TheGirlsInTheCabin in exchange for an honest review.
The storyline feels quite haunting. I was hooked from the first page. The pace is steady and there's some good twists. Chris will do anything to protect his daughters. The story goes from one disaster to the next. There are some brutal but well written scenes. This is an engaging quick read that held my attention throughout.
I would like to thank #NetGalley #JoffeBooks and the author #CalebStephens for my ARC of #TheGirlsInTheCabin in exchange for an honest review.
July 13, 2023
"Sometimes, and more often than not, she would leave the Black Place covered in welts from the ants and blister beetles that lived there."
This was such a great read. As a mother, there is nothing scarier than reading stories like this, thinking of all the dangers there are out there. I have to say, I did feel for Clara. Like her, I also had several miscarriages and a stillbirth and those parts of the book really hit home for me. I figured out the twist from very early on, not long after Clara met Sydney but I still enjoyed watching it unfold.
This is one of the rare times I think the book would be great as a movie.
My first from this author and I can't wait to read more.
This was such a great read. As a mother, there is nothing scarier than reading stories like this, thinking of all the dangers there are out there. I have to say, I did feel for Clara. Like her, I also had several miscarriages and a stillbirth and those parts of the book really hit home for me. I figured out the twist from very early on, not long after Clara met Sydney but I still enjoyed watching it unfold.
This is one of the rare times I think the book would be great as a movie.
My first from this author and I can't wait to read more.
January 19, 2025
4.25 ⭐️- This book was WILD. It was so much darker and intense than I ever thought it would be going into it. I thought it was going to be your typical woodsy, cabin thriller, and it most certainly was not. It was more an isolated, middle of nowhere, horror, and I thoroughly enjoyed it.
This is about a family (a man and his two daughters) who are camping in Colorado. A freak snow storm hits and they need to find shelter. Lucky for them they find a farmhouse in the middle of nowhere. They knock on the door and little do they know, but their lives will be changed forever.
This is not for the faint of heart. If you don’t have a strong stomach, if you are a little squeamish, this might not be for you. It was extremely graphic. Some of the things that are depicted in this book made me want to cover my eyes, gave me goosebumps, and made my skin crawl. I love books that can do that to me but I know that’s not for everyone. Some really crazy stuff was happening in this.
But if you love an intense, graphic, psychological read; check this one out!
This is about a family (a man and his two daughters) who are camping in Colorado. A freak snow storm hits and they need to find shelter. Lucky for them they find a farmhouse in the middle of nowhere. They knock on the door and little do they know, but their lives will be changed forever.
This is not for the faint of heart. If you don’t have a strong stomach, if you are a little squeamish, this might not be for you. It was extremely graphic. Some of the things that are depicted in this book made me want to cover my eyes, gave me goosebumps, and made my skin crawl. I love books that can do that to me but I know that’s not for everyone. Some really crazy stuff was happening in this.
But if you love an intense, graphic, psychological read; check this one out!
November 13, 2024
4.5⭐️ - check TW - I went into this one blind expecting a thriller and I got a very good psychological horror instead! Nervous doesn’t even begin to explain what I felt throughout this entire book!
Chris takes his two daughters on a hiking trip in an attempt to bring his family closer together following a few misfortunes. They get stuck in a storm and must take shelter in the only place they can find - an isolated house containing a woman with a traumatic past and her son with problems of his own. What Chris first thinks is his saving grace quickly turns into his nightmare.
The most vague description of this book ever, but trust me and go find out for yourself!
Chris takes his two daughters on a hiking trip in an attempt to bring his family closer together following a few misfortunes. They get stuck in a storm and must take shelter in the only place they can find - an isolated house containing a woman with a traumatic past and her son with problems of his own. What Chris first thinks is his saving grace quickly turns into his nightmare.
The most vague description of this book ever, but trust me and go find out for yourself!
May 22, 2023
To quote one of the characters: “What in the actual fuck?”😭
To put it lightly, this novel is a true tour-de-force, delivering a thrilling and suspenseful ride that will leave you breathless. The story is haunting, eerie, and will keep you on the edge of your seat until the very end without letting up.
The book follows the story of Chris, a single father who takes his two daughters on a hike in the mountains of Colorado to rekindle their relationship after the loss of their mother to cancer. However, things take a turn for the worse when they get caught in a storm and Emma, Chris's younger daughter, gets injured. In their desperate search for help, they stumble upon a cabin in the woods that to reader automatically doesn't seem quite right. Things quickly take a sinister turn as they get themselves in even a worse situation than they were originally in.
The book's storyline is centered around it's remarkable characters that you can't help but empathize with. Chris is a sympathetic character, but not without his flaws that are throughly explored. Kayla is a complex character who struggles with coming to terms with her father and who still harbors both guilt and grief, and Emma is a brave and resilient character who manages to keep going despite her predicament. The cabin's occupants are both inquisitive and intimidating, and the setting is overwhelming, almost like a character. The suspenseful plot is heightened by not only the cabin but also its surroundings.
If you love psychological thrillers, this book is a must-read. The characters are complex, the setting is daunting, and the plot is fast paced. The author's talent for suspenseful storytelling is on full display here, and the result is a novel that is both gripping and unforgettable.
Thank you to Netgalley for providing me with an arc in exchange for an honest review.
To put it lightly, this novel is a true tour-de-force, delivering a thrilling and suspenseful ride that will leave you breathless. The story is haunting, eerie, and will keep you on the edge of your seat until the very end without letting up.
The book follows the story of Chris, a single father who takes his two daughters on a hike in the mountains of Colorado to rekindle their relationship after the loss of their mother to cancer. However, things take a turn for the worse when they get caught in a storm and Emma, Chris's younger daughter, gets injured. In their desperate search for help, they stumble upon a cabin in the woods that to reader automatically doesn't seem quite right. Things quickly take a sinister turn as they get themselves in even a worse situation than they were originally in.
The book's storyline is centered around it's remarkable characters that you can't help but empathize with. Chris is a sympathetic character, but not without his flaws that are throughly explored. Kayla is a complex character who struggles with coming to terms with her father and who still harbors both guilt and grief, and Emma is a brave and resilient character who manages to keep going despite her predicament. The cabin's occupants are both inquisitive and intimidating, and the setting is overwhelming, almost like a character. The suspenseful plot is heightened by not only the cabin but also its surroundings.
If you love psychological thrillers, this book is a must-read. The characters are complex, the setting is daunting, and the plot is fast paced. The author's talent for suspenseful storytelling is on full display here, and the result is a novel that is both gripping and unforgettable.
Thank you to Netgalley for providing me with an arc in exchange for an honest review.
July 10, 2024
I wish I could give it zero. The tropes used in this book are absolute garbage and LAZY FUCKING WRITING for thrillers. I’m mad I wasted my time on this for it to turn out that way. Can we leave mental illness and disability alone please?? BE MORE CREATIVE.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
June 13, 2023
I received a gifted copy of this book to read in exchange for an honest review as part of the book tour hosted by Zooloos Book Tours.
The Girls in the Cabin is the first book by Caleb Stephens that I've had the pleasure of reading, and I can't wait to read more! After reading the blurb for this book, I jumped at the chance to read it, and I wasn't disappointed.
This is a fast-paced, by the seat of your pants read and I couldn't put it down. We follow Chris, who is a single father to two girls after the loss of his wife to cancer. He decides to take the girls on a hiking trip to Colorado to spend time with them away from it all bonding, but after they get caught in a storm and then his youngest daughter Emma gets seriously injured, it turns into a trip from hell. Frantic to get help, they come across an isolated cabin in the woods. They're welcomed by the woman inside, and she helps Emma and gives them respite from the storm outside. But not all is as it seems, and there's something even more sinister happening inside the cabin than outside. This book had some great twists and vivid settings and scenes that transport you straight into the book. I was hooked and intrigued from start to finish and couldn't turn the pages on my Kindle fast enough!
The Girls in the Cabin is the first book by Caleb Stephens that I've had the pleasure of reading, and I can't wait to read more! After reading the blurb for this book, I jumped at the chance to read it, and I wasn't disappointed.
This is a fast-paced, by the seat of your pants read and I couldn't put it down. We follow Chris, who is a single father to two girls after the loss of his wife to cancer. He decides to take the girls on a hiking trip to Colorado to spend time with them away from it all bonding, but after they get caught in a storm and then his youngest daughter Emma gets seriously injured, it turns into a trip from hell. Frantic to get help, they come across an isolated cabin in the woods. They're welcomed by the woman inside, and she helps Emma and gives them respite from the storm outside. But not all is as it seems, and there's something even more sinister happening inside the cabin than outside. This book had some great twists and vivid settings and scenes that transport you straight into the book. I was hooked and intrigued from start to finish and couldn't turn the pages on my Kindle fast enough!
August 21, 2024
Not for me
Thoughts: https://www.tiktok.com/t/ZTNvnk5pB/
Thoughts: https://www.tiktok.com/t/ZTNvnk5pB/
June 14, 2023
The Girls in the Cabin is every parent’s worst fear. Cancel everything because this is one of the hard hitters of the summer. The definition of a page turner.
After a chilling opening, meeting Clara Carver was like a double-edged sword. You knew there was something quite off about her, but you couldn’t help but feel the darkest recesses of her pain. The undercurrent was dark and dangerous, and I felt queasy with the implications. That feeling never once left me and I walked straight in, blind to the repercussions, dazed when they hit me like a bullet ricocheting past me at all angles.
The Girls in the Cabin was heavily addictive. A cabin is supposed to be a place of sanctuary, a place away from the dangers of the forest. So, when Chris and his two daughters finally find a place to rest after his youngest daughter, Emma breaks her leg, they’re all terrified to discover that the cabin is nothing more than a gateway to hell.
When I say that I felt like I was under water for the majority of this novel, take me at my word. I thought I knew where I was headed, until it became impossible to see, and just when I thought I had enough oxygen to last, my breath was stolen from me with the impossible twists and turns that Caleb Stephens laid.
Chris has a difficult relationship with his eldest daughter, Kayla. After discovering him quite literally with his trousers down and cheating on their mother with some college graduate, she was hair splittingly mad. She wanted him to fess up. She wanted him to look their mother in the eye and admit what he’d done. He did no such thing, and then their mother got terribly sick, cancer. It was the worst time in all their lives and whilst their mother was adamant, she was going to be beat it, the cancer ultimately was stronger. The grief and the resentment was too much, and Chris and Kayla’s relationship fell to pieces.
Chris had the brilliant idea to go on a hike that their mother had always wanted to take them on. He would do anything to repair their relationship and hopefully get Emma talking again (she’s been nonverbal since their mothers passing.) This is a great idea and all until a freakish early snowstorm hits, Emma breaks her leg and they have nowhere to shelter that is until he finds the cabin.
The plot knocked me for six. I only just felt like I was able to tread water. The events that took place in the cabin were quite frankly jaw dropping. I started this book quite late into the night and I found myself looking for a set of matchsticks so that I could keep my eyes open longer when sleep did eventually take me. I wasn’t sure who I should be trusting. Could I trust the viewpoint of any of them, and did I want to? I was completely in the dark and it all made for a crescendo of an ending.
After a chilling opening, meeting Clara Carver was like a double-edged sword. You knew there was something quite off about her, but you couldn’t help but feel the darkest recesses of her pain. The undercurrent was dark and dangerous, and I felt queasy with the implications. That feeling never once left me and I walked straight in, blind to the repercussions, dazed when they hit me like a bullet ricocheting past me at all angles.
The Girls in the Cabin was heavily addictive. A cabin is supposed to be a place of sanctuary, a place away from the dangers of the forest. So, when Chris and his two daughters finally find a place to rest after his youngest daughter, Emma breaks her leg, they’re all terrified to discover that the cabin is nothing more than a gateway to hell.
When I say that I felt like I was under water for the majority of this novel, take me at my word. I thought I knew where I was headed, until it became impossible to see, and just when I thought I had enough oxygen to last, my breath was stolen from me with the impossible twists and turns that Caleb Stephens laid.
Chris has a difficult relationship with his eldest daughter, Kayla. After discovering him quite literally with his trousers down and cheating on their mother with some college graduate, she was hair splittingly mad. She wanted him to fess up. She wanted him to look their mother in the eye and admit what he’d done. He did no such thing, and then their mother got terribly sick, cancer. It was the worst time in all their lives and whilst their mother was adamant, she was going to be beat it, the cancer ultimately was stronger. The grief and the resentment was too much, and Chris and Kayla’s relationship fell to pieces.
Chris had the brilliant idea to go on a hike that their mother had always wanted to take them on. He would do anything to repair their relationship and hopefully get Emma talking again (she’s been nonverbal since their mothers passing.) This is a great idea and all until a freakish early snowstorm hits, Emma breaks her leg and they have nowhere to shelter that is until he finds the cabin.
The plot knocked me for six. I only just felt like I was able to tread water. The events that took place in the cabin were quite frankly jaw dropping. I started this book quite late into the night and I found myself looking for a set of matchsticks so that I could keep my eyes open longer when sleep did eventually take me. I wasn’t sure who I should be trusting. Could I trust the viewpoint of any of them, and did I want to? I was completely in the dark and it all made for a crescendo of an ending.
December 12, 2025
🎧Pub Day Audio Review🎧
🎤 - A Full Cast! Amy Bentley, Kelsey Jaffer, Chris Ciulla, Shaun Taylor-Corbett, and Courtney Fabrizio
🕦- 10hr 3min
Chris decides to take a camping trip into the mountains to bond more with his daughters. His wife has been dead six months now and the girls are having a really tough time with it.
After a blizzard blows through, they come across a cabin in the woods for refuge. Only, things are about to get a whole lot worse.
The narration was fantastic with this one and a full blown cast to tell it. I could feel the sense of dread and despair in their voices. This is a real life nightmare I could feel in my bones.
I highly enjoyed this one and recommend you giving this author a read or listen. Caleb Stephens is on his way to becoming a best selling author!
4 ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
🎤 - A Full Cast! Amy Bentley, Kelsey Jaffer, Chris Ciulla, Shaun Taylor-Corbett, and Courtney Fabrizio
🕦- 10hr 3min
Chris decides to take a camping trip into the mountains to bond more with his daughters. His wife has been dead six months now and the girls are having a really tough time with it.
After a blizzard blows through, they come across a cabin in the woods for refuge. Only, things are about to get a whole lot worse.
The narration was fantastic with this one and a full blown cast to tell it. I could feel the sense of dread and despair in their voices. This is a real life nightmare I could feel in my bones.
I highly enjoyed this one and recommend you giving this author a read or listen. Caleb Stephens is on his way to becoming a best selling author!
4 ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
February 22, 2024
4.5★
A unique, gory, high-stakes thriller that had me on the edge of my seat & reading with one eye closed (I was spooked) the whole time.
Definitely difficult to digest, but a great read.
A unique, gory, high-stakes thriller that had me on the edge of my seat & reading with one eye closed (I was spooked) the whole time.
Definitely difficult to digest, but a great read.
July 3, 2023
Dark but touching
This was an awful book with regards to the violence and the abuse Clara endured as a child, but Billy, poor Billy was just so broken and still he loved. A man and his two daughters go hiking in Colorado for vacation after their Mother died from cancer. Kayla a teenager hates her Father for catching him in an indiscretion right before her Mom got sick. And little Emma hasn't spoken a word since her Mother died. He is trying to reconnect with them but there is so much pain and guilt on his part that the trip is not going well. Emma breaks her leg and a snowstorm bits and they are lost. They come across a cabin in the woods and they meet Clara who fixes them up. They try to call for help but the phone goes out and they are stuck in the house and its filled with madness. Emma disappears and her dad is trying to find her. He thinks Billy, Clara's brain damaged 20 year old took her and he is mad. But Billy didn't take her. Miss Sydney did and she is pure evil. She is Clara's best friend but she is not nice. Not remotely. The things that happened in this book are simply horrible. The cruelty and the insanity is so overwhelming it is a little hard to read. Poor Billy is such a good soul, A little kid in an adult body. And he is so damaged. He broke my heart. I felt so bad for him. The ending was so touching it made me cry. I really liked this book. In spite of the darkness, and it was very dark, it kept me intrigued and I was so afraid it was going to end badly. The epilogue was really good.
This was an awful book with regards to the violence and the abuse Clara endured as a child, but Billy, poor Billy was just so broken and still he loved. A man and his two daughters go hiking in Colorado for vacation after their Mother died from cancer. Kayla a teenager hates her Father for catching him in an indiscretion right before her Mom got sick. And little Emma hasn't spoken a word since her Mother died. He is trying to reconnect with them but there is so much pain and guilt on his part that the trip is not going well. Emma breaks her leg and a snowstorm bits and they are lost. They come across a cabin in the woods and they meet Clara who fixes them up. They try to call for help but the phone goes out and they are stuck in the house and its filled with madness. Emma disappears and her dad is trying to find her. He thinks Billy, Clara's brain damaged 20 year old took her and he is mad. But Billy didn't take her. Miss Sydney did and she is pure evil. She is Clara's best friend but she is not nice. Not remotely. The things that happened in this book are simply horrible. The cruelty and the insanity is so overwhelming it is a little hard to read. Poor Billy is such a good soul, A little kid in an adult body. And he is so damaged. He broke my heart. I felt so bad for him. The ending was so touching it made me cry. I really liked this book. In spite of the darkness, and it was very dark, it kept me intrigued and I was so afraid it was going to end badly. The epilogue was really good.
May 11, 2023
OMG CalebStevens has totally out done himself this time! When dad Chris takes his daughters Kayla and Emma to walk the Colorado trail they are still reeling from the death of his beloved wife Lexi. Soon after arriving for the last night of camping did Chris goes fishing and Kayla walked away from the campsite to try to get a cell signal when they both return sister Emma is missing.
Soon after they find little Emma stuck with a massive boulder on her foot it’s raining and sleeting snow and dad Chris knows he must get them to shelter. The first night they find shelter in a cave but when they wake the next morning Chris doesn’t know which way goes back to the campsite but while standing on the rock trying to get a cell signal he sees a home in the distance. While Chris carries Emma to what he hopes will be safety and health he trips on the foot bridge in Andrews himself when they finally make it to the Home he saw in the distance this is when they meet Clara. Clara grew up in the farmhouse and was abused by her father he used to lock her in the dark room in the barn one day while banging on the door to get out a blue eyed girl open the door and ask if she wants out and would she like to play Clara is overjoyed her parents don’t allow her to have friends and she is super excited to have one in Sydney. Sydney has some disconcerting qualities but Clara pushes them to the side as she is excited to have a friend when Chris Kayla and Emma arrived at her door she couldn’t be more accommodating and welcoming she invites them in uses her medical knowledge on Emma‘s leg cleans it and even makes the little family dinner right before dinner however Calen notices a big Hulking shadow in the hallway this is when they need Billy he has the mind of an eight-year-old put the body of a sumo wrestler Kayla is a little leery of Clara and young Billy but Chris is just happy to have the help unfortunately when he goes to make a call do to the violent snowstorm the phone service goes out and when he fell on the foot bridge he lost his cell phone and has no way of making a call he is determined however to use Clara‘s truck the next day to get little Emma to the hospital for proper medical help but the next day the houses secrets will be revealed in danger will be a parent but who is friend and who is full who should they fear and who should they ask for help. Despot is one twisted piece of work and OMG I absolutely loved it! From beginning to end it captivate your attention and imagination throws it into overdrive and process the Excelerator until the end if you’ve never read a book that made your stomach flip-flop as if you were on a roller coaster then you need to read the girls in the cabin by Caleb Stevens you will not be disappointed. This is one of the best horror books I have read this year and I have read some really great ones . I received this book from NetGalley and the publisher but I am leaving this review voluntarily please forgive any mistakes as I am blind and dictate my review.
Soon after they find little Emma stuck with a massive boulder on her foot it’s raining and sleeting snow and dad Chris knows he must get them to shelter. The first night they find shelter in a cave but when they wake the next morning Chris doesn’t know which way goes back to the campsite but while standing on the rock trying to get a cell signal he sees a home in the distance. While Chris carries Emma to what he hopes will be safety and health he trips on the foot bridge in Andrews himself when they finally make it to the Home he saw in the distance this is when they meet Clara. Clara grew up in the farmhouse and was abused by her father he used to lock her in the dark room in the barn one day while banging on the door to get out a blue eyed girl open the door and ask if she wants out and would she like to play Clara is overjoyed her parents don’t allow her to have friends and she is super excited to have one in Sydney. Sydney has some disconcerting qualities but Clara pushes them to the side as she is excited to have a friend when Chris Kayla and Emma arrived at her door she couldn’t be more accommodating and welcoming she invites them in uses her medical knowledge on Emma‘s leg cleans it and even makes the little family dinner right before dinner however Calen notices a big Hulking shadow in the hallway this is when they need Billy he has the mind of an eight-year-old put the body of a sumo wrestler Kayla is a little leery of Clara and young Billy but Chris is just happy to have the help unfortunately when he goes to make a call do to the violent snowstorm the phone service goes out and when he fell on the foot bridge he lost his cell phone and has no way of making a call he is determined however to use Clara‘s truck the next day to get little Emma to the hospital for proper medical help but the next day the houses secrets will be revealed in danger will be a parent but who is friend and who is full who should they fear and who should they ask for help. Despot is one twisted piece of work and OMG I absolutely loved it! From beginning to end it captivate your attention and imagination throws it into overdrive and process the Excelerator until the end if you’ve never read a book that made your stomach flip-flop as if you were on a roller coaster then you need to read the girls in the cabin by Caleb Stevens you will not be disappointed. This is one of the best horror books I have read this year and I have read some really great ones . I received this book from NetGalley and the publisher but I am leaving this review voluntarily please forgive any mistakes as I am blind and dictate my review.
January 27, 2025
Wowzers… that’s not what I was expecting 😂 I will say this is one of the darkest books I’ve ever read but I guess I would classify this as a psychological thriller // horror - which I have never really read any horror before.
I do think this was well written and if you’re in a book slump - this Will get ya right out of it. It’s very hard to put down and I had NO guesses of where it was going. So it definitely keeps you reading to find out the ending.
I would check trigger warnings for this one for sure - as a new mom the kiddos stuff was a bit hard for me to get through. Otherwise a great read.
I do think this was well written and if you’re in a book slump - this Will get ya right out of it. It’s very hard to put down and I had NO guesses of where it was going. So it definitely keeps you reading to find out the ending.
I would check trigger warnings for this one for sure - as a new mom the kiddos stuff was a bit hard for me to get through. Otherwise a great read.
September 2, 2023
A father and his daughters set out on a camping trip when one of them gets injured. They come across a cabin in the woods for shelter, and what they encounter when they get inside is something they never would’ve expected.
Omg this is one of my new favorite thrillers EVER. It was creepy, dark, woodsy, and the twist GOT ME. I really loved the writing as well and felt very connected to the characters. What a RIDE this was! Perfect Fall/Winter/spooky season book.
Omg this is one of my new favorite thrillers EVER. It was creepy, dark, woodsy, and the twist GOT ME. I really loved the writing as well and felt very connected to the characters. What a RIDE this was! Perfect Fall/Winter/spooky season book.
November 20, 2025
Finished reading: November 19th 2025
*** A copy of this book was kindly provided to me by Netgalley and Brilliance Audio in exchange for an honest review. Thank you! ***
REVIEW
December 2, 2025
4.5⭐️ (Rounded up)
The Girls in the Cabin is a psychological survival thriller/horror with elements of domestic trauma and family drama. It’s a tense read from start to finish and has a few gruesome body horror scenes (late in the story) that sensitive readers should be aware of—but they don’t last long or overwhelm the story.
The story follows Chris, who takes his daughters on a rustic getaway to reconnect after the death of their wife/mother. A misstep on the trail leaves one girl injured, and the family seeks shelter in an isolated cabin when bad weather hits. The cabin’s occupant and the surrounding wilderness are not what they expect. As the storm and isolation tighten their grip, old trauma and shocking revelations surface, pushing the family to desperate measures!
The story has a small cast of characters, which makes it very easy to follow—Chris, the grieving father with regrets, his daughters, Kayla and Emma, along with the woman and her son who occupy the cabin. Chris’s wants nothing more than to make up for past mistakes and do better as a farther, but his decisions only seem to cause more problems as things go from bad to worse and his inner monologues spiral into guilt and defensiveness. The girls are contrasting characters—one is wounded physically which becomes the catalyst for bad luck, but both carry emotional wounds from their mother’s death that makes the story emotionally compelling. The cabin’s owner, Clara, is a compelling character with a complicated backstory and lots of unresolved trauma. Her son, who’s nearly a grown man, comes across as very childlike and odd—and dark truths slowly reveal themselves as the story unfolds. With such a small cast of characters, there’s a lot of rich character development, pronounced arcs, and texture given to each character’s flaws, making the horror scenes more emotionally resonant than sensational!
The book is fast-paced throughout—the opening chapters involving the family’s backstory, the injury, the storm, and the cabin appearing quickly hook readers. The middle section slows a bit but does a great job fleshing out Clara’s complex backstory (and her past relationships) and the fast-growing friction between Chris/his daughters and Clara. Once Emma disappears, the pacing ramps up again and doesn’t let go! Be prepared for simmering psychological tension to become outright gruesome horror by the final act—and readers will be furiously turning the pages to see how it all unfolds! The story culminates in a high-stakes confrontation that’s intense, emotional, and unnerving. The epilogue that follows gives some character resolution but may not give enough of what readers may be craving—especially with regards to Clara—but it will still leave readers memorable dread that lingers!
Fans of fast-paced psychological thrillers, “cabin in the woods” horror stories, and complex characters with haunting backstories will find a lot to love in this book! The book’s graphic scenes and some morally questionable themes can definitely make for an uncomfortable read! But overall it’s another strong offering from Caleb Stephens that will leave readers with a lot to discuss afterwards—and is the perfect choice for a (thriller/horror) book club!
The Girls in the Cabin is a psychological survival thriller/horror with elements of domestic trauma and family drama. It’s a tense read from start to finish and has a few gruesome body horror scenes (late in the story) that sensitive readers should be aware of—but they don’t last long or overwhelm the story.
The story follows Chris, who takes his daughters on a rustic getaway to reconnect after the death of their wife/mother. A misstep on the trail leaves one girl injured, and the family seeks shelter in an isolated cabin when bad weather hits. The cabin’s occupant and the surrounding wilderness are not what they expect. As the storm and isolation tighten their grip, old trauma and shocking revelations surface, pushing the family to desperate measures!
The story has a small cast of characters, which makes it very easy to follow—Chris, the grieving father with regrets, his daughters, Kayla and Emma, along with the woman and her son who occupy the cabin. Chris’s wants nothing more than to make up for past mistakes and do better as a farther, but his decisions only seem to cause more problems as things go from bad to worse and his inner monologues spiral into guilt and defensiveness. The girls are contrasting characters—one is wounded physically which becomes the catalyst for bad luck, but both carry emotional wounds from their mother’s death that makes the story emotionally compelling. The cabin’s owner, Clara, is a compelling character with a complicated backstory and lots of unresolved trauma. Her son, who’s nearly a grown man, comes across as very childlike and odd—and dark truths slowly reveal themselves as the story unfolds. With such a small cast of characters, there’s a lot of rich character development, pronounced arcs, and texture given to each character’s flaws, making the horror scenes more emotionally resonant than sensational!
The book is fast-paced throughout—the opening chapters involving the family’s backstory, the injury, the storm, and the cabin appearing quickly hook readers. The middle section slows a bit but does a great job fleshing out Clara’s complex backstory (and her past relationships) and the fast-growing friction between Chris/his daughters and Clara. Once Emma disappears, the pacing ramps up again and doesn’t let go! Be prepared for simmering psychological tension to become outright gruesome horror by the final act—and readers will be furiously turning the pages to see how it all unfolds! The story culminates in a high-stakes confrontation that’s intense, emotional, and unnerving. The epilogue that follows gives some character resolution but may not give enough of what readers may be craving—especially with regards to Clara—but it will still leave readers memorable dread that lingers!
Fans of fast-paced psychological thrillers, “cabin in the woods” horror stories, and complex characters with haunting backstories will find a lot to love in this book! The book’s graphic scenes and some morally questionable themes can definitely make for an uncomfortable read! But overall it’s another strong offering from Caleb Stephens that will leave readers with a lot to discuss afterwards—and is the perfect choice for a (thriller/horror) book club!
November 17, 2024
5 ⭐️
Woooow! That plot twist blew my mind. This book was dark, with some horror elements, emotional and sad all at the same time. My emotions were all over. Such a great psychological thriller, that’ll have you hooked from the start, you won’t be able to put this book down.
Woooow! That plot twist blew my mind. This book was dark, with some horror elements, emotional and sad all at the same time. My emotions were all over. Such a great psychological thriller, that’ll have you hooked from the start, you won’t be able to put this book down.
December 10, 2025
Twists and action
A simple family hiking trip that goes so, so wrong. This is a fast paced, fantastically plot driven book that keeps you reading and unwilling to put it down. Stephens excels at describing a scene that leaves you breathless and horrified.
A simple family hiking trip that goes so, so wrong. This is a fast paced, fantastically plot driven book that keeps you reading and unwilling to put it down. Stephens excels at describing a scene that leaves you breathless and horrified.
May 18, 2023
PSYCHOLOGICAL THRILLER TO THE HILT! Caleb Stevens leaves no detail unturned. Such an amazing description of characters, situations and landscape.
Chris takes his girls on a hike in the mountains of Colorado as a tribute of sorts for his wife and the girls mother they lost recently to cancer. On a desperate attempt for Chris to rekindle his damaged relationship with Kayla, his oldest daughter, he’s hoping some time alone hiking and exploring will break down some barriers. Little did he know a storm was moving in fast. He stepped away from the campsite to do some fishing and asked Kayla to keep an eye on her younger sister, Emma. Kayla wonders off a bit as she’s looking at her dads cell phone and when they come back, Emma is missing. After desperately looking and searching in the pelting rain they spot her but her ankle and leg has been smashed by a boulder. After the miraculous succession to move the boulder, they find a place to shelter for the night knowing Emma’s leg is broken. The next morning Chris spots a cabin after treacherously hiking in the surmounting storm. Feeling relief after being invited into the warmth and safety of the cabin, they can’t easily relax or breathe easy, something isn’t quite right. Chris knows he needs to get Emma to a hospital but there’s no phone signal, and the storm is worsening. They agree to spend the night. After a sleepless night, Chris is more than ever determined to get help for Emma. Questions arise, who all lives in the cabin? Are they safe? Will they ever get help?
Without giving anything away, I was horrified.
If you love a psychological thriller, pick this one up ! It’s hard to put down!
Thanks to NetGalley for the ARC
Chris takes his girls on a hike in the mountains of Colorado as a tribute of sorts for his wife and the girls mother they lost recently to cancer. On a desperate attempt for Chris to rekindle his damaged relationship with Kayla, his oldest daughter, he’s hoping some time alone hiking and exploring will break down some barriers. Little did he know a storm was moving in fast. He stepped away from the campsite to do some fishing and asked Kayla to keep an eye on her younger sister, Emma. Kayla wonders off a bit as she’s looking at her dads cell phone and when they come back, Emma is missing. After desperately looking and searching in the pelting rain they spot her but her ankle and leg has been smashed by a boulder. After the miraculous succession to move the boulder, they find a place to shelter for the night knowing Emma’s leg is broken. The next morning Chris spots a cabin after treacherously hiking in the surmounting storm. Feeling relief after being invited into the warmth and safety of the cabin, they can’t easily relax or breathe easy, something isn’t quite right. Chris knows he needs to get Emma to a hospital but there’s no phone signal, and the storm is worsening. They agree to spend the night. After a sleepless night, Chris is more than ever determined to get help for Emma. Questions arise, who all lives in the cabin? Are they safe? Will they ever get help?
Without giving anything away, I was horrified.
If you love a psychological thriller, pick this one up ! It’s hard to put down!
Thanks to NetGalley for the ARC
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