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The Lodge
It's the perfect getaway. Until there's no way out.
The weekend-long Murder Tour ends with an evening at Black Tarn Lodge which seems to offer everything for 'dark tourists'. Not only is it a magnificent Gothic mansion nestling deep in the remote Forest of Bowland, it once belonged to deceased horror legend, Edgar Karnwood, and is now filled with costumes and mementoes from his many movies. Offering an elegant dinner and the screening of a legendary lost film, it's the ideal way to complete the Tour. Until night falls and a thick fog isolates the house. Until all the guests' phones go missing. And then, one by one, they start vanishing...
When a body is found, is it an accident or murder? Asking why is no priority, because suddenly everyone is cut off. No one can leave the Lodge or even call for help. They don't even know each other that well, but they're going to have to work out who they can trust soon. Because whoever's behind this slaying, he or she plainly isn't finished yet.
And who will be next? No one is safe at Black Tarn Lodge.
From Sunday Times bestseller Paul Finch comes a Gothic destination thriller that will leave you breathless. Perfect for fans of Laura Purcell, Ruth Ware and Lucy Foley.
The weekend-long Murder Tour ends with an evening at Black Tarn Lodge which seems to offer everything for 'dark tourists'. Not only is it a magnificent Gothic mansion nestling deep in the remote Forest of Bowland, it once belonged to deceased horror legend, Edgar Karnwood, and is now filled with costumes and mementoes from his many movies. Offering an elegant dinner and the screening of a legendary lost film, it's the ideal way to complete the Tour. Until night falls and a thick fog isolates the house. Until all the guests' phones go missing. And then, one by one, they start vanishing...
When a body is found, is it an accident or murder? Asking why is no priority, because suddenly everyone is cut off. No one can leave the Lodge or even call for help. They don't even know each other that well, but they're going to have to work out who they can trust soon. Because whoever's behind this slaying, he or she plainly isn't finished yet.
And who will be next? No one is safe at Black Tarn Lodge.
From Sunday Times bestseller Paul Finch comes a Gothic destination thriller that will leave you breathless. Perfect for fans of Laura Purcell, Ruth Ware and Lucy Foley.
343 pages, Kindle Edition
Published January 15, 2026
About the author
Paul Finch
207 books476 followersPaul Finch is a former cop and journalist, now full-time writer. Having originally written for the television series THE BILL plus children's animation and DOCTOR WHO audio dramas, he went on to write horror, but is now best known for his crime / thriller fiction.
He won the British Fantasy Award twice and the International Horror Guild Award, but since then has written two parallel series of hard-hitting crime novels, the Heck and the Lucy Clayburn novels, of which three titles have become best-sellers.
Paul lives in Wigan, Lancashire, UK with his wife and children.
He won the British Fantasy Award twice and the International Horror Guild Award, but since then has written two parallel series of hard-hitting crime novels, the Heck and the Lucy Clayburn novels, of which three titles have become best-sellers.
Paul lives in Wigan, Lancashire, UK with his wife and children.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 106 reviews
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
I enjoyed this book! I loved the Gothic vibes, I loved the creative endings of the characters which were varied and unexpected, I loved the twist at the end which revealed the culprit. I would have liked more character development, some of the characters were so quickly here and gone that I didn't care about them. Also I would have liked more information about the siblings and that situation. I do recommend this but thriller readers beware it may be more bloody than we are used to.
the audio was fine, not particularly thrilling but not bad either.
thank you to NetGalley, the author Paul Finch, and Brilliance Publishing for my ARC of this audiobook.
the audio was fine, not particularly thrilling but not bad either.
thank you to NetGalley, the author Paul Finch, and Brilliance Publishing for my ARC of this audiobook.
January 3, 2026
Can you say creepy atmospheric vibes!!!! This one was so good! It didn’t disappoint that’s for sure. It had really good pacing and my goodness my heart was pounding in some scenes. And then the twist! Didn’t see it coming!!!!
January 1, 2026
This is my second book from this author, and unfortunately he’s just not for me. The writing itself is competent, and I’m sure many thriller readers will find it engaging, but for me it fell flat. That experience was only worsened by the audio narration, which made the book feel dated, stodgy, and—if I’m being honest—sexist.
I’m not usually one to climb onto a soapbox, but the way narrator Maxim Reston chose to bring the female characters to life left me genuinely unsettled. The voices felt like sexist caricatures rather than fully realized people. His male voices were serviceable, but even those were lackluster, adding nothing to the prose and certainly not elevating it. Audiobooks can sometimes smooth over clunky writing; here, the narration did the opposite, highlighting the rough spots and interrupting the flow of the story.
As for the prose itself, it simply didn’t engage me. I never came to care about the characters or what they were doing within the story. In fact, I finished the book and sat down to write this review about an hour later—only to realize I had to reread the book’s description to remind myself what it was supposed to be about.
All in all, this was a big miss for me. Not the way I wanted to kick off 2026, so here’s hoping this one was just a fluke.
I was fortunate to receive a complimentary ALC from Brilliance Audio via NetGalley, which gave me the opportunity to share my voluntary thoughts.
I’m not usually one to climb onto a soapbox, but the way narrator Maxim Reston chose to bring the female characters to life left me genuinely unsettled. The voices felt like sexist caricatures rather than fully realized people. His male voices were serviceable, but even those were lackluster, adding nothing to the prose and certainly not elevating it. Audiobooks can sometimes smooth over clunky writing; here, the narration did the opposite, highlighting the rough spots and interrupting the flow of the story.
As for the prose itself, it simply didn’t engage me. I never came to care about the characters or what they were doing within the story. In fact, I finished the book and sat down to write this review about an hour later—only to realize I had to reread the book’s description to remind myself what it was supposed to be about.
All in all, this was a big miss for me. Not the way I wanted to kick off 2026, so here’s hoping this one was just a fluke.
I was fortunate to receive a complimentary ALC from Brilliance Audio via NetGalley, which gave me the opportunity to share my voluntary thoughts.
February 7, 2026
Nick and Liz have created a ghoulish Murder Tour, of which the planned jewel in the crown will be the “Long, Dark Weekend” at the sinister Black Tarn Lodge, former home of a horror film star. Situated in the wilds of Lancashire, it is genuinely a place where no-one can hear you scream…
That is the set-up for Paul Finch’s new novel The Lodge, an exuberant and gruesome romp through the Gothic canon. The Lodge reminded me irresistibly of those classic Amicus and Hammer horror films of the ‘60s and ‘70s; it has a remote and lowering setting, some stupendously nasty deaths, and a coded painting with a grim secret; it also has an almost filmic quality, with some genuinely vivid action scenes. As for the waxwork in the lobby – well, you just know that’s going to feature in some hideous way!
Finally, fans of the author will note the sly reference to one of his better known characters…
That is the set-up for Paul Finch’s new novel The Lodge, an exuberant and gruesome romp through the Gothic canon. The Lodge reminded me irresistibly of those classic Amicus and Hammer horror films of the ‘60s and ‘70s; it has a remote and lowering setting, some stupendously nasty deaths, and a coded painting with a grim secret; it also has an almost filmic quality, with some genuinely vivid action scenes. As for the waxwork in the lobby – well, you just know that’s going to feature in some hideous way!
Finally, fans of the author will note the sly reference to one of his better known characters…
January 8, 2026
Unfortunately this one just really wasn’t for me. It was almost a DNF but I didn’t want to give up on it so I tried to stay optimistic. It just didn’t deliver.
January 30, 2026
This is why I hate star ratings. It is useful for some ratings, but not helpful for others. Can't I just say it was fun and I liked it?
A group of people take a murder tour with a bonus night's stay at a deceased horror actor's manor. The book is a good mix of horror and thriller.
A group of people take a murder tour with a bonus night's stay at a deceased horror actor's manor. The book is a good mix of horror and thriller.
December 10, 2025
Rating: 2.4/5
Having read the accompanying blurb and the reference that it would appeal to fans of Lucy Clarke, Ruth Ware and Lucy Foley, I was anticipating that "The Lodge" would be a murder mystery with its roots in the traditions of the "golden age". However, this novel really doesn't fit into that genre at all.
There is certainly a murder mystery element - or, the be more accurate, multiple murders. However, stylistically, this is very different to the work produced by Mses. Clarke, Ware and Foley. The first half of the book picks up on the setting for the story, a Gothic mansion, and is very much reminiscent of a Gothic drama. The author invests a good deal of time introducing the dramatis personae and the background of Black Tarn Lodge and its previous occupants. The most notable of these being Edgar Karnwood, who was best known for his appearances in "Hammer" style horror movies, although he did have a role in a James Bond film too. (Yes, that does sound remarkably like Christopher Lee, doesn't it?) Although, I can appreciate the need for the writer to establish the background, it was too drawn out for my liking and to quote from the book itself, 'he went on at some length and with laborious slowness".
By contrast, the second half of "The Lodge" is very different. Not only does the, pace ramp up very rapidly, but there is also a distinct change of stylistic approach. The Gothic drama is no more and the reader is suddenly confronted with a full-blown slasher fest, complete with multiple grisly deaths. At times, the demise of the victims is described in quite graphic detail, which will not necessarily appeal to all readers. On other occasions it is quite tongue-in-cheek and these sections are the ones that I felt worked better.
Overall, I don't think the mixture of styles quite hit the mark. There were elements of the novel that I enjoyed, but there were also points where I lost interest and switched off. Some readers may love this, but the output of Lucy Clarke, Ruth Ware and Lucy Foley holds significantly more appeal for me.
Many thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for supplying an ARC in return for an honest review.
Having read the accompanying blurb and the reference that it would appeal to fans of Lucy Clarke, Ruth Ware and Lucy Foley, I was anticipating that "The Lodge" would be a murder mystery with its roots in the traditions of the "golden age". However, this novel really doesn't fit into that genre at all.
There is certainly a murder mystery element - or, the be more accurate, multiple murders. However, stylistically, this is very different to the work produced by Mses. Clarke, Ware and Foley. The first half of the book picks up on the setting for the story, a Gothic mansion, and is very much reminiscent of a Gothic drama. The author invests a good deal of time introducing the dramatis personae and the background of Black Tarn Lodge and its previous occupants. The most notable of these being Edgar Karnwood, who was best known for his appearances in "Hammer" style horror movies, although he did have a role in a James Bond film too. (Yes, that does sound remarkably like Christopher Lee, doesn't it?) Although, I can appreciate the need for the writer to establish the background, it was too drawn out for my liking and to quote from the book itself, 'he went on at some length and with laborious slowness".
By contrast, the second half of "The Lodge" is very different. Not only does the, pace ramp up very rapidly, but there is also a distinct change of stylistic approach. The Gothic drama is no more and the reader is suddenly confronted with a full-blown slasher fest, complete with multiple grisly deaths. At times, the demise of the victims is described in quite graphic detail, which will not necessarily appeal to all readers. On other occasions it is quite tongue-in-cheek and these sections are the ones that I felt worked better.
Overall, I don't think the mixture of styles quite hit the mark. There were elements of the novel that I enjoyed, but there were also points where I lost interest and switched off. Some readers may love this, but the output of Lucy Clarke, Ruth Ware and Lucy Foley holds significantly more appeal for me.
Many thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for supplying an ARC in return for an honest review.
November 29, 2025
Oh man, this story is crazy! Liz and Nick run a dark tourism business where they take guests around the sites of famous and infamous murders. They normally just do day trips, but have started offering an extended tour that lasts multiple days, with a stay at a surprise location on their second night. It turns out to be the huge estate of a famous actor who passed away and left The Black Tarn Lodge to be run by his grandson, who is testing it out as an event venue. It's a Gothic mansion full of the actor's costumes and memorabilia, along with a private theater where the tour guests will receive a screening of his never-before-seen movie of legend. It's a horror fan's ultimate entertainment, and these lucky fans can't wait. But will they be scared...to death?
Ha! Yes, of course, because believe me, the bodies start piling up. This isn't your average mystery story with one or two deaths to solve. This is a full-on, gory horror movie with hilariously bloody and unique methods of killing. Not right away, but once it starts, it just keeps snowballing until you wonder if anyone will be left alive. There's just enough character development to make you root for these people (except maybe Martha). And there's only a touch of the whole 'you people are terrible for profiting off of murderers' criticism. But like Nick and Liz truthfully assert (to some extent, I'm adlibbing here), someone's going to do it, so it might as well be us. Fair enough!
And the gruesomeness isn't too over the top; it could have been much grosser or more exploitative than it really is. It's just a good old-fashioned horror story to keep you entertained and possibly give you nightmares. What more could you ask for?
Ha! Yes, of course, because believe me, the bodies start piling up. This isn't your average mystery story with one or two deaths to solve. This is a full-on, gory horror movie with hilariously bloody and unique methods of killing. Not right away, but once it starts, it just keeps snowballing until you wonder if anyone will be left alive. There's just enough character development to make you root for these people (except maybe Martha). And there's only a touch of the whole 'you people are terrible for profiting off of murderers' criticism. But like Nick and Liz truthfully assert (to some extent, I'm adlibbing here), someone's going to do it, so it might as well be us. Fair enough!
And the gruesomeness isn't too over the top; it could have been much grosser or more exploitative than it really is. It's just a good old-fashioned horror story to keep you entertained and possibly give you nightmares. What more could you ask for?
February 24, 2026
The Lodge was an interesting dark thriller with gothic vibes...
Set in a remote location with dark past; Black Tarn Lodge seems like the perfect spot for people who like the macabre. Both for the characters in the story, as well as the readers, the lodge presents an eerie atmosphere to the story. It acts as the perfect location for an action packed survival thriller.
I can't stress the importance of the darkness that the story presents. The weekend itself is focused on exploring the darkness of human nature and throughout the story, it was focussed upon. While the setting with its gothic style buildings, dark past, mist, and a night setting set the atmosphere for the dark; the purpose behind the arrival of the characters added to it.
The characters were also interesting in the difference in which they were portrayed. Each character had flaws and positives that made them all a great addition to in this story.
Along with that, the story had a tight storyline that gave clues but was indecipherable. I can't believe that many of the clues to the ending was already in the story, but I couldn't make sense of it then. As a result, the story did give me an unpredictable ending!
Set in a remote location with dark past; Black Tarn Lodge seems like the perfect spot for people who like the macabre. Both for the characters in the story, as well as the readers, the lodge presents an eerie atmosphere to the story. It acts as the perfect location for an action packed survival thriller.
I can't stress the importance of the darkness that the story presents. The weekend itself is focused on exploring the darkness of human nature and throughout the story, it was focussed upon. While the setting with its gothic style buildings, dark past, mist, and a night setting set the atmosphere for the dark; the purpose behind the arrival of the characters added to it.
The characters were also interesting in the difference in which they were portrayed. Each character had flaws and positives that made them all a great addition to in this story.
Along with that, the story had a tight storyline that gave clues but was indecipherable. I can't believe that many of the clues to the ending was already in the story, but I couldn't make sense of it then. As a result, the story did give me an unpredictable ending!
January 20, 2026
3.5 Stars Rounded Up
This was a fun story with gothic elements and themes. Nick & Liz run a tour of true murder sites. The tour culminates at the famous Black Tam Lodge which has been renovated with famous memorabilia. This is a new addition to the tour for Nick & Liz as well as the participants. The lodge ends up acting as a locked door mystery.
This has a slow start and is a bit dry in the beginning. The participants are an eclectic group that I as the reader never really get attached to or care about. Honestly I wasn’t much invested in the Nick and Liz either. That said the ending makes up for the slower start and character development isn’t important to the overall story.
The narrator of this audiobook is Maxim Reston. Maxim did a great job with the voices of the male characters but his voice inflections for women characters were lacking. I found it a bit distracting overall.
Thank you to Paul Finch, Brilliance Publishing, and NetGalley for the opportunity to listen to and review this audiobook. All opinions and viewpoints expressed in this review are my own.
This was a fun story with gothic elements and themes. Nick & Liz run a tour of true murder sites. The tour culminates at the famous Black Tam Lodge which has been renovated with famous memorabilia. This is a new addition to the tour for Nick & Liz as well as the participants. The lodge ends up acting as a locked door mystery.
This has a slow start and is a bit dry in the beginning. The participants are an eclectic group that I as the reader never really get attached to or care about. Honestly I wasn’t much invested in the Nick and Liz either. That said the ending makes up for the slower start and character development isn’t important to the overall story.
The narrator of this audiobook is Maxim Reston. Maxim did a great job with the voices of the male characters but his voice inflections for women characters were lacking. I found it a bit distracting overall.
Thank you to Paul Finch, Brilliance Publishing, and NetGalley for the opportunity to listen to and review this audiobook. All opinions and viewpoints expressed in this review are my own.
January 2, 2026
*ARC Review*
This book delivers serious **And Then There Were None** vibes with a sharp, modern edge—and I loved every minute of it. The isolated setting, mounting tension, and slowly unraveling secrets make this a total page-turner. Each character feels suspicious in the best way, and the sense of unease just keeps building until you can’t stop reading. The narrator that was chosen also helps set the tone. Clever twists, a claustrophobic atmosphere, and a payoff that hits—this is a must-read for anyone who loves classic whodunits with a contemporary spin.
This book delivers serious **And Then There Were None** vibes with a sharp, modern edge—and I loved every minute of it. The isolated setting, mounting tension, and slowly unraveling secrets make this a total page-turner. Each character feels suspicious in the best way, and the sense of unease just keeps building until you can’t stop reading. The narrator that was chosen also helps set the tone. Clever twists, a claustrophobic atmosphere, and a payoff that hits—this is a must-read for anyone who loves classic whodunits with a contemporary spin.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
This book was just not for me. It didn't quite fit my murder mystery expectations, but did it's own thing in a quirky and gruesome fashion that others may enjoy.
Interesting premise, with a bunch of murder enthusiasts going on a murder tour to a remote lodge, but end up being targeted by a rogue killer.
The setup and entire plot were slow and felt stretched to its maximum. Although there were racy parts towards the end, it just felt overwritten and flat. There was also a stark contrast between the jovial British banter associated with murder mysteries, and quite gore-infested murders which suit readers of horror. So the two worlds didn't quite mesh for me, but that is my personal experience.
I received an advanced copy from Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.
Interesting premise, with a bunch of murder enthusiasts going on a murder tour to a remote lodge, but end up being targeted by a rogue killer.
The setup and entire plot were slow and felt stretched to its maximum. Although there were racy parts towards the end, it just felt overwritten and flat. There was also a stark contrast between the jovial British banter associated with murder mysteries, and quite gore-infested murders which suit readers of horror. So the two worlds didn't quite mesh for me, but that is my personal experience.
I received an advanced copy from Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.
March 17, 2026
3.5 ⭐️
as enjoyable as this book was it was maybe like 50-100 pages too long 😭 I feel like it was a bit too slow for me and dragged a bit more than it should have
as enjoyable as this book was it was maybe like 50-100 pages too long 😭 I feel like it was a bit too slow for me and dragged a bit more than it should have
March 29, 2026
I was immediately riveted by this sometimes very dark Noir/sometimes comfortably cosy "locked room" Mystery! This author delivers! That Reader's Hook scared the daylights out of me! Then follows a calmer section, still unsettling, but in a sad, scary, this-all-happened-in-the-past way. I phrase the novel's progress this way to explicate the author's approach: terrify, then soothe and calm, then subtly ramp up the suspense, then terrify again, followed by adrenaline dump, relative cosiness [just don't get TOO comfortable, Gentle Readers!], then back to anxiety progressing to terror and danger and.... [No spoilers here.]
I own several novels by this author, and am eager to read all those, to learn if this cyclical buildup is his common approach; because I love it. Unlike some stories [here I'm looking at you, extreme and splatterpunk; and many B- Horror films], Mr. Finch is careful NOT to bombard us with "bang-bang-bludgeon-splatter-boom!" However, THE LODGE definitely does deliver what in films would be considered "jump scares" and here results in gasps, breathlessness, pounding heart, and shouted exclamations of fear and dismay. [Yes, Virginia: I'm not ashamed to say, this novel repeatedly scared me! Whether i shall be able to sleep afterwards remains to be seen.]
I own several novels by this author, and am eager to read all those, to learn if this cyclical buildup is his common approach; because I love it. Unlike some stories [here I'm looking at you, extreme and splatterpunk; and many B- Horror films], Mr. Finch is careful NOT to bombard us with "bang-bang-bludgeon-splatter-boom!" However, THE LODGE definitely does deliver what in films would be considered "jump scares" and here results in gasps, breathlessness, pounding heart, and shouted exclamations of fear and dismay. [Yes, Virginia: I'm not ashamed to say, this novel repeatedly scared me! Whether i shall be able to sleep afterwards remains to be seen.]
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
An eclectic cast of characters on a getaway to a Gothic mansion. What could go wrong? So, so many things. There is a murderer in the midst picking them off one by one. I couldn't figure this one out!
4 stars
Many thanks to Net Galley and Brilliance Publishing for an audio ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review.
4 stars
Many thanks to Net Galley and Brilliance Publishing for an audio ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
Overall, I enjoyed this book, but I found it very slow/ dry to start with. I'm glad I finished it though, because it was exciting towards the end.
Some thing(s) I liked:
✅The setting was amazing
✅the creepy locked in mansion/ cabin/ hotel thing is one of my favourite subgenres
✅lots of blood and gore and nastiness
Some thing(s), not so much:
⭕Slow to start
⭕Didn't much care about Nick and Liz's relationship but it came up alot (to start)
⭕Wildly unbelievable
Some thing(s) I liked:
✅The setting was amazing
✅the creepy locked in mansion/ cabin/ hotel thing is one of my favourite subgenres
✅lots of blood and gore and nastiness
Some thing(s), not so much:
⭕Slow to start
⭕Didn't much care about Nick and Liz's relationship but it came up alot (to start)
⭕Wildly unbelievable
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
March 31, 2026
A weekend murder tour ends with a stay at a secluded old mansion. Almost immediately, people begin getting killed...who's behind it is the question. This book had me guessing until the reveal.
March 17, 2026
The language and descriptions were eerie, and I loved how there was a murder mystery vibe at times. However, the banter did make me mad as it was repetitive. The ending was very surprising and kept me on my toes with a satisfying conclusion!
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
Paul is fast becoming one of my favourite authors. The Lodge came from left field. The last of Paul's books have been incredibly fast paced crime thrillers. This took a slightly more slow, intense gothic edge.
Its not a worse book for it. Possibly better.
The characters are a bunch of supposed crime enthusiasts going on a tour of locations where infamous serial killers had carried out their horrendous crimes.
Unbeknownst to them, the final location is The Lodge. Its difficult to put a different spin on a haunted house but I think Paul has done this with the addition of film props and the mist. The mist felt like a character by itself. Ever present and making visibility zero.
As soon as everyone reached the Lodge, the tension was at a level that was maintained to the end. My heart was pounding hard.
A couple of characters were really irritating, and some were nice and I wanted them to survive. There is a great twist that I didnt expect at all. The kills were quite imaginative and dare I say brutal. I would dread to think what Paul's search history looks like for this one!
A brilliant read that I flew through and was annoyed every time I had to put it down.
Its not a worse book for it. Possibly better.
The characters are a bunch of supposed crime enthusiasts going on a tour of locations where infamous serial killers had carried out their horrendous crimes.
Unbeknownst to them, the final location is The Lodge. Its difficult to put a different spin on a haunted house but I think Paul has done this with the addition of film props and the mist. The mist felt like a character by itself. Ever present and making visibility zero.
As soon as everyone reached the Lodge, the tension was at a level that was maintained to the end. My heart was pounding hard.
A couple of characters were really irritating, and some were nice and I wanted them to survive. There is a great twist that I didnt expect at all. The kills were quite imaginative and dare I say brutal. I would dread to think what Paul's search history looks like for this one!
A brilliant read that I flew through and was annoyed every time I had to put it down.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
ADVANCED READY COPY FROM NETGALLERY
AUTHOR: PAUL FINCH
WHAT I LIKED ABOUT THE AUDIOBOOK:
🔮 THE PLOT IS CAPTIVATING, SUSPENSEFUL, AND KEEPS READERS' ATTENTION AS IT HAS MANY TWISTS AND TURNS.
🔮 CHARACTERS ARE A GREAT MIX OF DYNAMIC PERSONALITIES AND SARCASTIC WIT THAT BRING THE STORY TO LIFE PASSIONATELY.
🔮 THE AUTHOR DID A GREAT JOB DESCRIBING THE SCENERY, WHICH HELPED ME VISUALIZE THE STORY AND CHARACTERS.
🔮 THE BOOK'S FORMAT IS LAID OUT IN A WAY THAT IS EASY TO FOLLOW ALONG. CHAPTERS ARE THE PERFECT LENGTH TO KEEP INTEREST.
🔮 THE NARRATOR DID AN EXCELLENT JOB BRINGING CHARACTERS TO LIFE WITH PASSION, ARTICULATION, POISE, AND PROFESSIONALISM.
My rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Keywords: NetGalley, ARC Copy, audiobook, Paul Finch, fiction, thrillers, bookreviews, audiobookreviews
#bookstagrammers #netgalley #Audiobookrecommendation #audiobooks#2026books
AUTHOR: PAUL FINCH
WHAT I LIKED ABOUT THE AUDIOBOOK:
🔮 THE PLOT IS CAPTIVATING, SUSPENSEFUL, AND KEEPS READERS' ATTENTION AS IT HAS MANY TWISTS AND TURNS.
🔮 CHARACTERS ARE A GREAT MIX OF DYNAMIC PERSONALITIES AND SARCASTIC WIT THAT BRING THE STORY TO LIFE PASSIONATELY.
🔮 THE AUTHOR DID A GREAT JOB DESCRIBING THE SCENERY, WHICH HELPED ME VISUALIZE THE STORY AND CHARACTERS.
🔮 THE BOOK'S FORMAT IS LAID OUT IN A WAY THAT IS EASY TO FOLLOW ALONG. CHAPTERS ARE THE PERFECT LENGTH TO KEEP INTEREST.
🔮 THE NARRATOR DID AN EXCELLENT JOB BRINGING CHARACTERS TO LIFE WITH PASSION, ARTICULATION, POISE, AND PROFESSIONALISM.
My rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Keywords: NetGalley, ARC Copy, audiobook, Paul Finch, fiction, thrillers, bookreviews, audiobookreviews
#bookstagrammers #netgalley #Audiobookrecommendation #audiobooks#2026books
January 18, 2026
The Lodge is a horror-thriller that’s tricky to categorize—mostly because it leans so heavily into classic horror tropes that it sometimes feels more campy than frightening. For me, the story had the vibe of a B-level horror film from the 60s or 70s, the kind that leans into clichés on purpose… and that may well be the point, since those old films are woven directly into the plot.
What I found most interesting is the book's exploration of dark tourism, following a tour group on a “Murder Weekend” led by Nick and Liz. The group visits several true-crime sites before spending the night in an isolated mansion once owned by both a serial killer and a Hollywood horror star. It’s an atmospheric setup, but a few too many characters are introduced too quickly, which made it hard to keep track of who was who. Once murders begin and the group starts turning on one another, the pace picks up, but the overall tone often veered into unintentionally comical territory for me.
Readers who enjoy pulpy horror or self-aware slasher vibes may find more to appreciate here, but it ultimately wasn’t quite the right fit for my tastes.
Title: The Lodge
Author: Paul Finch
Genre: Horror / Thriller
Setting: England
Rating: ⭐️⭐️1/2 (rounded down)
**I was given a free version of this book in exchange for an honest review. Thank you to NetGalley and Thomas and Mercer.
What I found most interesting is the book's exploration of dark tourism, following a tour group on a “Murder Weekend” led by Nick and Liz. The group visits several true-crime sites before spending the night in an isolated mansion once owned by both a serial killer and a Hollywood horror star. It’s an atmospheric setup, but a few too many characters are introduced too quickly, which made it hard to keep track of who was who. Once murders begin and the group starts turning on one another, the pace picks up, but the overall tone often veered into unintentionally comical territory for me.
Readers who enjoy pulpy horror or self-aware slasher vibes may find more to appreciate here, but it ultimately wasn’t quite the right fit for my tastes.
Title: The Lodge
Author: Paul Finch
Genre: Horror / Thriller
Setting: England
Rating: ⭐️⭐️1/2 (rounded down)
**I was given a free version of this book in exchange for an honest review. Thank you to NetGalley and Thomas and Mercer.
January 6, 2026
Thank you to NetGalley for providing me with a copy of The Lodge by Paul Finch, which publishes on 15/1/2026, in exchange for an honest review.
This is a thriller about a ‘murder tour’ where true crime fans stop at famous murder locations. But staying the night at a now deceased horror film icon’s estate soon goes eerily wrong…
This was hard to follow in the beginning as we were introduced to so many people so quickly. It would have been okay if these characters were all distinct and individual, but they felt 2d and I was confused throughout as they seemed to blur together. Because of this, I couldn’t connect to any character so I found it hard to root for anyone.
Martha’s reveal was something I’d known from the moment she was introduced, so what could have redeemed the story instead further disappointed me. As for the killer’s reveal, that was also clear and I had easily guessed it.
Overall this is not a thriller I enjoyed or would recommend.
This is a thriller about a ‘murder tour’ where true crime fans stop at famous murder locations. But staying the night at a now deceased horror film icon’s estate soon goes eerily wrong…
This was hard to follow in the beginning as we were introduced to so many people so quickly. It would have been okay if these characters were all distinct and individual, but they felt 2d and I was confused throughout as they seemed to blur together. Because of this, I couldn’t connect to any character so I found it hard to root for anyone.
Martha’s reveal was something I’d known from the moment she was introduced, so what could have redeemed the story instead further disappointed me. As for the killer’s reveal, that was also clear and I had easily guessed it.
Overall this is not a thriller I enjoyed or would recommend.
January 22, 2026
I feel duped here, it’s listed as a mystery/thriller, and yet when the action finally does get going, it’s more slasher/horror. If I’d known this, I’d have given it a wide miss. At one point one of the characters basically wonders why they’re all going off one by one like a bad horror film cliche. And honestly, I’d long been wondering that myself.
And what’s with all the Americanisms, talking about cops instead of police? The author is former police, one of the characters is former police… and yet it’s cops cops cops throughout. I was glad just to get to the end of this one, sadly not for me at all, but I found that out when I was too far in to DNF.
I received a free ARC copy of this via NetGalley and the publishers in return for an unbiased review.
And what’s with all the Americanisms, talking about cops instead of police? The author is former police, one of the characters is former police… and yet it’s cops cops cops throughout. I was glad just to get to the end of this one, sadly not for me at all, but I found that out when I was too far in to DNF.
I received a free ARC copy of this via NetGalley and the publishers in return for an unbiased review.
December 5, 2025
Amazing!! Once it's started to get interesting, it's been a whirlwind. I couldn't put it down. Just as an advice, some times describes ways of murder and deaths and can be a bit gore.
January 29, 2026
RANT: I weep for the state of reading and publishing and this website. Many of the reviews call this a locked room mystery. What?! Dear God. Many of the reviewers can’t keep the characters straight. What?!! I can only imagine many “readers” today are actually “listeners” and it doesn’t appear that they’re listening very well. I’m sure they’re driving or doing laundry or working out or whatever but they’re not absorbing the information. There is no excuse for not keeping these characters straight. There’s no excuse for an adult reader not to know this isn’t a locked room murder mystery. Goodreads is a victim of eshittification in a myriad of ways. In recent years it has been plagued by reviewers who get the ebook or audiobook for free. I’ve ranted about this before but I’m skeptical this practice is good for authors or readers or sales or creativity. These reviews are usually unfavorable, they tell you next to nothing about anything except that they didn’t like it and that’s their opinion and thanks for the free copy. The internet has a lot to answer for obviously but its sins against literature and the human attention span are gravest. END RANT
Paul Finch writes a slasher! Hopefully, more are on their way. Besides a pair of groan-inducing developments, this was a great read. I hope Finch continues to put out more standalone novels. The only reason I haven’t finished The Island is because I got sick for a few months and didn’t want to contaminate my reading experience. But that one was off to a fantastic start and I look forward to finishing it.
The Lodge. A dark tourism group end their day of visiting murder sites by spending the night at a mansion once owned by a horror movie icon and before that an Aleister Crowley type. The whole place has a Hammer horror vibe. It’s even enshrouded in a spooky veil of relentless mist and sat behind a creepy black tarn. The real world, the sane world, is a million miles away. Dot dot dot. Then something or someone starts picking off our murderheads one by one!
Great page-turner, overall. I thoroughly enjoyed especially the first half. Then Finch resorted to some slasher tropes that I personally dislike. No spoilers, so I’ll just leave it at this: some slasher tropes work better on the screen better than on the page.
Also, surprisingly, like with most modern fiction not military-related, I began to wonder if I was the target audience. All the men were losers, all the strong characters were women. Not annoying in and of itself but when all the radio stations are playing Sympathy for the Devil you don’t really feel like listening to it anymore, do you, no matter how great it is?
Lastly, a slasher is a whodunnit. And all whodunnits are rightly judged by the success or failure of their climactic revelations. Now Finch writes horror and mystery exceedingly well. And history and action, etc, etc. In a time where the art of writing a great ending seems lost to time, I never doubted Finch would deliver a great finale. Yet, here we are. It’s not shocking; it’s a bit silly. Does it take away from my overall enjoyment? Mm hm. Trying to surprise the reader is laudable in any genre, but ending a joyride in a Ferrari at Auntie Zaza’s Yarn Shop is a letdown. I’m sure Finch knew he was taking a risk and I understand the appeal of certain subversions of aspects of my very own complaints, but for this lone reader the game just wasn’t worth the candle.
It may be argued that both of my chief complaints (men are pathetic; who did the dunning) are staples of the slasher genre but they do a disservice to The Lodge. Still I very much recommend it.
Paul Finch writes a slasher! Hopefully, more are on their way. Besides a pair of groan-inducing developments, this was a great read. I hope Finch continues to put out more standalone novels. The only reason I haven’t finished The Island is because I got sick for a few months and didn’t want to contaminate my reading experience. But that one was off to a fantastic start and I look forward to finishing it.
The Lodge. A dark tourism group end their day of visiting murder sites by spending the night at a mansion once owned by a horror movie icon and before that an Aleister Crowley type. The whole place has a Hammer horror vibe. It’s even enshrouded in a spooky veil of relentless mist and sat behind a creepy black tarn. The real world, the sane world, is a million miles away. Dot dot dot. Then something or someone starts picking off our murderheads one by one!
Great page-turner, overall. I thoroughly enjoyed especially the first half. Then Finch resorted to some slasher tropes that I personally dislike. No spoilers, so I’ll just leave it at this: some slasher tropes work better on the screen better than on the page.
Also, surprisingly, like with most modern fiction not military-related, I began to wonder if I was the target audience. All the men were losers, all the strong characters were women. Not annoying in and of itself but when all the radio stations are playing Sympathy for the Devil you don’t really feel like listening to it anymore, do you, no matter how great it is?
Lastly, a slasher is a whodunnit. And all whodunnits are rightly judged by the success or failure of their climactic revelations. Now Finch writes horror and mystery exceedingly well. And history and action, etc, etc. In a time where the art of writing a great ending seems lost to time, I never doubted Finch would deliver a great finale. Yet, here we are. It’s not shocking; it’s a bit silly. Does it take away from my overall enjoyment? Mm hm. Trying to surprise the reader is laudable in any genre, but ending a joyride in a Ferrari at Auntie Zaza’s Yarn Shop is a letdown. I’m sure Finch knew he was taking a risk and I understand the appeal of certain subversions of aspects of my very own complaints, but for this lone reader the game just wasn’t worth the candle.
It may be argued that both of my chief complaints (men are pathetic; who did the dunning) are staples of the slasher genre but they do a disservice to The Lodge. Still I very much recommend it.
January 15, 2026
Paul Finch’s The Lodge is a highly entertaining read, while raising valid questions about society’s preoccupation with serial killers and the glorification of violent murder.
The book opens in good fashion with a group of true crime fanatics on a Murder Tour through a remote part of north-west England. The tour is run by Liz and Nick who seem to have finally found their niche with the weekend long celebration of grisly deeds. The bus tour visits various historical crime sites, as well as a creepy cottage of serial killer memorabilia. The highlight of the Murder Tour is an evening at the recently opened Black Tarn Lodge, which seems to offer everything for ‘dark tourists’. Not only is it a magnificent Gothic mansion nestling deep in the remote Forest of Bowland, it also once belonged to deceased horror legend Edgar Karnwood, and is now filled with costumes and mementoes from his many movies. Offering an elegant dinner and the screening of a legendary lost film, it’s the ideal way to complete the Tour. Until night falls, a thick fog isolates the house and the guests start disappearing.
The Lodge is a thrill-filled ride. After a leisurely start, the pace really picks up once the bus reaches the Lodge and the truth about the various members of the tour comes out. The violence comes thick and fast in the second half and there is a cinematic feel to the violence as the unlucky guests are dispatched in increasingly gruesome ways. The frequently shifting point of view works really well, and helps to ramp up the tension as the guest numbers decline. The final chapters are very exciting and it is hard to put the book down.
The characters are nicely limned and some develop in ways that you do not expect. The person behind the killings is not hard to identify, but there are enough other surprises to keep it entertaining. Adding to the pleasure are the good Gothic vibe of the Lodge, and interesting snippets about horror movies and serial killers, both real and fictional. There is also some interesting reflections on dark tourism and why we are fascinated by evil.
Some suspension of disbelief is necessary, but it is worth it. A fun piece of escapism that would make for a great B movie.
More than a 4 but less than a 5
See full review at: https://murdermayhemandlongdogs.com/s...
The book opens in good fashion with a group of true crime fanatics on a Murder Tour through a remote part of north-west England. The tour is run by Liz and Nick who seem to have finally found their niche with the weekend long celebration of grisly deeds. The bus tour visits various historical crime sites, as well as a creepy cottage of serial killer memorabilia. The highlight of the Murder Tour is an evening at the recently opened Black Tarn Lodge, which seems to offer everything for ‘dark tourists’. Not only is it a magnificent Gothic mansion nestling deep in the remote Forest of Bowland, it also once belonged to deceased horror legend Edgar Karnwood, and is now filled with costumes and mementoes from his many movies. Offering an elegant dinner and the screening of a legendary lost film, it’s the ideal way to complete the Tour. Until night falls, a thick fog isolates the house and the guests start disappearing.
The Lodge is a thrill-filled ride. After a leisurely start, the pace really picks up once the bus reaches the Lodge and the truth about the various members of the tour comes out. The violence comes thick and fast in the second half and there is a cinematic feel to the violence as the unlucky guests are dispatched in increasingly gruesome ways. The frequently shifting point of view works really well, and helps to ramp up the tension as the guest numbers decline. The final chapters are very exciting and it is hard to put the book down.
The characters are nicely limned and some develop in ways that you do not expect. The person behind the killings is not hard to identify, but there are enough other surprises to keep it entertaining. Adding to the pleasure are the good Gothic vibe of the Lodge, and interesting snippets about horror movies and serial killers, both real and fictional. There is also some interesting reflections on dark tourism and why we are fascinated by evil.
Some suspension of disbelief is necessary, but it is worth it. A fun piece of escapism that would make for a great B movie.
More than a 4 but less than a 5
See full review at: https://murdermayhemandlongdogs.com/s...
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
A fairly run-of-the-mill mystery/thriller with great pacing!
A serial killer murder tour goes wrong one fateful night when the party arrives at the estate of a man who once starred in many horror movies and the guests begin getting picked off. One by one the party is picked off in various horrible ways as they just try to survive the night.
It takes a second to get to know everyone as there are many characters to begin with, but they do become more distinct as it goes on. This story isn't set up well for you to truly get to know the characters and care deeply when/if they die but I don't think that was the point either. The deaths in this book, while not graphic, are shocking and gruesome and really further the tension of needing to survive.
The pacing of this novel is absolutely fantastic. While I agree with other reviews that it takes just a second to get into, once the going is on things don't slow down. The setting is grand and I think having the blueprints for this lodge would have been so fun to follow as the characters explored and ran. For being a locked lodge mystery, there was a lot of movement and moving parts to it all that kept it really fresh and fun.
Ultimately, this actually wasn't really for me. I would have liked to be more enamored with our cast of characters so I cared when they died, and I had also surmised the true culprit quite early on. There was a moment late in the game I thought my hunch was wrong and something far more interesting was going to happen but that hunch was quashed fairly quickly. The real culprit is believable enough but at the same time I think I was hoping for something a little more.... more, in this area.
Overall The Lodge is a fantastic mystery/thriller with great pacing. I highly recommend this book if you need something fairly simple to get you back into reading thrillers or if you just want to enjoy a thoroughly well put together cat and mouse game. I wouldn't recommend this if you want to get really invested in character building or like really heavy mystery.
A serial killer murder tour goes wrong one fateful night when the party arrives at the estate of a man who once starred in many horror movies and the guests begin getting picked off. One by one the party is picked off in various horrible ways as they just try to survive the night.
It takes a second to get to know everyone as there are many characters to begin with, but they do become more distinct as it goes on. This story isn't set up well for you to truly get to know the characters and care deeply when/if they die but I don't think that was the point either. The deaths in this book, while not graphic, are shocking and gruesome and really further the tension of needing to survive.
The pacing of this novel is absolutely fantastic. While I agree with other reviews that it takes just a second to get into, once the going is on things don't slow down. The setting is grand and I think having the blueprints for this lodge would have been so fun to follow as the characters explored and ran. For being a locked lodge mystery, there was a lot of movement and moving parts to it all that kept it really fresh and fun.
Ultimately, this actually wasn't really for me. I would have liked to be more enamored with our cast of characters so I cared when they died, and I had also surmised the true culprit quite early on. There was a moment late in the game I thought my hunch was wrong and something far more interesting was going to happen but that hunch was quashed fairly quickly. The real culprit is believable enough but at the same time I think I was hoping for something a little more.... more, in this area.
Overall The Lodge is a fantastic mystery/thriller with great pacing. I highly recommend this book if you need something fairly simple to get you back into reading thrillers or if you just want to enjoy a thoroughly well put together cat and mouse game. I wouldn't recommend this if you want to get really invested in character building or like really heavy mystery.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
The Lodge by Paul Finch
𝗤𝗨𝗜𝗖𝗞 𝗣𝗟𝗢𝗧 𝗣𝗘𝗘𝗞
A group of strangers on a Murder Tour gathers overnight at a remote Gothic lodge. But when the guests start disappearing, and a body turns up, they realizes they’re trapped and must figure out who they can trust before someone else dies.
𝗔𝗨𝗗𝗜𝗢 𝗧𝗔𝗞𝗘
The narrator was generally solid, but I struggled with some of the female voices, which came off kinda camp rather than convincingly female. There are a lot of UK dialects too, and even as a Brit I had to slow the audio down at times.
𝗦𝗧𝗢𝗥𝗬 𝗧𝗔𝗞𝗘
The start was a bit of a slog for me. There’s a lot of exposition and character introductions, and it felt dry. Some of the dialogue leaned so hard into “British” that it almost felt performative rather than natural.
Once the group actually arrives at the lodge, things click, the isolated setting worked better, and the story became easier to follow. When the deaths start, it’s clear this is leaning full slasher - not cozy mystery.
It’s told through multiple POVs and feels very plot-driven. This is more cat-and-mouse than psychological, with the focus on chases and murder rather than deep character work.
The final reveal was genuinely fun and I didn’t see it coming! It tied everything together in a way that made the whole thing make sense.
𝗪𝗢𝗥𝗧𝗛 𝗧𝗛𝗘 𝗥𝗘𝗔𝗗?
If you’re up for a fast, locked-room slasher with a murder-tour hook, this is a good time. Just know going in that it’s not cozy!
Thank you Brilliance Publishing and NetGalley for this #gifted ARC.
🎧 Narrated by Maxim Reston
📖 Publishes 01•15•26 | 350 pages | 9h 3m
𝗤𝗨𝗜𝗖𝗞 𝗣𝗟𝗢𝗧 𝗣𝗘𝗘𝗞
A group of strangers on a Murder Tour gathers overnight at a remote Gothic lodge. But when the guests start disappearing, and a body turns up, they realizes they’re trapped and must figure out who they can trust before someone else dies.
𝗔𝗨𝗗𝗜𝗢 𝗧𝗔𝗞𝗘
The narrator was generally solid, but I struggled with some of the female voices, which came off kinda camp rather than convincingly female. There are a lot of UK dialects too, and even as a Brit I had to slow the audio down at times.
𝗦𝗧𝗢𝗥𝗬 𝗧𝗔𝗞𝗘
The start was a bit of a slog for me. There’s a lot of exposition and character introductions, and it felt dry. Some of the dialogue leaned so hard into “British” that it almost felt performative rather than natural.
Once the group actually arrives at the lodge, things click, the isolated setting worked better, and the story became easier to follow. When the deaths start, it’s clear this is leaning full slasher - not cozy mystery.
It’s told through multiple POVs and feels very plot-driven. This is more cat-and-mouse than psychological, with the focus on chases and murder rather than deep character work.
The final reveal was genuinely fun and I didn’t see it coming! It tied everything together in a way that made the whole thing make sense.
𝗪𝗢𝗥𝗧𝗛 𝗧𝗛𝗘 𝗥𝗘𝗔𝗗?
If you’re up for a fast, locked-room slasher with a murder-tour hook, this is a good time. Just know going in that it’s not cozy!
Thank you Brilliance Publishing and NetGalley for this #gifted ARC.
🎧 Narrated by Maxim Reston
📖 Publishes 01•15•26 | 350 pages | 9h 3m
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
I enjoy the psychological mystery thrillers and specially those with gothic mansion setting and eerie atmosphere, so I was really excited to get a chance to read this book! This was also a horror novel, getting graphic time by time, but luckily not too much.
In the start reader is introduced to a group of people interested in famous true crime places. Nick and Liz have made a business of showing people what they yearn - to feel the chill of the real murder places. But then a nicely creepy weekend trip in the Black Tarn Lodge - old mansion renovated and full of horror movie memorabilia - turns to an extreme experience, very different than what they had in mind...
Losing all contacts to the outdoor world, the mansion soon becomes a murderous locked room mystery. After first shock it seems clear someone is taking them down one by one. Who will disappear next and will anyone get out of the trap?
This was an enjoyable, movie-like experience and I really couldn´t let go until it was finished. For once, I guessed right who was behind it all, but it had so much surprises on the way it kept me on my toes until the very end. Don´t let the quite slow beginning get you fooled, there will be a lot of action. I liked that author took time to introduce the characters well, as there were so many I had to make notes at first. I really hope this will be also translated in Finnish and it made me want to read more books by Finch!
Thank you NetGalley for the gifted eARC! This is my honest review.
In the start reader is introduced to a group of people interested in famous true crime places. Nick and Liz have made a business of showing people what they yearn - to feel the chill of the real murder places. But then a nicely creepy weekend trip in the Black Tarn Lodge - old mansion renovated and full of horror movie memorabilia - turns to an extreme experience, very different than what they had in mind...
Losing all contacts to the outdoor world, the mansion soon becomes a murderous locked room mystery. After first shock it seems clear someone is taking them down one by one. Who will disappear next and will anyone get out of the trap?
This was an enjoyable, movie-like experience and I really couldn´t let go until it was finished. For once, I guessed right who was behind it all, but it had so much surprises on the way it kept me on my toes until the very end. Don´t let the quite slow beginning get you fooled, there will be a lot of action. I liked that author took time to introduce the characters well, as there were so many I had to make notes at first. I really hope this will be also translated in Finnish and it made me want to read more books by Finch!
Thank you NetGalley for the gifted eARC! This is my honest review.
January 15, 2026
Paul Finch is an expert at creating gripping crime thrillers and ‘sit back in your chair’ horror fiction. And in The Lodge, he has mashed the two together in a delicious serial killer crime novel. The story opens in rural Lancashire and the murder of an innocent by a maniac; Harry was in the wrong place at the wrong time.
Nick and Liz who are fans of true crime and real serial killers set up a bus tour of murder hotspots which ends with a weekend retreat in the Forest of Bowland, Lancashire. Situated in the middle of nowhere, they are effectively cut off by a pea soup of fog and cloud. Not that any of the guests want to go anywhere.
Their phones go missing; all part of setting the scene? Then a guest falls to their death from the roof. A tragic accident? But what where they doing up there? Then another appears and the remaining guests realise they are now stars of their worst nightmare. For them, their fascination with the macabre is now very real and they are the players in a murderous game; whether they like it or not.
Finch then takes the reader on a heart-racing adventure where nothing is as it seems and the guests are fighting to survive, while each suspecting the other of involvement in this deadliest of cat and mouse games.
The bodies mount up, until the three remaining members of the party come face-to-face with the deranged evil that has been stalking them and feasting on their fear.
The story concludes in a race-against-time, and odds, with shocks and reveals aplenty.
Highly recommended.
Nick and Liz who are fans of true crime and real serial killers set up a bus tour of murder hotspots which ends with a weekend retreat in the Forest of Bowland, Lancashire. Situated in the middle of nowhere, they are effectively cut off by a pea soup of fog and cloud. Not that any of the guests want to go anywhere.
Their phones go missing; all part of setting the scene? Then a guest falls to their death from the roof. A tragic accident? But what where they doing up there? Then another appears and the remaining guests realise they are now stars of their worst nightmare. For them, their fascination with the macabre is now very real and they are the players in a murderous game; whether they like it or not.
Finch then takes the reader on a heart-racing adventure where nothing is as it seems and the guests are fighting to survive, while each suspecting the other of involvement in this deadliest of cat and mouse games.
The bodies mount up, until the three remaining members of the party come face-to-face with the deranged evil that has been stalking them and feasting on their fear.
The story concludes in a race-against-time, and odds, with shocks and reveals aplenty.
Highly recommended.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 106 reviews