The Echoes in the Cabin: An unmissable, twisty and gripping gothic thriller for spooky season

by Anne Wyn Clark

‘Unsettling… Had me hooked, suspicious and creeped out’ Reader review ★★★★★

'A spooky, ghostly read…very twisty!' Reader review ★★★★★

The past won’t stay buried…Devastated by news of a tragic accident on the haunting coast of Anglesey, Elin returns to the same bay where her beloved mother was swept out to sea during a terrible storm ten years earlier.

Sinking under the weight of her loss, Elin agrees to try a grief a digital reconstruction of a loved one designed to provide solace to the bereaved.

Elin’s spirits are lifted a little by the hologram experience. Until things take a sinister turn, when the avatar seems to take on a life of its own and says something that chills Elin to the core. Something which suggests that this recent death and that of her mother are linked – and that Elin herself may be in mortal danger…

Praise for Anne Wyn Clark'You can almost feel the salt wind and hear the waves crashing' Reader review

'Creepy and unsettling' Reader review

'The Echoes in the Cabin is a brilliantly tense and twisty psychological thriller. I was completed hooked by the way Anne Wyn Clark weaves multiple timelines and characters together, and adored the cinematic setting. This is a thriller with both grit and heart – I loved it.' Hannah Brennan, author of No Safe Place

‘Creepy, claustrophobic and compelling! A beautifully written thriller that kept me glued to my Kindle’ Miranda Rijks, author of The Visitors

‘Haunting psychological suspense… Will send shivers down your spine’ Alice Hunter, author of The Serial Killer’s Wife

‘A dark and atmospheric thriller that pulled me in from the very first page’ Stephanie DeCarolis, author of The Guilty Husband

‘Chilling and wonderfully atmospheric, with an ending that took me surprise – I couldn’t put it down’ Amanda Brittany, author of Her Last Lie

400 pages, Paperback

Expected publication November 24, 2026

Reviews

[Amy Appleby · Rating 3 out of 5]

With thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Anne Wynn Clark’s The Echoes in the Cabin is a deeply atmospheric psychological thriller set on the Welsh Coast. This setting is definitely the stand out part of the novel. Clark captures the desolate, wind-swept beauty of Anglesey with great detail. The moody sea air, crashing waves, and claustrophobic small-town dynamics create a strong sense of dread right from the start.

The narrative follows Elin, who returns to her coastal home town following a tragic bereavement. Reopening old wounds, the tragedy echoes the unresolved loss of her mother, who disappeared during a storm a decade earlier.

I was really enjoying this book up until the out of the blue introduction of a digital grief hologram (the blurb makes it feel like this is a bigger part of the plot but it is not mentioned until the book was well established - I'd actually forgotten about it by the time it was introduced). Although this would have made a good tale in its own, I didn’t really feel it was necessary and, for me, it took away some of the seriousness of the book especially when the avatar starts relaying information it shouldn’t possibly know. I just found the whole thing a bit silly and it very much feels like a plot device rather than a fully integrated theme.

The book starts strongly but does slow down significantly in the middle chapters. Elin’s investigation into the past relies heavily on repetitive inner monologues and circular conversations with locals. She also comes across as really selfish which made it very hard to warm to or sympathise with her.

The link between the present loss and Elin’s mother’s disappearance becomes obvious far too early. I spotted the villain far too early which stripped the final reveal of a lot of its tension.

Overall, The Echoes in the Cabin is a solid, atmospheric read that is worth a few hours of your time, but the mismatch of themes is a disappointment especially when they don’t really go anywhere. It is well written and eerie in places but the pacing in the middle and familiar twists hold it back from being a standout.

[Claire · Rating 3 out of 5]

This one seemed full of promise, lots of suspense and intrigue from the start. It was a quick read and really drew me in. However I did find that none of the characters really stood out for me, it was hard to be fully invested in them.

There is great description of the settings and you will feel like you are there. One thing I struggled with was the lack of hope within this book, everything came back to grief, what occurred 10 years ago, what is happening now, there is no good, positive outlook for anyone.

The story switches between characters and between different points in time, which really keeps the pace and intrigue going, however at times it felt like it was just going back and forth and not really progressing. For me, it was very obvious where things were headed and unfortunately there were no big surprises or reveals.

The title somewhat confused me too, as it really doesn’t relate to the story.

[Joanne Yarin · Rating 3 out of 5]

When the love of Elin‘s life is hit by a car and killed while in Elon’s hometown, Elin returns home only to learn that her sister has been hospitalized in a psychiatric ward and some very disturbing things are going on that seem to be connected to her mother‘s death 10 years before. As Elin starts asking questions and taking a look at things, she begins to wonder if all of these events were isolated accidents, or is there something more sinister connecting them altogether? The premise of the book is compelling, however, the story dragged at times. The story was not always pieced together smoothly, with frequent jumps between time and characters’ points of view. There wasn’t much of a twist, as the hints dropped throughout did point to the actual responsible party. It’s an enjoyable read overall, but not one that leaves you breathless at the end.

[Jane Hunt · Rating 4 out of 5]

This gently paced psychological suspense with a paranormal twist also has techno-thriller elements. I like how the suspense builds in the claustrophobic setting, with a growing menace from the community and the technology.
I received a copy of this book from the publisher.