The Recording: A Psychological Thriller

by Skyler Avalon

286 pages, Kindle Edition

Published May 21, 2026

About the author

Skyler Avalon has been crafting stories since middle school, where short fiction and scribbled mysteries first filled her notebooks. Today, she writes what she loves most—psychological thrillers that twist and turn, alongside the occasional cozy mystery for when she’s in the mood for something a little lighter.

She lives in central Virginia with her spouse of 26 years and their two twelve-year-old cats, who are convinced they run the household. When she isn’t plotting her next suspenseful tale, Skyler enjoys curling up with a good mystery, exploring small-town bookstores, and sipping strong coffee while daydreaming about her characters’ next secrets.

With every story, Skyler hopes to deliver heart-pounding suspense, unforgettable characters, and just enough mystery to keep readers guessing late into the night.

Reviews

[BookishDogMamaKate · Rating 5 out of 5]

I read The Recording by author Skyler Avalon.

Maggie is a popular investigative true crime podcaster who gets a cabin at a remote lodge on Carrow Lake. Eighteen months ago a woman checked into this lodge and…vanished. Maggie wants answers.

A winter storm comes in hard. Roads are closed. Spotty minimal cell service. Maggie finds herself snowed in with the few other remaining guests.

As Maggie works towards finding clues to the woman’s disappearance facts are uncovered that point to more than just one missing woman. More than one connected lodge location. Is Maggie next to be erased?

Trying to write a review about this book, being very mindful of spoilers, is hard. Because I want to talk about it! It moves at a pace that my anxiety was happy to run with. The descriptions of the cabin, lodge, and the grounds had me smelling coffee, hearing floor board creaks, and wanting to put a sweater on from the snowy cold. The dread from the isolation was immediate. The characters were divinely written. I was kept guessing until the very end. It felt a little like being in a CLUE game trying to put the pieces together but then different more shocking pieces would pop up.

A suspenseful, twisty, atmospheric, caught myself holding my breath a few times solid thriller. I’d like to more of this authors work.

Definitely recommend!

I received a reader copy from the BookSprout. This is my voluntary and honest review.

[Kellyanne · Rating 5 out of 5]

Skyler Avalon's "The Recording" is a captivating psychological thriller that maintains a high level of suspense throughout. The narrative moves at a brisk pace, featuring startling plot developments that ensure a compelling reading experience. With authentic character development and emotionally resonant portrayals, the story gains significant depth.

The plot follows Maggie as she travels to a secluded mountain lodge to investigate Seline Marsh's disappearance. When a storm strands her with the other guests—including someone she has long been tracking—she begins to realise that the mystery extends far beyond a single missing person. Maggie is forced to race against time to reveal the truth before she, too, is erased from the record.

The author's writing style is straightforward yet powerful, successfully establishing a tense environment that complements the mystery. The gradual unfolding of the plot keeps readers guessing until the very conclusion, making it an excellent choice for enthusiasts of the suspense genre.

[ALYSA HORSMAN · Rating 3 out of 5]

I found this a little repetitive with the case information, but read through the book and found that it was a good.

Maggie is a podcaster of unsolved cases and was about to become one herself if she wasn't careful.

Maggie had take a winter retreat to work on an unsolved case and speak with a unnamed witness, only to find she was being followed by the one person who knew more than she expected.

This book walks us through what Maggie know and finds while stuck on this winter retreat and in the what she decides to do with her finale podcast for this unsolved case.

[Sarah · Rating 5 out of 5]

The Recording by Skyler Avalon is a gripping and suspenseful read that keeps you engaged from start to finish. The story is well-paced with unexpected twists that make it hard to put the book down. The characters feel realistic, and their emotions are well portrayed, which adds depth to the story.

The writing is simple but effective, building a tense atmosphere that fits the mystery perfectly. I especially enjoyed how the plot slowly unfolds and keeps you guessing until the end.

Overall, this is an exciting psychological thriller and a great read for fans of mystery and suspense.

[Nicole Collins · Rating 5 out of 5]

Maggie goes to an isolated mountain lodge she wants to look into the disappearance of Seline Marsh. A storm rolls in and traps her and the other guest which one is someone Maggie has been following her a long time.

The things she starts to uncover show that there is something far larger than a single missing woman for years.

Maggie must uncover the truth before she becomes the next woman erased from the record.

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[Leah Marie · Rating 3 out of 5]

This story follows Maggie, as she tries to uncover the mystery behind the disappearance of a woman over 8 months prior. As Maggie works through the clues, it becomes quite repetitive. It feels like the author is trying to help the reader build the pattern along with her, but things seem to be repeated more than is really required. We also find out who is responsible about halfway through the story, so the second half is just more repeating of the pattern and what was being discovered.

[Danielle · Rating 5 out of 5]

Loved this story, a podcaster investigating missing women at the vacation spot one of them disappeared from. So many great twists and turns that you want closure. Great characters and suspenseful discoveries made this a recommended book.

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[Bren · Rating 5 out of 5]

Maggie is a podcast creator who booked a cabin at Carrow Lake seeking answers about women going missing from other properties connected to the same parent hospitality group. Maggie is following a pattern, but whom can she trust? I enjoyed the unexpected twists that throws you off guard and the answers at the shocking end.

[Dave Wheeler · Rating 5 out of 5]

Styler is a relatively new author I've found and really pleased, ive loved her work so far.

This is a well worked storyline captivating characters and hence a great and a tense read. Highly recommend this novel i enjoyed it obviously and hope you so as well.