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The Cabin
A potential worldwide catastrophe looms large, while CIA Officer Jennifer Lear waits in a Berlin café to meet with her agent who has critical information regarding the chilling emerging threat. But the agent is late, and the meeting turns into a frantic struggle to survive, generating many questions about how it all could have gone so wrong--the first being: Who exactly is Jennifer Lear?
Six months later, Iggi and Maria Hilliard arrive at their secluded log cabin on the southern shore of Lake Ontario to celebrate the 4th of July with two friends. One is a co-worker of Maria's, Haley Girard, who is struggling with the idea of turning thirty and just looking for a place to relax away from Rochester. The other guest is recently divorced Detroit Detective Cal Ripley, a man who has been on the front lines since 9/11 and needs time away from his job and Detroit.
The plan is to relax, reflect on life, and reconnect. Maria is also hoping that Haley and Cal find some chemistry. However, as the weekend unfolds, it becomes clear that not everyone in the cabin is who they say they are.
From the cafés of Berlin to the Roman Colosseum. From the jungles of Vietnam to the streets of the Windy City. From the neighborhoods of Detroit to the shores of Lake Ontario, and from the glamor of New York City to the secrets of Langley, Virginia comes The Cabin, the third standalone novel in the riveting Great Lakes action adventure series.
If you like high-stakes espionage, searing topics pulled from the headlines, and endings you won't see coming, then you'll love Landon Beach's tense political thriller.
Six months later, Iggi and Maria Hilliard arrive at their secluded log cabin on the southern shore of Lake Ontario to celebrate the 4th of July with two friends. One is a co-worker of Maria's, Haley Girard, who is struggling with the idea of turning thirty and just looking for a place to relax away from Rochester. The other guest is recently divorced Detroit Detective Cal Ripley, a man who has been on the front lines since 9/11 and needs time away from his job and Detroit.
The plan is to relax, reflect on life, and reconnect. Maria is also hoping that Haley and Cal find some chemistry. However, as the weekend unfolds, it becomes clear that not everyone in the cabin is who they say they are.
From the cafés of Berlin to the Roman Colosseum. From the jungles of Vietnam to the streets of the Windy City. From the neighborhoods of Detroit to the shores of Lake Ontario, and from the glamor of New York City to the secrets of Langley, Virginia comes The Cabin, the third standalone novel in the riveting Great Lakes action adventure series.
If you like high-stakes espionage, searing topics pulled from the headlines, and endings you won't see coming, then you'll love Landon Beach's tense political thriller.
322 pages, Kindle Edition
Published November 1, 2019
272 people are currently reading
346 people want to read
About the author
Landon Beach
11 books125 followersLandon was born and raised in Michigan but now lives in the Sunshine State with his wife, two children, and their golden retriever. He previously served as a Naval Officer and was an educator for fifteen years before becoming a full-time writer. Find out more at landonbeachbooks.com.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 83 reviews
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August 23, 2022This is supposed to be a spy thriller. It’s 285 pages long. By page 115, we’ve had:
Six damn flashbacks;
A rundown of the fates of a bunch of nameless, random background characters from the flashback scene when two characters met in childhood;
A car pausing ominously in two driveways before moving on;
Grocery shopping;
“Are you two gonna have kids?”;
Meal preparation;
Whatever this is: As her glass fell, she was aware that it would not break when it landed on the sand. Glass, like life, shatters when it hits or is hit by something hard. Pieces can be swept up; sometimes, if the pieces are large enough, they can be put back together. If the pieces are not swept up, then they become a danger for anyone who approaches them - glass cuts. Once a piece of glass is shattered, then it can never return to what it once was. A new piece of glass can replace the old one, but it will never be exactly the same. She dropped. A. Glass. All I can think of is the awful “Sand gets everywhere” speech from Anakin Skywalker.
Cue flashback.
Cue another. Freaking. Flashback.
Bowling. They’re going bowling!
Bowling alley music-inspired flashback!
Baddies deciding to wait on killing whoever they’re there to kill. TWICE. For...reasons. Bowl in peace, most boring-ass spy novel characters ever. Bowl in peace.
I’m out. I can’t with this.
Six damn flashbacks;
A rundown of the fates of a bunch of nameless, random background characters from the flashback scene when two characters met in childhood;
A car pausing ominously in two driveways before moving on;
Grocery shopping;
“Are you two gonna have kids?”;
Meal preparation;
Whatever this is: As her glass fell, she was aware that it would not break when it landed on the sand. Glass, like life, shatters when it hits or is hit by something hard. Pieces can be swept up; sometimes, if the pieces are large enough, they can be put back together. If the pieces are not swept up, then they become a danger for anyone who approaches them - glass cuts. Once a piece of glass is shattered, then it can never return to what it once was. A new piece of glass can replace the old one, but it will never be exactly the same. She dropped. A. Glass. All I can think of is the awful “Sand gets everywhere” speech from Anakin Skywalker.
Cue flashback.
Cue another. Freaking. Flashback.
Bowling. They’re going bowling!
Bowling alley music-inspired flashback!
Baddies deciding to wait on killing whoever they’re there to kill. TWICE. For...reasons. Bowl in peace, most boring-ass spy novel characters ever. Bowl in peace.
I’m out. I can’t with this.
January 19, 2021
This is the third Great Lake story.
This story deals with internationals espionage and a plot against America. A tired cop and a teacher who has a hidden life are brought together by a mutual friend who is playing matchmaker. It the 4th of July weekend, in a cabin, on the south shore of Lake Ontario. Around them are forces of diabolic evil trying to change the world-order.
This story is a fast-paced book with a ton of moving parts. Of the three Beach stories this is the most intricate. The secrets that the author hints at drives the story deeper and faster to the explosive conclusion. This story has it all.
This story deals with internationals espionage and a plot against America. A tired cop and a teacher who has a hidden life are brought together by a mutual friend who is playing matchmaker. It the 4th of July weekend, in a cabin, on the south shore of Lake Ontario. Around them are forces of diabolic evil trying to change the world-order.
This story is a fast-paced book with a ton of moving parts. Of the three Beach stories this is the most intricate. The secrets that the author hints at drives the story deeper and faster to the explosive conclusion. This story has it all.
January 22, 2022
When reading The Cabin, I felt like I was watching a weekly TV drama series on network television. The book would flashback to portions of each character’s life and would reveal important moments in their story. It got me hooked! Landon would dig deeper and deeper into each character and he would reveal their background as the book went on. It was fun to read and I loved seeing how everything unfolded. This book was a mix of action, romance, history, and espionage. It was a perfect read for me!
May 24, 2022
Arrgghh...this has to be the most frustrating book I've read in a long while. This is an espionage book where the espionage is very much secondary. One of the major problems with this story is it is overwhelmed by backstory. We have flashback after flashback about the four main characters and the supporting characters in the quest for backstory. The book goes to the extent of having flashbacks/back stories for the fathers of the cop and sportswriter characters that, while they give us context, have no bearing on the story. The book has to have all the backstory because there is little main story. There's a global threat but it isn't handled by the main characters. It's handled by the Navy Seals. Nothing happens to the main characters at the cabin until the last chapter. And nothing happening to the main characters and them not doing anything is where the story falls down for me. The main characters are passive. They don't have a job to do in the story. They don't have anything to investigate, they don't have an assignment and they don't have quest. The storyline is a friend invites her work friend (also a covert CIA spy) and her childhood friend (an antiterrorism cop) to spend the 4th of July weekend with her and her sportswriter husband...and that's it. The story revolves around these four people hanging out and being unaware that a Russian hit squad is coming to kill the CIA spy character. The story's actual threat to the US is handled by the CIA and not by the main characters. So all the heroes of the book do is sit around, go bowling, swim and think about their personal problems until they're attacked in the last chapter.
Finishing the book, I was left bewildered. Most of the backstory was unnecessary and/or added nothing to the story and the reason for trying to kill the spy character didn't make any sense in the context of the larger threat in the story. I hate to be this down on a book but it was such a frustrating read. Overall, it was an interesting premise, just poorly told and constructed.
The best part of the book was the heartbreaking tale of the sportswriter's father. It was heartbreaking yet wonderful...but nothing to do with this story.
Finishing the book, I was left bewildered. Most of the backstory was unnecessary and/or added nothing to the story and the reason for trying to kill the spy character didn't make any sense in the context of the larger threat in the story. I hate to be this down on a book but it was such a frustrating read. Overall, it was an interesting premise, just poorly told and constructed.
The best part of the book was the heartbreaking tale of the sportswriter's father. It was heartbreaking yet wonderful...but nothing to do with this story.
September 13, 2021
Full review available here
Fantastic Read, Even Better Narration
I have to admit that I sat WAY too long on this one for my own good. I really enjoyed Landon Beach’s other two stories (The Wreck and The Sail) and knowing his fourth book was coming out in mere days (The Hike, coming to audio very soon) made me realize that. I picked up The Cabin and the first thing that I noticed was that it was a bit different than the rest of his stories. It was still set on the Great Lakes but it had a very different feel to it. I wasn’t sure how I felt about it but once I realized that he’d done his research and that this was both very realistic and felt like it could have happened really sold me.
The Cabin, as The Real Book Spy pointed out is relentless. I think that’s probably the best word to describe it. But I would also throw in that probably my favorite part about a Landon Beach novel is the characters. He’s able to build up these real and authentic feeling characters in each book and every time I think “it’s just someone in a book” he throws another curveball at me. Each person in The Cabin was meant to be there. Early on I really didn’t like a few of them, but as the story progressed – you guessed it – something happened that made me realize who they were and why they were acting that way.
I actually live in a similar area to where Beach wrote this story (not too far from Lake Ontario) so it was nice to have some stuff that I recognized while lots of other stuff wasn’t as familiar. The Cabin was probably the first story that talked about the lake but the lake wasn’t the main character in it (if that makes sense). The other two books had a lot of diving or stories around them. I think Lake Ontario was used as a backdrop and they might have gone out on a boat once (along with it being used as an access point).
I will say that without spoiling it, I did not see the ending coming. Beach threw me for a complete loop. Even if I was able to guess how the story would end, I didn’t know how. And the final things thrown in made me stop for a moment and go “whoa”.
This isn’t my first book by Scott Brick either, but it seems that every new book of his I read gets better and better. The Cabin was no different. I really enjoyed his narration and he really allowed this story to shine.
Overall, while a different tone than the first two books, The Cabin was still an excellent read that I thoroughly enjoyed.
Fantastic Read, Even Better Narration
I have to admit that I sat WAY too long on this one for my own good. I really enjoyed Landon Beach’s other two stories (The Wreck and The Sail) and knowing his fourth book was coming out in mere days (The Hike, coming to audio very soon) made me realize that. I picked up The Cabin and the first thing that I noticed was that it was a bit different than the rest of his stories. It was still set on the Great Lakes but it had a very different feel to it. I wasn’t sure how I felt about it but once I realized that he’d done his research and that this was both very realistic and felt like it could have happened really sold me.
The Cabin, as The Real Book Spy pointed out is relentless. I think that’s probably the best word to describe it. But I would also throw in that probably my favorite part about a Landon Beach novel is the characters. He’s able to build up these real and authentic feeling characters in each book and every time I think “it’s just someone in a book” he throws another curveball at me. Each person in The Cabin was meant to be there. Early on I really didn’t like a few of them, but as the story progressed – you guessed it – something happened that made me realize who they were and why they were acting that way.
I actually live in a similar area to where Beach wrote this story (not too far from Lake Ontario) so it was nice to have some stuff that I recognized while lots of other stuff wasn’t as familiar. The Cabin was probably the first story that talked about the lake but the lake wasn’t the main character in it (if that makes sense). The other two books had a lot of diving or stories around them. I think Lake Ontario was used as a backdrop and they might have gone out on a boat once (along with it being used as an access point).
I will say that without spoiling it, I did not see the ending coming. Beach threw me for a complete loop. Even if I was able to guess how the story would end, I didn’t know how. And the final things thrown in made me stop for a moment and go “whoa”.
This isn’t my first book by Scott Brick either, but it seems that every new book of his I read gets better and better. The Cabin was no different. I really enjoyed his narration and he really allowed this story to shine.
Overall, while a different tone than the first two books, The Cabin was still an excellent read that I thoroughly enjoyed.
November 28, 2021
I didn't love this one as much as the first 2, maybe because more took place on land around rather than on the Great Lakes but still an enjoyable book which will make you consider becoming a prepper, if you aren't already. EMP's are scarier than I even knew before this book.
November 30, 2021
This was a well written story but just not my thing. The underlying mystery was well written and the characters are developed and feel real.
April 5, 2023
Page 127 calling a dnf. Almost halfway in I can't make myself care about the story. There are way to many other stories at the same times, too many transitions, and random unrelated descriptions
November 23, 2021
Lots of action, lots of killing, lots of intrigue, lots of sexual tension and innuendos. Didn't really get connected with the characters, ..for me there needed to be more Character development and less action that wasn't super believable. Probably the funniest part of the book was when they referenced the Mormons would be the biggest challenge for an EMP attack because they are the only ones who are prepared for a disaster of such magnitude!
October 1, 2019
Landon Beach spins a great yarn—while deftly illuminating more significant issues.
I loved the weaving of parallel plotlines, character viewpoints, and timeline-bouncing. The structure itself kept me engaged and curious how it all connected to the final reveal.
I admit this is not a genre that I would typically read. I tend to watch the movies (this would make a good screenplay, by the way). However, Mr. Beach added plenty of fascinating particulars that made the characters infinitely more interesting.
I want to take this moment to point out something that most people will likely overlook. In fact, it might even be seen as trivial detail by most readers, but I will argue that it is the vital few that make Landon Beach a great writer.
My favorite parts were his subtle connections to Generation X.
Some might think it a trivial part of the story, but I believe it is quite impactful in helping us understand the unique culture of the main characters.
I'm not sure if they were necessary to the plot, but they sure were fun and helped a few of the characters bond and care more about one another.
One such quote was on page 77.
"...And here we find ourselves, sandwiched between two behemoth generations—Baby Boomers and Millenials. Unapologetically, we're the indispensable bridge, holding things together—the last adult generation that remembers what life was like before the machines." He started to tick the fingers off on his right hand. "We're a pretty good mix of tradition, flexibility, loyalty, and defiance."
These moments of reflection and philosophy are what help Landon Beach set himself apart from other writers. He takes the time to describe the culture of the environment in his story, artfully.
He has another such moment on page 188, where the protagonist is in college, getting singled out by a hypocritical professor. It ends with: "She finds out he makes $125,00 a year, lives in a gated community, works mostly from home while a grad assistant teaches his one class a semester, and recently divorced his wife for a former student..."
I noticed that particular passage, because it was a sign of the times for most Generation Xers who attended college in the nineties, especially.
The final example I want to mention that indicate Beach's strong ability to weave philosophical commentary deftly into his story is a passage on page 192.
"Her generation was coming of age and ushering in the switch from analog to digital, even though less than 50% of the world was online at this point. There seemed to be indications that something was not right with the housing explosion—the bubble was stretching, and, when it burst, the generation that would take the brunt of the force was X. Millenials weren't nesting yet, and the Baby Boomers were still riding the wave of prosperity from the 1990s—leaving Generation X right in the middle, bridging the gap, and about to be squeezed."
These kinds of extrapolations and tangents out of the typical world of the international thriller novel are what takes Beach's novel out of the ordinary and into the fascinating.
I loved the weaving of parallel plotlines, character viewpoints, and timeline-bouncing. The structure itself kept me engaged and curious how it all connected to the final reveal.
I admit this is not a genre that I would typically read. I tend to watch the movies (this would make a good screenplay, by the way). However, Mr. Beach added plenty of fascinating particulars that made the characters infinitely more interesting.
I want to take this moment to point out something that most people will likely overlook. In fact, it might even be seen as trivial detail by most readers, but I will argue that it is the vital few that make Landon Beach a great writer.
My favorite parts were his subtle connections to Generation X.
Some might think it a trivial part of the story, but I believe it is quite impactful in helping us understand the unique culture of the main characters.
I'm not sure if they were necessary to the plot, but they sure were fun and helped a few of the characters bond and care more about one another.
One such quote was on page 77.
"...And here we find ourselves, sandwiched between two behemoth generations—Baby Boomers and Millenials. Unapologetically, we're the indispensable bridge, holding things together—the last adult generation that remembers what life was like before the machines." He started to tick the fingers off on his right hand. "We're a pretty good mix of tradition, flexibility, loyalty, and defiance."
These moments of reflection and philosophy are what help Landon Beach set himself apart from other writers. He takes the time to describe the culture of the environment in his story, artfully.
He has another such moment on page 188, where the protagonist is in college, getting singled out by a hypocritical professor. It ends with: "She finds out he makes $125,00 a year, lives in a gated community, works mostly from home while a grad assistant teaches his one class a semester, and recently divorced his wife for a former student..."
I noticed that particular passage, because it was a sign of the times for most Generation Xers who attended college in the nineties, especially.
The final example I want to mention that indicate Beach's strong ability to weave philosophical commentary deftly into his story is a passage on page 192.
"Her generation was coming of age and ushering in the switch from analog to digital, even though less than 50% of the world was online at this point. There seemed to be indications that something was not right with the housing explosion—the bubble was stretching, and, when it burst, the generation that would take the brunt of the force was X. Millenials weren't nesting yet, and the Baby Boomers were still riding the wave of prosperity from the 1990s—leaving Generation X right in the middle, bridging the gap, and about to be squeezed."
These kinds of extrapolations and tangents out of the typical world of the international thriller novel are what takes Beach's novel out of the ordinary and into the fascinating.
April 25, 2021
This book had so much potential! The ending was so fast that it seemed like the author just got tired of writing and just ended it. Most of the flashbacks seemed unnecessary. Didn't need all of the details of the bar patrons and owner - their extensive character development led to nothing. The plot was great - just poorly executed.
March 9, 2021
This was not great. I really wasn’t interested in the various relationships going on, as in the romantic types, and the story dragged on. I was 90% done before it really became a thriller.
August 29, 2023
Read my full review here: http://mimi-cyberlibrarian.blogspot.c...
On we go to Lake Ontario and another book by Landon Breeze, part of his Great Lakes Saga series of books. While Lake Huron is a major part of Huron Breeze, which I read last week, Lake Ontario is just a minor player in The Cabin. Here is the summary.
“A potential worldwide catastrophe looms large, while CIA Officer Jennifer Lear waits in a Berlin café to meet with her agent who has critical information regarding the chilling emerging threat. But the agent is late, and the meeting turns into a frantic struggle to survive, generating many questions about how it all could have gone so wrong--the first being: Who exactly is Jennifer Lear?
Six months later, Iggi and Maria Hilliard arrive at their secluded log cabin on the southern shore of Lake Ontario to celebrate the 4th of July with two friends. One is a co-worker of Maria's, Haley Girard, who is struggling with the idea of turning thirty and just looking for a place to relax away from Rochester. The other guest is recently divorced Detroit Detective Cal Ripley, a man who has been on the front lines since 9/11 and needs time away from his job and Detroit.
The plan is to relax, reflect on life, and reconnect. Maria is also hoping that Haley and Cal find some chemistry. However, as the weekend unfolds, it becomes clear that not everyone in the cabin is who they say they are.”
One of the major attractions of the book are the delightful main characters, who are all in their early 30s and are trying to make sense of adulthood. Maria, a teacher, is trying to connect her friend and fellow teacher, Haley, with Cal, who she knows from her youth. Iggi, a sports journalist, is not particularly eager to spend the weekend with people he doesn’t know, but as the weekend wears on, and the men kayak and swim, they realize that they have more in common than they anticipated.
The plot is intense, and the reader gets so caught up in the unfolding espionage that it is very difficult to turn out the lights and go to sleep. I guess that I was expecting The Cabin to be more like Huron Breeze as a mystery set on a beach, but instead the beach is only part of the setting. The story spends time in Detroit, Berlin, Vietnam, New York City, and Langley Virginia. Be sure to read the title of each chapter, because the time, the year, and setting changes in every chapter, and reading each title carefully will eliminate confusion that may arise.
Much of the story takes place in the early 2000s, with 9/11 still very present in everyone’s minds. There is quite a lot of political discussion—some of it quite intense. Frankly, I found this to be the one drawback to the novel. There is no denying, however, that the action and suspense overrides the politics.
Landon Beach has had an interesting career as an educator—and now a novelist. I love that he has based most of his novels around the Great Lakes. He was interviewed by The Real Book Spy, Ryan Steck, who by the way is a Kalamazoo writer and reviewer. Steck has reviewed most of Landon Beach’s books. Tune in to his great interview podcasts.
Landon Beach website. Here is what he has to say about his Great Lakes Saga, of which The Cabin is the Lake Ontario setting. “I have always thought that the Great Lakes region, beautiful and rich with history, would provide the perfect place to set stories. My approach for the 5-book saga is to tell one story set on or around each Great Lake. Don’t let the different genres dissuade you. The books are all summer reads full of drama, tension, betrayal, murder, lust, romance, mystery, and suspense.”
So now, my summer reading journey is complete. I have re-read The Long Shining Water (Lake Superior), Famous in a Small Town and Tom Lake (Lake Michigan), Huron Breeze (Lake Huron), Cleveland Noir (Lake Erie) and The Cabin (Lake Ontario). Where shall I go next?
On we go to Lake Ontario and another book by Landon Breeze, part of his Great Lakes Saga series of books. While Lake Huron is a major part of Huron Breeze, which I read last week, Lake Ontario is just a minor player in The Cabin. Here is the summary.
“A potential worldwide catastrophe looms large, while CIA Officer Jennifer Lear waits in a Berlin café to meet with her agent who has critical information regarding the chilling emerging threat. But the agent is late, and the meeting turns into a frantic struggle to survive, generating many questions about how it all could have gone so wrong--the first being: Who exactly is Jennifer Lear?
Six months later, Iggi and Maria Hilliard arrive at their secluded log cabin on the southern shore of Lake Ontario to celebrate the 4th of July with two friends. One is a co-worker of Maria's, Haley Girard, who is struggling with the idea of turning thirty and just looking for a place to relax away from Rochester. The other guest is recently divorced Detroit Detective Cal Ripley, a man who has been on the front lines since 9/11 and needs time away from his job and Detroit.
The plan is to relax, reflect on life, and reconnect. Maria is also hoping that Haley and Cal find some chemistry. However, as the weekend unfolds, it becomes clear that not everyone in the cabin is who they say they are.”
One of the major attractions of the book are the delightful main characters, who are all in their early 30s and are trying to make sense of adulthood. Maria, a teacher, is trying to connect her friend and fellow teacher, Haley, with Cal, who she knows from her youth. Iggi, a sports journalist, is not particularly eager to spend the weekend with people he doesn’t know, but as the weekend wears on, and the men kayak and swim, they realize that they have more in common than they anticipated.
The plot is intense, and the reader gets so caught up in the unfolding espionage that it is very difficult to turn out the lights and go to sleep. I guess that I was expecting The Cabin to be more like Huron Breeze as a mystery set on a beach, but instead the beach is only part of the setting. The story spends time in Detroit, Berlin, Vietnam, New York City, and Langley Virginia. Be sure to read the title of each chapter, because the time, the year, and setting changes in every chapter, and reading each title carefully will eliminate confusion that may arise.
Much of the story takes place in the early 2000s, with 9/11 still very present in everyone’s minds. There is quite a lot of political discussion—some of it quite intense. Frankly, I found this to be the one drawback to the novel. There is no denying, however, that the action and suspense overrides the politics.
Landon Beach has had an interesting career as an educator—and now a novelist. I love that he has based most of his novels around the Great Lakes. He was interviewed by The Real Book Spy, Ryan Steck, who by the way is a Kalamazoo writer and reviewer. Steck has reviewed most of Landon Beach’s books. Tune in to his great interview podcasts.
Landon Beach website. Here is what he has to say about his Great Lakes Saga, of which The Cabin is the Lake Ontario setting. “I have always thought that the Great Lakes region, beautiful and rich with history, would provide the perfect place to set stories. My approach for the 5-book saga is to tell one story set on or around each Great Lake. Don’t let the different genres dissuade you. The books are all summer reads full of drama, tension, betrayal, murder, lust, romance, mystery, and suspense.”
So now, my summer reading journey is complete. I have re-read The Long Shining Water (Lake Superior), Famous in a Small Town and Tom Lake (Lake Michigan), Huron Breeze (Lake Huron), Cleveland Noir (Lake Erie) and The Cabin (Lake Ontario). Where shall I go next?
September 1, 2022
This story is pretty low-key. It's an espionage book where the espionage is secondary. A majority of the story is in the flashbacks. Flashback after flashback about the four main characters and the supporting characters in the quest for backstory.
The storyline is a friend invites her work friend (who, unbeknownst to her, is a covert CIA spy on weekends) and her childhood friend (an anti-terrorism cop) to spend the 4th of July weekend with her and her sportswriter husband...and that's it.
Nothing happens to the main characters at the cabin until the last chapter. The main characters are passive. They don't have a job to do in the story. They don't have anything to investigate, they don't have an assignment, and they don't have quest. There's a global threat, but it isn't handled by the main characters.
These four people just hang out at a cabin by the lake totally unaware that a Russian hit squad is coming to kill the CIA spy character. They just sit around, have flashbacks, go bowling, flirt, swim, and think about their personal problems until they're finally attacked in the last chapter.
If you want a weekend vacation with very little drama, I recommend reading this book and pretending you are sitting around a nice cabin with your friends....
BLURB:
A potential worldwide catastrophe looms large, while CIA Officer Jennifer Lear waits in a Berlin café to meet with her agent who has critical information regarding the chilling emerging threat. But the agent is late, and the meeting turns into a frantic struggle to survive, generating many questions about how it all could have gone so wrong--the first being: Who exactly is Jennifer Lear?
Six months later, Iggi and Maria Hilliard arrive at their secluded log cabin on the southern shore of Lake Ontario to celebrate the 4th of July with two friends. One is a co-worker of Maria's, Haley Girard, who is struggling with the idea of turning thirty and just looking for a place to relax away from Rochester. The other guest is recently divorced Detroit Detective Cal Ripley, a man who has been on the front lines since 9/11 and needs time away from his job and Detroit.
The plan is to relax, reflect on life, and reconnect. Maria is also hoping that Haley and Cal find some chemistry. However, as the weekend unfolds, it becomes clear that not everyone in the cabin is who they say they are.
From the cafés of Berlin to the Roman Colosseum. From the jungles of Vietnam to the streets of the Windy City. From the neighborhoods of Detroit to the shores of Lake Ontario, and from the glamor of New York City to the secrets of Langley, Virginia comes The Cabin, the third standalone novel in the riveting Great Lakes action adventure series.
The storyline is a friend invites her work friend (who, unbeknownst to her, is a covert CIA spy on weekends) and her childhood friend (an anti-terrorism cop) to spend the 4th of July weekend with her and her sportswriter husband...and that's it.
Nothing happens to the main characters at the cabin until the last chapter. The main characters are passive. They don't have a job to do in the story. They don't have anything to investigate, they don't have an assignment, and they don't have quest. There's a global threat, but it isn't handled by the main characters.
These four people just hang out at a cabin by the lake totally unaware that a Russian hit squad is coming to kill the CIA spy character. They just sit around, have flashbacks, go bowling, flirt, swim, and think about their personal problems until they're finally attacked in the last chapter.
If you want a weekend vacation with very little drama, I recommend reading this book and pretending you are sitting around a nice cabin with your friends....
BLURB:
A potential worldwide catastrophe looms large, while CIA Officer Jennifer Lear waits in a Berlin café to meet with her agent who has critical information regarding the chilling emerging threat. But the agent is late, and the meeting turns into a frantic struggle to survive, generating many questions about how it all could have gone so wrong--the first being: Who exactly is Jennifer Lear?
Six months later, Iggi and Maria Hilliard arrive at their secluded log cabin on the southern shore of Lake Ontario to celebrate the 4th of July with two friends. One is a co-worker of Maria's, Haley Girard, who is struggling with the idea of turning thirty and just looking for a place to relax away from Rochester. The other guest is recently divorced Detroit Detective Cal Ripley, a man who has been on the front lines since 9/11 and needs time away from his job and Detroit.
The plan is to relax, reflect on life, and reconnect. Maria is also hoping that Haley and Cal find some chemistry. However, as the weekend unfolds, it becomes clear that not everyone in the cabin is who they say they are.
From the cafés of Berlin to the Roman Colosseum. From the jungles of Vietnam to the streets of the Windy City. From the neighborhoods of Detroit to the shores of Lake Ontario, and from the glamor of New York City to the secrets of Langley, Virginia comes The Cabin, the third standalone novel in the riveting Great Lakes action adventure series.
April 30, 2025
This is the third book in the Great Lakes series by Landon Beach. Each one of these is a stand alone novel that just happen to have the Great Lakes as their common setting. Starting with this one you would miss nothing of the other two previous episodes, The Wreck and The Sail.
Since each of these books is a totally different and unconnected story, I was surprised at the slow-burn speed of the introduction. We are the reader/listener get to spend a considerable amount of time getting to know the characters and their hidden but later revealed backstories. So much so, that I was wondering if the was a whole new genre of writing style that Landon was trying. It was not until the last ten chapters that the old Landon style of writing returned with spies and assassination attempts. Also as the action packed into the last few chapters, the story line stepped into very high gear and seem a little more difficult to follow.
Again, Scott Brick as always in my opinion does a very good job of narrator for this style of book. This book style is where his narrative pace and vocal characterizations shine. Perhaps that is because I am used to him with the Clive Cussler style books. Even at 150% speed his diction is clear and the dialogue is easily distinguished by the unique character speaking.
Since each of these books is a totally different and unconnected story, I was surprised at the slow-burn speed of the introduction. We are the reader/listener get to spend a considerable amount of time getting to know the characters and their hidden but later revealed backstories. So much so, that I was wondering if the was a whole new genre of writing style that Landon was trying. It was not until the last ten chapters that the old Landon style of writing returned with spies and assassination attempts. Also as the action packed into the last few chapters, the story line stepped into very high gear and seem a little more difficult to follow.
Again, Scott Brick as always in my opinion does a very good job of narrator for this style of book. This book style is where his narrative pace and vocal characterizations shine. Perhaps that is because I am used to him with the Clive Cussler style books. Even at 150% speed his diction is clear and the dialogue is easily distinguished by the unique character speaking.
November 8, 2021
I found this book on hoopla, it is also available in ebook format for free through kindle unlimited.
This is the 3rd book in the Great Lakes Saga but is a stand alone book. This one takes place on Lake Ontario and is a little more involved and a little bit harder to follow because there are more characters you need to keep track of. The action flips back and forth between now and the past of each of the characters.
Haley has a secret that she has kept from her good friends Iggi and Maria. Cal is a Detroit cop in the terrorist task force. Iggi was a pro football player who has a grudge against cops, so he is not looking forward to their weekend guests. However as time goes by Iggi and Cal find peace when all hell breaks loose and Haley has to reveal her secret to her friends. Now battling for their life against unseen forces they just want to survive.
This book is a bit slower than the others until the end, its also a little harder to follow but just as good as the others. I really enjoyed the espionage aspect to this story line and the struggles of each of the characters. Well written and a good fun read.
This is the 3rd book in the Great Lakes Saga but is a stand alone book. This one takes place on Lake Ontario and is a little more involved and a little bit harder to follow because there are more characters you need to keep track of. The action flips back and forth between now and the past of each of the characters.
Haley has a secret that she has kept from her good friends Iggi and Maria. Cal is a Detroit cop in the terrorist task force. Iggi was a pro football player who has a grudge against cops, so he is not looking forward to their weekend guests. However as time goes by Iggi and Cal find peace when all hell breaks loose and Haley has to reveal her secret to her friends. Now battling for their life against unseen forces they just want to survive.
This book is a bit slower than the others until the end, its also a little harder to follow but just as good as the others. I really enjoyed the espionage aspect to this story line and the struggles of each of the characters. Well written and a good fun read.
November 8, 2021
It's been a while since I have read a spy/espionage/suspense book but when I found this one in a Hoopla bonus borrow I figured it was worth a listen. Added bonus is Scott Brick as the narrator and I found myself hooked early on.
The specific story takes place over a long 4th of July weekend at a cabin (hence the name of the book) on Lake Superior. Through flashbacks we learn about the four main characters staying at the cabin, one of whom is actually a CIA operative. The story is fast-paced with a believable plot line and a twist at the end that I didn't see coming.
For readers who don't care much for the use of flashbacks in character development, you may as well pass on this book because, as others have "complained", there are a lot of flashbacks in this book. But they didn't bother me because they explain and help the reader understand the who, what, where, when and why of the characters. I prefer that over the intricate details of "objects" that other authors choose to include in their books.
Overall, I enjoyed this book along with Scott Brick's narration. My eyes even watered at a few parts. I will be reading the other books in this series.
The specific story takes place over a long 4th of July weekend at a cabin (hence the name of the book) on Lake Superior. Through flashbacks we learn about the four main characters staying at the cabin, one of whom is actually a CIA operative. The story is fast-paced with a believable plot line and a twist at the end that I didn't see coming.
For readers who don't care much for the use of flashbacks in character development, you may as well pass on this book because, as others have "complained", there are a lot of flashbacks in this book. But they didn't bother me because they explain and help the reader understand the who, what, where, when and why of the characters. I prefer that over the intricate details of "objects" that other authors choose to include in their books.
Overall, I enjoyed this book along with Scott Brick's narration. My eyes even watered at a few parts. I will be reading the other books in this series.
October 16, 2021
Thought Provoking Thriller
Wow. What an incredible book. This is my third book, reading the Great Lakes series. I've read The Wreck, which I enjoyed a great deal, The Hike, which was a fantastic thriller, and now The Cabin. Landon Beach has become one of my favorite authors. His stories and especially, characterizations are wonderful and skilfully done.
This book is a get together with friends, wrapped around an espionage thriller. The characters were so real, I was more interested in their lives, than the framing story. Each person came across as a fully realized character, and we learn the events that made them who they are. We have a couple who have a cabin inviting two guests over for a fun weekend. Iggy and Maria, the cabin owners are expecting her fellow teacher friend Hayley and friend Cal, who is a cop. She wants to play matchmaker and has high hopes for the other guests. Each character is written beautifully, and brings people of different backgrounds and ethnicities together, while exploring differences and similarities. I don't want to spoil too much, but this book really had me involved in the lives of the four, which was also relevant to the framing story. A great story makes you care about the people and this definitely succeeds. You will not see twists coming. I find Beach's books hard to stop listening, since I love the audio book versions. Scott Brick does a masterful job with the characters. Thrills, chills, and great characters make this an exciting and thought provoking read. I will be looking forward to the next book coming next year and finish up with The Sail.
Wow. What an incredible book. This is my third book, reading the Great Lakes series. I've read The Wreck, which I enjoyed a great deal, The Hike, which was a fantastic thriller, and now The Cabin. Landon Beach has become one of my favorite authors. His stories and especially, characterizations are wonderful and skilfully done.
This book is a get together with friends, wrapped around an espionage thriller. The characters were so real, I was more interested in their lives, than the framing story. Each person came across as a fully realized character, and we learn the events that made them who they are. We have a couple who have a cabin inviting two guests over for a fun weekend. Iggy and Maria, the cabin owners are expecting her fellow teacher friend Hayley and friend Cal, who is a cop. She wants to play matchmaker and has high hopes for the other guests. Each character is written beautifully, and brings people of different backgrounds and ethnicities together, while exploring differences and similarities. I don't want to spoil too much, but this book really had me involved in the lives of the four, which was also relevant to the framing story. A great story makes you care about the people and this definitely succeeds. You will not see twists coming. I find Beach's books hard to stop listening, since I love the audio book versions. Scott Brick does a masterful job with the characters. Thrills, chills, and great characters make this an exciting and thought provoking read. I will be looking forward to the next book coming next year and finish up with The Sail.
June 11, 2020
Wow I did not see that coming. The suspense and twist in the last 10 pages brought the book together. Exceptional job by Landon. The book had so much of what is happening right now in America. As the Real Book Spy said it was impossible to put down. So glad I took the chance to read Landon Beach book. I was impressed in how he was able to tell one story but go back and forth as he fill in how the characters can together. They was not one part of the book that dragged on. All action and suspense from the beginning to the end. If you like political thriller style books this is a must read. Great writing.
July 11, 2020
Great story of a covert CIA agent and a plot to eliminate several other agents who know of a possible impending electromagnetic strike on the US. What happens when one of the agents, rethinking her CIA connection, slips away for a quiet holiday weekend getaway with her friends, Iggy and Maria and meets Detroit detective Cal Ripley makes for a really interesting and very fast paced thriller. Just when you think you have it figured out, you find out that you really do not at all. Very good read. If you like story lines with spies & covert operatives, I guarantee you will like this.
February 23, 2021
Masterful
I enjoyed "The Cabin." Compared to Landon Beach's first two novels, I thought this one was much more complex but masterful. I listened to these on audio, and this one, "The Cabin," required me to pay stricter attention and even go back and listen to certain parts again. This novel moves around a lot and back and forth in time but is very well put together. It kept my attention from beginning to end. I have found that Landon's novels are very educational while still entertaining. The narration was excellent.
I enjoyed "The Cabin." Compared to Landon Beach's first two novels, I thought this one was much more complex but masterful. I listened to these on audio, and this one, "The Cabin," required me to pay stricter attention and even go back and listen to certain parts again. This novel moves around a lot and back and forth in time but is very well put together. It kept my attention from beginning to end. I have found that Landon's novels are very educational while still entertaining. The narration was excellent.
March 2, 2023
If I had a gun to my head with someone asking what the plot of this book is, I would say “just shoot me.” About 15 characters with only 3-4 I found interesting. The rest were just names as far as development. I instantly forgot them after their chapter was done. It felt like every other chapter there was a new character. The time jump was all over that I didn’t know what year the book took place. I kid you not, there was a new character introduced with 3 chapters left of the book. Why??? I hope The Hike can redeem this series.
July 17, 2020
Another great read by Beach
He's just a super author with a flair for bringing you into his stories. The Cabin is another example of his brilliance. I love the Great Lakes settings, an area where I've not spent much time. Being there in Beach's books makes me want to definitely do that! Looking forward to starting the next Great Lakes adventure ☺😊
He's just a super author with a flair for bringing you into his stories. The Cabin is another example of his brilliance. I love the Great Lakes settings, an area where I've not spent much time. Being there in Beach's books makes me want to definitely do that! Looking forward to starting the next Great Lakes adventure ☺😊
February 15, 2022
I thoroughly enjoyed this book - it's a new author for me!! He took time, through flashbacks, to really round out his characters so that I felt I knew all about them and why they acted the way they did in the book. It had a little thriller, a little suspense, a little romance, and lots of plain old good fiction. I am now looking forward to reading his other books. Yay!
March 11, 2022
This was an ok novel. I wished it had explored the relationship between Haley and Cal. Also the relationship/connection/symbolism of Cal and Iggy dads seemingly having major "events" on the same night (?). I have so many questions. Why include the flashbacks and not explain their importance to the novel? Why???
August 7, 2025
just eh...
it was enough to keep me engaged but won't recommend or read others by him.
I listened to the audio book and it just didn't translate well. I was probably halfway into the book before I was able to keep the characters straight. The flashbacks didn't translate well in the audio book. they provided great character backstory, but was hard to follow.
it was enough to keep me engaged but won't recommend or read others by him.
I listened to the audio book and it just didn't translate well. I was probably halfway into the book before I was able to keep the characters straight. The flashbacks didn't translate well in the audio book. they provided great character backstory, but was hard to follow.
January 2, 2020
Suspenseful read.
I love this author. He always keeps the reader on the edge of their seat. The characters are easy to relate to and the reader becomes invested in each characters well being. I can't wait to see what's next.
I love this author. He always keeps the reader on the edge of their seat. The characters are easy to relate to and the reader becomes invested in each characters well being. I can't wait to see what's next.
January 30, 2020
Nicely done! Character development was well done, the premise was intriguing, and it continually picked up speed until the last explosive chapter, refusing to let me stop reading. Definitely recommend for fans of suspense and spy thrillers!
May 9, 2020
The Cabin is a thriller wrapped around a surprise, infused with a modern threat to civilization - a great plot! The story is intricate and flowing, the characters are deep and relatable, and the dialogue really enjoyable. Highly recommended!
January 5, 2021
I enjoyed this book, a spy story about the CIA. The characters were interesting, but be aware that this story skips back and forth in time, something I don't always enjoy. I plan to look for more Landon Beach books.
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