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Secluded Cabin Sleeps Six

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Three couples rent a luxury cabin in the woods for a weekend getaway to die for in this chilling locked-room thriller.

What could be more restful than a weekend getaway with family and friends? An isolated luxury cabin in the woods, spectacular views, a hot tub and a personal chef. Hannah’s generous brother found the listing online. The reviews are stellar. It'll be three couples on this trip with good food, good company and lots of R & R.

But the dreamy weekend is about to turn into a nightmare.

A deadly storm is brewing. The rental host seems just a little too present. The personal chef reveals that their beautiful house has a spine-tingling history. And the friends have their own complicated past, with secrets that run blood deep.

How well does Hannah know her brother, her own husband? Can she trust her best friend? Meanwhile, someone is determined to ruin the weekend, looking to exact a payback for deeds long buried. Who is the stranger among them?

400 pages, Paperback

First published November 8, 2022

2686 people are currently reading
97584 people want to read

About the author

Lisa Unger

50 books10.7k followers
Lisa Unger is the New York Times and internationally bestselling author of twenty-three novels, including her upcoming release SERVED HIM RIGHT (March, 2026). With books published in thirty-three languages and millions of copies sold worldwide, she is regarded as a master of suspense.

Unger’s critically acclaimed novels have been featured on “Best Book” lists from the Today show, Good Morning America, Entertainment Weekly, People, Amazon, Goodreads, L.A. Times, The Boston Globe, Sun Sentinel, Tampa Bay Times, and many others. She has been nominated for, or won, numerous awards including the Strand Critics, Audie, Hammett, Macavity, ITW Thriller, and Goodreads Choice. In 2019, she received two Edgar Award nominations in the same year, an honor held by only a few authors including Agatha Christie. Her short fiction has been anthologized in The Best American Mystery and Suspense, and her non-fiction has appeared in The New York Times, Wall Street Journal, NPR, and Travel+Leisure. Lisa is the current co-President of the International Thriller Writers organization. She lives on the west coast of Florida with her family.

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Displaying 1 - 30 of 7,558 reviews
Profile Image for megs_bookrack.
2,156 reviews14.1k followers
November 20, 2025
Yeahhhhhh. No. This wasn't it for me. This wasn't even in the same zip code as it. I'm disappointed, not gonna lie.

You see the rating. I legit celebrated when it was over. We all know, that's never a good sign.



When Hannah's often over-the-top brother, Mako, rents an isolated luxury cabin for their friend group for a weekend, she and her husband Bruce, begrudgingly agree to go. Sometimes it is just easier to give Mako what he wants than to fight against him.

Hannah and Bruce have a baby daughter and it will be their first time really leaving her behind. Hannah struggles with the choice a lot, but her mother-in-law is more than capable of babysitting while they're away.

Thus, they go. Prepared to unplug with Mako, his wife, Liza, Hannah's best friend, Cricket and her new beau, who none of them have met before.



Arriving at the cabin, they're impressed. It's gorgeous, but with Mako, they would really expect nothing less. The tech mogul does tend to go all out.

As the Reader, you follow the interactions of the family and friends as they settle into the cabin. The first night is full of food, drink and fun. An isolated atmosphere is created as they have trouble with wifi connectivity and a storm is coming in. They've been warned they could lose power, or worse, get stuck there.

That's nice. I like the idea of that, but it's only one part.



There's also Henry, who we start following as a child in a completely different time and place. Also, it's not clear how his life is connected to the rest of the story.

And by not clear, I mean not at all. At first when he came in, it was so jarring, I thought I had accidentally opened the wrong book on my kindle.



But wait, yeah, I'm not done yet. You also get the perspective of the owner of the house Mako rented. That was the oddest of them all to me, like, why?!

And lest you believe that we only get the group scenes from Hannah's perspective, let me assure you, we do not. We get those scenes from multiple perspectives as well.



To me, this story really suffered from trying to do too much. I didn't feel like the multiple perspectives, or alternating storylines, meshed well together at all.

Additionally, I felt like the thread tying it all together was ridiculous. The antagonist was so unbelievable. I was actually surprised when my eyeballs didn't roll out of my head during any dialogue involving that character.



I'm gonna leave it there. I have plenty more thoughts, but nobody has time to read through them all and honestly, I've burned enough time and energy on this. I'm so ready to move along.

However, with all of this being said, I can see how some Readers may be entertained by this. Just because it didn't work for me, doesn't mean it won't work for you. If you think it sounds interesting, give it a shot. You seriously could end up loving it.



Thank you to the publisher, Park Row Press, for providing me with a copy to read and review. They can't all knock our socks off.
Profile Image for Meredith (Trying to catch up!).
878 reviews14.2k followers
September 11, 2022
Messy but Entertaining

Secluded Cabin Sleeps Six is a psychological thriller about three couples who vacation in a luxury cabin in the woods of Georgia. With the threat of a hurricane, hidden motives come to light, affairs are revealed, and a dark secret is unearthed, culminating in murder.

There are numerous characters and multiple points of view to keep track of, some of which are superfluous. The timeline also alternates between the past and present. All of the characters are cliches and lack depth.

The plot is beyond convoluted. There are too many characters, and some storylines are never resolved. There is one story in particular that I think was included to be a red herring, but it could have completely been eliminated.

On top of all this, the writing is cheesy.

There are some good parts to this book: The plot has potential, and the cabin setting elevated the creepiness. Unfortunately, the bad outweighs the good, and I was left with a lot of sighing and eye rolls.


I received an ARC of this book from NetGalley and the publisher in exchange for an honest review.
Profile Image for Nilufer Ozmekik.
3,116 reviews60.6k followers
May 27, 2024
I was so happy to have privilege to get signed copy from Lisa Unger which made my month!

She signed a note at the first page, promising to keep me all night ! She couldn’t be so right! I was up all night and finished this whirlwind, WTH I just read kind of exciting page turner in one sitting!

Trapped out of nowhere in the middle of the worst weather conditions with people you cannot trust is one of my favorite plot line! It mashed up with DNA/ ancestry mystery with convoluted plots, multi POVs of complex flawed characters, short and sharp witted, impactful chapters!

6 people who are so close to each other, carrying the heavy baggage of dirty secrets gather to enjoy weekend getaway at a luxury cabin in the woods with spectacular views, private chef, hot tube. And guess what? The place is called Overlook !!!( even the name is red flag. You expect to be welcomed by Grady Twins to be ushered to the Redrum)

A stay at home mom Hannah, the computer wonk husband Bruce, tech mogul brother Mako, his pretty yogi wife Lisa, his ex and Hannah’s best friend/ party girl Cricket and her new mysterious boyfriend Joshua were the guests of the place!

Bracken who built this place is a secret Joe Goldberg who put the cameras around the cabin to watch every move of his guests.

There’s another watcher outside, calculating, waiting for the curtains fall to finish what she’s planned!

Instead of Hannah who seems tough, problem solver, negotiator, good wife, good mother, the entire characters are carrying big secrets and they’re so flawed and dislikable people!

It’s truly intriguing but I felt like I watched a tennis match played by nearly 10 people. POVs and storylines are changing so fast. You wish you will get the whole picture and each piece of puzzle will be connected with each other!

I got a little exhausted to read a lot of POVs ; the claustrophobic cabin out of nowhere haunted by the ghosts of massacred family was great plot but on the other hand there’s a POV of Henry who tries to find the identity of his murder victim mother to realize who he is. Two different storylines intercepted at the end.

I got the reasoning of the author to add DNA mystery to the equation to distinguish the entire mystery from the standard cabin in the woods plot line!

The pacing was great. The big mystery unfolds satisfyingly with the message: you are able to choose your own family by creating your inner circle.

Even though the multiple and dislikable characterization gave me second thoughts, the intriguing, unputdownable plot keeps your interest intact. I’m rounding up my 3.5 stars to 4 I’m a big fan of notorious cabin in the woods themed stars!

So many thanks to dear LISA UNGER and Park Row Books for sharing this physical copy of this heart pounding book in exchange my honest thoughts.

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Profile Image for Lisa.
Author 50 books10.7k followers
May 5, 2022
I am excited to share my twentieth novel with you!

Every book starts with a germ, a seed that takes hold and starts to grow. For SECLUDED CABIN SLEEPS SIX, it was a couple of different things that I read and experienced over the last few years that kind of dovetailed.

I read an article in The New York Times "Modern Love" column about a man who sought out his children decades after he had anonymously donated his sperm, then fell in love with their mother. This really got me thinking about love and family, and what a strange alchemy it all is.

Meanwhile, during the pandemic when we couldn't go anywhere, we wound up renting some lovely but isolated cabins in the woods in Georgia to hike and have a socially distanced vacation. It was idyllic and gorgeous, and of course I couldn't stop myself from thinking about how isolated we were, and did they change the lock code for each guest? And no one would hear us screaming, etc.

Because I can't just relax and enjoy myself like a normal person.

So all of these things clattered around my brain until they collided into SECLUDED CABIN SLEEPS SIX. Buckle up!
Profile Image for Dorie  - Cats&Books :) .
1,184 reviews3,824 followers
July 18, 2022
The premise of this novel isn’t unique; it’s a pretty classic locked-room mystery. For me this book went hot, then cold, then hot again; the ending brought my rating up to a 3*!

I have never read a thriller before that integrated DNA testing into it’s plot this extensively and that made it more interesting.

PROS: Unique slant on the plot
Setting was well described, but who would want such isolation, with no WI FI, so remote


CONS :Why do all of the characters, perhaps with one exception, have to be devious, hateful liars full of secrets? In such a small group it didn’t feel believable that they all were all unlikable and deeply flawed.

There are actually two stories going on during the course of this book and sometimes I lost track of one, because it wasn’t as interesting to me.

TRIGGER WARNING: There is rape, sexual and verbal abuse, voyeurism and other topics which may not be a fit for some readers.

This was one of my most anticipated reads and I have always enjoyed Ms. Unger’s book. This one just didn’t check all the boxes for me.

I will always be a fan and will watch for her 21st book!!

I received an ARC of this novel from the publisher through NetGalley
Profile Image for Melissa (Semi Hiatus Until After the Holidays).
5,149 reviews3,114 followers
November 8, 2022
Decently told mystery with a few extraneous threads and some very OTT moments towards the end. Overall worth reading.

Unger's books are hit or miss for me. This one fell mostly in between. There are some good surprises, and I loved the isolated "locked room" premise, however I felt like there were so many secrets held by the characters aimed at misdirection that the plot got a bit too muddled.

There are two storylines. One is of a group of six adults who are going for a weekend away to a remote home in the woods. Another is an exploration of the life of a person named Henry. The two storylines eventually come together, but the way it happened was surprising and one of the best reveals of the book. I really liked Henry's storyline and thought it was very well developed and I was so invested in him and finding out how he fit into everything.

There are some throwaway storylines/characters that go nowhere, and the fact that there are a large number of characters in the first place makes it frustrating at times to keep them all straight. This is a book that is best experienced on paper, I think the audiobook would be massively confusing. I also didn't care for the big "wrap up" at the end, because if you're paying attention, you should have figured it all out from the narrative and won't need it dumbed down and explained to you like the end of a television show.

This is a decent book, a bit over the top, but definitely fast paced and will capture your attention.

Want Spoilers? Check out my Blog Post here:
Spoiler Alert! Secluded Cabin Sleeps Six

I voluntarily reviewed a complimentary copy of this book, all opinions are my own.
Profile Image for Kaceey.
1,512 reviews4,525 followers
December 1, 2022
I’m so confused!🤪
The cast of characters… massive.
The storylines…numerous!
Me...hopelessly lost trying to keep it all straight.


Three couples sets out on a weekend family mountain getaway.
But the forest has eyes. They are not alone in these woods.
So who is it watching them, and for what reason?
You may want to think twice before you rent your next Airbnb.

A genealogy test that may reveal more than anyone is ready to hear, leaving a disturbing question. How well do you know your own family?

I was hoping all the pieces would come together for me in the end. Nope. I was left confused with at least one loose thread if not two🧶. Maybe it was just me.🤷‍♀️

I recently returned from a vacation where we rented a secluded, mountain cabin. (That likely slept six.) Glad I waited till I got back before reading this one!😅.

I listened to most of this book as an audio but switched to digital for the final third when my ear--buds died. An easy transition, though it didn’t clear up my confusion.

I’ve been reading books by Lisa Unger from…well the beginning I’d say. And it’s always been a bit hit or miss. I’ll have to chalk this one up in the miss category. We’ll see where her next release shall land.

A buddy read with Susanne that left us both a bit disappointed.

Thank you to NetGalley and Legend Press for my digital arc and Hoopla for my 🎧
Profile Image for JaymeO.
589 reviews647 followers
October 29, 2022
Outlier alert!

Lisa Unger is usually a hit or miss author for me, and unfortunately Secluded Cabin Sleeps Six failed to engage me from start to finish.

This locked room mystery seemed like it would be a book I would really enjoy. In fact, the creepy family dynamics in the first chapter really intrigued me. However, the rest of the plot went downhill from there.

The biggest problem is that all of the characters lack depth and l could not connect with any of them. I struggled to finish the audiobook, despite the excellent narration by Vivienne Leheny.

Three couples get away to a secluded cabin in the woods, where someone is trying to make sure that they don’t leave alive.

Unger explores themes of sexual assault, the Me Too movement, DNA, serial killers and more.

Overall, this book had potential, but really missed the mark!

2/5 stars

Expected publication date: 11/8/22

Thank you to NetGalley and Harper Audio for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.
Profile Image for Barbara .
1,840 reviews1,512 followers
December 14, 2022
This is my first Lisa Unger novel, and now I understand why she’s a beloved thriller author. In “Secluded Cabin Sleeps Six”, she has dueling plots which leaves the reader wondering how this is supposed to meld. Never fear dear reader, it does in a crazy way.

There are many POV’s in this, which is a bit daunting. Adding to confusion are the characters who don’t seem to mesh with the main narrative of the luxury vacation for a group of friends. Plus, the prologue included a tense Christmas dinner involving the mysterious gift of DNA tests. No one claimed to be the gifts’ provider. So Ms. Unger plants the idea of some sort of DNA connection.

Once the three couples get to the cabin, the cabin’s owner proves to be disturbing. Bad things start happening. Who’s doing it? To what end?

I listened to the audio, narrated by Vivienne Leheny. I wasn’t enthralled with her narration and almost changed the audio listening speed to faster. I intended to do that, and then I was halfway through! Her voice proved to be perfect for the story!

I enjoyed the story. It might be better read than listened to. I needed to rewind a few times, thinking I missed a thread. I didn’t. It’s one of those thrillers that allows many open threads which ultimately come together to knit a nice ending!

My rating is for the audio format.
Profile Image for Michael David (on hiatus).
830 reviews2,013 followers
October 17, 2022
6 people staying in a secluded cabin in the middle of nowhere, where danger lurks? Sounds like my cup of tea...in fiction only!

This is a fast-paced, suspenseful story about 3 couples who go to a secluded cabin to have a relaxing weekend vacation. They all need it after various stresses they’re all going through. Unfortunately, the relaxing time doesn’t last…as someone is watching them…waiting in the woods. Someone who wants to make sure they don’t have a good time.

Lisa Unger is back in the game after her last book left me feeling underwhelmed. The characters are interesting, there are some nice surprises, and the atmosphere is high! This is the perfect fall weekend read, under the covers or in front of the fireplace with a glass of wine.

Thank you to Park Row for a widget of the ARC through NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. Expected Publication Date: 11/8/22.
Profile Image for Sandysbookaday (taking a step back for a while).
2,624 reviews2,474 followers
March 23, 2023
EXCERPT: Hannah drifted into the dining area to get a closer look at the sculpture. As she drew closer, she felt goose bumps come up on her flesh.
Yes, it was a skull, but not an animal. It was unmistakably human. She found herself transfixed by the dark eyeholes, moved in closer.
What surrounded it was not bleached wood but more bones. She was no expert but she could make out ribs, pieces of vertebrae, hip bones, collarbones, shards and fragments, sharp and ragged. Hannah released a little gasp, then backed up and found herself knocking into Chef Jeff.
'Interesting piece, isn't it?' he said.
Hannah felt at a loss for words. 'Is that real? Are those - human bones?'
He smiled coolly, holding a big pair of grilling tongs. His apron was smeared with something dark. It looked like - blood. His gaze was steely. Hannah felt her stomach churn a bit.
'Yes,' he confirmed. 'Those are human bones. This piece is created by a local artist, a friend of the host's. Are you familiar with the concept of memento mori?'
Hannah shook her head, wishing she could just return to the group but not wanting to be rude.
'From the Latin,' he went on. 'Remember that you must die'

ABOUT 'SECLUDED CABIN SLEEPS SIX': Three couples rent a luxury cabin in the woods for a weekend getaway to die for in this chilling locked-room thriller by New York Times bestselling author Lisa Unger.

What could be more restful, more restorative, than a weekend getaway with family and friends? An isolated luxury cabin in the woods, complete with spectacular views, a hot tub and a personal chef. Hannah’s loving and generous tech-mogul brother found the listing online. The reviews are stellar. It’s his birthday gift to Hannah and includes their spouses and another couple. The six friends need this trip with good food, good company and lots of R & R, far from the chatter and pressures of modern life.

But the dreamy weekend is about to turn into a nightmare. A deadly storm is brewing. The rental host seems just a little too present. The personal chef reveals that their beautiful house has a spine-tingling history. And the friends have their own complicated past, with secrets that run blood deep. How well does Hannah know her brother, her own husband? Can she trust her best friend? And who is the new boyfriend, crashing their party? Meanwhile, someone is determined to ruin the weekend, looking to exact a payback for deeds long buried. Who is the stranger among them?

MY THOUGHTS: I had no idea where Lisa Unger was taking me, but was I worried? No.

The characters are all flawed. There are layers of mistakes made both in the present and the past, bad judgments, failures, lies, deception and secrets.

Mako (Mickey), Tech Entrepreneur, and wife Liza, yoga instructor and lifestyle influencer, have an enviable lifestyle. But there are rumours about Mako, about both his business practices and what he gets up to in private. Liza is a very different person to Mako, almost diametrically opposite. She's clean living and concerned about the environment. She's also well aware of what Mako is really like, but loves him in spite of his deficiencies and deceptions.

Mako's sister Hannah is married to Bruce, a nice solid guy who also works in the tech industry, currently for Mako. They have a baby daughter, Gigi, who they are leaving for the first time. Hannah adores her brother and always has. Although younger than Mako, it is she that has always been on the lookout for him, the one who has, on numerous occasions, pulled his ass out of the fire; not the other way around.

Cricket has been Hannah's best friend, through school and beyond. She's Mako's ex, and they still have a very close relationship. Hannah, Mako and Cricket have been through a lot together, have a lot of history, a lot of shared secrets. This weekend Cricket is accompanied by her new boyfriend, Joshua who, she excitedly reveals to Hannah, may just be 'the one.'

The approaching storm isn't the only trouble on the horizon for this group. People are acting oddly, the chef and his wait staff are creepy, and Hannah is sure that they are being watched.

Running parallel to the main thread is the story of Henry, a young man of dubious origin, orphaned in his teenage years and brought up in a group home. I loved Henry's character. Henry is the centre of a great mystery. Officially, he doesn't exist.

Unger takes these two threads and weaves them together in a way I certainly wasn't expecting, but one that I found very satisfying.

⭐⭐⭐⭐

#SecludedCabinSleepsSix #NetGalley

I: @launger @legend_times

T: @lisaunger @Legend_Times

#contemporaryfiction #domesticdrama #familydrama #mystery #thriller #suspense

THE AUTHOR: Lisa Unger is a New York Times and internationally bestselling author. With books published in thirty languages and millions of copies sold worldwide, she is widely regarded as a master of suspense. She lives on the west coast of Florida with her family.

DISCLOSURE: Thank you to Legend Press for providing a digital ARC of Secluded Cabin Sleeps Six by Lisa Unger for review. All opinions expressed in this review are entirely my own personal opinions.

For an explanation of my rating system please refer to my Goodreads.com profile page or the about page on sandysbookaday.wordpress.com

This review is also published on Twitter, Amazon, Instagram and my webpage https://sandysbookaday.wordpress.com/...
Profile Image for Natilie Bell.
98 reviews3,526 followers
September 30, 2024
2/5 ⊹˚. ♡.𖥔 ݁ ˖

I ended up really not liking this. Around 50% the stakes picked up, but I don't know I almost didn't believe it. There were some odd unnecessary characters/plot lines and I think in the end the 'twist' (if you can even call it that) was so predictable. I really liked the premise, but I think the execution has much to be desired. Usually I love an isolated setting, but it never felt truly isolated and it had this weird other plot line that was almost lowering the stakes without actually interacting with the story - like an odd guardian angel?

I don't want to critique the story that much because I don't want to spoil anything, but there was just a weird lack of consequences for some characters that felt like (in my opinion) they deserved it? I don't know this just wasn't for me. ):

₊˚⊹♡ reading log

25/09 10:34pm
ಇ. 50% through!!! all i can say so far is that i have absolutely no idea which direction this is heading in, there’s a lot of elements that haven’t slotted in yet and i am yet to determine whether that is good or bad - def starting to get sucked in though, if i wasn’t so creeped out at night time i’d keep reading!

24/09 5:20pm
ಇ. how does one read when they are anxious anxious anxious??

₊˚⊹♡ pre-reading

girl absolutely loves an isolated thriller - i've stayed away from reviews for this one because i'm worried they are like pre-determining the lens in which I'll view the story/writing etc. so blindly, we're just going to give it a go since i can apparently read now!!
Profile Image for Linzie (suspenseisthrillingme).
846 reviews898 followers
December 22, 2022
When Hannah’s brother suggests a trip away with family and close friends to a luxury cabin in the remote woods of Georgia, it seems like exactly what they all need. Hiking, massages, good food, and great company. Even the reviews are exceptional. What could be a better way to relax, unwind, and recover from their hectic lives?

Arriving at the three story opulent retreat, however, the three couples are still facing all of their at-home strains. Secrets, lies, and bad work-life balance. And they haven’t even opened the door yet. Because outside of that they’re in for a rocky road. There’s a hurricane bearing down on the isolated area prone to flash floods and downed power lines. The staff, who seem cold and stand-offish, offer a gruesome story about the property. Even the host always seems to be a little too close for comfort. And that is before the group’s own past is entered into the equation. How well do they all truly know one another? Someone is out to ruin their perfect weekend. And it could very well be one of their own.

All I can say is holy cow! Secluded Cabin Sleeps Six, a spellbinding book about learning to let others stand on their own two feet, right versus wrong, and what constitutes family, is blindingly good. From the slow burn first half that was full of well-crafted domestic suspense to the twists and turns of the psychological thriller last half that was a riveting, suspense-filled rollercoaster ride, this novel did not disappoint.

Starting off right, Unger presents us with an instantly engrossing prologue full of foreshadowing that grew into an exploration of family dynamics. And then the first big twist happens, which literally blew my mind. While I did feel that it came a little bit out of nowhere, I didn’t care as I found myself completely lost in the story and compulsively reading “just another chapter.” With multiple points-of-view and dual timelines, this is definitely a winding and complex tale with a backstory that made me feel in the dark at first. By the end, however, the combination of all the different voices and timelines provided a well-plotted, organized storyline that delivers wallop after wallop.

If I could be just slightly picky, though, this locked room mystery of sorts did require quite a bit of reading between the lines initially. In addition, we were given only one surname out of a whole slew of characters until the very end, which, for some reason, really irked me (told you I was being picky). But that’s small potatoes in comparison to the epic plot that is the perfect combination of a few creepy characters, veiled threats, and, oh, the secrets. Just a little forewarning, if you have any triggers, please check my list at the end as there are quite a few. Point blank, if you’re looking for your new favorite thriller, pick up this book! Rating of 5+++ stars.

Trigger warning: death of a parent, brief mention of child abuse, suicide, stalker, voyeurism, drug and alcohol use, miscarriage, difficulty getting pregnant, depression, rape, mention of cutting
Profile Image for Sydney Books.
455 reviews28.5k followers
January 30, 2023
The more I think about this one the less I like it.
Profile Image for Sharon Orlopp.
Author 1 book1,137 followers
January 16, 2024
I recently read Lisa Unger's, Confessions on the 7:45, and really enjoyed it. Unfortunately, Secluded Cabin Sleeps Six fell short for me.

The premise of the book, three couples together at a luxury rented cabin, when things turn dark. The pace was too slow, there were many different points of view, and the character development felt flat.

I encourage Goodreads readers to read other reviews because others have enjoyed this book.
Profile Image for Darla.
4,823 reviews1,229 followers
October 5, 2022
Three couples in a deluxe remote cabin with a storm on the way -- in more ways than one. There is the threatening weather outside and the even more ominous secrets within the cabin. Lisa Unger sets us up with a bunch of unclaimed DNA test under the Christmas tree. Who will take the test? Who will throw it in the trash? What will be revealed and shake the family tree? A timely reminder of the dangers that lurk in our modern technology. Are we giving up too much and expecting too little? This one kept me guessing for the most part and it was entertaining on audio.

A big thanks to Parker Audio and NetGalley for an audio ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Profile Image for Ceecee .
2,739 reviews2,306 followers
October 31, 2022
This is so much a cabin, more a luxury three storey architect’s dream but it is secluded! However, this is one trip these couples will never forget. Hannah’s generous, wealthy tech company owner brother Mako (Michael, yes, go figure how we get Mako out of that!) rents the cabin in Georgia for her and her husband Bruce and invites another couple to join them and his wife Liza. The intention is they all disconnect from the pressures of every day life and have a relaxing time with plenty of good food and wine. Right from the start things aren’t what they seem. The owner of the cabin, Bracken (?!) seems unable to appreciate where boundaries lie, the personal chef and server are distinctly odd and the chef tells a disturbing story which unsettles some of them. This latest locked room style psychological thriller from Lisa Unger takes a mysterious, meandering path and encompasses themes such as DNA and is told from several points of view.

From the very start of the book there are odd vibes between characters and some distinctly strange behaviour which deepens as the novel progresses. This ranges from the downright weird to the distinctly dangerous. The dynamics between them are all very well done on your suspicion antenna twitches in multiple directions as the tension becomes more and more taut.

The atmosphere the author creates especially at the cabin combines the beauty of the area with creeping menace which sends chilling tingles down the neck and spine. This is heightened by the isolation, there’s an approaching serious storm, an additional ghostly element which increases the sense of claustrophobia with a growing understanding there’s a real threat approaching.

The plot is undoubtedly convoluted, you need to concentrate which is no bad thing. There are multiple twists and turns especially as the dynamics between the characters keeps constantly changing which is very intriguing as you try to work out who to trust.

However there are a lot of points of view and one you can’t connect until the end and there are couple of things which I feel go unanswered. There’s one perspective towards the end which I’m not keen on at all as it feels so unrealistic!

All that being said this is a very entertaining read although it’s not my favourite Lisa Unger novel. I do like the message overall message that you CAN choose your family.

With thanks to NetGalley and especially to Legend Press for the much appreciated arc in return for an honest review.
Profile Image for ꕥ Ange_Lives_To_Read ꕥ.
886 reviews
January 17, 2023
This was an ambitious story that included some interesting ideas and could have been a really unique update of the "locked room" mystery. I liked it, but it didn't live up to its early potential. In my opinion, it was two different ideas that would have made great novels on their own, but they were not successfully merged. It was too much: too long, too many characters, too many subplots that went nowhere. The ending was unsatisfactory and kind of bizarre.

I almost feel that this was rushed to meet a deadline or something...but if the author had had more time, she could have tightened it up, edited out the repetition and unnecessary elements, and come up with a better ending. Because of the complexity of the story, this is one that I don't recommend as an audiobook, you'll want to keep going back and checking things but it's harder to do in this format.

Random Thoughts/Spoilers
Profile Image for Crystal.
877 reviews169 followers
October 25, 2022
This book is the very definition of overkill.

An approaching hurricane cutting off access and electricity. The owner of the cabin is a creepy Peeping Tom. There's a women hellbent on getting revenge.

Those plotpoints in and of themselves is enough for a great locked room mystery.

But Lisa Unger insisted on throwing every possible thriller trope in the mix and it ruined the book. There was a rape storyline, a corporate corruption storyline and a genetic mix up storyline, all of which made the story more convoluted than it needed to be. Also, there were other storylines incorporated that went literally nowhere (affairs, miscarriages, selling nudes of teens to the dark web).

I feel like the Origins/DNA relatives plot would have been great (because I enjoyed Henry's story) but it was misplaced and should have been a book on its own.

This book just had too much going on for its own good. Sometimes simplicity is master storytelling. I'm sorry to say I didn't enjoy it, but there are some great reviews for this book out there so if you think it's sounds interesting, definitely give it a try.

Thank you to NetGalley for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.
Profile Image for Tanja Berg.
2,279 reviews567 followers
November 28, 2022
I've been considering finishing this, since I'm at 68% - but I can't. It's a total snooze fest with a bunch of unpleasant, boring characters stuck in a cabin together. May they all die without my knowledge.
Profile Image for Maren’s Reads.
1,188 reviews2,197 followers
October 20, 2022
While I seem to be amassing quite the collection of Lisa Unger books care of my favorite used bookshop, this is in fact the first novel of hers I have actually read. Although it wasn’t my favorite thriller ever, I did really enjoy it and found it hard to put down. I will think twice before staying at an airbnb again after reading this thriller set in, you guessed it, a secluded cabin.

This story is told in a mix of first and third person narration from multiple points of view. I do love a good multiple view point thriller, although I usually prefer when all viewpoints are told in first person and struggle to connect with the characters when told in third person. I was okay with the mixing of first and third in this one since it seems to make sense within the story and I understood the authors reasons for doing so.

My only criticism with this book is that I felt like there was a lot revealed at the end and everything wrapped in a nice bow, which for this story, didn’t seem to fit in my opinion. It seemed like something messier was needed in order to be a bit more believable. And there is an added element at the end that I don’t want to spoil, but that I am not a big fan of.

I listened to this via audio and felt the narrator, Vivienne Leheny, did a great job at bringing these characters to life. I would say she helped to enhance this book, adding especially to the more eerie parts of it. Her narration combined with Unger’s prose made me feel as though I was in the woods right alongside these characters.

All in all though this is a solid thriller and I will definitely be reading Unger’s backlist. Thank you to NetGalley and Harper Audio for an ALC of this book in exchange for my honest review.
Profile Image for James.
Author 20 books4,366 followers
November 8, 2022
Secluded Cabin Sleeps Six is the first book I've read by Lisa Unger. I found it on NetGalley and decided it was time to give the author a chance. And it worked out. I thoroughly enjoyed the book for many reasons. We get a few chapters to meet a dysfunctional family; one where two siblings have a bond, but their mother is a loon, it seems. She waffles between nice and mean, is very controlling, and definitely has a chip on her shoulder. No one wants to take the DNA tests they receive as a mysterious Christmas gift that year. Then the story switches to another set of characters who tug a our heartstrings. Immediately I thought - a switched at birth storyline. But no... I won't tell you if that's the truth or a quip. Find our for yourself, friends!

DNA proves to be a critical piece of this puzzle. When 3 couples decide to take a trip to an expensive cabin as an early summer retreat, we know someone is planning something far more sinister. Likely not the protagonist, but authors have gone there before. Unger dazzles many red herrings and side stories, to the point even me, the king of complex mysteries, was worried it would get off track a few times. But it kept coming back to the main points, and by 2/3 in, everything started to fit together. We also knew the culprit, and his/her accomplices, but not the entire story of why and how the protagonist quite fit into it all. Messy and complex, with a few moments that were far too over the top for most readers (yet I loved them)... and by the end, I was smiling. I will definitely read another book by the author, and I am excited to see where it takes me.
Profile Image for DeAnn.
1,757 reviews
November 19, 2022
4 isolated cabin stars

This is Lisa Unger’s twentieth book; she doesn’t seem to be slowing down! I’ve read at least four of her earlier titles and this one hooked me right in from the start. I read it in just about one sitting and even stayed up past my usual bedtime to finish.

We meet siblings Mako and Hannah, Mako has invited a group to an isolated luxury cabin for a weekend to relax and unwind. He’s the gaming company executive working hard to finish his latest game and Hannah is a new mom, and this is the first time she’s been away from her adorable young daughter.

There are three couples – Mako and his wife, Hannah and her husband, and lifelong friend Cricket with her new boyfriend. Mako has hired a private chef to cook for them, there’s a hot tub, hiking, and relaxing on tap. Sounds heavenly right?

It wouldn’t be much of a plot if that’s all there was to it though! Mako’s wife Liza is getting threatening text messages, Hannah feels like something is very off with her husband, and Cricket still harbors feelings for Mako. The group also feels like they are being watched all the time. There’s also a big storm headed their way that will likely wash out the roads.

The action really heats up as secrets and danger swirl around these six people and I couldn’t put this one down! If you were to offer a secluded cabin weekend to me right now, I would say no way!

A well-paced read that may have had some over-the-top moments at the end, but good escapism fiction for me!

My sincere thanks to Legend Press and NetGalley for the opportunity read this one and honestly review it!
Profile Image for Dennis.
1,077 reviews2,053 followers
August 3, 2022
I think I just realized that I enjoy locked-room mysteries because I think I've enjoyed every locked-room mystery I've read this year. SECLUDED CABIN SLEEPS SIX is Lisa Unger's upcoming mystery/thriller and definitely the most juicy. The story focuses on three couples and their vacation in a luxury cabin retreat in the woods for a weekend. The main character, Hannah, is happily married and appreciative towards her brother's generosity in paying for this trip. As the weekend progresses, the trip begins to fall apart in the most sinister way. But why? What has caused the rift between everyone and why are some of the group's past indiscretions coming back to haunt them? This vacation is just too good to be true.

Go into this story knowing NOTHING more than what I said. Don't read spoilers, don't ask anyone about this book. Find out yourself. The mystery of this book is unexpected and sinister. This book is hands down going to be a locked-room recommendation for me, and there's more at play than just a dark vacation. I couldn't put this book down.
Profile Image for Rachel Hanes.
678 reviews1,038 followers
December 17, 2022
(3.5 stars). This is only the second book that I’ve read by Lisa Unger, and I really enjoyed this one. I will say that it did start off better than it finished, but it was still a good story regardless.

There was a lot going on in this story, with quite a few characters. Each chapter was labeled appropriately, so it wasn’t hard to keep up with. There was the character of Henry, who I enjoyed reading about the most. I felt that his storyline was the most interesting. We also had the main character of Hannah, who I liked. Hannah always seems to do right and clean up everyone’s messes, and then when things go wrong she is the one who gets blamed for everything…

As the title of this book suggests, a group of six friends and family members go away to a secluded cabin for a nice, relaxing weekend. Of course, things start to go very wrong the first night when a major storm rolls through and the power goes out. No cell service. Someone has gone missing. Lies and truths start to be revealed. Will they ever make it out of this cabin alive?

As I mentioned above, there were many things going on in this book, but the concept was so different and interesting. I recently watched a documentary on Netflix called Our Father, and for some reason I kept thinking about that show. Which, after reading this book, I would recommend watching that documentary. It’s very chilling.

I do recommend reading this book, and I am looking forward to reading more from this author in the future. I enjoyed her writing style, and this was entertaining.
Profile Image for Judy Collins.
3,264 reviews443 followers
February 4, 2024
BRILLIANT! The best locked-in thriller I have ever read! Of course, this is Lisa Unger, so you do not expect anything less.

Her 20th novel, the "queen" of psychological suspense, Lisa Unger returns following Last Girl Ghosted (5 stars) with her latest complex, multi-layered knockout gripping thriller—SECLUDED CABIN SLEEPS SIX.

OK, readers, there is much to discuss here.

A luxury getaway weekend becomes a living nightmare when DNA history and dark secrets of the past convene and ignite for an intense, twisty "thrills-by-the-minute locked-room blockbuster!

The novel starts on Christmas night 2017 in Florida at a family gathering when family members find DNA (Origins) testing kits; however, no one seems to know who left the mysterious gifts under the tree—from Santa.

Mother- Sophia
Father- Leo
Daughter - Hannah and husband, Bruce and Gigi, nine-month-old daughter
Older son: Mako and his wife, Liza

The discussion turns to Mako, who has booked a luxury getaway weekend at a cabin in North Georgia for Hannah/Bruce, himself and his wife, and another couple, Cricket (a friend of Hannah's and ex-girlfriend of Mako and her new boyfriend, Joshua-the mystery man-cybersecurity expert.)

Three nights. All expenses paid, from a personal chef, massages, fireplace, yoga, hot tub, and wellness retreat.

June 2018: They all drive up to the cabin seven hours away, and Hannah leaves her daughter home.

The cabin is called Elegant Overlook. Peaceful, secluded. luxurious. isolated.

Managed by a company called Luxury Cabin Rentals of Sleepy Ridge The website seemed elegant and expensively designed, showing five cabins, and theirs would be the grandest. But what is the true story?

Bracken Jameison, the owner and operator of Luxury Cabins of Sleep Ridge and built all of them himself. Is he who he says he is, and what is he hiding? CREEPY.

He sees these guests as:
The pretty yogi.
The party girl.
The stay-at-home mom.
The tech mogul.
The computer wonk.
The mystery man.
All players on his stage.

LET THE GAMES BEGIN!

After online research, Hannah could not find any social media and, after digging further, found out the property was full of ghost stories from some reviewers that sounded creepy. The people said they felt like they were being watched.

"Happy families. Unhappy families. Some families pretend to be happy that have a carefully constructed facade, just barely propped up by secrets and lies. One breath and it all falls down."

Bruce works for Mako and, previously, Hannah in event planning. His gaming company is called Red World. Mako is wealthy and successful He also is ruthless and has a past and enemies. Has his sister always overlooked his flaws and secrets?

There is a storm brewing OUTSIDE AND INSIDE.
Everyone has SECRETS.

"Beware that when fighting monsters, you yourself do not become a monster."
—Friedrich Nietzsche

Hannah thinks something is off with her husband Bruce. What is he hiding? Is he having an affair? She senses the stress between Bruce and Mako. Mako is very secretive, and his yoga instructor wife, Liza, is receiving threatening texts she keeps to herself. Cricket and Joshua are wild cards.

In the past, at this resort, a family had been murdered. There was an investigation. Stories of a woman walking through the trees wailing for her children. The girl's body had been found far from the house by the creek. Some guests reported strange noises.

I dare you to try and put the puzzle pieces of this one together. You will never guess!

We hear from POV:
Hannah (past and present- 2001/2018)
Liza
Cricket
Bracken (owner of the cabins)

We also hear from mysterious POVs
Trina
Henry
Catrina
(these identities are revealed later in the book). Some from 1997-2018.

"Some of us are seekers. Broken links. We're always trying to figure out how and where we fit. Soul Miners."

Power out.
Someone missing.
Someone hurt.
The cameras are not working.
Tree Down.

Eerie, claustrophobic, and chilling! The sins of the past rise to the surface when all is unveiled. You will be glued to the pages. Often, monsters are right in front of us.

THIS BOOK WAS SO GOOD! Both storylines are equally as compelling, and I loved the DNA twist and the getaway cabin. I am a Floridan and formerly had a luxury log cabin in a luxury resort, Big Canoe, in N. Georgia mountains, so this was Fun!

INTENSE! If you love smartly written, complex, multi-layered thrillers, this is your book! I love any stories about DNA and genealogy.

If you enjoy mysterious and funny DNA stories, try Sleepwalk by Dan Chaon.

You can't go wrong with a LU book. No one can do complex, twisted, eerie, and chilling like Lisa! One of my favorite authors—I have read all her books and anxiously await the next. Get this on your TBR list now!

Thank you to #ParkRow and #NetGalley for an eARC to read, review, and enjoy!

Blog Review Posted @
www.JudithDCollins.com
@JudithDCollins | #JDCMustReadBooks
My Rating: 5 🌟 STARS
Pub Date: Nov 8, 2022
Nov 2022 Must-Read Books
Top Books of 2022
Profile Image for Frank Phillips.
663 reviews324 followers
January 4, 2023
Goodness, this one was not what I expected! I really dislike writing anything less than a raving review, but I just can't do that with this one, unfortunately, which makes me sad!

I was thrilled by the locked-room premise of several couples gathered at a luxurious cabin retreat only to be hit by a snow storm and then all hell breaking loose that was portrayed in the synopsis, but that's kind of where it ended for me. After a very intriguing initial few chapters everything started to veer downhill for me. One of the first issues I had was that there were a lot of characters which I had trouble keeping straight for the first half, most likely because some of them had similar storylines (cheating spouses, go figure), and on top of that pretty much none of them had any redeemable qualities, making it more difficult for me to connect with them or even just one in particular! Another major problem for me was that I felt that the WHY of it all was hard for me to believe, and made little to no sense, so that really bumped my overall rating down. I think it's really important in this genre to feel that the antagonist's motivations are believable, even if they're the rationalizations of a mad person, and I really struggled with that on this one. This all being said, I'm sure many will enjoy this one, but for me it was a bit of a miss. Unger is undeniably a great talent, and I think this was initially a great idea, but somewhere along the line the overall story on this one fell short and didn't quite match up to her previous novels, for me anyway. I may go back and give this one a re-read, because Unger's writing is impressive as always, but for now I'm sticking with my gut on this one and giving this an 'Okay, but definitely had its' issues' Rating, which translates to a solid 3 Star-read!!

I will remain a fan of this talented author no matter what, and I can't wait to get my hands on any forthcoming release!
Profile Image for Kendall.
134 reviews2 followers
September 9, 2022
A “suspense” novel about a bunch of Peeping Toms….? This story is VERY jilted. It has too many alternating narrators. Some of whom you have no idea who they are or why they are even speaking. Too many silly, inconsequential details are told that could have been spared. Same words and descriptions are often repeated, which also annoyed me. I honestly did not care about what happened to these people. Axe murderer coming through that cabin? Get ‘em! A wild grizzly bear? Eat ‘em! No one is worth saving... Everyone is a horrible person. Also, the premise of the DNA testing could’ve been a thing on its own and made it way better!
Profile Image for Debra - can't post any comments on site today grrr.
3,261 reviews36.5k followers
November 15, 2022
3.5 stars

A Luxury secluded cabin, three couples, a chance to get away and relax sounds like a dream; until it becomes a nightmare!

I loved books with a trapped vibe/feeling to them. The stranded feeling where you can't get out and must do what it takes to survive. Will Mother nature make things harder for them than the individual who is watching them? I loved the setting of this book and the creepy vibe of the cabin owner. With three couples there are plenty of antics, and information on past histories between them. It soon becomes evident that not all the characters are likeable, and all are hiding something (some characters are sharing quite a few things). Everyone and their brother have secrets in this book! Enter DNA tests stage left...…

Was this my favorite book by Unger? No, I still have a special place in my reading heart for Ink and Bone, but I did enjoy this one. I enjoyed being privy to the POV of various characters. They are not the group of people that I would want to go on a luxury cabin vacation with.

Also enjoyed you-think- you-know-your-friends (or brother) but do you? Who is watching them? What secrets does that individual have? Will they make is out of the weekend unscathed? One needs to read to find out.

I enjoyed the mystery and the atmosphere in this book. This book read like a made for TV movie and that is a compliment. It is entertaining and has the mystery of who is the stranger amongst them.

Thank you to Legend Press and NetGalley who provided me with a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. All the thoughts and opinions are my own.

#SecludedCabinSleepsSix #NetGalley.

Read more of my reviews at www.openbookposts.com






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