"The Woman in the Cabin" by Becca Day

 

"The Woman in the Cabin" by Becca Day is an intense and fast-paced thriller that keeps the adrenaline flowing. I was intrigued by the premise and decided to give it a shot - WOW, am I glad I did! Day does a great job weaving a captivating story and creating interesting, believable characters I could care about (most of them, anyway).

Mary lives in an isolated cabin in the Scottish Highlands with her husband, Cal, a tree surgeon. She never leaves the place and tries to be the "perfect wife" for him. According to Cal, the "perfect wife" is one who keeps the house clean and orderly, has a warm meal waiting on the table, and welcomes him home with a warm smile and a pretty dress.

At first, all seems ideal. Mary follows his rules to the letter and appears satisfied with her lot, living as a housewife from the fifties. But it quickly becomes clear to the reader that something is off in this relationship. The plot thickens when Mary discovers she wasn't the first wife, and she may not be the last...

I LOVED the book and was glued to the story right up to the very last page. You get to know the characters, and what some of them went through really matters to you. Though the theme may not be entirely original, the execution is smooth and absorbing. Compelling characters, an engrossing plot, and polished execution make this a great read.

The book is written primarily from Mary's perspective, with two other women's points of view and a brief passage from Cal's perspective. At first, I thought Mary was naive for putting herself in this situation. But as the plot unfolded, I grew to respect her courage and determination, even though she acted foolishly at times, and I found myself rooting for her. I strongly disliked Cal and found him contemptible.

The more I learned about the plot, the more suspenseful it became. The use of foreshadowing was well done, setting the mood and adding dramatic tension to the story. The creepy atmosphere gets into the reader's head and holds them in rapture, gradually developing into nerve-wracking tension.

The book explores themes of manipulation, gaslighting, controlling and toxic relationships, emotional and physical abuse, and mother-child relationships. The narrative delves into the depths of the human psyche, and it isn't a pretty sight. I was really able to get into the mindset of each character and empathize with some.

Overall, I was impressed with the story. The author's writing technique makes the book an engaging read. It's a fast-paced book with plot twists that keep the reader on their toes, eager to see what comes next. I highly recommend it to anyone who enjoys a good suspense novel. You’re pushed to keep turning pages (or swiping your finger) until the very end. I look forward to reading more from this author in the future.

* Thank you NetGalley and (publisher) for the opportunity to read this arc.  All opinions are my own. 

* For more info about the book: "The Woman in the Cabin" by Becca Day