"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

"The Reunion Party" by Penny Batchelor

 

I love the reunion-gone-wrong trope, so I was excited to dive into this refreshing psychological thriller. The book follows a group of friends who meet up after 25 years to commemorate the life of their dead friend, Tania.

It is a story as old as time: a group of college friends grows apart after the death of one of their gang. When they meet again after a long period, relationships are strained, and consciences are nagging. This is the tale in a nutshell. But here, the author deviated from the mold and took it one step further with a twist I didn't see coming.

Jeannie, who always felt like an outsider, organizes a reunion party to be held at the luxurious Digital Detox country hotel she manages in honor of Tania. She invites Saira, who just broke up with her wife; Adam and Kere, who became a couple after their college days; and Johnny, who is in the middle of a messy divorce. Jeannie clears out the hotel crew for the weekend, and only she and the chef, Erick, stay to take care of her guests.

As the drinking starts flowing, memories are recounted, putting Tania in an unflattering light. As tongues become looser, the many tensions seething under the surface are exposed. The story quickly takes a dark turn when certain objects go missing, the internet stops working, and a life-threatening situation arises.

Before I started the book, I thought it would be predictable, just like others in its genre. It was anything but. I enjoyed the book and couldn’t wait to get to the next page to find out more. The book is written in the first person, alternating between the characters. I can't say I liked any of them, but they were well-etched with interesting backstories. I enjoyed reading the recollections of Tania from different perspectives. I also liked the sense of anticipation and tension the author created.

The book is divided into four sections. While the narrative is overall captivating, there were moments, mainly in the third section, where the pacing felt slightly uneven and even repetitive when recapping certain events. Still, it overshadowed the past. There were also a couple of errors where names were mistakenly used, so another edit wouldn't go amiss.

Overall, I liked the book and found it fascinating. I enjoyed the interactions between the characters, and the twists caught me off guard. The author gave a new flavor to this story by introducing some interesting twists in the storyline. As I was intrigued from beginning to end, I rate it 4 out of 5 stars and recommend it for those looking for an original, engaging, and quick read.

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

* For more info about the book: "The Reunion Party" by Penny Batchelor

"The Last Guest House" by Caroline Mitchell

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

"The Last Guest House" by Caroline Mitchell is an atmospheric psychological thriller told in the first person from the perspectives of three main characters: Nicola, Matt, and Elita. We get to know them and what makes them tick, and find ourselves rooting for some of them.

Nicola, a police officer, is going with her boyfriend, Matt, and her son, Georgie, to the Isle of Skye to see the northern lights. However, not everything goes according to plan. Due to Matt booking the wrong dates and the hotel being fully booked, they cannot stay there. They are forced to spend the night in the Loch House, which surprisingly has some vacant rooms.

The Loch House gives off odd vibes and enforces peculiar rules: "No smoking in the rooms. No loud music. No phones. No leaving your room after 9 pm." With no other options, Nicola and Matt decide to spend the night there. Other guests are present, none of whom are pleased with the rules. Nerves fray, and tension escalates once the guests discover the gruesome history of the hotel. The eccentric behavior of their hosts only adds to the already intense atmosphere. As night falls and the snow intensifies, it becomes clear that danger is afoot.

The book exceeded my expectations. It was much better and more original than I anticipated. Overall, I found the plot successful in propelling the story forward despite the slow start. The author excels in setting the scene from the very first page. The writing is taut and suspenseful, with the author expertly building tension and atmosphere throughout the book. Segments of a true crime podcast are smoothly interspersed throughout the narrative, heightening suspense and filling in details. Although I'm not a fan of podcasts, I appreciated how the author used them to drop clues to the reader about the events.

The main characters are well-drawn, each with their own distinct personality and backstory. I  liked the eclectic mix of characters. I particularly liked Nicola and Elita, finding them relatable and engaging. However, I disliked Matt due to his overly controlling and overbearing nature. The story is tightly plotted, albeit a bit slow-paced. The ending was fitting, and there were some format issues—such as the author's name being inserted every couple of pages—so another round of editing wouldn't hurt. With themes of cults, abuse, religious fanatics, birth defects, and fallible human nature, the author has woven a tale that I thoroughly enjoyed. I recommend the book to lovers of the genre seeking a refreshing tale. This is not a story you've read before.

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

* For more info about the book: "The Last Guest House" by Caroline Mitchell