“I’m the big bad wolf, come to blow your house down.”
What a thriller!
I am captivated by Lisa Unger’s thrillers (especially with Vivienne Leheny narrating). There is always a delicious twist and a slow burn to get to the conclusion. Her latest book features a large cast of characters as well as dual timelines, and as always, wonderful character-building so that I was completely invested in their fates.
A DNA test is given as a Christmas gift to family members but no one claimed responsibility. Some take the test and others disregard the test and trash it. The results when they arrive are unexpected and puzzling. How does this relate to the main characters and their current predicament?
Off for a vacation together are Hannah and Mako, siblings who both bring their spouses along. Hannah is conflicted about leaving her baby at home and feels guilty about taking time alone with her husband. Already for me the anxiety level was high! Mako’s wife Liza is a seemingly perfect and beautiful yoga instructor. Hannah’s best friend (and Mako’s ex!) is also along for the trip, along with her new boyfriend Joshua. There are many unresolved relationships here as the group begins their getaway in the Georgia woods.
Added to the mix is the very suspicious and creepy cabin owner who is actually continuously spying on the group. When a storm comes though and knocks out the power, you know you are in for a wild ride.
Liza is endangered but the group cannot leave because a tree has fallen and blocked the road. It was hard to know who to trust but that was part of the fun of this book. I don’t want to give too many details because even a hint would give away the plot. Meanwhile, the DNA test kit mentioned at the beginning will end up playing a significant role in this story and raised many interesting questions for me.
As always, this was a top-notch thriller with a dose of crime thrown in for good measure. Highly recommend the audiobook!
(Thanks to the publisher for providing an audiobook listening copy via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.)
About the Book:
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?
