Synopsis: “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?”
I definitely enjoyed Secluded Cabin Sleeps Six by Lisa Unger, although the beginning was a little slow for me. Once the couples reached their retreat I was fully invested. I found the writing style interesting as Unger included chapters focusing on multiple characters. The spotlight was spread wide, but there was a connection between them all. A familiar thread, if you will.
Unger’s writing style definitely spoke to me. She crafted a deadly storm to come in just as the story was reaching its climax. The weather played a role in pushing the story along and thwarting the plans of the would-be-heroes.
When reading, I pick out a favorite character or someone I’m routing for. Having characters with strong personalities is one way to ensure my attention stays glued to the storyline. I obviously want to know what’s going to happen next! I would like to say I read, and I don’t judge, but I was definitely judging some of Hannah’s decisions throughout the novel (especially one of those flashback scenes, oh my goodness). Below are my top 3 characters and a special mention.
- Hannah is a stay-at-home mom who prioritizes family. She loves her little brother, Mako, despite knowing he isn’t a great person. She grows throughout the novel and by the end she discovers she can’t protect him forever. She is forced to choose between the family she was raised with and the family she created with Bruce.
- Bruce is Hannah’s husband and happens to work at Mako’s company. This man has seen A LOT and a huge part of the plot rides on his shoulders. I like him purely because he is a good guy and this novel was severely lacking in those. He follows his morals and puts his family first.
- Cricket is Hannah’s long time best friend but also Mako’s ex which is a bit awkward considering she’s on vacation with him and his wife. During the beginning of the novel, she bugged me a bit because she just didn’t seem capable of taking care of herself. When things went downhill, she stepped up and went to work protecting her friend. She frequently asks herself, what would Hannah do? (That should tell you everything you need to know about her relationship with her best friend). I think in most horror movies, she would have been one of the first characters to be killed off. She’s unfaithful and seems to take advantage of her friend. Thankfully, she saved herself by growing as a person…or simply by growing up.
- Trina is my honorary mention. She plays a pivotal role in the plot and I think she is meant to be seen as the antagonist. To some degree, I suppose she is. She’s a bit of a morally grey character. All she’s really trying to do is make the world a better place. Her ultimate plan is foiled, but she had a good run and accomplished quite a bit. In some ways, I was rooting for her. If only she had gone about it differently…(if you’ve read this novel, let me know your thoughts about Trina in the comments).
Unpopular opinion: the real antagonist is Mako who puts everything in motion by being a bit of a prick. There’s no way to say it politely unfortunately. His ego is the size of Texas.
Katrina Thornley 
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