cleg11's review
4.0
Thanks to netgalley for the chance to read this book,
Angela insists that her son, ex wife, crurrent partner and his children spend the weekend together at a lodge. The lodge is in a brilliant setting, its glass fronted and surrounded by snow. There is an argument, someone goes missing and they think someone is either injured or dead. The husband secret is set be revealed and not everyone came to play happy families, someone came to get revenge. But will they…..
Angela insists that her son, ex wife, crurrent partner and his children spend the weekend together at a lodge. The lodge is in a brilliant setting, its glass fronted and surrounded by snow. There is an argument, someone goes missing and they think someone is either injured or dead. The husband secret is set be revealed and not everyone came to play happy families, someone came to get revenge. But will they…..
abercrombie1986's review
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.0
It’s my first trapped in a snow storm book of the season. It starts out so innocent and then packs a punch after bodies are piling up. Everyone has a secret as exes and family maybe play not so well together.
I always love Sue Watson books. They always have moments where I did not see that coming. There are multiple narrators in this one and whomever is narrating, it’s almost like we are in their head as they not only tell the story, but justify anything they may have done. And those mini cliffhangers at the end of the chapters really had it so I did not want to put this one down.
I could never figure out which, if any, of Scott’s women I could like or even trust. The ex-wife, the current wife, or the maybe new mistress all had reasons to give me pause. Then throw in his mother and his daughter and it was like there were five versions of the truth running around with me having no idea who might even be close to reliable.
This really was a good read/listen and lured me in and kept me guessing.
Alison Campbell and Tamsin Kennard narrated the audiobook and really did a great job of voicing the characters and bringing the story to life. They had me loving the moments when I switched from reading to listening. I’m not sure I had a favorite reading or listening to this one. You can’t go wrong either way.
If you’re a psychological suspense fan and haven’t read a Sue Watson, this one is a great start and perfect for the start of winter.
nisha_castelino's review
adventurous
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.0
traceyroberts's review
challenging
dark
emotional
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
5.0
I've been a fan of Sue Watson for some time now. She is definitely an autobuy author for me so I was delighted to be approved by Netgalley and Bookouture to receive an ARC of her latest novel, The Lodge.
A dysfunctional family are brought together to spend a long weekend celebrating matriarch of the family, Angela's 75th birthday. Angela hopes a weekend at a luxury lodge in the depths of winter will help heal family rifts. She's even hired a chef for the weekend. However there is a snow storm and the family are unable to escape the lodge and the tension explodes in a mix of secrets, jealousy and revenge.
I thought the writing was superb and created an atmospheric setting for this locked room thriller. You could cut the tension with a knife. As is expected with thrillers there were plenty of twists, red herrings and clues to unravel.
I really loved the characters, although no-one is who they appear to be. The story is told from the POVs of Fiona, the ex-wife and Danni, the new wife. The complicated family dynamics add to the tension and creates an air of anxiety.
I would recommend this one to anyone who loves a good psychological thriller. It had me gripped and on the edge of my seat.
A dysfunctional family are brought together to spend a long weekend celebrating matriarch of the family, Angela's 75th birthday. Angela hopes a weekend at a luxury lodge in the depths of winter will help heal family rifts. She's even hired a chef for the weekend. However there is a snow storm and the family are unable to escape the lodge and the tension explodes in a mix of secrets, jealousy and revenge.
I thought the writing was superb and created an atmospheric setting for this locked room thriller. You could cut the tension with a knife. As is expected with thrillers there were plenty of twists, red herrings and clues to unravel.
I really loved the characters, although no-one is who they appear to be. The story is told from the POVs of Fiona, the ex-wife and Danni, the new wife. The complicated family dynamics add to the tension and creates an air of anxiety.
I would recommend this one to anyone who loves a good psychological thriller. It had me gripped and on the edge of my seat.
adperfectamconsilium's review
emotional
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
4.0
A fast paced psychological thriller full of twists and turns told from dual perspectives of the wife and ex-wife.
The set up for getting this very dysfunctional family together is Angela's 75th birthday which she hints could be her last so although no one wants to they all set off to Kynance Cove in Cornwall to a holiday lodge on the cliffs.
Scott, headteacher and Angela's son, with his young wife Danni and baby Olivia.
Fiona, ex-wife and mother.
Georgia and Sam, the college aged children of Fiona and Scott.
Jenna, a young chef hired by Angela for the weekend
All arriving at the lodge in treacherous weather conditions they soon find they are cut off by snow and when the police call with news of a hit and run near them they are ordered to stay where they are. This sets up a remote lockdown situation where everyone has secrets, the wives hate each other, and someone in the family could be a murderer!
The most unbelievable aspect is the weather. I'd be surprised if it snows in Kynance Cove more than one day a decade but here they're snowed in, knee deep for a week! We really don't get that much snow in Cornwall.
Still, fantasy element aside it provides a good excuse to keep all these nasty people together. My allegiance between Fiona and Danni kept shifting with different revelations in their chapters.
The second half of the book piles on the shocks, twists and surprises and is skillfully written and good fun.
A fast read that provides good entertainment.
The set up for getting this very dysfunctional family together is Angela's 75th birthday which she hints could be her last so although no one wants to they all set off to Kynance Cove in Cornwall to a holiday lodge on the cliffs.
Scott, headteacher and Angela's son, with his young wife Danni and baby Olivia.
Fiona, ex-wife and mother.
Georgia and Sam, the college aged children of Fiona and Scott.
Jenna, a young chef hired by Angela for the weekend
All arriving at the lodge in treacherous weather conditions they soon find they are cut off by snow and when the police call with news of a hit and run near them they are ordered to stay where they are. This sets up a remote lockdown situation where everyone has secrets, the wives hate each other, and someone in the family could be a murderer!
The most unbelievable aspect is the weather. I'd be surprised if it snows in Kynance Cove more than one day a decade but here they're snowed in, knee deep for a week! We really don't get that much snow in Cornwall.
Still, fantasy element aside it provides a good excuse to keep all these nasty people together. My allegiance between Fiona and Danni kept shifting with different revelations in their chapters.
The second half of the book piles on the shocks, twists and surprises and is skillfully written and good fun.
A fast read that provides good entertainment.
marcirenee1974's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
emotional
hopeful
mysterious
reflective
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.0
Ok, so that was a wild ride! I did not see that twist at the end coming! And man does Fiona have the WORST taste in men! To think she was going to take her bag-of-dicks hubs back after he cheated on her, humiliated her, and married his affair partner! This was my 1st book by Sue Watson but is definitely not going to be my last, I am adding all her backlog of books to my TBR!
#TheLodge
#NetGalley
#TheLodge
#NetGalley
shauntelle_reads's review against another edition
5.0
I loved everything about this book! This was my first read by Sue Watson, and now I want to read more. The matriarch of the family, Angela, wanted everyone together at a lodge to celebrate her 75th birthday. Who is everyone? Her son and his new wife and their toddle, her son’s ex-wife and their two kids. Talk about awkward!
Dysfunction at its finest. Throw in being snowed in, and you have the makings for a great thriller. There is lots of drama, jealousy and suspense packed into this mystery novel. I truly enjoyed Watson’s writing style. There were multiple POVs, which is my fave. There was well thought out character development, as well as the perfect amount of background information provided to make the book flow effortlessly.
This book pulled me in from the first page and kept me invested until the very end. I had no idea who to trust and all the guesses I made about the various plot twists were WRONG! This was a slow burn, but in the best way possible. This book was addictive, and I couldn’t wait to see what happened at the end!
Thank you to Bookouture, Bookouture Audio and NetGalley who provided me with a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
angelbecc's review
3.75
The story follows a family brought together under one roof at a vacation Lodge, at the request of Angela (mother, grandmother and mother in law) for her 75th birthday, warning that it may be her last. The issue? The family includes Fiona, a wife turned ex-wife and Danni, a mistress turned wife of whom the dual povs center. The man in the middle? Angela’s son. This blended family come together for the sake of Angela, though soon they’ll realize that’s there’s more than lies, secrets and betrayal between them, but possibly murder as well as one amongst them goes missing.
Overall, a gripping read resulting in a 3.75⭐️ rating!
Pros:
- Amazing character development. The author wrote her characters so well that even the characters I disliked, I felt like you knew personally.
- Interesting story line. There were so many aspects to this story and so many mysteries to uncover that it kept my interest.
- Author poses a question. I love when an author poses a question to the reader that has us considering our moral compass. It really allows you to sit with the reading material even after you’ve finished the books.
Cons:
- Slow burn. Much of the book provides context on the relationship between these characters and their inner dialogue. The mystery aspect picks up later on in the book.
- There were some unbelievable aspects for the story to make sense and be tied up in the end.
Thank you to Net Galley, Bookouture and Sue Watson for an advanced reader copy of this book. All opinions are my own.
swalk's review against another edition
dark
mysterious
reflective
sad
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Soon after the blended Wilson family arrive at a beautiful Lodge on the Cornish coastline, they are met by a knock on the door from the police. There’s been a hit and run on the road approaching the lodge and the victim is in critical condition. Angela’s son Scott and the rest of the family are gathered to celebrate her 75th Birthday, but things are incredibly awkward from the outset as Scott’s first wife, Fiona and his current wife Danny are both at the event - the tension is palpable.
A gripping and addictive psychological thriller, with convincing characters and many twists and turns right to the very end. I changed my thoughts on where this was going on numerous occasions as each person revealed a darker side. You can feel the undercurrent of the characters ulterior motives throughout; It’s clear no one is being truly honest and a lot of suspicious comments are made, who could have been involved in the car accident? Who is telling the truth about what?
A gripping and addictive psychological thriller, with convincing characters and many twists and turns right to the very end. I changed my thoughts on where this was going on numerous occasions as each person revealed a darker side. You can feel the undercurrent of the characters ulterior motives throughout; It’s clear no one is being truly honest and a lot of suspicious comments are made, who could have been involved in the car accident? Who is telling the truth about what?
The plot was great, and the character development was interesting with some truly loathsome and irritating characters in the mix. I enjoyed the unreliable narrators, as you see the timeline from various characters point of view and how different comments and actions are perceived.
Overall this is an excellent thriller and well worth the listen, especially if you enjoy a twisty tale. I really enjoy Tamsin Kennard as a narrator, so was thrilled to see she had a role in this and both the narrators did a great job.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Death, Blood, Dementia, and Death of parent