The Cottage

By: Daniel Judson

Narrated by: Lauren Ezzo

Length: 12 hrs and 31 mins

Publisher's summary

A widowed mother is terrorized by a stalker with unfathomable intent in a novel of cold-blooded suspense by the Shamus Award-winning author of The Temporary Agent.

When Kate Burke is awakened one night by a sound outside her window, her PTSD is triggered. Was it simply a deer crossing her secluded backyard? Or was it intruders? Because Kate still lives with the dreadful memories of her husband’s murder during a seemingly random home invasion two years before, she knows the answer can mean the difference between life and death.

But when she discovers the unsettling ways her property has been vandalized the next day, Kate is forced to conclude the worst: someone is watching her.

Kate decides to rent out her estranged sister’s onetime cottage, which sits on her property, for the summer. Another set of eyes around the place won’t hurt. And with additional support from friends and family, Kate should be feeling safe.

Instead, the vandalism is escalating. So are the anonymous late-night calls and texts, each one more disturbing and violating than the last. Whoever is targeting Kate, whatever their motive or terrifying endgame, the footsteps in the dark are getting closer.

©2021 by Daniel Judson. (P)2021 Brilliance Publishing, Inc., all rights reserved.

Critic reviews

“A virtuoso demonstration of how painful it is for a beleaguered heroine to suspect any of the people she trusts the most.”—Kirkus Reviews

“Building to an explosive conclusion, this white-knuckled ride consistently entertains.”—Publishers Weekly

“Shamus Award winner Daniel Judson is back with a propulsive, twisty psychological thriller about love, loss, and regret. A smart, suspenseful slow burn, The Cottage is a total pleasure.”—Alafair Burke, New York Times bestselling author of Find Me

Much better than I expected!!

Finally, an intriguing novel filled with mystery and suspense. Who is responsible? Everyone seems to be suspect. The plot twists keep spiriling and keeping you guessing until the end.

The Cottage

love the story and characters background. just didn't care for the narrators voice. I would recommend though.

The Cottage

Wow - what a story! About 2 sisters who were very close but a set of actions by one pulls them apart. But they aren't the only ones affected. It's a comment on our times about people who make construction and real estate big business. But the depths some will go to in order to make money from what seems to them a nudge pushing people out of their way but can even lead to murder. I had no idea how people could be pushed off land they would have happily lived on for a lifetime. In certain parts of our country good people can be shamed away from their homes, have their reputations ruined by innuendo, and a nude picture is still a very dangerous thing to have out there. This is the atmosphere that touches on the lives of these 2 sisters. Will they find their way back to friendship or is that doomed because of what has gone on before? They are strong ladies with strong friends but even then their is enough corruption to make you wonder how and if they will have a future.

A lot of nothing

What a bore!
This is hardly a thriller. It’s barely a story. I truly wish I knew why this book got ANY good reviews. Nothing happens! Not a thriller, barely a mystery, and the narrator sounds like she’s in some sort of deep pain by the way she talks. It was also way too long. Could’ve easily cut it in half by getting rid of a bunch of superfluous information about people washing dishes and folding sheets. I wish I could get my credit back.

Really bad

I have made a commitment to read at least one book from Amazon recommendation that is sent to me almost daily. This book was really bad - sugary like high fructose corn syrup, lots of unnecessary details, plot and characters are awful. And it was getting worse and worse. I was driving for over 6 hours and listened to it trying to understand who give this book even three stars? It’s pathetic mockery of real literature. Here’s your answer - forget about Amazon recommendations but remember those that gave this book 4 and 5 stars, avoid any books they recommend

I wanted to stop listening so many times. Finally finished it. Took forever.

The last four chapters were forever long with very little content. Narrator has a very Monotone