The Cottage

By: Lisa Stone

Narrated by: Jessica Whittaker

Length: 9 hrs and 47 mins

Publisher's Summary

The gripping new thriller with a difference from internationally best-selling author Lisa Stone.  

An isolated cottage....

After losing her job and boyfriend, Jan Hamlin is in desperate need of a fresh start. So she jumps at the chance to rent a secluded cottage on the edge of Coleshaw Woods.

A tap at the window....

Very quickly though, things take a dark turn. At night, Jan hears strange noises, and faint taps at the window. Something, or someone, is out there.

A forest that hides many secrets....

Jan refuses to be scared off. But whoever is outside isn’t going away, and it soon becomes clear that the nightmare is only just beginning....

©2021 Lisa Stone (P)2021 HarperCollins Publishers Limited

I really wanted to like it more, but if veered into “Really? That’s not believable at all” territory.

A woman in a cottage, experiencing something but being told it’s nothing. A couple looking into the “after” of their pregnancy’s late miscarriage. It started out interesting.

SPOILERS though I’ll be vague, as I know my own eyes can’t help but still peek as I scroll past spoilers: When they learn what is going on, it’s...ridiculous, to say the least. An infant who can understand and knows who people are? The author lost my attention right there.

Then, the book just..kept going, with another couple and it was pretty boring and didn’t further the plot (which had wrapped up before the last section).

Also, warning, the pauses between most chapters is longer than you think it will be. It’s quite disruptive - you’re listening, the chapter ends, you’re waiting for the next to start. Silence. Hmm longer silence than you’re used to between chapters. Ok, did I accidentally hit pause? You check, and hit play, just in case but now you DID pause it. Unpause. Settle back in. And that’s like, every chapter for a while.

The narrator did a fantastic job, content notwithstanding!

Yeah, skip this

Unlike some people, a predictable story doesn't bother me. What bothered me was Emma and Ian were supposedly educated people. I don't buy that, they act like mindless idiots.The story itself isn't great, like a bad Syfy channel movie. Ridiculous...and who name's their dog Tinder?

A great reveal

I loved the narrator. it's absolutely horrible about these clinics doing this. I really enjoyed the story as well.

Ridiculous....

Narration was good... initially, the story caught my attention... then it just went into all kinds of ridiculous and unbelievable nonsense.

Disappointing

Disappointing. I saw the first review of one star but i like this author so I decided to give it a try anyway. While the book was disappointing, one star was harsh. The story is very predictable. I kept thinking there must be a big twist coming so I held on for that but unfortunately, there wasn’t.
The narration is the high point but the story leaves you wishing you could have the hours you spent listening back.

This Book Runs The Full Gamit.. !!

What started out as a deliciously creepy story, with lots of chills ultimately became quite thought provoking,.. I give it full marks ,.. and am glad I spent the time and money on it..

It’s a good listen

The book is a good listen! I was really confused initially, when it was jumping between what was going on in the cottage, as well as a couple other storylines. I like how everything ended up coming together. I hated how it ended though! I feel like it left it wide open for more, or at least another book.

Predictable

The characters were likable enough but the story was disappointingly predictable. Narrator did a nice job.

interesting find

The story started out slow and really didn't pick up interest for me until midway thru. There were too many storylines that didn't tie in for me right away. I'm a firm believer in sticking with something I start & I'm glad I did....worthy read.

S. L. O. W

it was such a slow book. the plot was interesting but was disappointed that there want supernatural in it as I thought there would've been. I was surprised to learn at the end that it was based on a true story.