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

Nice story

While the performance was very good I gave it two stars because she read some of the characters with such a soft spoke voice it was hard to hear. But over all it was a good story.

Riveting!

What an awesome story! Loved it from beginning to end! Could have listened to more!!

Great book!

I enjoyed this book quite a bit. It was hard to put down. Or rather to click the pause button.

A great reveal

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

Confused

I was wondering if this was a PSA on fertility regulation. And it was!!! It's not worth all those hours. I really hope people don't really act or reason like that. If so, we're all doomed!

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.

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.

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.

Honestly, I was freakishly hooked!

*As always, this my opinion is subjective (duh) and intended to provide feedback on the effects the book left me feeling* NO SPOILERS HERE (EVER)

This was the first Lisa Stone book I've dipped my nose into. Mini background story on how quickly this book got me hooked: I picked it up as second book to read while in the middle of another and simply COULD. NOT PUT. IT. DOWN. A habit I seemed to have formed too quickly into my reading journey - Why do I keep doing this to myself?

Kudos to the narrator:
She crushed it. Period. Seriously, one of the most entertaining voices I've had the pleasure to follow along with during my experience as an ADHD reader who uses Audible to listen to the story as I read physical books.

What I enjoyed about this book:
Easily, the characters and how they kept true to their individual personalities. The book is set in a remote location near the thickest parts of Coleslaw Woods outside a small village called Merryless. Equally, the story also takes place in the city as it follows along another couple of characters. As an American reader who is fond of anything set outdoors secluded from civilization, this story was right up my alley; I found these parts of the book the ones I looked forward to the most.

The story is very much like a tree where all the characters in some way, shape or form, are connected with one another. The writing performed by Lisa Stone was eloquent and at the same time, it did not add any confusion as the story developed. It sneakily maintained a sense of creepy vibes that often had me channeling my inner Chris Pratt:

AAAANNNDDDD I'm going to stop right here in regards to the good I found in reading this book because I do not want to ruin it with an overenthusiastic review that may lead to spoilers. Now, with every good comes some bad, amirite?

What I could've done without:
The one (and only) thing I did not like about Stone's storyline is how it took a speedy crescendo, remained steady, and then slow-burned like torture.


At around 35% until about 55% of the book, I found it to be quite predictable; which it was. I felt as if this was the most 'slow burn' portion of the storyline, and in my opinion, it could've been shortened at least in half. Nothing about this is going to change the fact the book has already been printed and the slow-AF-burn still remains. I mention this more as a 'warning' in case you decide to pick it up - which I still think you should - and can be prepared for it.


Overall, I really liked this book will order a few more of Lisa Stone's books.

Happy reading,
L

Wow!!!

I really enjoyed this book. Kept me interested. Loved the narrator, she did an excellent job!