Read my thoughts below to see why I took this a photo of this book with my robe, lol:)
About a week and a half ago in my review of A Stranger in the House {Shari Lapena} I mentioned that I was looking forward to reading Shari Lapena’s newest novel. After I wrote that review, I did read this one…and it was GREAT!
Synopsis from Goodreads:
A weekend retreat at a cozy mountain lodge is supposed to be the perfect getaway… but when the storm hits, no one is getting away.
It’s winter in the Catskills and Mitchell’s Inn, nestled deep in the woods, is the perfect setting for a relaxing – maybe even romantic – weekend away. It boasts spacious old rooms with huge woodburning fireplaces, a well-stocked wine cellar, and opportunities for cross-country skiing, snowshoeing, or just curling up with a good murder mystery.
So when the weather takes a turn for the worse, and a blizzard cuts off all electricity – and all contact with the outside world – the guests settle in and try to make the best of it.
Soon, though, one of the guests turns up dead – it looks like an accident. But when a second guest dies, everyone starts to panic.
Within the snowed-in paradise, something – or someone – is picking off the guests one by one. And there’s nothing they can do but hunker down and hope they can survive the storm – and one another.
My Thoughts:
(Disclaimer: I will never post spoilers in my reviews HOWEVER the comment section is completely fair game to discuss any and all specifics including spoilers. Contains affiliate links.)
4 Stars
As I mentioned in my review of A Stranger in the House {Shari Lapena} I was 50/50 on Shari Lapena’s books. I LOVED The Couple Next Door: A Novel
A Stranger in the House: A Novel. I was excited to read her newest book and I am happy to report that it was great! Not as great as The Couple Next Door: A Novel
The chapters were short, the characters were developed, and the use of description was amazing. I had such a clear vision of the hotel as I was reading based on her amazing use of words. I also actually felt COLD while reading…the winter storm in the book was so well described that it came straight through the pages. Amazing.
*I actually had to keep putting my robe on each time I read because I was SO COLD. Hence the picture above, lol.*
I’m giving this 4 stars only because I felt some of the characters and their reactions to what was happening around them were a bit unrealistic. Also…how is it possible for SO MANY of these characters to have SUCH dramatic backstories?!
Basically, just don’t read too much into this story…and just enjoy the mystery. It had me guessing right up until the final twist (which I thought was AWESOME and did NOT see coming)!
Bottom Line:
Shari Lapena’s first and third novels are both great…so what happened with that boring one she wrote in between?!
Book Coffee Happy 
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