The Silent Cabin

by Erik Stone

On a warm summer day, Cami Novarro heads to her grandfather's cabin to help him clean up the last of the remaining miscellaneous items he needs to be removed prior to selling the place. Little did she know that several bad seeds were on their way to the property to use as an outpost for a terroristic plot they planned to carry out. The evildoers are unaware she's there as they murder her grandfather and proceed to lay out their plan. Cami is trapped in the labyrinth walls of the old, isolated home that once served as a transport point for liquor bootleggers. She must remain completely silent as she navigates the hidden tunnels of the cabin in an attempt to escape the foreigners who have invaded her family's vacation spot. Any noise and any wrong move could alert the dangerous men of her presence. With no cell phone service and one path for entry and exit, Cami has limited options for getting away. She must use her wits and instincts in order to survive the ordeal.

102 pages, Paperback

Published January 1, 2021

Reviews

[Tonja Drecker]

Every moment keeps the reader wondering if Cami will make it or lose her life to these dangerous men.

Cami's off to help her grandfather clean up the secluded cabin before putting it on the market. While it was once the entire family's favorite place to meet, she's the only grandchild left with the time and interest to miss the once lively property. As her grandfather and her fill the boxes, they notice a boat pull up to the peer. Her grandfather, of course, hurries out to see how he can help the stray visitors...only to be shot down. Cami immediately hides, and soon discovers that the foreign men are preparing for a terror attack. They'd have no qualms with killing her on sight, and there isn't an easy way to sneak away from the peninsula. Luckily, the house holds many secret passages thanks to bootleggers during the prohibition era, but the house is old, meaning that movement brings creaks and groans.

This is a very short tale at just over 100 pages, and that's fantastic for a quick, tense read. Despite the short length, the tale still carries the depth to make it grabbing. The author sets the stage right away, offering the needed information about the house and background while Cami heads for the cabin. So, by the time she meets her grandfather, the foundation is set. It's a bit of an info-dump, but it compacts the information quickly, too. This also lets the reader get a decent handle on Cami and her attitudes to make her likeable enough to root for. It's not a ton of depth, but the suspense and quick-paced read carries this read, anyway. The rest is tension pure as Cami does her best to stay hidden and alive, while trying to figure out how in the world to escape from the house unnoticed.

There are several interesting aspects about this read. First, the setting is perfect for the tension, and it's no problem to picture the scenes and see the spaces Cami tries to use to escape. It's also clear how dangerous these men are, and that's where the first trigger comes in as she watches the murder of her grandfather. While there isn't much gore, there is this edge of brutality. Then, there's the foreign terrorists, who don't speak English. The author handles this by letting the reader know what they are saying, although Cami has no idea. The scenes slide back and forth between the terrorists' actions and Cami's perspective to keep the reader on top of every movement, but there is no distinction for when this happens (no breaks). So the two perspectives run into each other, which makes it unclear, at times, as to what Cami witnesses and what she doesn't. These blurred lines don't hurt the tension, though, and it's still easy to get lost in her panic and situation.

All in all, this is a tense read, which is easy to sink into and enjoy.

[Abigail L.]

The Silent Cabin is a tense, edge-of-your-seat thriller that follows Cami Novarro as she finds herself trapped in her grandfather’s cabin after stumbling into a deadly situation. The old bootlegger tunnels, the constant threat of discovery, and the terrifying silence she’s forced to keep make this a story that’s both unique and heart-pounding. I really enjoyed how the author built the suspense—it had me holding my breath right along with Cami, and I couldn’t put it down until I knew how she’d survive.

[Sue]

This book had me biting my nails and yelling at the pages—like, “Girl, don’t make a sound!” 😱 The Silent Cabin is pure adrenaline, with hidden tunnels, creepy bad guys, and that chilling silence that makes you want to scream for her (but you can’t, because you’ll give her away!). I loved how it felt like I was sneaking through the cabin with Cami, heart racing and all. If you want a read that makes you forget to breathe, this is it. 🔦🏚️👀

[Laura Gonzalez]

Thank you NetGalley and publisher for this ARC!

Cami Novarro is trapped in her grandfathers cabin. This story has hidden tunnels, a creepy guy, adrenaline, heart pounding, edge of your seat creepiness. I could not put this book down but boy o boy did it have me scared. This story was great!!! The writing really makes you feel like you are in the cabin.

[Megan Taylor]

First, I would like to think the author, Erik Stone, for allowing me to read this amazing book for honest review.
At first glance at the description, I just knew this book was for me. This book was fast-paced, highly addictive, and tense. I loved every aspect of this story. Besides a few parts here and there, I really enjoyed this book thoroughly. Fantastic piece of art 👏

[Paige Turner]

Shhh… This Thriller Will Steal Your Breath

The Silent Cabin is a heart-pounding, nerve-jangling thrill ride where every creak, whisper, and wrong move had me holding my breath right along with Cami.