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The House Beyond the Dunes
A tragic accident or something more sinister? A woman’s buried memories put her life at risk in a novel of shattering psychological suspense by New York Times bestselling author Mary Burton. Lane McCord wakes up in a hospital having survived a near-fatal fall at a North Carolina beach cottage. Her boyfriend, Kyle, wasn’t so lucky. A senseless tragedy on their first romantic getaway. All Lane remembers is lying at the bottom of the stairs in Kyle’s pooling blood. Confused and grieving, Lane plans to return to the cottage, collect her personal belongings, and get out. Until a winter rainstorm leaves her stranded and vulnerable, but not alone. A concerned neighbor, who claims he heard a violent argument before the accident, has come out of the storm. So has a suspicious detective on the trail of a missing woman, whose diary deepens the mystery―and raises more questions that fill Lane with dread. How well did she know Kyle? How well does she know herself? What really happened at the cottage on the beach? And when the answers come, who can Lane trust to get out of this waking nightmare alive?
Audio CD
First published September 5, 2023
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About the author
Mary Burton
69 books4,122 followersMary Burton, whose latest novel is THE LIES I TOLD, loves writing suspense, getting to know her characters, keeping up with law enforcement and forensic procedure, morning walks, baking, and tiny dachshunds. She also enjoys hunting down serial killers, which she does in her New York Times and USA Today bestselling novels. Library Journal has compared her work to that of Lisa Jackson and Lisa Gardner, and Fresh Fiction likened her writing to that of James Patterson.
Mary is routinely featured among the top ten writers in Amazon’s Author Rankings for romantic suspense, thriller and mystery. Upon publication, her novels, including NEVER LOOK BACK and BURN YOU TWICE, consistently rank high on the Kindle eBooks Store Bestseller List. Her novels CUT AND RUN and YOU'RE NOT SAFE were nominated for the Romance Writers of America’s RITA Award for Romantic Suspense.
A Richmond native, Mary is the author of forty-five published novels and five novellas as Mary Burton and as Mary Ellen Taylor.
A member of International Thriller Writers, Sisters in Crime, Mystery Writers of America, Novelists, Inc., and Romance Writers of America, Mary is known for creating multiple suspense stories connected by characters and/or place.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 1,150 reviews
February 8, 2024
Girl, just go home
September 18, 2023
How does this have so many good reviews? I’ve been bamboozled.
September 16, 2023
The House Beyond the Dunes by Mary Burton
Mystery thriller.
On their third date, Lane McCord agrees to have dinner at Kyle’s house, but something goes wrong and the two fall down a deep set of stairs. Lane has lost her memory of the events just prior to their fall, but Kyle lost his life.
The story proceeds with Lane and police investigating as she tries to remember what happened. Neighbors say she was yelling and they try to help her recover and figure out what went wrong.
Twists and turns and trust issues make this thriller suspenseful. I did not see that final twist coming. Wow. This is one you’ll go back and reread trying to find the clues that point to the surprising turn.
Mystery thriller.
On their third date, Lane McCord agrees to have dinner at Kyle’s house, but something goes wrong and the two fall down a deep set of stairs. Lane has lost her memory of the events just prior to their fall, but Kyle lost his life.
The story proceeds with Lane and police investigating as she tries to remember what happened. Neighbors say she was yelling and they try to help her recover and figure out what went wrong.
Twists and turns and trust issues make this thriller suspenseful. I did not see that final twist coming. Wow. This is one you’ll go back and reread trying to find the clues that point to the surprising turn.
November 25, 2023
It was fine, I guess. Middle of the road, nothing special. Do check the trigger warnings before deciding if want to pick it up.
October 7, 2023
I didn't enjoy this book at all. It wasn't believable. There were "diary entries" that read like literature. It was very poorly done, and I don't understand the good reviews.
September 5, 2023
Master storyteller NYT bestselling author Mary Burton returns following The Lies I Told with her latest captivating psychological thriller,THE HOUSE BEYOND THE DUNES —a complex multi-layered tale of suspense of a woman who barely survives a near-fatal fall—as the web of mystery, lies, deceit, and dark hidden secrets emerge, the past and present collide in this edge-of-your-seat riveting thriller.
Lane McCord lives in Norfolk, Virginia, and has not had an easy life. She grew up in foster care and is working toward her Ph.D. in psychology while working part-time at a coffee shop. She wants to eventually counsel broken, lost girls who live in society's cracks.
At the coffee shop, she meets Dr. Kyle Iverson, a prominent psychologist. He is rich, intelligent, and charming. They have been dating only a few weeks when he asks her to go away with him—a romantic beach weekend getaway at his Outer Banks beach cottage, located on a remote barrier island.
Lane is a little nervous about the trip since they do not know one another well, and this will be the first time they are together alone. She thinks, what would an intelligent, sophisticated man want with a would-be social worker?
Not an hour after they arrive at the NC cottage overlooking the dunes of the northern Outer Banks and the Atlantic Ocean, they are tumbling down 21 stairs. They have known each other for only three and a half weeks. 25 days. Now he is dead, and she winds up being airlifted to a Norfolk hospital and cannot remember what happened.
Memories of the trip and the house are vague. She cannot afford to stay in the hospital and wants to go home and forget this nightmare. However, when the EMTs arrived, they failed to collect her wallet, sleepwalking pills, phone, or clothes.
So now she must return to this nightmare, but she hopes it will trigger her memory. However, once she returns to the cottage, a storm comes in, and she is trapped.
The PLOT thickens.
Detective Becker is on the case. Was Kyle pushed or an accident?
Then Lane starts receiving mysterious Diary entries from a journal via her phone from a woman named Stevie Palmer. Lane cannot figure out why she would send them to her. Who is Stevie? It appears Stevie worked a local Outer Banks/Nags Head bar, Joey's Bar, sleeps in her car, and is looking for a missing woman, Nikki. I love the baseball bat weapon. She is fearless and tenacious.
Stevie knows things, and now Lane is intrigued. Strange things start happening at the house. She meets Devon, the property manager, and Reece, a construction worker across the street. He said he heard loud voices and arguing before he called 911 and the fall that day.
Lane slowly starts learning more about Kyle, his family, and his childhood (Jeb, Zeke, Kyle, Reece, Devon). Things are not as they appear. Then, she discovers the house in the woods beyond the dunes where Kyle grew up. Lane gets terrible vibes from this creepy house and the cottage. Was Kyle, his brothers, and friends responsible for the missing girls?
What does Stevie and Nikki have to do with Kyle and herself? Something that happened fourteen years ago in Nags Head? The ongoing mystery.
Told from POVs: Lane and Stevie Palmer's Diary. Trust no one! People aren’t as they seem, loyalties run deep, and secrets are closely guarded.
Mary Burton is a master and literary genius! She is one of the top thriller writers out today. I have been a fan of hers for many years and have read all her books from thrillers (Mary Burton) and her contemporary books (as Mary Ellen Taylor). Few authors could pull this type of story off superbly and with finesse. I loved this book! Multi-layered, there are pieces of the puzzle that need to fit together, and I was glued to the pages, dying to find out how.
With shocking twists, a superb remote barrier island setting, and a claustrophobic atmosphere with mystery and intrigue. Never a dull moment with this cast of characters.
Lane and Stevie were well-developed, highly relatable characters and survivors. There are some terrible men here, and each page had me guessing with multiple twists. Themes and topics: Sexual abuse, kidnapping, foster care, memories, trauma, sleepwalking, nature vs. nurture, and more.
Look no further if you are looking for an engrossing, intelligent, and clever psychological thriller. I highly recommend THE HOUSE BEYOND THE DUNES and all Burton's thrillers. Binge-worthy and movie-worthy.
Thanks to Montlake and NetGalley for a gifted ARC for an honest opinion.
Blog review posted @
JudithDCollins.com
@JudithDCollins | #JDCMustReadBooks
Pub Date: Sept 5, 2023
My Rating: 5 Stars +
Sept 2023 Must-Read Books
Lane McCord lives in Norfolk, Virginia, and has not had an easy life. She grew up in foster care and is working toward her Ph.D. in psychology while working part-time at a coffee shop. She wants to eventually counsel broken, lost girls who live in society's cracks.
At the coffee shop, she meets Dr. Kyle Iverson, a prominent psychologist. He is rich, intelligent, and charming. They have been dating only a few weeks when he asks her to go away with him—a romantic beach weekend getaway at his Outer Banks beach cottage, located on a remote barrier island.
Lane is a little nervous about the trip since they do not know one another well, and this will be the first time they are together alone. She thinks, what would an intelligent, sophisticated man want with a would-be social worker?
Not an hour after they arrive at the NC cottage overlooking the dunes of the northern Outer Banks and the Atlantic Ocean, they are tumbling down 21 stairs. They have known each other for only three and a half weeks. 25 days. Now he is dead, and she winds up being airlifted to a Norfolk hospital and cannot remember what happened.
Memories of the trip and the house are vague. She cannot afford to stay in the hospital and wants to go home and forget this nightmare. However, when the EMTs arrived, they failed to collect her wallet, sleepwalking pills, phone, or clothes.
So now she must return to this nightmare, but she hopes it will trigger her memory. However, once she returns to the cottage, a storm comes in, and she is trapped.
The PLOT thickens.
Detective Becker is on the case. Was Kyle pushed or an accident?
Then Lane starts receiving mysterious Diary entries from a journal via her phone from a woman named Stevie Palmer. Lane cannot figure out why she would send them to her. Who is Stevie? It appears Stevie worked a local Outer Banks/Nags Head bar, Joey's Bar, sleeps in her car, and is looking for a missing woman, Nikki. I love the baseball bat weapon. She is fearless and tenacious.
Stevie knows things, and now Lane is intrigued. Strange things start happening at the house. She meets Devon, the property manager, and Reece, a construction worker across the street. He said he heard loud voices and arguing before he called 911 and the fall that day.
Lane slowly starts learning more about Kyle, his family, and his childhood (Jeb, Zeke, Kyle, Reece, Devon). Things are not as they appear. Then, she discovers the house in the woods beyond the dunes where Kyle grew up. Lane gets terrible vibes from this creepy house and the cottage. Was Kyle, his brothers, and friends responsible for the missing girls?
What does Stevie and Nikki have to do with Kyle and herself? Something that happened fourteen years ago in Nags Head? The ongoing mystery.
Told from POVs: Lane and Stevie Palmer's Diary. Trust no one! People aren’t as they seem, loyalties run deep, and secrets are closely guarded.
Mary Burton is a master and literary genius! She is one of the top thriller writers out today. I have been a fan of hers for many years and have read all her books from thrillers (Mary Burton) and her contemporary books (as Mary Ellen Taylor). Few authors could pull this type of story off superbly and with finesse. I loved this book! Multi-layered, there are pieces of the puzzle that need to fit together, and I was glued to the pages, dying to find out how.
With shocking twists, a superb remote barrier island setting, and a claustrophobic atmosphere with mystery and intrigue. Never a dull moment with this cast of characters.
Lane and Stevie were well-developed, highly relatable characters and survivors. There are some terrible men here, and each page had me guessing with multiple twists. Themes and topics: Sexual abuse, kidnapping, foster care, memories, trauma, sleepwalking, nature vs. nurture, and more.
Look no further if you are looking for an engrossing, intelligent, and clever psychological thriller. I highly recommend THE HOUSE BEYOND THE DUNES and all Burton's thrillers. Binge-worthy and movie-worthy.
Thanks to Montlake and NetGalley for a gifted ARC for an honest opinion.
Blog review posted @
JudithDCollins.com
@JudithDCollins | #JDCMustReadBooks
Pub Date: Sept 5, 2023
My Rating: 5 Stars +
Sept 2023 Must-Read Books
September 5, 2023
NOW LIVE
Amazon US * Amazon UK
From now on when people ask me why Mary Burton is a go-to author for me, I'm pointing them to this book. The mystery and suspense was done so well in my opinion and I loved the slower build up that the story had. We're left with so many questions from the very first page and it had me captivated. Some things I did guess at pretty easily but that actually just made the bigger shocking scenes all the better. I'd think I knew what was happening and where the story would lead and then Ms. Burton would prove me wrong in the most mind blowing way.
The book follows Lane McCord after her getaway trip with her new boyfriend turns deadly. Getting to see the story through Lane's eyes and try and figure out what had happened on her vacation was really fun. The storyline weaved through old secrets that haunted the small beach town and new mysteries that led to some shocking discoveries. Every character introduced had me wondering if they were the bad guy or part of the mystery, even Lane herself, and it had me on the edge of my seat waiting for answers.
I do have a lot to say about this story but I think I'll leave it at that for now so I don't spoil anything. Overall, I really enjoyed getting to experience this book and it's one that I wish I could read for the first time all over again. But also one that I will definitely be re-reading now that I have all the answers to see if I can figure out where the clues were that I missed.
ARC kindly provided in exchange for an honest review.
Amazon US * Amazon UK
From now on when people ask me why Mary Burton is a go-to author for me, I'm pointing them to this book. The mystery and suspense was done so well in my opinion and I loved the slower build up that the story had. We're left with so many questions from the very first page and it had me captivated. Some things I did guess at pretty easily but that actually just made the bigger shocking scenes all the better. I'd think I knew what was happening and where the story would lead and then Ms. Burton would prove me wrong in the most mind blowing way.
The book follows Lane McCord after her getaway trip with her new boyfriend turns deadly. Getting to see the story through Lane's eyes and try and figure out what had happened on her vacation was really fun. The storyline weaved through old secrets that haunted the small beach town and new mysteries that led to some shocking discoveries. Every character introduced had me wondering if they were the bad guy or part of the mystery, even Lane herself, and it had me on the edge of my seat waiting for answers.
I do have a lot to say about this story but I think I'll leave it at that for now so I don't spoil anything. Overall, I really enjoyed getting to experience this book and it's one that I wish I could read for the first time all over again. But also one that I will definitely be re-reading now that I have all the answers to see if I can figure out where the clues were that I missed.
ARC kindly provided in exchange for an honest review.
December 24, 2023
This lady needed to go home
September 21, 2023
I finished this last night and am still thinking about the setting (Outer Banks, NC) and the main character. It's a version of a locked room mystery meets gothic romance meets unreliable narrator x2. So good and kept me guessing to the last page.
February 19, 2024
The House Beyond the Dunes was an excellent read with an engaging mystery.
Lane McCord hopes this weekend at the Outer Banks will be the next big step in her relationship with her boyfriend Kyle. But when Lane wakes up in the hospital having survived a near-fatal fall, which Kyle did not survive, their romantic getaway has turned into a senseless tragedy. Confused and grieving, Lane returns to the cottage to collect her belongings but a winter storm leaves her stranded with no way off the beach.
The premise of The House Beyond the Dunes sounded interesting and I wondered what the circumstances would be that led to the fall. With Lane having no memory of what happened, it takes quite a while before we find out what actually happened that led to Kyle's death. While Lane is trying to remember what happened, she is contacted by a detective who is looking into Kyle's accident and he brings up two missing women who Lane hasn't heard of. Soon after, Lane begins receiving journal entries written by Stevie, one of the missing women, and she's left wondering what they have to do with her accident. From there Lane begins her own investigation leading her down a path she may not come back from. I liked the way her investigation played out and the ending where she finally learned the truth of everything was well done with just enough suspense to keep you guessing on how everything would turn out.
The book is told from Lane's point of view with Stevie's journal entries occurring every few chapters. Lane is an interesting woman, she's currently working at a coffee shop to pay her way through school to get her PhD in Psychology. She's from a very different world than her boyfriend although it's clear she doesn't know everything about him. Stevie, one of the missing women whose journal is sent to Lane, couldn't be more different from Lane. She's homeless and works as a bartender at a dive bar near where Kyle's beach house is. I was so curious to learn what the connection was and why someone sent Lane the journal entries. I loved the ending where we found out what that connection was and I did not see it coming at all.
Overall The House Beyond the Dunes was a fantastic read and I would highly recommend it if you're looking for a great mystery.
Lane McCord hopes this weekend at the Outer Banks will be the next big step in her relationship with her boyfriend Kyle. But when Lane wakes up in the hospital having survived a near-fatal fall, which Kyle did not survive, their romantic getaway has turned into a senseless tragedy. Confused and grieving, Lane returns to the cottage to collect her belongings but a winter storm leaves her stranded with no way off the beach.
The premise of The House Beyond the Dunes sounded interesting and I wondered what the circumstances would be that led to the fall. With Lane having no memory of what happened, it takes quite a while before we find out what actually happened that led to Kyle's death. While Lane is trying to remember what happened, she is contacted by a detective who is looking into Kyle's accident and he brings up two missing women who Lane hasn't heard of. Soon after, Lane begins receiving journal entries written by Stevie, one of the missing women, and she's left wondering what they have to do with her accident. From there Lane begins her own investigation leading her down a path she may not come back from. I liked the way her investigation played out and the ending where she finally learned the truth of everything was well done with just enough suspense to keep you guessing on how everything would turn out.
The book is told from Lane's point of view with Stevie's journal entries occurring every few chapters. Lane is an interesting woman, she's currently working at a coffee shop to pay her way through school to get her PhD in Psychology. She's from a very different world than her boyfriend although it's clear she doesn't know everything about him. Stevie, one of the missing women whose journal is sent to Lane, couldn't be more different from Lane. She's homeless and works as a bartender at a dive bar near where Kyle's beach house is. I was so curious to learn what the connection was and why someone sent Lane the journal entries. I loved the ending where we found out what that connection was and I did not see it coming at all.
Overall The House Beyond the Dunes was a fantastic read and I would highly recommend it if you're looking for a great mystery.
February 16, 2024
The story had some seriously ridiculous plot points. Some things about the story had me rolling my eyes, but the writing created a compelling, chilling, atmospheric thriller that kept me turning the pages. Lane McCord hasn’t been lucky in life or love, but meeting Kyle has her hoping that will all change. They head off to his beachfront house on the North Carolina coast, Lane has plans to eat, sleep, and do a lot more than just "work" on their relationship, but you know what they say about the best laid plans of mice and men...instead of Kyle's bed she wakes up in a hospital bed after falling down a steep set of stairs in Kyle’s home. Her insurance is a joke, (what else is new Lane?) so despite having injuries that she should have just stayed, she insists on leaving the hospital. Seems that Kyle was the unlucky one as he didn’t survive the fall. All Lane can remember about the fall is lying in a pool of his blood, having no idea how either of them ended up on the floor. That’s a question that Detective Donald Becker would like to have the answer to. When he shows up at Lane’s door, he is skeptical about her insistence that she has no memory of the events surrounding Kyle’s fall. The detective is also looking into the disappearance of two women... Stevie Palmer and Nikki Kane, who vanished after spending time with Kyle. Our Kyle has been a "busy boy". The discovery of a diary belonging to one of the missing women left in Lane's mailbox gives her some interesting reading. Some mysteries are written to encourage and aid the reader to solve the mystery, and others are about just watching the characters do all the work. By the less than half the book I had already figured out the major plot points and only needed a few more details to work out who all the characters were and how they fit into the whole thing. The main impetus of the tale is just watching Lane and Stevie, whose diary recounts her search for the missing Nikki, as they investigate Kyle. I didn't quite understand how Lane could be so uncomplicated and yet be a psychology student. She was also way too trusting and almost sickening sweet. The "bad guy" actually had the best personality of all the characters, and I was almost rooting for him by the end. However, the ultimate reasoning for the 3.5-star rating comes down to two factors that were ludicrous regarding Lane, Stevie, and Detective Becker, and a denouement by a secondary villain that bordered on the stuff that comic books are designed from. I did enjoy the majority of the book, but most of the plot had elements that would better fit in a science fiction novel. I usually get better from this author...but if you are a fan of Karen Slaughter's mysteries you will more than likely also like this one.
February 29, 2024
WOW! I actually loved this book. I hadn’t seen it mentioned anywhere and just stumbled upon it and I am so glad I did! I listened to the audiobook and it was great. Loved the story and the twist at the end, I didn’t see it coming!
October 9, 2023
This book was very creepy. The author really knows how to create imagery that makes you feel scared. For most of the book, you don’t know really what is going on at all. You only know that something isn’t right and that you feel creeped out. Things start coming together in the last 25% of the book.
This book should come with a trigger warning. Rape is a major theme in this book. However, the book does not go into detail with describing these scenes & there are no active scenes. Only talk of past.
It surprised me how many people had done horrible things in this book. There were many villains. It made it very interesting trying to figure out who was good vs evil.
There is a twist at the end. However, I did predict it with some hints part of the way through. Even without that twist, it would have been a good book. I would definitely read this author again.
Only thing that bothered me is like ummm why are you putting yourself in all of these scary situations?! Definitely reminded me of a horror movie.
This book should come with a trigger warning. Rape is a major theme in this book. However, the book does not go into detail with describing these scenes & there are no active scenes. Only talk of past.
It surprised me how many people had done horrible things in this book. There were many villains. It made it very interesting trying to figure out who was good vs evil.
There is a twist at the end. However, I did predict it with some hints part of the way through. Even without that twist, it would have been a good book. I would definitely read this author again.
Only thing that bothered me is like ummm why are you putting yourself in all of these scary situations?! Definitely reminded me of a horror movie.
July 30, 2023
Holy wow, can this lady ever spin a yarn! I was eager to get my hands on this and devoured it in one sitting. As much as I love returning to the picturesque North Carolina coast, it was the driving plot and compelling storyline that grabbed my attention and kept me reading. I went into this blind, without reading the synopsis, and I highly recommend it. If you want the full effect, stop reading my review now and start reading this phenomenal novel.
Lane McCord grew up in foster care but she’s worked hard to make something of herself. She's months away from finishing her PhD when she meets a charming, accomplished man at the coffee shop where she works. She’s only been dating psychologist Kyle Iverson for a short while and has agreed to a weekend away from the city with him at his beach house.
Before their weekend can really get started at his very secluded home, a tragic accident happens and Kyle is dead. Injured in the same fall, Lane leaves the hospital only to be confronted by Detective Decker, who's asking questions not only about the accident, but about two missing women, Stevie Palmer and Nikki Kane.
Lane returns to the beach house to collect her belongings left behind when the EMTs transported her to the hospital. She's hoping for a quick in and out but she gets stranded by the weather. She meets two people who knew Kyle throughout their childhood, Reece, a contractor, and Devon, Kyle's house manager, who seem welcoming and offer help, should Lane need it. Lane also starts receiving texts with pages from Stevie's diary and begins asking questions she might be better off not knowing the answers to. People aren’t as they seem, loyalties run deep, and secrets are closely guarded.
Told through both Lane's viewpoint and Stevie's diary entries, this riveting, convoluted story captivated me and kept me on the edge of my seat. In classic Mary Burton style the shocking twists kept coming, driving towards a fascinating, unexpected conclusion. If you’re at all a fan of riveting psychological suspense with a touch of romance, you'll absolutely love this one!
Lane McCord grew up in foster care but she’s worked hard to make something of herself. She's months away from finishing her PhD when she meets a charming, accomplished man at the coffee shop where she works. She’s only been dating psychologist Kyle Iverson for a short while and has agreed to a weekend away from the city with him at his beach house.
Before their weekend can really get started at his very secluded home, a tragic accident happens and Kyle is dead. Injured in the same fall, Lane leaves the hospital only to be confronted by Detective Decker, who's asking questions not only about the accident, but about two missing women, Stevie Palmer and Nikki Kane.
Lane returns to the beach house to collect her belongings left behind when the EMTs transported her to the hospital. She's hoping for a quick in and out but she gets stranded by the weather. She meets two people who knew Kyle throughout their childhood, Reece, a contractor, and Devon, Kyle's house manager, who seem welcoming and offer help, should Lane need it. Lane also starts receiving texts with pages from Stevie's diary and begins asking questions she might be better off not knowing the answers to. People aren’t as they seem, loyalties run deep, and secrets are closely guarded.
Told through both Lane's viewpoint and Stevie's diary entries, this riveting, convoluted story captivated me and kept me on the edge of my seat. In classic Mary Burton style the shocking twists kept coming, driving towards a fascinating, unexpected conclusion. If you’re at all a fan of riveting psychological suspense with a touch of romance, you'll absolutely love this one!
November 21, 2023
Where to begin with this book...
Overall, I think the author had an interesting idea for a mystery/thriller, but the execution was choppy at times, clunky at others, and unfortunately did a disservice the story as whole.
I did enjoy our main character and how she was presented to the reader. She's dealing with a serious accident, a sudden loss, and is having difficulty with processing recent events because of gaps in her memory, which makes her initial actions at the beginning of the book believable. As the story unfolds, she gets caught up in wanting to solve a mystery, which is understandable and helps progress the plot.
What isn't believable or understandable is the introduction of a romance, which comes out of nowhere and feels very out of place. The actions of some of our side characters also seem unbelievable and come off as existing to provide our main character with information while not necessarily making sense in the context of the story.
We do have multiple perspectives in this story, which I think is great, but one of our perspectives is presented as diary entries while not being written in that format. As the reader we're told we're reading a diary, but there's immense detail and quoted dialogue, which doesn't make sense for diary entry format.
I also really struggled with the "big twist" at the end of this book. I figured out the twist about half way through the story, which I'm really proud of my self for. I don't think figuring out the twist ruined the book for me and I'm not mad about what the twist was. I am disappointed with the way the twist was presented, specifically the wording used to identify it. This should have been described with correct terminology given that our main character is close to receiving her PhD in Psychology.
Was I curious to keep reading this story to find out the ending? Absolutely. Do I feel like it was done well? Unfortunately, no.
Rating: 2.5/5 stars
*Thank you to Montlake and Net Galley for access to the advanced reader copy for this book!
Overall, I think the author had an interesting idea for a mystery/thriller, but the execution was choppy at times, clunky at others, and unfortunately did a disservice the story as whole.
I did enjoy our main character and how she was presented to the reader. She's dealing with a serious accident, a sudden loss, and is having difficulty with processing recent events because of gaps in her memory, which makes her initial actions at the beginning of the book believable. As the story unfolds, she gets caught up in wanting to solve a mystery, which is understandable and helps progress the plot.
What isn't believable or understandable is the introduction of a romance, which comes out of nowhere and feels very out of place. The actions of some of our side characters also seem unbelievable and come off as existing to provide our main character with information while not necessarily making sense in the context of the story.
We do have multiple perspectives in this story, which I think is great, but one of our perspectives is presented as diary entries while not being written in that format. As the reader we're told we're reading a diary, but there's immense detail and quoted dialogue, which doesn't make sense for diary entry format.
I also really struggled with the "big twist" at the end of this book. I figured out the twist about half way through the story, which I'm really proud of my self for. I don't think figuring out the twist ruined the book for me and I'm not mad about what the twist was. I am disappointed with the way the twist was presented, specifically the wording used to identify it. This should have been described with correct terminology given that our main character is close to receiving her PhD in Psychology.
Was I curious to keep reading this story to find out the ending? Absolutely. Do I feel like it was done well? Unfortunately, no.
Rating: 2.5/5 stars
*Thank you to Montlake and Net Galley for access to the advanced reader copy for this book!
March 9, 2023
Before giving my review I have to clarify one thing, I found this book in the "romance" category, but in my opinion, it has nothing to do with romance, is more general fiction/thriller/mystery; so, if you are looking for a romance, or even a romantic suspense this one is not for you, because the romance part is little and full of plot twists.
That said, I really enjoyed this book, it was really hard to put it down, the story is catchy, full of suspense, and you have to keep reading, you cannot stop.
Some plot twists were a bit predictable, something you understand within the first pages, but others are just mind blowing, really well done.
Thank you to the publisher and Netgalley for an advance copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
That said, I really enjoyed this book, it was really hard to put it down, the story is catchy, full of suspense, and you have to keep reading, you cannot stop.
Some plot twists were a bit predictable, something you understand within the first pages, but others are just mind blowing, really well done.
Thank you to the publisher and Netgalley for an advance copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
November 19, 2023
What an unexpected ending!
Slow burn indeed. Perfect for an audio book on a trip. The weaving of parts was done well with more than a few surprises.
Slow burn indeed. Perfect for an audio book on a trip. The weaving of parts was done well with more than a few surprises.
October 27, 2023
Gosh, where do I start? This book started off strong and then it completely fell apart. It was repetitive, unbelievable, and utterly confusing.
Once Lane arrives and is stuck at the house, the story hits a lull and it just feels very repetitive.
The construction worker across the street tells the detective he heard screaming and yelling before the incident, but when Lane asks him if he knows the detective he says no. He is also quite friendly with her and checking up on her frequently (oh, you’re across the street? Still across the street? Come over if you need anything?) and it just feels a little forced, like that’s not the interaction that would take place if he’s suspicious of her pushing Kyle down the stairs.
Lane also talks about the searing pain in her hip and the extreme fatigue she suffers from without her pills, but it’s only mentioned in passing a couple of times and only comes up once in a while. How is she walking around so much? Wouldn’t she be falling asleep all over the place?
There were so many angles to the story that I felt so confused at times… Lane’s stolen pills, her phone was nearly dead after charging for 6 hours, the mysterious footprints outside, etc etc. There were so many characters and in the end it became so confusing, I’m still not sure I completely understand what happened. The ending twist was so ridiculous and unbelievable.
Once Lane arrives and is stuck at the house, the story hits a lull and it just feels very repetitive.
The construction worker across the street tells the detective he heard screaming and yelling before the incident, but when Lane asks him if he knows the detective he says no. He is also quite friendly with her and checking up on her frequently (oh, you’re across the street? Still across the street? Come over if you need anything?) and it just feels a little forced, like that’s not the interaction that would take place if he’s suspicious of her pushing Kyle down the stairs.
Lane also talks about the searing pain in her hip and the extreme fatigue she suffers from without her pills, but it’s only mentioned in passing a couple of times and only comes up once in a while. How is she walking around so much? Wouldn’t she be falling asleep all over the place?
There were so many angles to the story that I felt so confused at times… Lane’s stolen pills, her phone was nearly dead after charging for 6 hours, the mysterious footprints outside, etc etc. There were so many characters and in the end it became so confusing, I’m still not sure I completely understand what happened. The ending twist was so ridiculous and unbelievable.
March 15, 2023
Figured out some of it and totally surprised by some of it. Well-written characters, even the unlikable ones.
October 16, 2023
2 stars
The book is a bit interesting but at one point these renegade women who are raped, band raped and killed and yet still feel the need to act as the lone investigators is making little sense to me. Not to mention the lack of any police investigation.
The ending...well that's another story all together. It is so unbelievable that, for me, it was utterly disappointing.
The book is a bit interesting but at one point these renegade women who are raped, band raped and killed and yet still feel the need to act as the lone investigators is making little sense to me. Not to mention the lack of any police investigation.
The ending...well that's another story all together. It is so unbelievable that, for me, it was utterly disappointing.
June 9, 2024
It was fine. Feels like it could have used some more editing to tighten things up.
September 5, 2023
The House Beyond the Dunes is an action packed thriller that keeps you guessing until the very end! Lane McCord is working at a coffee shop while trying to finish her dissertation to become a social worker. An interesting man starts coming in regularly and Lane likes him. Kyle comes in 2-3 times a week for coffee and to chat with Lane. Eventually things progress and they start dating. Kyle is a licensed therapist who went to all of the best schools and has his doctorate. Kyle has a practice with one other therapist and is very successful.
Kyle invites Lane to his North Carolina beach house for the long holiday weekend and she accepts. They haven't been together sexually yet and they are both looking forward to it. When they are driving to the beach house they have to stop and air down the tires to prepare for driving the rest of the way on the sand. Lane didn't realize how isolated they would be. She doesn't see another house at all for long stretches. Finally, Kyle guns the Range Rover to make the incline over the dunes. Once they've done that, the house comes into view. Lane realizes that if the tide were in no one could get in or out.
Kyle shows Lane the house when they arrive. She's blown away by the size of it and can't believe she'll get to stay here for the next few days. Kyle takes Lane to the bedroom shortly after arriving and starts kissing her and pins her down to the bed. Lane says she's not ready yet and pushes to get up. Kyle is not happy about this and says let's go downstairs and have a couple of drinks. The next thing Lane remembers she comes to briefly at the bottom of the stairs with Kyle's blood pooling around her. Paramedics have arrived and are asking questions, but she can't answer as she's too tired to stay awake. When Lane wakes up next she's in the hospital. She's not sure what happened as she has no memory of it. The doctor tells her that Kyle is dead from a broken neck he suffered from the fall down the stairs. He tells Lane how lucky she is to be alive as she also fell down the stairs.
The doctor wants to keep Lane in the hospital but she has spotty insurance and can't afford to stay . She signs the release papers so that she can go home. The doctor warns her that she sustained a serious hip injury and if she doesn't rest it will require surgery. Lane calls her neighbor and asks her to bring a few things for her to wear home and to give her a ride home. Lane's clothes were disposed of and cut off of her when they brought her in. Lane's not sure if her neighbor got the message because she doesn't answer any number she doesn't recognize. Lane called from the hospital phone as her cellphone is still at the beach house with her clothes and purse. Her neighbor shows up, Lane gets dressed, and gets a ride home.
The next day Lane showers and tries to figure out what happened. She decides she has to go back to the beach house to come to terms with what happened. Lane is hoping that being there again will trigger her memory because she still can't remember anything about what happened. As she's thinking about leaving for the beach house there's a knock at her door. It's a man claiming to be a detective saying he has questions for her. This is the same man who accosted Lane and her roommate at the hospital when they were trying to drive home. Lane's not sure if he can be trusted and if he's who he says he is. The detective comes in and asks Lane questions about the incident. He is looking for a missing young woman and wants to know if Lane saw anyone.
Lane drives her jeep back to the beach house. She calls Devon, the woman who takes care of the house when Kyle's not there, and finds out the code for entry. Lane tells Devon she's coming back to get her stuff as well as to make sense of everything that happened. She tells Devon she'll only be there a short time. When Lane arrives she finds it's very eery being back in the house where Kyle died yesterday. How could a romantic weekend away turn out like this? What happened to make them fall? They were happy and excited to be there together. Lane is exhausted once she gets inside. The last day and night of little sleep have caught up with her. As she finds her phone and plugs it in to charge, she lies on the bed just for a minute. The memories of Kyle forcing himself on her come back. She feels her eyes closing and the. next thing she knows it's 6 hours later!
There's a bad storm heading in and Lane is now trapped at the beach house until the storm clears in a day or two. Luckily, Devon had loaded the fridge and Lane had plenty to eat. She was starving and went down to find some food. When she's downstairs she notices the house across the street has a black truck in the driveway and the lights inside the house are on. She sees a shadow cross in front of the window. As Lane makes a sandwich, there's a knock at the door. It's the man from across the street. He introduces himself and Lane invites him in. Reece is a friend of Kyle's and Kyle hires him for various jobs as he's in construction. He's currently across the street because the house flooded when a hose came away from the wall. Reece lets Lane know that he was the one that found them at the bottom of the stairs and called for help. She thanks him for acting so quickly and he said he heard the argument before they fell. What argument? Kyle and Lane had been in the house for only an hour when they fell. Lane doesn't remember arguing to the point of raising her voice so loud that an outsider would hear it. Did she? Is Reece really a friend of Kyle's?
As Lane settles in for the night she gets a message sent to her phone from a number she doesn't recognize. Who is sending her messages about Kyle and past women? Why are these women now missing? Did Lane know Kyle as well as she thought? Was Kyle bringing her here because he liked her or for some other reason? What does Reece know that he's not saying? He's been friends with Kyle since they were young. Why was Kyle's brother in prison? How did he die when he got out? Why does Detective Decker keep showing up and asking questions? Does he suspect Lane of something sinister? Is Lane the nice young woman she claims to be? Why does Devon keep letting herself in the house when Lane is there? What's up with this woman?
The House Beyond the Dunes does a fantastic job of keeping the reader on edge as the suspense continues to build. The end of the book will have you flipping the pages at record speed and you won't see the twists coming! Do yourself a favor and get this book. Mary Burton never disappoints and this is one of her best! The House Beyond the Dunes comes out on September 5, 2023 and I rate it 5 stars with my highest recommendation. I'd like to thank NetGalley and Montlake Publishing for an advanced copy of The House Beyond the Dunes in exchange for a fair review. #TheHouseBeyondTheDunes
Kyle invites Lane to his North Carolina beach house for the long holiday weekend and she accepts. They haven't been together sexually yet and they are both looking forward to it. When they are driving to the beach house they have to stop and air down the tires to prepare for driving the rest of the way on the sand. Lane didn't realize how isolated they would be. She doesn't see another house at all for long stretches. Finally, Kyle guns the Range Rover to make the incline over the dunes. Once they've done that, the house comes into view. Lane realizes that if the tide were in no one could get in or out.
Kyle shows Lane the house when they arrive. She's blown away by the size of it and can't believe she'll get to stay here for the next few days. Kyle takes Lane to the bedroom shortly after arriving and starts kissing her and pins her down to the bed. Lane says she's not ready yet and pushes to get up. Kyle is not happy about this and says let's go downstairs and have a couple of drinks. The next thing Lane remembers she comes to briefly at the bottom of the stairs with Kyle's blood pooling around her. Paramedics have arrived and are asking questions, but she can't answer as she's too tired to stay awake. When Lane wakes up next she's in the hospital. She's not sure what happened as she has no memory of it. The doctor tells her that Kyle is dead from a broken neck he suffered from the fall down the stairs. He tells Lane how lucky she is to be alive as she also fell down the stairs.
The doctor wants to keep Lane in the hospital but she has spotty insurance and can't afford to stay . She signs the release papers so that she can go home. The doctor warns her that she sustained a serious hip injury and if she doesn't rest it will require surgery. Lane calls her neighbor and asks her to bring a few things for her to wear home and to give her a ride home. Lane's clothes were disposed of and cut off of her when they brought her in. Lane's not sure if her neighbor got the message because she doesn't answer any number she doesn't recognize. Lane called from the hospital phone as her cellphone is still at the beach house with her clothes and purse. Her neighbor shows up, Lane gets dressed, and gets a ride home.
The next day Lane showers and tries to figure out what happened. She decides she has to go back to the beach house to come to terms with what happened. Lane is hoping that being there again will trigger her memory because she still can't remember anything about what happened. As she's thinking about leaving for the beach house there's a knock at her door. It's a man claiming to be a detective saying he has questions for her. This is the same man who accosted Lane and her roommate at the hospital when they were trying to drive home. Lane's not sure if he can be trusted and if he's who he says he is. The detective comes in and asks Lane questions about the incident. He is looking for a missing young woman and wants to know if Lane saw anyone.
Lane drives her jeep back to the beach house. She calls Devon, the woman who takes care of the house when Kyle's not there, and finds out the code for entry. Lane tells Devon she's coming back to get her stuff as well as to make sense of everything that happened. She tells Devon she'll only be there a short time. When Lane arrives she finds it's very eery being back in the house where Kyle died yesterday. How could a romantic weekend away turn out like this? What happened to make them fall? They were happy and excited to be there together. Lane is exhausted once she gets inside. The last day and night of little sleep have caught up with her. As she finds her phone and plugs it in to charge, she lies on the bed just for a minute. The memories of Kyle forcing himself on her come back. She feels her eyes closing and the. next thing she knows it's 6 hours later!
There's a bad storm heading in and Lane is now trapped at the beach house until the storm clears in a day or two. Luckily, Devon had loaded the fridge and Lane had plenty to eat. She was starving and went down to find some food. When she's downstairs she notices the house across the street has a black truck in the driveway and the lights inside the house are on. She sees a shadow cross in front of the window. As Lane makes a sandwich, there's a knock at the door. It's the man from across the street. He introduces himself and Lane invites him in. Reece is a friend of Kyle's and Kyle hires him for various jobs as he's in construction. He's currently across the street because the house flooded when a hose came away from the wall. Reece lets Lane know that he was the one that found them at the bottom of the stairs and called for help. She thanks him for acting so quickly and he said he heard the argument before they fell. What argument? Kyle and Lane had been in the house for only an hour when they fell. Lane doesn't remember arguing to the point of raising her voice so loud that an outsider would hear it. Did she? Is Reece really a friend of Kyle's?
As Lane settles in for the night she gets a message sent to her phone from a number she doesn't recognize. Who is sending her messages about Kyle and past women? Why are these women now missing? Did Lane know Kyle as well as she thought? Was Kyle bringing her here because he liked her or for some other reason? What does Reece know that he's not saying? He's been friends with Kyle since they were young. Why was Kyle's brother in prison? How did he die when he got out? Why does Detective Decker keep showing up and asking questions? Does he suspect Lane of something sinister? Is Lane the nice young woman she claims to be? Why does Devon keep letting herself in the house when Lane is there? What's up with this woman?
The House Beyond the Dunes does a fantastic job of keeping the reader on edge as the suspense continues to build. The end of the book will have you flipping the pages at record speed and you won't see the twists coming! Do yourself a favor and get this book. Mary Burton never disappoints and this is one of her best! The House Beyond the Dunes comes out on September 5, 2023 and I rate it 5 stars with my highest recommendation. I'd like to thank NetGalley and Montlake Publishing for an advanced copy of The House Beyond the Dunes in exchange for a fair review. #TheHouseBeyondTheDunes
November 14, 2024
The House Beyond the Dunes by Mary Burton is the mind blown emoji wrapped up in a romance and mystery bow! The only other book by this author that I had read was The Lies I Told, and this is definitely my favorite of the two. There was just something so perfect about the balance between Stevie’s diary and Lane’s present day viewpoint, especially when you near the end where it’s nonstop action and tension. This had an explosive ending that I never saw coming, and it kept me on the edge of my seat the entire time.
The audiobook is narrated by Erin Bennett who I happen to be a huge fan of, and I thought she did an excellent job with both POVs. She brought lots of emotion to her narration and made me feel all the feels. There are triggers to check out prior to reading, and some parts were tough to read even though Burton doesn’t go into a lot of detail. I loved both Lane as well as Stevie and the women in this book are ones you can’t help but root for. Great atmospheric setting as well, and I would highly recommend if you enjoy romantic suspense that is lighter on the romance aspect!
The audiobook is narrated by Erin Bennett who I happen to be a huge fan of, and I thought she did an excellent job with both POVs. She brought lots of emotion to her narration and made me feel all the feels. There are triggers to check out prior to reading, and some parts were tough to read even though Burton doesn’t go into a lot of detail. I loved both Lane as well as Stevie and the women in this book are ones you can’t help but root for. Great atmospheric setting as well, and I would highly recommend if you enjoy romantic suspense that is lighter on the romance aspect!
September 26, 2023
Not usually a fan of an "unreliable narrator" but this one had me hooked! I figured out the twist pretty early on, but that didn't detract from my enjoyment.
September 29, 2023
I like how the story starts immediately. It's an intriguing premise because it's an accidental fall that results in an investigation.
While I like how the end takes an interesting twist, I felt that the story missed out on a lot of potential.
The mystery isn't really hard to figure, but still, it's quite an enjoyable read!
While I like how the end takes an interesting twist, I felt that the story missed out on a lot of potential.
The mystery isn't really hard to figure, but still, it's quite an enjoyable read!
September 26, 2023
A literary pet peeve: long chapters in a book labeled as diary entries from a character, where they are actually just first-person narrated events. It's not a DIARY unless it reads like a diary.
September 28, 2023
4.0-4.5 stars. Waffling back and forth between 4 or 5 stars. This book earns major points for the endless suspense. I was guessing the "who done it" from the beginning, but just when you think you've figured it out...not quite. And no way did I even suspect this, whoa, wait, what????surprise ending.
First time author for me. Curious about her other books now. Love an author that keeps me hooked from the beginning.
First time author for me. Curious about her other books now. Love an author that keeps me hooked from the beginning.
September 11, 2023
What is suppose to be a romantic getaway for Lane and Kyle turns into a nightmare. They travel to Kyle’s Outer Baks home and are only there a few short hours when tragedy strikes. Kyle is dead and Lane is flown to a hospital, battered and with no memory of what happened. She heads back to the beach house to see if she can recreate what really happened. This leads her to uncovering and facing dark secrets.
I must admit, I didn’t figure out exactly what was what until the author had to spell it out for me. A true psychological mystery. I really don’t want to say too much, the reader needs to go on this ride for themselves. Fast paced, easy to get lost in. Character development slowly unfolds with surprising twists. The description of the Outer Banks in winter adds to the dark side of the book.
Thanks to Montlake and NetGalley for this ARC. This is my honest opinion.
I must admit, I didn’t figure out exactly what was what until the author had to spell it out for me. A true psychological mystery. I really don’t want to say too much, the reader needs to go on this ride for themselves. Fast paced, easy to get lost in. Character development slowly unfolds with surprising twists. The description of the Outer Banks in winter adds to the dark side of the book.
Thanks to Montlake and NetGalley for this ARC. This is my honest opinion.
May 5, 2024
Solid read. I would have given it a 3.5. Interesting, twisty, and well pulled together. Would recommend if you’re looking for a quick thriller/mystery.
October 14, 2023
In a single word, The House Beyond the Dunes was
awful.
Looking back, I should have listened to my instincts and quit after the initial 50 pages.
What I liked about The House Beyond the Dunes:
The only redeeming aspect of the book was the unique twist about Lane at the end. It took me a moment to comprehend what Mary Burton was trying to achieve, but it was an unexpected and creative twist from her usual characters. It still wasn't enough to make up for the book's other shortcomings, but I did appreciate this singular attempt to do something different.
What I disliked about The House Beyond the Dunes:
The House Beyond the Dunes began on a rather rough note. The initial chapters were excruciating, making me question whether I should continue reading it. Nevertheless, I clung to hope, knowing from past experiences that Mary's books can take time to capture my interest. However, as I continued deeper into the book, my initial disappointment grew into frustration. The story was so painful and ridiculous that I found myself skimming through large sections, hoping to find something to enjoy. Additionally, the book failed to deliver the suspense and thrills I had hoped for. The unfolding events became apparent early on in the story, leaving the book lacking genuine suspense.
The main character, Lane McCord, left much to be desired. I struggled to connect with her and found her to be flat and lacking in depth. Despite some clarification towards the end about Lane's circumstances, I still couldn't fully embrace her or the implausible storyline. Furthermore, despite being out of the dating scene for some time, the idea of going on a trip with an almost complete stranger just three weeks after meeting them seemed quite far-fetched.
What I think would have made The House Beyond the Dunes better:
Frankly, this book shouldn't have seen the light of day. But given that it was published, Mary could have made the killer less apparent. Moreover, Lane's "secret" could have been introduced in a different, more timely manner.
Would I recommend The House Beyond the Dunes by Mary Burton:
Absolutely not! This is one Mary Burton book I'd recommend skipping, even if you're a devoted fan of her work!
****
After surviving a near-fatal fall at a beach cottage, Lane McCord grapples with the loss of her boyfriend, Kyle. Her memory of the incident remains hazy, so she returns to the cottage, hoping to retrieve her belongings and uncover answers about that fateful night. However, upon arrival, a storm traps her at the cottage. She is soon joined by Reece, a concerned neighbor who recalls hearing a violent argument between Kyle and Lane before the fall. Meanwhile, Detective Becker is investigating the disappearance of a local woman, Stevie Palmer, and is leaning on Lane for clues. As Lane's questions intensify, the discovery of a mysterious diary raises doubts about her understanding of Kyle, of herself, and of what truly transpired at the cottage. She begins to question everything as answers slowly emerge. Navigating this waking nightmare, Lane struggles with who she can trust—Reece, Becker, or her own memory—and who means her harm as she fights to survive the threats surrounding her.
What I liked about The House Beyond the Dunes:
The only redeeming aspect of the book was the unique twist about Lane at the end. It took me a moment to comprehend what Mary Burton was trying to achieve, but it was an unexpected and creative twist from her usual characters. It still wasn't enough to make up for the book's other shortcomings, but I did appreciate this singular attempt to do something different.
What I disliked about The House Beyond the Dunes:
The House Beyond the Dunes began on a rather rough note. The initial chapters were excruciating, making me question whether I should continue reading it. Nevertheless, I clung to hope, knowing from past experiences that Mary's books can take time to capture my interest. However, as I continued deeper into the book, my initial disappointment grew into frustration. The story was so painful and ridiculous that I found myself skimming through large sections, hoping to find something to enjoy. Additionally, the book failed to deliver the suspense and thrills I had hoped for. The unfolding events became apparent early on in the story, leaving the book lacking genuine suspense.
The main character, Lane McCord, left much to be desired. I struggled to connect with her and found her to be flat and lacking in depth. Despite some clarification towards the end about Lane's circumstances, I still couldn't fully embrace her or the implausible storyline. Furthermore, despite being out of the dating scene for some time, the idea of going on a trip with an almost complete stranger just three weeks after meeting them seemed quite far-fetched.
What I think would have made The House Beyond the Dunes better:
Frankly, this book shouldn't have seen the light of day. But given that it was published, Mary could have made the killer less apparent. Moreover, Lane's "secret" could have been introduced in a different, more timely manner.
Would I recommend The House Beyond the Dunes by Mary Burton:
Absolutely not! This is one Mary Burton book I'd recommend skipping, even if you're a devoted fan of her work!
****
After surviving a near-fatal fall at a beach cottage, Lane McCord grapples with the loss of her boyfriend, Kyle. Her memory of the incident remains hazy, so she returns to the cottage, hoping to retrieve her belongings and uncover answers about that fateful night. However, upon arrival, a storm traps her at the cottage. She is soon joined by Reece, a concerned neighbor who recalls hearing a violent argument between Kyle and Lane before the fall. Meanwhile, Detective Becker is investigating the disappearance of a local woman, Stevie Palmer, and is leaning on Lane for clues. As Lane's questions intensify, the discovery of a mysterious diary raises doubts about her understanding of Kyle, of herself, and of what truly transpired at the cottage. She begins to question everything as answers slowly emerge. Navigating this waking nightmare, Lane struggles with who she can trust—Reece, Becker, or her own memory—and who means her harm as she fights to survive the threats surrounding her.
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