Neve’s life is a mess. She recently broke up with her boyfriend, has no place to go and an unfortunate drinking habit. Perpetually hung over and disappointed in her job, friends, and family, Neve experiences a shocking event on a London bridge that changes her life forever.
Now the proud owner of a cottage in the woods, Neve can hardly believe her good fortune. But when unexplained events begin to haunt her waking hours, she begins to question whether it was luck that led her to the bridge or something else entirely.
“This really is happening quite legally, Neve,” she says in a gentle voice. “You own Petty Whin Cottage and everything in it. It’s all yours now.” pg 48, ebook
Cass Green has crafted a suspenseful mystery with an unreliable narrator that holds your attention but doesn’t necessarily deliver on the thrills. But it is enjoyable enough for what it is.
I read In a Cottage In a Wood in just a few sittings with a mug of hot chocolate in my hand while a winter storm raged outside. I think the book is a good choice to pass a few hours and I could also see it being an interesting pick for book clubs.
Green is at her best when building a growing sense of isolation and Neve’s teeth-on-edge feelings at the cottage, all while utilizing every day events that could be completely innocuous. What’s so scary about power outages, a dead bird and a dog getting outside the fence? It’s in the timing and the incremental increase in emotional tension, which Green has down perfectly.
Neve is a relatable character even while making poor choices. I found myself cheering her on, hoping she finds whatever it is she’s looking for to bring some peace to her soul. But the unreliable narrator bit has been used a great deal lately, hasn’t it?
Recommended for readers who like to use suspenseful thrillers as a brief escape from reality.
Thanks for reading!
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