THE COTTAGE by Daniel Judson

 

A widowed mother is terrorized by a stalker with unfathomable intent in a novel of cold-blooded suspense by the Shamus Award–winning author of The Temporary Agent.

When Kate Burke is awakened one night by a sound outside her window, her PTSD is triggered. Was it simply a deer crossing her secluded backyard? Or was it intruders? Because Kate still lives with the dreadful memories of her husband’s murder during a seemingly random home invasion two years before, she knows the answer can mean the difference between life and death.

But when she discovers the unsettling ways her property has been vandalized the next day, Kate is forced to conclude the worst: someone is watching her.

Kate decides to rent out her estranged sister’s onetime cottage, which sits on her property, for the summer. Another set of eyes around the place won’t hurt. And with additional support from friends and family, Kate should be feeling safe.

Instead, the vandalism is escalating. So are the anonymous late-night calls and texts, each one more disturbing and violating than the last. Whoever is targeting Kate, whatever their motive or terrifying endgame, the footsteps in the dark are getting closer.

MY THOUGHTS

Looks like many did not like this book. I did. I thought it was very good. A bit long but good. It lost a star because I figured out fairly quick who was terrorizing Katie. There is a lot going on in this book but it's not hard to follow at all. It is an uncorrected ARC so I can't say it has flaws because you know that up front and I personally overlooked any. Not that I actually saw any but just in case. Yes I did enjoy this book. It was a quick read even though it was long. Most was conversations between people so they read quickly. 

This book takes you into the life of a mother, Katie, and her twins. A boy and a girl. They lost husband and dad one fateful night during what was going to be a home invasion. He shot the intruders but he was shot also. It's sad that he died. It's sad for his wife who loved him so much and the children who lost their dad. But Katie gets on with her life as much as she can, while being tormented by someone.

Someone is doing things that scare her. It's like they are trying to make her leave her home. The one her and her older sister lived in with their grandparents after their parents died. Rebecca, Katie's older sister, is a bit on the wild side. She did things that made it hard on their grandparents. After they died and left everything except the Cottage to Katie, Becca, moved away. She lived a fairly wild life it seems. But when Katie calls her for help with the kids she arrives ready and willing to help. She seems to have changed. To be more caring and down to earth. 

This book really made me feel edgy in many places. Who could be doing the horrible things. Damage to the cottage, breaking the window in Katie's home. Vandalizing the yard and just doing things to scare Katie. Could they want her out for some reason. Out of the only home her children have ever know. Out of the house her grandfather made her promise to never sell.. And who killed Leif. Was it really just a botched home invasion or were they sent to do exactly what they did. Who hated him this much. 

This is to me a very good book. It held my interest all the way through. It made me shed a few tears. Ok a lot of them but you know... It even gave me a few laughs. It had me on the edge of my seat a few times. Who do you trust. Could her father in law be a bad person. The cute guy staying in the cottage a few months. Her sister. A neighbor. A cop she's know all her life and Leif's best friend. 

Thank you #NetGalley, #DanielJudson, #Thomas&Mercer for this ARC. This is my own true thoughts about this book. 

4/5 stars. It lost one because I figured out fairly early who damaged the area. Other things were a surprise though. It's very good. I promise.