South Florida Sun-Sentinel (Sunday)
Unger surprises in ‘Secluded Cabin’; ‘Wheel of Doll’ spins on messy motives
The dark woods, miles from the nearest town, with, of course, a remote cabin rented to family and friends set up the gripping scenario in Lisa Unger’s 20th novel. But this group won’t be off the grid. Unless a private chef and bartender, a fully stocked kitchen and bar, plus the ability to film a popular, online yoga class in a well-appointed luxury house is your idea of off the grid.
In “Secluded Cabin Sleeps Six,” Unger’s multi-layered plot succinctly takes the story in different — and totally unexpected — directions, arriving at a surprising ending that is as astonishing as it is believable. “Secluded Cabin Sleeps Six” works well as a domestic thriller and a locked room mystery with elements of a ghost story included. Adding to this is a nasty storm.
Family relationships — some strong, some toxic — and myriad secrets that each character harbors are at the heart of “Secluded Cabin Sleeps Six.” As one character sums it up, “Family — it’s complicated ... bound imperfectly but indelibly.”
Those who will be spending time at that secluded cabin are Floridians Hannah and her husband, Bruce; her brother Mako and his wife, Liza; and Hannah’s best friend, Cricket, and her new boyfriend, Joshua.
The Georgia getaway has been planned for months by the demanding Mako, who earns that nickname with his arrogant, alpha
attitude. (His real name is Michael.) A tech mogul, Mako never lets Bruce forget that his brother-inlaw works for him and that he charges Hannah and Bruce a low rate to rent his former house.
The trip has barely begun before each person wonders how much they know about one another. Marriages and friendships are on the line and an unusual history links them all. The reclusive owner of the property spared no expense in building the house, including the various cameras that let him watch his tenants. The creepy chef delights in telling the property’s dark history. A raging storm has felled trees and knocks out the electricity, preventing everyone from leaving.
Unger ratchets up the tension with each revelation about the characters’ motives. “Secluded Cabin Sleeps Six” may make people think twice about going on vacation with others. Here’s hoping Unger writes 20 more engrossing novels.
‘Messy realm’
Jonathan Ames deftly mixes a hard-boiled, gritty approach with hints of sardonic wit in his second outing with “security
expert” Happy Doll. “The Wheel of Doll” works well as a story of a man dealing with his own frailties and his past.
Using the works by Raymond Chandler, Dashiell Hammett and Ross Macdonald as templates, Ames delivers a decidedly contemporary story about the “messy realm” that motivates people.
“The Wheel of Doll” opens during January 2020 — remember when that month seemed as if it might be the beginning of a great year? Doll also is hopeful his business will pick up again.
Enter client Mary DeAngelo, who wants Doll to find her mother, Ines Candle, who has been homeless for several years in Olympia, Wash. Mary has a personal reason for wanting this Los Angeles-based detective to find her mother rather than hiring an Olympia detective.
Years before, Doll had dated Ines, saving her from a suicide attempt before she disappeared from his life. Doll cared about Ines, and wants to help her if he can. Doll’s trip to Olympia takes an unusual route, fueled by betrayals, lies, greed and just nasty behavior.
Happy Doll — his parents “hadn’t meant for it to be a joke” — isn’t the most appealing protagonist, with a self-destructive nature, prone to fights even when it’s not necessary. But he does try to do the right thing, even if he acts “out of some twisted notion of justice,” and he fiercely loves his little dog, George, half-Chihuahua, half-terrier. (Don’t worry, George is unscathed throughout.)
Ames packs “The Wheel of Doll” with myriad action
scenes that enhance his solid storytelling.
Meet the author
Jonathan Ames (“The Wheel of Doll”) will be among the authors at the Miami Book Fair, miamibookfair.com. Ames, Jonathan Evison (“Small World”), Jess Walter (“The Angel of Rome and Other Stories”) and Antoine Wilson (“Mouth to Mouth”) will be in conversation with Gio Gutierrez, curator of The Booze and Books Club, an experiential social group for readers, at 2:30 p.m. Nov. 19 at the Miami Dade College / Wolfson Campus, 300 NE Second Ave., Miami, Building 1, second floor auditorium.
Oline H. Cogdill can be reached at olinecog@aol. com.