A woman invited to her wealthy fiance’s family retreat realizes they are hiding a terrible secret—and that she’s been there before, by the bestselling author of What Lies in the Woods.

A whirlwind romance.
When Theodora Scott met Connor—wealthy, charming, and a member of the powerful Dalton family—she fell in love in an instant. Six months later, he’s brought her to Idlewood, his family’s isolated winter retreat, to win over his skeptical relatives.

Stay away from Connor Dalton.
Theo has tried to ignore the threatening messages on her phone, but she can’t ignore the footprints in the snow outside the cabin window or the strange sense of familiarity she has about this place. Then, in a disused cabin, Theo finds something impossible: a photo of herself as a child. A photo taken at Idlewood.

I’ve been here before.
Theo has almost no recollection of her earliest years, but now she begins to piece together the fragments of her memories. Someone here has a shocking secret that they will do anything to keep hidden, and Theo is in terrible danger. Because the Daltons do not lose, and discovering what happened at Idlewood may cost Theo everything.

I really enjoyed the last two books that I read by Kate Alice Marshall, so naturally, I had high expectations for this one. While it delivered on many fronts, sadly, it ultimately fell a little short for me when all was said and done.

The novel has an intriguing premise: Theodora Scott, swept up in a whirlwind romance with the charming and wealthy Connor Dalton, is invited to Idlewood, his family’s exclusive winter retreat, for their yearly holiday outing. What starts as a meet-the-family trip quickly turns into a nightmare when Theo begins receiving threatening messages to stay away from Connor. Things get even more creepy when Theo discovers a childhood photo of herself in a long-abandoned cabin at the property. Theo doesn’t remember much of her life before she was shipped off to live with a bible-beating foster family when she was four. The photo’s discovery makes Theo question what really happened to her as a child and why the Dalton family seems to know more than they are letting on.

One of the highlights of the novel is the “rich people behaving badly” trope, which I love and which Marshall leans into with delicious abandon. The Dalton family members are as enigmatic as they are untrustworthy. Some of them seem nice enough, while others are downright awful, but those who waver in the middle are the real scary ones. This adds a layer of complexity to the story, as Theo not only has to unravel her past but also navigate the treacherous dynamics of a family that will cover their tracks to save face at whatever cost.

Theo’s vulnerability and determination make her easy to root for, and her growing realization that she might be in over her head is relatable without veering into helplessness. Theo also holds a secret of her own – one that slowly unravels as the story progresses – making her more than just a standard damsel in distress. I often found myself wondering who was more dangerous – Theo or some of the family members.

The mystery surrounding the childhood photo is one of the strongest elements of the novel. The breadcrumbs that Marshall lays out are tantalizing, and I was fully invested in discovering how Theo’s forgotten past intertwined with the Daltons’ secrets. The pacing in the first three quarters of the book was perfect; I found myself flying through the chapters.

That said, the final act of the novel is where I started to get annoyed. The last 15% is jam-packed with twists – so many that their impact doesn’t hit like it could have. What starts as a tight, suspenseful narrative becomes convoluted, with unnecessary redirections and revelations piling on top of each other at a dizzying pace. While I appreciate a good reveal in a thriller, the sheer number of them here left me feeling exhausted rather than thrilled. This lack of restraint undermined some of the excellent tension that was built earlier in the novel.

Despite my disappointment with the too-twisty ending, this is still a highly entertaining read. Marshall’s ability to craft an atmospheric setting and deliver a gripping mystery is undeniable, and the book’s central premise is definitely chilling. Fans of psychological thrillers and family dramas with a dark twist will find much to enjoy here, even if the climax feels never-ending and doesn’t quite stick the landing. If you’re looking for a suspenseful story, this is worth the read, but be prepared for a finale that might leave you more exhausted than exhilarated.

Book Club/Book Box: