The Hut in the Woods

By: VLZ

Narrated by: Sallie Downing

The young and the beautiful Carly Ruth Laden thought she had it all; two doting and loving parents who were always there for her, protective older brother, and a gorgeously hot husband who any girl would want for their own. Yes, life seemed perfect for Carly. But that was all an act. Inside, she felt that her seemingly perfect marriage was crumbling. She thought her husband was having an affair. When she discovers the truth of her husband's apparent change, she is given the shock of a lifetime. But things get even worse. When she decides to go home and confront her husband, all of a sudden, she disappears. Her parents and her brother are left to endure the agonizing and horrifying events that start to unravel, events that none of them ever thought were possible.

©2014 vicki lee zell (P)2015 vicki lee zell

Scarry and Exciting!!

Great listen....I could not put it down..I listen mostly while driving ...but could not wait to see what happen next so..I listened till I finished it..The only negative thing I have to say....I can't wait for the next book .

I received a free copy of this book and voluntarily decided to review."

good, but weird format

I was voluntarily provided this free review copy audiobook by the author, narrator, or publisher. So the storyline of this book was pretty good. There were a lot of times, especially in the beginning where i felt there was way too much information and too much back story given. I almost stopped listening about 3 hours into it. My biggest concern though was the format of how this story was told. It seemed to be told from many different peoples perspective for different parts of the story. I didn't really like that so this made it hard for me to follow at times. I also wasn't a huge fan of the ending how it just kind of leaves you wondering what happens to the main character. The narrator did a good job and overall they story was pretty good though.

Dark Yet Fun

What did you love best about The Hut in the Woods?

I loved the way the author placed all their ducks in a row, and yet left me wondering some.

What other book might you compare The Hut in the Woods to and why?

Identity Crisis is also a book by the same author, VLZ, and this author does have a sense of personality with their characters. In both books I felt I had come to know these people as if they really did exist.

What about Sallie Downing’s performance did you like?

Sallie's performance was outstanding. She nailed the characters and brought to life their backgrounds with humor and self-pity, and acknowledged their backgrounds as if she knew these folks personally.

Was this a book you wanted to listen to all in one sitting?

absolutely, I couldn't get enough. It's a story line that just kept me interested. I had to stop listening of course, it's ten hours in length. As soon as I had a couple free hours I grabbed the audio version and started listening again. It's an anytime listening book, meaning, some books are best at night or on a beach, or just when you're laying around. This book will entertain you and you will love the listen.

Any additional comments?

I hope that VLZ writes more of these cozy mysteries. They remind me of those books my mother used to read to me and my sisters when we were young, full of mystery and scary things that go bump in the night.

Emotionally Fulfilled

What did you love best about The Hut in the Woods?

The story itself.

What other book might you compare The Hut in the Woods to and why?

To Kill A Mockingbird. It took me back to simple times, when people were neighbors and the trust and support was there between these individuals.

What about Sallie Downing’s performance did you like?

Miss Downing's take on the story was very well done. Sallie left you feeling a bit sad, yet in the same sense, she left you with a smile. Her rendition of the characters was spot on in my opinion, and I truly enjoyed the tone of her reading.

Was this a book you wanted to listen to all in one sitting?

No, I can't say I listened to the entire reading in one sitting. It was four sittings, two hours the first three, then the last four, but only because I knew I was drawing toward the end and it was just to hard to let go when I was so close.

Any additional comments?

I hope that readers will recognize this author, VLZ, for the wonderful wit and writing technique which I have to say you don't see much of in this crowd of upcoming authors. VLZ should be one to be noticed.

Great Book

Any additional comments?

This book kept me interested and wanting to find out what was going to happen next. The narrator did a great job bringing the characters to life.

I was voluntarily provided this free review copy audiobook by the author, narrator, or publisher.

Good Ole Southern Mystery

Any additional comments?

Interesting, engaging and entertaining. The story weaves together into a creative and unique good ole southern mystery.

The synopsis gives you the basic's of the story. After Carly discovers a shocking secret about her husband things will never be the same. To say more would ruin the mystery, suspense and the pleasure of listening to story yourself. It's a slow moving story told through different POV's, memories and recollections of the townspeople.

This is one of those books you either really like or really dislike all depending on how you like your stories to be told. If you lean towards books that are constantly full of action this probably isn't the book for you. This story moves slowly and continuously building suspense, it is not full of non stop action and suspense, but it is definitely an interesting, unique and entertaining story.

Sallie Downing did a fantastic job with the narration. Pleasant voice. Clearly spoken. Nice even pace. Great character voices. I thoroughly enjoyed her narration. She brought the characters and story to life which just added to my overall enjoyment of the story.

I was voluntarily provided this free review copy audiobook by the author, narrator or publisher

Incredibly unique novel

This novel was told from the point of views from various townsfolk. I found this to be very inventive, I can also definitely understand how some people could find it annoying. I felt that the narrator did a very good job of distinguishing the characters apart from one another. I will definitely be looking for more of this authors work. I was voluntarily provided a review copy of this audio book from the author and publisher or narrator

No HEA Here

This story builds s-l-o-w-l-y. There's a lot of stage-setting in the beginning. Gossipy neighbors are recollecting their personal stories about the hut in the woods. You're listening to the story, usually from the POV of the actors, then suddenly the accent broadens and so-and-so is interjecting their comments about what happened, or what is going to happen. So the story flips back and forth between past and present, between events as they happened and the gossip that built up around those events in the aftermath, complete with spoilers. I think the narrator has done a creditable job of conveying the "flips" by the use of accents, but I still found it disorienting--and that may have been the author's objective. Still, the difference between "truth" and "gossip" was fascinating, sometimes frustrating, in it's own right.

I personally wanted a different ending. Although local gossip tells us repeatedly that bad things are going to happen, I couldn't help hoping that something would be salvaged.

I was voluntarily provided this free review copy audiobook by the author, narrator, or publisher.

Uniquely written and powerfully poignant

I really enjoyed this book. Its format was unique. The story unfolds as multiple towns folk share their recollections and opinions of a murder and its resolution. The accents and phrasing placed me in the small town and helped me understand the characters and the relationships. The author has the dynamics of small town "characters" down pat! It is very well done.

The narrator was perfect for this story.

All in all, the book was very well done, although I did not really care for the ending. It was too heartbreaking and left me agonizing for the characters. I guess that is saying a lot for the author!!

A good listen

If you could sum up The Hut in the Woods in three words, what would they be?

Interesting, Suspenseful, Thrilling

Have you listened to any of Sallie Downing’s other performances before? How does this one compare?

It was good narration that kept me interested.

Any additional comments?

"This review copy audiobook was provided by the author, narrator, or publisher at no cost."