Caves, a cult, and a snowstorm. What could go wrong?
I’m a sucker for an isolated setting, so the cabin, a mountain, and a snowstorm sealed the deal for me. That trope can get old, but Baron somehow breathes fresh life into it. Maybe it’s the combination of creepy caves, creeping weather, and a cult that took it to a whole new level.
The creepy cult vibe is what really hooked me. The tension builds slowly; no jump scares, no cheap tricks, just a steady drip of “oooooh, this can’t be good.” And when the Rangers get jumped by knife-wielding cult members I realized we weren’t dealing with your standard manipulative-but-mostly-harmless cult. These folks skipped straight past brainwashing and went right into “stab first, ask questions never.”
Ruth, our main character, is solid. Strong, capable, and exactly the kind of female lead I always root for. Everyone knows I love women who can stand their ground and still keep their wits about them. I was also absolutely convinced I knew who the villain was… until I didn’t. Baron made a fool out of me at least three times, which I grudgingly respect.
The cult dynamics were uncomfortably accurate: The isolation, the constant training, the mind control wrapped in myths and fear. Legends and religion often go hand in hand in my opinion, especially in groups where the leader’s word becomes gospel. Add hallucinogens to the mix, and suddenly people are ready to murder for a mountain. That was the part that chilled me the most—because it felt terrifyingly real.
The snowstorm setup felt classic, but classic done well. The cave scenes were fantastic. Enough of a claustrophobic atmosphere to make me tense up but not so over the top that I rolled my eyes. The college girls caught up in the cult frustrated me (Ladies. You have brains. Use them.) but that frustration served the story.
The pacing was a nice mix. I could put the book down to refill my coffee, but the story kept pulling me right back, determined to solve the case and get that cult leader his well-earned comeuppance.
And the ending delivered. Justice served, cult broken, heroes safe… at least until the next book. Because yes, I’d absolutely read more with these characters. I think I missed the first one in the series, so I'll go backward before I go forward.
If you like thrillers with brainwashed zealots, icy isolation, and strong leads making smart choices under pressure, consider Winter Cabin is win.
