The Strangers

By: Marie Lanza

Narrated by: Brandon Au

A group of friends are handed a free weekend away at an old cabin in the woods. What was supposed to be a weekend of fun and relaxation quickly spirals into a fight to stay alive. As each person comes face-to-face with the realization of what is really lurking in these woods, will they be able to save each other before it's too late? Or will they succumb to this nightmare and never get out?

©2016 Marie Lanza (P)2022 Marie Lanza

Quick entertaining listen

"The Strangers" by Marie Lanza follows a group of friends spending the weekend in an isolated cabin in the woods. Predictably, the cabin harbours dark secrets, and the friends soon find themselves fighting for their lives.

Marie Lanza's novella takes quite heavily from the 2011 movie Cabin in the Woods, featuring many similar elements such as the gas station, cabin, and the basement filled with strange objects to name a few, even the characters have the same feel. Another big issue is it fails to engage the reader's imagination, this novella suffers from excessive telling rather than showing. Despite all that, the book was a quick listen, I enjoy the cabin in the woods story so I was mildly entertained.

The narration is a standout element and added some polish to the overall listening experience. The narrator's clear and well-enunciated delivery, combined with effective character differentiation helped create an immersive experience.