Cabin Fever

By Alex Dahl

Published by Head of Zeus

What’s it about?

Alone and isolated in a vast Scandinavian forest, a therapist begins to read her client’s novel manuscript, only to discover the main character is terrifyingly familiar… Kristina is a successful therapist in central Oslo. She spends her days helping clients navigate their lives with a cool professionalism that has got her to the top. But when her client Leah, a successful novelist, arrives at her office clearly distressed, begging Kristina to come to her remote cabin in the woods, she feels balance begin to slip.  Out in the woods, when Leah fails to turn up to her next two sessions, Kristina reluctantly heads out into the wilderness to find her. 

What I think:

If you like your thrillers dark, twisty and Nordic then you should add Cabin Fever to your reading pile this summer.

Kristina Moss has a seeming perfect life. She’s married to a charismatic and popular politician and has a successful therapy practice. Professional and respected she spends all day listening to her clients and absorbing their emotions.

One of her favourite clients is a successful but troubled novelist. Leah turns up for her session clearly upset and covered in with bruises asking Kristina to come to her cabin in the woods, she has to maintain her professional boundaries. But when Leah doesn’t turn up to her next session Kristina is increasingly worried.

As details about Leah emerge Kristina begins to doubt everything she has been told. And as the reader learns more about Kristina’s own life and the story gets darker its not clear whose narrative the reader can rely.

The characters are interesting and complex and the multiple narratives and isolated setting allow the story to build slowly adding to tension.

There’s lots of twists to keep you guessing right to the end.

About the author:

Alex Dahl is a half-American, half-Norwegian. Born in Oslo and raised in both Norway and several other European countries she grew up in a multi-cultured family surrounded by artists and creative influences.  She studied Russian and German linguistics with international studies, then went on to complete an MA in creative writing at Bath Spa University and an MSc in business management at Bath University. A committed Francophile, Alex loves to travel, and has so far lived in Moscow, Paris, Stuttgart, Norway, Switzerland, Bath and London.  She has three children (two boys and a girl) and her eldest son almost died of meningitis as a newborn. Alex is the author of three other thrillers: Playdate, The Heartkeeper and The Boy at the Door, which was shortlisted for the CWA Debut Dagger.  Follow Alex on Twitter (@alexdahlauthor), Instagram (@authoralex) and Facebook (alexdahlauthor).

Thank you to Head of Zeus for my gifted digital copy and to Midas PR for inviting me to be a part of this thrilling blog tour.