What Lies in the Woods by Kate Alice Marshall

What Lies in the Woods

by Kate Alice Marshall

Twenty-two years ago, Naomi Shaw believed in magic. She and her two best friends, Cassidy and Olivia, spent that summer roaming the woods, imagining a world of ceremony and wonder - the Goddess Game. The summer ended suddenly when Naomi was attacked. Miraculously, she survived her seventeen stab wounds and lived to identify the man who had hurt her. The girls’ testimony put away a serial killer, wanted for murdering six women. They were heroes.

And they were liars.

The day she learns that Alan Michael Stahl has died in prison, Naomi gets a call from Olivia. For decades, the friends have kept a secret worth killing for. But now Olivia wants to tell, and Naomi is forced back to the town she'd escaped. She sets out to find out what really happened in the woods - no matter how dangerous the truth turns out to be.

Reviewed by Quirky Cat on

5 of 5 stars

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Book Summary:

Naomi Shaw was once a child – a happy girl who believed in magic and friendship. Then she was forced to survive the unthinkable, and her entire view of the world changed. Now she knows better than to trust humanity, except for her two best friends.

Decades later, the past haunts Naomi, Cassidy, and Olivia. In doing so, it will kick off the need to understand what happened and why. Once again, Naomi will find herself in the center of danger. Can she survive a second time?

My Review:

Holy cats. I'm not going to lie – I picked up What Lies in the Woods on a whim (thanks, BOTM!), and wow, was I blown away! This is an intense thriller with mystery elements, and I could not put it down.

There are a lot of elements that go into What Lies in the Woods, making it a fantastic read. We have a dark past, secrets galore, a romantic subplot, oh right, and a quasi-unreliable narrator (who doesn't remember all the details). It's perfect.

I should probably mention that What Lies in the Woods gets pretty dark at times. After all, it starts with a young girl getting attacked. With that setting the scene, it's easy to see where this tale might lead.

If you enjoyed A Flicker in the Dark, I think you'll love What Lies in the Woods.

Highlights:
Thriller/horror/suspense
Mystery upon mystery
Podcast featured
Quest for the truth

Trigger Warnings:
Severe physical trauma
Child harmed
Rape (mentioned)
Blackmail
Suicide

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Reading updates

  • Started reading
  • 3 February, 2023: Finished reading
  • 3 February, 2023: Reviewed