This book just didn't do it for me. The writing was good but I just didn't enjoy the storyline. Thanks to the publisher and netgalley for an eARC.

I love cryptids so the story was right up my street although I have to admit I was expecting a contemporary thriller! The pace was good and the plot unfolded in an intriguing way. Chrystal is a great character (with a terrible name.) For me the writing style was just ok – at times I found it a little jarring but that’s a personal preference thing. This was a good book and definitely different.

In the Woods started off really good and I was hooked but towards the middle it just dragged on and I lost interest.

Unfortunately, this book did not work for me. I had such high hopes since I expected a mysterious thriller, but this book let me down.

This book follows the teenager Logan who, during the summer holiday, helps out at his parents' farm in rural Oklahoma, where they live. After Logan witnesses an attack on one of the calves on his farm by a strange creature one night, this sets of a series of events starting with investigations by police, but also further attacks. This attack also leads a cryptozoologist and his daughter Chrystal to Oklahoma to speak to Logan. It doesn't take long until Chrystal and her father are more involved with the case than they actually want to.

WHAT I LIKED:
I liked how the story evolved and I was very content with the ending. There were many twists and turns that I didn't expect, and I really appreciated that I was surprised by the story many times.
I also liked the character of Chrystal, as I think the was very interesting and she undergoes a fascinating development throughout the story.

WHAT I DISLIKED:
I was actually a little bit caught off guard by the fact that these events were caused by supernatural beings, since I expected a contemporary mystery thriller and I was surprised by the "cryptozoologic" element to the story.
Frankly, I didn't really like it and I would have preferred if the story would have been based on more rational elements.
Further, I really hated the writing style. The novel is written in a very simple, almost primitive way and also the way that Logan and Chrystal interact (needless to say, how their relationship evolves) is simply cringy and unrealistic.
This also leads me to the next point, as there were some plotholes that drove me mad when finishing this book.

BOTTOM LINE:
I wouldn't really recomment this book for anyone, who isn't interested in mythical creatures, like werewolves and Bigfoot.

In the Woods was just missing for me. The alternating viewpoints were hard to follow due to the flow. I really enjoy Ms. Jones' writing.

I'm a huge fan of Carrie Jones and the Need series so I was thrilled to receive this arc, unfortunilty it fell flat for me. I didn't like the main character from the start and I felt like the writing was a bit weak. I'm very said to say I didnt finish this book.