What a strong audiobook!
Gripping from the outset, I was constantly on my toes and kept in suspense.
A great audiobook has to have a good plot and narrator (and some would say, characters, although that isn't a must for me) and this definitely fulfilled the brief!

Naomi, Olivia, and Cass were unlikely BFFs -- each from drastically different backgrounds. And yet, they were kindred spirits with a fierce connection to one another, and to the woods. When they were eleven years old, they sent a serial killer to prison after a horrible attack in the woods that they managed to escape. Though all three carry the emotional scars of that fateful day, only Naomi bears the physical scars.

After the man they put in prison dies unexpectedly, questions begin to surface surrounding what actually happened that day, and what the women are hiding. What exactly lies in those woods? And will they be able to come out of this alive for a second time?

THIS WAS ABSOLUTELY BRILLIANT! 🎉🎉🎉
My first 5 star thriller of 2023! 🙌🏼 I was so into this! The story, the pacing, the dysfunctional characters, the narration. I listened to an ALC courtesy of NetGalley & Macmillan Audio, which I requested the second I saw Karissa Vacker as the narrator. She is quickly becoming one of my favorite narrators. She's so dang talented!!! Her range and ability to perform a multitude of voices. So impressive!! 👏🏻

This was such a clever book. The writing is just outstanding. This author has a gift and I can't wait to read whatever she writes next. Consider me a fan!!!

Well done!👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻

Thank you NetGalley and Macmillan Audio for my gifted ALC.

The narrator of this audio, Karissa Vacker, did a fantastic job!

What Lies in the Woods starts slow but picks up just at the right time.

Three friends share a common past. At eleven, Cassidy, Olivia, and Naomi were best friends. They were always together despite coming from different upbringings.

Naomi's home life was not easy. Her father an alcoholic and hoarder didn't help her situation. In order to escape, she was more than willing to follow the games her friend, Cassidy created. This time the game is called The Goddess game where they all thought of themselves as goddesses and had to do different rituals in the woods. This is where they find a secret that they keep for twenty-five years.

While in the woods one day and only with one ritual left, Naomi is attacked and stabbed seventeen times. Her two friends run for help just in time and Naomi survives. They testify against a man, presumed to be a serial killer and Naomi's testimony sent him to jail. However, 25 years later, Naomi still has doubts about the identity of her stabber. When she gets a call that he has died in prison, she decides to go back home to see her two friends. Liv is ready to share the secret they have kept for so long. The other two are not sure this is the right time especially when a podcaster is lurking around trying to get their story.

What Lies in the Woods was quite enjoyable. I had a few theories and a couple turn out to be right which didn't deter my entertainment. I like Naomi and she felt reliable (quite surprisingly in this genre). The secrets and the whodunit kept my interest all the way through while the narration made it more real for me.

Cliffhanger: No

4/5 Fangs

A complimentary copy was provided by Macmillan Audio via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.

This was an atmospheric and twisty mystery that kept me engaged up until the last page (or minute, since I listened to the audiobook). The pacing was steady, and there was enough depth to the characters that I was actually interested in the outcome. I am notoriously good at guessing endings, and while some parts of the ending felt somewhat obvious to me, there were still enough twists and turns as the story unfolded that it kept me hooked. I also loved that the main character was very human, not overly likable, but not easily hated either.

The narrator of the audiobook was great. She switched between characters fairly seamlessly which is usually where most narrators knock me out of the story. Overall, she brought the story to life and I wouldn’t hesitate to recommend listening to this one as an audiobook.

This is my first Kate Alice Marshall novel, but it certainly won’t be my last.

*Thanks to Macmillan Audio and NetGalley for providing me with the ARC audiobook in exchange for an honest review.*

I didn’t catch the title’s double entendre at first. WHAT LIES IN THE WOODS is apropos for a book about liars and the many lies they tell. The synopsis tells us that the young girls knowingly lied about what happened. That didn't make the characters very likable, and I didn't think I could overcome that hurdle. I kept reading to find out what actually happened. So what happened? A wonderful story unfolded with great twists and unexpected developments.

Over Christmas break I listed to What Lies in the Woods which was given to me through @netgalley the author and @macmillan.audio in exchange for my honest opinion.

I was so glad a publicist from Macmillan Audio reached out to me about this book on Netgalley. I couldn’t stop listening.

It was interesting listening to it after All The Dangerous Things since they both involved a podcast host speaking to the female main character who had been through a traumatic event… But with pretty different takes.

Naomi and her 2 friends used to make up stories and play in the woods as kids. Unfortunately, one time it seemed they were not alone in the woods and Naomi was stabbed 17 times while her friends were in the creek nearby. It was a miracle she lived and was able to wander to help.

The girls testified in court and put the serial killer behind bars. But years later they’ve never told anyone why they were out in the woods all the time as kids and what was there that could’ve drawn the killer to them.

This book was an easy 4 star read for me & it publishes this coming Tuesday (January 17th)!

#bookstagram #bookish #bookworm #bookwormsofinstagram #igreads #booksofinstagram #crimewithaclaw #thepageflippers #whatliesinthewoods #netgalley #netgalletreview #audiobook #macmillanaudio

WHAT LIES IN THE WOODS by Kate Alice Marshall
Audio Book by FLAT IRON BOOKS (336 pages)


Narrated by: KARISSA VACKER
Running Time: 11 hrs 16 Min
Publication Date: 1 / 17 / 2023


A dark psychological mystery thriller slowly unfolds with myriad twists, and secrets revealed in two time lines… then and now. The secrets are deeply embedded in the hidden narrative of a horrific childhood attack tangentially related to the fanciful games of a trio of three close girl friends. Naomi Shaw and her two best friends, Cassidy and Olivia, had their summer-time of magic and make-believe come to a screeching halt when Naomi was brutally stabbed seventeen times. Although near death she somehow survived but was left with deep emotional scars. Naomi provided testimony on the stand that put a serial killer of six women behind bars. Twenty-two years later Naomi learns that the killer has died in prison. Old memories and scars surface and Naomi returns to the place of her attack searching for further details what happened in the woods and secrets are revealed.
Kate Alice Marshall spins a convoluted twisty narrative filled with red herrings and reveals that provide a propulsive read, drenched with unexpected reveals. Although this is Marshall’s debut adult novel , she proves to be equally adept at handling this genre, by providing a rich characterization development. Flashbacks are excellently interspersed throughout the narrative to enrich the characters and their motivations.
I personally decided to switch back and forth between my kindle written and audio version.
Actress and award winning audiobook narrator, Karissa Vacker brings this suspenseful thriller to a new level. She was able to effortlessly provide easily distinguishable male and female voices with equal alacrity. She easily handles red herrings and twists and reveals without giving any cues. Her narrative without a doubt brings an extra dimension of enjoyment to the novel. I will definitely seek out further novels narrated by Karissa Vacker, and written by Kate Alice Marshall. Thanks to NetGalley
And Flatiron Books who supplied an Uncorrected Proof and a Preview Audio Book in exchange for an honest review.

I was a little nervous that this one wouldn't be for me, but I should've known I could trust Chandler Baker's blurb.

Kate Alice Marshall's careful plotting and Karissa Vacker's expert narration drew me right on in. WHAT LIES IN THE WOODS had me wanting to forget about my bedtime (and if I had a print copy in hand, I probably would've).

I cleared my brain of all character and plot information prior to starting this one and would recommend doing the same. I really enjoyed my reading experience and always think part of that, when reading a mystery/suspense, is letting the story unfold the way the author intended (not based on any preconceptions from the synopsis and/or other reviews).

But if you must know something, this is a novel about friendship and secrets, about a small town and lies. Much of it involves questioning what really happened when three women were 11-year-old girls in the woods.

Such a fun thriller! Dark, with lots of twists there were moments that felt very predictable, but had enough unexpected moments that it kept me hooked, and the ending was satisfying. The narrator for this book was great, which made listening a breeze. 3.5 stars from me!

This was a fun mystery/thriller read. Just when I thought I had the story figured out, it surprised me. Love the narrator who does the book too.

Kate Alice Marshall is a good writer, but this story is not altogether unpredictable. It was difficult to latch on to any of the characters and it's always a disappointment when your first guess is the correct one.

I attempted to listen to this book after trying to read the physical copy and I just cannot get into it. I don’t feel the draw to keep reading or finish.

𝐓𝐡𝐨𝐮𝐠𝐡𝐭𝐬:
Another day, another bingeable suspense on audio! This was my first book by Kate Marshall and I really enjoyed it. I enjoyed all the twists, some I saw coming, but was still left in shock by the end. All the characters were flawed but perfectly so. Of course, I really enjoyed the narration of this book which makes it easier to get though but I thought the plot and characters were well defined - making this a quick twisty audiobook 🫶🏼

What Lies in the Woods is a mesmerizing take of lies, deception, pain and grief wound into the stories one tells themselves to overcome trauma and hold onto a reality even if that reality isn’t reality at all. The twisted turns as a truth cones too light two decades after a terrifying brutal attack that has haunted the living and sleeping moments of a girl who was a survivor who grew up believing a tangled half truth. All she could be sure if I’d she had been brutally attacked as a child as her best friends watched hidden in the woods. A prolific serial killer is to blame and thus grave girl sent him to prison for the rest of his life and now he is gone after dying in prison. Three best friends united in a story woven with secrets and lies fir two decades are reunited. One wants to tell the truth two are afraid. What secrets lie in the woods and what does it mean for the truth to be revealed? Absolutely gut wrenching hear stopping and terrifying this thriller Rajesh you on a ride you won’t see coming. Will our survivor make out of the woods a second time? Absolutely hands down highly recommend this audio book. Had me from start to finish!

What lies in the Woods tells the story of 3 friends Naomi, Cassidy, and Liv who grew up playing the Goddess game in the woods. They loved this game until one day they made a grave discovery that changed them all – a secret they vowed to never speak of again. The secret became part of the game until one day Naomi is attacked and stabbed seventeen times. When interviewed by the police, Naomi identifies her attacker as a known serial killer. Based on the girl’s testimony the killer is sent to prison and the town feels safe again.
When the killer dies in prison, the three reunite in their beloved hometown. Still carrying the physical and emotional scars of her attacker, Naomi sets out to discover what really happened in the woods all those year ago.
Get ready for a roller coaster ride with many twists and turns. I listened to the audio book and had a few theories along the way. Some turned out as I predicted but there are a couple that completely blindsided me. The book kept me fully engaged from start to finish and I truly enjoyed the narrator.
Thank you, Macmillian Audio, and Netgallery for my ARC.

I listened to the audiobook, and the narrator was great.

I thought this was an interesting depiction of the lifelong battle of dealing with childhood trauma and how much was can trust our own memories, as the MC Naomi pursues what really happened to her when she was stabbed at 11 years old by a serial killer. It explores the pursuit of truth versus memory, how we close ourselves off to pain, and even how we purposely make bad decisions to punish ourselves. But it's also about self-redemption. This has a lot of twists and turns and dark character motivations that mystery lovers will enjoy.

Thanks to MacMillan Audio & NetGalley for providing an audio ARC in exchange for an honest review.

When they were 11, three girls were apparently accosted in the woods of their town where they had spent the summer playing "Goddess Games," and one of the trio was stabbed 17 times and almost died. The other two were understandably traumatized. The three friends helped put away a suspected serial killer, but now that he has died of cancer while still imprisoned, 20 years later, the three reunite. Two of the three, Naomi, who was the stabbing victim, and Liv, have had a rough go, suffering PTSD and other mental health challenges. The third, Cass, seems to have made a roaring success of her life with no ill effects.

Podcaster Ethan arrives on the scene, stirring up questions of what really happened that day in the woods 20 years ago. But is he who he seems to be? Is anyone in this drama?

Marshall calls to mind the Slenderman story from 2014 in her examination of memory, trauma, and violence.

If you're here for a likeable heroine, this book is not for you. Naomi is not a super likeable MC, but you do find yourself rooting for her after all she has endured. The plot does become rather convoluted at the end (lots of people keeping lots of secrets over a period of decades doesn't really track for me, but I don't read mysteries for their innate realism), but it's solid enough, and there are twists and red herrings galore.

Solid debut: 3.5 stars rounded up.

I had a bit of a love-hate with What Lies in the Woods. It started out as a detailed account of the best ways to make terrible choices. Then it blossomed into a really good set up for a mystery worth jumping into. Besides the protagonist, there was really no gelling with any of the characters for me. They all seemed to project this terrible secret. Nobody seemed to react the way they would in real life though. I did like the end and thought it was laid out well. My only issue with this genre is the back and forth of YOU DID IT then NO, YOU DID IT... wait, no, hold on... That is most of the books I have read like this though so I don't know that it is a bad thing, it is just not my thing.

“Naomi, I wish I didn’t know what a liar you are.” But what is she lying about?

Fact - Naomi was stabbed in the woods, 17 times, when she was eleven years old.
Fact - her best friends Olivia and Cass witnessed the attack.
Fact - they have a dark secret they’ve been harboring all these years.
Fact - Things are NOT what they seem.

Trying to guess what was true and what was a lie, was a fun challenge while listening to this audiobook. I was happy I started a reading journal this year and had a place to jot down my theories. Some things I figured out. Others I did not! I also found myself caring what happened to some of the characters, which I don’t often do with thrillers. So props to Marshall for the good character development that made me feel invested. Overall, this was definitely a fun listen and the audiobook performance was well done.

What Lies in the Woods by Kate Alice Marshall was intriguing! This fast-paced thriller will keep you guessing until the very end. Unputdownable with flawed characters, good sequencing, perfectly placed plot points, and great audio quality/narration, What Lies in the Woods will quickly become one of your favorite thrillers of 2023.

Thank you @macmillan.audio and @netgalley for an advanced review copy of the audiobook for my honest opinion.