Wow! That’s my first thought after finishing this book. This is one of my new favorite books of all time. It was absolutely incredible. This book was so good that I had to take a break from my next book because I kept zoning out thinking about What Lies in the Woods. It’s a story that will stay with you and you won’t be able to stop thinking about it.

The story follows three women who when they were just 11 years old played a pivotal role in getting a serial killer sent to jail. The main character Naomi was the victim when she was 11. She was stabbed 17 times and miraculously survived. It was her testimony that put the killer away. The only problem was she never really saw who attacked her. She has lived her whole life wondering if she put the wrong man behind bars. This book follows Naomi on her quest to find out what really happened to her all those years ago.

I won’t give any spoilers but there is something in this book that I saw coming from a mile away. I was hoping it wasn’t going to be the big twist because it was so obvious. Well, I was right but it was not the big twist or the only twist. You will probably see twist number one coming but good luck seeing two, three, and four coming! This had me audibly saying things out loud while it was happening.

The writing is so well done. Every character comes right out of the story and is so easy to picture. You take that and then pair it with excellent narration by Karissa Vacker and you have a winning combo that will be on your shortlist for your favorite book this year.

Read or listen to this book and I bet you will keep thinking about it long after the last words are read.

This book is great. It's a suspenseful read full or twists and turns. Every time you think you have something figured out, you learn something new that flips everything on its head. I think the narrator did a great job capturing the character's voice and thoughts. I do wish some storylines were explored further. You are left guessing a some things at the end of the book.

I will listen to an audiobook simply because it's narrated by Karissa Vacker, and this book was very worth the listen. The story follows Naomi, a young woman who survived a vicious stabbing as an 11 year child. Now, years down the road, questions are coming to light, mysteries are unfolding, and another death is leading Naomi to wonder just what happened to her that day in the woods?

5⭐️

This was hands down one of if not the best thriller I’ve read in a long time!

Before the attack 22 years ago, Naomi, Liv and Cas believed in magic. They spent their summer in the woods doing “rituals” to the gods and leaving offerings with Persephone. But one day, Naomi was attacked and left for dead while the other two hid. She was carried from the woods barely alive by Cas’ brother’s best friend, Cody, who would spend the rest of his life looking out for Naomi.

The girls were able to identify to attacker and put him in jail. Or did they?

22 years later, after the death of the man they put away for the attack, Naomi returns home at Liv’s request to deal with a secret they’ve kept since that summer. But Naomi finds, with the help of a mysterious podcaster doing a story on the attack, that just about everyone in the town has secrets about that summer and maybe nothing she believed was true.

This book had everything: a corrupt small town police force manipulating multiple cases to cover for high power citizens, a whole town gaslighting a victim for 22 years because what actually happened was so much worse than what was portrayed.

There were so many twists and betrayals that I never knew what was coming next which is exactly what I want in a thriller!

Thank you NetGalley and Macmillan Audio for allowing me early access to this Audiobook!

This book spun me around like a top. So many twists and turns that left me breathless by the end. Naomi is our narrator and is quite prickly. As we learn more about her story, it is easy to understand why. She has baggage. A survivor of a serial killer attack at the age of eleven, she now finds that the death of the convicted murderer has stirred things up twenty years later. There were three girls in the woods that day. All three were united in their story. They also shared a secret. Letting that piece of information out is like the opening of Pandora's box. Who will survive? What will Naomi have to do to get to the truth of that day in the woods? Dark and atmospheric, this book will worm its way into your dreams and make you a little afraid to go for a walk in the woods.

Thank you to Macmillan Audio, Flat Iron Books, and NetGalley for an audio ARC in exchange for an honest review.

This is a story about lost girls.

I loved this book, and all of its twists and turns. I had no idea what to expect going in, and definitely thought I had figured it out half way…. But nope! This one didn’t let up & the end was super satisfying. I’m looking forward to more by the author!

Thank you so much @macmillan.audio & @netgalley for the Alc!

Do you ever really know someone, even your best friend? Could that friend have been manipulating you most of your life? This story keeps you guessing at who the bad guy really is.

Naomi was the survivor of a brutal attack when she was 11-years-old. Her two best friends, Cass and Liv, witnessed the attack. All three girls came together to put the serial killer responsible away for a long time. While they were praised for their strength in the face of this unimaginable horror the three girls also had a secret. A secret that as the years passed became harder and harder to tell without serious consequences.

As the book opens 20 some years later Naomi gets the news that her attacker has died in prison. Once the news breaks Liv gets in touch with Naomi and Cass and tells them she’s ready to expose their decades old secret. This sets in motion more tragedy and Naomi becomes determined to set it all right.

I enjoyed the book. It’s creepy and engaging without being too scary. However, the last quarter of the book changed directions so many times that it felt a bit contrived. Sometimes it feels like the author is screwing with the readers. This ventured into being screwed with territory. Not so much that I didn’t enjoy the book but enough that I got a little cynical at the end knowing the plot twists were being thrown at me fast and furious.

Thanks to @netgalley and @macmillan.audio for a copy of this book. It will be released on 1/17/23.

4 Stars!!! Thank you to NetGalley for providing me an ARC in exchange for my honest review. Imagine being 11 years old and you and your 2 best friends are out in the woods playing the same game you always play when all of a sudden someone is stabbing you and trying to kill you. It is because of your testimony that this horrible monster is put away behind bars. So when you receive a phone call years later that again changes your life, it is time to head back home to see your best friends again. Are you ready for what is waiting for you back home? I really liked this twisted thriller, I liked the characters and I thought the character of Naomi was great. She was strong when she needed to be but also very smart and I like that it didn't take long for her to figure things out. The twist was good too, was not what I was fully expecting but was handled in a good way. I look forward to reading more by Kate Alice Marshall. Enjoy!!!

This was a great thriller. It hooked you right from the beginning and really made you want to keep reading to find out what happens. I did find the ending reveals slightly outlandish but it definitely kept me guessing.

Summary: This story follows Naomi who was stabbed multiple times in the woods when she was little and sent a killer to jail. Now the killer has passed away, and Naomi returns to her home town where many dark secrets begin to unravel and reveal themselves.

What I liked: This story was intriguing all the way through. I never felt like there was a lull or dull moment. The small town secrets vibe gave me ‘American Rust’ feel in a way. I could definitely see this as a move or tv series for sure! This was the first time I’ve ever read a story from Kate Alice Marshall and it definitely will not be the last!

What I disliked: I feel like some of the small clues the author provided around some of the characters could have been held back more for a better reveal. However, there were still enough twists and turns at the end to make it a great story.

Narration: The narrator was Karissa Vacker, who I have listened to in other thrillers. She does an amazing job with emotions and the separation of character voices that makes the story come to life inside my head.

Overall: If I had the ability to give half stars it would definitely be a 4.5 star story in my book. It was so good! I cannot wait to read more from this author.

Thank you Netgalley and Macmillan Audio for giving me the opportunity to listen to this story! #netgalley #whatliesinthewoods #macmillanaudio

What Lies in the Woods is the story of Naomi and her two best friends Cassidy and Olivia. When they were young girls they spent time in the woods playing The Goddess Game, but their game was put to a brutal end when Naomi was stabbed multiple times. She lived to identify the man who left her scarred. With the testimony of her and her friends, they put away a serial killer. But Naomi lied. She never saw the person who attacked her. Now after his death, Olivia is determined to bring the truth to light.

While the story was interesting, I had a hard time with the characters. None of them are particularly likable, and while Naomi's story is tragic, there was just something about her that made it hard to connect with her. The story kept me reading, but the characters kept me from loving it.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publishers for this ALC. Karissa Vacker was a great narrator.

This is one that just sneaks up on you. What seems like a run of the mill thriller becomes so much more and the narration by Vacker is always amazing.

I think the story line could have been developed in a more cohesive way. It’s possible the plot just didn’t lend itself well to an audio book experience.

4.25⭐

Featuring ~ single 1st person POV, childhood trauma, secrets, suicide references

Secrets run deep with childhood friends Naomi, Cassidy and Olivia and they're still haunted 22 years later.
There were some nice twists I didn't see coming ~ whoop whoop! This was a solid suspenseful thriller with a shocking conclusion and this author is on my radar now. From what I gather this is her debut in adult fiction as she normally writes YA, so job well done.

BTW ~ I liked that Naomi never wanted to cover up her facial scars.

Narrated by Karissa Vacker for 11 hours 16 minutes and 40 seconds, easy to follow at 2-2.5x. She's a well seasoned narrator and did a fantastic job.

Excellent narration and very good read I listened in practically one sitting, I loved the characters and all the twist

They were eleven when they sent a killer to prison . . .
They were heroes . . . but they were liars.

Naomi Shaw used to believe in magic. Twenty-two years ago, she and her two best friends, Cassidy and Olivia, spent the summer roaming the woods, imagining a world of ceremony and wonder. They called it 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.

For decades, the friends have kept a secret worth killing for. But now Olivia wants to tell, and Naomi sets out to find out what really happened in the woods—no matter how dangerous the truth turns out to be.

I throughly enjoyed this book! The narrator for this book was very easy to listen to. So many twists and turns, just when you think you have it figured out there is another curveball. I’ve never read a book by this author but will definitely be checking out her other works.

At the beginning you are introduced to Naomi who survived a serial killer attack and was able to identify the killer…but are her memories accurate? Everybody lies so who can she trust? This book did a great job introducing characters and providing a slow trickle of insight which keeps you wanting more. It was tough for me to stop listening to this book, I needed to know what happened!

I would highly recommend this book especially for Frieda McFadden fans.

Lies, lies and more lies. When three eleven year old best friends, Naomi, Cassidy and Olivia, play in the woods they had no idea what they would stumble upon. Vowing to keep it a secret, they incorporate their find into their goddess game. When Naomi is attacked it’s a miracle that she lives, Cass and Liv were eyewitnesses putting away a serial killer for life. The three are local heroes, but they were also liars. Decades later Naomi gets a frantic call from Liv asking her to come home. She wants to tell, she cannot keep the secret any longer. Cass and Naomi are hesitant to tell, but Liv isn’t taking no for an answer. When tragedy strikes, Naomi is sets out to find answers . What really happened that day in the woods? As she gets closer to the truth, the stakes become higher and the game is more dangerous than she ever imagined. Filled with twists and turns this book is a great listen as it’s voiced by Karissa Vacker (a favorite of mine), this one will keep you on your toes well into the night! Thank Macmillan Audio and NetGalley for an ALC of this book.

Just wow!

If I could leave my review at that and be done with it, I would. The reality is What Lies in the Woods: A Novel by Kate Alice Marshall is one hell of a book. I love a thriller, and I read a lot of them so it can sometimes be quite hard to find one that really impresses me or leaves an impact. This one impresses me; this one left an impact.

The story itself is simple, but the twists and turns that are added to it, make the tale complex. Not too complex that you can't follow what is happening, but complex enough that it keeps you guessing. All of the characters are complicated and the author does a really good job of making them three-dimensional. They each bring something to the story and help to propel the tale forward. I had quite a few holy s**t moments in the story, moments where I wanted to shake some sense into the characters, and some I just wanted to cry or rage with them.

I had this one on audiobook and it was phenomenal. This is the first book I've listened to that was narrated by Karissa Vacker, but she did a great job. It's too early to say if she is right up there as one of my HG narrators, but she is certainly one to watch. Her voicing of the individual characters was completely believable, and not once did her vocal characterizations make me cringe. Her narration was just flawlessly done.

What Lies in the Woods is my first book by Kate Alice Marshall. I went into this book blind with only the title to set up the story.

Twenty two years ago Naomi, Olivia and Cassidy were playing in the woods. One of them is attacked and nearly dies.Their testimony put the would be killer behind bars. Now, the killer has died behind bars and the three women should be rejoicing. But they really aren't. Each woman has dealt with the trauma in a different way.and their actions will show that more clearly. Unfortunately, that is about all I can say about the story without giving away hints.

I listened to the audio version of the book and enjoyed the narrator. She set up the right amount of tension throughout.

I did see some of the twists coming but not all of them. This was a "what did I just read" kind of book for me.

Thanks to netgalley and Macmillan Audio for the arc.