What lies in the woods? Games played by young girls while trying to appease gods, then Naomi emerged from the woods after being stabbed 17 times. With a broken main character, this was super twisty and I loved how the idea of loyalty changed throughout the years. I also really appreciated the play on words - lies in the woods… so much deception! Marshall nailed it!

Naomi, Cassidy and Olivia spent many summers in the woods, creating their own imaginary world. They were 11 when Naomi was brutally attacked. Miraculously, she survived 17 stab wounds and the girls’ testimony put a serial killer in prison. But they had a secret about what really happened and for decades, they have been keeping it. But now Olivia wants to tell the truth. So Naomi, with her memories murky, sets to find out what really happened in the woods.

This was a unique and twisty thriller! Although I guessed several of the twists, that did not deter me in the slightest from enjoying this story. I listened to it on audio pretty much straight through a day because I was so glued to the story! My heart went out to Naomi as she attempted to uncover the truth about what happened years ago. Very well-written and exciting, I couldn’t wait to discuss this book with others when I finished!

Thank you to Netgalley, Alice Kate Marshall and Macmillan Audio for the ALC! “What Lies in the Woods” release January 17th, 2023!

This review will be shared to my Instagram blog (@books_by_the_bottle) shortly 😊

Another day, another ARC audiobook! (Side note: if there was an audiobook equivalent of Spotify Wrapped, @karissavacker would definitely be my top narrator this year.) What Lies in the Woods by Kate Alice Marshall tells the tragic story of Naomi, who as a child was playing in the forest with her two friends when she was viciously attacked and left for dead as the other girls ran to get help. Quickly, the police arrested a serial killer they had been tailing for a while - Naomi's attack was the last piece of evidence they needed to put him behind bars, where he died of cancer years later. However, in adulthood, Naomi begins to question her experiences after one of the friends, Liv, makes cryptic statements about having to tell the truth before dying by apparent suicide. Then a true crime podcaster seeks her out to help unravel the true story of what happened to her, and Naomi's life is turned upside down as figures from her past are revealed to know more than they've let on. I was genuinely intrigued by the majority of the book (I shrieked in my car at one clever reveal), and while I kind of guessed the ending, the resolution was a little muddy to really work and I think there were too many side characters/red herrings. I feel like this novel was based on a few different true crime stories but wasn't a total rip-off of any one case, which was refreshing, though the "true crime content creator inserts himself into the case where he isn't wanted" trope that has sprung up recently can end at any time and I won't be mad. I overall enjoyed this book though the resolution and various pieces leading up to the ending could have been finessed a little more in the editing process. 3 out of 5 finger bones. (Thanks to NetGalley for early access!)

When Naomi Shaw was a young girl, she & her friends testified in a case in a case that put a serial killer behind bars. Then, for decades after, the three girls lived with the knowledge that they lied. Right up until the day it became extremely clear that they weren't the only ones who knew.

I really enjoyed this book! While I did think the main character's sexual escapades were a little cliche and the relationship with her Dad was kind of odd, but I generally found the characters to be pretty real and well written. I thought the case was interesting, and while I generally hate amateur sleuthing, I thought the pod cast guy had enough of a believable reason for doing so. The whole thing, especially in combination with good narration, kept things moving quickly.

I would definitely read more from this author!

3.5 stars

This is one of the best thrillers I’ve read this year: lots of suspense & twists, strong character development, & a solid ending.

[What I liked:]

•The suspense & sense of dread start building from the beginning & don’t flag. Just when you think things are making sense, the plot twists again.

•Naomi is a flawed person, but her flaws & the motivations behind her less ethical choices are rooted in her life experiences; they’re both believable & sympathetic.

•The ending is pretty good. It wraps everything up without slowing on the action.


[What I didn’t like as much:]

•There are some slightly hokey or tropey elements (such as some things pertaining to Ethan’s backstory) that could have been annoying or see through in a less-well-written book, but I managed to keep my suspension of disbelief for the most part.

CW: murder, CSA, substance abuse, mental illness, physical assault (stabbing, gun violence), infidelity

[I received an ARC ebook copy from NetGalley in exchange for my honest review. Thank you for the book!]

Holy crap this book is amazing. It hooked me from the very first chapter, and kept me hooked the entire time.

Holy smokes I blew through this in two days. The narrator was the best I’ve heard yet. Perfect voice changes without it being over the top. She brought life to the characters. The story was an incredible, breakneck speed thrill. My heart raced. I was immersed in this story until the last sentence. What an incredibly audio book. This had so many twist and turns you don’t know what to expect till the bitter end.
A must read!

I'm torn between 4-4.5 stars because I did predict the twists but I will say I really enjoyed the audio format which makes me go with 4.5 stars cause I still loved listening to it!

This thriller sucked me in and had me anxiously waiting for more things to be revealed. I really liked the audio and felt the narrator & writer did a great job making me feel like I was there. The woodsy setting was great but a little creepy when you're walking in the woods and listening at the same time. 😂

While I predicted most of the big twists this one still had me second guessing myself. Plus one of my fav parts was there was sort of small side plot of "romance"(if you can call it that but still ) It was enough that the romantic in me was so pleased by it!!! I also hope for some type of romantic relationships in thrillers . Overall, this was an great audiobook that keeps you hooked. Definitely worth checking out!!!!!

In What Lies In The Woodsthree 11-year-old girls go into the woods and two come out. Naomi is lying stabbed over a tree trunk after being savagely attacked. Although her best friends say it was the serial killer pointed out by the chief of police as an adu Naomi no longer knows if that’s true. His death has brought up other questions as well if he didn’t stab her was he guilty of the other killings and if he didn’t do it who did? Not only that a podcaster name Ethan has been asking questions about the case but when she meets him it opens up a whole new can of worms. Let me just say I love thrillers in a good mystery but I cannot deal with overdramatic Uber emotional characters that is exactly what Naomi is. She overanalyzes everything super thinks out every situation and it got annoying. I know people loved this book bub mean not so much. I found it to ridiculous Naomi was annoying and at some point she seem so nice and friendly but I rather‘s she was totally on the other side of the scale and when she wasn’t flip-flopping she would annoy me and other ways. She isn’t the only issue I have with this book and I don’t want to say with my other issue is but they find something in the woods and use it as a toy for those who have read the book I don’t know how you could read all that and think it deserve five stars that was creepy and ridiculous it would never happen in real life. This has not put me off of this writer because the story seemed like a good one and I did finish it and there was twist but that was just too much you have to suspend belief and put up with Naomi‘s annoying personality and she’s the main character. What is it with these main characters being so unlikable…? I DK. I I did really love the narrator and thought her voice distinction is one of the best in the business and have listen to her before and she always does such a phenomenal job so kudos to her. I received this book from NetGalley and the publisher but I am leaving this review voluntarily please forgive any mistakes as I am blind and dictate my review.

Enjoyed the twists in this one and the main character. It was a quick listen and I really liked the narrator!

Naomi, Cassidy and Olivia were so much fun to read about! This book kept me on my toes until the very end! It was a fun, thrilling ride! It was a story about a childhood secret mystery and it was fascinating! I also loved These Fleeting Shadows by this author. She really knows how to write a creepy atmosphere while getting you invested in the characters lives!

So good!!

Every time I thought I knew exactly what was happening, there was another twist, and I was thrown for a loop again. A fantastic thriller!

When Naomi was eleven years old, she was viciously attacked in the woods. The serial killer has been behind bars and has recently died of cancer. Naomi and her friends are older now and they have a secret. They are liars. This book will keep you guessing with all of the twists and turns. I loved the narration. It was done so well with all of the characters.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the ARC.
This book was ok. There were a lot of twists and surprises.
I was surprised about Ethan towards the end.
Other stuff did not surprise me as much.
Getting there took a while though. Some of it was a bit drawn out and not very believable.
The audiobook was good but I think I would have stopped reading a regular copy of it.
Narrator did a good job.

4.5 stars

This is told by Naomi Shaw, the girl who survived a brutal attack in the woods when she was only eleven years old. She and her two best friends Cassidy and Olivia, who witnessed her attack, put the monster who hurt her in prison. Now 22 years later, her attacker has just died in jail, bringing up a torrent of feelings.

Going back to her hometown, she meets up with Cass and Liv and it becomes very clear that there is a lot that people don't know about what went on in those woods that year. The three women are hiding some secrets and Olivia wants to come clean. Maybe Naomi isn't so sure what happened to her that terrible day, and now she is on a mission to find out exactly what did.

This was a wild ride from start to finish. There was this perfect balance between the amount of characters and the plot. The whole time you're wondering who could have possibly had more to do with Naomi's attack and the events that led up to it. This was a juicy read. I was never in a moment where the story lulled. I was on edge the whole time just needing to know more.

I was given the opportunity to listen to the audio book and I highly recommend it. The narration of Karissa Vacker is a solid addition to any story.

“They were heroes…but they were liars.”

When Naomi, Cassidy, and Olivia were eleven years old, they were viciously attacked in the woods. They helped to put a serial killer behind bars, but the events of that day have followed them into adulthood. Now it’s time to confront that dark day.

A great dark read! It will keep you guessing with the twists and turns along the way. I consumed this book via audiobook and the narration was REALLY strong. Vacker nailed all the voices and inflections and really added life to the words.

This was fantastic! So suspenseful, absolutely thrilling. I thought The narration was great. Perfectly paced. Highly recommending this one.

This had such an intriguing premise so I was excited to read it. I particularly enjoyed the audiobook version of this. The narrator deftly portrayed each character and the plot was easy to follow. A group of friends question what really happened when one of them was stabbed in the woods years ago. The character development of this was outstanding and each chapter revealed more of their truths. Nothing turns out to be true in the interpretation of past events. Readers won’t know the real culprit until the shocking conclusion. For fans of B.A. Paris and Shari Lapena.

I am so thankful to Flatiron, Netgalley, Macmillan Audio, and Kate Alice Marshall for sending an Advanced Listener Copy and a physical ARC of What Lies in the Woods prior to its publication date of January 17, 2023.

What a twisted tale that kept me guessing who the murderer was page after page. When the girls were eleven, Naomi, Olivia, and Cass all enjoyed playing around in the woods, believing in fairies and magic, spells and rituals to cast. One day they come across a skeletonized corpse wearing a bracelet with the name "Persephone" on it, they crown themselves victors and begin to make a game out of providing these remains with gifts and offerings.

In the depths of their game, one day, Naomi gets attacked and stabbed seventeen times and left for dead. The serial killer that apparently committed the crime was identified by the girls, convicted, and locked away for good.

Flash-forward twenty years and the convicted Serial Killer has died in prison, which should seemingly provide the girls with some sanity, but it does far from that because the girls were lying about what they saw that ill-fated night.


Returning to her childhood hometown, Naomi links up with Olivia and Cass to recount what happened that night and debate on coming forward with their misgivings. When Olivia turns up dead of a supposed suicide by gunshot, all hell breaks out, for nobody in Chester is really who they say they are. Naomi takes up with a podcaster, Ethan Schreiber to hash out the case in person and what they find is shell-shocking.

I was able to consume this fast-paced thriller in a few days and I really have a good feeling about this one for all of my thriller-loving pals.

TW: Racism, cancer, bullying, suicide, child sexual abuse, alcoholism, toxic parent relationship, drinking, language, bullying, family drama, depression, toxic friendships

*****SPOILERS*****
About the book: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.
Release Date: January 17th, 2023
Genre: Thriller - horror
Pages: 336
Rating: ⭐ ⭐ ⭐

What I Liked:
1. Love the cover
2. The writing style flowed

What I Didn't Like:
1. Naomi is such an annoying character
2. Too predictable

Overall Thoughts:
This book is so predictable. I felt like it's a paint-by-numbers thriller. I mean maybe if you hadn't read a lot of thrillers you'd be shocked by the the things that happened in it. It all just felt meh to me.

I love how they question Naomi so much because she found the body. No one thinks it's odd that this dude followed her to the woods and was with her when she found her friend. Dude I would seriously question the guy that shows up in the woods while you are there. Plus the missing gun that she was killed with. How would she shoot herself and not have a gun? Naomi is stupid.


Ethan is clearly the son of the "killer". The way he keeps asking her if she made a mistake on saying it was Slate.

It drove me insane that Naomi is so trusting of Ethan. Like dude shows up asking about a podcast, follows stalks her to the woods, and then sleeps with her in the course of days. Then she tells him her secret that she didn't see Slates face.


This gross insta love with Ethan.... 😒


I am SHOCKED that Naomi was able to keep all her secrets for these years. She is so quick to just tell everyone what really happened.


Oh no I'm just so surprised it was Cody 🤪. Who would have seen that coming.


I hated everyone in this book. Everyone did the most random dumbest things. The fact that Cody let's Cassie explain everything to Naomi and THEN shoots Cassie is like why? I still don't get the point of calling Cassie to get her help dealing with Naomi if you were just going to kill Cassie too.

I hate how easy these characters were just able to shed all the drama and addictions they have. Naomi's dad is able to quit drinking and work on not being a hoarder. Naomi is able to deal with her dramas by not sleeping with random men to cover her emotion scars and trauma.

Final Thoughts:
Book was meh for me. That ending was cheesy. She looses fingers and is okay with it. She has a giant scar down her face and she's okay with it. Okay....

Recommend For:
• Thrillers with a complex background
• Fast reads
• Strong queer female lead

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Thanks to Netgalley and the publishers for this advanced copy of the book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
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