A big thanks to NetGalley and Crooked Lane for an ARC of The Woods are Waiting by Katherine Greene. This was my introduction to the author, and the premise was incredibly intriguing. Read on to find out how this thriller fares.

Genre:
Thriller, Mystery

Blurb:
Cheyenne Ashby has lived under the shadow of her mother’s eccentricities all her life. Constance Ashby is the protector of the small town of Blue Cliff, keeping at bay the evil entity that haunts the surrounding forest. When three children are found dead in the forest, out-of-towner Jasper Clinton is convicted. But Cheyenne, unable to bear the weight of her family traditions, superstitions, and responsibilities, leaves her town and turns her back on her mother and on the two people who matter the most to her – Natalie and Jackson.
Five years later, another child goes missing. The event leaves Constance Ashby a wreck. Cheyenne returns to fulfill her duty and take care of her mother. She faces her past once again and tries to rebuild the broken relationships with those that she still loves. But, as Cheyenne and Natalie realize, there’s only one way to bury that past and resolve the events that have pushed the town into an increasing frenzy of fear and anger – face the evil that lives in the woods.

Overall Rating:
8 out of 10 stars

Plot:
9 out of 10 stars

Characterization:
10 out of 10 stars

Primary Element:
10 out of 10 stars for its mystery; 7 out of 10 stars for its thrill

Writing Style:
10 out of 10 stars

Part of a Series:
No.

Highlighted Takeaway:
A great mix of mystery, creepiness, and the emotional struggles that come with life’s tough decisions, The Woods Are Waiting is an excellent debut by Katherine Greene, making her an author to watch.

What I Liked:
The Woods Are Waiting does justice to a not-uncommon theme – a small town set in its ways and beliefs, plagued by hauntings of an unknown being, and rife with unrest in the aftermath of tragedy. What it gets right is:
> the characterization of the two protagonists and multiple supporting persons, each holding their own, with their own voice, and their own growth,
> the emotional conflicts that accompany the tough decisions you have to make sometimes and their aftermath,
> the vulnerability and strength in relationships of all kinds,
> the setting, especially that of the forest, and its impact on the people and the events they experience,
> a mystery that keeps you guessing right till the end

What I Didn’t Like:
While there was little to specifically dislike in Katherine Greene’s debut thriller, the only thing that would have made it better was a little more creepiness. There was significant focus on the ‘creature within the woods’, but there was just something lacking in the effect the narrative had; it left you curious more than unsettled, which is what I was expecting given the setting and theme.
It also moves steadily, but at a slow(ish) pace, picking up in intensity after the 70% mark. That doesn’t in any way affect the outcome, but I definitely found the ‘face the evil’ aspect to be introduced much later than the blurb had me believe.

Who Should Read It:
You’ll enjoy Katherine Greene’s work if you like thrillers with emotion and mysteries with supernatural elements. It’s perfect for fans of Tim Weaver’s David Raker series (because of their similar settings, especially The Dead Tracks) or Mark Edwards (because of their similar themes, especially The Retreat).

Who Should Avoid:
Trigger Warning: The Woods Are Waiting does involve crimes against children, although it is non-violently handled. However, if that’s a particularly sensitive topic for you, I’d definitely recommend avoiding this one.
You could also skip this if thrillers with supernatural themes aren’t a favorite.

Read It For:
A story that excellently combines a creepy mystery and the complexities of relationships and emotions.

I really enjoyed The Woods Are Waiting and finished it within a couple of days. It’s definitely a book that keeps you turning the pages.

This was a quick read with some very obvious clues. The setting was done well with lots of details and it felt appropriately creepy. I felt like this could have had about 50-75 pages cut from it with no issues though, as there were a lot of parts that felt repetitive.

Kindly received an ARC from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

This book was about a small town and how they deal with an evil history that won’t seem to go away. Children go missing in the town of Blue Cliff and the townsfolk believe it to be an evil supernatural entity known as the Hickory Man. The locals know not to venture into the forest alone, especially without dirt in their shoes or silver in their pockets. Cheyenne Ashby thought she left all of this behind her when she skipped town, but when the chief of police guilts her into coming back to care for her ailing mother, she is confronted with everything she was running away from. Another kid has gone missing and the town doesn’t seem like it's going to sweep this under the rug anymore.

I really enjoyed this book and how the author was able to set the eerie tone throughout the book’s entirety. There wasn’t a part in this book where I wasn’t on edge and reading this was an absolute delight. The story that the author tells is one that we are all familiar with and they did an excellent job of making this an entertaining read. I thought all of the characters were excellently crafted and the scenes were thrilling to read.

I do wish this took a more supernatural spin and while this is supposed to take place in our world, I think it could have benefitted from a spookier monster.

This is a creepy story about the Hickory Man and the town that is terrorized by the legend. Years of children going missing had created a strong sense of superstition that Cheyanne ran away from years ago. But now she is back to care for her mother. The mystery unfolds as she learns more about her family and the town she grew up in.

The Woods are Waiting is a mystery chiller. A small town has a long history of children going missing in the woods, feared to have been taken by the Hickory Man a true or not figure who can be warded off by nursery rhymes and by protecting yourself with charms.
This terrible tragedy has been going on for years and a young man has even spent time in jail for this crime he didn't commit. The stakes are getting higher has another young boy goes missing.
Everyone is on edge, everyone suspects someone and they all fear the Hickory Man.
What a chiller this turned out to be. Be prepared for an explosive ending and make sure you're carrying your own silver coin charm to keep you safe.

Thank you #NetGalley for this Arc

Although not quite as fast pace of the thrillers I usually read I still enjoyed the book. The relationships between the characters seemed to have a disconnect , but perhaps returning after a 5 year absence it was intentional I enjoyed the book.

Cheyenne Ashby returns home to Blue Cliff, Virginia after suddenly leaving 5 years ago after children were murdered. She comes back when her highly superstitious mother falls ill and another child is murdered. She and her friend Natalie begin investigating the myths and superstitions surrounding Ashby Woods. The woods are dark and creepy with things that go bump in the night. Is it the Hickory Man?
This was a great debut and highly thrilling. I stayed up late into the night flipping pages. I’d like to thank NetGalley and Crooked Lane Books for this ARC! It will be released July 11, 2023.

This was a dark and creepy story, with a touch of the paranormal. It was a little slow at times but picked up towards the end with a twist. This was a first novel by this author will be interested in seeing what she does next. Thanks Netgalley for this Arc.

The premise of this book was a really good idea, but I didn’t so much like the execution of it. Time and time again. I noticed instances where I felt the author was telling instead of showing, to the point where details like the close knit nature of small towns was repeated ad nauseam. I think this could be revised into an excellent story, but it definitely needs a little work.

An eerie dip into the old traditions of the ancient Appalachian Mountains! The Woods are Waiting was a great atmospheric mystery combined with spooky folklore that is as old as the hills themselves. Superstition affects people in different ways, and some can no longer differentiate it from reality. Loved the storyline and setting. A few parts of the ending seem a bit contrived, but still a good read! Will read more from this author. #thewoodsarewaiting #katherinegreene #netgalley #goodreads

This is an unexpected thriller. The well developed eerie ambience that sets the tone of this story is probably one of the things I liked best about this story. Set in an isolated town that gives realism to the almost mystical yet creepy superstition that plagues the characters. I really enjoyed this story very much, especially as whilst I guessed some of this storyline in advance, I didn’t guess the murderer. And that’s always a win for a novel, when the Author can surprise me. Devoured this story in one sitting.

Thank you to the Author, Publisher and NetGalley for the opportunity, to read, review and give my honest opinion of a digital copy of an ARC.

Thank you NetGalley and Crooked Lane Books for the copy of The Woods Are Waiting. I loved this book’s premise and the superstitions and spooky woods. The book was really slow and didn’t really get going until about 75% so it was tough going until then, even though every once in a while parts caught my attention. The last 25% made up for the slow start because things finally started to get interesting. I was disappointed that the reveal was an anticlimax and not really believable but predictable at the same time. If you don’t mind a slow buildup and like a creepy story, you would like this book, but I think it wasn’t really for me.

Thank you for the Arc! Enjoyed the story, I just didn’t feel invested enough in the characters especially when we found out who the killer is.

Review of eBook

Once Cheyenne Ashby called the tiny town of Blue Cliff, Virginia home. Nestled in the foothills of the Appalachian Mountains, she grew up with her mother’s superstitions and strange customs. But five years ago, three children were murdered and Chey escaped to Roanoke.

Now she’s returning.

Police Chief Donald Hickman had called her. He’d said her mother was not doing good, that she needed to come home.

According to the local legend, an evil entity known as the Hickory Man haunted the forest. Chey and her eccentric mother, Constance, lived deep in the woods, and Constance had rituals designed to keep her family safe. But Jasper Clinton was the man they blamed when three children were murdered. Convicted for the murders of Michael Caruthers, Olivia Bradshaw, and Danielle Torrents, he’d been jailed for the past five years. But now, with those convictions overturned, he was free . . . and now another child, Dakota Mason, was missing.

Together with her childhood friend, Natalie Bartlett, Chey is determined to find the truth. What is the truth about the woods? About the town? About the murders?

=========

It’s a creepy nursery rhyme that opens this story and sets the tone for what follows. A foreboding atmosphere permeates the telling of this creepy tale; the setting is perfect for the sinister goings-on in the little town. The unfolding narrative offers readers some unexpected twists while maintaining its terrifying tone.

Realistic characters and a strong sense of place combines with the unpredictable narrative to keep those pages turning. A bit of repetition may frustrate some readers, but the short chapters keep the suspense building and the story moving along. Kudos to the author for the strong storyline about friendship and family.

Recommended.

I received a free copy of this eBook from Crooked Lane Books and NetGalley
#TheWoodsareWaiting #NetGalley

Wow. This book was amazing. Although it was a slow-burn, once the pace picked up, there was no stopping the plot from pulling you in! It was truly a joy reading this one.

Cheyenne Ashby was a very relatable character. And I really liked her name. Probably the reason why I requested this book. Haha.

This is a bit dark and depressing but you will grow into it the more you connect with the characters and the mystery.

Cheers to Netgalley and Crooked Lane Books for the ARC!

Cheyenne, Natalie and Jackson were raised in the small Appalachian town of Blue Cliff. It is a town that is filled with superstitions and fear of the unknown, particularly the Hickory Man, rumored to live in the nearby forest and to take children. Many have passed away since the town’s inception usually in groups of three. The most recently five years earlier when Chey left planning to never return. She only came back because the Police Chief called her to let her know she was needed to help care for her Mother. When Chey arrived, she learned another child has disappeared into the forest. This is an introduction into an extremely well crafted plot told from either Chey or Natalie’s point of view. It takes them from one horror into another, yet it is definitely not written as a horror novel. Throughout the reader was convinced the unknown killer was human and someone they have always known. It is great weekend reading! Thanks to Net Galley and Crooked Lane for an ARC for an honest review.

I loved the premise of this and the beginning was so atmospheric and gripping. I can’t say it held that pace throughout and although I liked both characters I’m not sure I understood the point of both POV’s. I felt it was pretty drawn out at times and lacked depth but it was creepy and suspenseful. The killer although predictable I did at times still doubt myself. The ending felt slightly too long, the long ramblings and stalling didnt work 100% for me, also some of it didn’t ring true when it came to police procedure and handling of the case which made it pretty implausible. However, overall I did enjoy it and would read more by this author.

I really enjoy a book that has me guessing if the culprit is a human or something supernatural. Throw into the mix some village vibes and a folktale about an entity in the woods and I'm in. The story flowed along nicely and the characters were believable. There were plenty of red herrings to keep my curiosity piqued and there were no slow or boring parts. I would be interested in reading other books by this author.

I received this arc from netgalley and Crooked Lane Books in exchange for my honest review.

The premise of "The Woods are Waiting" was very promising to me, several mysterious deaths of children occurring in a local forest with deep supernatural superstition as the main cause of these deaths. Sadly this book fell very flat for me. The book really dragged for me with very little happening and very poor character development. I didn't find myself invested in any of the characters, and mostly kept reading because I thought the plot had to be getting better. Sadly not much happens, and then all of a sudden the killer is revealed. We then spend several more drawn out chapters on this persons reasoning, and then it all wraps up. I found the killer to be extremely predictable and way too much revolving around children's death. I will say as the killer is revealed there was a good amount of suspense built up that made my hairs stand on end. Overall I would not recommend this book due to its slow pace and lack of overall development.

I was lucky enough to receive an ARC copy of this book and i was blown away, especially since it is Katherine Greene's debut novel.

A creepy story about missing children and a old folks tale about a boogy man in the woods.

Full of twists and turns that i didn't see coming, i actually really enjoyed this book and i'm excited to read more of Katherines thrillers.