This is a tough one to rate. I liked the poem; it set things off perfectly. I liked the "Him" POV. I was dying to know more. I loved the dark atmosphere that wove through this story. I didn't like most of the characters. I didn't enjoy most of the monologue. And all in all it felt more like a YA.

Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for allowing me to read this eARC!

Oh wow! First of all, solid 4 stars for me! The little rhyme in the beginning gave me the creeps and I knew it was a sign that this was going to be good. I honestly don't understand the bad reviews or the "average" reviews. It had a creepy atmosphere from the beginning, the monster or "him" always being referenced and you want to keep going to figure out what it is. I will say, the characters annoyed me a little bit but I was able to look over it. I loved the story, writing, and intrigue. Definitely picking up a physical copy.

Average thriller that is part Whisper Man and part folk tradition/horror. But there's a lot of dead children and that's...not always want I want to read about.

The book is a decently written but didn't need two POVs and actually might've benefited from not having a first person narration to condense the story down. When the town villain is finally revealed, there's a lot of repetitious Disney villain monologuing that obscures the horror of what has been going on in that town for decades. There's some obvious plot holes that the town could sink into (and maybe should).

ARC from NetGalley.
Meh, That is about all I can say. Not horrible, but sort of juvenile and silly. Not horrible,but not great.

Blue Cliff, Virginia is an odd little town, cloaked in secrets and legends, stories of evil creatures that haunt the local forests. It’s a big part of the reason Cheyenne Ashby left as soon as she could. It’s been five years since Jasper Clinton was jailed for the murders of three children found in the woods; but now another child has disappeared. Cheyenne and her childhood friend Natalie decide to parse through the old stories and legends to uncover the truth about Blue Hill, even if the answers turn out to be more than they bargained for. Small town creepiness and a relatable heroine

What is it about the woods that frighten children? What is it about a novel set in the woods that can frighten the reader? The recipe for this mystery thriller has it all…woods…missing children…murders…unlikable characters…distrust..superstition…it is all there for the makings of a cannot put down novel. This gifted author kept me hooked, and despite the red herrings, I finally discerned the guilty party. Friendship and family…love and romance…secondary themes that bring the book together with characters who come alive on the pages. This is a quick read. Don’t miss it? This book was sent to me electronically by Netgalley for review. Thanks also to the publisher and the author. I look forward to more books by this author.