THE WOODS ARE WAITING
Katherine Greene

THE WOODS ARE WAITING did not work for me.

Cheyenne Ashby grew up in the woods in a small town in Virginia. She left home a long time ago without any intention of returning. When she was younger, three children went missing in the woods. Jasper Clinton was convicted of those crimes long ago.

But sadly, another child goes missing. Reluctantly she returns home to her desperate town with thoughts of finding a killer in mind.

The story of THE WOODS ARE WAITING felt very unoriginal and basic. It was trope-heavy and none of the tropes really worked well. While I was reading it didn’t feel like I was solving a mystery, it felt more like I was discovering the inevitable. There was no intrigue.

This is my first Katherine Greene and I found nothing with the pages of THE WOODS ARE WAITING to pick up another title by the same author.

Thanks to Netgalley and Crooked Lane Books for the advanced copy!

THE WOODS ARE WAITING…⭐️⭐️⭐️

This was definitely a perfect book for spooky season! Lots of creepy twists and turns while trying to find the true murderer for all the kids disappearing in Blue Cliff. I didn’t guess the murderer I always try to see if I get it right 😂 but I usually don’t. That’s okay because I love the oh my gosh moment when I find out who it really is 😳

This debut novel was one creepy read! Very dark, atmospheric. Don't go into the woods! Stay away from the window! And, move away from small towns! Thank you Netgalley for the opportunity to read this ARC for an honest review.

Aren’t all woods brimming with secrets?

The Woods are Waiting unfolds with unsettling darkness as it delves into crimes against children, exposing the darkest facets of human nature. It’s unsettling, and I questioned why I was immersing myself in it. Yet, it’s precisely this exploration of the darker aspects of our psyche that kept me walking and listening, along with the incorporation of superstitions and customs surrounding the legend of the Hickory Man, who lurks in the woods waiting for children. While a whodunit, the author interweaves doubt through the story, hinting at something sinister and menacing lurking amidst the trees.

The constant sense of danger and the ever-present fear of the unknown propel the story forward, making this a spine-tingling read. The woods conceal far more than meets the eye, and the final reveal is satisfying. I was happily surprised despite feeling like I should have seen it coming.

BUT

The pace is slow to start, and the narratives started to feel repetitive the more I got into the story, as we were hearing similar things from both POVs. I switched to the audiobook because I prefer to listen to stories when this happens. I find my busy mind wandering too much when I listen, so when the pace is slow and repetitive, I find I don’t miss much and can still keep up with the story.

I enjoyed this book. The story was interesting enough that I wanted to know what happened. Did I care for any of the characters? Not really. But they fit into the story just fine.

Overall, a good book! Three point five stars!

This had everything I love in a thriller:

• atmospheric
• creepy vibes
• claustrophobic setting
• small mountain town
• old secrets
• dark woods

Ok I thought this was so good! It's a slow burn, thriller that still keeps you interested though our the story unfolding. The woods are dark and creepy and harbor secrets that need to be know...

An atmospheric, slow burn, small town thriller just in time for “spooky season.”. Cheyenne grew up in the deep woods with her mother, Constance. She left after Constance is a superstitious lady who, after yet another child goes missing, goes into a tailspin and Cheyenne needs to go home to help her.

The story is told in two POVs: Cheyenne, the FMC, and her old friend Natalie. Natalie has never left town and seems surprised when Cheyenne comes back. The problem with the dual POVs is that they are similar narratives and that doesn’t help with the slow pacing. It took more than half of the book to get any sort of action going.

Thanks to NetGalley and Crooked Lane Books for this eARC. The Woods are Waiting is out now.

I did not finish this one, it was not for me, I couldn't relate to the characters, and just did not care for the story.

This extremely slow burn thriller takes place in a small rural town in the Appalachian Mountains called Blue Cliff. This is the town that seemingly "eats up their children" due to the instances of groups of small children that have been found dead in the infamous Ashby Woods near town. Now, another child has been reported missing, and Cheyanne Ashby, who took off out of town after the last murders, returns in an effort to help keep her eccentric mother in check and ends up solving the mystery with her friends.

I found this book to be incredibly slow. I enjoyed it when I was reading it, but unfortunately very little happened until the last 20% of the book when the reader finds out every single plot point spelled out for them. It felt very young adult, which isn't necessarily a bad thing, but it was very predictable from the beginning and wasn't all that thrilling or spooky as I was wanting it to be. I certainly left wanting more. I felt the story could have been told in such a different manner than made it hard to put down, but it just felt like it fell very flat for me. No matter, I am glad I read it, especially as we quickly approach fall.

Thanks to NetGalley and the publishers for an advanced copy of this book. All opinions within this review are my own.

This book was entirely too slow for me. It tried to be a spooky tale about possible "monsters" in the woods but is it really someone in town who's responsible for kids going missing over the years? It took so long for anything to happen that I found myself wandering aimlessly hoping for some action to keep me interested. By the time the truth was revealed, unfortunately I was beyond caring.

Thank you to NetGalley, Katherine Greene, and Crooked Lane Books for an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for a copy of this ARC!

This is the perfect book to read during the fall/spooky months and I wish I had done so rather than reading it during the summer. It had the perfect setting, a small town and the woods in Appalachia where something (or someone) is killing children. I loved the lore and stories that are rooted in such a creepy setting.
This was fast paced, as any thriller should be in my opinion, and I didn't find it to be super predictable. Overall I enjoyed it and would recommend reading!

3.5-4 stars

The Woods Are Waiting is a well-written, atmospheric story that will have you questioning whether any of the superstitions and legends you grew up learning about had a hint of truth to them.

Cheyenne Ashby grew up in the foothills of the Appalachian Mountains where she was brought up to learn unusual customs and superstitions linked to an evil entity lurking in the woods. This was deep rooted in her mother Constance’s beliefs, and when the bodies of three children were found in the woods, they all believed the rumors of a mythical beast were true. But a man named Jasper Clinton was convicted for their murders and the town breathed a little easier.

Cheyenne was able to get away from the town that held such terrible memories for her, but she returns five years later when another child goes missing and her mother is struggling with her superstitious beliefs me again. Cheyenne her childhood friend Natalie are determined to uncover what is really happening in their small town and who — or what — has been responsible after all these years.

I thought this was a really interesting debut novel. It kept my attention for the majority of the story, and I especially enjoyed the lore behind it all. The pacing could have been a bit quicker, as I found some parts to drag on and be anticlimactic; the slow burn was a smidge too slow for me. But overall I thought it was a decent book, and the plot had good bones. I’d definitely be willing to read more from this author.

*Thank you to NetGalley and Crooked Lane Books for providing a copy of this book to review.*

I was immediately intrigued reading the synopsis for this book, and I'm glad I read it! It is the perfect "spooky season" read, and I loved the audio narration (that's how I read this one). I highly recommend the audio version of the book. It had plenty of twists and turns, and while the ending was somewhat obvious, I still enjoyed this creepy read! Thanks to the publisher and Netgalley for the gifted audiobook.

3.5 overall!

The cover alone had me wanting to read this book and the summary definitely had me sold. This was definitely a slow burn thriller and picked up halfway through. I loved the atmospheric vibes and felt like I was living in the Ashby’s cabin in the woods. I enjoyed the multiple POVs and getting both Natalie and Cheyenne’s side of the story. I also loved the ending and leaving it open ended to if the Hickory Man is actually real or not.

As much as I loved Cheyenne’s POV I wasn’t a huge fan of Natalie’s. You could tell she was being gaslighted by Hunter and it made me want to scream. I did end up guessing who the killer was, but it was still a good twist.

Overall, I enjoyed this slow burn, atmospheric thriller and would be a good fall/winter read.

This was a slow burn suspense read. There was a relatively high creepiness vibe to the story. The dual points of view added interest to the storyline. The small town of Blue Cliff is quite insular, steeped in superstition and not very welcoming to strangers. Strangers are viewed with suspicion and the the townspeople are quick to judge, make accusations and believe the worst. Who’s been murdering children for generations? Is there a supernatural explanation? Is the Hickory Man real or is there a flesh and blood murderer lurking in the woods? Much potential for this debut author.

Katherine Greene’s debut thriller, “The Woods Are Waiting,” delivers a spine-chilling tale set in the mysterious small town of Blue Cliff, Virginia, nestled in the foothills of the Appalachian Mountains. Greene skillfully weaves a narrative that delves into sinister traditions and customs, plunging readers into an unsettling world where childhood friends Cheyenne and Natalie are about to face a truth beyond their wildest imaginations. Cheyenne Ashby, well-versed in her hometown’s dark and disturbing history, returns to Blue Cliff after five years away. Raised by her eccentric mother, Constance, deep within the woods, Cheyenne was exposed to peculiar customs and generational superstitions connected to the local legend of an evil entity haunting the forest.

The town’s tranquility was shattered five years ago when the bodies of three missing children were discovered. The culprit was not a mythical beast but a man named Jasper Clinton, convicted of these heinous crimes. However, when another child goes missing, Cheyenne and Natalie are determined to uncover the truth and reveal the dangerous secrets lurking in the town’s terrifying past. As the two women embark on their investigation, they confront the reality of the superstitions they once considered mere folklore, and the town’s enigmatic connection to the eerie woods becomes clear.

Greene’s writing is atmospheric that adds to the overall creepiness of the story. The slow-burn pacing allows for a deeper exploration of the characters and their motivations, and the well-built characterization brings authenticity to the tale. While some readers might find the premise of recurring child abductions hard to believe, the story’s dark atmosphere and spine-chilling elements compensate for any initial skepticism. The narrative introduces a cast of interesting characters, and the eerie nursery rhymes and town lore add to the unsettling ambiance.

The plot unfolds with a steady sense of suspense, and the well-executed twist keeps readers engaged until the end. For those seeking a spooky and absorbing read, this thriller is sure to satisfy your craving for the eerie and unsettling.

The Woods are Waiting by Katherine Greene. This book was GOOD. I thought for sure I had the ending figured out but it had me second guessing myself until the very last page. I love how you got to know (and mostly love) each character and then BAM! there is a twist and you are not sure if you love or hate the character. This book was really well done! Thank you Crooked Lane Books and NetGalley for the ARC!

Loved the cover of this one! In the beginning, I wasn't sure if this was a thriller or a ghost story but I thoroughly enjoyed finding out!
Highly recommend it if you enjoy Southern suspense, crime, and small-town thrillers with a supernatural twist.

The Woods are Waiting for me was a dark and disjointed read, one that was hard to capture me as I liked to be caught up in a book. This was a new author for me, but I always welcome finding new ones to fall in love with their work. Sadly this one did not do that for me, a town living in the past of a strange tell of the Hickory Man. Children have disappeared over the years, and it has happened once again. Chey has returned to the town, after making her break 5 years before leaving behind her best friends and her mother. Before the end of the book I had figured out who the culprit in the book was. I would still recommend this book to others, because I know not everyone enjoys the same books.

I received an ARC from NetGalley and CrookedLaneBooks, and I am leaving my review voluntarily.

This was a fun thriller that kept my interest and kept me on my toes! Really fun read for anyone who likes thrillers.