Blue Cliff has a dark and disturbing past. Filled with folklore, everyone learns about the Hemlock Man from a young age, to always have coins in their pockets and dirt in their shoes for protection and most of all to stay out of the woods! The town has a history of missing children that later are found dead. The Ashby’s are a big name in the town, but after finding one of the children in the woods five years ago, Cheyenne quietly leaves town without a goodbye or a backward glance. When the police chief calls to tell her that her mother needs her after another young boy goes missing, Cheyenne heads home to help out. When Cheyenne and her two best friends get back together and the town starts an uproar over the handling of the case, they start to slowly put pieces together, remembering things from their own past, but are they true memories or just their forgotten dreams and are they safe even now? This was a very dark and creepy story that just didn’t work for me. Compared to the works of Ruth Ware and Lisa Jewel, it just doesn’t hold a candle to either of them! Thank you to Crooked Lane Books and NetGalley for an ARC of this book.

The Woods are Waiting is a slow burn eerie thriller. I loved the setting, books set near the Appalachian Mountains excite my thriller/horror heart to no end, I love spooky stuff. The slow burn was a bit too slow for me though, I felt like nothing happened until the last quarter of the book and even then, I felt like it dragged. It's a great debut with interesting characters.

I liked the book, I just didn't love it.

Thank you Netgalley and Gallery Books for this ARC in exchange for a review.

Reading the book I had a hunch pretty early on who the 'Hickory Man' could be (which turned out to be correct) and then it was all about finding out the 'why' aspect and the actual backstory of the legend that had the town of Blue Cliff, Virginia in grips for generations. When that mystery was solved, one thing became clear--the scariest part of Blue Cliff wasn't the creepy and atmospheric woods or the monster, it was the people living in the town (past and present). People who, as a result of their own generational superstitions, beliefs and customs, were responsible for creating the legend and the monster in the first place.

Overall, this was a decent debut and the book had its share of suspenseful and atmospheric moments; however, I would have liked a bit more character development of the main characters, especially Cheyeanne. Cheyeanne Ashby is shown to return to Blue Cliff from Ranoake after 5 years but we are never told what she did in those years away from her hometown. To me, she gave vibes of someone who might be in law enforcement but it was never made clear what she did.

My thanks to NetGalley, the publisher Crooked Lane Books and the author duo Katherine Greene for the free widget of the book. I had finished reading the book before its publication date but got delayed in writing a review.

Rating: ⭐⭐⭐✨💫

This story is definitely a slow burn, the beginning really focuses on the characters and building up the tension that will eventually come to a head in the second half.
I didn’t know if this thriller was going to be what I wanted it to be, but I had a lot of fun reading this one.
I love small towns with secrets and settings with creepy woods. I did predict a tiny bit of it, but the ending did something that I was hoping for, which made me happy! I think if you like Lisa Jewell, you might enjoy this one.

I loved this book!! It was one of my favorites of 2023!! I’m so happy I got to read this book!! I couldn’t it down from start to finish. I read this book in one day that’s how good it was for me!! I love Katherine greens work!!

Cheyenne left her hometown but was called back to help her mom, who wasn't doing well. Her hometown has a history of missing children and the townspeople have followed traditions in an attempt to keep the mysterious evil Hickory Man away. However, another child has gone missing recently and when Cheyenne returns, the townspeople are sure it's the same killer who was convicted 5 years earlier for killing three children, but who was recently released due to new evidence. Cheyenne and her childhood friends Natalie and Jack think they know who is behind it, but soon realize they didn't have all the information. The more they learn, the more old memories are dredged up. Overall, a quick read that focuses on the superstitions of a small town and how they continue to drive the town's trajectory. Though the book seemed to focus on the fact the killer was a very real person, it also leaves the reader with an open ending that still could be supernatural.

Thanks to Crooked Lane Books, Netgalley and the author for an ARC of this book. I am leaving this unbiased review voluntarily.

This story revolves around a town where three children, a boy and two girls, go missing on a fairly regular basis for generations and one of the town's family's, the Ashby's, have always been known as the town's protectors from the legendary 'Hickory Man'. '

The tale begins with Chey Ashby coming back to her hometown to visit her mother who seems to be going a bit off the deep end as a new child has gone missing recently. Chey reunites with her old friends, Nat and Jack, who get caught up in the mystery of the missing child and are inextricably linked to the past.

While this was a quick and easy read I found it a little too predictable and the relationship between Chey and Jack unnecessary. I liked the friendship between Nat and Chey but the whole thing felt a bit implausible towards the end. This story about missing children, while a little creepy, just didn't do it for me.

"The Woods are Waiting" was a decent story. About halfway through the story the identity of one of the killers taking advantage of the Hickory Man legend became pretty obvious. However, the motive behind the killing of the children both currently and over the centuries did come as a surprise. How it had been covered up for so long was creative. Also, the author does a good job of portraying how one might be persuaded to act in an immoral and illegal fashion, that brings great harm (or even death) to others, if doing so will protect loved ones.

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. In the vein of renowned authors Lisa Jewell and Ruth Ware, 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 macabre 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 creates an atmospheric and claustrophobic setting 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. While the mystery might not be entirely unexpected, the novel still provides ample thrills and chills that will appeal to lovers of slow-burn suspense, mysteries with supernatural undertones, and haunting tales. “The Woods Are Waiting” stands as a compelling debut, showcasing Katherine Greene’s storytelling prowess. The novel captivates readers with its haunting atmosphere, intriguing characters, and urban legend that leaves a lasting impression. For those seeking a spooky and absorbing read, this thriller is sure to satisfy your craving for the eerie and unsettling.

3.5+ stars

This one was just okay for me. I wanted to be more captivated by it than I actually was. The characters and plot were okay, but I found it a bit slow at times. That being said, the premise was good, and the writing wasn’t bad. I’ll probably be looking to check out what the writers come out with next in the future.

I enjoyed this book, more towards the middle to the end. The beginning was a little slow and picks up once you get through the history of the characters. I enjoyed it more then I thought I would, small town, creepy history and family legacy. I was surprised with one thing at the end. No spoilers here, you will have to read the book. I will keep an eye out for more books by Katherine Greene and thank you to NetGalley for the ARC/Audio.

A solid small town multi-generational mystery! I had no idea where this was going to go, and was thoroughly shocked by the big reveal.

I received an advance copy in exchange for an honest review. All thoughts are my own.

No matter how I tried, I could not get through the first quarter of this book. I will try again down the road, but the narration styles were just a bit too simplistic for me, although I did enjoy the multiple perspectives. I also found myself irritated by just how much the author continually invoked some version of the title in the prose- it felt a bit children’s book-y on the nose. I.e. “But the woods are dark….,” “Who knew what was in the woods”, etc. I bet this one would be much more enjoyable in audio format because the tone was dramatic in a way which would lend itself well to recording.

This book turned out really well! There were short lulls where the town was redundantly described as small, takes care of their own, etc. but overall, I really enjoyed the premise.

After 5 years a woman travels back to her hometown to take care of her mother. This small town however, has deep rooted secrets. A child has just been reported missing and is the most recent in a string of missing and murdered children throughout decades.

This is thriller laced with superstitions and past ghosts. Definitely recommend!

I love stories set in the Appalachian Mountains, and I love thrillers, so this was the perfect read for me.

Cheyenne left her hometown of Blue City, Virginia to get away from her eccentric mother, Constance is sort of a local crazy/shaman type character. She has always warned Cheyenne about the evil that lurks in the woods nearby. But when Cheyenne learns that her mother needs her, she returns.

It turns out there is a good reason to think that there is evil in the woods, it’s where children go missing. Five years ago, three children went missing and now another child is missing.

A not-too-creepy atmospheric thriller. Plenty of old-fashioned superstitions.

I enjoyed the setting and there were plenty of twists and turns that kept me guessing.

I wanted this book to work for me so badly, but unfortunately the writing style just wasn’t for me, I couldn’t get into it. The premise is that we are following a small town in the mountains, we learn about how life works for these people in this close knit group, etc. But Cheyenne & Natalie are not prepared for the horror that awaits them. Years ago, three children were found murdered and a man was convicted of those crimes. But another child goes missing and this digs up the fears of the past again. The two friends must take a closer look at what is really going on.

Thank you to Netgalley & the publisher for my early copy!

🎧Audiobook Review🎧
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Summary: Cheyenne Ashby knows the dark and disturbing history of her hometown of Blue Cliff, Virginia, all too well. It’s why she left. Growing up deep within the woods with her eccentric mother, Constance, she was raised on the unusual customs and generational superstitions linked to the local legend of an evil entity that haunts the forest.

Five years ago, the bodies of three children were found in the woods. It was a man—not a mythical beast—named Jasper Clinton who was convicted of these heinous crimes. For five years the town breathed just a bit easier with a real-life monster behind bars.

But when another child goes missing, Cheyenne and Natalie are determined to discover the truth and uncover the town’s dangerous secrets rooted in its terrifying past.

The two women must confront the reality of the superstitions they always believed in and their town’s complicated connection with who—or what—lives in the woods.
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Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
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My thoughts: thank you so much @penguinrandomhouse and @netgalley for advanced copy of this audio book! It was my first fiction one and definitely will not be my last! I loved this story; it was a fun mystery with supernatural elements. It reminded me of the whisper man by Alex north, it was just so creepy! Perfect setting and the writing was so engaging. I was hooked immediately 😍definitely cannot recommend this one enough it released earlier this month! Cheyenne was such an Interesting main character and the town was just so creepy. This one will give you full body chills!
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QOTD- how was you weekend ?!? Mine went by so so fast !!
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#thewoodsarewaiting #katherinegreen #bookreview #bookrecommendation #bookstagram #booksofinstagram #booksofig #bibliophile #bookobsessed #bookaesthetic #bookish #booknerd #bookworm #bookwormsunite

I received an audio arc of this book and will be leaving my full review there.

Thank you to NetGalley and to the publisher for this arc in exchange for an honest review.

The Woods Are Waiting is one of those Southern gothics drenched in history, folklore, and blood. Cheyenne Ashby is an Ashby, a member of a family whose potions, spells, and sacrifices have protected Blue Cliff, a small town in the Appalachian mountains. Their home is outside of town in the center of a forest that seems so real I almost write “forest who…” The forest is a malevolent and haunting presence in the town and in everyone’s nightmares, for generation after generation of Blue Cliff children have been taken and murdered there.

Cheyenne was called back to town by the local sheriff who keeps an eye on her mother who seems to be deteriorating. She left five years earlier after three children were murdered in the forest as had happened generation after generation. When she left the town, she left her best friend Natalie and her lover Jack, who understandably are a bit untrusting of her resolve to stick around this time.

And it’s understandable because another child is missing and the man convicted of murdering those children five years ago has been released, exonerated by DNA evidence. If he’s innocent, then the killer is still among them.



The Woods Are Waiting is a good Gothic mystery. There are strong elements of the supernatural that can be as easily explained as human action, so there is always this uncertainty. Cheyenne seems to believe whatever happens, it’s by human agency, but even she wonders from time to time. The writing is lushly descriptive and the woods succeed in become a presence that is more than their physical being.

The weakest element is the characters. They are pretty flat and Natalie is downright inexplicable, engaged to the repugnant Hunter, I cannot conceive how that woman tolerated that arrogant and cruel man for 5 minutes, let alone years. The class distinctions are so rigid and seem completely foreign. I grew up in a small town, there are not enough people to be as class exclusionary as Hunter’s and Natalie’s parents are. No matter what, Natalie seemed to have enough character and judgment that her engagement to Hunter has no credibility. And of course, why would Hunter be engaged to a woman he thought was worth so little?

Still, the mystery was engrossing. I was disappointed that the resolution and discovery of the truth was mainly of the DC-villain variety with the evil villain narrating their obsession from start to finish. I also think Cheyenne and Natalie did not live up to heroine status in the end, crying and hoping for external salvation in the end. But what really brought the book down the most in my opinion was the last sentence. It is such a tired trope. It is the horror story analog of a rim shot. Ba-dum-tiss.

I received an e-galley of The Woods Are Waiting from the publisher through NetGalley.

The Woods Are Waiting at Crooked Lane Books | Penguin Random House
Katherine Greene author site

The Woods Are Waiting follows Cheyenne Ashby as she returns home to small town Blue Ridge, VA after leaving abruptly five years before. Her mother, an eccentric woman who lives right at the edge of the forest, has been spiraling and the local police chief believes Cheyenne is the only one who can get her back under control.

Blue Ridge has a disturbing history - children go missing and turn up dead, with dirt in their shoes and silver coins in their pockets. The town is steeped in strange traditions and beliefs in “the old ways”, as well as terrified by The Hickory Man - a monster straight out of legends who some believe is responsible for the dead children. When Cheyenne left town, a man had just been arrested for the most recent child murders. Now, five years later, that man’s guilt verdict has been overturned…he’s free, and another child in Blue Ridge has gone missing.

This book definitely sets a spooky atmosphere. The town is tiny and close-knit, and feels fairly separated from the rest of the world. The legend of the Hickory Man haunts the thoughts of everyone, and the woods surrounding the town just fuel the fear. The author plays with the question of whether or not what’s happening to the children is the result of something supernatural, or simply the act of humans.

Unfortunately, the book was super predictable. I figured out what was going on really early in, which is unusual for me…the writing just made it so obvious. The characters also had essentially no personality. What has Cheyenne been doing for five years? Does she have a job? How old is she? Does she have friends outside of this town? What does she like? At one point another character says Cheyenne is the strongest person she knows…how? Why?! I am leaving the book unable to tell you anything about her. Also Cheyenne and her best friend described each other in such sapphic longing, I am devastated that that appeared to be unintentional; Cheyenne ends the books back with her (male) high school sweetheart.

Lastly, the motivations fueling the ending just really didn’t make sense for me. I didn’t find any of it very believable, and at times it seemed a bit over the top.

I think the author thrives at setting up a creepy atmosphere, and just getting to experience that kept me entertained despite my other critiques. I am compelled enough to try other books by this author in the future.