"What Grows in the Dark" by Jaq Evans is a gripping debut horror novel that masterfully blends elements of folk horror, supernatural thriller, and small-town mystery. Published in 2024, the book follows Brigit Weylan, a phony spiritualist who returns to her hometown of Ellis Creek to investigate the disappearance of two teenagers, eerily reminiscent of her sister's vanishing 16 years ago.

Evans' writing is atmospheric and visceral, bringing the ominous Dell woods to life as a character in its own right. The author's ability to create tension and unease is particularly noteworthy, with scenes in the forest that are genuinely skin-crawling.

The novel's strength lies in its complex characters, particularly Brigit, whose traumatic past and morally ambiguous present make her a compelling protagonist. The supporting cast, including cameraman Ian and detective Alicia, adds depth to the narrative.

Evans skillfully weaves together multiple plot threads, exploring themes of grief, guilt, and the lasting impact of childhood trauma. The pacing keeps readers engaged, with a slow-burn buildup that culminates in a satisfying and thought-provoking conclusion.

While some readers found certain plot elements familiar within the genre, Evans' fresh take and skillful storytelling elevate the novel. The use of interludes featuring newspaper clippings and interviews adds layers to the mystery, though some readers wished for more detailed backstory.

"What Grows in the Dark" is a promising debut that showcases Evans' talent for crafting atmospheric horror with complex characters and a compelling mystery. Fans of folk horror and psychological thrillers will find much to enjoy in this unsettling tale of secrets lurking in the woods

I finished it, and boy do I wish I hadn't.

This book was like a bad scary movie. Take any movie about a haunted woods plus The Cave and you get this book. The characters felt so surface level that I didn't care what happened to them, and the "diversity" felt like they were just trying to check boxes.

I was also extremely put off by the fact that at the beginning there was a focus on "is this real or am I losing my mind" but it wasn't handled well. It came off as mocking to people genuinely suffering from psychosis.

The whole "the trees are literally inside of you" thing, making deals with some tree demon, and the fact that at the end she's like, I'll just let you live in me like a psychotic parasite. Literally what the fuck. And didn't Emma's deal mean that the trees should've left her be? And that no deal could be made with Brigit?
Makes no fucking sense.

What Grows in the Dark by Jaq Evans is a hauntingly beautiful and atmospheric novel that blends elements of mystery, family secrets, and the complexities of personal identity. With its richly descriptive writing and deeply compelling characters, this book takes readers on a journey through both literal and metaphorical darkness, exploring themes of grief, healing, and the unspoken histories that shape us.

The novel centers on Lark, a young woman who returns to her family’s rural home after years of estrangement. Her father’s sudden death has drawn her back to the place she once called home, and she finds herself confronting the deep-seated secrets and unresolved tensions that still linger between her and her family. Lark is a complex protagonist, shaped by both her difficult past and her desire to understand the truth about the things she’s been running from. Her journey of self-discovery and healing is poignant and relatable, and readers will be drawn to her vulnerability and resilience.

The central mystery of What Grows in the Dark revolves around a series of cryptic letters left behind by Lark’s father, as well as the strange, eerie happenings that begin to unfold in the house. As Lark digs deeper into her family’s history, she uncovers long-buried secrets that will forever change the way she sees her past and her future. The novel keeps readers on the edge of their seats as the suspense builds, all the while blending elements of psychological tension and emotional exploration.

Jaq Evans excels at creating a rich atmosphere of suspense and unease. The house itself—dark, sprawling, and full of hidden corners—becomes a character in the story, reflecting Lark’s inner turmoil and the lingering ghosts of her family’s history. The author’s descriptions of the setting are lush and evocative, drawing readers into the narrative and creating a palpable sense of place.

The relationships in the book, particularly those between Lark and her family members, are intricately developed. Lark’s strained relationship with her mother and the ghost of her father’s memory are at the heart of the novel, and Evans navigates these emotional complexities with sensitivity and depth. The themes of forgiveness, loss, and reconciliation are woven throughout the story, and the way Lark comes to terms with her family’s past is both heartbreaking and uplifting.

The pacing of the book is deliberate, with a slow unraveling of the mysteries and revelations that keep readers engaged. The twists and turns in the plot are satisfying, and the emotional payoff is well worth the journey. While the supernatural elements in the book add to the eerie atmosphere, the real strength of the novel lies in its exploration of the human experience—how we cope with trauma, face our fears, and come to terms with our past.

What Grows in the Dark is a beautifully written novel that seamlessly blends psychological suspense with rich emotional depth. Jaq Evans has crafted a story that is as much about personal healing as it is about uncovering the darkness within. It is a haunting, thought-provoking read that will linger with readers long after they’ve finished.

**Thank you to the author and publisher for providing an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

I loved the fake spiritualist angle but unfortunately this book felt a bit underdeveloped for me. I loved the mystery and voice overall. It was a fun read and I think the author is masterful with their writing. I just wish some parts were more developed overall.

What Grows in the Dark has a great premise, but the story itself is just average. Would be a great cozy autumn vacation read.

I really liked the premise of this story, but I just found it very hard to get into. For me, it’s normally a pacing issue but the pacing and dual viewpoints were fine and kept the pace moving, I just had a hard time connecting with the story I suppose. Thank you to the publisher, author and Netgalley fo the opportunity to read.

What if you could turn your trauma into your hustle? It might not be the healthiest way of dealing, but Brigit does just that by creating a ghost hunting show centered on her connection to her dead sister in What Grows in the Dark, a debut horror novel by Jaq Evans that came out earlier this year.

Brigit Weylan and her best friend Ian sometimes feel guilty about defrauding the clients featured on their ghost hunting YouTube show, but they comfort themselves with the idea that Brigit brings real closure and healing, even if her purported clairvoyant connection to the spirit world via her dead sister is a sham. Then Brigit receives a call from her sister’s ex-girlfriend asking her to return to their hometown and investigate the recent disappearance of two kids, and things start to get all too real. Two teenagers went into the Dell where Emma died sixteen years ago, and they haven’t come out. Brigit may not truly have psychic powers, but perhaps she and Ian will be able to get close to the townspeople and discover something the police cannot. The more time Brigit spends back in Ellis Creek, though, the more she is plagued by strange dreams, hallucinations, and the terrifying gaps in her memory surrounding her sister’s death. She may already know more about what lurks in the dark, luring children into the Dell, than she has allowed herself to realize.

This book has some real folk horror vibes, even as it eschews some of the more common trappings of the genre. Despite the fact that children have been going missing in the Dell for decades, no folk tales have emerged to warn off future generations—at least none that Brigit has heard. The creature that lurks in the Dell has no name, no backstory immortalized in local legend. Instead, there are only breadcrumbs for Brigit and Ian to follow, newspaper clippings and “missing” posters and vague murmurs of deals struck in the woods and their unintended consequences. As a child, Brigit invented her own stories for the woods, creating a game called Wild Men that she played with her sister. Even though there is no consistent narrative to grow into legend, somehow the distressed and desperate young folk of Ellis Creek keep finding their way into the Dell year after year, making deals with whatever it is that grows there in the dark.

The ghost-hunting side of Brigit’s life takes sort of a backseat once she returns to Ellis Creek, but it raises some interesting questions. Is it always unethical to act as a fraudulent medium? What if your clients truly seem to benefit from the experience? Brigit does have a real talent—for genuinely connecting with the living and getting them to open up, if not for connecting with the dead. But as she confronts her own past and the truth about what lurks in the Dell, it turns out that Brigit may have been in communion with something supernatural after all.… The ghost-hunting angle also provides a unique perspective for Ian, who experiences much of the world through the lens of his camera. The distance this creates comes in handy both when confronting real evidence of the supernatural and when facing his yearning feelings for Brigit.

If you like tales of small towns and dangerous things that lurk in the woods, be sure to check out What Grows in the Dark! As a bonus, the novel also casually incorporates queer characters and interweaves the struggles they face in a small town into the plot.

Unfortunately, for whatever reason I just could not get into this book and wound up dnf-ing it 34% in. I even tried using an audiobook version at work and even still found myself drifting away. I'm unsure if it's just me not being in the proper mood, or the vibe of the book not living up to the expected scare factor.

However, this book isn't written poorly and there are some compelling parts that did make me intrigued to continue. If you like stories with spooky, haunted forests I would recommend giving this a try. I think a great deal of my issues are just me not liking the writing style or the characters, nor finding the story too believable, preventing me from getting sucked in.

Spooky woods and ghost stories are some of my favorite stories, so it's odd this never grabbed me. I think part of the issue was neither character being too compelling to me, and a lot of the narration of things going on being "tell, not show," making me roll my eyes at the overly flowery language.

I'll put the section, about 20% in, that made me decide to think about stopping reading here, so - spoilers.
"Pain flashed inside her skull as if some great insect had slipped its forelegs through her tear ducts to her brain, forcing her head still and her eyes wide."
I don't know, but this just felt too much telling me, instead of letting me feel it.

I also found the repetition of "You want to be the wild child, Wild Child?" Brigit did for every mention of her sister to get old very fast, which overall just soured my enjoyment of learning about her past.

Thank you to Netgalley and Harlequin Trade Publishing for this e-ARC for an honest review.

This is LGBTQIA+ horror and it is a compelling read, despite being a bit predictable. Nevertheless, the characters are realized, and the dark corners of trauma and grief are exhumed as you read along.
Definitely more psychological and would appeal to fans of Jason Rekulak's "Hidden Pictures," or even some of Alice Feeney's earlier works.

Brigit and Ian go around the country filming the paranormal. Brigit goes to her hometown in Virginia. Her sister died years ago under mysterious circumstances. The forest is where a boy and girl have disappeared. The local policewoman ask them to look into the case.
Thanks to the publisher Mira and to NetGalley for the ARC.

From Library Journal: DEBUT This creepy novel blends small-town horrors with LGBTQIA+ themes.
VERDICT A spooky walk in the woods for fans of supernatural mysteries, LGBTQIA+ protagonists, and folk horror such as The Blair Witch.

I couldn’t get into the story just as I thought. Not disappointed but need more depth, I think. I can't remember when was the last time when I read a book in which the whole plot was 100% equal to what was written in the blurb and nothing more. There was no surprise there, no resolution to any of the plot threads and the whole story was blatantly predictable and painfully dull.

When I first read the synopsis for What Grows in the Dark, I was immediately intrigued. I also enjoyed the cover art and the title is compelling to me. Then I started drowning in other new releases and sort of forgot about it for bit. Recently, as I was going through my list of unread-ARCs it piqued my interest again, so I looked it up to refresh my memory on the synopsis.

Again, it sounded interesting to me, so I was surprised to see that its rating was only around 3.01-stars. Nevertheless, I'm no stranger to being in the minority opinion on books, so I wasn't afraid and decided to give it a go. After I completed the first 15%, I wrote a status update to say how much I was loving it. The tone and the direction it was taking, I was really into it, really intrigued. I had a gut feeling that it was going to be at least a 4-star read for me.

Sadly, now that I'm finished, I get the overall rating. Regardless of how strong it started for me, the further I got into it, the more it started to lose steam and my attention. It got muddled and my interested definitely waxed and waned. I think this author has great ideas and it was a fun set-up, but I feel like somewhere in translating the ideas from their head, onto the page, for the Reader to understand, something missed the mark. It's too bad, because I do see a lot of promise here.

This is a true Supernatural Thriller/Mystery, which reads a lot like a YA story, even though it is Adult. I love YA Horror/Thriller novels, actually preferring them over Adult in a lot of instances, so that's no shade from me, but I am guessing that does have an impact on the rating. In my opinion, this would be a great book for Readers looking to transition more into the Adult space for the first time. For others, I would just caution this feels, at best, more New Adult, than Adult.

It also includes one of my favorite tropes, following a main character returning to their hometown, after many years away, looking to solve, or deal with, some sort of unresolved issue, mystery, or trauma. That fact alone is what initially grabbed my attention. Unfortunately, that trope alone wasn't enough, but just because it didn't work for me, doesn't mean it won't work for you. I would urge anyone with interest to pick it up. It's just a book. What do you have to lose?

Thank you to the publisher, MIRA, for providing me with a copy to read and review. I would absolutely give this author another try. The concepts and the writing are there, I just wanted something a little different from the execution.

What Grows in the Dark had a strong premise. One sister, Emma, disappears into the woods, marked simply as another trouble girl. The other, Brigit, takes up a life of fake spiritualism. But when Brigit is called home, her past collides with her future.

The story is told is dual POV from Brigit and Ian. There was a slew of characters, but my favorite by far was Ian. The story itself moved at a nice pace and was fairly creepy, especially if you are into eldritch horror. I loved all the references to coping with and healing from trauma. My only complaint is that some of the story just didn't pass a basic logic test...a reader can only suspend their disbelief so much. Still, overall, this is a thrilling debut by Jaq Evans.

Thanks to Netgalley and Harlequin Trade Publishing for this copy in exchange for my review

I was deeply intrigued by the blurb and premise of the book and while the majority of the story was intriguing, the ending fell a bit flat for me. I'll be keeping an eye out for other works from this author to see what else they come up with.

This book was incredibly atmospheric. I love the forest imagery of creepy trees, dank soil, and creatures skittering about in the dark. The two leads were interesting and I enjoyed the ever-present relationship Bridget had with her deceased sister. That element of the unknown added to the creep factor. I did struggle with this book having an overly descriptive inner monologue and it at times seemed to repeat the same emotions/story where it wasn’t necessary. This made me skim past sections where I already knew what the main character was thinking. Other than that this was a solid story and I’d even be option to a part 2!

An engaging read that I thoroughly enjoyed! Dark and compelling. Original and addicting. Highly recommend and will purchase several physical and digital copies for library collections. Thank you!!

Thank you Netgalley for the ARC of this book. I was excited to get this book based on the description. It fell flat and seemed too slow.

I requested this for consideration for Book Riot's All the Books podcast for its release date. After sampling several books out this week, I decided to go with a different book for my review.

Thanks to the publisher and Netgalley for this eARC.

"What Grows in the Dark" by Jaq Evans is a contemporary horror novel that delves into the psyche of its protagonist, Brigit Weylan, with a chilling precision that is both unsettling and captivating. The story unfolds in the small town of Ellis Creek, where Brigit is forced to confront the demons of her past and the literal monsters that may lurk in the shadows.

Evans crafts a narrative that is as much about the horrors that come from within as it is about those that dwell in the dark corners of the world. The novel’s strength lies in its ability to blend the supernatural with the psychological, creating a tapestry of terror that is all too relatable.

Brigit, a phony spiritualist, returns to her hometown under the guise of assisting in an investigation but is quickly ensnared by the unresolved mysteries of her sister’s death. The parallels between the past and present are drawn with a deft hand, as Brigit’s skepticism is challenged by occurrences that defy rational explanation.

The pacing of the novel is masterful, with Evans leading the reader through a labyrinth of lies, secrets, and twists that keep the pages turning. The setting of Ellis Creek is painted with a gloomy brush, casting a pall over the events that unfold and adding to the oppressive atmosphere that permeates the book.

The inclusion of queer characters is handled with care, adding depth to the story and providing a broader spectrum of perspectives. This element of diversity does not feel forced but rather integral to the narrative, enriching the plot and the characters’ interactions.

However, the novel is not without its flaws. Some readers may find the characters difficult to connect with, and the plot shifts can occasionally feel jarring. The supernatural entity at the heart of the story may not resonate with all, leaving some aspects of the horror to fall flat for those looking for a more traditional scare.

In conclusion, What Grows in the Dark is a commendable debut from Jaq Evans. It is a book that will likely appeal to fans of psychological horror and those who appreciate a story that explores the darker aspects of human nature. While it may not satisfy every horror aficionado’s palate, it is a solid entry into the genre that promises much from the author.