First off, I think some of the other reviews are hilarious. I don't know what people where expecting. The cover is literally a bear carrying off a body and the description says it's about a serial killer and has dark content. Of course there isn't a moral code like Dexter, Dexter is a tv show and isn't an accurate depiction of serial killers or psychopaths. They don't have moral codes, they do what they want because they can. They often don't have reasons for it. I also think it's perfectly okay that the characters aren't likable. They're not supposed to be, they're killers, you're not meant to relate to them. Only to see things from their perspective. If I had to relate this graphic novel to a series/movie, I would say it's much more along the lines of American Psycho then Dexter.

I really loved the art style. This seemed to be most peoples complaint because it "caught them off guard". I think it really works well for the story though. It has that feeling of normality and the feeling of things being okay despite the people who lurks amongst them. It just sets the tone and vibe of the story. Where people are cheery and happy despite what goes on around them. It's also shows the reality of never fully knowing someone and highlights the statistic that "You'll pass 30 murders in your lifetime and never know it". Which this comic kinda rekindled that fear for me a bit.

I would also like to highlight that it's not as gory as people make it out to be. There's no more blood or gore then you would see on tv or any other comic. However, if you're sensitive to blood and killing then this book is obviously not one you're going to enjoy.

It's a quick and easy to get through read. I would say it took me less then a half hour to get through. So if you want something entertaining and quick to read then you might consider picking this one up.

Overall, I think my only complaint is the ending felt a little rushed and felt like it was to eager to finish the story. It also felt a little predictable with how it was going to end once you found out what the plot twist was. It almost felt a little cliched.

Overall, I enjoyed it. If you're a fan of serial killer stuff then you'll enjoy this comic. If you're sensitive to such content then you won't enjoy this series.

Wow... This book was both brilliantly well done, and dark as hell. Like others, I did not take the horror aspect seriously-- that was a mistake. The illustrations were disturbing, and terrifyingly well done. I thought that having animals as characters would make this book softer and easier to swallow. Again, I came to regret that thought.

5/5 stars. I would recommend this book to any adult who is truly looking for a horror and gruesome filled graphic novel.

How disturbing and graphic this graphic novel is. The truth is that with the cover I expected some of this to happen but not so graphic. There were times when I didn't really want to continue reading.

The story seemed correct to me, I think it instantly captures the reader because it presents us with a town where a serial killer hides but who is very clear about what the rules are to be able to continue living his life peacefully until someone starts committing crimes. crimes in his town and he no longer likes it at all.

I found it more impressionable, I think, because they are animals and I have a tender heart towards animals. I think if they were human I wouldn't have found it so disturbing. Makes sense? I don't know.

Thank you IDW Publishing for the ARC I read on NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

I’m sure I wasn’t the only one who underestimated the fear this Graphic Novel could create simply because the cast are cute talking animals. Do. Not. Underestimate. Cute. Talking. Animals. Period.

This frightening story is about a bear by the name of Samantha Strong. Let's just say… Samantha has quite the gruesome way to relax and release stress. She’s a serial killer who kills in a big city right outside of the small town she calls home. Keep the peace, never kill where you sleep. That’s the rule. Well… a string of murders pop up in her peaceful little town and she has to find out who's disrupting the peace she worked so hard to keep before the police start digging up the wrong bodies.

The art is absolutely stunning, but boy did it fool me. I mean, I was aware of what the book was about before I picked it up and yet… I was still frightened. Getting a look into the mind of a murderer as well as the sense of never being safe is done so well that the reader is too busy worrying about who’s gonna die next and not about the fact that the main character, Sam, is a Killer as well. A killer that this town hasn’t noticed is among them for quite some time.

Giving this a 3.5/5-star rating simply because I am a woman of justice and wanted a different ending. If you know, you know. Let's argue about it. ¯\_(ツ)_/¯

My thanks to IDW Publishing and NetGalley for the Digital Advanced Reader’s Copy. This book is expected to be published September 17th, 2024.

Beneath the Trees Where Nobody Sees is a graphic novel I've been hearing a lot about. This does not disappoint!

Samantha, a cat, lives in this small town. However, Samantha has a darkness inside her. She goes into the city and murders a random person every once in a while. Her world begins to change when her town starts experiencing gruesome murders. Samantha's number 1 rule is that she doesn't kill anyone in town, it's just two messy. Sure, it could be an outsider but she thinks it's someone hiding in plain view. She decides to investigate and try to figure out whose behind these murders before she becomes the suspect.

I really enjoyed this a lot! Samantha gave off major Dexter vibes. However, she would kill random people and not people who deserve it. They show the deaths but they're not very gruesome. It's just wild to see the first couple of times because these are such adorable animals. It definitely was sad to read about some of the towns people who were killed. You don't briefly get to know them and you feel bad, especially about one of the victims.

I can't wait for you guys to pick this up. If you have a library card & a Hoopla account you can read this free there. Otherwise, it will be coming out September 17th. I look forward to reading more from Patrick Horvath.

*Thank you so much to IDW Publishing and Netgalley for a free copy of this comic, in exchange for my complete honest opinion.*

5/5 Stars! I’m honestly speechless. The gorgeous cover art and tantalizing description “Live, laugh, shed blood. Dexter meets Richard Scarry’s Busy, Busy Town in this twisted debut graphic novel! Don’t. Murder. The locals.” is what drew me to this graphic novel in the first place. The illustration throughout this whole novel was stunning! So detailed, colorful, and oh so graphic. The storyline–just as top notch. This narrative was so much more gory and twisted than I expected, but I loved it! The story follows Samantha Strong, a badass brown bear who manages to be both an upstanding citizen and a serial killer. I liked Samantha so much, I was rooting for a serial killer. I had no idea what to expect going into this graphic novel, but I can say I’m impressed! Thank you IDW Publishing, Patrick Horvath, and NetGalley for providing an eARC for review!

Thank you for the advanced copy of Beneath the Trees Where Nobody Sees. This was a very interesting graphic novel. A very quick read. The artwork was well done and pleasing to look at. Now with how nice and whimsical the artwork was, it was almost the complete opposite of the writing and subject of the book. The vast difference between the pictures of sweet animals and them swearing and killing and then showing the graphic portions of the kill worked for me. You can be both. The killings can get graphic so I’m not sure I’d recommend this book to middle schoolers. But I did love this ‘Dexter’ version with nice looking animals! Thanks again for the advanced copy!

Dexter meets Animal Crossing in this dark serial killer graphic novel with cuddle-y animals. I thoroughly enjoyed this arc NetGalley was so gracious to let me read for an honest review.

I really liked this story it had great horror elements, body horror, twists, all that jazz, there was one part that really upset me and knocked my rating down a bit but I honestly should’ve expected it. I thought about feedback I could give and I really don’t have much besides if it were to continue I think I a deeper look into the mental side of things would be very intriguing. I also adore the cover.

This book was kindly provided by the publisher and Netgalley in exchange for an honest review
An adorable brown bear called Samantha Strong, loved by her city, is a serial killer. Her cardinal rule is to never attack in Woodbrook and always go for people in the big city for victims. One day, a new serial killer appears in the city, and he doesn't respect her rules, putting everything that Samantha has at risk, with her secret being in jeopardy.
Comic books are one of my favorite genres, and I can read them quickly. The script of this one was intriguing, and I couldn't put my phone down until I finished it.
The character design is adorable (even with the murders); they reminded me a lot of Sylvanian Families.
The city has a cozy, relaxing atmosphere. When the other murderer starts to attack, the changes in the scenery and characters are very noticeable.
I recommend this book for anyone who wants a quick but solid mystery. It's important to note that the deaths are quite graphic, especially the first ones.

This was so so fun to read. The style in which it is drawn is so interesting and the story itself was compelling with the right amount of darkness and intrigue. This world seems very fun to explore the complexities of especially with the ending.

Jump and dive into this adult cozy serial killer graphic novel. This is great, and I am not sure why it has not shown up in my bookstores or popular B&N. Especially with the hype surrounding manga.

It's not a new storyline. It's somewhat similar to Dexter or the TV series You. However, the idea of turning our childhood story book into an adult serial killer graphic....sort of works. It does have some gruesome art, but not because the art wasn't something I haven't "seen" before (I've certainly noted more graphic images in CSI, Bones, etc). However, I think we (as a society) are more desensitized to that imagery as it is more common. I was a bit traumatized seeing these cutsey-animal characters reminiscent of my childhood torn asunder and murdered! (I mean looks like the author murdered Franklin or Arthur, or the Richard Scarry characters from Busytown).

But the storyline and excellent artwork pulled me along. It's for adult readers for sure. But at 156 pages; easily read in one sitting.

Thank you IDW Publishing and Patrick Horvath for the ARC!

I received this DRC from NetGalley.

I liked the juxtaposition between the illustration style, which reminded me of old children's books, and the serious tone and gruesome scenes. My only question is why most of the animals walk and talk like people, but some animals are just regular animals. It needed to be that way in order to have the comparison between Sam and other bears, but it just seems odd, especially since they're in such close proximity.

Sam leads a seemingly normal life, working at the local hardware store, helping build parade floats, sharing meals and being an active member of the community alongside the good-natured and trusting residents of Woodbrook. She's also a serial killer. Over the years, Sam has found a way to let out her murderous urges via trips to the city while keeping those of Woodbrook safe from her paws. Sam's perfectly crafted life begins to crumble when another killer starts taking down the residents of Woodbrook. Having to grapple with this new threat, Sam is forced to come face to face what it truly means to be a killer and embrace her inner nature.

With the lightheartedness of a children's book in the imagery and the sharp juxtaposition of blood and gore, this is a treat for anyone who loves stories that refuse to be neatly defined by a single genre and how two seemingly opposed concepts can come together to create something quite unique.

I absolutely loved this! Such fun and quick read. It was very well written and beautifully drawn. I can’t wait to read more from Patrick Horvath! Thanks NetGallery!

Loved this read. From the cover I assumed this would be a cute animal town visual, with a dark secret. I was not disappointed!

This graphic novel was unsettling and entertaining a and really scratched that serial killer next door itch that I’m always getting. Gave me Dexter vibes, which was very entertaining.

Not sure how I thought a story compared to Dexter wouldn't be this bloody. or maybe it wasn't the blood. Maybe it was overall darkness of the story. No one was really likeable. There was no ethical code like with Dexter, no close ties to loved ones. Just someone awful who kills people, and someone else who becomes a hindrance to her killing. This is definitely small-town horror. So while I wouldn't say Beneath the Trees Where Nobody Sees is a poorly written story, it was very much not to my taste. I didn't love the illustration style or the characters or the plot. Would not read more graphic novels by this author.

Nevertheless, thank you to #Netgalley and #idwreviews for granting me a digital advanced copy of #BeneaththeTreesWhereNobodySees

Like Dexter meets Richard Scarry, the cheerful animal world juxtaposed with bloody killing scenes makes this a great read for people who enjoy dark, twisted stories. However, for those familiar with murder mysteries and thrillers, the plot offers nothing new to the genre. Not bad, but not great.

I went into it mistakenly thinking it's a children's book since the art style looks like it but oh boy was i surprised, positively so might i add. Who wouldn't want to read about murder in pastel colors? I certainly would. The look inside the bear's mind was super interesting as well. I thought I'd read a book similar to Beatrix Potter and yet I had so much more fun with this murder mystery.