When we first meet the Kennans, they are a family already in crisis. Dad Finn was behind the wheel for the car accident that cost them their son. Mom Rachel has thrown herself into her work as the police chief of the tiny Virginia town they moved to, barely speaks to Finn, and is harboring more than a few secrets. Remaining daughters, teenager Charlie and 6-year-old Lucy, are aware their parents’ marriage is in trouble (they aren’t exactly hiding it) and it’s taking a toll on their relationships with them.

So, Rachel already has a lot on her mind when she and Deputy Jeremy Whitman, her only remotely competent officer, are called out to the scene of a grisly crime. Initially, they want to chalk it up to a run-in with their local family of drug runners, but something doesn’t ring true about that story, so Rachel brings it to her superiors, only to be met with disinterest. Fortunately, she is able to call in a favor with an ex and get her evidence fast tracked for examination.

Meanwhile, the local children have begun hearing voices emanating from the woods that surround the town, beckoning them to come into the trees. When they do, they come back changed and urge other kids to join them. When the adults begin hearing the voices as well and feel compelled to behave violently, the community begin to spiral out of control, and the Kennans find themselves right at the center of it all.

There are several times that Rachel and Finn might have been able to spare themselves and their remaining children from the turmoil that lies in wait for them all, but both are so steadfastly obsessed with their own drama that they can’t see the warnings blaring in their faces. Rachel especially is unwilling to consider that anyone other than herself could possibly be correct about anything, which makes her an incredibly unlikable character, even if the root causes of her behavior are understandable.

Gunn’s lucid and evocative prose renders scenes well, creating a genuinely creepy atmosphere and effectively ratcheting up the suspense as the story progresses. Rooted in Appalachian folklore, Nowhere is one of the eeriest reads of the year so far. It is only improved by its searing examination of the ways that we can harm ourselves and those closest to us when we close off our hearts and withhold our forgiveness. Grace and open-mindedness are virtues, and we can exact a terrible toll when we allow ourselves to forget that.

A book normally doesn’t creep me out, but this one did, and I loved it. I enjoyed the plot and felt like it was very original. Did I want more, yes but is that a bad thing HECK NO. I loved the representation in the story.

This book was a slow start for me but once I got going I enjoyed it. While the concept was good and storyline was compelling and scary I think it could have been a bit more fleshed out. It felt to me more like it was setting up a story to be converted into a movie or limited series rather than a well-developed novel, but it was still an enjoyable read with a satisfying ending.

Thanks to NetGalley and Atria Books for this free copy of "Nowhere."

OK, so now just say "Dalmouth" and I'll get creeped out and skin-crawly. Dalmouth, Virginia is the small, isolated town where Rachel, Finn, and their daughters moved three years ago for Rachel's promotion to police chief.

In author Gunn's horror debut, you definitely feel the claustrophobia of nonconforming and being ostracized while the story speeds along at a manic pace.

Rachel investigates a gruesome crime in the woods and hears singing in the woods, but thinks her mind is playing tricks on her. Daughter Lucy knows that "things" have been trying to get her ever since her brother's accident.

This spine-tingling book will definitely have you looking over your shoulder!

Brilliant premise, compelling cover, and the opportunity for a deeply unsettling read - but unfortunately too many trails in no real direction.

NOWHERE is set in a small town in rural Virginia where something is very wrong. Some children are disappearing, and others are acting very, very strange.
This is less of a thriller and more horror. The kind of book you read with all of the lights on.

Rooted in Appalachian folklore, the storytelling here has promise but it just didn’t feel right for me. The backgrounds and relationship dynamics of the central characters felt like unnecessary stereotypes, and the townspeople were dimensionless.

There is a reader for every book and a book for every reader. For me, this wasn’t the one - but I think there will be enthusiastic readers, especially horror aficionados, who will enjoy this very much.

Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for the advance copy. All opinions are entirely my own.

I went in thinking this was a procedural (which it sort of is) but didn't realize it leaned heavily toward horror. A female police chief mourning the death of her child becomes alarmed when her teen daughter starts acting strangely (you can see the paranormal opportunities already!) Steeped in Appalachian folklore, this is an excellent book for those who like spooky stories and horror but sadly that is not me!

After finishing Nowhere, I am left staring at the wall trying to process that ending because holy… cow. What an awesome debut horror book! I was simultaneously creeped out and left wanting more. In her novel, Gunn explores the inner workings of a crumbling marriage, the stereotypes of a small town, and what lurks in the forest.

I have a morbid curiosity with Appalachian folklore, so this book hit the spot when it came to the horror elements. While curious, I am no expert so I cannot tell you with accuracy if she did stay true to certain things or if this is mostly made up by her. I also think she did a fabulous job at slowly weaving in the horror elements too. It was steady until you got to the meat of it toward the end.

I will warn you that you will indeed hate almost every character and the one character you do kind of like is not really the best human so you end up disliking him too. From the people in the community to the police chief to the pastor to the children… I disliked them all, but in that good sort of way because that was the point.

I found myself constantly looking over my shoulder, heart racing during certain parts. I love thrillers and Nowhere is my first step into horror. I can happily say I am a fan but I’ll need a couple of weeks to shake off that uneasy feeling before picking up another one.

Recommend to those wanting a more sinister thriller or something to keep you up at night.


Thank you Atria Books for an ARC and finished copy of this book! All thoughts and opinions are my own.

A whole town vanishes and no one knows what happened. What a premise! This book is a little outside my normal genres so I didn’t know what to expect. If you like horror and a little supernatural this book is one you want to read. I liked how the author gave just enough information so you knew what was going on but didn’t have the full picture. This kept me wondering what was happening. It’s a creepy book that I would recommend reading during the day and with the lights on!

Allison Gunn's debut novel, Nowhere, is a haunting and immersive experience that captivates listeners from start to finish. Set in a small Appalachian town, the story masterfully intertwines elements of family drama, supernatural horror, and folklore, creating a rich tapestry that is both unsettling and deeply moving.​

The narrative centers on Rachel Kennan, the town's police chief, who is grappling with the devastating loss of her young son. As she delves into a series of mysterious disappearances and confronts an ominous force lurking in the nearby woods, listeners are drawn into a suspenseful journey that explores themes of grief, redemption, and the darkness within us all.​

Gunn's writing is both atmospheric and evocative, painting vivid scenes that transport listeners to the eerie, claustrophobic setting of Dahlmouth. The audiobook's narrator enhances this experience, delivering a performance that captures the emotional depth and tension of the story, making it difficult to stop reading.

DNF @ 20%

I walked into this one expecting to be creeped out and made it to the 20% mark without anything remarkable happening. This could be a case of wrong reading mood versus anything to gripe about the book itself, but I’m setting it aside because I don’t find myself drawn to pick it back up.

This book has a creepy atmosphere and I love it especially because it so plays into the whole lore of the Appalachian mountains. The woods where the children started disappearing was a character in the story all by it's self. It was creepy and kept me engaged the entire time.

This book was not my favorite read.
It was very hard to follow, and seemed as if more time was spent developing the character’s back stories than the actual plot for the book.

Amazing for a debut novel!! Really good atmospheric writing that pulls you into the story. This book had me scared from the beginning. Would definitely recommend this book to anyone that likes horror novels.

Thank you to Atria and Netgalley for this ARC in exchange for my honest thoughts. Unfortunately I DNFed this one. Something about the writing style didn’t work for me, though I’m not sure exactly what that was. However, the real reason was that I just couldn’t get into the story. Nothin grabbed me during the first several chapters and it didn’t feel worth it to keep trying.

I feel like this was a book that couldn't decide if it was a family drama or a thriller. The characters are not likeable so you never root for anyone. The country bumpkin persona is heavy in this book, it's insulting. Nothing happens for the beginning 70% of the book. And while they're were a couple of bright spots toward the end, I don't think someone would hang in long enough to get to them. I only finished to write this ARC review.

The setting and atmosphere of Nowhere are on point. It gave the creepy vibes and kept me guessing what was going to happen next and who, if anyone, was going to make it out alive. Now, the characters, on the other hand were trash.. all except Lucy. Some of them, I think, could have maybe been redeemed, but our main character, Rachel Keenan, the chief of this small town police department, had me hoping she was going to get knocked off from the first moment we met her. Thankfully, you don't really need to like anyone to be able to enjoy the horror aspects of this story.

Wow! This was a wild ride! Bringing in complex issues like family tragedy, internal homophobia, and community conflict, this book covers a lot of topics amidst making everything TERRIFYING. Definitely a fun read!

This book was reminiscent of the HBO show, The Outsider (2020). Rachel (FMC) is the only outsider in the police department- and only got her role by going to a middle-of-nowhere town. She and her family were not well received for multiple reasons presented through the book. The story weighs heavily on the recent accidental death of her and Finn’s son, Aiden, regarding the circumstances, regret and blame. The only distraction comes when a body is found in the woods under unusual circumstances. As the story unfolds, there’s a mix of paranormal activity- though it definitely added to the story! Overall, I have this one a 5/5 stars, perfect on the build up of suspense, pacing, and storyline.

It took me a while to get into this book but I ended up getting through it. It was spooky and suspenseful but ultimately fell flat for me.

In this debut novel Rachel is a the police chief who recently lost her young son in a car accident. The driver is her husband who was drunk at the time. The family is barely surviving when a disturbing crime takes place and a force seems to be calling all the children of the town and making them disappear.

This book definitely had a scary jump factor to it and is perfect for those readers who love creepy horror books that also have a little bit of lore woven in.
Thank you to Netgalley and to the publishers for allowing me to read this advanced copy.