"Mare of Easttown meets The Outsider" is GENEROUS, in my opinion. This was okay, but it didn't reach the level of either of those references. Not at all.

There were some really creepy and tense moments here and there, but overall, I can't say this made a huge impression on me. We have a small, backward little town, a family in turmoil for quite a few reasons (mainly the tragic loss of a son), a gruesome murder, kids that went into the woods at night and didn't come back the same, etc. All the makings of a fine horror story.

I liked that this draws from Appalachian folklore because I find Appalachian folklore to be extremely unsettling and creepy, but I gotta say, I've been more scared by TikTok videos about Appalachian folklore than I was by this book. So this didn't really hit the mark for me. I wanted more.

The family drama was also a bit lackluster for me. Maybe it's because I didn't actually care about these characters and their relationship. I could empathize with the loss of their son, but I don't feel like I was made to care about them as people. Overall, this isn't a bad book, it just felt very middle-of-the-road.

What drew me in to this novel was the Appalachian setting and the themes of grief and starting anew.

I was not disappointed. While maintaining an eerie vibe, the main plot doesn't lose focus, and we're left with a book full of "wtf?" and lots of feeling.

Ummmm new favorite book of 2025?? This was amazing. I’ve seen so many 5✨ reviews of this on TikTok and I was so excited to be approved for an ARC so THANK YOU! This was creepy and scary and literal perfection.

Sadly, this books did not keep me as engaged as I had hoped. The pacing was too slow overall for my personal taste. I can see others truly enjoying the work, it just was not for me.

Nowhere is set in an Appalachian town where the struggles of a police chief and her family, cracking under the weight of a past tragedy, worsen when children go missing. The beginning was very creepy—I got goosebumps reading some of the scenes! The internal thoughts and struggles of the characters were also fleshed out well. By the thirty to fifty percent mark, I understood what was happening, but then it became a matter of waiting for the characters to catch up and figure out what was going on, which became a little frustrating, especially with the police chief. Though I had questions about Nowhere and the folklore, overall, this was quite a creepy read. Probably the ‘loudest,’ angriest family drama book I’ve read. (There was a strong sense of vitriol toward Christianity / fundamentalists and queerness throughout the story, so readers sensitive to these things may want to keep away.) Thanks to Atria Books for the opportunity to read an ARC of this novel.

Haunting debut!

Rachel and Finn Kennon are struggling to keep their family intact after a devastating loss. Rachel is the small town police chief and Finn is a washed up writer who fights his alcoholic demons every day. When a gruesome murder takes place and then the town’s children begin to go missing, Rachel has her work cut out for her. Meanwhile, her home life with Finn and their girls, Charlie and Lucy, is becoming more strange by the day.

This is an excellent horror novel! I was captivated by these characters within the first few chapters. The mystery in the town is suspenseful and sinister and I had a hard time putting this one down. If you enjoyed the show, ‘Mare of Eastown’ or love Stephen King type spooky stories then put this one on your TBR. I can’t wait to see what this author comes up with next!

Thank you Netgalley, Atria Books, and the author for this eARC in exchange for my honest review. This book will be available for purchase on March 25, 2025

There is some supernatural elements that I wasn't prepared for. There are some difficult triggering aspects to the story that I'm not sure were a good fit for my reading style. Think gruesome and horrible. The characters were always making really bad choices and it was a hard thing to like who they were as people. That said, the author did a really great job at the writing of the story and pulling in the reader. I just think that this book could have been right book, wrong time for this reader.

Dark, eerie vibes. Reader beware when reading in the dark, at night, or alone. I really enjoyed creeping myself out. This won’t be for everyone, but it was definitely for me!

Such a creepy little book.
I had a lot of fun with this one, had a hard time putting it down because I wanted to keep reading to know what the hell was happening.

There were a few little things that because of personal preferences I didn't fully vibe with, but otherwise I really enjoyed the way the mystery is built and how the many povs gave us so much more information than the characters got; so we, as readers, get to scream at them "Don't do this!!!"

Thank you NetGalley and Atria Books for the opportunity to read this ARC. This book comes out on March 25th, 2025.

Nowhere by Allison Gunn is a wild ride. We follow the various members of the Kennan family through their grief from the lost of their son Aiden, the demands of Rachel's job as police chief, and the guilt of Finn for the death of their son. Unexplainable things start happening in the woods close to the small town. Four teen girls, including Rachel's daughter Charlie, enter the woods and exit changed. The only character who seems to understand what is happening is six year old Lucy who tries to protect her family from the horrors that are waiting in the woods. As soon as you thought you had figured out what was going to happen, Gunn threw in another twist that completely changed the story. Gunn is a fantastic storyteller and I am hopeful that she will retain this level of skill with any future book she publishes.

Unfortunately this book was too scary for me to read.

Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for providing an arc.

★★★★☆
Dark, Haunting, and Deeply Human

Allison Gunn’s Nowhere is a gripping blend of psychological thriller, family drama, and unsettling folk horror. Set in a small, insular Virginia town steeped in Appalachian superstition, the novel weaves together grief, guilt, and the creeping dread of forces both human and otherworldly. Gunn’s debut is a slow burn, but the emotional weight it carries and the richly drawn characters make it a memorable and rewarding read.

At the heart of the story is Rachel Kennan, a mother reeling from the devastating loss of her young son. She buries herself in her work as the town’s police chief, using her badge as both armor and distraction. Rachel’s grief is palpable—she’s a woman clinging to control in a world that has robbed her of it. Her husband, Finn, is her emotional foil: a once-promising writer whose alcoholism led to the tragic accident that shattered their family. Finn’s guilt is suffocating, and his desperate attempts to redeem himself often teeter between hopeful and heartbreaking. Gunn’s portrayal of a marriage on the brink—held together only by their two daughters—feels painfully real.

The daughters, though less central, are not merely background figures. They carry their own trauma, navigating adolescence under the weight of their brother’s death and their parents’ unraveling relationship. Their vulnerability becomes even more pronounced as an eerie force lurking in the nearby forest begins to call to the children of the town, blurring the line between folklore and reality.

When a disturbing crime shakes the tight-knit, religious community, Rachel is thrust into an investigation that exposes the town’s deep-rooted prejudice and fear of outsiders. Gunn expertly captures the suffocating tension of a small town where everyone knows everyone—and where suspicion breeds quickly. As fear grips the townspeople, paranoia turns to violence, placing the Kennan family in increasing danger.

What elevates Nowhere beyond a standard thriller is its exploration of grief and guilt as forms of horror. The true terror, Gunn suggests, is not what lies in the woods but what festers within us. The supernatural elements, inspired by Appalachian folklore, are used sparingly but effectively, adding a layer of dread without overshadowing the story’s emotional core.

While the novel’s pacing can occasionally drag, especially in the middle, the payoff is worth the journey. Gunn’s prose is atmospheric and evocative, pulling readers into the oppressive beauty of the Virginia wilderness. The ending is both harrowing and cathartic, leaving readers with the unsettling reminder that some wounds never fully heal—but survival, and even redemption, is possible.

Nowhere is a chilling and emotionally resonant debut. Fans of literary horror and character-driven suspense will find much to admire in Gunn’s haunting tale of a family fighting to hold onto each other as the darkness—both within and without—closes in.

I am on a roll right now because this book is yet another one that I could absolutely not put down for a minute. There was one stretch where I read at least half the book in one sitting, it was just that good and I could not wait to see where it was going. No lie.

So where do I begin with this plot? In a small town outside of Roanoke, Virginia, Rachel Kennan is the chief of police, but is barely holding on. She is estranged from, but still living with her husband, Finn, who a year ago was driving drunk when he crashed the car and killed their young son. A short time later, Rachel was also outed to the very conservative church-going community. Amidst her trauma, strange events, bring the traditional Appalachian beliefs of the townspeople to the surface, when the town’s children begin acting strangely.

This book is told from multiple points of view, mostly those of the Kennan family.

I appreciate that this book really tackles depression and trauma head on as the author addresses in her author’s note at the beginning. She doesn’t try to hide Rachel’s issues under the surface, she puts them out there and makes you see them for what they are. And while Rachel may frustrate you, and she may be an unlikable character at first, her issues actually create a better character, because you get to learn who she is, and how she became the person that she is by seeing her at her “worst” in the beginning.

As for the horror aspects of this book, prepare to lock your doors and sleep with one eye open because this is one of the scarier books. I have read in awhile. A lot books claim to have a new take on horror or give you the shivers, but this one truly chilled me to my bones. And I can’t say too much but really the concept relied on good old-fashioned folklore and the classics of the genre which I think is what made it so terrifying.

That’s all you’re gonna get out of me.

At the end of the day, if you’re looking for a great book and a good scare, you’re going to want to pick this one up. It’ll make you think, and it’ll scare the daylights out of you.

Nowhere

Allison Gunn

03/25/2025

Atria Books





This is a tale of an unrelenting and hungry darkness. A story of death and tragedy and sorrow. A place where screams cannot be heard, where fear must be fed and sins go to die. This is the story of Nowhere – if you dare to open the door and let it in.

Allison Gunn, is a debut queer woman author in horror/thriller genre market heavily dominated by male authors. I chose Nowhere as my most anticipated book for 2025. Not only did it live it to the hype, this book has exceeded all expectations!



Meet the Keenan’s – Rachel, Finn, Charlie, Aiden and Lucy. Finn was a writer, but more than that, he was/is an alcoholic. After one too many drinks, he was driving Aiden and Lucy home, and after swerving to miss something he lost Aiden to the river. Their family was forever changed. They moved to a small town in Virginia called Dalmouth where she hung up the city detective life to be the chief of police. Dalmouth has its secrets too, but most of all, they do not like outsiders. The citizens tend to lean on the religious side of things and they will make sure to point out all of your faults.



Dalmouth, like other small towns in Appalachia is ridden with crime and drugs. However, something seems a little different this time. A man, nailed to a tree with his eyes gouged and weird symbols are everywhere. Unfortunately, the witness that found the body is a well-known meth dealer and all of his ramblings and warnings are dismissed.



As you turn the pages, you continually dig deeper and find out just how broken the Kennan family is. The story of how Rachel and Finn come together and why they stay together is a story in and of itself. The reasons behind Rachel’s defensiveness and the walls around her heart truly resonated among the pages. You will hate them both for most of the book. After you are done hating them, remember that every person has a backstory that you probably know nothing about. Actually, you will probably hate nearly everyone in the book (not Jeremy) and that is part of what makes it great. The neighbors are judgy and hateful, the teachers are know-it-alls, and the religious community is way over the top. Rachel can be a raging B word and you will want to sucker punch Finn.



Bottom line – lean all the way into this horror thriller that will stick with you for days. Allison Gunn is an author to follow and watch for what is next. The Appalachian Mountains are full of secrets! One more thing – sleep with the lights on!

The story quickly establishes an eerie, unsettling atmosphere, and I don’t think I’ve ever felt so creeped out while reading a book. Although that shows how effective it is, I’ll admit that horror isn’t my go-to genre. I had a hard time connecting with Rachel’s character—she really got under my skin. Every time she was mentioned, I found myself getting annoyed with her, which was a bit distracting, but that’s just a personal preference.

Horror/mystery books have never been an interest to me and I think it won't be in the future, as well.
    The main character, Rachel, was easy to dislike. In spite of the tragedy in her life that may have given her some sympathy, she showed no redeeming features.
    She has ended up as chief of police in a in a small, religious town that knows her on line history.  Her husband, a writer that has written about the backwater, hillbilly town they live in, has done himself no favors as well. They are disliked and not respected.
    The creepy part is when the forest comes alive with voices and a force that draws children in, never to return. As the story progresses it consumes adults and then the whole town. Where did they all go? Nowhere.
    The ending leads the reader to believe this 'sprit" that dissolved a town lives on in a future book.

After Rachel loses her son, she throws herself into her career as a police chef in her small town and her two daughters, who keep Rachel and her husband together. When a crime rocks their community and an ominous force is calling to children from the woods, they must come together.

This was a creepy story that was right up my alley. I love horror stories that bring kids into it and this one was all about the kids. The story became a lot towards the end and I did get lost as much. I didn’t enjoy it as much as the rest of the book but it still creeped me out. It’s a great Halloween read.

“Whenever the door between this worlds and theirs is cracked, they take the little ones first. That’s how they get stronger. That’s why you gotta keep them happy.”

⭐☆☆☆☆
I really wanted to like Nowhere, but I just couldn’t get through it. The pacing was painfully slow, and the story felt like it was dragging without any real payoff. I kept waiting for something—anything—to happen, but instead, I found myself bored and disengaged. I finally gave up before finishing, which is rare for me. If you’re looking for a book that keeps you hooked, this isn’t it.

WOW! This is one unputdownable horror novel. Allison, you outdid youself here. This follows a somewhat broken family whose mother is the police chief. Some strange things begin happening in this town to the children that are living there. If you have young children, don't say I didn't warn you. When kids enter the woods, they end up nowehere.....

Thank you NetGalley and Atria Books for an ARC of this book in exchange for my honest review.

3.5 stars rounded down.

Nowhere by Allison Gunn is a novel following Rachel Kennan’s broken family after the death of Rachel and Finn’s son in a drunk driving accident where Finn was the driver. Rachel and Finn continue to raise their two surviving daughters in the small Appalachian town Rachel is the head of police in, but things remain tense and not one single person in the town seems to like either Finn or Rachel - Rachel for her queerness and Finn for the accident and his distaste of the culture of small towns which he expresses in his personal blog. However, things grow more sinister as locals stumble upon a gruesome murder and children start disappearing from their homes, and something seems to be very wrong with the forest.

I am a sucker for messy family dynamics and this novel brought it all. Gunn wrote Rachel and Finn’s relationship masterfully. The discontent and loud hate on Rachel’s side coupled with the quiet anger from Finn was really interesting to observe and see how their relationship would evolve, especially when the forest starts impacting their family as well. I started out with a dislike of Finn, but his character was presented in a really interesting way, and I grew to like him, especially due to the relationship he has with his children (Also he is a pathetic man and if you know me I am all about that!!!). Rachel was also extremely standoffish like Finn, but her grief was laid out very well and throughout the course of the story it became apparent why she was the way she was. Another great failmarriage added to the repertoire!! One thing I would have liked to see more of is more chapters from the perspectives of the daughters as I thought that was really well done and amped up the horror and the tension. Overall, the build up of the horror and the tension throughout the novel was very well done, especially when the horror was coupled with the grief of the family. It was creepy and eerie and disturbing and kept me engaged. It was especially interesting to learn about this piece of Appalachian folklore and to see that explored in this novel, with the perspective of the “outsiders” clashing with those who have lived there as long as they can remember.

The ending kind of fell off for me, and I wish we got more of the horror of the forest, but I understand that it had to be wrapped up somehow. I thought Rachel and Finn’s conclusion was a little smooth as well, but overall it was a conclusion I wasn’t unhappy about. Great book and would recommend to any fans of creepy forests and dysfunctional families!

Thank you to NetGalley and Atria Books for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.