"Pearl Gorham arrives in 1965, one of a string of young women sent to Lichen Hall to give birth. And she soon suspects the proprietors are hiding something."
Lichen Hall is full of stories, including witches, ghosts and more. Pearl sets out with help to find out about Lichen Hall with help. The depiction of motherhood, especially those who were unwed in the 1960s was sad due to their treatment and lack of assistance. There is a great deal of scandalous rumors about the Hall, and Pearl immerses herself right in. As the story unfolds, events become more horrifying. Definitely a perfect read for people who like Gothic horror with supernatural elements.

In The Ghost Woods by C.J. Cooke, my latest Net Galley review book, two women, Mabel and Pearl, have babies at different points in time in the same place: Lichen Hall. The story shifts back in forth, Mabel in the past (50s) and Pearl in the “present” (60s) showing how each deal with giving birth and what happens to their children. Eventually the two stories intertwine in a frightening manner. There is even more to the story, but you’ll have to discover that spooky mystery for yourself.

The Ghost Woods is a slow burning story. It takes it really long time to get going. I found it very interesting and yet I kept wanting the pace of the story to pick up. I wasn’t sure if I was going to like the book in the end, but when this story picked up, I could not put the book down. The last few chapters go at a breakneck pace and left me completely stunned. The revelations of the book and the final fates of Pearl and Mabel took my breath away.

This is a book you have to be a patient with. It has a lot to say and it says it very well. Pearl and Mabel are both complex characters and so are the other women who appear in the book. The Ghost Woods is largely a character story, though it does have a really good mystery there too. The writing is excellent, especially the dialogue. In the end, I enjoyed The Ghost Woods much more than I thought I would.

If you enjoy slow-burning gothic stories with a bit of mystery and complex characters, then you should check out The Ghost Woods when it comes out next year. Its a really good story!

The Ghost Woods by C.J. Cooke will be released on April 29th, 2025. Thank you to the publisher and Net Galley for providing an early digital copy of this book for review.

This had a horror element that I was looking for and was enjoying from this type of book. The concept was a great way of using the Gothic manor and how everything felt like it belonged in that genre. I was invested in the characters and was glad I got to read this book. C. J. Cooke always does a great job in writing this type of book and leaving me wanting more.

📖 Book Review 📖 Now and then…when your whole life has felt haunted by spirits and shadows, time moves in such a fluid manner while simultaneously remaining stagnant. Deep in the mysterious woods of northern Scotland there lies Lichen House, a hidden away manor for unwed mothers to disappear until babies can be adopted to their forever homes. But something strange lurks in the trees and the line between reality and the unknown blends together marvelously in C.J. Cooke’s The Ghost Woods. This hauntingly beautiful gothic horror novel captures a moment in history where unwed mothers were cast aside in the dark while still casting light on the stigma and shame that still casts shadows and haunts vulnerable populations. Told in in a dual timelines, The Ghost Woods is an enchantingly atmospheric read bristling with secrets and folklore.

C.J. Cooke’s "The Ghost Woods" is a masterful exploration of gothic horror, blending eerie folklore, the supernatural, and the harrowing real-life experiences of unwed mothers in the 1950s and 60s. Set against the haunting backdrop of Lichen Hall—a crumbling, isolated manor steeped in legend and shadowed by dark woods—the novel draws readers into an unsettling world where the boundaries between reality and myth blur in disturbing ways. With themes of motherhood, trauma, and societal repression running deep, this is not just a ghost story, but a poignant commentary on the treatment of women who were cast away for their circumstances.

The narrative unfolds in two timelines, each following a young woman sent to Lichen Hall to give birth and leave their child behind. In 1959, Mabel finds herself inexplicably pregnant, though she has no memory of ever having been with a man. She arrives at Lichen Hall in a state of confusion and fear, believing that her condition is the result of something supernatural. Fast forward to 1965, when Pearl, a 22-year-old nurse, is similarly sent to the manor after being ostracized for her pre-marital pregnancy. While both women arrive for the same reason, they soon discover that the true horrors of Lichen Hall go far beyond their own personal tragedies.

From the moment they step foot in the manor, the sense of dread is palpable. Lichen Hall is decaying from the inside out, with mold festering within its walls, strange apparitions haunting its grounds, and the woods themselves seeming to encroach upon the house. The caretakers, Mrs. Whitlock and her husband, are unsettling figures in their own right—Mrs. Whitlock, in particular, insists on handling the pregnancies without any medical intervention, her behavior veering between cold detachment and sinister intent. Her husband, suffering from dementia, only adds to the aura of decay, while the strange young boy, Wulfric, who roams the grounds, has an eerie fascination with mushrooms and the natural world, hinting at something far more sinister lurking beneath the surface.

What makes "The Ghost Woods" truly compelling is Cooke’s ability to intertwine gothic horror with real-world trauma. At its core, the novel explores the shame, isolation, and abuse that unwed mothers endured during this period. Lichen Hall becomes not just a physical place, but a symbol of the systemic oppression faced by women—its walls trapping them in silence and secrecy. The friendships that form between the women, particularly between Pearl and Mabel, offer moments of warmth amidst the bleakness, but their bond is also forged by the shared suffering and uncertainty of their futures.

The supernatural elements of the novel are woven seamlessly into this larger narrative of horror and loss. The house itself feels alive, with its creeping mold and decaying structure reflecting the internal rot of the societal systems that put these women in such dire straits. The woods surrounding the manor are filled with ghostly figures, unsettling folklore, and a sense of impending doom. Cooke introduces a variety of supernatural motifs—from witches and haunted woods to strange, sentient fungi that evoke a visceral sense of unease. These elements add depth to the novel’s atmosphere, heightening the tension and pushing the boundaries between what is real and what is imagined.

Pearl and Mabel’s journeys eventually collide, unraveling the dark secrets of Lichen Hall, the true nature of the woods, and the strange happenings within. As the two timelines converge, the reader is taken on a twisting, suspenseful ride that leads to a shocking conclusion. The truth behind Lichen Hall is deeply tied to the folklore and mythology that have surrounded the manor for centuries, but it also reflects the more human horrors of memory, trauma, and loss.

While the ending may require a suspension of disbelief for some, the journey is well worth it. Cooke manages to balance a deeply atmospheric, slow-burn horror with moments of genuine emotion and humanity. The dual timelines allow for a rich, layered narrative, and the characters—particularly Pearl and Mabel—are complex, relatable, and sympathetic. Mrs. Whitlock’s Jekyll-and-Hyde persona, Wulfric’s unsettling presence, and the other inhabitants of Lichen Hall all contribute to the claustrophobic, eerie mood that pervades the novel.

Cooke’s signature style, evident in her previous works The Lighthouse Witches and The Nesting, shines through here as well, with her talent for creating vivid, moody settings and her ability to explore the psychological depths of her characters. The horrors of The Ghost Woods are not just found in the supernatural, but in the way society treated these vulnerable women, stripping them of their dignity and choices. The novel’s exploration of motherhood—its joys, pains, and sacrifices—adds a level of emotional resonance that elevates the story beyond traditional gothic horror.

For readers who enjoy atmospheric, character-driven horror with a blend of folklore, history, and social commentary, "The Ghost Woods" is a must-read. Cooke’s ability to craft a chilling, immersive world while also addressing real-life issues makes this novel both haunting and thought-provoking. It’s the kind of book that stays with you long after you’ve turned the final page, leaving you to ponder the true cost of the secrets we bury and the stories we leave untold. Whether you’re a fan of gothic literature or just looking for a compelling, eerie read, The Ghost Woods will not disappoint.

Many thanks to NetGalley and Berkley Publishing for sharing this unputdownable mystery's digital reviewer copy in exchange for my honest opinions.

A creepy novel about a home for unwed mothers in the 1960's. There's a subtle air of menace in this book, but it falls short of Cooke's previous thrillers

I loved the seamless mix of supernatural elements into this book. A quirky take on a moment in history.