What a dream team author - audio narrator combo! This book was excellent. If you are looking for a book with twists and turns galore.

This will suck you in from the beginning. And you are going to question everyone and everything.

Enjoy!

Kate Alice Marshall, author of young adult and middle-grade novels, ventures into the adult fiction world with her first adult mystery/thriller — WHAT LIES IN THE WOODS.

They were eleven when they sent a killer to prison.
They were heroes . . . but they were liars.

Three girls.
Naomi Shaw
Cassidy (Cass)
Olivia (Liv)

The three childhood friends invented games and imagined mythical, fantasy, and magical adventures. One such game was the Goddess Game, where they pretended to be goddesses from Greek mythology.

Persephone: According to Greek Mythology, "Persephone," the queen of the underworld, was the daughter of Zeus and Demeter, the goddess of harvest and fertility. She was also called Kore, which means "maiden" and grew up to be a lovely girl attracting the attention of many gods.

The girls had a secret in the woods. Their imagination. Their games. What happened in the woods?

One summer, their lives would change. Naomi was stabbed seventeen times. A brutal act of violence in the woods—leaves Naomi fighting for her life. They were all traumatized.

Relying on the words of the two girls, she testified in a trial that convicted and sent the attacker, Stahl (a serial killer), to prison for the rest of his life.

However, they lied. Now twenty-two years later, the killer dies in prison. The three friends unite in the hometown of Chester. Fueled by guilt and their secrets, they each have their demons.

The serial killer's son thinks they sent the wrong person to prison.

Liv struggles with mental health issues and wants to reveal the truth. She is mentally and emotionally distraught, guilt-ridden, suicidal, unbalanced, and on edge. Will she crack?

Naomi is the one with the scars. She is disfigured. She is unsure who the attacker was and questions her memory since she was so distraught at the time. Did she believe what the girls told her to say at the time?

Cass, the Mayor's daughter and single mother, wants to ignore and forget about it. She does not want to dredge up the past. However, is she protecting her brother, Oscar?

Oscar and Naomi have a complex past. Cody used to hang out with Oscar. He was the hero who found and rescued Naomi. He is married and a State Representative. He's always looking out for Naomi. But was he the hero?

Ethan, a podcaster, turns up to interview the victims for a story. Can they trust him?

Who wants to stop Naomi from discovering the truth?

The old fear still burns in her mind. What happened in the woods? Who was the attacker, and their motive? Slowly the secrets of that summer day are unraveled.

WHAT LIES IN THE WOODS is a slow-burning mystery and complex labyrinth of secrets, lies, childhood fantasy mythology, and murder set in the Pacific Northwest.

Chilling, atmospheric, and haunting! Not a real page-turner or thriller for me. More of a murder mystery with many red herrings. The novel explores how trauma and events from childhood carry over into adulthood.

The novel has received some excellent reviews, and am sure it appeals to a specific audience; however, I felt the book was more of a YA mystery and pretty drawn out. The second half of the book does move faster than the first half. There is a lot of drama typical of young girls, and I, unfortunately, am not into Greek Goddesses, Persephone, fantasies, myths, rituals, the paranormal, etc.

AUDIOBOOK: However, I listened to the audiobook narrated by Karissa Vacker (one of my favorite narrators), and she delivered an engaging and entertaining performance for all voices.

🔉 Audiobook rating: 5 Stars
📕 Book: 3 stars
💌 Overall rating: 4🌟Stars

A special thank you to #MacmillanAudio and #NetGalley for an e-ALC in exchange for an honest review. #SMPInfluencers

Blog Review posted @
www.JudithDCollins.com
@JudithDCollins | #JDCMustReadBooks
My Rating: 4 Stars
Pub Date: Jan 17, 2023
Jan 2023 Must-Read Books

Many thanks to NetGalley, Flatiron Books, and Macmillan Audio for gifting me a digital ARC of this wonderful mystery/thriller by Kate Alice Marshall, perfectly narrated by the amazing Karissa Vacker - 5 stars!

Three young girls played their made-up Goddess Game in the woods near their homes. But then Naomi was stabbed 17 times and lived to help identify their attacker. The girls' testimony put away a serial killer wanted for the murders of 6 women. But they lied. When the killer dies in prison, Naomi goes back to her hometown to meet with Olivia and Cass. The secrets they hold are becoming too much to bear.

Wow - this was a great mystery and I did not see that ending coming! I really felt for Naomi - she was so strong, refused to hide her facial scars, yet lived in fear and mistrust. A podcaster, Ethan, comes to town and tries to talk Naomi into an interview. Then there are all those secrets. This was a well-constructed, multi-layer mystery that I couldn't stop listening to, especially when the talented Karissa Vacker was doing the narrating. I can't wait to read more from this author - highly recommended!

Reading Between the Wines book review #105/135 for 2022:
Rating: 4 🍷 🍷 🍷 🍷
Book 🎧: What Lies in the Woods
Author: Katie Alice Marshall
Genre: General Fiction (Adult)
RELEASES on January 17, 2023!!!

Sipping thoughts: What is more interesting than a sinister story that involves childhood friends with a secret?
Three friends survived a horrific attack in the woods at 11 years old, but 22 years later are forced to revisit the past as it continues to haunt them. The final reveal was not a huge surprise as I called it from the beginning. There are definitely a few other surprises that were dropped along the way that I did not call or expect. This my first Marshall book but I will be on the lookout for any new releases!

Cheers and thank you to @NetGalley and @MacmillanAudio for an advanced copy of @WhatLiesInTheWoods.

#WhatLiesInTheWoods. #KatieAliceMarshall #MacmillanAudio #NetGalley #advancedreadercopy #ARC #Kindle #Booksofinstagram #readersofinstagram #bookstagram #nicoles_bookcellar #bookworm #bookdragon #booknerd #booklover #bookstagrammer #bookaholic #bookreview #bookreviewer #IHaveNoShelfControl #ReadingBetweenTheWines #fiction #thriller #suspense #mystery #MysteryAndThrillers #GeneralFictionAdult

3.5 stars

Thirtysomething Naomi Shaw is a wedding photographer living in Seattle, Washington. Naomi has scars on her face and a tendency to hook up with the wrong men, partly because of a horrific childhood incident. Twenty-two years ago, when Naomi was eleven-years-old and living in Chester, Washington, she was attacked by a serial killer and stabbed 17 times. Naomi was traumatized and has been struggling to cope ever since.

Now the serial killer, Allan Michael Stahl, has died in prison, and Naomi is drawn back to Chester, where her childhood secrets reside.

Naomi's life in Chester was never easy. She was brought up by an alcoholic father whose hoarding filled the house with junk. Moreover, Naomi's dad couldn't keep a job or put food on the table. So Naomi often stayed at the homes of her two best friends, Cassidy (Cass) and Olivia (Liv), where she ate, slept, and often found a five-dollar-bill stuffed into her coat pocket. Unfortunately, Naomi also had to deal with Cass's brother Oscar, a teenage bully who thought he could get away with anything because his father was the mayor.

When Naomi, Cass, and Liv were eleven they became enthralled with mysticism and spent most of their free time playing 'The Goddess Game.' The girls pictured themselves as Greek goddesses, and they'd ramble through the woods and leave offerings in 'magical places.' One such place was a small hidden cave where the girls had found something (they thought) worthy of their gifts - something they SHOULDN'T have kept secret, but they did.

One night, when the girls were near the secret cave, Naomi was attacked by a man with a knife. Cass and Liv saw the event from a short distance, but could do nothing to stop it. Naomi - who was left for dead - was rescued by a local teenage boy and taken to the hospital.

The sheriff was sure the perpetrator was the serial killer Allan Michael Stahl, and when the cops showed Stahl's photo to Cass, Liv, and Naomi, they agreed he was the attacker. In the end, the girls' testimony at trial - especially Naomi's - sent Stahl to prison for life.

Now, 22 years later, Stahl is dead and Naomi isn't certain he was the perpetrator. Naomi's memories of the attack are extremely hazy and she may have 'gone with the flow' when Stahl was accused of the crime. Naomi's friend Liv has doubts as well, and hints she has more to say about the incident. Naomi decides to reinvestigate the stabbing, and forms an alliance with a true crime podcaster named Ethan Shreiber to do just that.

As Naomi goes about her inquiries she comes across many residents from her previous life in Chester, and suspects one of these people may have tried to kill her. Another death complicates matters, as does the secret that's been kept by Naomi and her friends for decades.

As it turns out secrets abound in Chester, and some ot them are quite surprising.

The author has put together a good cast of characters and a fine plot. My major criitcism of the novel lies with the climax, which is too long and drawn out. When the killer is revealed, I like it to be quick and concise, without a lot of excessive blathering.

Still, this is a good mystery that would appeal to many fans of the genre.

I listened to the audiobook, narrated by Karissa Vacker, whose recital is appropriately whispery and sinister.

Thanks to Netgalley, Kate Alice Marshall, and Macmillan Audio for a copy of the novel.

Three friends survived a horrific attack in the woods at 11 years old, but 22 years later are forced to revisit the past as it continues to haunt them.

This was a fun and twisty thriller as decades-old secrets start unraveling in a small town. Surprising and disturbing, it’s a wild ride that will have you piecing together the truth until the very end. I loved the audiobook narration too — Karissa Vacker did an excellent job keeping you suspicious and fearful as the story unfolded.

Thank you Macmillan Audio for my advance copy in exchange for an honest review.

Requesting books on NG based solely on the cover and title doesn't always work out for me.
In this instance it totally paid off!
Great back and forth with memories filling in the here and now, and much intrigue throughout.
The final "reveal" was not a big surprise, but the author's writing made it exciting all the same.
When a plot is slightly predictable, but you can't stop reading anyway?
Totally amazing writing & awesome narration pulls you in!
Much love to NetGalley & Macmillan Audio for my DRC.

First, thank you Netgalley & Macmillan audio for my advanced copy of this book!

Such a great story that kept my attention the whole time. Lots of twists! Highly recommend this book! I look forward to reading more from this author.

When Naomi and her 2 friends were 11 years old, they put a serial killer in prison. Naomi almost died that day. Now the serial killer is dead and Naomi must return to the place it all began. She must come to terms with what happened to her all those years ago. Are her bff's truly the heroes everyone thinks they are? Did they put the wrong man in prison? Naomi must find the answers to these questions before it's too late and someone else ends up dead.

Kate Alice Marshall wrote a story that will keep you hopping from character to character, trying to figure out who is the killer. I truly love when a writer can do this. I always try to figure it out but don't want to be able to. For me, it's a sign of a great imagination. The narrator, Karissa Vacker, does a fantastic job bringing this story to life. She is able to keep the characters separate, all the while, keeping it exciting.

Thank you to Netgalley and MacMillan audio for advance copy in exchange for an honest review.

This audiobook was a fantastic listen. I enjoyed the narrator. The story was interesting and had good suspense and twists. I couldn't guess the ending. I liked the characters too though I couldn't imagine how different the three 11 years old girls were, especially when one was way calculating than the others. This audiobook was fast paced and sometimes I don't want to put it down.

This story followed Naomi. She was stabbed in the woods at 11 years old and survived. This older guy named Cody found her and brought her out of the woods. Cody friends with Cassidy's older brother. Cody saved Naomi once before from Cassidy's older brother's harassment. Her friends are Cassidy and Olivia. The day Naomi was stabbed, her friends made their way out of the woods to seek help. They all accused this local serial killer who were already accused of hurting a string of girls at the time even though there weren't any proofs. He was put behind bars and 20 years later died of cancer in prison. Now, 20 years later, Liv (Olivia) started to feel guilty and wanted to come clean. Liv had this secret that she wanted to tell. It's not the same secret all three girls shared and kept for over 20 years. When Liv was found dead, many people thought it was suicide. Naomi didn't think so. Naomi started to unravel the lies and the secrets starting when she was 11. What she found definitely shocked her.


Thank you Macmillan Audio and NetGalley for the opportunity to listen and review!

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the gifted audiobook of What Lies in the Woods!

This is the first book I’ve read by the author and I definitely will be picking up more of her books. This was a unique and fast-paced thriller that kept me on my toes. At times, it felt a little too far-fetched for my personal taste, but it was still a fascinating page-turner. I loved the interwoven and complex characters that left me guessing who could be trusted. I look forward to more from the author!

On an audio note - The production and narration were fabulous!

I was provided a free advanced audiobook of this from @netgalley in exchange for my honest review!
When they were 11, Naomi and her two best friends sent a serial killer to jail. After being stabbed seventeen times, Naomi somehow survived and was able to identify him. However, not everyone was telling the truth. Twenty-two years after the killer dies in jail, the girls get together and one of them is ready to tell the truth. But who is trying to stop her?
This was a pretty twisty turny story! I figured out one of the surprises, but there was a lot I didn't see coming! It lost some stars for me on believability of the story. I realize people do some pretty crazy things, especially to keep secrets hidden, but some of it was a bit too unrealistic to me. I did enjoy the audiobook narrator. I think she did a good job of setting the tone and differentiating the characters.
It is still a pretty good mystery/thriller that I'd be surprised if people figured it all out before the end! So if that is your thing, definitely add this one to your TBR!
It is set to be published 17 Jan 23, so save some of that Christmas money!
#NetGalley #WhatLiesInTheWoods

This was my first book by this author but it won't be my last. I will definitely be checking out her backlist. This story also helped me get out of a month-long reading slump. This book had the perfect amount of twists and darkness for me. I also quite enjoyed the narration.

Looking for an entertaining read to fend off those pesky winter doldrums? WHAT LIES IN THE WOODS is a psychological thriller that won’t disappoint.

Years ago, what started as three eleven year old girls going into the woods to play ended with a notorious serial killer being placed behind bars. As years pass can they trust their childhood recollections? Did they send the wrong man to prison?

With mysterious intrigue, the atmospheric woods felt like a character in its own right. For over a decade it held long-buried secrets that refused to stay buried. Unlike popcorn thrillers, the story took on heftier themes with care. I found the way it portrayed childhood trauma and how its looming shadow can permeate adulthood thoughtfully done. The story had me considering the magic of childhood and the unreliability of memories.

The audiobook narration by Karissa Vacker was superb and made for easy listening when I had to be away from the pages. She is quickly becoming one of my favorite friends to have in my ears. My armchair sleuthing skills are slowly improving but I still didn’t see the ending coming. The twists were plentiful and the conclusion was satisfying and plausibly clever.

Kate Marshall Alice has an extensive backlist that I’m excited to dive into!

RATING: 4/5
PUB DATE: January 17, 2023

Many thanks to Flatiron Books for an ARC and Macmillan Audio for an ALC in exchange for an honest review. Review will be posted to www.instagram.com/kellyhook.readsbooks in advance of publication date.

I have never read and of Kate Alice Marshall’s books before but now I know I need to. I loved this! I was a little confused in the beginning keeping everything straight but as it went on I was just totally into it. I did not expect the outcome at all. Not sure if it’s because I’m not a seasoned thriller reader or if it’s that it’s just that twisty. Loved it and will definitely recommend to my Instagram followers closer to the pub date!

Eleven year old girls lives change one day while out in the woods after discovering something and then one of them being brutally attacked. Over twenty years later and the truth may finally come to light.

“We tried to forget. We didn’t tell the story. Not the real one. Not ever.”

Childhood friends Naomi, Cassidy, and Olivia, spend their summers playing in the woods, imagining, and pretending. They create a world of wonder, ceremony, and magic and call it the Goddess Game. Their summer ended suddenly when Naomi was attacked. She miraculously survived seventeen stab wounds. The girls testimony sends a serial killer to prison. They were said to be heroes, but they were liars. Many years later, one of the girls wants to reveal the secret, and Naomi goes to great lengths to discover what really happened in the woods that day.

This is one of the best thrillers I have read to date. It was full of adventure, twists, and turns. A dark, twisty, suspenseful story that will keep you invested and guessing until the very end.

I listened to the audiobook and the narrator did a fantastic job. What Lies in the Woods earns 5 stars from me! This is a must read in 2023.
Thank you to Macmillan Audio and NetGalley who provided me with a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

I don't typically listen to audiobooks, but I made an exception for this one, and am so glad that I did!

Three 11-year-old girls play some sinister make-believe games in the woods. Naomi survives being stabbed 17 times, and the girls put a serial killer behind bars for the crime. But what lies in the woods?

Years later, Naomi returns to her hometown and becomes tangled in the mess to unravel the truth about what happened when they were children.

There were a lot of great plot twists in this book. I saw some of them coming, and some of them were shocking. The relationship between the three girls feels so real. I found myself going back to when I was 11, and you can see how the make-believe games they were playing were real to them. It also makes you feel the toxicity of some of the characters.

I think I would have enjoyed this a little more if I had read a physical copy of the book. I always find it irritating when a woman tries to impersonate the generic idea of a "man" voice, and it's so humorous that it's distracting.

Overall, it was worth the listen, and I can't wait to get my hands on a physical copy.

So I just finished listening to this audiobook and I’m absolutely speechless. It was narrated by Karissa Vacker and she was excellent, a new favorite. She did an incredible job with all the characters and I hope to see more from her!
I know I shouldn’t be surprised that this was going to be so good but it was so good! And if you love Gillian Flynn then I think you’re going to love this.
I actually finish this audiobook in one day because I couldn’t stop listening. It was shocking and suspenseful with lies and so many twists. The author has a true talent for writing and I’m already a fan. Make sure to had this to your TBR.
Thanks Macmillan Audio via NetGalley.

Thank you to Macmillan Audio for the complimentary advance listeners copy of WHAT LIES IN THE WOODS by Kate Alice Marshall for an honest review.

WHAT LIES IN THE WOODS follows Naomi, a woman scarred both physically and emotionally by her childhood. When she was eleven, she and her two best friends were playing in the woods, having fun with a game they invented, the Goddess Game. One day of play takes a very dark turn when Naomi is attacked and stabbed seventeen times. She survives and she and her friends are able to offer the testimony to lock away a serial killer who has killed six other women. They are still haunted by that day for many reasons, not the least of which is that they lied.

It is now 22 years later and the man convicted of attacking Naomi has died in prison and it has reopened old memories and questions. Naomi comes back home to see her friends and finds that they are all on edge, some wanting to come forward with the truth, some not knowing what the truth really was.

I started listening to this book on audio and I flew through it in less than a day. It was exactly the easy listen bingeable thriller I was looking for in the moment and I really enjoyed my time with it. There was one major twist that I guessed pretty early on, but even with that the author kept me questioning exactly how my guess might play out. And while there were things I guessed, I didn’t have all of the answers sorted by the end.

I think the author did a great job of slowly bringing forward more details so that the reader could ‘play along’ and piece together the answers. There were a lot of layers of small town politics and complicated relationships along with the mysteries at the core of the story to really keep you wanting to read more and get to the answers.

WHAT LIES IN THE WOODS comes out on January 17th! I really enjoyed this one on audio and I think it would be great in any format!