This is so messed up, dark and twisted! I didn’t want to put it down since I couldn’t wait to figure out what happened. Some of the twists were fairly obvious, but some were too deranged to even think of.

I will say, I really struggled with the MC Naomi. I understand how and why she is so self destructive, but it really got frustrating to read over and over again.

Thanks NetGalley and publisher for the digital copy in exchange for my honest review!

What Lies in the Woods
by Kate Alice Marshall
Narrated by Karissa Vacker

Rating: 4.6/5.0 Stars

What a thrilling, wild ride! What Lies in the Woods, by Alice Marshall, is such a great listen that kept me listening raptly from the beginning to the very end. Naomi and her BFFs, Liv and Cassidy, met a serial killer. Naomi almost died. She was one of the lucky ones. Or is that really what happened? This is the story of friends revisiting a dark time in their past when Naomi was almost killed by a serial killer. Now that he's dead, they're all back home, but there's someone out there that thinks that what they claim happened all those years ago may not really have happened...

This was a real page-turner from the get-go. Naomi is a very flawed and imperfect character, yet I liked her and was rooting for her the entire time. I don't want to give any spoilers away, but I definitely recommend this listen. I loved the way that Ms. Marshall crafted the story and she takes the reader on a journey that revisits the past but comes together in the present. Ms. Vacker did an amazing job with her performance. I'd easily and happily listen to more stories narrated by her. She's easy to listen to and does a great male voice as well.

Thank you so very much to #MacMillanAudio and #NetGalley for the opportunity to listen to and review this ARC.

I would listen to anything Karissa Vacker narrates. Three best friends are responsible for putting a serial killer into prison. Twenty years later, what actually happened in those woods is far from what they told. Each carries a secret.

Folks, we have a winner here! A decades old secret, a childhood game, dark sacrifices, and a small quirky town where absolutely no one can tell the truth. As lover of twisty thrillers, this story has all of the pivotal elements that keep you guessing. Unreliable friendships and deeply flawed characters are the heart of this meandering novel. I especially loved the love/hate relationships between Naomi and her dad. A super fun read!

The audiobook is excellent.and very well done. Karissa Vacker is now one of my go to narrators.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for an Advanced Readers Copy.

Over 20 years ago, as only young teens, Naomi and her friends Cassidy and Olivia put a murderer behind bars. while Naomi was left with scars from 17 stab wounds, her friends made it out alive, but the three were able to pick the man who stabbed her out no problem. They were town heroes. Now Oliva wants to tell the truth of what happened, and Naomi is determined to find out what really happened to her.

Phew! I did not expect this one! I was immediately drawn in to Naomi’s story as she headed back home after her almost murderer died in jail. I obviously figured there was more to the story about her attack, there wouldn’t be much of a book if there wasn’t, but I was not expecting what we got! This one kept me on my toes trying to figure out what had actually happened in the woods with her friends, and left me with my mouth hanging open.

This book was so page turning.
I loved the twist an turns.
The characters were well rounded and some were cringe worthy.
This story line was so intriguing
I could see discussions on this in a book club.

4.5 well this was quite the wild ride!

Synopsis: When they were eleven years old, best friends Naomi, Cassidy, and Olivia spent the summer playing the Goddess Game in the woods, believing in magic and goddesses. The summer ends, however, with Naomi have been attacked and surviving the seventeen stab wounds she received. She identifies the man who hurt her, and the girls' testimony sentences a serial killer, who had been wanted for murdering six women, to prison, making them local heros. They were also liars... These friends have kept a crucial secret. Olivia wants to finally tell the truth, and Naomi wants to better piece together what actually happened in the woods.

Thoughts: Considering that Katie Alice Marshall has previously written exclusively YA and middle grade books, this was an excellent adult debut! I was guessing from the beginning to end, and I enjoyed every minute of it. I liked the integrated flashbacks to when they were younger and how that gave us a glimpse into the dynamics of these three friends. One of the main reasons it isn't a five star is that there was a bit of a slow period in the middle, but it made the ending worthwhile! I also didn't like a particular choice that the author made right at the very end (won't say anything further to avoid spoilers!).

3.75 stars, rounding up to 4. I just finished What Lies in the Woods by Kate Alice Marshall, narrated by Karissa Vacker. Overall, I enjoyed listening to this audiobook - it was entertaining though I have to say it had some slow moments and that's why it's not a solid 4. The narrator was superb! Really nailed the characters' personalities.

Big thanks to Netgalley and and the publisher for an advanced copy of audiobook version. #netgalley #WhatLiesInTheWoods

What Lies in the Woods might be my favorite suspense novel I’ve read this year. It is extremely multilayered, filled with red herrings, and at its heart has a truly compelling story that made me legitimately care for the main character, Naomi.

The basic premise: at age 11, Naomi was stabbed 17 times in the woods by her house while her two best friends hid and watched the whole thing. In the aftermath, the three girls identify the attacker, who turns out to be the main suspect in a string of murders. Except…did they actually SEE him, or were they coerced to ID him by the police? The second layer of the novel has to do with the Goddess Game the girls used to play in the woods, and the “rituals” they did for the game. And finally, the third layer of the novel is how the girls end up as adults: how did the events from that summer in the woods leave its mark on each of them?

The writing is absolutely gorgeous. Kate Alice Marshall takes a relatively unlikable character and gives her so much depth that it’s impossible to feel anything but extreme empathy for her. The way she develops her characters is so effective, and almost made me feel like I was reading more of a contemporary fic than a thriller…except it was almost impossibly to forget I was reading a thriller because the suspense & mystery aspects were expertly done.

About halfway through the book, I thought I’d figured everything out…only to find that while I had uncovered pieces of the story, there were even more things that took me completely by surprise.

This was perfect as an audiobook - the narrator really embodies Naomi’s spirit, consistently bringing the right emotions and inflections to the work.

Honestly I can’t recommend this one highly enough!

What Lies In The Woods is Kate Alicia Marshall’s first thriller novel, and I am confident this will not be her last! This novel centers around Naomi, who was attacked in the woods with her two best friends when she was only eleven years old. Her testimony put away the person who presumably tried to murder her. After the person dies in jail after being incarcerated for over twenty years, she starts to question what happened in the woods and returns to her hometown to determine what really happened.

This book was a wild ride. I was hooked from the start, and the story is full of twisty twists. As soon as I thought I knew where the story was going, there was another Vic twist. The execution was so clever that I got tricked through the entire story. I loved the narration by Karissa Vacker. She is becoming my favorite narrator. She does a great job differentiating each character's voice and making the atmosphere perfect.

Thank you to NetGallery and to Macmillan audio for giving me a copy of the book

Gripping story of three childhood friends who shared a trauma and kept a secret for 22 years. When Naomi returns to her hometown after the killer they put away dies, a series of events unfold and the secret threatens to come out. Author Kate Alice Marshall weaves an intriguing tale full of twists and turns that kept me glued to the pages till the end.

I absolutely loved this book! I chose this one because the synopsis looked like it could be good and the narrator is one of my favorites. So naturally, the narrator was wonderful and made the audio version even better- she has distinct voices for each character and injects such emotion into the story! There were so many twists and turns and the ending was perfect.

When 3 best friends survive an attack in the woods that left one of them stabbed at the ages of 11, one man is sent to prison. Now adults, Naomi, Cassidy and Olivia are finding things were not what they seemed when they were children. Naomi, the friend left for death after being stabbed repeatedly, begins to question who she can trust as she discovers buried truths. Did the goddess game they played as children have a darker meaning?
With many disturbing characters and various twists,, this was definitely a suspenseful and quick read. I’d highly recommend!
*** huge thanks to NetGalley for the ARC in exchange for my honest review.

After seeing this book being raved about everywhere, I was ecstatic to get an ALC of it! The audio is so well done, and I could not listen to it fast enough! For Kate Alice Marshall’s first time writing in adult mystery/thrillers, you definitely cannot tell she has never done this before. The plot was paced perfectly for me, with perfectly timed twists. The characters were well developed and relatable in so many ways. The details were so perfect to create such an atmospheric read for me. I can see this book getting a lot of attention when it is released next month! And I plan on keeping this author on my radar!

Something about this book drew me in from the very beginning. I actually guessed both of the twists in the end, but probably because I watch a ton of true crime docs and I feel like I've seen/heard every scenario out there HAHA.

Naomi, Cass, and Liv were best friends and when they were 11 a serial killer attacked Naomi while they were out in the woods. 20+ years later, that serial killer has died in prison and a mysterious podcaster comes to town to interview the infamous girl who survived and put a serial killer in prison. Naomi starts to realize maybe she doesn't remember things the way they really happened and questions everything. Was she really attacked by the man she put away?

The end - wow. All hell breaks loose. And even though I had my suspicions of what was coming, I still felt like the end was intense. Karissa Vacker was AMAZING narrating this story. Perfect casting! This is easily one of my top audiobooks of 2022. Definitely one to check out.

This book was full of twists and turns. There is very heavy subject matter in this book and would recommend looking up the content warnings as SA, self harm, and suicidal ideation are big points in the book. All of the characters were so beautifully developed and you along with the main character end up questioning everything and everyone. In the audiobook the narrator does a fantastic job voicing many characters make and female which is not an easy task. She made each voice unique and easy to differentiate from one another.

One summer evening 11 year old Naomi was brutally attacked in the woods and survived 17 stab wounds. Naomi's testimony put a serial killer away. Now 25 years later secrets begin to surface 🫢
This book hooked me right from the start, I was immediately drawn into this story, it was fast -paced, engaging, and had plenty of twists & turns that kept me guessing. I didn't guess the bad guy & liked the ending. I will definitely read this authors next book. Thank You to MacMillan Audio for the ARC thru NetGalley, in exchange for my honest review!
This book is set to be Published 1/17/2023.

From start to finishing this book I enjoyed myself reading. It was a fun easy thriller I definitely recommend!

Thank you to MacMillan Audio for this advanced copy of What Lies in the Woods audiobook narrated by Karissa Vacker. I thoroughly enjoyed this book. The story was engaging, fast-paced, and had enough twists and turns to keep me guessing. While some of the plot twists were a little predictable, I realized that was the point so that they bigger reveals seemed even bigger. Karissa Vacker is a wonderful narrator who I've enjoyed in many books in the past. She has a great talent for providing male and female voices that are unique enough for me to keep track of all the characters. If you're looking for a twisty, fun, engaging audiobook, What Lies in the Woods should be your next pick!

What Lies in the Woods is exactly what a psychological thriller should be—all kinds of dark and twisty both literally and figuratively.

Naomi, Cassidy, and Olivia were unlikely friends in the small town where they grew up in the Pacific Northwest. They spent their summers roaming the woods playing their Goddess Game. Everything was carefree and fine, until Naomi was brutally attacked in the woods one summer evening. After surviving seventeen stab wounds, at only eleven years old, Naomi’s testimony put a serial killer away.

Twenty five years later we find that that summer wasn’t as innocent as we were led to believe, and the girls are holding onto a secret, one that is about to undo them. One is ready to tell, one wants more information, and one is willing to kill to keep their secret.

Kate Alice Marshall does a fantastic job writing three flawed women, and how each responds to trauma in their own way. The secondary characters were superbly written as well, often having more depth than needed that only enhanced the story. This thriller is definitely one to read!

Thank you to Netgalley, Macmillan Audio, and of course Kate Alice Marshall for the advanced copy of the audiobook. What Lies in the Woods is out on January 17th. All opinions are my own.