For generations, children have been disappearing and turning up dead under suspicious circumstances in the small town of Blue Cliff, Virginia. Local lore claims that a demon, The Hickory Man, haunts the woods and is responsible for the deaths of the children. But when yet another child disappears, Cheyenne Ashby and her old friend Natalie are determined to find out what's really going on.

This was just an okay read for me. I don't think the characters had any particular depth and I didn't find myself overly invested in their stories. The pace was a bit on the slow side, and while the reveal of the murderer was a surprise to me, I found their motivation to be sort of strange. Overall, I would recommend this to someone that loves small-town mysteries, but it was lacking as a "thriller" for me.

Thank you to Katherine Greene, Dreamscape Media, and NetGalley for my advance audio copy.

Children disappear in the town of Blue Cliff. Three children disappeared five years ago, and were later found dead. Now, the killer has been exonerated and released from prison. And another child is missing. Cheyenne reluctantly returns home, since her mother is not handling things well. See- Cheyenne's mother believes in the Hickory Man- a being that has takes children in the woods. The town still believes the exonerated killer is guilty of the crimes. But Cheyenne and her two best friends, Natalie and Jack, are not convinced.

The book is creepy and I imagine many people will really enjoy it. It leaned a bit too far to the supernatural side for me. And, to be clear, any leaning towards supernatural is too much for me, lol. I do not enjoy that genre.

I also found it pretty predictable. There are plenty of suspects thrown at you, but it was easy to see that most were mere distractions.

The audio version is narrated by Angie Hickman. The book is told from dual POVs- Cheyenne and Natalie. I hate when one narrator is used for multiple POVs. I find that I can get "lost" and not know who's POV is currently narrating. Of course, that is no fault of the narrator. However, I also found the dialogue was pretty hard to listen to. Especially Jack's.

I received an audio copy in exchange for an honest review.

The Woods Are Waiting by Katherine Greene
Narrated by Angie Hickman

Superstition, rumors, and ancient customs and traditions rule the people of Blue Cliff, Virginia, set in the foothills of the Appalachian Mountains. After Cheyenne Ashby found the body of one of three murdered children five years ago she left the town without even a word to her mother, boyfriend, or best friend. The only person she kept in contact with was the chief of police because he'd call and check up on her. Now he's called her to say there is a missing, probably murdered boy, and Chey's mother, always seemingly on the edge of insanity, is in a very bad emotional state. So Chey is back in town and back in the middle of the crazy mess.

This place is creepy, many of the people are creepy, but much of the creepiness is so imbued into what makes up this place that it's considered almost normal. Sure, one already strange guy was sent away for a few years for stalking and looking in windows. The school janitor seems to know way too much about each kid at the school, many citizens carry around stick dolls made my Chey's mom and also bags of herbs, meant to ward off the evil of the area. Superstition rules around this place and it's not like bad things haven't happened. There have been a lot of deaths of children from this area, always in threes, so now that another little boy is missing, town folks are sure that two more kids are going to go missing and die. It does not help at all that the guy who was convicted of the murder of the last three kids has been released from prison based on evidence that overturned the conviction.

The story moves very slowly but you do get to know this town and its people and that does a great job of creating a very menacing atmosphere. The audiobook narration for Chey's mother and some of the other folks who seem not to be mentally sound adds to the spookiness of this place, with their high pitched, screechy voices. The entire area has a bad aura to it, as do the people, even though I liked Natalie, the best friend, and Jack, the boyfriend. But, the story also made the bad person/thing all too obvious to me from very early on in the book. Since I could see things so clearly, it's hard to imagine that no one else could do so. Being able to see too much, it's right there in the story, took away from the suspense for me. Still, I did enjoy the audiobook for the most part, wanting to see how everything played out. I for sure would have skedaddled out of that town and never looked back if I were Chey.

Thank you to Dreamscape Media and NetGalley for this ARC.

Many thanks to NetGalley and Dreamscape Media for the free audio book in exchange for my honest review. This is narrated by Angie Hickman who does a great job.

This is a dark, atmospheric, suspenseful thriller! Cheyenne Ashby returns home after suddenly leaving 5 years ago. Her mother, her best friend and her boyfriend have all wondered why she left and are surprised to see her suddenly return home. Her mother, the town 'medicine man', is not doing well as yet another child has been taken and murdered by the town boogeyman, the Hickory Man. I found it interesting that Cheyenne and her mother are the family the town takes care of to ensure that they provide the town with protection from the boogeyman.

Told from the alternating POV of Natalie, the BFF, and Cheyanne, there are plenty of red herrings and strange occurrences. I did guess the ending but still enjoyed the read.

3.5 stars rounded up.

Cheyenne Ashby returns to her creepy dark hometown of Blue Cliff, Virginia to help solve the mystery of another child gone missing. This book has a creepy atmosphere, and the other does a great job of setting up the ambience in this disturbing story. While it's a bit predictable, the slow burn is definitely something to savor and enjoy while the hairs on the back of your neck stand up.

The narration for the audiobook was well-done and added to the story, although it might have been better for the listener to have different narrators for the different POVs of Cheyenne and Natalie..

[Thanks to Netgalley and Dreamscape Media for the advanced audio copy in exchange for an honest review!]

The Woods are Waiting
Blue Cliff, Virginia is the town that gobbles up children according to the media and folklore. The people in the town fear The Hickory Man is the boogeyman responsible. A human man was arrested and convicted five years ago, but now another child is missing. Is this a supernatural creature or is one of their own responsible for the murders of these children? Cheyenne is back home after the events of five years ago to see her mother who is known as the town eccentric because of the herbs and charms she doles out for protection. She and her former best friend Natalie band together to get answers.

This debut is atmospheric with a touch of paranormal and the narration on the audio is pretty good. It may have been helpful to have a second narrator to separate Cheyenne and Natalie’s POV’s a little more or some of the other characters since there is so much dialogue throughout. The story was predictable if you read this genre regularly and it was a bit repetitive about the townspeople sticking together and the bond of friendship between our two main characters. The ending was very over explained for how predictable is was and then when one of the characters woke up, it was explained again. In the epilogue, both main characters explain the ending again.

Thank you to NetGalley, the author and publisher for an advance audio copy.

Cheyenne tries to run from her past, but now she must return to her home town to take care of her mother. The last time she was there she found the bodies of children, and a man was convicted of their murder, but he was released based on new DNA evidence. Upon Cheyenne’s return another child goes missing and the town starts to fall apart. Cheyenne and her childhood friend Natalie try to uncover the truth behind their small-town mystery, is it the man who was previously convicted and set free? Or is it the town’s very own boogeyman, the Hickory Man?

I love books about myths and legends so the description sucked me in from the get go. It was a very slow-paced thriller but it was atmospheric. I was a little disappointed by the ending, but I still enjoyed the book over all. I loved the narration for this book, and the differences in voices for the different perspectives made it easy to tell the difference between POV’s.

Big thanks to Netgalley, Dreamscape and the author Katherine Greene for allowing me to listen to the Arc.

Foolish are the young..beware of the Hickory Man
.
The woods are waiting for Cheyenne, Natalie and Jack. Constance shields them with her superstition remedies herbs, salts, crystals and rhymes that she has used since she was a child to stay safe. Cheyenne & Constance Ashby living in Hickory Woods built by generations of Ashby's, loved by the town folks of Blue Cliff and well taken care of by them. Although some think that Constance is a little crazy they still come to her for advice when in need.
.
Cheyenne has lived her whole life with her mothers nonsense and decides to leave Blue Cliff, for 5 long years she has been gone until Chief of Police "uncle Donny" has called and asked her to return home. When Cheyenne's dad got up and left them when she was just 4, life long friend Donny has stepped in and helped Constance take care of her home and Cheyenne.
.
Cheyenne has returned to take care of her mother and apologize to her best friend Natalie and first love Jack for getting up and leaving without as much as a word. But when another little boy has gone missing in the woods she cannot help and wonder who has actually been killing children over the last hundred years all the same way and then being left in the woods to be found. The man that has been charged in the last 3 murders was released from prison once the judge saw the DNA evidence. Now Dakota is the second child Cheyenne has found dead in the woods and some of the clues surrounding that has lead her to believe she now knows who the killer really is.
.
This new 5 star thriller is due out July 11, 2023 and I am very happy I got the chance to review this one in a ALC. I listened to this one non stop until it was over. Angie Hickman did a great job narrating this story. Thank you @Netgalley and @katherinegreenauthor

Small towns can hold big secrets. When Cheyenne Ashby leaves her small hometown in Virginia for the big city, she thinks she has left her past behind. However, the disappearance of more children brings her back into the town she grew up in as she seeks to discover the secrets the town holds.

I enjoyed this book from the start. Cheyenne was a likable heroine with an array of eccentric supporting characters around her. I especially enjoyed the eccentricities of her mother, Constance. I liked how the chapters changed from Cheyenne's narration into her best friend, Natalie's narration. The added conflict of Cheyenne having to confront her first love and the reasons why she left the town added a richness to the plot.

Overall, I would recommend this book to readers who enjoy fast paced thrillers!

In this captivating tale, the main characters shine brightly, drawing you into their world with their compelling personalities and captivating journeys. Each character is carefully crafted, their strengths and flaws woven together to create a rich tapestry of human experiences.

As the story unfolds at a deliberate pace, it allows for a deeper exploration of the complexities of human nature. The narrator delves into the depths of the characters' emotions, providing a thought-provoking exploration of the human condition. It reminds us that even in the face of adversity, people can be both resilient and fragile.

The author's skilled storytelling exposes the often perplexing ways in which people behave, showcasing the inherent contradictions that exist within us all. The flaws and idiosyncrasies of the characters serve as a mirror, reflecting the sometimes puzzling choices we make in life. It is a stark reminder that human behavior can be both awe-inspiring and confounding.

While the twists in the story may not have come as a complete surprise, they nonetheless add an extra layer of depth to the narrative. They serve as a reminder that life is full of unexpected turns and that our assumptions about others can often be misleading. The twists, though not shocking, contribute to a greater understanding of the characters and their motivations.

Overall, this novel is a thought-provoking exploration of the human spirit, beautifully capturing the essence of our flawed and intricate nature. Despite its deliberate pace, the story leaves a lasting impact, forcing us to reflect on our own lives and the enigmatic ways in which we navigate the world. It is a testament to the author's ability to create engaging characters and thoughtfully examine the complexities of human behavior.

Narrated with eloquence and nuance, this audiobook immerses you in the world of the main characters. Each voice is skillfully brought to life, allowing their unique personalities to shine through. The deliberate pacing of the narration enhances the deeper exploration of the characters' emotions, inviting you to ponder the intricacies of the human condition.

The narrator's adept storytelling exposes the perplexing nature of human behavior, highlighting the contradictions and flaws that make us who we are. Through their voice, you'll witness the characters' awe-inspiring resilience and their fragile vulnerabilities. The twists in the story, while not shocking, offer a deeper understanding of the characters and their motivations, leaving you pondering the unpredictable turns of life.

Ultimately, this audiobook serves as a captivating exploration of the human spirit. It invites you to reflect on your own life and the enigmatic ways in which we navigate the world. Through the power of narration, the engaging characters and thought-provoking examination of human behavior come to life, creating an unforgettable listening experience.

Children in Blue Cliff, Virginia, know about the Hickory Man, the one who takes children. For generations those in Blue Cliff have heard the warnings about the Hickory Man and the children who went missing. Hushed whispers and fear surround the legend and the woods. They don't feel quite right....

Cheyenne Ashby grew up deep in the woods and her mother, Constance, often told her how to be safe, i.e. put dirt in your shoes to stay grounded to the land, and other customs to keep danger at bay.

When three children were found dead, a local man was blamed for their deaths and the town slept better after that. But another child has gone missing, and Cheyeanne has come back and along with her friend, Natalie, is determined to learn the truth!

Will the truth set them free? Is there danger in them thar woods? Is the Hickory Man real. Were the superstitions and unusual customs helpful? Why three children killed?

This was a slow burn and I struggle with slow burns. No amount of dirt in my shoes would save me from that. But don't you worry, there is a payoff in the end! This book is creepy, and the woods are not Robert Frost's woods ('lovely, dark and deep'), they are creepy, deadly, and unsettling.

The author did a good job setting the stage and making the woods creepy and atmospheric. The superstitions and customs surrounding the legend were interesting and intriguing. I kept wondering if the legend had any merit. Was there something sinister and dangerous lurking in the woods?

I had both the book and the audiobook which made for an enjoyable reading experience. This was an enjoyable book, but it started a little slowly for me. I do appreciate that the author was building the story and introducing readers to the legend and customs of the town, but I wanted things to hurry up a little at the beginning.

I enjoyed trying to figure out where the book was going and enjoyed the mounting tension and sense of danger as the book got closer to the finish line.


Well written, creepy, and atmospheric.


#TheWoodsareWaiting #NetGalley #KatherineGreene, #Crookedlanebooks, #DreamscapeMedia

Blue Cliff, Virginia is a small town with disturbing legends and lore, that’s why Cheyenne Ashley left. Five years ago, Jasper Clinton was convicted of the murder of three children, but now another child has disappeared, bringing Cheyenne back to town. Was Clinton really guilty of the other murders or is there a grain of truth in the legends about the evil that resides in the local wood? Heavy on conversation, this book would have been better with a little less talk and a little more detail

Dang. I was really looking forward to this one. Right off the cover's description I was getting All Hallows and Children of the Corn vibes, but it took a grudgingly slow turn that left me so bored and just waiting for this audiobook to end. I am, of course, always thankful to the publishers and author that granted me access to this read, but it just wasn't for me. Sorry.

3 stars

This is a solid debut thriller and will especially appeal to those who like that small town vibe and who do not come in with preconceived notions about people being good or evil based on, for example, specific personal or professional roles they have.

Readers get a character who returns to her small town after being absent for several years, a deteriorating and sus' parent, some truly disturbing local lore, and a lot of folks revealing truths about their pasts. More than once while listening to this audiobook, I thought, "Wow. There is a lot of talking and not a lot of doing," at least in relation to genre-specific conventions. As that observation may highlight, this did feel a bit slow for me. The final reveal was predictable, but again, I think this may be strongly related to my incoming feelings about certain kinds of people in specific roles (and yes, my vague language here is intended to keep this spoiler-free).

I did enjoy this listen, but I also felt like I knew exactly where I was going, which removed a bit of the "thrill" I anticipated.