Member Reviews

Thanks to Netgalley and Berkley for the pre-release copy of CJ Cooke's The Ghost Woods. Below you'll find my honest review.

The Ghost Woods was pure excellence. I loved every second of it, and had a hard time putting it down even when I was exhausted and needed to go to sleep. The "haunted" nature of things, the science, the character depth, the setting... all added up to a fantastic mysterious horror-adjacent read.

Highly recommended for horror, mystery, and natural science fans, but please note it's not really scary horror, just tension building gothic mystery style horror.

Also, trigger warnings for any and all things surrounding pregnancy and childbirth, including stillbirth, miscarriage, adoption loss, and becoming pregnant due to very bad circumstances (trying to avoid a specific word here to prevent my review from being flagged or denied, but I hope I made it very clear.

Five stars, more if I could.

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This book is dark and gothic, and also incredibly sad. It’s horrifying both as a folk horror and also as a real life horror. It’s almost like reviewing two different books that are perfectly woven together.

One is the tale of Scottish unwed mothers sent to institutions/homes and having their babies taken for adoption in the 1950’s and 60’s. And the other a haunting folk horror tale of mushrooms and a dark entity I can’t describe without spoilers.

The damp Lichen Hall moldy forest vibes were immaculate. I need a disinfectant scrubbing after reading this.

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Thanks to NetGalley and Harper Collins for giving me an arc of this book. I had read the first book in this series and loved it. I hope to read the second now.

This was a fresh take on horror. Two young women in the 50's and 60's sent to an unwed mother's home. Lichen Hall was isolated and creepy. The Whitlock's who owned the residence were horrible. The women were expected to clean, cook, garden, and maintain the home for their keep. Add rumors of a ghost and a witch that roamed the woods and you have a great horror story.

The vulnerability of the women and the fact that they had no escape made me uncomfortable worrying about them all the way through to the end..
Their situation was horrible and there didn't appear to be anyway out. Their families abandoned them.

I loved the mystery with a twist of paranormal.

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Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for an early copy in exchange for an honest review.

Review: I LOVED this authors last book, The Book of Witching. The Ghost Woods, is a repub of the authors earlier work. Unfortunately, I did not connect to this one the same way I did the last. The book starts off by introducing us to two main characters who are going through similar situations many years apart. I enjoyed the start of the story, however, I lost momentum once the characters started to settle in. I think the story was a little too slow for what it might have been trying to do. C.J. Cooke does a good job of weaving timelines together and adding in elements of history fiction. I liked the incorporation of fungus and wildlife. Everything else just felt like it got lost and covered up by too much I wasn't interested in. I do think this is a personal taste thing, not an issue with the book. It does have a very creepy atmosphere, I just wish the characters were a bit more interesting and interactive.

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Cooke does it again! As per usual with her books, I became completely immersed in this atmospheric story.

I love the way she blends folklore and horror with history, to create a spellbinding tale. This one deals with themes of pregnancy, and the mistreatment of young unwed woman who live and give birth at a safe haven with the intention of being cared for during their pregnancy. In the book it’s called Lichen House, and is anything but a safe haven. I was captivated by the eerie woods that surrounds it that’s filled to the brim with vivid imagery and tales of ghosts and witches. The female characters come to us in dual historical timelines and I was rooting for each endlessly.

The author also weaves in nature within and the takeaway will leave you thinking about it long after. I appreciated her authors note which details the inspiration behind this. I recognize the important layers she was able to achieve when it comes to motherhood, trauma, nature, and queer rights. Which is why this is a five star standout for me and I will continue to read anything she puts out!

Thank you so much to Berkley pub and NetGalley for my gifted ARC!

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Why are there so many…books about fungi? 🎵🍄‍🟫🍄

Fungus seems to be a hot topic for gothic thrillers these days…from T. Kingfisher’s What Moves the Dead to M.L. Rio’s Graveyard Shift to C.J. Cooke’s The Ghost Woods. All of these books explore the unique topic of mycology. The Ghost Woods is a gothic folk horror novel and the last installment of the thematic trio which also includes The Nesting and The Lighthouse Witches.

Told in two timelines 1959 and 1965, two women detail their experiences at Lichen Hall, a house for unwed mothers. Pearl is a nurse and comes from the upper-class society and Mabel is very poor and is from lower-class Dundee. Shrouded in folklore, Lichen Hall might also be home to ghosts, witches, and a child who is not quite a child. Surrounded by fungi, the mystical landscape is foreboding. The two women must learn the truth about Lichen Hall and its caretakers in order to survive.

The Ghost Woods includes themes of motherhood, memory, trauma, and humans’ relationship with nature. The setting is very atmospheric, creepy, and disturbing! The characters are fully developed and the plot is engrossing. However, the twists are pretty obvious and it felt like a lot of time was spent setting up the plot.

I have enjoyed all three books in this trilogy, but The Lighthouse Witches still remains my favorite.

3.5/5 stars rounded up

Expected publication date: 4/29/25

Thank you to NetGalley and Berkley publishing for the ARC of The Ghost Woods in exchange for an honest review.

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Thank you to NetGalley and Berkley for allowing me to read this ARC of The Ghost Woods.

This chilling and gothic story about two unwed mothers sent to Lichen Hall in the 1950s and 60s was just so good! It was so atmospheric it felt like I was right there with Pearl and Mabel in that spooky crumpling manor and ghostly woods, on the edge of my seat dying to find out how it would end. This is as my first time read anything written by C.J. Cooke and it definitely will not be my last.

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This book gets a few points for the gothic-themed atmosphere, but it did not read as well as other books by this author. I'm not sure if I had too high of hopes? It honestly didn't draw me in and it took a while to finish.

The premise intrigued me, and I was eager to dive into it. Gothic tales are a favorite, but this one didn’t quite meet my expectations. The witchy, gothic elements felt unconvincing, leaving me unable to fully immerse myself. Additionally, I struggled to connect with the characters, which kept me at arm’s length from the narrative.

The novel is told across two timelines set a few years apart, alternating in blocks of chapters. I found the transitions between these timelines somewhat jarring, and the similarities in plotlines and overlapping characters occasionally left me confused.

In the end, while the book showed potential, it didn’t completely hold my attention. However, this is my first experience with this author’s work, and I’d still be interested in exploring more of their writing to see if this was a one-off disconnect for me


Thank you Berkley Publishing Group and NetGalley for this ARC!

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The Ghost Woods overflows with a haunting gothic atmosphere that completely captivated me from the start. Pearl, an unwed mother in 1965, goes to Linchen Hall to give birth to her baby. This is supposed to be a safe place where she can keep her privacy and reputation in tact, give her baby up for adoption, and return to her life. Linchen Hall and its residents are, however, not what they seem and Pearl tries to unscramble the secrets hidden within the manor before it is too late.

In an alternate 1959 timeline, we follow Mabel who is also pregnant, but she insists she’s a virgin and has no idea how she is pregnant.

I had a hard time putting this book down! Highly recommended for anyone who wants to get lost in a fantastic gothic mystery.

Thanks for the opportunity to read!

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_The Ghost Woods_ by C.J. Cooke is a suspenseful and atmospheric gothic horror read. Located in the Scottish Borders, Lichen Hall is a refuge for unwed pregnant women wishing to birth their children and give them away to couples looking to adopt. Pearl arrives in 1965 hoping to find a safe haven for her and her unborn child, but she soon finds things may not be as they seem and that those living at the hall are keeping secrets. With folklore of an evil witch and a strange child, Pearl must discover the hall’s secrets in order to escape. Well-developed characters and a menacing mood will keep readers intrigued to the end.

This ARC was provided by the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

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Ghost Woods by C.J. Cooke follows Mabel in 1959 and Pearl in 1965 as they are sent to Lichen Hall in the Scottish Borders. Linchen Hall is run by the Whitlock's as a home for unwed mothers to just the select few that are recommended by friends of hers. Once they deliver their babies they are then adopted out at six weeks of age. Mabel who has never had sex isn't exactly sure how she became pregnant. She is bullied by the other young girls at the house. Morven the midwife is the only one that befriends her while she is living at Linchen Hall. Pearl is a young nurse and after she has her baby she wants to go back to work and just move on with her life. Both Mabel and Pearl have noticed strange things in the woods and are sure that their is something else out there. If legands are true there is a witch named Nicnevin from an old Scottish forklore that is some how posessing Mrs. Whitlock . Peral must somehow make sure that everyone but the Whitlock's escapes Lichen Hall before it is too late. Like with all of C.j. Cooke's books The Ghost Woods has strong female charachters that you will not be able to forget. The book touches on the reality of what is was like to be unwed and no support from family and having no say in what they wanted to actually do. They didn't recieve any kind of counseling after they were forced to give their babies up. These women didn't have access to brith control or abortions it was an eye opener to find out in the author's note that in Northern Ireland abortion became legle in 2019 while in the UK it was legel in 1967. I absoulutly loved this book. I would like to thank both NetGalley and Harper Collins for letting me read an advanced copy of The Ghost Woods. I can't wait to read the next book by C.J. Cooke!

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The atmosphere that C.J. creates is incredible and just draws me in. This one kept me on the edge of my seat, I loved it! Very dark and mysterious. Highly recommend!!

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Lichen Hall is a remote estate in England where unwed mothers are sent to have their babies to later give them up for adoption. This is the story of two girls, years apart, who end up in this creepy mansion where all is not what it seems.

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Another C.J. Cooke book that could not be ripped from my hands. As soon as I started it, I knew there would be little else going on that day. My family were thrown snacks and water bottles were handed out. I settled down for one intense atmospheric read that I flew through in one day. The atmospheric setting is one for the books. A truly gothic read, which entails Scottish folklore, deadly mushrooms, a mansion that becomes its own character, and a mishmash of characters who all appear to be different yet are similar in more ways. I loved how Cooke brings up the nightmare scenario of becoming an unwed mother in the 1950s and 1960s. The woman is already petrified, not knowing what is to become of her. Many were sent to little known unwed women's homes. Will Lichen Hall become a home of warmth and understanding or another layer against them in the circumstance they find themselves in?

Mabel has found herself pregnant and unwed. In 1959, this is a major problem. Her mother and stepfather will not have her around the house bringing down their credibility in the community. Where can she go? Lichen Hall seems to be the best bet. As soon as she steps into the enormous house, her breath is sucked out of her. The house feels off, the people inside appear to be hiding something, and she has nowhere to go. In 1965, Pearl Gorham finds herself heading toward Lichen Hall. She feels as though she has had the wind knocked out of her. She is a nurse, she knows better.
She knows she needs to give this child up for adoption and give it the best life possible. She has heard the stories about Lichen Hall, the witch that lives in the Ghost Woods. She is not ready for half of the mansion being closed off due to mold. It seems like the entire house, and the surrounding woods are pulsing with energy. What is going on behind the closed front doors?

Can I tell you how much I love when a dual timeline connects, and it makes sense! The book is masterfully written. Every story line comes together for an explosive ending. I am so intrigued by unwed women's homes. For the most part they were a horrifying part of every nation's history. How can we treat mothers and babies in such a way? This is not all the Cooke ties into the story, you must read it to find out more. Thank you to C.J. Cooke and Berkley for my gifted copy.

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Lichen Hall is such a beautiful setting and a wonderful character on its own. I really enjoyed the character development and the atmosphere that this author was able to craft. Plus, it actually managed to creep me out a bit.

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I am not a slow burn kind of girl. Our FMCs' timelines were separate, but also not separate enough. It's a very character-driven book, and I'm more of a plot-driven reader. Great talent here, but this book just wasn't for me.

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This author writes some really good gothic horror stories. I love how immersive they are and this book was just that. I felt like I was right there with the characters in Lichen Hall. This one is told with dual point of view and one pov takes place in 1959 and the other in 1965. Both are women who are unwed and pregnant and are staying at Lichen Hall. During this time, being unwed and pregnant was frowned upon and both women become outcasts of society. Both women give their babies up for adoption and we explore how they are dealing with this development in their life. It’s a heart wrenching story in a way and full of grief, but also something more sinister. This book was so atmostpheric and just downright creepy at times. I loved how it gave me goosebumps along the way. I enjoyed the pacing of this one, it is gothic so on the slower side, but things pick up in the last third of the book which by then I was also hooked and fully invested. I was shocked at the twist and didn’t see it coming.

If you’re looking for a very atmospheric and creepy read, then check this one out.

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The Ghost Woods by CJ Cooke is the genuinely spooky story of a home for unwed mothers in Scotland.

In 1959, young Mabel goes to stay at the Whitlock’s grand house in the woods to deliver her child, miffed at how she has become pregnant, claiming she never had sex. This is followed by twenty-two year old nurse Pearl Gorham’s similar story of unwed motherhood that occurs in 1965. The reader learns about strange happenings in these woods that occur during both of the both of these stories. Also mentioned is the creepiness of Wulfric, the Whitlock’s grandson. Are the woods haunted by a witch or something more even more sinister?

The plot was well thought out and brilliantly executed. And hey, I even picked up a bit of Latin! Though we shift narrators and timelines, it is easy to follow and the characters are well thought out and crisply executed. The quirks and, alternatively, responsible air of Mabel and Pearl, our narrators. This story is genuinely creepy and times both gruesome and captivating. It’s a fantasy/sci-fi mashup (with some mad scientist thrown in) that will keep you guessing along with its various twists and turns. Four stars—if you don’t mind creepy, pick it up and enjoy.

I received this advance copy from the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review and feedback.

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3.5.
I loved the fungi aspect of the book. Fungi horror/fantasy is a favourite subtrope of mine, since fungi is just so strange.
Witches. I’m always here for witches.
I liked the historical aspect of showing the places where unwed and pregnant women and girls would be forced to go. Seeing how horrible they were treated and the kids not even having legal adoptions is horrible but mostly likely historical accurate. There was an authors note saying the last one closed in 1990 😳😳.
I just felt like I wanted more of the book. The ending felt rushed to me and I started to lose interest as it went on.

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I enjoyed this book. It was a bit longer than necessary but still good. It kept me wanting to read to see where it was going. Though it was obviously going to a home where unwed mothers stay. Little did they know what awaited them. And you won't find out until the last third of the book. It's quite good but I did feel that the ending was a bit rushed. Like it went from the friends being made to the horror of what the father did. The father of the home. It's not what you think....

Two young women are pregnant in different timelines. One in 1959 the other in 1965. This is each woman's story. Though one is in my opinion just a child. A teen. Not a full on woman at all. You get to know each and how they came to be at Lichen Hall, the home for unwed mothers.

How Mabel, in 1959, and Pearl, in 1965, come to know each other or how their lives cross is interesting also. Each of these young women have hardships. Mabel is from a very poor family and she honestly can't remember ever having sex. What could have happened to this young lady? Pearl was a respected nurse who fell pregnant after her boyfriend/fiance broke up with her and she slept with another to somewhat make herself feel better. Back in this time an unwed girl/woman was cast out. Considered fallen and undesirable as marriage material.

After each gives birth you see how they deal with placing their babies with strangers. It's for the best don't you know. One child ends up staying and you will love him. Or I did. The couple running the house are very strange. Certain things have caused them to be strange and one being the many mushrooms that they seem to love growing.

There are other girls that ended up living at Lichen Hall. Their home lives were that horrible. They live and work for the Whitlocks. For Mrs Whitlock more so that her husband. He's in his own world until he develops dementia. It is said that the Whitlock's son Wulfric was killed then his parents took his body away from the morgue. Also that he was seen sometime later in town very much alive...

When one of the girls disappears the others start a frantic search. What they find is not good but Mrs Whitlock is hesitant to bring in the police. She also will not allow doctors or trips to the hospital. That was a bit puzzling at first. There are lots of rules living here. And you have to do what you are told. You have to be careful of going into the woods also. There is something out there. Something terrifying.

The ending was good but I wish it would have been explained in more detail without adding a lot. That doesn't make sense unless you know how rushed the ending kind of was. I think some of the first half of the story could have been skipped and more of what happened to the survivors added. What exactly happened to them and how were they saved. Maybe....

Thank you #NetGalley, #Berkly, for this ARC. This is my own thoughts about this book.

4 stars.

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