amazing! I loved this one so much. I could not put it down and the details are amazing! I felt like I was really there

Thank you Atria for my gifted copy! You sure know the way to my heart. ♥️🌲

“Destruction and rejuvenation walked hand in hand in the woods.”

“She needed the woods the way she needed food, and the longer she went without them, the deeper and more desperate her hunger grew. They were her home. Her calling. Her savior. The fact of it was, they had brought her back to life.”

After how hard I fell for Middletide and Sarah Crouch’s velvety, atmospheric writing, I knew that I was going to love The Briars. And if you know me, and you’ve been following me for a while, how could I not love this nature centered thriller? It isn’t right up my alley, because it IS my alley.

I recieved this book at the perfect time. I had emerged from my four days in the woods, surrounded by pelicans, eagles, hawks, egrets, herons. I was driving home, to my tree-less city, and my posture was all that needed to be said about the dread I felt. Until I saw this book sitting on my table. Sarah Crouch said the most serendipitous words to me after I thanked her for the copy: “One thing I can promise is that it will take you right back into the woods.” She had zero idea of what I had just left, so her words hit extra hard.

All that, just to say, this book righted my soul. I usually have a very hard week back, but The Briars really did bring me right back into the woods. I am such a sucker for any thriller with a main character belonging to Mother Nature. It adds such a rich element to the story. And truly, no one can best Mother Nature, so these types of thrillers really up the ante.

With two books, Sarah Couch has settled herself in nicely with the likes of Charlotte McConaghy. Her words transported me. The twist surprised me. The characters have my whole heart. I am eagerly, and impatiently, waiting for her next novel.

Obviously, I recommend the hell out of this one.

It was a joy to discover that this mystery was packed with atmospheric descriptions, good writing, and a couple twists and turns. I quite liked the setting (lots of hiking, nature, bioluminescence) and the main character's career as a game warden was interesting - tracking a cougar would not be for me. I read this while camping, and I was cautious enough around the racoons, let alone a cougar!

Thank you to NetGalley, Atria Books, and of course Sarah Crouch for sharing this advance copy with me in exchange for my honest review. The Briars comes out January 13th, 2026! #ARC #NetGalleySummer #NetGalley

This one reminded me so much of The God of the Woods, which I loved. The forest is truly its own character here and I thought seeing it through Annie’s eyes was so special. I loved the mystery of it all and yet wouldn’t call it a thriller, it was more of a slow burn. I also loved that you couldn’t really tell what time this took place in - I realized halfway through that they were using landlines and I figure it was probably anywhere from the 70s - 90s, but I love that I couldnt immediately tell.

Anyways, I loved Annie and Lake Lumin. 4.5 to 5 stars.

This was fantastic. I really enjoyed reading it and didn’t want to put it down. Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for the opportunity to read this ARC!

First time reader of this author and I thought it was good. Kind of a slow burn. I do wish it had been more fast-paced.

An interesting story but I found it slow and predictable. Characters are okay but too much about life style

This was a great book. I loved every paragraph, every sentence and every word of this masterpiece! I read it in 12 hours, which is a lot for me to do! It had everything and more laid out in the novel! I sure hope There is more to come from this author! I am totally hooked!

Thank you NetGalley and Atria Books for the ARC in exchange for my honest review.

This is my first read of Sarah Crouch and it definitely won't be my last! This book had me on the edge of my seat and kept me on my toes beginning to end, just wow!!

“The Briars” by Sarah Crouch is a romantic immersive thriller that will keep you guessing till the very last chapter.
A young female game warden who is fleeing from a bad marriage takes a position in a tiny mountain town in Washington State. She is immediately thrown into her job as she needs to track down a cougar that has possibly killed a young woman. As she begins to investigate the brutal death along with a local law enforcement officer, she finds herself romantically drawn to a mysterious and handsome man whose property is located where the victims body was found. What begins as a simple search for a wounded cougar turns into something much more sinister.
The vivid descriptions of the wilderness, beautiful writing, likable characters and unexpected twists made for a very engaging and atmospheric read.

Thank you NetGalley and Atria Books for the ARC in exchange for my honest review.

Definitely put this one on your wishlist! The Briars is a captivating mystery—one I loved trying to solve alongside the characters!

Annie Heston, the new game warden in Lake Lumin, is heartbroken and healing, yet her inner strength and confidence in the wild shine through. I loved her resilience, her instincts, and her determination to protect both the people and the wilderness around her. The mystery surrounding Daniel, the reclusive young man by the lake, was another highlight—what’s his story, and what is he hiding?

As the investigation into a young woman’s death unfolded, I was constantly second-guessing myself. Multiple characters seemed capable of the crimes, and I was genuinely shocked by how it all came together in the end. The setting gripped me from the start—lush forests, a tight-knit but guarded community, and the ever-present, terrifying knowledge of a cougar stalking the woods.

Suspenseful, atmospheric, and full of twists, this is a literary thriller that sinks its claws into you and doesn’t let go until the last page.

A good murder mystery full of unexpected twists, well developed characters, and a vivid brooding setting. This was my first novel by Sarah Crouch and I've already gotten her other book, Middletide. 4.5 stars.

When Annie Heston takes a job as a game warden in Lake Lumin, Washington, she’s expecting a quiet fresh start. Instead, her first days on the job throw her into chaos. What begins as a simple search for a cougar prowling the woods turns into something much darker when a young woman’s body is found. Soon after, another victim surfaces. Annie teams up with Jake, the local sheriff, but with so many secrets buried in this small town, it’s impossible to know who to trust. Suspicions shift from one person to the next, and the tension never lets up. By the time the truth is revealed, I was left completely stunned and the ending knocked me flat! 4.75 ⭐️

This is my second book I have read by her and it did not disappoint one bit! I was so excited to get to read this one, I knew I needed a good thriller and this hit the spot.

The Briars is one where you are constantly guessing who did it, how is this going to end. And let me tell you I was definitely surprised by the ending and I was completely off on the person who I thought was the killer.
Sarah gives great detail in writing this book. It makes you feel like you are there in the story. You Get Annie who decides to move to a new down after a devastating breakup. She wanted to start new and find a new job as the warden in a new city so she moves to Lake Lumin. Shockingly she starts off her new job with a bang after finding out a cougar is on the lose, but not only that but there is also a dead body that is found and now she is on the hunt to find out who did this. And to make it worse, few days later and another dead body of a woman is found. Who is this killer? Who is telling the truth and who is telling a lie!?

Like I said perfect thriller read if thats what you are looking for!

So overall, I did enjoy this book! I think it’s sitting at about a 3.5–3.75 stars for me. The atmosphere was honestly the best part, the way the forest was described made me feel so claustrophobic and paranoid, like something could be hiding in the trees and watching you. That whole vibe really worked. The mystery kept me engaged too, and I loved trying to guess the culprit as I went. That’s where it lost me a little though, the ending reveal didn’t totally click for me because I didn’t feel like there were enough clues leading up to it. Very much a personal thing though. I know some people are more about vibes than trying to solve it, and that’s valid. One thing I didn’t expect was how much of a romance element there was. It wasn’t bad at all, just not what I was expecting going in. All in all, I’d still recommend this one if you’re into twisty, atmospheric mysteries. The ending definitely surprised me, and even though I had a few gripes, they’re tied to my personal taste and I can acknowledge that and separate it from the work itself. I’ll have a review up on Goodreads and Bookstagram closer to the release, but for now these are my thoughts!

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ (5/5)
Absolutely loved it. This book will stay with me, and I’ll be thinking about it long after finishing.

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ (4/5)
A fantastic read, worth recommending to most readers.

⭐️⭐️⭐️ (3/5)
Solid but not spectacular. Enjoyable overall, but something didn’t quite click.

⭐️⭐️ (2/5)
Not really my thing. Struggled to stay engaged.

⭐️ (1/5)
Did not enjoy. Wouldn’t recommend.

Annie Heston thought a fresh start as a game warden in Lake Lumin would be the perfect escape from her cheating ex. But when bodies begin turning up near the property of the only man in town she trusts, she discovers the real predator might be closer than the cougar in the woods.

The Briars is haunting, immersive, and dripping with menace—the kind of book that makes you feel the chill of the PNW fog on your skin. Surprising no one more than myself, I was not able to guess the twist until it wrapped its hands around my throat. A sharp, shadowy 4/5 stars

Thank you, #Partner @atriabooks @atriathrillers and @netgalley for my #gifted (free) copies. Pub date 1/13/26.

Sara Crouch's debut novel, Middletide, was one of my favorite books last year, and it's one I recommend to anybody that will listen to me. So, when I saw she had a new book, THE BRIARS, coming out, I had to read it immediately! Let me just say you need to add this to your TBR right now! This was a chilling atmospheric literary thriller and I've come to realize #literarythrillers are becoming my favorite. I love the way #SaraCrouch describes all the settings and details, I felt like I was up in the mountains with all the characters. This book comes out next year, but while your waiting for it, I highly recommend Middletide.

Annie Heston moves to Lake Lumin, a small mountain town in Washington to begin her new job as a game warden. She is immediately thrown into the work as she tries to track down a cougar that has been spotted. The cougar is not the only thing spotted in the woods, a dead body of a young woman is found. Jake, the town sheriff and Annie try to find out who did this, but after another body is found they are at a loss on who is killing these women. You won't know who to trust and everyone is a suspect. The ending had my jaw on the floor!!

This was my first Sarah Crouch book and will most defiantly not be my last. This book was incredible! I loved every page!

This story had such a haunting and atmospheric feel that pulled me in immediately. The writing painted a vivid picture, and the slow build of tension made it impossible to look away. The characters were layered and compelling, each one adding depth to the mystery as it unfolded. It’s an eerie, captivating read that stays with you long after you finish.

An atmospheric rollercoaster of suspense! Like many thrillers, there’s a mysterious death, investigators seeking justice in a small town, and multiple POVs. And while the plot is packed full of twists, there’s also emotional depth, character development, and the glimmer of a romance. Personally, these types of novels are my favorites—the ones that blend genres and don’t sacrifice strong characters for twisty plot lines. And the writing! The mountains of the Pacific Northwest were depicted with such detail that the setting became its own beautiful, eerie presence in the story. Big thanks to Atria and Netgalley for the early opportunity to read this gem!