Hey all! How is 2023 going for you so far? It’s been kind of hell here for us but we are getting through it ok. Anyway, let’s get down to business! Thank you so much, NetGalley and Macmillan Audio for allowing me the opportunity to listen to and review What Lies in the Woods. I really enjoyed this one and can’t wait to share it with everyone!
Description
“They were eleven when they sent a killer to prison. They were heroes . . . but they were liars.
Kate Alice Marshall’s What Lies in the Woods is a thrilling novel about friendship, secrets, betrayal, and lies – and having the courage to face the past.
“Clever and deliciously dark.” —Alice Feeney, bestselling author of Rock Paper Scissors
“Shines an incisive light on the secrets of a small-town community…Great writing and boldly drawn characters bring a terrifying tale to all-too-vivid life.” —Kirkus, starred review
Naomi Shaw used to believe in magic. Twenty-two years ago, she and her two best friends, Cassidy and Olivia, spent the summer roaming the woods, imagining a world of ceremony and wonder. They called it the Goddess Game. The summer ended suddenly when Naomi was attacked. Miraculously, she survived her seventeen stab wounds and lived to identify the man who had hurt her. The girls’ testimony put away a serial killer, wanted for murdering six women. They were heroes.
And they were liars.
For decades, the friends have kept a secret worth killing for. But now Olivia wants to tell, and Naomi sets out to find out what really happened in the woods—no matter how dangerous the truth turns out to be.”
**I received an ARC of this book through Netgalley in exchange for my honest and voluntary review. All thoughts and opinions are my own**
My Review
Naomi Shaw survives an attack in the woods at just 11 years old. After, she and her 2 best friends become local heroes after their testimonies convict the serial killer who stabbed her seventeen times. Except, Naomi wonders if she sent the right man to prison. As a kid, she was sure she saw his face. But now, older, she isn’t so sure that her memories are really hers.
After her supposed attacker dies in prison, Naomi returns to her hometown after an alarming call from her best friend Liv. Turns out the 3 girls had been keeping a secret for decades and Liv doesn’t have it in herself to keep lying anymore.
What Did I Think of What Lies in the Woods?
Y’all. I loved this story. There are so many secrets, so many players and so many twists and turns! I feel like a lot of these kinds of books can be at least a little predictable, but I did not see this one coming.
To be fair, there were one or two small twists that I had kind of suspected, but overall I was surprised by so much more. I don’t want to give away too much as I hate spoilers, but this is a very very good read.
As far as narration
At first, I wasn’t sure if I would love the narrator. Literally at first. The first maybe 3 minutes I thought were way too slow. But after that, it turns out that I actually kind of loved her. She does such a great job and you could almost imagine she was telling her own true story.
I love the main character Naomi. This is a woman who has been through so much in her life, and while she is definitely a little rough around the edges, I admire her ability to not shy away from what happened to her. Yes, she probably has a lot of very unhealthy coping mechanisms. I mean, not probably, she definitely does. But I love the fact that she is very adamant about not hiding her scars. By the end of this book, you realize just how strong this woman really is, and for me, it was inspiring.
Ethan is one of the twists I had expected, and regardless of what he did, I actually adore him too. He very much has his own hidden agenda but I really think he cares a lot about Naomi. And I don’t know, he seems like a nice guy.
Overall loved this book. I would recommend it to anyone who likes a good mystery that isn’t super predictable. I personally cannot wait to read more from this author.
Anywho, I hope you have a fantastic day! Don’t forget to go download this book! If you don’t have Audible yet, you could even get it for free if you sign up with them. This book will not disappoint!
