Name: What Lies in the Woods
Rating: 3.825 (60 reviews)
ISBN: 9781250859884

Kate Alice Marshall

A Novel

What Lies in the Woods

prawnie

There is a wilderness in little girls. We could not contain it. It made magic of the rain and a temple of the forest.

We tried to forget. We didn’t tell the story. Not the real one. Not ever.

💌 : ‘i didn’t know how to be whole. so any time i felt like i was healing, i found a way to break myself again.’ ⋆˙⟡ 

this book began slow, so i did put it off slightly. but once naomi went back to her hometown and things started picking up i was hooked. 

the writing was good and flowed really well. the ending was semi rushed but i feel like it was valid as once naomi found this one piece of information it all came together so i can look past it. 

i saw some reviews that said this was highly predictable, and maybe i just don’t ever pick up on context clues but my thoughts were WAYYYY off. while yes i guessed some aspects, the main plot twist was not what i imagined it to be. 

naomi is complex, but she stays true to herself and you have to admire her for that in a way. the side characters in my eyes anyway there were all off putting. there were a couple i liked and some i didn’t have a reading on. 

the ending gutted me and i hope naomi and * can move past their issues and in my world they are married with a dog and twins!! 

anyway here’s to naomi being happy and healed because that girl deserves the whole world and more. 

💌 : ‘i didn’t know how to be whole. so any time i felt like i was healing, i found a way to break myself again.’ ⋆˙⟡ 

୨ৎ — 4.5/5

this book began slow, so i did put it off slightly. but once naomi went back to her hometown and things started picking up i was hooked. 

the writing was good and flowed really well. the ending was semi rushed but i feel like it was valid as once naomi found this one piece of information it all came together so i can look past it. 

i saw some reviews that said this was highly predictable, and maybe i just don’t ever pick up on context clues but my thoughts were WAYYYY off. while yes i guessed some aspects, the main plot twist was not what i imagined it to be. 

naomi is complex, but she stays true to herself and you have to admire her for that in a way. the side characters in my eyes anyway there were all off putting. there were a couple i liked and some i didn’t have a reading on. 

the ending gutted me and i hope naomi and * can move past their issues and in my world they are married with a dog and twins!! 

anyway here’s to naomi being happy and healed because that girl deserves the whole world and more. 

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. “What Lies In the Woods is a gorgeous fever dream of a novel about the dangers lurking in the hearts and imaginations of little girls. Kate Alice Marshall deftly charts a winding path through her creepy woods, doubling back and changing course to build a labyrinth of secrets and lies in which I was delighted to lose myself for hours. Hands down, it's the best thriller I've read in a long, long time.”—Chandler Baker, bestselling author of The Husbands

Yeah this was fine. I feel like if you watched the show pretty little liars - to the end - or riverdale maybe, you’ll be faithful to this story. There’s just only so many times you can hear a main character say, “I could have told the whole truth then and ended it all..” and then decide instead to keep going it on their own to their own detriment (and others) before you’re screaming at the screen/book. The big reveals were actually quite easy to guess, everyone was suspicious. The character that had a big 180 was a nice plot twist though. I wouldn’t 

 recommend it, I was compelled to listen! It would make a good CW series. 

Coley T

Yeah this was fine. I feel like if you watched the show pretty little liars - to the end - or riverdale maybe, you’ll be faithful to this story. There’s just only so many times you can hear a main character say, “I could have told the whole truth then and ended it all..” and then decide instead to keep going it on their own to their own detriment (and others) before you’re screaming at the screen/book. The big reveals were actually quite easy to guess, everyone was suspicious. The character that had a big 180 was a nice plot twist though. I wouldn’t not recommend it, I was compelled to listen! It would make a good CW series. 

What Lies in the Woods explores the story of three friends bound by tragedy and uncertainty. As they search for answers about what happened years ago, secrets become uncovered that you won't see coming. I couldn't put this one down! 

Hannah Colbert

Megan Helberg Keiser

I genuinely couldn’t guess who and what happened until the very end. I loved it but also reminded me of a case that happened when i was like 11 or 12. I wonder if the author took inspiration from that case for this book. 

armoni mayes

not really sure how i feel about the twist in this one but overall i still enjoyed the novel as a whole

kelsey

cw: sexual assault/statutory rape, mentions of suicide  

the last 100 pages were absolute insanity. this was so good kate alice marshall please write more adult thrillers!!!!

Really enjoyed this plenty of twists and a really good ending. 

Samantha King

Very interesting read! There were slow parts but overall very good book 

Alicia Evans

This book had me going “OH ok NOW i know the ending” over and over again for hours, it got a little bit TOO twisty and turny towards the end to where i was skimming it trying to get to the final result.  I love the plot but it could have been a bit more engagingly written especially the dialogues.  It was a page turner that I couldn’t put down but not exactly memorable now that it’s over.  

Liz collins 

Teba nabeel

** spoiler alert **
           I kept telling myself i got the plot that’s it, said that 7 times probably 💀.
The story is really good! And the writing was amazing as well, the story itself was emotional and touching, let alone the mystery parts that only made it more enjoyable and interesting.
A story about friendship and the pain within it, about trust and fear, i just couldn’t trust anyone it was exhausting! Kept pointing fingers literally until the last couple of pages! That’s how good the plot was!
Did not expect to like it as much but i found myself loving the characters and even tearing up a bit.
Highly recommend.

Grace M

What starts off slowly, grows to be a dark twisty tale that is difficult to put down. Small town quirks, patchwork memories and more conspiracies than I could count. As a fan of the thriller genre, I have to give points to any book that can surprise me and this one did.

I read this in almost one day and stayed up until 12:30 am to finish it. I hardly ever do that anymore. This book hooked me from the beginning and kept me guessing the whole time. 

Gisela Ayala 

Alexis Donahue

Took me awhile to get through this book-- not sure if it was slow of if life was busy. I enjoyed the idea and plot twists of an unreliable (confused/tampered) narrator and finding out how that unfortunate day unfolded through the story. <spoiler> Ethan had the potential to be an unlikable character (as the serial killer's son)... but ended up being the most clever/ likable one IMO. </spoiler>.

shellybn

A clever title is always a good sign for a book, and this one is no exception. "What Lies in the Woods" can refer to either a body or the untruths told in the woods. I did not like the protagonist very much, but still enjoyed the way the mystery was unraveled. Some of the characters actions did not make sense until the mystery started to unravel, but then they did. I enjoyed this book and think others will, too.

Yvette

It took me 2 months to read this book. TWO MONTHS. One star per month. I also used a BOTM credit on this. I’m not upset at all. 🥲 

First 70% of the book is slow, with a few minor “oh dang” moments. Why did it drag for so long??? The last 30% I read during a flight (I needed to finish it and move it to a different shelf) and was surprised how it picked up. A few of the twists were predictable but I will admit once they start coming, they don’t stop and it was a bit hard to keep track. My head was spinning trying to connect too many dots at the end. I did however enjoyed a few of the twists. I don’t know… this just didn’t do it for me.

A good quick read. The way it's written was nice and fast paced. I found myself flying through it trying to figure out who did what. There's a few twists and turns and you think you've got it all figured out and then boom more twists and turns. Overall a fun read. 

marissa 

chloe ✩‧₊˚✧｡*ﾟ

"I'm tired of lying" 

I love how it finished off. 

I guessed at least 2 of the plot twists (go me) but I was very very happy with how it all played out! The twists were unique and I haven't read anything like it. I loved learning the truth along with Naomi. 

 "For all the wild girls who search for magic in the woods."

Elements I loved:
- the forest setting ! The way Kate wrote made everything seem so magical until the last 15% when I was a little scared
- I listened to the audiobook and loved the narrator 
- The betrayal 💔
- easy to follow 
- Olivia✨ and how Naomi had a cheeky little girl crush 
- the twists. I guessed it but I was very very happy how it went ! haven't read anything like it 

dislikes:
- it wasn't scary to the point i was scared to go to sleep ? what a bunch of babies its more like a mystery to figure out
- I still have a few questions 
- Naomi was kinda annoying... but she did feel genuine at the same time ? 
- lame excuses (iykyk)

Definitely grabbed my attention from the very beginning. It was a bit predictable (at least the part about Cass) but I did question myself who knows how many times trying to make connections before the book told me them. It was mind boggingly good, I did feel like something was missing which is why I give it 4 stars but overall it was a great read!

Lizeth Esmeralda

Definitely not my favorite Kate Alice Marshall book, I am devastated to have to report. I found everyone unlikeable with the exceptions of Liv and Naomi's dad. He kept it real, what can i say. This is a book where everyone needs to go to therapy. Pronto. I will say I guessed that Ethan was AJ but I didn't guess the main mystery. The mystery will be impossible to guess while still being probable, the Kate Alice Marshall guarantee. I definitely prefer her horror, I felt that this was was slow and hard to get into, but that could be a me thing.

Holly

Jerilynn Hallett 

3.5 rounding up to a 4

So...basically everyone in this book has a crooked moral compass....

Slow moving with a great ending. Glad I pushed l through! 

Kathleen Powers

Three best friends are in the woods when one of them is attacked…and they send a serial killer to prison. But, did they get the right man?

This book had great twists and turns. I really liked this.

Cheri McElroy

Three best friends are in the woods when one of them is attacked…and they send a serial killer to prison. But, did they get the right man?

This book had great twists and turns. I really liked this.

Was torn between needing to know how it would all tie up and never ever wanting it to end

What Lies in the Woods A Novel

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