Melissa (Trying to Catch Up)'s Reviews > What Lies in the Woods
What Lies in the Woods
by
by
3.5 stars
This is Marshall's debut adult thriller, and while I liked it, I didn't love it. There are some surprises, but I did find it a bit predictable and the explanations for everything were a bit too OTT for me to completely buy into.
Naomi and her two childhood best friends Cass and Liv, created "The Goddess Game" in the woods one summer when they were eleven. Naomi was attacked and stabbed 17 times, she survived and the girls all identified Allan Michael Stahl as the attacker. He was a suspected serial killer so it was a relief when he was put behind bars. Now, twenty-two years later, Naomi receives word that Stahl has died from cancer, and she goes back to her hometown to talk to her friends who still live there and maybe confront the secrets they have been keeping from everyone.
One of the problems I had with this book were the large number of characters and none of them were very well defined. At one point a name was mentioned and I struggled to remember who he was in the scope of the story. There are a few good surprises that I didn't see coming, and everything was thoroughly explained in the end so that's always a positive for me. Yet like I said above, there are some OTT things that left me alternately rolling my eyes and wondering in bafflement how, small town or not, things could be so well covered up and hidden.
The storytelling was a little uneven, long periods of time would go with nothing happening and then bam! everythinghappensallatonce It is a decent mystery/thriller novel, just not one that will be super memorable for me. I know many others have liked it more than I did, so check out their reviews. I listened to the audiobook and Karissa Vacker and her whispering aren't a good match for me, but she does the story justice.
I voluntarily reviewed a complimentary copy of this book, all opinions are my own.
This is Marshall's debut adult thriller, and while I liked it, I didn't love it. There are some surprises, but I did find it a bit predictable and the explanations for everything were a bit too OTT for me to completely buy into.
Naomi and her two childhood best friends Cass and Liv, created "The Goddess Game" in the woods one summer when they were eleven. Naomi was attacked and stabbed 17 times, she survived and the girls all identified Allan Michael Stahl as the attacker. He was a suspected serial killer so it was a relief when he was put behind bars. Now, twenty-two years later, Naomi receives word that Stahl has died from cancer, and she goes back to her hometown to talk to her friends who still live there and maybe confront the secrets they have been keeping from everyone.
One of the problems I had with this book were the large number of characters and none of them were very well defined. At one point a name was mentioned and I struggled to remember who he was in the scope of the story. There are a few good surprises that I didn't see coming, and everything was thoroughly explained in the end so that's always a positive for me. Yet like I said above, there are some OTT things that left me alternately rolling my eyes and wondering in bafflement how, small town or not, things could be so well covered up and hidden.
The storytelling was a little uneven, long periods of time would go with nothing happening and then bam! everythinghappensallatonce It is a decent mystery/thriller novel, just not one that will be super memorable for me. I know many others have liked it more than I did, so check out their reviews. I listened to the audiobook and Karissa Vacker and her whispering aren't a good match for me, but she does the story justice.
I voluntarily reviewed a complimentary copy of this book, all opinions are my own.
Sign into Goodreads to see if any of your friends have read
What Lies in the Woods.
Sign In »
Reading Progress
Comments Showing 1-50 of 97 (97 new)
message 1:
by
megs_bookrack
(new)
-
rated it 4 stars
Dec 21, 2022 07:13PM
I'm really excited to see your thoughts on this one, Melissa! I hope you enjoy it!!
reply
|
flag
megs_bookrack ((is traveling with Krampus)) wrote: "I'm really excited to see your thoughts on this one, Melissa! I hope you enjoy it!!"
I am captivated so far!
I am captivated so far!
Sujoya (lots of catching up to do! Happy New Year to all my GR friends!)) wrote: "Great review, Melissa!😊 Sorry you didn't enjoy this one more!"
Thanks Sujoya!
Thanks Sujoya!
Srivalli wrote: "Brilliant review, Melissa. Too bad that the execution wasn't great."
Thanks Srivalli!
Thanks Srivalli!
Jasmine wrote: "Fair and honest review, Melissa! I’m glad there were some elements you enjoyed!"
Thanks Jasmine!
Thanks Jasmine!
I find that frustrating when they add too many characters that either don’t add much to the story or are not well developed. Fabulous review Melissa 💖
Margaret M - Semi Hiatus - wrote: "I find that frustrating when they add too many characters that either don’t add much to the story or are not well developed. Fabulous review Melissa 💖"
Thanks Margaret me too!
Thanks Margaret me too!
Ya, OTT is difficult to do well. Hopefully the author is experiencing growing pains and will improve on her next one. Great review Melissa!
Barbara wrote: "Ya, OTT is difficult to do well. Hopefully the author is experiencing growing pains and will improve on her next one. Great review Melissa!"
Thanks Barbara, I think it's almost a challenge for authors to come up with something unique and they tend to go OTT in their pursuit of that.
Thanks Barbara, I think it's almost a challenge for authors to come up with something unique and they tend to go OTT in their pursuit of that.
Melissa (LifeFullyBooked) wrote: "Barbara wrote: "Ya, OTT is difficult to do well. Hopefully the author is experiencing growing pains and will improve on her next one. Great review Melissa!"
Thanks Barbara, I think it's almost a c..."so true...but some pull OTT off very well!!
Thanks Barbara, I think it's almost a c..."so true...but some pull OTT off very well!!
Barbara wrote: "Melissa (LifeFullyBooked) wrote: "Barbara wrote: "Ya, OTT is difficult to do well. Hopefully the author is experiencing growing pains and will improve on her next one. Great review Melissa!"
Thank..."
They do! I have read some that OTT was welcomed and worked well.
Thank..."
They do! I have read some that OTT was welcomed and worked well.
Great review Melissa! 3.5 stars is still pretty decent, so I may give this book a shot. I know people laugh at me because I seem to like all the OTT moments. Lol! 💗
Rachel wrote: "Great review Melissa! 3.5 stars is still pretty decent, so I may give this book a shot. I know people laugh at me because I seem to like all the OTT moments. Lol! 💗"
It's definitely worth reading!
It's definitely worth reading!
Summer wrote: "Fantastic review Melissa! I’m reading this one now"
I'll be interested to see what you think!
I'll be interested to see what you think!
Kat (is trying to catch up!) wrote: "Fabulous review, Melissa. Hopefully the author tweaks some things for a better second effort!"
Thanks Kat!
Thanks Kat!
I agree with the long periods of time with nothing happening and the predictability! I was also surprised at a lot of the twists at the end. I feel like it didn’t need to be as long as it was.
Lauren wrote: "I agree with the long periods of time with nothing happening and the predictability! I was also surprised at a lot of the twists at the end. I feel like it didn’t need to be as long as it was."
It was certainly not bad, but it could have been tightened up a bit.
It was certainly not bad, but it could have been tightened up a bit.
GirlWithThePinkSkiMask wrote: "Great review. No OTT pls LOL."
I feel like I want to read your review of this one, LOL. I don't think you could make it through though.
I feel like I want to read your review of this one, LOL. I don't think you could make it through though.
Great review. I’m reading this one now and it hasn’t sucked me the way it did for others, but I just started so we’ll see 🤞
Amy wrote: "Great review. I’m reading this one now and it hasn’t sucked me the way it did for others, but I just started so we’ll see 🤞"
I'll be interested to see what you think.
I'll be interested to see what you think.
A struggle a lot when there are lots of characters and they all lack depth, what a shame it was a bit predictable too! But I am glad it was still a good read overall! Wonderful review Melissa! 🧡
Ellie wrote: "A struggle a lot when there are lots of characters and they all lack depth, what a shame it was a bit predictable too! But I am glad it was still a good read overall! Wonderful review Melissa! 🧡"
Thanks Ellie!
Thanks Ellie!
Excellent review and yeah, not a fan where words on a page don't really add to the flow or story of a book. LoL I call it fluff when it's like GET TO SOMETHING ALREADY, you know? Awe well, onto the next one :-)
LTJ wrote: "Excellent review and yeah, not a fan where words on a page don't really add to the flow or story of a book. LoL I call it fluff when it's like GET TO SOMETHING ALREADY, you know? Awe well, onto the..."
Exactly, move my story along!
Exactly, move my story along!
Great review, Melissa. I’ll give this a try but will have a pen and paper handy to keep track of characters. (🤣🤣 Vacker’s whispering) Narrators can make or break a book for me.
Taina wrote: "Great review, Melissa. I’ll give this a try but will have a pen and paper handy to keep track of characters. (🤣🤣 Vacker’s whispering) Narrators can make or break a book for me."
It's not terrible!
It's not terrible!
Great review, Melissa! I saw this on BOTM but wasn't feeling like I would enjoy it. Reading your review and points of criticism help confirm that. Glad you some what enjoyed it though!
Derek wrote: "Great review, Melissa! I saw this on BOTM but wasn't feeling like I would enjoy it. Reading your review and points of criticism help confirm that. Glad you some what enjoyed it though!"
Maybe get it from the library at some point, I should have waited I think.
Maybe get it from the library at some point, I should have waited I think.
Liz wrote: "Super review. Obviously, neither of us are fans of OTT endings."
It was just a bit too out there for me.
It was just a bit too out there for me.