The Woods are Waiting

Title: The Woods are Waiting

Author: Katherine Green

Genre: thriller

Thank you, NetGalley, for this book.

I like a good story where I don’t see the ending coming. Unfortunately, I guessed this story’s secret about 5% in. As I kept reading, I hoped for some unexpected twist but was disappointed. I still did enjoy the book, though, for the most part. But, overall, it was really predictable. Green’s clues were really obvious, so I imagine I won’t be the only one easily guessing the ending.

From Goodreads: Cheyenne Ashby knows the dark and disturbing history of her hometown of Blue Cliff, Virginia, all too well. It’s why she left. Growing up deep within the woods with her eccentric mother, Constance, she was raised on the unusual customs and generational superstitions linked to the local legend of an evil entity that haunts the forest.

Five years ago, the bodies of three children were found in the woods. It was a man—not a mythical beast—named Jasper Clinton who was convicted of these heinous crimes. For five years, the town breathed just a bit easier with a real-life monster behind bars.

The two women must confront the reality of the superstitions they always believed in and their town’s complicated connection with who—or what—lives in the woods.

But when another child goes missing, Cheyenne and Natalie are determined to discover the truth and uncover the town’s dangerous secrets rooted in its terrifying past.

Even though I knew what was coming, I was still looking forward to the payoff. The first 75% of the book was well-written, if not heavy-handed. But the last 25% was a big disappointment. It was just all exposition with someone explaining stuff. Green definitely needs a less in “show, don’t tell.” With the characters digging so much to uncover the truth in the first sections, the ending is a big let down, writing style-wise. I still gave this book four stars because I was engaged and wanted to see what happened, but this one could have definitely been better written.