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What Lies in the Woods

A Novel

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What Lies in the Woods

By: Kate Alice Marshall
Narrated by: Karissa Vacker
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"Vacker's overall performance, especially her solid pacing, will keep listeners guessing." - AudioFile Magazine

"Clever and deliciously dark.” - Alice Feeney, bestselling author of Rock Paper Scissors

"Narrator Karissa Vacker, with scores of audiobooks under her belt, provides a pitch-perfect performance in what, for some, would be a tough ask. Vacker's voice is a solid touchstone guiding listeners through shocks and twists."- Booklist

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.

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

A Macmillan Audio production from Flatiron Books.

Crime Thrillers Fiction Mystery Suspense Thriller Thriller & Suspense Women Sleuths Women's Fiction Crime Detective Exciting Heartfelt Scary Murder Mystery
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Critic reviews

“Utterly riveting. What Lies in the Woods is a stunner—dark, unflinching, and as twisty and sharp as a tangle of thorns.”
—Riley Sager, New York Times bestselling author of The House Across the Lake

“I loved everything about this beautifully written and impossible to put down book. I was hooked from the first clever and deliciously dark page and couldn't stop reading. Readers will love What Lies in the Woods, an exciting new voice in the genre.”
—Alice Feeney, New York Times bestselling author of Daisy Darker

“Shines an incisive light on the secrets of a small-town community...Elevating this novel beyond the plethora of other thrillers is terrific writing…Great writing and boldly drawn characters bring a terrifying tale to all-too-vivid life.”
Kirkus, starred review

“Marshall explores the complicated dynamics of childhood friendships and the powerful effect that memory has in shaping narratives…In a novel filled with emotional depth and convincing red herrings, Marshall delivers a propulsive mystery about trust, secrets, and friendships.”
Booklist, starred review

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. 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, New York Times bestselling author of The Husbands

“A haunting tale of betrayal, heartbreak, and redemption told in poetic prose with deeply layered characters. Marshall’s master storytelling is gripping and pulls you in with a magnetic force that never lets go.”
—Liv Constantine, bestselling author of The Last Mrs. Parrish

“Masterfully diabolical plot layered with red herrings…We’re in the hands of a phenomenal storyteller…Marshall shows she can’t put a foot wrong with this confident debut in the adult thriller genre, spinning an intricately compelling tale of friendship and magic, sorrow and betrayal wrapped up in a suspenseful murder mystery.”
—The Nerd Daily

“A powerful psychological thriller…This emotionally involving tale of friendship, betrayal, and redemption leaves an indelible impression.”
—Publishers Weekly

All stars
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Great book. I love the twists and turns. Really felt for the main character.

loved it!

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If like me, you sometimes get disheartened when you think you've 'solved the case' too early... you won't have to worry. There are a few obvious 'oh I knew that' moments, but overall it was a great gripping read. You won't guess the ending.

Full of twists and turns! Overall great read

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I'm normally pretty good at working out the who and why, i worked out some, but this book kept me guessing until the big reveal. thoroughly enjoyed listening to this book

Great story

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I Didn’t love the plot - I was looking forward to the book ending - shame shame

Average

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Well written, really enjoyed the storyline. I kind of figured out the ending before I finished. Overall a very good book

Great listen

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