We can't go back again: WHAT LIES IN THE WOODS.

What Lies in the Woods by Kate Alice Marshall
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

Over twenty years ago, best friends Naomi, Cassidy, and Olivia spent their summer in the woods, playing an imaginative game they called the Goddess Game. But their childhood ended quickly when Naomi was attacked in those same woods, stabbed seventeen times and left for dead. Somehow she survived, carried to safety by an older boy who found her. Nothing was ever the same since. The girls identified her attacker, a known serial killer wanted for murdering a variety of women, and put him away for life. The attack made all three famous, but also took it toll, as all three are keeping a dark secret.

"They told the story again and again, until they thought they owned it. We tried to forget. We didn't tell the story. Not the real one. Not ever."

WOODS is a fairly quick read centering on childhood friendship and how the games we play as kids can turn dark. But it also highlights how strong the bonds can be that kids form, even if they may not always be healthy. Honestly, many of the characters in this book are fairly awful at times. It's a small town filled with a lot of corruption and dark secrets, starting with the three girls when they were just kids. There are a lot of twisted familial ties and linkages that leave you wondering how everyone is tied together.

WOODS kept my interest and was a page-turner, but the plot was very predictable. Every twist was telegraphed from a mile away--it felt like Thriller 101. There were no major surprises, especially if you're a fan of the genre. But if you're an occasional thriller reader, you'll enjoy this one. 3 stars.


View all my reviews