What Lies in the Woods by Kate Alice Marshall follows Naomi Shaw, a young woman who is almost killed when she was eleven. Her best friends, Liv and Cass, were there for her in the aftermath and as they grew older. When the man who allegedly attacked and almost killed her dies, the young women get together to support each other and work through the lies they may have told.
I felt that this novel was interesting, and I enjoyed some of the characters, especially Naomi's father and Ethan. I actually enjoyed several of the characters who were not main characters. Naomi's father is an alcoholic and hoarder who does not always get along with his daughter, but the reader can tell that they love each other. Like a lot of parental and adult child relationships, their relationship is complicated. The father daughter relationship also made it easier to see some of the characters as human. Ethan was an interesting, although obvious, character who led the reader away from the childhood trauma that takes over most of this novel. Bishop was a great officer who wanted to question things that were not "normal" even in a small town.
The small town feel of the book can be claustrophobic, especially since a lot of the scenery (besides the woods) isn't described so the reader doesn't really get the feel of how the town is laid out or really how small it is. I would have liked more descriptions of the scenery as Naomi drove around town, especially since she was almost always driving away from the motel she was staying at.
I had one issue with this novel, the obvious ending and none of the twists were really a surprise. I thought the ending was much too obvious and came too quickly. It reminded me of a movie that I watched where it basically told the audience in the beginning few minutes who the killer was. I would have liked a little less "guidance" in regards to who was where or doing what.
I prefer thrillers, mysteries, and suspense novels, who have me gasping at the end because I did not see it coming.
I felt that this novel was interesting, and I enjoyed some of the characters, especially Naomi's father and Ethan. I actually enjoyed several of the characters who were not main characters. Naomi's father is an alcoholic and hoarder who does not always get along with his daughter, but the reader can tell that they love each other. Like a lot of parental and adult child relationships, their relationship is complicated. The father daughter relationship also made it easier to see some of the characters as human. Ethan was an interesting, although obvious, character who led the reader away from the childhood trauma that takes over most of this novel. Bishop was a great officer who wanted to question things that were not "normal" even in a small town.
The small town feel of the book can be claustrophobic, especially since a lot of the scenery (besides the woods) isn't described so the reader doesn't really get the feel of how the town is laid out or really how small it is. I would have liked more descriptions of the scenery as Naomi drove around town, especially since she was almost always driving away from the motel she was staying at.
I had one issue with this novel, the obvious ending and none of the twists were really a surprise. I thought the ending was much too obvious and came too quickly. It reminded me of a movie that I watched where it basically told the audience in the beginning few minutes who the killer was. I would have liked a little less "guidance" in regards to who was where or doing what.
I prefer thrillers, mysteries, and suspense novels, who have me gasping at the end because I did not see it coming.
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