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The Woman in the Woods
Something is wrong—horribly wrong—in the deep woods of Oregon.
People age at accelerated rates, then disappear. Hundreds of disappearances have occurred in the area for decades—a veritable Bermuda Triangle on land. Even the authorities sent in to investigate the disappearances have gone missing. After that, the government stepped in and fenced off the entire area.
But when a group of four strangers miss their train and wander onto the site searching for shelter, they discover what was left behind. After one of their four goes missing, they decide to leave the area. Something’s toying with them, something ancient and malicious, and it doesn’t want them to leave.
It’s wise enough to understand them and powerful enough to control them.
It’s also hungry, and it needs to be satiated.
People age at accelerated rates, then disappear. Hundreds of disappearances have occurred in the area for decades—a veritable Bermuda Triangle on land. Even the authorities sent in to investigate the disappearances have gone missing. After that, the government stepped in and fenced off the entire area.
But when a group of four strangers miss their train and wander onto the site searching for shelter, they discover what was left behind. After one of their four goes missing, they decide to leave the area. Something’s toying with them, something ancient and malicious, and it doesn’t want them to leave.
It’s wise enough to understand them and powerful enough to control them.
It’s also hungry, and it needs to be satiated.
347 pages, Kindle Edition
First published April 25, 2023
93 people are currently reading
567 people want to read
About the author
Jonas Saul
107 books392 followersJonas Saul is the bestselling author of the Sarah Roberts Series—more than two million sold!—and has written and published over sixty thrillers. After acquiring an agent, he signed several deals in Los Angeles, with MadRiver Pictures optioning his Sarah Roberts Series—over forty books!—(currently in development).
Jonas has often outranked Stephen King and Dean Koontz on Amazon over the past decade. He’s regularly invited to be a guest speaker, teacher, or workshop presenter at international writing conferences and film festivals worldwide.
He hosts multiple annual retreats in Greece, where he currently lives—writer’s, screenplay, and reader’s retreats. He focuses his teaching on how to get tension and emotion in every scene and on every page, how he made it as a creator/writer, the path to success in this business, and the pitfalls to avoid. Visit the Imagine Greece Retreats website at www.imaginegreeceretreats.com, or email him directly.
Jonas Saul is an acclaimed author, teacher, and professional freelance editor. He lends his editing prowess to several publishers and offers private editing services to clients. His website, www.imaginepress.org, is a testament to his editing skills, featuring numerous testimonials from satisfied authors. Jonas is an email away for those needing professional editing.
To book Jonas for a speaking engagement at a writer’s conference/festival, to have him on your jury at a film festival, or even to say hello, email Jonas directly at jonassaul@icloud.com.
Jonas has often outranked Stephen King and Dean Koontz on Amazon over the past decade. He’s regularly invited to be a guest speaker, teacher, or workshop presenter at international writing conferences and film festivals worldwide.
He hosts multiple annual retreats in Greece, where he currently lives—writer’s, screenplay, and reader’s retreats. He focuses his teaching on how to get tension and emotion in every scene and on every page, how he made it as a creator/writer, the path to success in this business, and the pitfalls to avoid. Visit the Imagine Greece Retreats website at www.imaginegreeceretreats.com, or email him directly.
Jonas Saul is an acclaimed author, teacher, and professional freelance editor. He lends his editing prowess to several publishers and offers private editing services to clients. His website, www.imaginepress.org, is a testament to his editing skills, featuring numerous testimonials from satisfied authors. Jonas is an email away for those needing professional editing.
To book Jonas for a speaking engagement at a writer’s conference/festival, to have him on your jury at a film festival, or even to say hello, email Jonas directly at jonassaul@icloud.com.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 47 reviews
December 10, 2024
Backwoods Horror!
Small backstory:
Anna Valentina along with three men end up on the wrong train so the conductor takes them all to a sub-station out in the wilderness of Oregon to wait for their train that will get them to their destinations but when the train never arrives the four of them start to explore the backwoods along the train tracks and what they find is beyond belief as what lies deep in the woods will be life changing for all of them!
That is about all I can hand out with a small backstory without giving away spoilers so if you want to know more then go read this book!
Thoughts:
This was my first time reading this author and I have owned this book since it came out last year. The mystery of what happens to the characters as they explore the backwoods of Oregon stays a mystery throughout the book till almost the end which I love because the book gave me something to think about throughout the story and the reveal of what was taking place never arose within the early and middle parts of the book.
The author kept the mystery covered deep till the end of the book which drove the suspense into high gear as I kept trying to figure out what was going on. Loved all the characters in this story along with supporting characters. Normally within stories there will be that one character that you just cannot stand but with this book I really didn't see that with these characters - they were all unique in their own way and they were all shrouded in some kind of mystery.
The story was almost a slow burn but the author made the story interesting as I kept wanting to know what secret the Oregon woods held for these characters. All in all I truly enjoyed this story and look forward to reading more books by this author. Giving this book five "Supernatural Mystery" stars!
Small backstory:
Anna Valentina along with three men end up on the wrong train so the conductor takes them all to a sub-station out in the wilderness of Oregon to wait for their train that will get them to their destinations but when the train never arrives the four of them start to explore the backwoods along the train tracks and what they find is beyond belief as what lies deep in the woods will be life changing for all of them!
That is about all I can hand out with a small backstory without giving away spoilers so if you want to know more then go read this book!
Thoughts:
This was my first time reading this author and I have owned this book since it came out last year. The mystery of what happens to the characters as they explore the backwoods of Oregon stays a mystery throughout the book till almost the end which I love because the book gave me something to think about throughout the story and the reveal of what was taking place never arose within the early and middle parts of the book.
The author kept the mystery covered deep till the end of the book which drove the suspense into high gear as I kept trying to figure out what was going on. Loved all the characters in this story along with supporting characters. Normally within stories there will be that one character that you just cannot stand but with this book I really didn't see that with these characters - they were all unique in their own way and they were all shrouded in some kind of mystery.
The story was almost a slow burn but the author made the story interesting as I kept wanting to know what secret the Oregon woods held for these characters. All in all I truly enjoyed this story and look forward to reading more books by this author. Giving this book five "Supernatural Mystery" stars!
March 18, 2023
I received an ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review… I really enjoyed this book. It was my first read from this author. The premise of a place making people prematurely age rapidly, was very interesting! It ended differently than I expected and was a satisfying ending. The story jumps back and forth between three main characters over a three-day span, and it’s done very well. The characters are well-developed, and the story is easy to read. It has some nice suspense and twists. At times, it’s pretty creepy. Make sure to read the author’s Afterward. It explains his thought processes for the ending, and it’s pretty interesting! I removed one star because I thought the story could have been condensed a bit. The length of the book wasn’t overly long, but there were a few times that I found myself skimming a bit to get more to the “meat” of the story.
May 27, 2025
I thought this book was gonna be better than it was. I'd say it was average for me. I did love all of the suspense. I can't even imagine how scared the MC was. I listened to this book the other day and forgot what the MC's name was. But to be stranded in the woods with 3 men, she doesn't know is unnerving. I enjoy books with the premise being lost in the woods with something evil or supernatural. And the not knowing if you'll make it out alive. Even still, this story was average for me.
May 30, 2023
This is my first book by this author. After reading his comments about the ending, I might actually like his other books. This book has a very interesting premise. A woman is found injured on the side of a highway. She looks to be in her eighties, but all other evidence points to her being in her late twenties! I was fascinated to learn more! And I liked the story. It just was too depressing for my tastes so hence the 3 stars.
April 16, 2023
This was my first read of 2023 and my first of this author. I received an ARC. It was very different than what I had expected but what a great book! It was intense and original and kept me turning pages to find out what was going on. It would make a great movie as well!
October 10, 2024
⭐⭐⭐
The Woman in the Woods by Jonas Saul is a dark, creepy and unusual thriller set in the woods.
It started so strong. I was so interested in what the hell was happening. Present and past perspectives unfold the story step by step and add more questions. But around the middle, I started to lose interest. The story was sort of going nowhere. I am not sure how much I liked the paranormal part. Kind of didn't go together. I don't know what I expected but unfortunately, I didn't get what I wanted from this book.
Don't take me wrong, this is a good book in general, it's just not completely my cup of tea. There was a lot of suspense and action and I liked that you all the time question characters and actions. The atmosphere was spooky and the setting was creepy.
Anna is heading to see her mother when suddenly the train stops and she, with 3 other passages, is asked to leave as they are on the wrong train. It would not be an issue but they are left in the middle of nowhere. Scared of each other but even more from the upcoming night they head into the woods to look for shelter... there was a light... there was a smell of cooked mushrooms, surely they would have a place to stay...
A beaten-up woman in her 80ties was found on the side of the woods. She was hospitalised and questioned by police... fingerprints came back positive - she is Anna, but wait, Anna is in her 2oties! This woman can't be Anna... but fingerprints don't lie...
I choose this book as a part of the Psychological Thrillers group Spooky season reading challenge.
The Woman in the Woods by Jonas Saul is a dark, creepy and unusual thriller set in the woods.
It started so strong. I was so interested in what the hell was happening. Present and past perspectives unfold the story step by step and add more questions. But around the middle, I started to lose interest. The story was sort of going nowhere. I am not sure how much I liked the paranormal part. Kind of didn't go together. I don't know what I expected but unfortunately, I didn't get what I wanted from this book.
Don't take me wrong, this is a good book in general, it's just not completely my cup of tea. There was a lot of suspense and action and I liked that you all the time question characters and actions. The atmosphere was spooky and the setting was creepy.
Anna is heading to see her mother when suddenly the train stops and she, with 3 other passages, is asked to leave as they are on the wrong train. It would not be an issue but they are left in the middle of nowhere. Scared of each other but even more from the upcoming night they head into the woods to look for shelter... there was a light... there was a smell of cooked mushrooms, surely they would have a place to stay...
A beaten-up woman in her 80ties was found on the side of the woods. She was hospitalised and questioned by police... fingerprints came back positive - she is Anna, but wait, Anna is in her 2oties! This woman can't be Anna... but fingerprints don't lie...
I choose this book as a part of the Psychological Thrillers group Spooky season reading challenge.
March 4, 2023
I went into this book thinking it was going to be the usual thriller with a dead body and a policeman that saves the day by catching the killer, but how wrong I was!
This was a dark and unusual story that had me captured from the beginning, when an old woman is found in the woods covered in blood and badly beaten. From there the author tells the story jumping skillfully between the past, just before the events, and the present ending almost every chapter with a cliffhanger.
As the story unfolds nothing is explained fully, but we receive drips of information that serves to tickle the curiousity even more.
Although I enjoyed this book, I preferred the gripping suspense I felt reading the body of the book more than the ending, although that didn't disappoint anyway.
I'll definitely have another go at Jonas Saul's books based on this dark thriller!
This was a dark and unusual story that had me captured from the beginning, when an old woman is found in the woods covered in blood and badly beaten. From there the author tells the story jumping skillfully between the past, just before the events, and the present ending almost every chapter with a cliffhanger.
As the story unfolds nothing is explained fully, but we receive drips of information that serves to tickle the curiousity even more.
Although I enjoyed this book, I preferred the gripping suspense I felt reading the body of the book more than the ending, although that didn't disappoint anyway.
I'll definitely have another go at Jonas Saul's books based on this dark thriller!
October 4, 2024
(This is long and I jump around all over the place. I am not a writer so I am allowed, right? - sorry in advance!) This book grabbed me from the first page. It begins with someone discovering a bloody and badly beaten woman in the woods, who appeared to be 80 years old, only to discover this is a police officer’s girlfriend, Anna, who should be in her 20’s.
Each chapter gave you little pieces to the horror and twists that led to an ending I would have never guessed. I was wrong about three times. I stopped guessing halfway through.
Each chapter also makes you not want to stop reading because you have to know what the next chapter holds! There are multiple point of views, and spans over a three day period.
The book jumps from present to past which makes you wrapped in even more. I did a few “no, don’t do it!”, “just go back!”, “run!”…literally out loud. My heart rate was beating crazy over this horror, psychological thriller.
So good! It’s a must read and I highly recommend this book! Had my heart racing and I didn’t get one thing done today because I couldn’t stop reading it, and now it is night time. I have done this with each book in this challenge…why do I do this to myself?!
Each chapter gave you little pieces to the horror and twists that led to an ending I would have never guessed. I was wrong about three times. I stopped guessing halfway through.
Each chapter also makes you not want to stop reading because you have to know what the next chapter holds! There are multiple point of views, and spans over a three day period.
The book jumps from present to past which makes you wrapped in even more. I did a few “no, don’t do it!”, “just go back!”, “run!”…literally out loud. My heart rate was beating crazy over this horror, psychological thriller.
So good! It’s a must read and I highly recommend this book! Had my heart racing and I didn’t get one thing done today because I couldn’t stop reading it, and now it is night time. I have done this with each book in this challenge…why do I do this to myself?!
May 15, 2023
This was my second book that I have read by Jonas Saul. I received an advance copy.
Okay, this was absolutely a dark psychological thriller in every aspect. My overall thoughts, the flow & pace were spot on. Each paragraph detail poured into the next as if I were living and breathing the story. From the start of the story there was a virtual ticking time bomb. Each chapter was unusually creepy. The author's craft of jumping from past to present added to the knee knocking suspense. The characters are developed making it very easy to follow the timeline. If anyone knows me, I do not give 5-star ratings easily because I pick up a book for escapism and this book did not disappoint. No spoiler ... However, the story ending wasn't something I was prepared for and is something I never expected in my wildest dreams ... After you read the book, I suggest reading the AFTERWORD because it will set your mind more at ease. :)
Okay, this was absolutely a dark psychological thriller in every aspect. My overall thoughts, the flow & pace were spot on. Each paragraph detail poured into the next as if I were living and breathing the story. From the start of the story there was a virtual ticking time bomb. Each chapter was unusually creepy. The author's craft of jumping from past to present added to the knee knocking suspense. The characters are developed making it very easy to follow the timeline. If anyone knows me, I do not give 5-star ratings easily because I pick up a book for escapism and this book did not disappoint. No spoiler ... However, the story ending wasn't something I was prepared for and is something I never expected in my wildest dreams ... After you read the book, I suggest reading the AFTERWORD because it will set your mind more at ease. :)
September 20, 2023
Jeez
Words can not describe this book. I'm totally at a loss for words. This wasn't a Sarah Roberts story but Jonas had my mind reeling with this one. His method of story telling will make you want to meet him and just gleen from his methods of writing.
Words can not describe this book. I'm totally at a loss for words. This wasn't a Sarah Roberts story but Jonas had my mind reeling with this one. His method of story telling will make you want to meet him and just gleen from his methods of writing.
September 20, 2024
Area 51 vibes anyone!?!? This book. It's taken me a few days to really digest and I'm honestly still thinking about it. I bet the conspiracy theorists would have a field day. I was immediately intrigued about what happened from the start and the book just continued to change in ways I didn't see coming. From the initial mystery, to the otherworldly double reality, to the paranormal, to the downright evil. I'm not usually a horror/para girlie but this book was something else.
October 12, 2024
This was my 1st book by this author. It was a great read. The beginning was a little slow for me but the last part of the book had me on the edge. I love to be outdoors but it'll be awhile before I can walk thru the woods without thinking about this book.
March 2, 2023
This was my first Jonas Saul novel. It did not disappoint. Right from page one it had me hooked. So easy to read and visualise.
Highly recommend.
Highly recommend.
April 27, 2023
Awesome
This is another of Jonas Saul’s amazing books. I highly recommend anything written by this author. I’ve read everything he’s written and haven’t been disappointed yet!
This is another of Jonas Saul’s amazing books. I highly recommend anything written by this author. I’ve read everything he’s written and haven’t been disappointed yet!
April 30, 2023
Woman in the Woods
A very different Jonas Saul book but a non-stop thriller. This book had me waking up in the middle of the night to finish reading. It had me go look through several emotions and wanting to find out what happened. I would definitely recommend this book.
A very different Jonas Saul book but a non-stop thriller. This book had me waking up in the middle of the night to finish reading. It had me go look through several emotions and wanting to find out what happened. I would definitely recommend this book.
May 2, 2023
This is definitely a page turner. I couldn’t put it down until I finished it. You will not be disappointed.
August 29, 2024
A great psychological thriller that will keep you awake. I could not put it down. It's a pager turner thriller. It is a well written book with great characters. A must read.
August 6, 2025
I am probably being generous giving this novel 2 stars. I finished reading it because I don't like to judge an unfinished story but this truly was a waste of my time and I can't imagine ever picking up another novel by this author. I read something comparing him to Stephen King and Dean Koontz. My, is that a stretch. Okay, so the guy overlaps a bit by genre but definitely not in the quality of his prose. Character development is weak and his story telling lacks depth, color, and, in many cases, has glaring logic flaws. The story kicks off when the main character, Anna, walks in on a scene between her fiancé and boss and runs away without confronting them. She decides to flee to Sacramento to visit her sick mother but then gets on the wrong train. From there, she makes one poor decision after another all the way through the story.
Because she is on the wrong train, she and 3 other passengers with invalid tickets are abandoned in the middle of nowhere supposedly to be picked up by the train they are supposed to be on. My, what liability issues this corporate policy creates but supposedly their correct train will be along within 20 minutes. When that doesn't happen for hours, these 4 idiots decide to go exploring in the dark forest behind the drop off point. Though they can't see where they're going, they are drawn deeper into the woods by the smell of roasting mushrooms and an eerie light. It turns out, there is an army camp deep in the woods abandoned many decades earlier. The light was coming from a caretaker's cabin and they decide to spend the night sleeping in the wreck of the former army barracks surrounded by dirt, debris, and dead rodents.
One of their party wakes up early and decided to explore the army barracks. In its basement, he finds a room containing many packaged meals ready to eat (MRE's) of which he decides to partake and convinces the two other guys to also eat some. There is no sign of the caretaker they talked to the night before or any other living soul although they heard them talking during the night. Our explorer also investigated other rooms in the basement and found one with a cache of weapons and another filled with gold bars. There is no explanation as to why the military would abandoned the base, take all the furnishings in the barracks' first floor but leave this contraband in the basement. Of course, after the discoveries, greed becomes a motivator for the group to stay in this strange place and attempt to take the gold.
Later in the story, it comes to light that there have been many strange deaths and disappearances when the base first opened prompting the military to abandon it. At the time of the closing, the base was supposed to have been sealed off so no one could ever enter the space again but somehow it has become easily accessible in the present time by anyone who hikes through the nearby forest or stops at the railroad way station right in front of it. Oh, and all that gold is still sitting in the basement of the barracks 40 years after it is abandoned. Anyone who happens to pass by the area on foot is enticed to investigate by the smell of cooking (burnt??) mushrooms. No explanation is ever given as to the source of this odor but it gets stronger as one approaches the barracks building. The idiocy of this story just continues all the way to the end with some philosophical discussion by two of the people ensnared on the property attempting to explain what is going on. The more I write, the more I wonder why I finished this novel and gave it 2 stars. Anyway, you get the point. Like our victims in this story, there are plenty of warnings to stay away from this hot mess.
Because she is on the wrong train, she and 3 other passengers with invalid tickets are abandoned in the middle of nowhere supposedly to be picked up by the train they are supposed to be on. My, what liability issues this corporate policy creates but supposedly their correct train will be along within 20 minutes. When that doesn't happen for hours, these 4 idiots decide to go exploring in the dark forest behind the drop off point. Though they can't see where they're going, they are drawn deeper into the woods by the smell of roasting mushrooms and an eerie light. It turns out, there is an army camp deep in the woods abandoned many decades earlier. The light was coming from a caretaker's cabin and they decide to spend the night sleeping in the wreck of the former army barracks surrounded by dirt, debris, and dead rodents.
One of their party wakes up early and decided to explore the army barracks. In its basement, he finds a room containing many packaged meals ready to eat (MRE's) of which he decides to partake and convinces the two other guys to also eat some. There is no sign of the caretaker they talked to the night before or any other living soul although they heard them talking during the night. Our explorer also investigated other rooms in the basement and found one with a cache of weapons and another filled with gold bars. There is no explanation as to why the military would abandoned the base, take all the furnishings in the barracks' first floor but leave this contraband in the basement. Of course, after the discoveries, greed becomes a motivator for the group to stay in this strange place and attempt to take the gold.
Later in the story, it comes to light that there have been many strange deaths and disappearances when the base first opened prompting the military to abandon it. At the time of the closing, the base was supposed to have been sealed off so no one could ever enter the space again but somehow it has become easily accessible in the present time by anyone who hikes through the nearby forest or stops at the railroad way station right in front of it. Oh, and all that gold is still sitting in the basement of the barracks 40 years after it is abandoned. Anyone who happens to pass by the area on foot is enticed to investigate by the smell of cooking (burnt??) mushrooms. No explanation is ever given as to the source of this odor but it gets stronger as one approaches the barracks building. The idiocy of this story just continues all the way to the end with some philosophical discussion by two of the people ensnared on the property attempting to explain what is going on. The more I write, the more I wonder why I finished this novel and gave it 2 stars. Anyway, you get the point. Like our victims in this story, there are plenty of warnings to stay away from this hot mess.
October 22, 2024
If you are looking for a book with horror vibes, while you are waiting for Halloween - look no further. This may be the one!
It executes my favorite horror movie trope - woody area where people can easily wander in but can never get out (think about "The wrong turn" or "Hills have eyes" but without those freaky families).
This story is fast-paced, engaging and action driven. I lacked a little in character development and getting to know them.
But if you like thrillers with supernatural elements and enjoy more action and less character background I totally recommend this one.
It executes my favorite horror movie trope - woody area where people can easily wander in but can never get out (think about "The wrong turn" or "Hills have eyes" but without those freaky families).
This story is fast-paced, engaging and action driven. I lacked a little in character development and getting to know them.
But if you like thrillers with supernatural elements and enjoy more action and less character background I totally recommend this one.
January 13, 2025
Jonas Saul’s The Woman in the Woods is a chilling blend of horror and suspense that pulls you into the sinister depths of Oregon’s cursed forest. With eerie disappearances and a malicious ancient force at its core, the story keeps you hooked as the group of strangers unravels the horrifying secrets of the forbidden woods.
The pacing is relentless, with plenty of tension and atmospheric dread. Saul masterfully builds suspense, though some character dynamics feel a bit underdeveloped amidst the action. Still, the terror and twists make it hard to put down.
For fans of supernatural horror and tales of survival, The Woman in the Woods delivers a spine-tingling experience you won’t forget. Perfect for readers who enjoy fast-paced, unsettling stories with an edge of the unknown!
The pacing is relentless, with plenty of tension and atmospheric dread. Saul masterfully builds suspense, though some character dynamics feel a bit underdeveloped amidst the action. Still, the terror and twists make it hard to put down.
For fans of supernatural horror and tales of survival, The Woman in the Woods delivers a spine-tingling experience you won’t forget. Perfect for readers who enjoy fast-paced, unsettling stories with an edge of the unknown!
August 22, 2025
Great book!! Started as a normal thriller and ended up being a (somewhat) supernatural horror! That was fun and unexpected!
It takes place near where we live, so that peaked my interest from the beginning. Hooked me from the very beginning.
Each chapter had me wanting more! Very well done!
It takes place near where we live, so that peaked my interest from the beginning. Hooked me from the very beginning.
Each chapter had me wanting more! Very well done!
October 31, 2024
Something is wrong in the forests of Oregon.
Mass disappearances are occurring in the woods behind an Oregonian train station, like a Bermuda Triangle on land. The government has stepped in to completely block off access. We follow a group of 4 strangers who miss their train and wander into this part of the woods. What they find is unexplainable, constantly changing and disturbing.
It is multi-POV and dual timeline (my fav). This way, some characters have more answers than others which keeps the book suspenseful watching everything unfold. The book follows one of my two favorite subgenres, weird town horror… and things are WEIRD. I think the first half of the book was so fast-paced and alluring. The buildup was spectacular, almost too spectacular. I’m not saying the last half was disappointing, but I think I was personally expecting a tad more out of the ending/big reveal. It was unique for its theme which I appreciated. It’s a little hard to explain without total spoilers!
Overall, I think its worth the read because I love a weird forest and Jonas’ writing was spot on with keeping you engaged.
Rating: 3.75/5
Mass disappearances are occurring in the woods behind an Oregonian train station, like a Bermuda Triangle on land. The government has stepped in to completely block off access. We follow a group of 4 strangers who miss their train and wander into this part of the woods. What they find is unexplainable, constantly changing and disturbing.
It is multi-POV and dual timeline (my fav). This way, some characters have more answers than others which keeps the book suspenseful watching everything unfold. The book follows one of my two favorite subgenres, weird town horror… and things are WEIRD. I think the first half of the book was so fast-paced and alluring. The buildup was spectacular, almost too spectacular. I’m not saying the last half was disappointing, but I think I was personally expecting a tad more out of the ending/big reveal. It was unique for its theme which I appreciated. It’s a little hard to explain without total spoilers!
Overall, I think its worth the read because I love a weird forest and Jonas’ writing was spot on with keeping you engaged.
Rating: 3.75/5
October 1, 2024
The woman in the woods by Jonas Saul.
.
Next time you take a train and they tell you to get off, THINK TWICE. Stranded at an abandon train check point with 3 men Anna is not sure what to do and it all feels so wrong. In an attempt to wait for a train that is due in 10 minutes she keeps to herself except when an hour goes by and no train she decides she should get to know the men she is stranded with. When darkness falls and they are forced to find shelter or walk hours to the nearest town they stumble across a cabin with an old man who tells them their is an old army barracks not far that would allow them to spend the night. This is where those who love conspiracy theories will hang onto their seats. Even the mention of maybe they should build a bigger wall. Is it evil? Is it a government employee looking for an easy way out?Or is it just another abandon building?
.
Maybe Anna should of talked to her boyfriend before she decided to leave town.
.
Next time you take a train and they tell you to get off, THINK TWICE. Stranded at an abandon train check point with 3 men Anna is not sure what to do and it all feels so wrong. In an attempt to wait for a train that is due in 10 minutes she keeps to herself except when an hour goes by and no train she decides she should get to know the men she is stranded with. When darkness falls and they are forced to find shelter or walk hours to the nearest town they stumble across a cabin with an old man who tells them their is an old army barracks not far that would allow them to spend the night. This is where those who love conspiracy theories will hang onto their seats. Even the mention of maybe they should build a bigger wall. Is it evil? Is it a government employee looking for an easy way out?Or is it just another abandon building?
.
Maybe Anna should of talked to her boyfriend before she decided to leave town.
September 25, 2025
Have you read this book by yet? If you haven't, you should! A Woman In The Woods is a horror/thriller book by Jonas Saul that is a perfect read especially for this time of year!!!
The book is such a page Turner, right from the beginning. Follow Anna, Russ, Jaxon, and Greyson into a place, that will have the hair standing up on the back of your neck.
This paragraph was in the beginning of the book, and wow was I hooked after reading this:
"The woman was at least eighty years old, perhaps older. Her feet were bloody, the soles mostly absent of skin from walking a great distance. A couple of toes still leaked blood, and if it weren’t for the dried dark blood, her feet would be white due to blood loss."
Reading the last half of the book, and I'm not sure if this was Jonas' intention but it reminded me of greed and greed being one of the seven deadly sins. I don't want to give anymore away, but that's my opinion. I would love to know what others think if you have read it. If not I highly recommend you do, and let me know what you think!
The book is such a page Turner, right from the beginning. Follow Anna, Russ, Jaxon, and Greyson into a place, that will have the hair standing up on the back of your neck.
This paragraph was in the beginning of the book, and wow was I hooked after reading this:
"The woman was at least eighty years old, perhaps older. Her feet were bloody, the soles mostly absent of skin from walking a great distance. A couple of toes still leaked blood, and if it weren’t for the dried dark blood, her feet would be white due to blood loss."
Reading the last half of the book, and I'm not sure if this was Jonas' intention but it reminded me of greed and greed being one of the seven deadly sins. I don't want to give anymore away, but that's my opinion. I would love to know what others think if you have read it. If not I highly recommend you do, and let me know what you think!
February 28, 2023
I was honored to receive an advanced reader copy in exchange for an honest review.
I ended up reading The Woman in the Woods, in two sessions! Lately, my squirrel brain has been having difficulty concentrating, but Jonas's latest work was the exception. Constantly, I was saying, "Just one more page, I need to find out what's going to happen next!" But after two late nights, I finished. I considered the lack of sleep a great trade-off.
I don't wish to post any spoilers, but sometimes it's good to read about the "things that go bump in the night", and not all stories need a nice happy ending as the main character walks into the sunset. I enjoyed the feeling of wanting to keep my bedside lamp on all night to keep the shadows at bay.
Would I recommend the novel? YES!
I ended up reading The Woman in the Woods, in two sessions! Lately, my squirrel brain has been having difficulty concentrating, but Jonas's latest work was the exception. Constantly, I was saying, "Just one more page, I need to find out what's going to happen next!" But after two late nights, I finished. I considered the lack of sleep a great trade-off.
I don't wish to post any spoilers, but sometimes it's good to read about the "things that go bump in the night", and not all stories need a nice happy ending as the main character walks into the sunset. I enjoyed the feeling of wanting to keep my bedside lamp on all night to keep the shadows at bay.
Would I recommend the novel? YES!
February 28, 2024
The first 55% or so of this novel was outstanding. I couldn't put it down and I was racing through the pages to find out what was going on. The plot was so interesting, and I really liked the characters. However, in the last half of the book I started to notice some inconsistencies. For example, people would be told things and then they'd be shocked or confused when they heard it again it later, like they were hearing it for the first time. Then the book went a direction I didn't expect that wasn't really my thing. Overall it was still good, I just enjoyed the first half a lot more than the second. This was my first Jonas Saul book, and I would definitely consider reading more by him. 3.5 stars rounded up.
February 28, 2023
So creepy! It made my skin crawl!
Author Jonas Saul has quite a way with words, and he uses them all in this book to propel the reader into a nightmare of epic proportions. From the moment you begin reading, you are pulled into a web of misdirects and suspicion. Who is the culprit? What is going on? Who will make it out alive? … Is anyone truly safe?
This dark and terrifying journey left my heart pounding and my insides crawling with fear. Even finishing the story was not enough to ensure that I could close my eyes and not see and feel something moving in the darkness. Reader beware, this is one tale that is sure to haunt you!
Author Jonas Saul has quite a way with words, and he uses them all in this book to propel the reader into a nightmare of epic proportions. From the moment you begin reading, you are pulled into a web of misdirects and suspicion. Who is the culprit? What is going on? Who will make it out alive? … Is anyone truly safe?
This dark and terrifying journey left my heart pounding and my insides crawling with fear. Even finishing the story was not enough to ensure that I could close my eyes and not see and feel something moving in the darkness. Reader beware, this is one tale that is sure to haunt you!
September 8, 2024
Delightfully Dark
What a wickedly good book! Anna, our heroine takes a train towards Sacramento after catching her boyfriend, cheating on her with her boss of all people! Unfortunately, while on the way to Sacramento the train stops unexpectedly at an isolated train stop. She and three men are made to get off the train because of a ticketing issue. We find out that every person who has been taken off the train have secret back stories what follows, is an mysterious and creepy novel, including mystery, aging, a lot of dark atmospheric scenes and a legit wild ride. You will never guess where the story will take you… Perfect story for Halloween.!
What a wickedly good book! Anna, our heroine takes a train towards Sacramento after catching her boyfriend, cheating on her with her boss of all people! Unfortunately, while on the way to Sacramento the train stops unexpectedly at an isolated train stop. She and three men are made to get off the train because of a ticketing issue. We find out that every person who has been taken off the train have secret back stories what follows, is an mysterious and creepy novel, including mystery, aging, a lot of dark atmospheric scenes and a legit wild ride. You will never guess where the story will take you… Perfect story for Halloween.!
August 5, 2025
This was one of those thrillers that you delve into expecting one thing and then it hits you with something completely unhinged. For full transparency, I enjoyed this far more than I expected to.
The story hits the gas right from the get-go, when police attend a report and find an old woman in the woods, beaten and bloodied, but when they run her through the system, what they find is something quite beyond their realm of understanding.
A really dark and gripping weird town/backwoods horror thriller that had some great supernatural elements. Would recommend to anyone who loves a conspiracy theory!
The story hits the gas right from the get-go, when police attend a report and find an old woman in the woods, beaten and bloodied, but when they run her through the system, what they find is something quite beyond their realm of understanding.
A really dark and gripping weird town/backwoods horror thriller that had some great supernatural elements. Would recommend to anyone who loves a conspiracy theory!
August 11, 2025
Almost did not finish this. In fact, I skimmed through the last 15%. The idea of this is awesome. Creepy, haunted bunker in the woods where mysterious things happen. Yeah, that’s intriguing. Back and forth between present day and in the past. Love that too. What I couldn’t handle was the writing was so bad. Hardly any character development which led to the story being told very linearly. This happened, then that happened, oh and there was a burning mushroom smell. Then this happened, and oh there’s that burning mushroom smell again. Ack! It had such potential, sadly it fell very flat for me.
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