The Woman in the Woods

by J.A. Baker

I am safe here, in my cottage in the woods where no one knows me or my real name. All is peaceful and calm and the real world can’t hurt me – because I know how cruel it can be. But then I see her again. I see her pale, white face. Watching me. Taunting me. And then the notes begin to appear. I know who you really are… I know what you did… All of a sudden, the walls of my cottage feel like a prison, the peaceful woods around me a maze that will trap me forever. Who is this woman? What does she want? Does she know what happened during that boiling hot summer of 1976 when I made my terrible mistake. And if so, how? So many questions paralysing me with fear. One thing I do know. She must be stopped.

Genres: Thriller

306 pages, Kindle Edition

First published August 30, 2023

About the author

J. A. Baker was born and brought up in the North East of England.

When she's not writing and thinking up new and inventive ways of killing off her fictional characters, or looking after her young grandchildren, she can be found pottering around her garden with her madcap dog, Theo or in a coffee shop eating cake with her long suffering husband.

Reviews

[Heather Adores Books · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.25⭐
Genre ~ psychological thriller
Publication date ~ August 30, 2023
Page Count ~ 312 (50 chapters)
POV ~ dual 1st & single 3rd
Featuring ~ dual timeline ~ now & 1976, brutal murder, stalking, revenge

The Writer lives secluded in the woods with her old German Shepherd, Whisky. She only goes out to do talks and book signings at the local library. She suffers from amnesia as a result of a hit and run.

Heather (yay for my name) changed her name to Mary when she got out of prison. Now she's out for revenge and watching The Writer's every move.

We know something horrific happened in the Summer of 1976, but we don't know exactly what for quite a while. Poor, neglected Heather narrates what goes down and led her to prison term. You can't help but feel sad for her upbringing.

Whisky was the most reliable and friendliest of the bunch. A faithful companion. Always ready for a walk, or a treat, or to take a nice long snooze in his bed after exploring the woods. There was a heart pounding moment at the beginning when he was missing and we feared harm, but he was perfectly fine.

Overall, a nice fast paced thriller with some suspenseful, edge of the seat, moments. If you like stalkers out for revenge then you'll probably enjoy this one.

*Thanks to J.A. Baker, Rachel's Random Resources, Boldwood Books and NetGalley for the ARC. I am voluntarily leaving my honest review*

Connect with me ➡ Blog ~ Facebook ~ Twitter

[Mark · Rating 5 out of 5]

I wrote in my review of the authors last book that it was her best…..I am writing it again,this is now the authors best book 😎
I love a book that has an author as one of the main characters and always look for any insider info or feelings re their work and interactions with us readers…this book has all these combined with a whole massive story that encompasses the past,secrets,lies,murders and intrigue….the list is endless,it is as always filled with fabulous descriptive writing and although covers the past and present done so in a way that was not confusing
There is also trickery afoot so beware!
A really good full on thriller that had everything to make it a perfect one for me.

[Kate · Rating 5 out of 5]

Thanks to Netgalley and Boldwoold for access to this Arc in exchange for my honest review.

Well, this is the first book I read of this author and it won't be the last! I could feel the suspense building up all throughout and felt sooo bad for one of the characters at the end. I may side with the villain this time, I wish her life has been easier..

[Janalyn, the blind reviewer · Rating 5 out of 5]

It seems every time I read a book by JA Baker I think it is the best one I have read so either she is getting better or I just love every freaking book she writes. It’s probably a combination of both. A woman with a secret a woman in hiding but every secret will come to the light… Right? She has quickly become one of my favorite thriller authors in this book is a great example of why. I want to thank Boldwood books and Net Galley for my free arc copy please forgive any mistakes as I am blind and dictate my review.

[Sharon Rimmelzwaan · Rating 5 out of 5]

Everything I have read from this author has never let me down. I do always wonder if or when the book will come that I have to say, 'That wasn't for me'. The Woman in the Woods is not that book.
A dark psychological thriller that is told from two perspectives and two timelines. One is the main character in the present day, who lives in the woods, and the other, a child in the past. I was hooked immediately. I do appreciate a psychological thriller that's well written and a gripping read. This was both.
I couldn't put this book down! It was a 'just one more chapter' book, right up to the final one! I just had to know where this was going and what would be next for the characters. The twists and turns kept me in suspense and constantly trying to guess.
J.A. Baker has definitely created great characters. Ones which tugged at my heartstrings at one point or another as the story unfolded. When an author fleshes them out so much, I always feel like I could know them in some way. These characters were exactly that!
Another fabulous psychological thriller that I can highly recommend from this author. If you haven't tried J.A.Baker before, you honestly need to. Thanks to Rachel's Random Resources and Boldwood Books for the gifted ebook to write my honest review today.

[Michelle Flair · Rating 5 out of 5]

loved this book, the way it is written and the plot was amazing. Did not see that ending coming. Just when I thought I knew what has happening there was another turn that couldn't be predicted.

[Arthi Krishnan · Rating 3 out of 5]

Not great - dragged on and was somewhat predictable. I kept reading to see how it ended but I felt it was anti-climactic. I like psychological thrillers so was disappointed in this one.

[Julie Devonald-Cornelius · Rating 4 out of 5]

Another great read. Will have to get more of her books

[Julie · Rating 4 out of 5]

Creepy, hypnotic and terrifying, The Woman in the Woods is the chilling new thriller by J A Baker.

Heather and Lesley’s lives had changed beyond belief during the boiling hot summer of 1976. A fatal mistake had turned the two girls’ entire lives upside down and both of their worlds had been upended. Heather and Lesley tried hard to leave the events of that summer behind them, but even after all these decades, the devastating repercussions of that particular day continue to linger and cause them both no end of trauma and strife.

More than forty years later and Lesley is now a writer who is practically a recluse. She lives with her dog and barely has any human interaction, but with a book to sell and money being rather tight, she agrees to give a talk at the local library. Lesley notices a pale-looking woman at the talk and something about her immediately makes her feel unsettled. Could this woman be a connection from her past? And might her presence in her life signal the beginning of yet another traumatic chapter for Lesley?

When Lesley begins receiving anonymous notes, she knows that the woman she had seen at the talk is responsible. But what does she want from her? And why is she targeting her? Lesley knows that she must do whatever it takes to stop this woman. But does she know who she is taking on? Lesley’s past has finally caught with her, but is she ready for the fight of her life? Or is this a battle that will end up costing her dear?

You can always rely on J A Baker for an exhilarating rollercoaster ride and she has done it again with The Woman in the Woods. Unsettling, chilling and deliciously twisted, this dark and disturbing read will have you jumping out of your skin and looking over your shoulders weeks after you’ve finished reading it.

An unpredictable thriller that delivers on all counts, The Woman in the Woods is classic J A Baker.

I voluntarily read and reviewed an Advanced Reader Copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

[Valerie Dickenson · Rating 5 out of 5]

Baker’s best

The story grabbed me from the start. Everyone, who as a child was desperate to belong, will sympathise with the characters of Heather and Lesley. Superb writing elevates this story to a different level. Excellently done, I’d no idea where it was going and was speedily flicking the pages to get to the very satisfying end.

[Michelle Ballance · Rating 5 out of 5]

Very interesting book.

I really liked this book. I felt sorry for Heather and wanted a different outcome. I'm sure Leslie will get what's coming to her!

[Julie Thomas · Rating 4 out of 5]

Gripped from the beginning a good read

[Sandra K. Suffridge · Rating 1 out of 5]

Disappointing...

What's wrong with authors today? Do they think adding the F-word will be more appealing to readers and sell more books? I wanted to love this book, but the foul language made it impossible, so please leave it out of your next one...

[Sara · Rating 5 out of 5]

Originally reviewed for Chick Lit Central (www.chicklitcentral.com)

This is the second book I’ve read by author J.A. Baker–and it won’t be my last! The Woman in the Woods really was the perfect psychological thriller. I can appreciate a mystery that has a slow burn. The kind that doesn’t immediately throw the answers at you. Where you have to wait and watch for the truth to unravel a little at a time.

I.L. Lawrence is one of the primary characters, an up and coming author who had recently been in a hit and run accident, suffering from amnesia afterwards. She can’t remember what her life had been like before the accident, particularly any of the memories from her childhood. It seems in some ways, what had happened to her lends into her ability to create unique stories, as though the plotlines could have come straight from her own past. It feels that way to her when she begins to see a random stranger show up to her book readings–a woman she doesn’t recognize but seems to know, all at once.

Mary has had a rough life. Events in her own childhood have forced her to recreate herself entirely, so no one really knows who she is. She has a strong vendetta against I.L., one that has stuck around with her for decades. There are plenty of reasons to choose not to act on the impulses she has to give payback to the one person who Mary feels has ruined her, but sometimes when you hold a grudge for that long, nothing can stop you from seeing it through.

The story is told from both I.L.'s perspective, as well as Mary’s, but is Mary the stranger who has been going to the book readings, or is that someone else entirely? I seriously had no clue! As I’d read each chapter, I tried to figure out who was who, which was pretty thrilling considering it was something I had to suss out for myself. Each moment was expertly paced out, so nothing was rushed–until it needed to be. The setting was the right backdrop, too. A lonely cottage in the woods, secluded by forest and darkness. It added to the overall tone of the book. A true thriller from start to finish. A definite five-star experience!

[Vanessa · Rating 5 out of 5]

The woman in the woods by J A Baker was another excellent book. I was gripped from the beginning till the end and I found it hard to put it down, especially as its full with great twists and turns throughout that will have you sitting on the edge of your seat. I loved it. Plus, I wanted to know more about the main character who is a writer. She lives in the woods with her old dog called Whiskey who is her old faithful companion. This is where she feels safe in her cottage in the woods, where no one knows her or her real name. She feels at peace and safe from the real world outside the woods. No one can hurt her and Whiskey because she knows the real world can be so cruel especially of they ever found out what happened in the summer of 1976, when she made a terrible mistake.

But, then I see her again. I see her pale, white face. Watching me. Taunting me. And then the notes begin to appear. I know who you really are…..........and I know what you did.

All of a sudden, the walls of my cottage feel like a prison, the peaceful woods around me a maze that will trap me forever.

Who is this woman?

What does she want?

So many questions paralysing me with fear. But, One thing I do know. She must be stopped. and will stop! It has to stop!

This is why I live alone in the woods so no one can find me and know where I live!!

Big Thank you to Netgalley and Boldwood Books for supplying a copy of this novel in exchange for an honest review.

[Lynda · Rating 4 out of 5]

A dark psychological thriller about two women told from two POV’s, that of a child in the past and the title character, the woman who lives on her own in the woods. It took me a little while to get into this partly because I didn’t really like either of the protagonists but once I did get into it it was compelling. This writer can definitely write dark!

Briefly, it is the Summer of 1976 and three young teenagers are looking for something to do. Unfortunately by the time their proposed bit of fun has run its course there is a dead woman; one of the girls is also dead and one of the others arrested for murder. Many years later an author is giving a talk in a local library. She has a scarred face, the result of a hit and run accident which resulted in memory loss and she remembers nothing of her life before the incident. At the end of the talk she notices a strange woman in the room who leaves her a note. At further talks the woman reappears but again leaves without making any comment.

Slowly but surely secrets are revealed. The characters in this are really quite chilling, damaged by past actions. This is full of twists and turns and whopping big red herrings, I couldn’t decide who the woman in the woods was. A good psychological thriller, dark, chilling and scary but also quite sad and emotional.

[Louise Wilson · Rating 4 out of 5]

I am safe here, in my cottage in the woods where no one knows me or my real name. All is peaceful and calm, and the real world can't hurt me - because I know how real it can be. But then I see her again. I see her pale, white face. Watching me taunting me. And when the notes begin to appear. I know who you really are.... I know what you did.... All of a sudden, the walls of my prison, the peaceful woods, a maze that will trap me forever. who is this woman? What does she want? Does she know what happened during that boiling summer of 1976 when I made that terrible mistake? And if so, how? So many questions paralysing me with fear. One thing I do know. She must be stopped.

It did take me a little while to get into this book, but once I was in, I was hooked. There was a creepy vibe throughout this story. Filled with twists, turns and red herrings, the story is told from the two main characters perspectives. Just when I thought I knew where the story was heading, off in a different direction we would go. I did feel some sympathy for both women. This is a book I thinl you're better going into it blind. I don't think you'll be disappointed.

I would like to thank #NetGalley #BoldwoodBooks and the author #JABaker for my ARC of #TheWomanInTheWoods in exchange for an honest review.

[Sue · Rating 4 out of 5]

She is scarred from a hit and run accident which stole her memory. She remembers nothing of her life before the accident.

She is living a lonely, solitary life in a house deep in the woods. She is an author and ventures out only to give talks about her books.
A face in the audience catches her eye, and later the woman silently gives her a note, is it a threat?

A woman approaches her in the woods while she is taking her dog for a walk, and she feels as though her privacy has been violated.


A creepy stalker book. Full of red herrings and you can feel the threat of the stalker. What is a person capable of doing to protect themselves? Murder?
The book is told from two POV's. The child from the past, a victim of a poor upbringing, a victim of her own need to be seen, to be loved, to be popular.
And the POV of the woman in the woods, who has no past, and feels she has no future.

Very good read, chilling and heartbreaking.

Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for the opportunity to read this book in exchange for an honest review.

[Gary · Rating 3 out of 5]

“The Woman in the Woods” is a psychological thriller by J.A. Baker. The novel is set in a quiet cottage in the woods and is a story full of secrets and paranoia. Told from different characters we learn how a childhood tragedy manifests to cause problems in latter life. An author is involved in a hit and run accident causing her to lose parts of her memory. Later on she is at a book signing event when she spots a woman who seems to be familiar. They have no contact but the woman returns again and again at further events leaving the author with a sense of danger. With no memory of her past she still feels that this mystery woman is someone she has known and now she is stalking her.

Although I enjoyed the novel it still didn’t feel completely hooked. Plenty of tension throughout but not quite there for me.

I would like to thank both Netgalley and Boldwood Books for supplying a copy of this novel in exchange for an honest review.

[Livia · Rating 5 out of 5]

In the summer of 1976, the hottest summer in 350 years, a young girl unloved, unwanted and forgotten just wants her life to change ..Most days she wonders around feeling invisible, like a speck of dust floating in the air that can only be seen when a shaft of light gets in .....I.L Lawrence is a thriller writer who lives in a cottage in the woods ..Her dog Whiskey and her books are her life ..Sometimes she does book signings at her local library where she meets and greets her fans ..But when she begins to feel she is being shadowed...she wonders what possible reason anyone could have to taunt her ...Told through the eyes of I L Lawrence and a voice that somehow slipped through the cracks 5 stars ...The Woman in the Woods is a Stunning Phychological thriller ...that I read deep into the early hours of the morning ...

[Valerie Brown · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for an ARC of this book. I have chosen to write this honest review voluntarily and it reflects my personal opinion.
I thought the author built the characters of the young girls very well, as individuals and within the group dynamic which clearly identified the leader. Heather's childhood was so awful that it's barely credible that no one stepped in to highlight her plight but in those days it was much rarer for someone to report her situation to authorities and for a action to be taken. The plot was well thought out and suspense was built as the historical events and current timeline moved forward. The events around the deaths were described almost in slow-motion, making quite horrific reading. The amnesia from the head injury was realistic and added to the suspense. In all I thought this book was the author's best yet.

[Michelle · Rating 4 out of 5]

Member Review

The Woman In The Woods
by J A Baker
Pub Date: 30 Aug 2023
Review by

michelle f, Reviewer
Last updated on 20 Aug 2023
My Recommendation
Thanks to Boldwood Books for this arc. Well........ creepy or what.., it sent shivers down my spine. I like the way this book goes from Past to present., it flows smoothly and i had a better understanding of what happened all those years ago., with heather,lesley and irena. Heather ozwald went to prison for murder of a woman who lives in the woods. But did she do it???. Lesley now goes by the name I.L. Lawrence who is now an author who lives in the middle of nowhere, just her and her dog whiskey. What really happened that day down by the river? I really enjoyed this book, highley recommend. It has shocks you wouldnt think of

[Fee (Ebook Addicts) · Rating 4 out of 5]

For whatever reason it took me ages to get into this book, I kept picking it up but then laying it back down. But once I found my groove after a couple of chapters I was hooked. 

Who is the woman in the woods? Why is her past such a mystery and who keeps showing up at her book talks? This book is a bit of psychological mind bender, told from the POV of two people - Heather in the past during the summer of 1976 and the present day. We can see that something terrible had happened that summer that ruined many lives but when the reveal finally made the pages I was shocked and felt sick to my core, the build up to it still didn't prepare me for what I was reading.

Despite taking a while to get into this was a great read and one I couldn't put once I got hooked.

4 stars

[Deb · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a very dark psychological thriller & the woods in question almost felt like another character - foreboding & claustrophobic.

This is told from two POVs - one in the past & the titular character in the present. It’s the scorching summer of 1976 & three teenagers are bored; they decide on a course of action which leads to two deaths & a murder arrest. Forward to the present & a woman is receiving notes claiming to know her history, of which she says she has no memory.

I found this quite a slow read but I couldn’t put it down. A compelling urgency to understand the characters spurred me on, although I couldn’t empathise with either of them. Some chilling twists sent me in the wrong direction completely. The mark of a good read.

[Leanne · Rating 5 out of 5]

A thouroghly enjoyable physcological thriller that I won't forget any time soon! I think everyone will be able to relate to Heather and Lesley as children just trying to fit in. I thought it was brilliant writing one of the main characters as a author as a avid reader it's always interesting to get into the minds of a author. I was gripped from page one and had no idea where the author was going to go with the story so it kept me eagerly flipping the pages until the very best ending. I think this is the best one I have read from J.A. Baker.

[Linda Rorex · Rating 5 out of 5]

Heather and Lesley were friends whose lives were changed after a fatal flaw in the summer of 1976. Forty years later Lesley is a writer living in seclusion in a cabin in the woods with her dog Whiskey. Lesley goes to the Library to promote her new book, then she starts receiving anonymous notes. Lesley is determined to find out who and why these notes are being sent to her. This story delves into secrets, fears and the haunting presence of a mysterious woman. I really enjoyed this psychological thriller with all of its twists and turns.

[Jenny McClinton · Rating 4 out of 5]

I received an E-ARC with a request for my honest review.

This tension filled thriller follows an author who after an accident has amnesia and doesn’t remember anything about their life before.

After one of their authors talks, she is approached by a mysterious woman and is passed a note which shocks her & makes her wonder what could have happened in her past.

When it seems someone is out to get her, she starts to feel unsafe and feels she must try and recall her memory to work out the truth.

What happened in her past? Is someone out to get her?

This thriller is filled with plenty of tension and mystery as the storyline weaves between the authors current life, another character’s life in 1976, and another mysterious character.

The way the storyline is told keeps the mystery going throughout, and as it unravels becomes more shocking.

It must be so hard not to know the person you are and what events have happened in your life, so I did feel for her.

Overall, a tension filled thriller where an author must confront her past, even if she can’t remember.

[Roo · Rating 4 out of 5]

Really enjoyed reading this thriller. The chapters go back and forth to the present day and when the characters were children. It was great to get each of the main characters thoughts. Great writing and a great plot with a twist.

An author who writes crime books can’t remember the past after a hit and run accident, but someone out there wants her to remember.

Thanks to Netgalley and the publishers for a copy.

[Carol Flynn · Rating 5 out of 5]

riveting

I really couldn’t put this book down, and as usual now it’s finished I want it to carry on.
I really felt sorry for Heather, she just seemed to be in need of love and care and most of all to feel needed, so when Lesley became her friend everything seemed rosy, but things went wrong, 2’s company 3’s a crowd.
Brilliant storyline continues throughout this book, I couldn’t pace myself and read more or less straight through, loved it.

[Jade Crosby · Rating 4 out of 5]

good

I’ve read more gripping stories, but definitely read far less “page turner “ ones. To me, you find out who the mystery characters are pretty quickly, & then it’s a matter of new bits of info being shared through each chapter/POV.
The ending was great, although the climax didn’t last long. I enjoyed it overall, but if you like massive twists vs a good story, you may want to look elsewhere.
Either way, I finished it pretty quickly & It’s an easy read!