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Deep in the Forest
What lies behind the gates of the Sanctuary?
'Urgent. Come tomorrow. Can't wait any longer.'
Charli Trenthan plans to leave her hometown of Stone Lake. But when she receives a cryptic message from a member of the Sanctuary, a conservative closed community nestled in the forest, she is determined to find answers.
A gruesome discovery soon lands Charli in hot water with the police, but how is the Sanctuary connected? As she digs deeper, dark secrets are uncovered and the fight to prove her innocence turns into a fight for her life.
A gripping thriller with a shocking conclusion that will leave you spellbound, Deep in the Forest raises questions about who we trust and why.
'Urgent. Come tomorrow. Can't wait any longer.'
Charli Trenthan plans to leave her hometown of Stone Lake. But when she receives a cryptic message from a member of the Sanctuary, a conservative closed community nestled in the forest, she is determined to find answers.
A gruesome discovery soon lands Charli in hot water with the police, but how is the Sanctuary connected? As she digs deeper, dark secrets are uncovered and the fight to prove her innocence turns into a fight for her life.
A gripping thriller with a shocking conclusion that will leave you spellbound, Deep in the Forest raises questions about who we trust and why.
Kindle Edition
Published November 28, 2023
8 people are currently reading
177 people want to read
About the author
Erina Reddan
4 books11 followersErina writes adult mystery crime books and young adult novels. She’s worked with words, ideas and stories all her life, winning a Walkley Award for her work as an ABC foreign correspondent. She has a PhD in creative writing from La Trobe University on girl warriors and ball gowns and has taught writing at Latrobe University and Writers Victoria. Her family claims she can glamorise a handful of facts beyond recognition in the service of an entertaining story, sometimes at the expense of truth but always in favour of wonder.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 35 reviews
November 29, 2023
Right from the start there’s a pastoral gothic feel to Deep In the Forest, provided by a strongly presented setting and a sense of being completely surrounded by danger. The mood is set early and we witness a relentless build up of tension in a story of suspense that plays on our suspicion of people who are considered to be “different”.
Charli Trenthan is a virtual outcast within her own small town thanks to the local police sergeant who holds a grudge against her, making her life a misery. She’s still mourning the death of her mother, killed by a hit and run driver. She’s also an extremely talented book binder and deals with the outside worries by throwing herself into her work, creating a significant anniversary book for the local closed community that goes by the name the Sanctuary.
She lives in a large old house on an isolated property that sits on the edge of the forest. The isolation is both a positive and a negative, providing her with much sought after privacy but it also leaves her feeling vulnerable when strangers visit. All of this puts her in close proximity to the Sanctuary, to the deep sections of the forest and the nearby lake and any dangers that may be hidden in the surrounding area.
A disturbing discovery while walking through the surrounding forest draws Charli to the Sanctuary. She feels she must somehow get past the gates that lock the general public out and even though her work on the group’s book provides her with an access, getting the people inside to talk to her proves difficult.
There’s something about closed off religious groups, also routinely known as cults, that draws suspicion and this is no different for the town of Stone Lake. The Sanctuary brings money into the town through its artisanal produce and it rehabilitates kids who’ve been living on the streets hooked on drugs. At least, that’s the public face that’s presented.
But, of course, there’s more to this group than meets the eye and Charli, with the help of two invaluable friends, strives to discover the truth about them. And, just like when you poke an ants nest with a stick, the results can be swift and unpredictable.
From a sedately paced beginning, the story builds steadily in momentum and provides a tension-filled finish. I can’t say I was particularly surprised with the direction it took, nor was the reveal of the villain of the piece a shock.
But what I enjoyed was the growth of Charli, she played the amateur detective part with aplomb and managed to overcome some pretty major hurdles along the way. No doubt, she’s going to polarise opinion because she’s in no way the most decisive of people, nor is she a particularly great judge of character. She was fortunate to be guided by her aunt Gigi and her neighbour Amra who both proved to be a breath of fresh air each time they entered the picture.
The dramatic and oft-times frustrating cult novel has been done in numerous ways in the past. Erina Reddan takes us on a slightly different route and there are interesting moments here, mainly because we are constantly on the outside looking in and relying on the observations of someone who is prone to becoming frozen by emotion. It all makes for a tension-filled ending.
My thanks to Pantera Press via NetGalley for the opportunity to read and review this book.
Charli Trenthan is a virtual outcast within her own small town thanks to the local police sergeant who holds a grudge against her, making her life a misery. She’s still mourning the death of her mother, killed by a hit and run driver. She’s also an extremely talented book binder and deals with the outside worries by throwing herself into her work, creating a significant anniversary book for the local closed community that goes by the name the Sanctuary.
She lives in a large old house on an isolated property that sits on the edge of the forest. The isolation is both a positive and a negative, providing her with much sought after privacy but it also leaves her feeling vulnerable when strangers visit. All of this puts her in close proximity to the Sanctuary, to the deep sections of the forest and the nearby lake and any dangers that may be hidden in the surrounding area.
A disturbing discovery while walking through the surrounding forest draws Charli to the Sanctuary. She feels she must somehow get past the gates that lock the general public out and even though her work on the group’s book provides her with an access, getting the people inside to talk to her proves difficult.
There’s something about closed off religious groups, also routinely known as cults, that draws suspicion and this is no different for the town of Stone Lake. The Sanctuary brings money into the town through its artisanal produce and it rehabilitates kids who’ve been living on the streets hooked on drugs. At least, that’s the public face that’s presented.
But, of course, there’s more to this group than meets the eye and Charli, with the help of two invaluable friends, strives to discover the truth about them. And, just like when you poke an ants nest with a stick, the results can be swift and unpredictable.
From a sedately paced beginning, the story builds steadily in momentum and provides a tension-filled finish. I can’t say I was particularly surprised with the direction it took, nor was the reveal of the villain of the piece a shock.
But what I enjoyed was the growth of Charli, she played the amateur detective part with aplomb and managed to overcome some pretty major hurdles along the way. No doubt, she’s going to polarise opinion because she’s in no way the most decisive of people, nor is she a particularly great judge of character. She was fortunate to be guided by her aunt Gigi and her neighbour Amra who both proved to be a breath of fresh air each time they entered the picture.
The dramatic and oft-times frustrating cult novel has been done in numerous ways in the past. Erina Reddan takes us on a slightly different route and there are interesting moments here, mainly because we are constantly on the outside looking in and relying on the observations of someone who is prone to becoming frozen by emotion. It all makes for a tension-filled ending.
My thanks to Pantera Press via NetGalley for the opportunity to read and review this book.
December 8, 2023
More reviews at: https://theburgeoningbookshelf.blogsp...
Deep in the Forest by Erina Reddan is a fascinating story rich in secrets, lies and betrayal. Filled with simmering menace it has me hooked from start to finish.
Town pariah Charli Trethan is fed up with being blamed for a crime she didn't commit and plans to leave Stone Lake for a new life overseas.
A gruesome discovery just a few weeks before she is due to leave sees her under police scrutiny again. Then Charli finds a hidden message, a cry for help, from someone within the nearby closed community called The Sanctuary.
Narrated in first person by Charli who has bouts of depression, I found myself questioning her actions and reasoning. Erina Reddan had me reeling back and forward with who could be trusted and what the truth was.
Reddan digs deep into communal living and exactly how voluntary joining a cult is when they prey on the vulnerable.
Deep in the Forest starts out at a slow pace as the scene is set but as the story twists and turns and the suspense ramps up it had me questioning what I thought was true right up to the adrenaline fuelled ending.
Deep in the Forest by Erina Reddan is a fascinating story rich in secrets, lies and betrayal. Filled with simmering menace it has me hooked from start to finish.
Town pariah Charli Trethan is fed up with being blamed for a crime she didn't commit and plans to leave Stone Lake for a new life overseas.
A gruesome discovery just a few weeks before she is due to leave sees her under police scrutiny again. Then Charli finds a hidden message, a cry for help, from someone within the nearby closed community called The Sanctuary.
Narrated in first person by Charli who has bouts of depression, I found myself questioning her actions and reasoning. Erina Reddan had me reeling back and forward with who could be trusted and what the truth was.
Reddan digs deep into communal living and exactly how voluntary joining a cult is when they prey on the vulnerable.
Deep in the Forest starts out at a slow pace as the scene is set but as the story twists and turns and the suspense ramps up it had me questioning what I thought was true right up to the adrenaline fuelled ending.
December 19, 2023
⭐️4 Stars⭐️
Deep in the Forest by Erina Reddan is a tense and eerie mystery tale with a cult theme and is set in Australia. I love a cult theme so I couldn’t wait to read this one.
The story is narrated by Charli who appears to be the town pariah, she also a talented book binder. Charli is an interesting and complex character, she’s vulnerable and carrying a lot of grief from her past. She’s about to leave town when she finds a mysterious and concerning note from someone at The Sanctuary. The Sanctuary is a closed community, they run a drug rehabilitation program and their artisanal produce brings money into the town of Stone Lake.
When walking through the forest in close proximity to The Sanctuary Charli makes a horrifying discovery and comes under police scrutiny, and not for the first time. What will she unearth when she digs deeper to prove her innocence?
This is a slow burn and I enjoyed the setting which felt somewhat gothic. I was not surprised with the ending as I guessed the the villain early in the book. I particularly enjoyed the relationship Charli had with her Aunt Gigi and friend Arma who were likeable characters.
Publication Date 28 November 2023
Publisher Pantera Press
A huge thanks to Pantera Press and DMCPR Media for a copy of the book and having me on the book tour.
Deep in the Forest by Erina Reddan is a tense and eerie mystery tale with a cult theme and is set in Australia. I love a cult theme so I couldn’t wait to read this one.
The story is narrated by Charli who appears to be the town pariah, she also a talented book binder. Charli is an interesting and complex character, she’s vulnerable and carrying a lot of grief from her past. She’s about to leave town when she finds a mysterious and concerning note from someone at The Sanctuary. The Sanctuary is a closed community, they run a drug rehabilitation program and their artisanal produce brings money into the town of Stone Lake.
When walking through the forest in close proximity to The Sanctuary Charli makes a horrifying discovery and comes under police scrutiny, and not for the first time. What will she unearth when she digs deeper to prove her innocence?
This is a slow burn and I enjoyed the setting which felt somewhat gothic. I was not surprised with the ending as I guessed the the villain early in the book. I particularly enjoyed the relationship Charli had with her Aunt Gigi and friend Arma who were likeable characters.
Publication Date 28 November 2023
Publisher Pantera Press
A huge thanks to Pantera Press and DMCPR Media for a copy of the book and having me on the book tour.
December 2, 2023
Thank you Pantera Press for sending us a copy to read and review.
As you begin your reading journey there’s a sense of eeriness and tension in the opening few chapters and of course the drama is what’s to come is added.
Deep In The Forest is a mystery and you really don’t know what is behind the gated walls of a secluded community.
Charli Trenthan is about to leave her home town to return to the city when a mysterious note is found.
A strange message from someone from The Sanctuary, an enigmatic place run by The Reverend that no one from the outside can get in.
Then a shocking discovery is uncovered by Charli and as the secrets surface, she becomes the number one suspect.
As the questions get answered, the danger is high and then everything is revealed….
A slow burn, suspicious read with an ending that will make you sharply draw breath.
I did guess most of the outcome and twist so for me it wasn’t a surprise but I did enjoy the book as a whole.
A complex story with some very interesting characters and lots of cryptic details for the reading mind to work out.
A satisfying page turner.
As you begin your reading journey there’s a sense of eeriness and tension in the opening few chapters and of course the drama is what’s to come is added.
Deep In The Forest is a mystery and you really don’t know what is behind the gated walls of a secluded community.
Charli Trenthan is about to leave her home town to return to the city when a mysterious note is found.
A strange message from someone from The Sanctuary, an enigmatic place run by The Reverend that no one from the outside can get in.
Then a shocking discovery is uncovered by Charli and as the secrets surface, she becomes the number one suspect.
As the questions get answered, the danger is high and then everything is revealed….
A slow burn, suspicious read with an ending that will make you sharply draw breath.
I did guess most of the outcome and twist so for me it wasn’t a surprise but I did enjoy the book as a whole.
A complex story with some very interesting characters and lots of cryptic details for the reading mind to work out.
A satisfying page turner.
November 6, 2023
Thanks to Better Reading Preview for an advance copy of this book to review.
This one fell flat for me. It is described as a "gripping thriller with a shocking conclusion that will leave you spellbound" but I have to say I didn't really find it particularly gripping. I worked out more or less what was happening very early on and then struggled through to the end in case I as wrong (unfortunately I wasn't).
I am always surprised by the ridiculous choices of the main characters in thrillers and this book was no different. I didn't really like or understand the main character and by the end found her quite annoying.
This one fell flat for me. It is described as a "gripping thriller with a shocking conclusion that will leave you spellbound" but I have to say I didn't really find it particularly gripping. I worked out more or less what was happening very early on and then struggled through to the end in case I as wrong (unfortunately I wasn't).
I am always surprised by the ridiculous choices of the main characters in thrillers and this book was no different. I didn't really like or understand the main character and by the end found her quite annoying.
March 20, 2024
3.5 ⭐ I was lucky to meet Erina recently. She was so lovely & passionate about this book.
November 5, 2023
This was a bit of a lackluster reading experience for me.
I had two main struggles with it:
1. I knew the whole plot of the book within a few pages. There were no surprises - I thought it was all glaringly obvious. I was holding out hope that I was wrong, hoping that there would be a shock or twist at the end, but it was all basically exactly as I suspected from the moment each element walked onto the page (what happened to her mum, who the bad guy was, pretty much everything important).
2. I didn't particularly enjoy the main character. She seems on the verge of a nervous breakdown the whole book and I just didn't find that enjoyable reading. She makes ridiculous choices, seems to act a lot younger than her age, and I just couldn't find anything to like about her.
I was irritated pretty early on when she found the "grisly find" (no spoilers) - why didn't her supposed friend Amra report the find, and then Charli could have gone overseas like she wanted. It was just frankly nonsensical for her to report it, and seeing as the entire rest of the plot is predicated on this choice, I just spent the whole time kind of irritated.
Amra didn't seem like a very good friend a lot of the time so I don't know how I was supposed to feel about her.
Because we as the reader never actually meet Charli's mother (other than one flashback scene at the end in which the mother is frankly pretty awful and self centred), it felt very hard for me to feel moved by an entire book of the MC grieving to the point of ineffectiveness for this woman.
I grabbed this one because I love a cult story. However, it's important to note this entire book takes place outside of The Sanctuary. The Sanctuary is an important part of the plot while also somehow featuring on page less than I'd expected.
Overall this one just didn't vibe for me.
I had two main struggles with it:
1. I knew the whole plot of the book within a few pages. There were no surprises - I thought it was all glaringly obvious. I was holding out hope that I was wrong, hoping that there would be a shock or twist at the end, but it was all basically exactly as I suspected from the moment each element walked onto the page (what happened to her mum, who the bad guy was, pretty much everything important).
2. I didn't particularly enjoy the main character. She seems on the verge of a nervous breakdown the whole book and I just didn't find that enjoyable reading. She makes ridiculous choices, seems to act a lot younger than her age, and I just couldn't find anything to like about her.
I was irritated pretty early on when she found the "grisly find" (no spoilers) - why didn't her supposed friend Amra report the find, and then Charli could have gone overseas like she wanted. It was just frankly nonsensical for her to report it, and seeing as the entire rest of the plot is predicated on this choice, I just spent the whole time kind of irritated.
Amra didn't seem like a very good friend a lot of the time so I don't know how I was supposed to feel about her.
Because we as the reader never actually meet Charli's mother (other than one flashback scene at the end in which the mother is frankly pretty awful and self centred), it felt very hard for me to feel moved by an entire book of the MC grieving to the point of ineffectiveness for this woman.
I grabbed this one because I love a cult story. However, it's important to note this entire book takes place outside of The Sanctuary. The Sanctuary is an important part of the plot while also somehow featuring on page less than I'd expected.
Overall this one just didn't vibe for me.
March 2, 2024
I really tore through this book, it’s well paced and easy to read. Why only three stars then you ask? I found it all a bit predictable and trite - which is fine if that’s what you’re after, and again I found it an enjoyable read, but I doubt it’ll stay with me particularly long.
February 9, 2024
It was a DNF. I just couldn’t get into it. The characters were boring and had no substance. A real shame as the plot drew me into it but unfortunately it was lack lustre.
December 11, 2023
Hands up if you love cults and Venetian sunken-panel book binding? Cos this would totally be the book for you.
Charli lives in a secluded house by the woods in Stone Lake, just a stone’s throw from ‘The Sanctuary’.
Which is a fancy communal living/drug rehab/cult.
She’s had a pretty tumultuous year and is keen for a fresh start far away in Venice, binding books with her book binding idol Signor Galbardi.
But alas, life hasn’t finished giving her lemons, in the form of gruesome lake discoveries. Charli remains trapped in Stone Lake and is finally forced to look a little closer at what exactly is happening in the Sanctuary.
I flew through this book. I think it was a case of just sit back and enjoy the ride and don’t overthink it too much.
I didn’t particularly warm to Charli but I don’t think this impacted the read.
I read a review suggesting that alternating POV would have worked well for this story and I’d agree with that. It would have been interesting to see Karla and Harmony’s perspectives to move through the narrative.
Read this if you enjoyed Emma Cline’s ‘The Girls’ and J.P.Pomare’s ‘In the Clearing’.
Thank you to @erinareddan
@dmcprmedia
@panterapress for an early copy of the book in exchange for an honest review.
AD-PR
Charli lives in a secluded house by the woods in Stone Lake, just a stone’s throw from ‘The Sanctuary’.
Which is a fancy communal living/drug rehab/cult.
She’s had a pretty tumultuous year and is keen for a fresh start far away in Venice, binding books with her book binding idol Signor Galbardi.
But alas, life hasn’t finished giving her lemons, in the form of gruesome lake discoveries. Charli remains trapped in Stone Lake and is finally forced to look a little closer at what exactly is happening in the Sanctuary.
I flew through this book. I think it was a case of just sit back and enjoy the ride and don’t overthink it too much.
I didn’t particularly warm to Charli but I don’t think this impacted the read.
I read a review suggesting that alternating POV would have worked well for this story and I’d agree with that. It would have been interesting to see Karla and Harmony’s perspectives to move through the narrative.
Read this if you enjoyed Emma Cline’s ‘The Girls’ and J.P.Pomare’s ‘In the Clearing’.
Thank you to @erinareddan
@dmcprmedia
@panterapress for an early copy of the book in exchange for an honest review.
AD-PR
January 15, 2025
Book was interesting enough but god the so called received wisdom is just pathetic. Everyone is drinking alcohol all the time but omg drugs are so bad! MDMA is addictive now, do some research! Disappearing people with substance issues into some ‘sanctuary’ and taking away their agency is some dark age bullshit. Our heroine’s mother was completely unqualified to work on drug related issues because she supported this clearly prison like place as a solution to ‘addiction’. Also she clearly didn’t know much about addiction anyways, paternalistic bullshit!
And the ending twist wasn’t really a twist, anyone could see it except for our delusional heroine. Also anyone who is keen to become friend or lover with some marine who did 2 tours of Afghanistan deserves to face murderous side of their so called lover. Are western people so delusional to think that marines are anything but murderous thugs waging an illegal war against poor Afghans or Iraqis. Oh my poor marine is suffering from ptsd, it is because he was killing unarmed villagers, and torturing civilians. God all marines partners deserve to face what those poor people face in Afghanistan or Iraq
And the ending twist wasn’t really a twist, anyone could see it except for our delusional heroine. Also anyone who is keen to become friend or lover with some marine who did 2 tours of Afghanistan deserves to face murderous side of their so called lover. Are western people so delusional to think that marines are anything but murderous thugs waging an illegal war against poor Afghans or Iraqis. Oh my poor marine is suffering from ptsd, it is because he was killing unarmed villagers, and torturing civilians. God all marines partners deserve to face what those poor people face in Afghanistan or Iraq
November 1, 2023
Receiving this ARC from Better Reading immediately had me intrigued by the cover and synopsis, and pleasantly surprised to learn that it all takes place in Australia.
This story starts in one direction, but you soon discover that there are many twists before the ending is in sight, taking you along for the ride on Charli’s journey.
As the pages turn, you find out more about Charli, her back story and all the events that have moulded her into the person that she is, which also allows you to see her vulnerability, understand it more and celebrate her little triumphs along the way.
The Sanctuary and its community of characters provide an opportunity for the author Erina Reddan to remind us that not all is black and white, and while something may be perceived in an unfavourable light, that does not go to say that everyone and everything associated with it is necessarily unfavourable as well.
This thriller will have you wondering what will happen next and keep you guessing until the very end. I enjoyed Deep in the Forest as Erina has created a storyline that flows effortlessly allowing the reader to sit back and enjoy the adventure.
Release date | 28 November 2023
#BRPreview
#deepintheforest
#erinareddan
#panterapress
This story starts in one direction, but you soon discover that there are many twists before the ending is in sight, taking you along for the ride on Charli’s journey.
As the pages turn, you find out more about Charli, her back story and all the events that have moulded her into the person that she is, which also allows you to see her vulnerability, understand it more and celebrate her little triumphs along the way.
The Sanctuary and its community of characters provide an opportunity for the author Erina Reddan to remind us that not all is black and white, and while something may be perceived in an unfavourable light, that does not go to say that everyone and everything associated with it is necessarily unfavourable as well.
This thriller will have you wondering what will happen next and keep you guessing until the very end. I enjoyed Deep in the Forest as Erina has created a storyline that flows effortlessly allowing the reader to sit back and enjoy the adventure.
Release date | 28 November 2023
#BRPreview
#deepintheforest
#erinareddan
#panterapress
October 28, 2023
A little slow and confusing to read at the beginning. I was unsure about the fire history and her mother’s role in the Sanctuary. I was skeptical towards Amra and didn’t feel a real connection with her which made me suspicious about her role. I would have liked more history to find out about the father of the baby lost in the lake and the welcome ritual. I wasn’t sure if this ritual always happened.
I enjoyed Gigi, her boldness and confidence. I liked how she changed Charli and the new found confidence. I felt the ending was a little rushed and short. I would have liked to hear more about Mai and Jess in regards to their history and future. I was confused about Mai’s daughter and unsure if it she was new or the first pregnancy. I also wasn’t sure what happened to the lost members and the exact closure the families received. I liked the closure Charli received from the unsent text messages.
I enjoyed Gigi, her boldness and confidence. I liked how she changed Charli and the new found confidence. I felt the ending was a little rushed and short. I would have liked to hear more about Mai and Jess in regards to their history and future. I was confused about Mai’s daughter and unsure if it she was new or the first pregnancy. I also wasn’t sure what happened to the lost members and the exact closure the families received. I liked the closure Charli received from the unsent text messages.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
November 16, 2023
Better Reading, indeed.
Charli already has a lot happening in her internal world when she’s drawn to The Sanctuary by way of a note hidden in her current bookbinding commission. This gated, respected and protected community offers hope and new beginnings to those who have neither. Charli’s late Mum was a long-time benefactor and The Sanctuary enjoys support from political identities and within law enforcement. Charli has her dog, Bojo, her best friend, Amra and a whole lot of trouble.
What I particularly enjoyed about this read was the empathy I felt for Charli, despite she and I sharing absolutely nothing in common. This speaks to Erina Reddan’s writing skill.
The Australian setting was familiar and relatable.
The premise of the story was compelling. I wouldn’t have claimed an overt fascination with ‘cults’ prior to having read the publicity for Deep in the Forest. Who knew?
A terrific book, for mine.
With thanks to Better Reading for an ARC.
Charli already has a lot happening in her internal world when she’s drawn to The Sanctuary by way of a note hidden in her current bookbinding commission. This gated, respected and protected community offers hope and new beginnings to those who have neither. Charli’s late Mum was a long-time benefactor and The Sanctuary enjoys support from political identities and within law enforcement. Charli has her dog, Bojo, her best friend, Amra and a whole lot of trouble.
What I particularly enjoyed about this read was the empathy I felt for Charli, despite she and I sharing absolutely nothing in common. This speaks to Erina Reddan’s writing skill.
The Australian setting was familiar and relatable.
The premise of the story was compelling. I wouldn’t have claimed an overt fascination with ‘cults’ prior to having read the publicity for Deep in the Forest. Who knew?
A terrific book, for mine.
With thanks to Better Reading for an ARC.
February 15, 2024
Aussie author Erina Reddan’s The Forest (2023) is a crime mystery set against the backdrop of a closed community known as the Sanctuary. Charli Trenthan is a bookbinder specialist who is loathed and spurned by Stone Lake residents, believing her guilty of a heinous crime. Finding a cryptic message from Hannah, a young woman at the Sanctuary, Charlie discovers a body in the frozen lake on the way to find her. Caught up in a police investigation and its chief suspect, Charli must prove her innocence yet again. The frozen landscape makes for an atmospheric tale with a literary stylistic narrative and subtle tension, that has a suffocating, edgy feel. Charli’s past and local secrets will be uncovered in this literary suspense story with a four and a half stars read rating. As always, the opinions herein are totally my own, freely given and without inducement.
November 1, 2023
We've all heard of mysterious cult-like retreats hidden away in the bush and on the outskirts of Stone Lake is The Sanctuary. Charli lives nearby and is employed by the Sanctuary to complete a book-binding project for their anniversary. She is shunned by the town locals and a target for the local police. Things become worse when she is suspected of murder. What part does the Sanctuary play in all of this? I was trapped from the first page and there was no way I could back out. Erina Reddan's "Deep in the Forest" is a compelling story. It begins slowly but gradually sweeps you along through twists and turns, keeping you guessing to the very end. #BRPreview @betterreadingau
November 15, 2023
Thanks to @better reading I was lucky enough to receive an ARC of the novel Deep in the Forest by Erina Reddan. The book follows the main character Charli as she recovers from a family tragedy, her attempts to continue with her book binding and self publishing career and improve her mental health. As the reader gets to know Charli and her history, mysteries are occurring at a rapid pace in the close community around her. Charli has a dear friend Amra and an incredible Aunt Gigi, who are very supportive and feature through out the story. Themes such as trust, mental health, greed, sects, lust, murder and so many more are covered. The story is complex and I found it took a while to get into. The characters are great and feel very real although warning, you may be frustrated at some of the decisions Charli makes. The twist is a good one and as this occurs the novel really became a page turner. The women depicted are all strong and good role models, quite inspiring. I would like to read the authors prior book The Serpents Skin.
November 16, 2023
An unexpected and quite mysterious book, Erina Reddan's Deep in the Forest is an interesting exploration of the intrigue and insidious nature of cult psychology. I really enjoyed the writing and Australian setting, although many of the characters were not particularly likeable I did appreciate the strong women within the storyline. I enjoyed this novel as something a bit different. Thanks to Better Reading for the opportunity to read and review.
December 5, 2023
Death is like that. It’s a terrible place.
Those dogs they keep, they’re hunters.
Well, give me a book about cults and I’m a pretty happy camper (weirdly).
Deep in the Forest is marketed as a thriller however it’s a hybrid literary fiction/thriller. It’s one of those books with such a strong sense of setting (the Sanctuary) despite the fact that not much of the book on page takes place between the Sanctuary’s walls.
Charli is a book binder by trade and she’s been asked to bind a book for a significant anniversary of the Sanctuary. She’s an interesting character, with grief etched soundly in her soul after the loss of her mother which she blames herself for. Her mother was a donor to the Sanctuary and there’s lots of layers to her relationship with her mother.
When Charli makes a gruesome discovery it sets in motion a series of events that causes her to question what is happening behind the Sanctuary’s gates.
It’s a book about power, a cult, and a fierce need to belong. With a tacit reminder to think critically about some of the choices you make and the friends you keep. I enjoyed the setting, the eeriness and the isolation of Charli from her community, which made her a target. I also enjoyed that Charli is presented as one of those potentially divisive characters, with brittle edges and faults. Some of the best parts were Charli’s interactions with some of the other female characters in the book.
Thanks to Pantera Press and DMCPR Media for the copy of this book to read. It’s always wonderful to read books by Aussie authors.
Those dogs they keep, they’re hunters.
Well, give me a book about cults and I’m a pretty happy camper (weirdly).
Deep in the Forest is marketed as a thriller however it’s a hybrid literary fiction/thriller. It’s one of those books with such a strong sense of setting (the Sanctuary) despite the fact that not much of the book on page takes place between the Sanctuary’s walls.
Charli is a book binder by trade and she’s been asked to bind a book for a significant anniversary of the Sanctuary. She’s an interesting character, with grief etched soundly in her soul after the loss of her mother which she blames herself for. Her mother was a donor to the Sanctuary and there’s lots of layers to her relationship with her mother.
When Charli makes a gruesome discovery it sets in motion a series of events that causes her to question what is happening behind the Sanctuary’s gates.
It’s a book about power, a cult, and a fierce need to belong. With a tacit reminder to think critically about some of the choices you make and the friends you keep. I enjoyed the setting, the eeriness and the isolation of Charli from her community, which made her a target. I also enjoyed that Charli is presented as one of those potentially divisive characters, with brittle edges and faults. Some of the best parts were Charli’s interactions with some of the other female characters in the book.
Thanks to Pantera Press and DMCPR Media for the copy of this book to read. It’s always wonderful to read books by Aussie authors.
May 9, 2024
I was so involved in this book and wanting to warn the main character, "no, watch out, you are missing the obvious". The reader could see what she couldn't.
Not my usual read with its overtones of a crime novel but my fascination with cults had me reserving this book from the librar and reading on. I had to force myself to finish because I was so believed it was real and I knew it was not going to be a non-violent ending.
Not my usual read with its overtones of a crime novel but my fascination with cults had me reserving this book from the librar and reading on. I had to force myself to finish because I was so believed it was real and I knew it was not going to be a non-violent ending.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
April 22, 2025
I alternated between loving and hating this book, and by the end, I've settled on liking it. I did find it predictable that Zack was the villain in the story, and as someone living in Melbourne, I did not find the setting or language use of the author very "Australian". In fact, it felt like an American author writing a book set in Australia.
Aside from that, it was interesting enough to keep me reading.
Aside from that, it was interesting enough to keep me reading.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
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March 20, 2024... there have been quite a few crime fiction books recently that delve into the world of cults, the people that get caught in them, and those trying to get them out. DEEP IN THE FOREST is a slightly different twist on that.
https://www.austcrimefiction.org/revi...
April 9, 2024
A fantastic read! I loved the way Erina painted Stonelake and nailed that small town feeling of unease and secrecy. I particularly enjoyed getting glimpses into the sanctuary and the different characters that revealed themselves as the story went on. Highly recommend!
June 30, 2024
Great page-turner. The main character keeps the whole thing grounded. Great descriptions. Great build-up and tension. So much so I was refusing to answer any phone or door getting towards the end to find out. My gut instinct was right but how it played out...it was really good!
August 22, 2024
Charli Trentham who can she trust, what is happening behind the gates of the Sanctuary? Who is the mother of the baby, why did it die. This is a gripping thriller and you want see the ending coming....
February 19, 2025
Not a bad plot overall. But gosh, my eyes were rolling constantly from the main character making such blatantly stupid decisions. The classic "bad guy revealing the whole plan in a monologue at the end" was actually pretty unnecessary, because the vast majority was obvious from the outset.
June 6, 2025
Easy and fun enough mystery, but pretty predictable and jumped straight into the drama - I thought I’d missed a chapter or two! Very strange that the discovery of a tiny baby didn’t elicit any emotion or sorrow from the characters involved or from the reader.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
November 25, 2023
3.75 ⭐️
January 14, 2024
I read this in a day - compelling character driven story with a dark unsettling atmosphere and a small town that makes you want to run for the city. Enjoyable and satisfying.
June 2, 2024
3.5 ⭐️
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