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Stalks

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"I couldn't put it down!"- Freida McFadden

WHEN LIZ SAID YES TO JARED, SHE'D NEVER DREAMED WHAT WOULD HAPPEN NEXT...

Liz Martel receives a romantic proposal from her affluent boyfriend, Jared Galbraith, during a picnic in rural Maine. However, their idyllic day takes a dark turn, and they find themselves lost in the woods.

Liz and Jared are rescued by two seemingly kind strangers who bring them back to their farmhouse. Unfortunately, these strangers have plans of their own for the newly engaged couple.

As Liz struggles to escape a living nightmare, she stumbles upon a chilling family secret spanning decades. A secret that some people will kill to keep quiet.

WILL LIZ SURVIVE THIS NIGHTMARE, OR WILL SHE BE LOST IN THE WOODS FOREVER?

292 pages, Hardcover

Published February 13, 2024

87 people are currently reading
3501 people want to read

About the author

Jenna Moquin

18 books184 followers
Jenna Moquin's short stories and poetry have appeared in The Literary Hatchet, Asylum Ink, Heater, 34 Orchard, PARABNORMAL Magazine, Das Gift, and Wicked Sick. In 2016 she released a collection of dark tales, Safe: New and Selected Stories. In 2021, she compiled a charity anthology featuring 1980s-themed horror stories by the New England Horror Writers.

In 2024, her debut thriller STALKS was released, and her follow-up thriller THE CEMETERY SPOT was published 6 months later. She is a proud aunt to 6 nieces and nephews, and currently resides in Las Vegas with her Devil's Ivy plants while working on her latest story.

Upcoming Book Releases:

EYELAND: A Psychological Thriller
February 3, 2026

THE RED POSSESSION: A Horror Novel
May 1, 2026

https://www.jennamoquin.com/

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TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@jennamoquin

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/jennamoquin/

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5 stars
177 (24%)
4 stars
285 (40%)
3 stars
183 (25%)
2 stars
53 (7%)
1 star
14 (1%)
Displaying 1 - 30 of 93 reviews
Profile Image for Heathers_readss.
875 reviews177 followers
February 13, 2024
Stalks is my first Jenna Moquin book and I have to say, I really enjoyed myself! I was sucked in to the plot from the very beginning, I could feel ominous undertones letting me know something BIG was about to go down, and the author did a great job of building tension and sinister subtext whilst dropping lots of Easter eggs that would later become relevant to the plot.

If you are a fan of Freida McFadden, I found Stalks to have very similar vibes in the writing style and feel of the book and narration over all which I absolutely loved.

Stalks follows our FMC who goes on a romantic picnic in the middle of the woods in Maine, and things just go tragically wrong, getting worse and worse as time passes.

There were times when I wasn’t convinced the narrator was reliable and I just couldn’t tell which way things were going to go. I was glad for straight forward answers and clarification at the end, tying up all the loose ends.

I feel at times a couple of the descriptions and sentences used where a little repetitive, but I also put this down to reading the book in one sitting, making it more noticeable to me as I flew through the pages. I genuinely couldn’t stop reading and stayed up late to finish.

This book was definitely full of creepy unnerving scenes and situations that feel more enhanced when you read late at night. I felt like I kept having to check over my shoulder to make sure no one was behind me 🤣

Overall I loved my reading experience with this one, thank you to the author, liquid mind publishing and NetGalley for an advanced copy.
Profile Image for Tarini.
145 reviews1 follower
May 22, 2025
Mini rant before I review the book: Why would you date your sister's ex boyfriend?! Isn't it an unspoken girl code that you don't date your friend or sisters' ex? Elizabeth (the protagonist) could have dated literally ANYBODY! Things would have been different. But, the fact that Jared was willing to give up his family fortune to spend the rest of his life with her? That says a lot about Jared's character and his love towards her, but if she wasn't even keen on marrying the boy, why date him for 2 years? Ugh.

Coming to the book: Intense and fast paced! There's kidnapping, murder (there has to be some blood shed) and family drama involved. The writing style is simple and will keep you on the edge. This is my 2nd book by Jenna, and it had me hooked from the very first page. Finished this in less than 36 hours.

Easiest 5 stars. 🌟
Profile Image for Jamie Galayda.
301 reviews5 followers
February 3, 2024
This was a fast-paced, easy read that also held a lot of suspense and dread. The setting alone in a celery farm, isolated in the middle of nowhere, made for a creepy, eerie read. The first half was an edge of your seat, gripping cat and mouse chase between the protagonist and father and son type hillbillies for lack of a better word. The second half was dedicated to investigating what and why this happened, revealing shocking truths. The only thing I would have liked more of is the character development. Overall, this was a quick, enjoyable, hard to put down thriller. Three and a half stars.

Thank you, Netgalley and Liquid Mind Publishing, for this ARC.
Profile Image for ☆maia☆.
291 reviews
August 4, 2024
fast paced and thriller-y enough to keep you entertained for a couple hours👍🏼
Profile Image for Lexis Hutton.
27 reviews2 followers
February 28, 2024
Could’ve read the first and last chapter and missed nothing in between.
Profile Image for Sierra| HooksxBooks.
330 reviews18 followers
February 8, 2024
I couldn’t put the book down.

Stalks was soooo good. The plot twist, all of the unexpected turns, even the prologue.

I most definitely thought I knew where the story was headed and I was wrong, surprised and wrong.

I enjoyed the writing style, the vivid details of the forest, the experience that Liz had at the farm, everything.

I had dreams of running through the woods being haunted and chased by the scent of celery!! Just from the vivid imaging in this book.

I’m glad I took a chance on this book and read it despite the reviews.


I volunteered to read an ARC of this book through NetGalley.
Profile Image for Samantha Beaty.
153 reviews2 followers
April 27, 2024
this book was very creepy to me- it gave me wrong turn / texas chainsaw massacre vibes. a quick and easy read - couldn’t wait to find out what happened.
Profile Image for Jaden.
468 reviews8 followers
February 15, 2024
This book was so creepy to me and I need the bad vibes gone from my brain ASAP so I will be taking a break from thrillers for 5-10 business days now. 💀the setting and the characters were sooo disturbing the first half of the book then the second half of the book is more trying to figure out who was guilty and I was questioning everyone. Good for a shorter thriller (less than 300 pages). The author did a really good job painting a picture of everything & making everyone seem guilty+creepy.
Profile Image for alex.
993 reviews182 followers
July 25, 2025
2 stars ★ ★ ☆ ☆ ☆

☆⋆。𖦹°‧★ Stalks☆⋆。𖦹°‧★

⁺₊★·.´🎧✩°。 0:56 ──♡───── 3:32 ⁺₊🎧★·.·´

🎶 I think he did it but I just can't prove it. I think he did it but I just can't prove it 🎶

Liz Martel(h) thought she was stepping into her happily ever after when her wealthy boyfriend, Jared Galbraith (H), proposed during a romantic picnic in rural Maine. But their perfect day unravels when they lose their way in the woods - and stumble into something far more sinister.

— ⋆。゚☁︎。⋆。 ゚☾ ゚。⋆• THOUGHTS⋆。゚☁︎。⋆。 ゚⋆—

“Liz, come on!” Jared shouts, his eyes flashing as he glances back at me. “This is the path!”


“Really? Are you sure?”


“We’re almost there!”


Well, Jared wasn’t behind any of it at all. He just had anger issues. I suspected it was the family the entire time, so there was no real plot twist or suspense. It felt pretty predictable. I really wish we had gotten Jared’s POV, because his disappearance felt so random. Without his perspective, that part of the story lacked impact and left a noticeable gap. It could have added so much more depth if we had been inside his head, especially during those moments.

It felt anticlimactic. I finished it quickly because it was obvious where the story was going from the beginning. There was no real suspense, and the plot stayed predictable throughout. There was one moment in the woods that had a genuinely creepy vibe, and I thought the story might finally pick up. But it just led to them being captured, and from that point on, everything went downhill. If Jared had been more involved in trying to escape or actively fight back, it probably would have made a bigger impact. Instead, the focus was mostly on everyone gaslighting her, and that got frustrating fast.

— ⋆。゚☁︎。⋆。 ゚☾ ゚。⋆ OVERALL⋆。゚☁︎。⋆。 ゚☾ ゚。⋆—

Disappointing, but not the worst thing I’ve ever read. It was decent at best. If someone is an avid thriller reader, though, I don’t think this would hit the mark. It lacked the tension and twists that make a thriller truly memorable.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
Profile Image for Jamie Park.
Author 9 books33 followers
May 21, 2024
I love this but also Liz annoys me "boyfriends moms never like me and it is probably because I am well endowed" (not a direct quote).
Also she's all "I don't know if I want to marry a super rich guy." OMG just marry him, Would you rather work every day of your life? Anyway, I like her more when things start getting scary because she is so dramatic and the celery thing makes me laugh and I love this book so much I might explode from joy.
And the connections and twists omg!
What an ending. This was just so much fun to read!
This was hilarious.
Profile Image for Brandy Hale.
16 reviews3 followers
February 11, 2024
This was my first time reading a book from this Author. This book was a quick read. I enjoyed the plot and the twists. There were several times when I thought I had everything figured out, but I found out that I didn't. There was a point when I thought the MFC was delusional.

The author was descriptive, but not overly descriptive. There was not a significant amount of dialogue. The pacing of the book was good. Overall, I enjoyed that story and the author did a great job at keeping my attention which is always a huge plus for me. I would definitely recommend this book to others and read more books from this author in the future.
Profile Image for Rachel Willan.
43 reviews4 followers
February 18, 2024
I really enjoyed this book & the characters. There were a few good twist. I see why it’s a Freida McFadden recommended book, her fans won’t be disappointed. Also, thank you to Netgalley for this ARC.
Profile Image for Alecia Baker.
27 reviews3 followers
February 20, 2024
I’m a Freida fan and saw she recommended this book.
Loved it! I’ll definitely be reading more from this author!
Profile Image for Jessica Smith.
224 reviews
March 1, 2024
This book was weird and creepy in the best way. I found a little bit of the inner dialogue juvenile but I still found the story to be really good! When Freida McFadden recommends a book you read it!
Profile Image for Sierra| HooksxBooks.
330 reviews18 followers
February 8, 2024
I couldn’t put the book down.

Stalks was soooo good. The plot twist, all of the unexpected turns, even the prologue.

I most definitely thought I knew where the story was headed and I was wrong, surprised and wrong.

I enjoyed the writing style, the vivid details of the forest, the experience that Liz had at the farm, everything.

I had dreams of running through the woods being haunted and chased by the scent of celery!! Just from the vivid imaging in this book.

I’m glad I took a chance on this book and read it despite the reviews.


I volunteered to read an ARC of this book through NetGalley.
Profile Image for Leanna.
139 reviews2 followers
March 19, 2024
Fast paced, kept me on my toes. Creepy and suspenseful!
Profile Image for Tabitha.
93 reviews2 followers
March 18, 2024
I immediately wanted to read this book after seeing Freida McFadden post about how good it was.
Wow, it did not disappoint! I literally did NOT want to put this book down. I couldn’t wait to see what was going to happen. So good!!
Profile Image for The Anxious Reader.
180 reviews42 followers
February 6, 2024
Thank you to NetGalley and Liquid Mind Publishing for the opportunity to read an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Rounded up to 3.5/5 stars.

This was a quick read that I was able to polish off in one sitting. Reading it late at night when you live beside a wooded area makes your skin crawl.

This was my first time reading anything by this author but it definitely will not be my last. Jenna Moquin had the ability to crawl under my skin with this unsettling story and it's going to make me stay far far away from the woods for some time to come.

If you are a fan of psychological thrillers with a good sense of dread it wouldn't hurt to check this out.
25 reviews
March 16, 2024
Great Read

Excellent writing and a great story. Couldn’t figure out who was the culprit which kept me reading for sure. Recommend highly!
Profile Image for Stacey Feehley.
299 reviews5 followers
February 22, 2024
Holy.... wow! I could not put this book down. The twist and turns, the freaky things / people, it all kept me hooked the entire time!

Liz is dating Jared who is part of a wealthy family; she loves and is has been having a lot of fun with him since they have been together the past two years. But is she ready for the next step? Does she really want to get married? Jared decides to take Liz on a picnic, but something just doesn't feel right. Why are they driving so far and why does he seem to get lost? They arrive at a cute, picture perfect farm where during the picnic Jared pops the big question; Liz, not so positive, says yes. She still has the feeling that something isn't right and feels as though they are being watched. When they head back to the car they get lost in the woods, and when they finally get out the car is no where to be found. Finally a truck stops to help them but the fear and uncertainty rises and Liz doesn't understand what is happening.

Who are these people? Where are they taking Liz and Jared? How did she get into this wedding dress?

Thank you Netgalley, the author and publisher for this ARC!
1 review
March 26, 2024
Could NOT Put Down!

I enjoyed this so much. If you’re looking for a page-turner, this is it. I don’t want to give away any spoilers but just know I couldn’t stop reading it!
2 reviews
February 20, 2024
I have never experienced such a visceral reaction to a book. To be so disturbed and so anxious to continue with the story had my adrenaline spiking. The location descriptions were eerie and the narration was completely relatable. I began to question the main characters' reliability and then my own as a reader as the plot twists tangled. Was I rembering facts correctly? Where the characters remembering facts correctly? A twisted tale I will not forget!
3 reviews1 follower
Read
June 8, 2025
I don't normally read thrillers but this one caught my eye. This is a great read! I tried to read just a few chapters so I could move on to getting other things done in my day, but I ended up reading it almost all in one sitting until I was forced to eat dinner (ha!) and go to bed, and then finished it the next morning. There are twists and turns that I didn't predict. The writing was so descriptive, I could feel myself in the protagonists shoes (or bare feet!). I rooted for her the entire time (unlike some main characters who you want to shoot for being too dumb or annoying). I especially enjoyed the fact that the main character was not your run of the mill women in distress -- she was fun, independent, and smart. Definitely give this book a try, you'll be glad you did!
Profile Image for Jodie.
359 reviews5 followers
April 17, 2024
This book was very good. Like others, I read it due to the recommendation of Freida McFadden. I gave 4 stars because some of it I skipped over because the character’s internal dialogue dragged on a bit and some mysteries were obvious to me. But all in all a good read!
Profile Image for Billie Aura.
59 reviews1 follower
April 18, 2024
My heart was pounding while I was reading this. I literally could not put this book down. I think this might be my favorite read of 2024.
Profile Image for Joan.
553 reviews28 followers
April 11, 2024
Whew! What a thrill ride. I literally couldn't put this book down until very late last night. I had to know how it was all going to end. My only disappointment is that there are some loose ends. Maybe there will be a sequel.

Most of the plot I'd figured out ahead of time but not all and a few events I was certain would happen didn't. But lots of excitement in this quick easy read.

Liz and Jared are a young couple in love but at least Liz is not thinking of settling down to marriage and babies any time soon. She is enjoying life until Jared proposes to her. She doesn't want to lose him and doesn't know what to say. So she says "yes" but immediately begins thinking of changing her mind. Liz is from a middle class family that isn't good enough for Jared's wealthy and well-placed family who has hand-picked a bride for him (not Liz). And thus the story begins...after the engagement picnic in the woods they get lost and of course the obligatory no cell reception. And it just builds from there to the end.
Profile Image for Krista.
32 reviews
February 29, 2024
I finished this book in a few hours! This book follows Liz and the spiral that comes after her boyfriend Jared proposes to her in the middle of the woods. They find themselves struggling to get back to their car after being in a clearing in the woods. Only to find out their car has been stolen. After finding help from two men, who bring them back to their home to call for help, a lifetime of twists unravel. This book had me hooked from the beginning. So many twists throughout the book. Sometimes I read something and was catapulted back to another part I read. I loved how all the turns came back in the end! Thank you to Victory Editing, Jenna Moquin, and NetGalley for let me read this book!
Profile Image for Krista.
32 reviews
February 29, 2024
I finished this book in a few hours! This book follows Liz and the spiral that comes after her boyfriend Jared proposes to her in the middle of the woods. They find themselves struggling to get back to their car after being in a clearing in the woods. Only to find out their car has been stolen. After finding help from two men, who bring them back to their home to call for help, a lifetime of twists unravel. This book had me hooked from the beginning. So many twists throughout the book. Sometimes I read something and was catapulted back to another part I read. I loved how all the turns came back in the end! Thank you to Victory Editing, Jenna Moquin, and NetGalley for let me read this book!
Profile Image for Samantha L.
61 reviews6 followers
February 17, 2024
Thank you NetGalley and Liquid Mind Publishing for my ARC copy of Stalks!
I am in a group on social media and saw this book recommended by Freida McFadden and requested right away! This is my first time reading and book by Jenna Moquin, and now I want more by her!
I am completely blown away by this book and all the twists that are in it! As I was reading the book, I got a feel of Texas Chainsaw Massacre. I literally could not put thos boom down and I am so happy that I got a chance to read it!
Profile Image for Doga.
4 reviews12 followers
March 5, 2024
I like how the feelings were described, but I can't see why people were saying that there were a lot of plot twists. I'd enjoy the book more if I hadn't seen comments about there being too many twists; it was misleading for me. Also, I don't think this book needs dazzling twists. Like, was there any twist in Crime and Punishment? Nah, it is about emotional states. Like a creepy-touched slice of life. Giving it a thought, it'd be a nice thriller anime. It'd be giving off a vibe that is between Yesterday wo Utatte and Another.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 93 reviews

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