What do you think?
Rate this book
Waterman and Stark #1
The Girl in the Woods
New York Times bestselling author Gregg Olsen pits native American pathologist Birdy Waterman against a female killer whose dark desires know no limit in this darkly atmospheric, psychologically driven thriller, which puts Olsen in the class with thriller masters Harlan Coben, Jeffery Deaver, and Tess Gerritsen.
A schoolgirl found it on a nature hike. A severed human foot wearing pink nail polish. A gruesome but invaluable clue that leads forensic pathologist Birdy Waterman down a much darker trail—to a dangerous psychopath whose powers of persuasion seem to have no end. Only by teaming up with sheriff’s detective Kendall Stark can Birdy hope to even the odds in a deadly game. It’s a fateful decision the killer wants them to make. And it’s the only way Birdy and Kendall can find their way to a murderer who’s ready to kill again…
A schoolgirl found it on a nature hike. A severed human foot wearing pink nail polish. A gruesome but invaluable clue that leads forensic pathologist Birdy Waterman down a much darker trail—to a dangerous psychopath whose powers of persuasion seem to have no end. Only by teaming up with sheriff’s detective Kendall Stark can Birdy hope to even the odds in a deadly game. It’s a fateful decision the killer wants them to make. And it’s the only way Birdy and Kendall can find their way to a murderer who’s ready to kill again…
416 pages, Mass Market Paperback
First published October 28, 2014
4673 people are currently reading
5512 people want to read
About the author
Gregg Olsen
113 books7,202 followersThroughout his career, Gregg Olsen has demonstrated an ability to create a detailed narrative that offers readers fascinating insights into the lives of people caught in extraordinary circumstances.
A #1 New York Times bestselling author, Olsen has written ten nonfiction books, ten novels, and contributed a short story to a collection edited by Lee Child.
The award-winning author has been a guest on dozens of national and local television shows, including educational programs for the History Channel, Learning Channel, and Discovery Channel. He has also appeared on Good Morning America, The Early Show, The Today Show, FOX News; CNN, Anderson Cooper 360, MSNBC, Entertainment Tonight, CBS 48 Hours, Oxygen’s Snapped, Court TV’s Crier Live, Inside Edition, Extra, Access Hollywood, and A&E’s Biography.
In addition to television and radio appearances, the award-winning author has been featured in Redbook, USA Today, People, Salon magazine, Seattle Times, Los Angeles Times and the New York Post.
The Deep Dark was named Idaho Book of the Year by the ILA and Starvation Heights was honored by Washington’s Secretary of State for the book’s contribution to Washington state history and culture.
Olsen, a Seattle native, lives in Olalla, Washington with his wife and Suri (a mini dachshund so spoiled she wears a sweater).
A #1 New York Times bestselling author, Olsen has written ten nonfiction books, ten novels, and contributed a short story to a collection edited by Lee Child.
The award-winning author has been a guest on dozens of national and local television shows, including educational programs for the History Channel, Learning Channel, and Discovery Channel. He has also appeared on Good Morning America, The Early Show, The Today Show, FOX News; CNN, Anderson Cooper 360, MSNBC, Entertainment Tonight, CBS 48 Hours, Oxygen’s Snapped, Court TV’s Crier Live, Inside Edition, Extra, Access Hollywood, and A&E’s Biography.
In addition to television and radio appearances, the award-winning author has been featured in Redbook, USA Today, People, Salon magazine, Seattle Times, Los Angeles Times and the New York Post.
The Deep Dark was named Idaho Book of the Year by the ILA and Starvation Heights was honored by Washington’s Secretary of State for the book’s contribution to Washington state history and culture.
Olsen, a Seattle native, lives in Olalla, Washington with his wife and Suri (a mini dachshund so spoiled she wears a sweater).
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 30 of 542 reviews
November 2, 2014
I purchased "The Girl in the Woods" (Waterman and Stark, #1), by Gregg Olsen, after another member in Goodreads, recommended it. I am so glad I listened and followed through. I have never read anything by this author, and after reading this I am sure he is one whose works I will pursue. I was sitting on the edge of my chair trying to flip the pages and absorb the material with rapid speed. This is a well written serial-killer thriller, where the author has created and managed multiple plot lines at the same time.
In Port Orchard, Washington, on a nature trip in Banner Forest, a sixth grader makes a gruesome discovery- a severed foot! Where is the body? Where did it come from? Sheriff's Detective Kendall Stark and Kitsap County Forensic Pathologist Birdy Waterman are assigned to work on the case. I found that Birdy Waterman, the Forensic Pathologist,took complete control of the case, and handled many other detective duties, outside her realm, to bring closure to the case. I felt that Detective Stark, was just interested in the praise and recognition, for solving the mystery. Birdy, also is the one that shows warmth and compassion, but still exhibits strength when required. She comes across as more believable and human, while Detective Stark is cold and removed.
At the same time, Birdy's sixteen year old nephew asks to stay with his aunt for awhile, as he had left his dysfunctional parents. As if Birdy didn't have enough to contend with!
Then another homicide. The victim, Ted Roberts dies suspiciously with the pathologist thinking his wife, Jennifer poisoned him.
The novel is full of twists and turns with two unrelated murders...and a serial killer on the loose, playing a game of cat and mouse. This novel follows two different crimes, with red herrings all over the place. Took a while to connect the two crimes together, and then the big reveal happened at the very end. The author writes well and definitely provides a good solid mystery.
"The Girl in the Woods", is Book 1 of a three part series. The next book, "Now That She's Gone", book 2 in the Waterman and Stark series , to be released in November 2015.
For anyone who enjoys a good solid mystery/crime fiction, I highly recommend this novel.
In Port Orchard, Washington, on a nature trip in Banner Forest, a sixth grader makes a gruesome discovery- a severed foot! Where is the body? Where did it come from? Sheriff's Detective Kendall Stark and Kitsap County Forensic Pathologist Birdy Waterman are assigned to work on the case. I found that Birdy Waterman, the Forensic Pathologist,took complete control of the case, and handled many other detective duties, outside her realm, to bring closure to the case. I felt that Detective Stark, was just interested in the praise and recognition, for solving the mystery. Birdy, also is the one that shows warmth and compassion, but still exhibits strength when required. She comes across as more believable and human, while Detective Stark is cold and removed.
At the same time, Birdy's sixteen year old nephew asks to stay with his aunt for awhile, as he had left his dysfunctional parents. As if Birdy didn't have enough to contend with!
Then another homicide. The victim, Ted Roberts dies suspiciously with the pathologist thinking his wife, Jennifer poisoned him.
The novel is full of twists and turns with two unrelated murders...and a serial killer on the loose, playing a game of cat and mouse. This novel follows two different crimes, with red herrings all over the place. Took a while to connect the two crimes together, and then the big reveal happened at the very end. The author writes well and definitely provides a good solid mystery.
"The Girl in the Woods", is Book 1 of a three part series. The next book, "Now That She's Gone", book 2 in the Waterman and Stark series , to be released in November 2015.
For anyone who enjoys a good solid mystery/crime fiction, I highly recommend this novel.
July 15, 2017
Strange novel. Poor writing with abrupt sequences of plot shifting. NW was the only winner here. This is not a series I would continue. Bizarre characterizations and tangent subject conversations in this book! Without the state of Washington green and the snappy/snarky opening school field trip, it would have been 1 star.
The ending is the most ridiculous I've read in years. Impossible. Redundancies horrific enough to estimate that without them, this could have been a full 100 pages shorter. I'm surprised I finished and that this style of writing level can get published in this final form as the parts just don't hang together as a whole, IMHO. Never again a Kendall series fare.
The ending is the most ridiculous I've read in years. Impossible. Redundancies horrific enough to estimate that without them, this could have been a full 100 pages shorter. I'm surprised I finished and that this style of writing level can get published in this final form as the parts just don't hang together as a whole, IMHO. Never again a Kendall series fare.
August 23, 2022
Book Blog | Bookstagram
Featuring Det. Kendall Stark and Dr. Birdy Waterman - a perfect crime-fighting duo, the good doctor and the bad cop - but they also read like real people.
When a severed foot is found in the woods and a husband/stepfather who has died suddenly, are two separate cases which slowly weave together. It's done in a really seamless way, bringing the story to a conclusion but leaving the door open for the return of psycho Brenda Nivens in the sequel.
Techincally, the plot is executed really, well except that it tended to be kind of boring. There's no action, save for the last ten pages. There's no tension or twists. It was clever in the most basic way, but it was missing the spice.
So, I didn't hate it. I liked the characters. It was a good introduction to them, but the mystery itself was just meh, and occasionally, Olsen's choice of descriptives was next-level annoying to me.
⭐⭐⭐ | 3 stars
Featuring Det. Kendall Stark and Dr. Birdy Waterman - a perfect crime-fighting duo, the good doctor and the bad cop - but they also read like real people.
When a severed foot is found in the woods and a husband/stepfather who has died suddenly, are two separate cases which slowly weave together. It's done in a really seamless way, bringing the story to a conclusion but leaving the door open for the return of psycho Brenda Nivens in the sequel.
Techincally, the plot is executed really, well except that it tended to be kind of boring. There's no action, save for the last ten pages. There's no tension or twists. It was clever in the most basic way, but it was missing the spice.
So, I didn't hate it. I liked the characters. It was a good introduction to them, but the mystery itself was just meh, and occasionally, Olsen's choice of descriptives was next-level annoying to me.
⭐⭐⭐ | 3 stars
November 20, 2014
awful. writing was awful (how many times can an author repeat themselves). characters were awful and really!?!? the worst plot/ending I've read in a long time!!! The end was just laughable and at one point I really did find myself laughing out loud. If I could give less than one star I would.
August 21, 2015
Very mediocre mystery. First a girl's foot, and then the rest of her, is found in the woods of Washington. Elsewhere, a man is poisoned to death. The happenings seem unrelated, but then we find out they are related--but not in any interesting way.
The two characters weren't very unique. One was single and Native American (which is mentioned constantly), the other is married, but that doesn't come into play anywhere in the story. So they're mostly indistinguishable characters, other than their jobs (one is a forensic pathologist and the other a detective).
Lots of small things added up to weak writing. For instance, every character spoke with the same voice. For another, it drives me crazy when authors insist on giving useless details, as though that gives their writing life and realism. I don't care that someone bought a cooler at Wal-Mart. What possible difference does it make where someone bought something? And he kept doing it throughout the novel--to the point where I thought, "Is he getting paid for crappy product placement?"
Writing aside, the story isn't very interesting. There was nothing surprising--nothing risky. Just by-the-numbers mystery, with some "red herrings" that only a terrible reader would follow or believe.
The two characters weren't very unique. One was single and Native American (which is mentioned constantly), the other is married, but that doesn't come into play anywhere in the story. So they're mostly indistinguishable characters, other than their jobs (one is a forensic pathologist and the other a detective).
Lots of small things added up to weak writing. For instance, every character spoke with the same voice. For another, it drives me crazy when authors insist on giving useless details, as though that gives their writing life and realism. I don't care that someone bought a cooler at Wal-Mart. What possible difference does it make where someone bought something? And he kept doing it throughout the novel--to the point where I thought, "Is he getting paid for crappy product placement?"
Writing aside, the story isn't very interesting. There was nothing surprising--nothing risky. Just by-the-numbers mystery, with some "red herrings" that only a terrible reader would follow or believe.
June 3, 2021
I can’t decide between three or four stars. I really enjoyed the book, but the end seemed off somehow. I’m going to have to think about it. I might up it to four.
February 13, 2015
A riveting story by Gregg Olsen. A thriller you certainly do not want to put down till it's finished
August 8, 2015
I don’t typically review audiobooks, but I’m going to make an exception because the narrator for The Girl in the Woods, Corey M. Snow, while outstanding, was the wrong narrator for this book. Most of the characters are women, and the points of view are close third person (in other words, limited to one character at a time). What we end up with is a strong male voice narrating feminine internal thoughts throughout. Males narrating female voices (and the opposite) works fine in small doses—usually for secondary or tertiary characters. Here, it was completely distracting and came off as camp. If you’re a Gregg Olsen fan and want to read The Girl in the Woods, my recommendation is to go for the print or ebook.
November 26, 2014
Gregg Olsen is one of my favorite authors. I am always eager to get my hands on a new book by him and this one is no exception. Read in two sittings because I absolutely could not stop once I got started it is filled with thrills and multiple stories that find their way together. A great thriller and a new series, I cannot wait to read more.
July 15, 2021
This was the first book I read from this author and it didn't dissapoint..
May 21, 2016
The Girl in the Woods (A Waterman & Stark Thriller Book 1) by Gregg Olsen The Girl in the Woods (A Waterman & Stark Thriller Book 1) by Gregg Olsen is an intriguing murder mystery that follows the forensic pathologist, Birdy Waterman in a case that encompasses multiple suspects.
It kept me guessing. Because of that I have it five stars.
Her teenaged nephew, Elan, had arrived without warning to stay with her. She hope it would help heal her relationship with her sister, Summer, with whom she did not interact. She had seen what real family discord could do & was grateful that hers was just a war of words, or lack thereof.
"Kendall Stark was a homicide detective Birdy liked working with more than the investigators in her unit in the sheriff's office. "
I received a complimentary Kindle copy from Amazon. That did not change my opinion for this review.
It kept me guessing. Because of that I have it five stars.
Her teenaged nephew, Elan, had arrived without warning to stay with her. She hope it would help heal her relationship with her sister, Summer, with whom she did not interact. She had seen what real family discord could do & was grateful that hers was just a war of words, or lack thereof.
"Kendall Stark was a homicide detective Birdy liked working with more than the investigators in her unit in the sheriff's office. "
I received a complimentary Kindle copy from Amazon. That did not change my opinion for this review.
March 2, 2017
I received an advanced copy reader of this book. Gregg Olsen is a favorite of mine. This book kept your interest, was a fast read and I kind of guessed the ending. I found it enjoyable and great way to spend part of the weekend. I do like his characters of Birdy Waterman and Kendall Stark who work together to solve the mystery. This is book one of their endeavors. The characters in the book were interesting and really led some different lives. The Wicked Snow is still my favorite of his.
April 7, 2017
This was one painful read and I normally stay away and do not give writers bad reviews
Goodreads kept prompting for a review, so here it is.
I actually can't believe I managed to finish this book. Plot was definitely borrowed from
Mexican soap operas and equally "artistically" executed.
I am giving 2 stars, because I actually managed to get interested at the first 50 pages, but this slowly but surely went downhill.
I wish I had those few hours of my life back.
Goodreads kept prompting for a review, so here it is.
I actually can't believe I managed to finish this book. Plot was definitely borrowed from
Mexican soap operas and equally "artistically" executed.
I am giving 2 stars, because I actually managed to get interested at the first 50 pages, but this slowly but surely went downhill.
I wish I had those few hours of my life back.
August 11, 2015
I loved that the police detective and pathologist were both women- solid, in-their-30's, with normal clothing women. The mystery played out well and the pacing was nicely done. Overall, a solid start to a series of mystery novels.
August 11, 2017
Thoroughly enjoyed it lots of twists and turns with a surprising ending.
December 21, 2017
I couldn't stop reading this book. I would recommend this book. Lots of twist, can't wait to read the next one.
December 5, 2020
Great start for a new series - Waterman (ME) and Stark (Detective) are a fun pair of protagonistas. I enjoy a book a lot more when I like the main characters. Even the teenagers were tolerable. My library doesn’t have the next two, but ThriftBooks does, so I ordered them online. The conclusion definitely forces you to read the next episode!
I would like to think an editor would know it is a moleskine journal, the final e was omitted at every reference - shame.
I would like to think an editor would know it is a moleskine journal, the final e was omitted at every reference - shame.
March 16, 2025
After a foot is found in the woods an investigation is launched, along with a search for the rest of the body. What happened to Darby, and who did this to her?
We follow the investigation with a front row seat from the coroner, who not only performed the autopsy, but was an active member of the search for the suspect.
Just when they think they have identified the person responsible a twist is thrown and the search for the true culprit continues.
We follow the investigation with a front row seat from the coroner, who not only performed the autopsy, but was an active member of the search for the suspect.
Just when they think they have identified the person responsible a twist is thrown and the search for the true culprit continues.
January 3, 2022
There are. So many lesbians in this book. For a white straight dude named GREGG.
April 25, 2021
I really loved this book! Page turner!
When I read Kendall Stark series first one " Victim Six" , I became a fan of Stark series. This book is story with detective Stark plus forensic pathologist Waterman! And loved this more.
Speedy development, serial killer, 2 murder cases in one, unique characters... Can't wait for next book!
When I read Kendall Stark series first one " Victim Six" , I became a fan of Stark series. This book is story with detective Stark plus forensic pathologist Waterman! And loved this more.
Speedy development, serial killer, 2 murder cases in one, unique characters... Can't wait for next book!
October 11, 2019
What a train wreck of a book. It started out promising - a runaway boy, a foot found in the woods, a female coroner working with a female police officer. But don't let that fool you - it quickly becomes predictable plot driven drivel.
It went completely off the rails in Chapter 14, by adding additional non essential characters and it spiraled completely out of control in Chapter 26.
Too many odd ball non-essential characters; too many sub-plots and not enough believability (is that a real word) in any of them.
on the plus side - it was a super fast read, even if the coroner and the female detective ended up looking like totally incompetent characters. And..... of course it was one of a series where a character (who got almost no mention) became the lead in to the next book. boring........
It went completely off the rails in Chapter 14, by adding additional non essential characters and it spiraled completely out of control in Chapter 26.
Too many odd ball non-essential characters; too many sub-plots and not enough believability (is that a real word) in any of them.
on the plus side - it was a super fast read, even if the coroner and the female detective ended up looking like totally incompetent characters. And..... of course it was one of a series where a character (who got almost no mention) became the lead in to the next book. boring........
March 23, 2017
In Port Orchard, Washington, forensic pathologist Birdy Waterman and police detective Kendall Stark work together to solve the mystery of how a severed foot with pink nail polish came to be in the woods. Also, they're working a case where a man dies and the wife is suspected of being a black widow. Bridy plays a big role in the investigation of the case outside the lab.
I didn't initially realize these two cases might be related but I had a suspicion about who murdered Ted. I really like this new duo of Birdy and Kendall. I hope I can find more books by Gregg Olsen soon, including more of this series plus some of his other fiction also. I read another of his books several years ago and remember liking it too.
I didn't initially realize these two cases might be related but I had a suspicion about who murdered Ted. I really like this new duo of Birdy and Kendall. I hope I can find more books by Gregg Olsen soon, including more of this series plus some of his other fiction also. I read another of his books several years ago and remember liking it too.
April 8, 2018
First of Gregg Olsen's books I've read. It was very good; entertaining, sad in spots, interesting. Birdie, a forensic pathologist, and Kendall, a deputy sheriff, have their hands full with, first, a dead teenager and then a dead husband while fighting the bad rep the two departments have due to a serious mix-up on a earlier case. Somehow in the midst of the investigation they determine that these cases are related. This book keeps you on your toes because you don't know what unusual thing is going to turn up next.
November 15, 2014
I won The girl in the Woods through Goodreads. I am so happy I did. This is very clever book with many twists and turns. It is well written as all Gregg Olsen's books are. This book is a page turner. I seriously couldn't put it down. The plot was so interesting, the characters believable and the ending surprised me. I can usually figure them out so it was a surprise for me. This book is a great read.
September 17, 2017
A story with a lot of potential, but ultimately unsatisfying. The resolution was unclear--who actually did what? And what should have been a bombshell revelation about one of the main characters was passed over in the rush to the end. The book could also have used some serious copyediting, which was distracting.
abandoned
July 8, 2016[Audiobook] DNF @ 44% - Just lost interest in this one! I thought the choice of a man for the audiobook vocals was distracting. Most of the characters, including the main character, are female and I think the story would have been better served by a woman's voice.
December 31, 2021
Writing was fine, storyline and characters are kind of 1 dimensional. No plot twists imho.
July 4, 2015
A letter to the author: Please don't use the word "haters" unironically. Thanks.
March 29, 2018
This book has some weaknesses but it kept my interest so I’ll give it three stars. It’s refreshing that most of the primary characters are women, and I felt like the author had good intentions of writing them as multilayered characters. That said, these characters were clearly written a man, which can get distracting. If a character is written as being quite attractive, not only are we treated to frequent descriptions of her beauty, but we also are asked to witness her conscious and frequent reflections on her own beauty and how it shapes her interactions with the world. I can’t speak for all women, but I certainly don’t think about beauty (my own or others’) anywhere near as often as these characters do.
March 6, 2024
⭐️⭐️⭐️.5
This was easy reading - a murder mystery by Gregg Olsen. This book had been lying around on my Kindle Unlimited since 2020. (I have a goal this year to read books that I’ve owned/held the longest.)
I liked the two main characters, a forensic pathologist doctor, and a detective who are good friends/work buddies. The setting is Port Orchard, Washington, a more rural suburb of Seattle. It’s a real place - I looked it up! It was fast paced. Two seemingly unrelated murders.
But the crime solving got really far-fetched and unbelievable as the book wound down. I’m not particularly inspired to read the next one in the series.
The 52 Book Club Challenge - 2024
Prompt #3 - more than 40 chapters
This was easy reading - a murder mystery by Gregg Olsen. This book had been lying around on my Kindle Unlimited since 2020. (I have a goal this year to read books that I’ve owned/held the longest.)
I liked the two main characters, a forensic pathologist doctor, and a detective who are good friends/work buddies. The setting is Port Orchard, Washington, a more rural suburb of Seattle. It’s a real place - I looked it up! It was fast paced. Two seemingly unrelated murders.
But the crime solving got really far-fetched and unbelievable as the book wound down. I’m not particularly inspired to read the next one in the series.
The 52 Book Club Challenge - 2024
Prompt #3 - more than 40 chapters
Displaying 1 - 30 of 542 reviews