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The Boy in the Woods
What she saw in the woods will test a mother’s love to the limits Sabine Sugar, devoted wife and mother, has turned her back on the haters and moved her family to a new town where no one knows they had anything to do with the death of a teenage girl. But now, as she stands in the woods in the gathering gloom of a misty November afternoon, she sees a boy in the distance grappling with a girl under a gnarled old oak tree. The boy looks suspiciously like her eldest son, Leo. The girl is the spitting image of their neighbours’ seventeen-year-old daughter, Olivia. A sinking dread chills Sabine’s bones, but before she can be sure it’s them, they vanish. Sabine convinces herself she must be mistaken, her overactive imagination playing tricks. Until Olivia is reported missing by her distraught parents. Was the boy in the woods Leo? And if it was, what has he done? He claims he knows nothing about Olivia’s disappearance, but how can Sabine trust him after the last time? And, more importantly, how far is she willing to go to protect him - and her family - when the police come knocking at their door?
393 pages, Paperback
Published May 1, 2024
341 people are currently reading
3175 people want to read
About the author
A.J. Wills
16 books418 followers***Book bloggers join my ARC team and never miss getting your hands on a review copy of my latest books. You can sign up here: bit.ly/bloggersalert ***
AJ Wills writes standalone psychological thrillers with twisty plots.
He’s a former journalist who wrote in his spare time, before and after work for ten years, until he was finally able to fulfil his lifelong dream of becoming a fulltime author in May 2021.
He’s never looked back and now runs a small independent publishing company, Cherry Tree Publishing with his wife, AJ McDine, also a thriller writer.
He said: “I've always loved thrillers, but psychological thrillers hold a special interest for me because they're about the scary, insane, disturbing things that happen to ordinary people - and we can all relate to them on some level.”
He lives in Kent in the south east of England.
You can download AJ Wills’s psychological thriller, His Lost Wife, for free by visiting bit.ly/hislostwife
You can find out more about him on his website: ajwillsauthor.com, his Facebook page AuthorAJWills or on his Instagram account ajwills_author
Of course, you can always contact him directly at adrian@ajwillsauthor.com, where he loves to answer messages from genuine readers.
And don't forget to follow him on BookBub for his new releases: bit.ly/BookBubAJWills
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 132 reviews
May 11, 2024
I received a copy of this book to read in exchange for an honest review as part of the book tour hosted by Zooloos Book Tours.
The Boy In the Woods is an edge of your seat, twisty, rollercoaster of a read!
We follow Sabine, who has had to uproot her family and move away after her son Leo's involvement in the death of a young girl. Leo doesn't adapt well and now has only one friend - Olivia, who lives across the street to them.
When Sabine comes across what looks to be Leo and Olivia having a heated argument in the woods, she begins to worry, and when Olivia disappears, she fears the worst - has her son harmed this girl? Leo denies having anything to do with her disappearance, but Sabine can't shake her suspicions.
I really felt for Sabine in this book. She desperately tries to give her son the benefit of the doubt and battles to keep her family together, and it makes you question yourself as to what you would do if this was you.
I did see one of the twists coming but was happily surprised by the rest.
The Boy In the Woods is an edge of your seat, twisty, rollercoaster of a read!
We follow Sabine, who has had to uproot her family and move away after her son Leo's involvement in the death of a young girl. Leo doesn't adapt well and now has only one friend - Olivia, who lives across the street to them.
When Sabine comes across what looks to be Leo and Olivia having a heated argument in the woods, she begins to worry, and when Olivia disappears, she fears the worst - has her son harmed this girl? Leo denies having anything to do with her disappearance, but Sabine can't shake her suspicions.
I really felt for Sabine in this book. She desperately tries to give her son the benefit of the doubt and battles to keep her family together, and it makes you question yourself as to what you would do if this was you.
I did see one of the twists coming but was happily surprised by the rest.
May 2, 2024
The Boy in the Woods
By A.J. Wills
5 Stars ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
‘Sabine Sugar, devoted wife and mother, has turned her back on the haters and moved her family to a new town where no one knows they had anything to do with the death of a teenage girl.’
If I could give this book 6 stars I would! It was absolute perfection from start to finish, I devoured it in one sitting!
The fast paced chapters, multiple POVs and constant unexpected plot twists were everything I needed and more in a thriller book. I am immediately adding everything A.J. Wills has ever wrote to my TBR!
Readers who enjoyed Gillian McAllister’s ‘Wrong Place Wrong Time’ will love this!
This will be the best thriller you’ll read in 2024 I guarantee it…thank me later!
Triggers warnings - death, drug use and sexual abuse
A big thank you to NetGalley, Cherry Tree Publishing and the fabulous author A.J. Wills for this gifted ARC in return for an honest review.
By A.J. Wills
5 Stars ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
‘Sabine Sugar, devoted wife and mother, has turned her back on the haters and moved her family to a new town where no one knows they had anything to do with the death of a teenage girl.’
If I could give this book 6 stars I would! It was absolute perfection from start to finish, I devoured it in one sitting!
The fast paced chapters, multiple POVs and constant unexpected plot twists were everything I needed and more in a thriller book. I am immediately adding everything A.J. Wills has ever wrote to my TBR!
Readers who enjoyed Gillian McAllister’s ‘Wrong Place Wrong Time’ will love this!
This will be the best thriller you’ll read in 2024 I guarantee it…thank me later!
Triggers warnings - death, drug use and sexual abuse
A big thank you to NetGalley, Cherry Tree Publishing and the fabulous author A.J. Wills for this gifted ARC in return for an honest review.
May 2, 2024
This was a really good read. I enjoyed the story, and there were times when I was holding my breath. I felt sorry for Sabine when all she was trying to do was help her family stay together, but all the lies and deceit from her 2 boys and husband must have been so hard for her to deal with. She's definitely a strong person. I did not like Rory much at all, I thought he was a bit of a sleaze and definitely selfish. I also saw what was coming with Toni. I hated Jerome for so many reasons. I liked Leo and was willing him to be innocent all the way through the book. I was definitely shocked at Casper even though I did suspect what was going to happen. Overall, it's a really good thriller, I'll look out for more by this author.
April 27, 2024
HOLY CRAP! OH MY!!! My heart is still racing! I’m still trying to calm myself and come up with the words for this review. I had heart palpitations throughout the ENTIRE book! I was on the edge of my seat and biting my nails the whole roller coaster ride. I can’t remember the last time I found myself peeking ahead to know what was about to happen due to my anxiety being through the roof! I gobbled this book up in just a few hours, and was left reeling.
The characters were all well rounded. Sabine frustrated me at times, and her husband, Rory, infuriated me. I know those were the feelings that the author wanted me to feel. I felt as though I wasn’t sure what or who to believe. My thoughts on what really happened switched a few times, but I was NOWHERE close to being correct. The suspense building that Will created while this masterfully crafted plot unfolded was genius. This book was thought provoking and captivated me from the first page. I actually read so late last night that I feel asleep with my Kindle in my hand because I couldn’t stop reading. I woke up early today and had to finish it.
This was my first book by A J Wills, but I can tell you right now that it won’t be my last.
Thank you to NetGalley and Cherry Tree Publishing for introducing me to this new author and for the ARC in exchange for my honest review!
The characters were all well rounded. Sabine frustrated me at times, and her husband, Rory, infuriated me. I know those were the feelings that the author wanted me to feel. I felt as though I wasn’t sure what or who to believe. My thoughts on what really happened switched a few times, but I was NOWHERE close to being correct. The suspense building that Will created while this masterfully crafted plot unfolded was genius. This book was thought provoking and captivated me from the first page. I actually read so late last night that I feel asleep with my Kindle in my hand because I couldn’t stop reading. I woke up early today and had to finish it.
This was my first book by A J Wills, but I can tell you right now that it won’t be my last.
Thank you to NetGalley and Cherry Tree Publishing for introducing me to this new author and for the ARC in exchange for my honest review!
May 26, 2024
I hesitated to start this book as I am weary of books about children, but I like Adrian’s books so I gave it a go. I’m glad I did! It was nothing as I expected! There’s a girl missing and the protagonist suspects her son is involved! While it reads much like a domestic drama, it also has some nice twists. There’s also some action that is darn right horrible! It kept my interest throughout, and I read it in a few hours! I would recommend all of his books!
May 6, 2024
How far would you go to protect your child? For sure, Sabine made some mistakes, but anyone would when under so much pressure, and what mother wouldn’t fight for their son? I literally couldn't put this book down and am severely sleep deprived as a result! I had so much empathy for Sabine. This is the type of thriller that pulls you in and doesn’t let go. The chapters are short, the multiple POVs fascinating and the storyline realistic and compelling. Another addictive, must-read from AJ Wills.
May 28, 2024
I'm a sucker for a great looking book cover and this one really shouted at me and drew me in - I always love the bright titles against a dark and ominous image that promises an intriguing story!
On top of this, this was my third book by this author and I had loved the previous two reads, so knew that this was going to be great.
I love to go in blind with a psychological thriller as I often find the blurbs contain little hints and spoilers ....and I love that element of surprise as I read through.
Once again,Wills manages to capture my attention straight away and I'm immediately immersed into the story of Leo, Olivia and Sabine right from the start.
I always struggle with storylines focussing on the relationships between a mother and her children - in this case Sabine's son, Leo.
He has a dark past and after seeing an incident in the woods followed by the announcement that their neighbour Olivia had gone missing, Sabine struggles with what to believe and who to trust.
I got quite emotional reading, as I really felt Sabine's struggle about whether to do the right thing or protect her child. Tour default is to trust your own family - but was she right to do so?
The writing style was super fast-paced and exciting and I found that I struggled to put this down.
I loved the twists and turns which held some shocks and kept me guessing throughout!
Wills is fast becoming a name to watch and I'm excited to see what's next in store for us?
On top of this, this was my third book by this author and I had loved the previous two reads, so knew that this was going to be great.
I love to go in blind with a psychological thriller as I often find the blurbs contain little hints and spoilers ....and I love that element of surprise as I read through.
Once again,Wills manages to capture my attention straight away and I'm immediately immersed into the story of Leo, Olivia and Sabine right from the start.
I always struggle with storylines focussing on the relationships between a mother and her children - in this case Sabine's son, Leo.
He has a dark past and after seeing an incident in the woods followed by the announcement that their neighbour Olivia had gone missing, Sabine struggles with what to believe and who to trust.
I got quite emotional reading, as I really felt Sabine's struggle about whether to do the right thing or protect her child. Tour default is to trust your own family - but was she right to do so?
The writing style was super fast-paced and exciting and I found that I struggled to put this down.
I loved the twists and turns which held some shocks and kept me guessing throughout!
Wills is fast becoming a name to watch and I'm excited to see what's next in store for us?
May 4, 2024
Thank you NetGalley for an ARC of this book.
It just came out on May 1st and if you like thrillers, mysteries and the ultimate page turner then read this book. I devoured it! Couldn't put it down.
This story follows the twists and turns of a mother trying to protect her child while also trying to find out the truth about what really happened to the girl across the street who goes missing one day. But things are more complicated than it seemed. Did Sabine really see her son in the woods arguing with the now missing girl? Or is it all in her head, is she still suffering from the tragedy of what happen last time before they had to move?
The writing was amazing. The plot twists, well I didn't see half of them coming and Wills had me gasping out loud through the last 35% of the read.
It just came out on May 1st and if you like thrillers, mysteries and the ultimate page turner then read this book. I devoured it! Couldn't put it down.
This story follows the twists and turns of a mother trying to protect her child while also trying to find out the truth about what really happened to the girl across the street who goes missing one day. But things are more complicated than it seemed. Did Sabine really see her son in the woods arguing with the now missing girl? Or is it all in her head, is she still suffering from the tragedy of what happen last time before they had to move?
The writing was amazing. The plot twists, well I didn't see half of them coming and Wills had me gasping out loud through the last 35% of the read.
May 5, 2024
The Boy in the Woods by AJ Wills.
What she saw in the woods will test a mother’s love to the limits
I really did enjoy this book. I did like the cover and blurb. I do love this author. This is the 4th book I've read by him. What an opener. Really set the mood for me. I was hooked. It was gripping and twisty. I was on the edge of my seat. I was surprised by how quickly I got through this book. I never saw that coming at all. I could never have got that. That threw me for sure. It's definitely a roller coaster of a book. 5*.
What she saw in the woods will test a mother’s love to the limits
I really did enjoy this book. I did like the cover and blurb. I do love this author. This is the 4th book I've read by him. What an opener. Really set the mood for me. I was hooked. It was gripping and twisty. I was on the edge of my seat. I was surprised by how quickly I got through this book. I never saw that coming at all. I could never have got that. That threw me for sure. It's definitely a roller coaster of a book. 5*.
April 28, 2024
When a mother sees who she thinks is her son in the woods arguing with a girl her motherly instincts kick in. The family recently moved to get away from allegations her son was involved in the death of a girl so this scene is very disturbing. This thriller had me guessing all through the book. It is non stop action that kept me reading and reading. There are substories that add to the action and thrill of the book. If you are looking for a spine-tingling book, this is one you want to check out!
June 7, 2024
I barely made it through the first half of this book and came so close to giving up as Sabine, the MC, was so annoying. 🙄
May 29, 2025
5 Stars
Great family domestic thriller. Leo is troubled teenager who's family had to move after he was suspected of being involved in a young girls murder.
His father has to commute farther and his mother walk the neighbourhood dogs.
They keep a low profile until Leos mother Sebene spots Leo in the woods with girl who then goes missing.
Leos mother tries to hide the fact her son had been in trouble before. Then Sebene tries to find out what happened to the girl.
Leos Dad is giving up on his family and spending more time at work.
The family slowly starts to fall apart as Leo withdrawals and won't say a word.
A thrilling page turner that will keep you in suspense
Great family domestic thriller. Leo is troubled teenager who's family had to move after he was suspected of being involved in a young girls murder.
His father has to commute farther and his mother walk the neighbourhood dogs.
They keep a low profile until Leos mother Sebene spots Leo in the woods with girl who then goes missing.
Leos mother tries to hide the fact her son had been in trouble before. Then Sebene tries to find out what happened to the girl.
Leos Dad is giving up on his family and spending more time at work.
The family slowly starts to fall apart as Leo withdrawals and won't say a word.
A thrilling page turner that will keep you in suspense
August 27, 2024
This was an unexpectedly twisted and gripping story! Although I’ve read plots similar to this one, A J Wills writing style flowed seamlessly and was fast paced making this one incredibly hard to put down. I was gripped from the start up until the very end.
One of my favorite aspects of this story was the familial drama. I thought the Sugar family was authentic and relatable which instantly connected me to the story line. They had their dysfunction and their inhibited family dynamics were well characterized throughout the story.
Second, I favorited the flawed & unreliable characters. I found the characters not so likable, in the best possible way. Their unlikable and fallacious personalities contributed to the uncertainty as to how the story would transpire. Therefore, I was challenged in determining who was guilty and who I could trust.
And the last favorite aspect of mine was Wills writing style. His writing style flowed so freely and swiftly, making this a two day read. I was captivated by the plot and the roller coaster of a ride we went on with the Sugar family. There were a numerous subplots that made this storyline absorbing and moving quickly along. I was surprised to have predicted a couple of revelations but still loved this story overall.
Altogether, The Boy In The Woods was a gripping, fast paced domestic psychological drama that had me absorbed and at the edge of my seat wanting to learn who was guilty one faster than I could turn the pages. Having read my first book by Wills, I’m ready to read another AJ Wills novel soon!!
Thanks for the loan Kimmy!
One of my favorite aspects of this story was the familial drama. I thought the Sugar family was authentic and relatable which instantly connected me to the story line. They had their dysfunction and their inhibited family dynamics were well characterized throughout the story.
Second, I favorited the flawed & unreliable characters. I found the characters not so likable, in the best possible way. Their unlikable and fallacious personalities contributed to the uncertainty as to how the story would transpire. Therefore, I was challenged in determining who was guilty and who I could trust.
And the last favorite aspect of mine was Wills writing style. His writing style flowed so freely and swiftly, making this a two day read. I was captivated by the plot and the roller coaster of a ride we went on with the Sugar family. There were a numerous subplots that made this storyline absorbing and moving quickly along. I was surprised to have predicted a couple of revelations but still loved this story overall.
Altogether, The Boy In The Woods was a gripping, fast paced domestic psychological drama that had me absorbed and at the edge of my seat wanting to learn who was guilty one faster than I could turn the pages. Having read my first book by Wills, I’m ready to read another AJ Wills novel soon!!
Thanks for the loan Kimmy!
May 13, 2024
Sabine is out walking dogs that she is employed to look after during the day when she sees what seems to be an argument with a boy and a girl, she is pretty sure the boy is her own son Leo and the girl her neighbors daughter Olivia but as the daylight was fading she could not be 100% sure. Soon Olivia is declared missing by her parents. After a previous major incident with her son, Sabine had to pack up her family and move to a new town where no one knows them and her instincts are telling her she may be in for more heartache.
This really is a story of a mother's love and how far a parent would go to protect their child and it is a very emotional read. As time moves forward it seems that all the evidence is pointing against Leo and Sabine is devastated, her husband is a useless human being who does nothing to support his wife in regard to this situation and vies away from having any discussions with his son to try to find answers as to what may have happened to Olivia.
I thoroughly enjoyed the book and again read this one in an afternoon. There are many twists and turns along the way that will keep you turning the pages and I became totally absorbed in this story. This is my second book by this author and I am definitely now a fan of their work. Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for an advanced copy of the book, all opinions expressed are my own. Highly recommended.
This really is a story of a mother's love and how far a parent would go to protect their child and it is a very emotional read. As time moves forward it seems that all the evidence is pointing against Leo and Sabine is devastated, her husband is a useless human being who does nothing to support his wife in regard to this situation and vies away from having any discussions with his son to try to find answers as to what may have happened to Olivia.
I thoroughly enjoyed the book and again read this one in an afternoon. There are many twists and turns along the way that will keep you turning the pages and I became totally absorbed in this story. This is my second book by this author and I am definitely now a fan of their work. Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for an advanced copy of the book, all opinions expressed are my own. Highly recommended.
May 12, 2024
Book Review:
‼️Trigger Warnings‼️
Talks of: Death, Attempted Suicide, Drugs, Se**al Abuse.
📚When Olivia Hunter goes missing, the first person everyone wants to point the finger at is her friend Leo, he was the last person to see her after all, wasn't he?
But as they move in closer to finding out what happened to Olivia, secrets are spilled, and someone definitely wants them kept quiet.
💭I read this in 2 days. It was so easy to read, so engaging and fast paced. The story started literally from the first page, it jumped straight into the action and that's one of the things I loved, it never strayed far from the action throughout the book either.
The characters in this book are great- I managed to feel empathy, hate and annoyance towards every single one, I feel like they were so well written and a few of them definitely added to the small community vibes that were in the book.
I love A J Wills writing style- I read the Phanton Child and felt the same- the writing style is so easy flowing, simple but powerful. I loved being able to picture what was going on in the woods, in the community, the characters etc...
The secrets and twists that came out in this book, I didn't see coming (well I saw one coming, but I had suspected something from this character anyways). I felt like the secrets tied in so well with why certain things happened and they had more to add to the story.
Overall, I thoroughly enjoyed this book, I got lost in the whole story and I will definitely be reading more of this authors work!
‼️Trigger Warnings‼️
Talks of: Death, Attempted Suicide, Drugs, Se**al Abuse.
📚When Olivia Hunter goes missing, the first person everyone wants to point the finger at is her friend Leo, he was the last person to see her after all, wasn't he?
But as they move in closer to finding out what happened to Olivia, secrets are spilled, and someone definitely wants them kept quiet.
💭I read this in 2 days. It was so easy to read, so engaging and fast paced. The story started literally from the first page, it jumped straight into the action and that's one of the things I loved, it never strayed far from the action throughout the book either.
The characters in this book are great- I managed to feel empathy, hate and annoyance towards every single one, I feel like they were so well written and a few of them definitely added to the small community vibes that were in the book.
I love A J Wills writing style- I read the Phanton Child and felt the same- the writing style is so easy flowing, simple but powerful. I loved being able to picture what was going on in the woods, in the community, the characters etc...
The secrets and twists that came out in this book, I didn't see coming (well I saw one coming, but I had suspected something from this character anyways). I felt like the secrets tied in so well with why certain things happened and they had more to add to the story.
Overall, I thoroughly enjoyed this book, I got lost in the whole story and I will definitely be reading more of this authors work!
April 18, 2024
A J Wills has kept me reading into the early hours again with this one!
The further into the story I got, the harder it became to put down as you try to unravel the tale - some of my suspicions did come to light, but this didn't take away from my enjoyment.
4.5 rounded up to 5 - purely because it didn't quite beat the phantom child for me.
Huge thanks to the author for having me as part of his arc team and providing me with the arc ebook.
The further into the story I got, the harder it became to put down as you try to unravel the tale - some of my suspicions did come to light, but this didn't take away from my enjoyment.
4.5 rounded up to 5 - purely because it didn't quite beat the phantom child for me.
Huge thanks to the author for having me as part of his arc team and providing me with the arc ebook.
April 18, 2024
Fast-paced, twisty thriller and a quick read. This is my second book by this author and I’m looking forward to reading more.
I received a complimentary copy of this book. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.
I received a complimentary copy of this book. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.
May 9, 2024
Totally engrossing
This book catches your attention from the first page and keeps you going until the very end. It really kept you wondering, did he or didn't he. So good!
This book catches your attention from the first page and keeps you going until the very end. It really kept you wondering, did he or didn't he. So good!
July 6, 2024
Omg!! This book was awesome! The ultimate page turner and was able to finish it within 24hrs! I would give it 10 stars if that was an option.
April 19, 2025
Ooooo I knew it!!! Such an easy read, breezed through this one - super fast-paced and addictive. And weirdly enough, for all the suspense and drama, it left me feeling kinda warm and fuzzy at the end
May 6, 2024
Page turning thriller that kept me going although I thought almost all of the twists were easily seen ahead of time. The moral of the story is things are not always as they seem.
May 1, 2024
This book is intruging from the start and builds up to you, wondering what an earth will happen next.
It's one of those books that has you captured from the beginning, and it's hard to put down.
This is a well written gripping storyline and plot with strong characters, revelations, and many a twist and turn leading to that final unexpected one.
It had me guessing all the way through, and I was totally wrong.
This, I would say, is a must-read book, which won't disappoint.
My thanks to the author. This is my honest, unbiased review .
It's one of those books that has you captured from the beginning, and it's hard to put down.
This is a well written gripping storyline and plot with strong characters, revelations, and many a twist and turn leading to that final unexpected one.
It had me guessing all the way through, and I was totally wrong.
This, I would say, is a must-read book, which won't disappoint.
My thanks to the author. This is my honest, unbiased review .
May 4, 2024
The book is twisted and mind blowing. Author’s writing is compelling and book is gripping. The ending was jaw dropping. Suspense was spot on and the twists and turns kept me on the edge. The truth is twisted and each character is hiding something in this book.
Leo Sugar, A teenager boy was accused of killing a girl or having involvement in her death. The case has been closed but people still talk awfully about the Sugar family and Leo and neighbours maintain their distance so Leo’s Mother along with the family moves to a new town and fresh start their life but when one of the girl goes missing in the new neighbourhood, the fear grips Sabine that because of the past, her son might have involvement again in the vanishing of the girl or if he is innocent, the past will become the base for suspicion in the present case. She is trying to protect him and keep the family together. But no one really knows the truth.
There were so many twists and turns. The ending was jaw dropping. I felt a lot of things for the characters and at some point, I suspected everyone in the mystery of Olivia’s disappearance. But didn’t think about the possibility of what actually happened in the book.
Many Thanks to Author and Publisher.
Leo Sugar, A teenager boy was accused of killing a girl or having involvement in her death. The case has been closed but people still talk awfully about the Sugar family and Leo and neighbours maintain their distance so Leo’s Mother along with the family moves to a new town and fresh start their life but when one of the girl goes missing in the new neighbourhood, the fear grips Sabine that because of the past, her son might have involvement again in the vanishing of the girl or if he is innocent, the past will become the base for suspicion in the present case. She is trying to protect him and keep the family together. But no one really knows the truth.
There were so many twists and turns. The ending was jaw dropping. I felt a lot of things for the characters and at some point, I suspected everyone in the mystery of Olivia’s disappearance. But didn’t think about the possibility of what actually happened in the book.
Many Thanks to Author and Publisher.
May 3, 2024
A J Wills is an author that I absolutely love reading his books. He has fantastic, unexpected twists, suspense, and well developed characters and plot. It is his trademark that we have become to love and drop everything when he has a new book.
I always look forward to his next book.
A must-read for every thriller fan.
I always look forward to his next book.
A must-read for every thriller fan.
April 28, 2024
Sabine Sugar moved her family from everything and everyone they knew, when her eldest son, Leo, was involved in the death of a young girl.
Leo hasn’t settled well and seems to have only one friend, Olivia, who lives opposite them.
Sabine is now a dog walker, and when she is out walking the dogs in the woods, she’s pretty sure she sees Leo and Olivia having a bad and physical argument.
When Olivia goes missing, Sabine automatically thinks her son has something to do with it. Is history repeating itself? Why would Leo hurt his only friend?
This was a fast paced thriller and I thoroughly enjoyed it. I found I couldn’t put the book down and had to know what was going on.
The characters were believable, and made me sit and question how I would react in their situations.
Although I did work certain parts out, the story still managed to catch me out at times with some superb twists along the way.
My thanks to Zooloo’s Book Tours for a copy in exchange for my honest review.
Leo hasn’t settled well and seems to have only one friend, Olivia, who lives opposite them.
Sabine is now a dog walker, and when she is out walking the dogs in the woods, she’s pretty sure she sees Leo and Olivia having a bad and physical argument.
When Olivia goes missing, Sabine automatically thinks her son has something to do with it. Is history repeating itself? Why would Leo hurt his only friend?
This was a fast paced thriller and I thoroughly enjoyed it. I found I couldn’t put the book down and had to know what was going on.
The characters were believable, and made me sit and question how I would react in their situations.
Although I did work certain parts out, the story still managed to catch me out at times with some superb twists along the way.
My thanks to Zooloo’s Book Tours for a copy in exchange for my honest review.
April 28, 2024
The Boy In The Woods is a great, suspenseful read with enjoyable but somewhat predictable twists.
Sabine is a mother of two teenage boys, Leo and Casper, and will do anything to protect her family. A year ago, an unfortunate even happened involving Leo, drugs, and a 15 year old girl's death, and Sabine was forced to uproot her family and relocate to someplace where nobody knows them. She was hoping for a fresh start for her family, that is until she spots Leo in the woods with a girl, a knife, and blood. The girl ends up disappearing almost immediately after and now Sabine is determined to protect her son and also find out what exactly happened.
The twists in this story were great, although somewhat predictable. By the end, I ended up loving Leo and the bravery he's shown throughout the book, but ended up strongly disliking his father. He's a punk and he proved it every chance he got. Sabine is a real mama-bear, protective of her sons and I loved how everything played out in the end.
Thank you NetGalley and A J Wills for this wonderful read!
Sabine is a mother of two teenage boys, Leo and Casper, and will do anything to protect her family. A year ago, an unfortunate even happened involving Leo, drugs, and a 15 year old girl's death, and Sabine was forced to uproot her family and relocate to someplace where nobody knows them. She was hoping for a fresh start for her family, that is until she spots Leo in the woods with a girl, a knife, and blood. The girl ends up disappearing almost immediately after and now Sabine is determined to protect her son and also find out what exactly happened.
The twists in this story were great, although somewhat predictable. By the end, I ended up loving Leo and the bravery he's shown throughout the book, but ended up strongly disliking his father. He's a punk and he proved it every chance he got. Sabine is a real mama-bear, protective of her sons and I loved how everything played out in the end.
Thank you NetGalley and A J Wills for this wonderful read!
September 13, 2024
I don't remember when was the last time I hated a book so much.
I really wanted to stop reading (few times) during the first half of the book, but forced myself to keep going, but I wish I hadn't.
I barely made it to the second half (clinging to the hope it gets better) Spoiler alert: It didn't.
From the beginning - the book felt very tedious and repetitive, like...Ridiculously so.
It was like I'm reading the same thing over and over again: Her walks with the dogs, her conversation with her son..etc.
(The main character was SO annoying, Christ!) Until...maybe 48% of the book (I have no idea how did I not die of boredom).
Furthermore, Some things didn't make sense and made me roll my eyes, while others were just simply ludacris: The way the characters reacted and how they chose to behave, their stupid decisions- Were really unrealistic and infuriating.
I couldn't care less about any of the characters; Which were one demential and not at all likeable or relatable; NONE of them. They had no depth whatsoever.
I'm not familiar with this author and if I'm being completely honest; I purchased the book (the kindle version) due to the cheap price and the (apparently unreliable) good reviews it got.
I'm not going to take my chances with any of his other books, that's for sure.
I honestly can't understand the positive reviews;
Seriously?! Did we read the same unbearable book?
Im not one to write reviews, but I had to express my frustration and disappointment somehow.
I really wanted to stop reading (few times) during the first half of the book, but forced myself to keep going, but I wish I hadn't.
I barely made it to the second half (clinging to the hope it gets better) Spoiler alert: It didn't.
From the beginning - the book felt very tedious and repetitive, like...Ridiculously so.
It was like I'm reading the same thing over and over again: Her walks with the dogs, her conversation with her son..etc.
(The main character was SO annoying, Christ!) Until...maybe 48% of the book (I have no idea how did I not die of boredom).
Furthermore, Some things didn't make sense and made me roll my eyes, while others were just simply ludacris: The way the characters reacted and how they chose to behave, their stupid decisions- Were really unrealistic and infuriating.
I couldn't care less about any of the characters; Which were one demential and not at all likeable or relatable; NONE of them. They had no depth whatsoever.
I'm not familiar with this author and if I'm being completely honest; I purchased the book (the kindle version) due to the cheap price and the (apparently unreliable) good reviews it got.
I'm not going to take my chances with any of his other books, that's for sure.
I honestly can't understand the positive reviews;
Seriously?! Did we read the same unbearable book?
Im not one to write reviews, but I had to express my frustration and disappointment somehow.
May 11, 2024
This is one you don't want to miss. From the very first page to the last spine tingling moment, I was glued to this story. If you like a thriller with secrets, you will love the twists and turns in this unputdownable tale. I raced to the end. Edge of my seat toward some parts that almost had me biting my nails.
June 20, 2024
This was okay.
I mean, I hated every adult in the book and the big secret was really, really obvious, but it did keep me reading.
I'm not sure I'll really remember this next week and, when it was over, I was ready for it to be over, but it was fine.
Not earthshattering, but entertaining enough.
I mean, I hated every adult in the book and the big secret was really, really obvious, but it did keep me reading.
I'm not sure I'll really remember this next week and, when it was over, I was ready for it to be over, but it was fine.
Not earthshattering, but entertaining enough.
August 17, 2024
not worth reading
Characters unlikeable. Plot good basis but taken to extreme lengths. Mother needs psychological help but the author doesn’t see that and the father isn’t one he has no redeeming qualities at all.
Characters unlikeable. Plot good basis but taken to extreme lengths. Mother needs psychological help but the author doesn’t see that and the father isn’t one he has no redeeming qualities at all.
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