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The Thicket
A riveting thriller about a woman still grieving her brother who was killed at a carnival, but when she goes back to retrace his steps the night he was killed, she learns the full, terrifying truth about what happened that night...
Everyone will hear you scream. No one will listen.
Norah can’t stop thinking about the night her brother died.
She was supposed to stay with him at the Halloween carnival. He’d begged her to stay. But they’d fought, and Norah left him alone in the woods. That was before she realized there was a real killer lurking among the costumes and macabre props.
When the carnival reopens just weeks later amid a media controversy, Norah decides to retrace her brother’s last steps in a desperate attempt to unravel what really happened that night. But the woods hold more than just traumatic memories.
Before long, Norah begins to suspect that the killer’s choice of hunting ground was no coincidence. And that this nightmare is far from over.
Everyone will hear you scream. No one will listen.
Norah can’t stop thinking about the night her brother died.
She was supposed to stay with him at the Halloween carnival. He’d begged her to stay. But they’d fought, and Norah left him alone in the woods. That was before she realized there was a real killer lurking among the costumes and macabre props.
When the carnival reopens just weeks later amid a media controversy, Norah decides to retrace her brother’s last steps in a desperate attempt to unravel what really happened that night. But the woods hold more than just traumatic memories.
Before long, Norah begins to suspect that the killer’s choice of hunting ground was no coincidence. And that this nightmare is far from over.
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Published March 25, 2025
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About the author
Noelle W. Ihli
11 books9,988 followersNoelle’s two great passions are murder and horses (separately, never together).
She lives in Idaho with her husband, two sons, and two cats. When she's not plotting her next thriller, she's scaring herself with true-crime documentaries or going for a trail ride in the foothills (with her trusty pepper spray).
She lives in Idaho with her husband, two sons, and two cats. When she's not plotting her next thriller, she's scaring herself with true-crime documentaries or going for a trail ride in the foothills (with her trusty pepper spray).
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 1,650 reviews
April 17, 2024
Definitely not what I expected. The characters were dull, Norah worked on my nerves. A very slow burn and that says a lot as this book is just over 200 pages.
I love Noelle's books but this one was dissapointing.
I love Noelle's books but this one was dissapointing.
May 27, 2024
★2 stars
Not good, but somewhat better than the last book I read of hers? That’s not saying much 😅 Thoroughly solidified my decision to NEVER do another haunted house/maze situation ever again. 3 murders, no murderer caught, security that takes the seriousness of their job with a grain of salt, and we still think it’s a great idea to keep the haunted house open??? Nah thanks.
* ゜・。。・゜゜・。。・゜*
Pre-review:
My hopes are literally nonexistent after that last book of Ihli’s I read lmao, so maybe this will surprise me 🤷🏻♀️ At the very least I’ll have read all of her books, and will be glad to be done 😅
Not good, but somewhat better than the last book I read of hers? That’s not saying much 😅 Thoroughly solidified my decision to NEVER do another haunted house/maze situation ever again. 3 murders, no murderer caught, security that takes the seriousness of their job with a grain of salt, and we still think it’s a great idea to keep the haunted house open??? Nah thanks.
* ゜・。。・゜゜・。。・゜*
Pre-review:
My hopes are literally nonexistent after that last book of Ihli’s I read lmao, so maybe this will surprise me 🤷🏻♀️ At the very least I’ll have read all of her books, and will be glad to be done 😅
July 27, 2022
SAY, can I get a refund please?
(But 1st. Let's rewind, shall we)
SUMMARY:
Slasher!!
Scary Horror Story!!!!
Serial Killer Thriller!!!!!!
(PLUS the Amazon positive reviews!)
OH MY MY!!
SIGN ME UP THIS INSTANT!
...... and then, I began to read.
(Even now my hindsight continues to SCREAM/SING at me in the form of my favorite Bleacher's song lyric "Just Don't Take The Money" .. ad lib slightly to "Just don't read the bad book")
Once finished:
Well now, I've got to suck it up and own it. I willingly forfeited hours of my life. Reading a book almost entirely devoted (roughly 90%) to random (not EVEN plot related) teen dialogue. This all takes place primarily while they are standing in line for their turn in the haunted cabin trail. Banal, uncomfortable self conscious teen "speak". UGH.
((Meanwhile, my head, humming continues ..("Just don't take the money./bad book")))
The other 10%, I'm happy to credit with somewhat scary parts.
Ultimately, I still don't even know who the killer is or was. Let alone why? However I can say, with 100% certainty, that I no longer care at all who the killer is or why. This was no slasher, and no thriller scary book. This was simply, not good.
A fabulous job by the marketing team and the write up. I was full on enticed. Then full on disappointed (i.e. annoyed as heck).
I'm off to listen to my favorite Bleacher's songs now ❣️🤷🏼♀️
(But 1st. Let's rewind, shall we)
SUMMARY:
Slasher!!
Scary Horror Story!!!!
Serial Killer Thriller!!!!!!
(PLUS the Amazon positive reviews!)
OH MY MY!!
SIGN ME UP THIS INSTANT!
...... and then, I began to read.
(Even now my hindsight continues to SCREAM/SING at me in the form of my favorite Bleacher's song lyric "Just Don't Take The Money" .. ad lib slightly to "Just don't read the bad book")
Once finished:
Well now, I've got to suck it up and own it. I willingly forfeited hours of my life. Reading a book almost entirely devoted (roughly 90%) to random (not EVEN plot related) teen dialogue. This all takes place primarily while they are standing in line for their turn in the haunted cabin trail. Banal, uncomfortable self conscious teen "speak". UGH.
((Meanwhile, my head, humming continues ..("Just don't take the money./bad book")))
The other 10%, I'm happy to credit with somewhat scary parts.
Ultimately, I still don't even know who the killer is or was. Let alone why? However I can say, with 100% certainty, that I no longer care at all who the killer is or why. This was no slasher, and no thriller scary book. This was simply, not good.
A fabulous job by the marketing team and the write up. I was full on enticed. Then full on disappointed (i.e. annoyed as heck).
I'm off to listen to my favorite Bleacher's songs now ❣️🤷🏼♀️
February 26, 2022
If there's one thing I can't stand it's an author trying to pull a swifty. I received a free copy of this book via a give away and for signing up to the author's newsletter. GUESS WHAT??? It was just a couple of chapters with a link to purchase the book in full. NO WHERE did it say it was an excerpt only and the author also requested a review! 🤬 What a bloody cheek!! Well, you now have my review, for what it's worth and you have also made sure that I will never purchase a book from you now or in the future.
December 17, 2024
DNF at 35%.
So dull, slow and boring. Life’s too short.
The most exciting thing is the cover. A thriller it ain’t.
So dull, slow and boring. Life’s too short.
The most exciting thing is the cover. A thriller it ain’t.
February 23, 2023
I should have DNF’d this book. I want my time back for that awful boring ending.
August 25, 2021
I won this book in a goodreads drawing.
A slasher movie in book form. Much in the vein of Scream and I Know What You Did Last Summer, only without dissecting any tropes.
The number one Haunted House attraction in the country has a savage murder take place. The victim's family is rocked, but a few weeks later it opens up again. A whole bunch of rubberneckers go to the park...and so does the killer.
The usual group of kids visit the park in search of a few scares, and get more than they bargained for.
Pretty good. The characters seemed like they might be real people, rather than the stereotypes we so often get in these sorts of stories. The killer is less invincible. The cops are still inept.
I felt like the section in the corn maze could have been more...something...scarier, sexier, screwier...There are many directions, and I wish it had taken one.
Still, the most effective slasher novel I've read in quite a while.
A slasher movie in book form. Much in the vein of Scream and I Know What You Did Last Summer, only without dissecting any tropes.
The number one Haunted House attraction in the country has a savage murder take place. The victim's family is rocked, but a few weeks later it opens up again. A whole bunch of rubberneckers go to the park...and so does the killer.
The usual group of kids visit the park in search of a few scares, and get more than they bargained for.
Pretty good. The characters seemed like they might be real people, rather than the stereotypes we so often get in these sorts of stories. The killer is less invincible. The cops are still inept.
I felt like the section in the corn maze could have been more...something...scarier, sexier, screwier...There are many directions, and I wish it had taken one.
Still, the most effective slasher novel I've read in quite a while.
May 11, 2024
Not bad. The story kept up a good pace and was well-written. The teenage girls acted like I would imagine teenagers act like today (admittedly it's been a looong time since I was a teen). Lots of tense and gory scares. Good for a Halloween read.
October 13, 2024
This story was like the edges of a PopTart without the icing… Bland! 2 Stars ⭐️⭐️!
September 27, 2023
I thought this was a fun, easy-to-read teen slasher. A little predictable and filled with horror tropes, but it delivered exactly what I was looking for to kick off spooky season.
The book starts off strong with a horrific murder in a haunted maze, and then we get to see the aftermath of the event. I liked how the author gave us chapters of the killer’s POV, giving us insight into his motivations. I also liked how the book highlights how sometimes tragedies can become other people’s entertainment.
There is some teen drama sprinkled in here, which is to be expected in a teen slasher. While the story slowed a bit as our characters make their way back to the haunt, I still enjoyed reading about the atmosphere and overall vibes of the attraction. The ending was predictable, but still fun. Overall, it’s a quick and enjoyable slasher that would be a great addition to your Halloween reading list!
The book starts off strong with a horrific murder in a haunted maze, and then we get to see the aftermath of the event. I liked how the author gave us chapters of the killer’s POV, giving us insight into his motivations. I also liked how the book highlights how sometimes tragedies can become other people’s entertainment.
There is some teen drama sprinkled in here, which is to be expected in a teen slasher. While the story slowed a bit as our characters make their way back to the haunt, I still enjoyed reading about the atmosphere and overall vibes of the attraction. The ending was predictable, but still fun. Overall, it’s a quick and enjoyable slasher that would be a great addition to your Halloween reading list!
July 24, 2023
This is a book I read.
September 12, 2024
Hmm not happy with this one.
July 20, 2025
⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️
Very fun read for Halloween!
Very fun read for Halloween!
October 21, 2021
A great cover, a great plot and a chilling end. The Thicket is a serial killer thriller about one of the most haunted (fictional?) places in the US. The story starts with brothers and sisters Brandon and Norah visiting The Thicket (which is run like a ghost train without the train); the siblings are separated and the plot opens up. The book has Halloween and horror themes throughout and the crushing of pre-pandemic contemporary life - (Facebook pages with amateur sleuths and other threads which tore at the survivor's mental state). An exploration of sibling guilt, teenage friendships and loyalty. Why have I knocked one star off? I think this book made me feel a bit old as I got 'lost' a few times. Get lost in The Thicket this Halloween!
August 21, 2023
Generic YA teen slasher is unoriginal but executed well enough. Believable teen girl characters, nice Halloween setting, pretty inoffensive. The made-for-basic-cable equivalent of horror thrillers. But do teen girls consume too many pot gummies and listen to The Smiths? Who can say?
April 23, 2023
This should’ve been a novella.
April 17, 2024
All of these characters are awful
May 19, 2025
Never met a Noelle W. Ihli book I didn’t love. 🫶
February 8, 2025
Rating: ★★★★☆ (4/5)
When Norah Lewis returns to the haunted attraction where her brother was killed, she’s determined to uncover the truth. But as the past and present collide, she realizes the horror inside is all too real.
The book starts off a bit slow, but once the storylines come together in the second half, it becomes absolutely unputdownable. The tension builds perfectly, with twists that keep you hooked until the end. While the pacing in the first half held it back from being a full 5-star, the eerie setting and gripping final act made it a satisfying read!
When Norah Lewis returns to the haunted attraction where her brother was killed, she’s determined to uncover the truth. But as the past and present collide, she realizes the horror inside is all too real.
The book starts off a bit slow, but once the storylines come together in the second half, it becomes absolutely unputdownable. The tension builds perfectly, with twists that keep you hooked until the end. While the pacing in the first half held it back from being a full 5-star, the eerie setting and gripping final act made it a satisfying read!
February 15, 2024
Absolute waste of time! Nothing happened. No ending. No killer reveal or motive. Nothing. Wannabe slasher fluff piece. Do not waste your time!!!
December 15, 2021
What is it about corn fields that people find so terrifying? They are a common feature in horror stories. I just recently watched Scary Stories to Tell in the Dark which included a huge cornfield complete with a hideous scarecrow. Noelle W. Ihli's terrifying thriller, The Thicket, uses a corn field maze as one of the centrepieces of her novel to great effect.
I grew up in the country surrounded by forests and farmland. There were corn fields nearby and I remember how tall the stalks were when I walked through them. It was impossible to see the edge of the field. I had the reassurance that if I just followed the rows, I'd eventually reach the edge. But if it's a corn maze, the paths could lead anywhere...
Norah and her brother go to the Thicket, a haunted Halloween theme park where actors jump out at people to scare them. At the centre of the park is an enormous corn maze. I've been in a few of these haunted houses and one haunted hay ride over the years. Even though I knew it was fake and I was safe the whole time, adrenaline and fun took over and I found myself screaming with the others because I think under all that fun there is a tiny part of me that wondered, "what if it IS real this one time?"
That's the fear that The Thicket taps into. At the park, Norah grows fed up with her little brother and leaves him to finish the haunted park alone. Unfortunately, this time the horrors are all too real and her brother doesn't make it out alive. Norah must come to grips with her grief, guilt and the killer in order to deal with what happened that night.
The corn maze is not just the centre of the park, but it also features prominently in the climax of the story. The reader helplessly watches as a group of teenagers ends up in the corn maze to be tracked down by an unhinged killer.
This novel is scary, well-written and well-paced. The villain is particularly terrifying. He is relentless and evil. Without revealing too much I hope, there is no attempt to soften him with a sob story and he is not suddenly stupid at the climax like a lot of villains tend to be in order to let the hero win. I appreciate this. I love a complex bad guy, of course, but sometimes, it's good to read a story with a solid villain.
There is some gore in the novel, but it's nowhere near excessive. If you like a tight, gripping horror-thriller, then definitely pick up The Thicket.
I grew up in the country surrounded by forests and farmland. There were corn fields nearby and I remember how tall the stalks were when I walked through them. It was impossible to see the edge of the field. I had the reassurance that if I just followed the rows, I'd eventually reach the edge. But if it's a corn maze, the paths could lead anywhere...
Norah and her brother go to the Thicket, a haunted Halloween theme park where actors jump out at people to scare them. At the centre of the park is an enormous corn maze. I've been in a few of these haunted houses and one haunted hay ride over the years. Even though I knew it was fake and I was safe the whole time, adrenaline and fun took over and I found myself screaming with the others because I think under all that fun there is a tiny part of me that wondered, "what if it IS real this one time?"
That's the fear that The Thicket taps into. At the park, Norah grows fed up with her little brother and leaves him to finish the haunted park alone. Unfortunately, this time the horrors are all too real and her brother doesn't make it out alive. Norah must come to grips with her grief, guilt and the killer in order to deal with what happened that night.
The corn maze is not just the centre of the park, but it also features prominently in the climax of the story. The reader helplessly watches as a group of teenagers ends up in the corn maze to be tracked down by an unhinged killer.
This novel is scary, well-written and well-paced. The villain is particularly terrifying. He is relentless and evil. Without revealing too much I hope, there is no attempt to soften him with a sob story and he is not suddenly stupid at the climax like a lot of villains tend to be in order to let the hero win. I appreciate this. I love a complex bad guy, of course, but sometimes, it's good to read a story with a solid villain.
There is some gore in the novel, but it's nowhere near excessive. If you like a tight, gripping horror-thriller, then definitely pick up The Thicket.
May 19, 2025
3.5 ⭐️ | Good read. The story starts with Brandon & Norah, siblings that are spedining their evening at a Halloween carnival. Little do they know, there is a killer lurking amongst them and the night will end deadly. When the carnival opens back up, Norah returns unsure of what she is seeking, but hoping she will notice something that will jar her memory and bring the killer to justice.
I enjoyed the dual POVs and being able to hear it from the killer’s perspective and his twisted thoughts. The narration in the audiobook was great! Overall a decent read, that held my attention and was entertaining.
I enjoyed the dual POVs and being able to hear it from the killer’s perspective and his twisted thoughts. The narration in the audiobook was great! Overall a decent read, that held my attention and was entertaining.
April 5, 2025
I am working my way through this author's backlist, because my library FINALLY got them. After loving Ask for Andrea and then Gray After Dark, and then the disappointing Run on Red. I've noticed that they're pretty predictable, generic hitting all the tropes.
Well this was sadly no different and I didn't realize it was young adult or I would have definitely avoided it. It started out like your typical teen slasher, and all the boxes were checked.
This is basically a 2 ⭐️ but this cover is absolutely stunning, so 3 ⭐️ it is.
Well this was sadly no different and I didn't realize it was young adult or I would have definitely avoided it. It started out like your typical teen slasher, and all the boxes were checked.
This is basically a 2 ⭐️ but this cover is absolutely stunning, so 3 ⭐️ it is.
July 5, 2025
3.75 for me :/
This is my 5th Noelle book and to be fair I’ve read her recent reads where as this one is what 2/3 years old now I know progress has been made between now and then which I can tell from this book to the others but at the same time this is its own story line and its own plotting
For this it follows teenagers, and one of them whos brother was unalived (not a spoiler) and for those so know me Know my issues w that haha so like normally I do find a way to relate to the grief of that and I did with the sister but I feel like we didn’t get much of her part we got more of the people she knew and they’re very superficial teens which tbh anything those kind of characters i already kind of roll my eyes at and despise
The premise of the story line was good I liked the idea but tbh the execution wasn’t my fave it followed the teens for a decent part and it just made not care I feel like this one lacked the depth her others that I’ve read have
Doesn’t mean it was bad, it was an average read like an average thriller in my opinion obviously I’m going to keep reading her books lol
This is my 5th Noelle book and to be fair I’ve read her recent reads where as this one is what 2/3 years old now I know progress has been made between now and then which I can tell from this book to the others but at the same time this is its own story line and its own plotting
For this it follows teenagers, and one of them whos brother was unalived (not a spoiler) and for those so know me Know my issues w that haha so like normally I do find a way to relate to the grief of that and I did with the sister but I feel like we didn’t get much of her part we got more of the people she knew and they’re very superficial teens which tbh anything those kind of characters i already kind of roll my eyes at and despise
The premise of the story line was good I liked the idea but tbh the execution wasn’t my fave it followed the teens for a decent part and it just made not care I feel like this one lacked the depth her others that I’ve read have
Doesn’t mean it was bad, it was an average read like an average thriller in my opinion obviously I’m going to keep reading her books lol
October 28, 2025
Fun Halloween read!! And fantastic book cover! RTC!
March 27, 2024
I loved the thrill in this book, the story line! It was my kind of book!
October 8, 2022
Great, suspense filled slasher that wasn't overly graphic. The majority of the book took place in a haunted park and corn maze, making this a great read for Halloween and Spooky Season! It definitely raised my heart rate in quite a few places and I could easily see this becoming a movie.
I found myself skimming through some extraneous detail. My ebook came in around 304 pages and it definitely could've lost a good 30-50 pages and it would've been perfect.
This was available through kindle unlimited. The author currently has another book (also available on ku) that I have added to my neverending tbr!
4⭐️
I found myself skimming through some extraneous detail. My ebook came in around 304 pages and it definitely could've lost a good 30-50 pages and it would've been perfect.
This was available through kindle unlimited. The author currently has another book (also available on ku) that I have added to my neverending tbr!
4⭐️
March 23, 2023
Another heart pounding page Turner by @noelleihliauthor 👏🏻👏🏻 after reading Run on Red and absolutely loving it, I could not wait to read more by this author.
The Thicket, pulled me in from the start. The gore, the intensity of the murders, and the all around creepiness of this book was the perfect thriller/horror read! I started this book as soon as I woke up this morning, and finished it by lunch, that’s how fantastic it was.
I would definitely add this to your spooky season tbr, because the setting of a haunted house/cornfield made me never want to go to one. Ever.
Highly recommend this book. It is available on KU.
The Thicket, pulled me in from the start. The gore, the intensity of the murders, and the all around creepiness of this book was the perfect thriller/horror read! I started this book as soon as I woke up this morning, and finished it by lunch, that’s how fantastic it was.
I would definitely add this to your spooky season tbr, because the setting of a haunted house/cornfield made me never want to go to one. Ever.
Highly recommend this book. It is available on KU.
April 1, 2024
I’ve loved every other book I’ve read by this author, except for this one. It was okay, a fast-paced thriller, but one that doesn’t really lead you to care about the characters (I couldn’t ever really remember who was who in the trio of the three girls) and leaves you a bit confused about who the killer is and why they’re killing.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 1,650 reviews