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The Wild Things
“I couldn’t put this down; as evidence, it is 3:20 AM, and I just finished.”
“... pulls you in from the beginning and keeps you pulled in.”—Hidden Gems
True crime writer Kendall Casey has always been drawn to dark stories, but her latest project leads her to a neighborhood shrouded in secrets. Located in the North Carolina mountains, The Cove is a community in which the neighbors are far from harmonious. The Guffs are openly despised, while the charming entertainers, the Robinettes, are adored by all.
When Kendall’s wayward sister arrives unexpectedly and vows that she’s changed, Kendall reluctantly agrees to let her stay. But as the Robinettes welcome her sister into their inner circle, Kendall’s peaceful life unravels into a series of terrifying paranormal encounters, and simmering neighborhood tensions ignite into dangerous feuds. The closer Kendall gets to uncovering the truth, the more she suspects the Robinettes are hiding something sinister.
As neighborhood tensions boil over and terrifying visions haunt her nights, Kendall finds herself closer than ever to a dark truth lurking just below the surface. But some secrets are better left buried . . . and Kendall may not survive unearthing this one.
“... pulls you in from the beginning and keeps you pulled in.”—Hidden Gems
True crime writer Kendall Casey has always been drawn to dark stories, but her latest project leads her to a neighborhood shrouded in secrets. Located in the North Carolina mountains, The Cove is a community in which the neighbors are far from harmonious. The Guffs are openly despised, while the charming entertainers, the Robinettes, are adored by all.
When Kendall’s wayward sister arrives unexpectedly and vows that she’s changed, Kendall reluctantly agrees to let her stay. But as the Robinettes welcome her sister into their inner circle, Kendall’s peaceful life unravels into a series of terrifying paranormal encounters, and simmering neighborhood tensions ignite into dangerous feuds. The closer Kendall gets to uncovering the truth, the more she suspects the Robinettes are hiding something sinister.
As neighborhood tensions boil over and terrifying visions haunt her nights, Kendall finds herself closer than ever to a dark truth lurking just below the surface. But some secrets are better left buried . . . and Kendall may not survive unearthing this one.
354 pages, Kindle Edition
Published February 25, 2025
26 people are currently reading
133 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 114 reviews
February 26, 2025
First of all thank you to Netgalley, the publisher, and the author for providing me with an advanced copy in exchange for an honest review.
Oh this book was *chefs kiss* for me.
We follow Kendall, a true crime writer who moves regularly based on what case she is writing about. She moves into her best friend’s neighbourhood and let’s just say the neighbours are a little…strange.
I can’t say more without spoiling it! I’m off to read the rest of the series immediately!
I love thrillers and anything to do with romance and crime, and this has all three! It was seriously spooky too and I honestly was surprised with every twist that was revealed!
This author is now an auto buy for me!
Oh this book was *chefs kiss* for me.
We follow Kendall, a true crime writer who moves regularly based on what case she is writing about. She moves into her best friend’s neighbourhood and let’s just say the neighbours are a little…strange.
I can’t say more without spoiling it! I’m off to read the rest of the series immediately!
I love thrillers and anything to do with romance and crime, and this has all three! It was seriously spooky too and I honestly was surprised with every twist that was revealed!
This author is now an auto buy for me!
June 16, 2025
Before I start the review, thank you to NetGalley, the publisher, and the author for providing me with an advanced copy in exchange for an honest review.
This book was incredible! This book kept me on my toes the entire time. I am still in shock after reading it. It blended elements of mystery, suspense, and psychological tension, especially as the protagonist tries to uncover the truth about a missing child while dealing with eerie neighborhood dynamics and personal struggles, keeping readers questioning what’s real and who can be trusted. It even incorporated some romance! Every twist was a surprise—I truly never knew what was coming next. Especially when the paranormal things came into play. I highly recommend this book to anyone who loves crime and romance, and I’ll definitely be reading more from this author! I do not know if I can ever get over this book!
This book was incredible! This book kept me on my toes the entire time. I am still in shock after reading it. It blended elements of mystery, suspense, and psychological tension, especially as the protagonist tries to uncover the truth about a missing child while dealing with eerie neighborhood dynamics and personal struggles, keeping readers questioning what’s real and who can be trusted. It even incorporated some romance! Every twist was a surprise—I truly never knew what was coming next. Especially when the paranormal things came into play. I highly recommend this book to anyone who loves crime and romance, and I’ll definitely be reading more from this author! I do not know if I can ever get over this book!
April 6, 2025
This was a pretty good thriller, I finished it in one day. I always like paranormal aspects of books, and this one had quite a bit. Farfetched 0f course, but that's what makes it good. And teriffying to be honest. All in all, a decent book.
Thank you to Net Galley an Booksgosocial for giving me this ARC in exchange for my honest review.
Thank you to Net Galley an Booksgosocial for giving me this ARC in exchange for my honest review.
May 29, 2025
Definitely different from a horror novel, this one reads more like a thriller. Enjoyed it immensely and will be reading her other books. Highly recommended 5 stars
June 5, 2025
Thanks to NetGalley for this ARC. This book was wild, but I loved every second of it.
February 22, 2025
I received an ARC of this book from the author but the review and the opinions are completely my own.
The Wild Things by London Clarke is a supernatural, paranormal thriller. If you know me, you know I love a good true crime book so when I realized this was a paranormal book about a true crime writer, totally right up my alley. And did you see the cover art? Yep -- I judge a book by its cover! It's gorgeous.
Are you someone who can hear music when you read different scenes in your books? I am. I definitely need to figure out a playlist for this one for sure. I kept hearing "murder music" (think from the shower scene in Psycho) during the more harrowing moments. So, when I say "murder music" I mean full on MURDER MUSIC. Like... the one where Jason comes into scene and you just want to scream, "RUN BITCH, RUN!" That music.... yeah.
I truly love the idea of nomadic nature of the FMC true crime writer, Kendall Casey, as she packs her life up every couple of years to move where the action is... enabling her to literally immerse herself into the subject areas of her books. The latest project is in a remote mountain neighborhood in North Carolina to research a missing girl. Reports surfaced... sightings. She wants to follow up on all leads to see how she can cover this story for her book.
Her new neighborhood, The Cove is quite the place. Obviously it looks perfect or she wouldn't have bought a house there. Yet, we learn all too soon that evil must hide in plain sight, for the rules of the universe demand that the deceived must consent to their deception. That shroud of perfection slowly falls away piece by piece as she is uncovering something too macabre to be real.
This novel has an interesting array of characters which make up The Cove's neighborhood. You have the cliche and very crotchety "get off my lawn" neighbors whom we all love to hate; the keep-to-themselves but get-sucked-into-the-drama neighbors; the one everyone calls to fix everything, loveable, single guy (who also happens to be her life-long bestie); the needy single woman; and of course, the neighbors that everyone seems to love who are not only welcoming to all, friendly, popular, seemingly well-liked but that also ooze pretention and arrogance. It was easy to understand why some were somewhat ambivalent towards them as their fallaciousness and airs was off-putting to anyone with a functional bullshit radar.
Oh, and obviously, our FMC, the new girl, Kendall. Eventually, too, we have the addition of Kendall's sister, Holly. She has quite the sordid past and, Kendall, having been burned by the exploits of the typical addict--well, she wasn't so excited to see her show up unannounced on her doorstep.
⚠️POTENTIAL SPOILERS AHEAD⚠️:
I have to give you the visual from my brain when reading this... have you seen The Addams Family?
That's totally the vibe I gathered from Flip and Blair. So enamored of one another but so... twisted.
From the moment she arrives to town something is... off. Things are happening that she can't discount. Things a little too close to home... literally.
So long story short -- Kendall really gets the ick from The Addams-ish couple and their MLM shenanigans (oooooh yeah, I forgot to mention that. If you didn't need a reason to hate them, seriously -- that is definitely one!) She knows to steer clear but when her sister gets sucked into the mind games all MLMers are known for, she knows she has to intervene. However, Holly is a grown woman capable of making her own mind up -- or is she?
After the first encounter with the group of neighbors something is off. Her mental status is off. Her spidey senses are tingling. She's seeing things she can't explain away. Is it the case? Is it the location? Is it the neighborhood? Is it the woods? With all that's going on with the book, the research, the pressure from her deadlines, her sister, the crazy shit going down in the Cove, Kendall isn't sure if she's losing her mind as she has seen and felt something that is other worldly but is it just a warning, a premonition or is it something more sinister?
I LOVE, too, the rural setting of this. I love to hike and having been on several trails that led to clearings and areas that had very intentionally been "set up." The problem is you never know if it was for nefarious reasons. Should you disturb those areas? HECK NO! I've seen them and frankly, sometimes it really gives you the creeps. So couple that kind of remote solitude with the very real understanding that you never know what's out there in the wood with you. That snap of a twig -- was it a predator or your overactive imagination? That kind of imagery and anticipation definitely kept the goosebumps continuous in this novel.
ONE OF MY FAVORITE QUOTES:
🥰 "I twist my neck, peering into the spire of barren winter trees on either side, where squirrels forage on a floor of dead leaves. No, it's just me. And my paranoia." I LOVE how this totally encapsulates the mind-fuck she's experiencing while also taking you right to that place in the wood.
The Wild Things by London Clarke is a supernatural, paranormal thriller. If you know me, you know I love a good true crime book so when I realized this was a paranormal book about a true crime writer, totally right up my alley. And did you see the cover art? Yep -- I judge a book by its cover! It's gorgeous.
Are you someone who can hear music when you read different scenes in your books? I am. I definitely need to figure out a playlist for this one for sure. I kept hearing "murder music" (think from the shower scene in Psycho) during the more harrowing moments. So, when I say "murder music" I mean full on MURDER MUSIC. Like... the one where Jason comes into scene and you just want to scream, "RUN BITCH, RUN!" That music.... yeah.
I truly love the idea of nomadic nature of the FMC true crime writer, Kendall Casey, as she packs her life up every couple of years to move where the action is... enabling her to literally immerse herself into the subject areas of her books. The latest project is in a remote mountain neighborhood in North Carolina to research a missing girl. Reports surfaced... sightings. She wants to follow up on all leads to see how she can cover this story for her book.
Her new neighborhood, The Cove is quite the place. Obviously it looks perfect or she wouldn't have bought a house there. Yet, we learn all too soon that evil must hide in plain sight, for the rules of the universe demand that the deceived must consent to their deception. That shroud of perfection slowly falls away piece by piece as she is uncovering something too macabre to be real.
This novel has an interesting array of characters which make up The Cove's neighborhood. You have the cliche and very crotchety "get off my lawn" neighbors whom we all love to hate; the keep-to-themselves but get-sucked-into-the-drama neighbors; the one everyone calls to fix everything, loveable, single guy (who also happens to be her life-long bestie); the needy single woman; and of course, the neighbors that everyone seems to love who are not only welcoming to all, friendly, popular, seemingly well-liked but that also ooze pretention and arrogance. It was easy to understand why some were somewhat ambivalent towards them as their fallaciousness and airs was off-putting to anyone with a functional bullshit radar.
Oh, and obviously, our FMC, the new girl, Kendall. Eventually, too, we have the addition of Kendall's sister, Holly. She has quite the sordid past and, Kendall, having been burned by the exploits of the typical addict--well, she wasn't so excited to see her show up unannounced on her doorstep.
⚠️POTENTIAL SPOILERS AHEAD⚠️:
I have to give you the visual from my brain when reading this... have you seen The Addams Family?
That's totally the vibe I gathered from Flip and Blair. So enamored of one another but so... twisted.
From the moment she arrives to town something is... off. Things are happening that she can't discount. Things a little too close to home... literally.
So long story short -- Kendall really gets the ick from The Addams-ish couple and their MLM shenanigans (oooooh yeah, I forgot to mention that. If you didn't need a reason to hate them, seriously -- that is definitely one!) She knows to steer clear but when her sister gets sucked into the mind games all MLMers are known for, she knows she has to intervene. However, Holly is a grown woman capable of making her own mind up -- or is she?
After the first encounter with the group of neighbors something is off. Her mental status is off. Her spidey senses are tingling. She's seeing things she can't explain away. Is it the case? Is it the location? Is it the neighborhood? Is it the woods? With all that's going on with the book, the research, the pressure from her deadlines, her sister, the crazy shit going down in the Cove, Kendall isn't sure if she's losing her mind as she has seen and felt something that is other worldly but is it just a warning, a premonition or is it something more sinister?
I LOVE, too, the rural setting of this. I love to hike and having been on several trails that led to clearings and areas that had very intentionally been "set up." The problem is you never know if it was for nefarious reasons. Should you disturb those areas? HECK NO! I've seen them and frankly, sometimes it really gives you the creeps. So couple that kind of remote solitude with the very real understanding that you never know what's out there in the wood with you. That snap of a twig -- was it a predator or your overactive imagination? That kind of imagery and anticipation definitely kept the goosebumps continuous in this novel.
ONE OF MY FAVORITE QUOTES:
🥰 "I twist my neck, peering into the spire of barren winter trees on either side, where squirrels forage on a floor of dead leaves. No, it's just me. And my paranoia." I LOVE how this totally encapsulates the mind-fuck she's experiencing while also taking you right to that place in the wood.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
May 3, 2025
Thanks to NetGalley and BooksGoSocial for the ARC copy. This has not affected my review at all, which are my own thoughts.
In "The Wild Things", we follow true crime writer Kendall Casey, who has always been drawn to dark stories and unsolved or complicated cases, and whose latest project leads her to a neighborhood shrouded in secrets: The Cove. It may look like paradise, but nothing beyond reality, for Kendall's neighbors are like water and oil, never really mixing. The Guffs are clearly and understandably despise by everybody, while her next door neighbors, the Robinettes, are the life of the party, quite literally, and loved by all. Kendall included, at first.
Until Kendall’s wayward sister, Holly, arrives unexpectedly and vows that she’s changed, that she's leaving her addictions behind; eventually, Kendall agrees to house her for a few days until Holly goes back to their parents. An when the Robinettes make way for Holly into their inner circle, the visions and nightmares and possible paranormal encounters that are making Kendall doubt it all get worse, making her jump straight to action and seek the truth for everybody's sake.
So, I kind of got addicted to this one and read it in one sitting😂 Though, in the end, I didn't like it as much as i expected :| Yes, I'm conflicted here. The book was entertaining, I never got bored with it, the plot was consistent and the characters were goof enough. I think, my main problem is that I never quite felt the fear that assaulted Kendall from almost the first day after her arrival to the Cove, and for these type of books, that's an important point for me to really enjoy the book.
Kendall is an amazing character, three dimensional, with goals and contradictions of her own like a regular person. Her paranoia was well written and realistically depicted in my opinion, with putting up cameras and having a hard time trusting the neighbors she didn't know previously, all derived from her job. Enter Sam, and old friend of hers and the only one she had on her side at the start, because, later on, she makes more friends, which I liked for her. There's a whole twisted subplot happening with Sam and I think it was the part that I enjoyed more about this book and the changes it brought to the both of them.
The Cove is definitely an interesting place to be, though I would never lived there even if they paid me to😂 The neighborhood is definitely something else, and that's my point: the Cove feels like a real place, with all types of people living there. Even when reading contemporary I like the world to feel real, coherent within itself and, if possible, to be able to picture it vividly. And, I have to say, that London Clarke managed to do so in "The Wild Things"; my congratulations to her.
Now, the thing is that, while this book has strong elements that make it stand out from others, it didn't convince me much about the horror elements, or, better said, the aspect of fear that Kendall was going through with everything happening around her. Yes, it was messed up, and horrifying and her paranoia was absolutely right, but Kendall was supposed to be afraid of shadows visiting her house, of strange figures stalking her and the possibility that her neighbors were part of a cult. Yet, the descriptions of the book were almost never in depth or accurate enough for me.
And I say this is conflicting to me because there were other installments were I felt what Kendall felt, the weird events, the convenience of it all some times regarding the Robinettes and whatever happened around the Cove, and even Kendall, though being strange from her sister, being protective of her the moment the Robinettes took interest. Even the mystery of it all kept me glue to the pages. But a lot of other aspects were lacking for me to make me like this book more. Also, and this is completely personal, since what drives Kendall to the Cove is her job as a true crime writer and the case she's investigating at the moment, I would have loved for it to have more of a prominent role, instead of being something that Kendall did in her free time not investigating or spending time with the people of the Cove, as if her job was more of a second thought than what was going to pay her house. But, as I said, this is personal and I'm sure other people will love it the way it is.
Overall, I was entertained making theories and proving myself right or wrong and Kendall's character was an amazing one to follow. Even though I didn't found "The Wild Things" groundbreaking or something that sticks out for me across the genre, I do recommend it to the thriller audience that may want to read about having contradicting neighbors and characters with humanly interactions leading to something sinister happening closer than expected
In "The Wild Things", we follow true crime writer Kendall Casey, who has always been drawn to dark stories and unsolved or complicated cases, and whose latest project leads her to a neighborhood shrouded in secrets: The Cove. It may look like paradise, but nothing beyond reality, for Kendall's neighbors are like water and oil, never really mixing. The Guffs are clearly and understandably despise by everybody, while her next door neighbors, the Robinettes, are the life of the party, quite literally, and loved by all. Kendall included, at first.
Until Kendall’s wayward sister, Holly, arrives unexpectedly and vows that she’s changed, that she's leaving her addictions behind; eventually, Kendall agrees to house her for a few days until Holly goes back to their parents. An when the Robinettes make way for Holly into their inner circle, the visions and nightmares and possible paranormal encounters that are making Kendall doubt it all get worse, making her jump straight to action and seek the truth for everybody's sake.
So, I kind of got addicted to this one and read it in one sitting😂 Though, in the end, I didn't like it as much as i expected :| Yes, I'm conflicted here. The book was entertaining, I never got bored with it, the plot was consistent and the characters were goof enough. I think, my main problem is that I never quite felt the fear that assaulted Kendall from almost the first day after her arrival to the Cove, and for these type of books, that's an important point for me to really enjoy the book.
Kendall is an amazing character, three dimensional, with goals and contradictions of her own like a regular person. Her paranoia was well written and realistically depicted in my opinion, with putting up cameras and having a hard time trusting the neighbors she didn't know previously, all derived from her job. Enter Sam, and old friend of hers and the only one she had on her side at the start, because, later on, she makes more friends, which I liked for her. There's a whole twisted subplot happening with Sam and I think it was the part that I enjoyed more about this book and the changes it brought to the both of them.
The Cove is definitely an interesting place to be, though I would never lived there even if they paid me to😂 The neighborhood is definitely something else, and that's my point: the Cove feels like a real place, with all types of people living there. Even when reading contemporary I like the world to feel real, coherent within itself and, if possible, to be able to picture it vividly. And, I have to say, that London Clarke managed to do so in "The Wild Things"; my congratulations to her.
Now, the thing is that, while this book has strong elements that make it stand out from others, it didn't convince me much about the horror elements, or, better said, the aspect of fear that Kendall was going through with everything happening around her. Yes, it was messed up, and horrifying and her paranoia was absolutely right, but Kendall was supposed to be afraid of shadows visiting her house, of strange figures stalking her and the possibility that her neighbors were part of a cult. Yet, the descriptions of the book were almost never in depth or accurate enough for me.
And I say this is conflicting to me because there were other installments were I felt what Kendall felt, the weird events, the convenience of it all some times regarding the Robinettes and whatever happened around the Cove, and even Kendall, though being strange from her sister, being protective of her the moment the Robinettes took interest. Even the mystery of it all kept me glue to the pages. But a lot of other aspects were lacking for me to make me like this book more. Also, and this is completely personal, since what drives Kendall to the Cove is her job as a true crime writer and the case she's investigating at the moment, I would have loved for it to have more of a prominent role, instead of being something that Kendall did in her free time not investigating or spending time with the people of the Cove, as if her job was more of a second thought than what was going to pay her house. But, as I said, this is personal and I'm sure other people will love it the way it is.
Overall, I was entertained making theories and proving myself right or wrong and Kendall's character was an amazing one to follow. Even though I didn't found "The Wild Things" groundbreaking or something that sticks out for me across the genre, I do recommend it to the thriller audience that may want to read about having contradicting neighbors and characters with humanly interactions leading to something sinister happening closer than expected
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March 19, 2025
You never know what's going on behind closed doors...
The Wild Things by London Clark
"Sometimes you have to make severe sacrifices to follow your true calling."
Thank you, Netgalley and Carfax Abbey Publishing, for this ARC! There was no point where I really had a grasp on what the hell was happening or where it was going and that is just what I like from my horror/thriller reads.
"Like I said, there's an elixir for everything."
The Wild Things centers on Kendall, a true crime author, who moves to a mountain town as a part of investigating a young girl's disappearance case from a decade prior. Lucky for her, her college bestie and hottie of the neighborhood, Sam, just so happens to be her neighbor. He isn't the only one though -since she lives next door to the most popular people in the neighborhood, Flip and Blair. Everyone loves them so much. They have the best parties, get along with (almost) everyone, and they seem to always get their way. These neighbors give off a massive cult-y vibe, they like to peddle these really weird but also really good vitamin drinks and there is one couple that seems to avoid them like the plague. They call them The Wild Things for a reason. Then... Kendall starts seeing a girl wandering the neighborhood at night in a dirty nightgown. Apparition, hallucination or real? To be fair, she is already paranoid after someone she was investigating tried to hurt her. As it always seems to, shit seemingly starts hitting the fan. Are The Wild Things truly bad people or is it just Kendall's alerted mind conjuring up problems that aren't there?
"I know I'm being watched from inside too. The oppressive feeling of surveillance slinks like a snake over my skin."
As I stated before, I never truly had a grasp on this story--but like, in a really good way. The twists and turns kept me on my literal and metaphorical toes the whole time. Every single time I had the thought of understanding or a prediction, Ms. Clarke would throw a twist that made me rethink my whole process. London Clarke is able to blend normal elements of thriller with horror and paranormal aspects for this fully rounded story. There were times where I thought I was crazy and where I fully considered that I could be the bad neighbor (hopefully nothing bad happens to me like some people) and others that made me thankful I don't see the men in the trees. Even the romance plot was something new and refreshing. These people will need a lot of extensive therapy though, just to be fair.
"I know you're there. We can smell you... We've been waiting for you. Come. Join us."
Little did I know... but this is the third installment of a series. So I will just have to jump on in on the rest of Neighborhood Nightmares 1-2 and maybe the Legacy of Darkness series.
The Wild Things by London Clark
"Sometimes you have to make severe sacrifices to follow your true calling."
Thank you, Netgalley and Carfax Abbey Publishing, for this ARC! There was no point where I really had a grasp on what the hell was happening or where it was going and that is just what I like from my horror/thriller reads.
"Like I said, there's an elixir for everything."
The Wild Things centers on Kendall, a true crime author, who moves to a mountain town as a part of investigating a young girl's disappearance case from a decade prior. Lucky for her, her college bestie and hottie of the neighborhood, Sam, just so happens to be her neighbor. He isn't the only one though -since she lives next door to the most popular people in the neighborhood, Flip and Blair. Everyone loves them so much. They have the best parties, get along with (almost) everyone, and they seem to always get their way. These neighbors give off a massive cult-y vibe, they like to peddle these really weird but also really good vitamin drinks and there is one couple that seems to avoid them like the plague. They call them The Wild Things for a reason. Then... Kendall starts seeing a girl wandering the neighborhood at night in a dirty nightgown. Apparition, hallucination or real? To be fair, she is already paranoid after someone she was investigating tried to hurt her. As it always seems to, shit seemingly starts hitting the fan. Are The Wild Things truly bad people or is it just Kendall's alerted mind conjuring up problems that aren't there?
"I know I'm being watched from inside too. The oppressive feeling of surveillance slinks like a snake over my skin."
As I stated before, I never truly had a grasp on this story--but like, in a really good way. The twists and turns kept me on my literal and metaphorical toes the whole time. Every single time I had the thought of understanding or a prediction, Ms. Clarke would throw a twist that made me rethink my whole process. London Clarke is able to blend normal elements of thriller with horror and paranormal aspects for this fully rounded story. There were times where I thought I was crazy and where I fully considered that I could be the bad neighbor (hopefully nothing bad happens to me like some people) and others that made me thankful I don't see the men in the trees. Even the romance plot was something new and refreshing. These people will need a lot of extensive therapy though, just to be fair.
"I know you're there. We can smell you... We've been waiting for you. Come. Join us."
Little did I know... but this is the third installment of a series. So I will just have to jump on in on the rest of Neighborhood Nightmares 1-2 and maybe the Legacy of Darkness series.
April 7, 2025
Be careful with who you let walk inside your house and in your life, this book fed into my paranoid tendencies. Moving from place to place has its drawbacks, wanting to make stronger connections leads our FMC into a mystery which is funny since it’s keeps distracting her from the one she writes. Her curiosity slowly brought out the truth in the covert actions of those around her. And she wasn’t even trying too hard just normal interactions which I found concerning that no one else in the neighborhood had done. I love these types of mysteries that are drawn out while also getting relative answers and information. The characters having personality and adding tension to the story not just drama. As the story continued and more was revealed you could feel the anxiety, distrust, confusion and paranoia in all the characters. My only problem with the story was Kendall’s behavior multiple times where things didn’t seem right or didn’t add up she paid no attention to. Like excuse me ?!? Are we blind and that even when she knew there was unexplainable danger she still interacted with them, still let them in. I had a hard time writing this review with so many things that went on, I didn’t want to spoil anything.
Thanks to NetGalley and BooksGoSocial publishing I received a ARC for an honest review !
Thanks to NetGalley and BooksGoSocial publishing I received a ARC for an honest review !
February 24, 2025
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
The Wild Things by London Clarke - Wow! This book was a really enjoyable read. It drew me in from the first page and I couldn’t put it down. It has a bit of everything - dark, paranormal, thriller vibes with just a hint of romance.
The story follows Kendall Casey, a true crime writer who’s moved to a remote neighbourhood in order to do some research for her new novel. I loved the setting throughout, the rural location really added the overall atmosphere of the entire book and I found myself second guessing everything along with the FMC as I read.
Her new neighbourhood “The Cove”, is portrayed as the perfect place to live - set in the mountains of North Carolina and surrounded by beautiful hiking trails, with an array of welcoming neighbours. However Kendall soon realises things may not be as harmonious as they seem.
The pacing throughout this book was perfect, fast moving with short chapters that kept me hooked from the start. There’s mystery, drama and tension woven throughout that left me wanting more right up until the last page. I found myself hugely invested in the characters and it had the perfect ending, I would definitely recommend this book.
I was provided an ARC from the publisher via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review - all opinions are my own.
The Wild Things by London Clarke - Wow! This book was a really enjoyable read. It drew me in from the first page and I couldn’t put it down. It has a bit of everything - dark, paranormal, thriller vibes with just a hint of romance.
The story follows Kendall Casey, a true crime writer who’s moved to a remote neighbourhood in order to do some research for her new novel. I loved the setting throughout, the rural location really added the overall atmosphere of the entire book and I found myself second guessing everything along with the FMC as I read.
Her new neighbourhood “The Cove”, is portrayed as the perfect place to live - set in the mountains of North Carolina and surrounded by beautiful hiking trails, with an array of welcoming neighbours. However Kendall soon realises things may not be as harmonious as they seem.
The pacing throughout this book was perfect, fast moving with short chapters that kept me hooked from the start. There’s mystery, drama and tension woven throughout that left me wanting more right up until the last page. I found myself hugely invested in the characters and it had the perfect ending, I would definitely recommend this book.
I was provided an ARC from the publisher via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review - all opinions are my own.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
March 8, 2025
Thank you to NetGalley, the publisher, and the author for giving me an advance copy in exchange for an honest review!
I love creepy cult stories so this was right up my alley, although I felt that it was a bit too ambitious and there were elements of the story that I felt weren’t necessary. It went from being a cult story to involving the supernatural and I think I would have preferred it to be one or the other. I wasn’t a huge fan of the way that the first person perspective was written in the beginning - it felt like I was reading a letter from the narrator rather than being in the moment, but that feeling went away as the book went on. This was definitely a super bingeable read and I couldn’t put it down!
I love creepy cult stories so this was right up my alley, although I felt that it was a bit too ambitious and there were elements of the story that I felt weren’t necessary. It went from being a cult story to involving the supernatural and I think I would have preferred it to be one or the other. I wasn’t a huge fan of the way that the first person perspective was written in the beginning - it felt like I was reading a letter from the narrator rather than being in the moment, but that feeling went away as the book went on. This was definitely a super bingeable read and I couldn’t put it down!
February 26, 2025
I have always admired how London has an uncanny ability to completely captivate her readers, drawing them into the worlds she creates with such vivid detail. Her storytelling is so immersive that once you pick up one of her books, it becomes nearly impossible to put it down.
This is precisely why, if you decide to start reading any of her novels before bed, you might find yourself still turning pages until 4 a.m., utterly engrossed in the story and unwilling to let go. The sleepless night will be well worth it.
This is precisely why, if you decide to start reading any of her novels before bed, you might find yourself still turning pages until 4 a.m., utterly engrossed in the story and unwilling to let go. The sleepless night will be well worth it.
March 21, 2025
{Thank you to NetGalley for the ARC}
this was genuinely so good, i was hooked from the first page. there was a lot going on throughout the whole book but not in a way that was overwhelming or confusing, it felt like a never ending roller coaster. i do think the “twist” was super predictable but i liked how the end wrapped up the loose ends. all in all, a super quick, spooky, fun read!
this was genuinely so good, i was hooked from the first page. there was a lot going on throughout the whole book but not in a way that was overwhelming or confusing, it felt like a never ending roller coaster. i do think the “twist” was super predictable but i liked how the end wrapped up the loose ends. all in all, a super quick, spooky, fun read!
March 14, 2025
Such an wild and crazy book. Psyco neighbors that want control and have secret little lifes. If I did have that type of neighbors I would run away. How Kendall managed to stay so long in that neighborhood? And Sam... I know that the things he did is not his blame. But for I think that Ken should stay way for him, he cleary does not see her the same way.
February 27, 2025
Thank you to NetGalley for providing an advanced copy of this book for me to read!
I am not a prolific thriller/mystery reader, however this book may have turned me. I could not put it down and read it extremely fast. A true crime author moves into a neighborhood suggested by a long time friend, and she starts to question everything from then on. She starts to question reality, who she can trust, and how to protect the people she cares about. There is so much happening in this book, but it all pieces come together for a couple different mysteries.
This book has a lot of dark themes, that-for me- are quite scary and unsettling. However, the dark spirits weren’t focused on so much that I felt like it’s all the book was about.
I am not a prolific thriller/mystery reader, however this book may have turned me. I could not put it down and read it extremely fast. A true crime author moves into a neighborhood suggested by a long time friend, and she starts to question everything from then on. She starts to question reality, who she can trust, and how to protect the people she cares about. There is so much happening in this book, but it all pieces come together for a couple different mysteries.
This book has a lot of dark themes, that-for me- are quite scary and unsettling. However, the dark spirits weren’t focused on so much that I felt like it’s all the book was about.
March 13, 2025
I snagged this one on NetGalley and wow I’m so glad I gave it a chance. I really enjoyed the whole ride, part true crime part paranormal, part thriller?
There were definitely some twists and turns that completely surprised me which was so nice because I feel like a lot of stuff I’ve read recently I’ve been able to figure out or catch on what kind of twist was coming but not here.
This was a new author to me and kind of shocked I’ve never heard of her before but I’m definitely going to check out other books by her.
There were definitely some twists and turns that completely surprised me which was so nice because I feel like a lot of stuff I’ve read recently I’ve been able to figure out or catch on what kind of twist was coming but not here.
This was a new author to me and kind of shocked I’ve never heard of her before but I’m definitely going to check out other books by her.
April 28, 2025
First of all thank you to the Author, NetGalley, and the publisher for providing me with an advanced copy in exchange for an honest review.
There were many aspects of this book that I very much enjoyed. And some others that I didn’t as much. I really liked the setting, the characters, and the plot in the first half. It was chilling, mysterious, and dreamlike. The characters were all pretty fleshed out and had strong personalities which I liked. I read most of this book at night and I’ll admit there were a couple of times I had to turn on my bedroom light because I got scared from certain scenes in this book.
I felt like the plot kept switching between supernatural and a true crime story. I personally didn’t love the supernatural elements in this story. I think sticking to one would have been more my cup of tea.
Overall this was a fun and fast paced book that had you asking questions the whole time. Definitely kept you on your toes. I had no idea where this book was going to go. I can’t wait to read more of this author!
There were many aspects of this book that I very much enjoyed. And some others that I didn’t as much. I really liked the setting, the characters, and the plot in the first half. It was chilling, mysterious, and dreamlike. The characters were all pretty fleshed out and had strong personalities which I liked. I read most of this book at night and I’ll admit there were a couple of times I had to turn on my bedroom light because I got scared from certain scenes in this book.
I felt like the plot kept switching between supernatural and a true crime story. I personally didn’t love the supernatural elements in this story. I think sticking to one would have been more my cup of tea.
Overall this was a fun and fast paced book that had you asking questions the whole time. Definitely kept you on your toes. I had no idea where this book was going to go. I can’t wait to read more of this author!
May 18, 2025
Thank you to NetGalley, the author and publishers for access to this ARC 📚.
🔥Quick Fire Review🔥
Genre/Themes: 🕵🏻♀️👻🌲🏘️🔮
Tropes: Set in a Closed Community, Garden Parties, Paranoid Thriller, Supernatural Elements, Cults, Manipulative Neighbours, Nosy Neighbours, Missing Person, Murder, Ritualistic Killing, Poisoning, Shooting, Kidnapping, Escape, Friends-to-Lovers
Positives ✅ : engaging plot, atmospheric, ambitious blend of genres
Room for Improvement 🔎 : character development, world building and lore
Rating: 🌕🌕🌕🌗
✍🏻Full Review - RISK OF SPOILERS 🛑
Genuinely really enjoyed this! It’s not the sort of genre I usually read and I didn’t realise it was part of a series when I requested it, but turns out it worked absolutely fine as a stand-alone and was a really great blend of paranormal horror, crime mystery-thriller and even a little sci-fi.
Characterisation:
The main character, Kendall, is a true crime writer and has just bought a house in a HOA community. She is paranoid following the events in the previous book, which are helpfully referenced throughout the story. Kendall is afraid of commitment. Committing to a person, following the end of a long-term toxic relationship, or committing to staying in one place. While I did root for Kendall in the story I’m not sure I would say I found her likeable. I didn’t really register any sense of humour from her, or kindness or generosity. Outside of hiking and her career, I couldn’t really tell what she liked or disliked. The strongest aspect of her personality was her paranoia and unyielding need for answers; a burning curiosity. That lent pretty well for her writing and mystery solving. She did sometimes frustrate me with both her recklessness, putting herself in blatant danger just because she had to know, and her people-pleasing. She never seemed to be able to say no, or just stand up and leave a situation. Sometimes the plot explained this, other times it didn’t.
Kendall’s best friend Sam was very similar. I rooted for him, but realistically he was also a little one-dimensional. He at least showed kindness and community spirit in his little handyman chores, and we saw some pride and anxiety surrounding his restaurant. He appeared to be similar to Kendall in his fear of commitment and discomfort with people’s emotions. But he wasn’t particularly funny or loveable. He was just okay. I did appreciate how he didn’t gaslight all the characters in the story, and listened to them and helped them find evidence. Their friends-to-lovers arc was again, okay. I didn’t feel particularly excited about it or feel on edge ‘will-they-won’t-they’, but I suppose it felt pretty natural and not forced. The avoidance and anxiety around each other after they slept together under the influence of Blair and Flip was really well written though.
Blair and Flip were genuinely terrifying. Every scene with them left me feeling anxious. My chest would always feel taut like a bowstring waiting for them to snap, or waiting for them to make another character snap with their heavy pushing and manipulation. They’re the best villains I’ve read for a long while.
Supporting characters like the Pools, Marla or Kendall’s sister Holly could have done with more scenes, especially since they end up being quite significant to the plot. Holly was occasionally written a little stereotypically, even her ‘worn flannel shirt’ was very ‘drug addict’ archetype. And again, her addiction was sort of written as her whole personality. Kendall’s sisterly instincts didn’t quite ring true sometimes.
World-Building:
The HOA community was portrayed so accurately it was a little scary. The neighbours starting hissy fits over parking on their kerb, or decorations they don’t like, or too much noise. It was uncanny. The Robinette’s pushing their company Eau de Lune and trying to hire people like it’s a pyramid scheme was eerily accurate as well. The more real-life aspects were written well, but the horror/sci-fi stuff needed a little more refinement as I was left with more questions than answers by the end. It wasn’t clear how the paranormal creatures, other than one Familiar, came to be. It was vaguely implied they were kept alive by sacrifices, with one mention of a ‘shoe fetish’, hence the shoes of victims nailed to trees. But the experimentation of human subjects appeared to be related to the ‘men in the trees’ and their survival as well. But that wasn’t explained clearly.
Prose\Plot:
While certain aspects were somewhat obvious, i.e Eau de Lune being used to intoxicate people, on the whole I found myself really engaged with the plot and the ‘whodunnit’. I didn’t predict the Guffs being murdered, even with how annoying they were, or Marla being manipulated into suicide. I didn’t expect the Robinette’s to be so brazen with murdering people in the community itself. However, the escape scene with Alba and her mother, plus the break in to their house, all seemed to be done a little bit too easily so could have been expanded on. Kendall’s interviews with witnesses about Eliana were a little unrealistic too sometimes, with people just telling her vital details that they didn’t tell the police. It felt a tad too convenient. I will also say that Eliana’s discovery was too glossed over. I was fine with it being linked to the Robinette’s, I thought it was quite clever actually, but I’d hoped to watch Kendall discover this rather than it be mentioned quickly at the end. The Eliana aspect of the story felt a bit forgotten for a big chunk of the book. The supernatural elements did leave too many loose ends for me. We know that ONE of the evil creatures is the ‘familiar’ of Flip’s old mentor, but what about the other ‘men in the trees’? Are they gone now that Flip and Blair are dead? And what about their daughters’ ghost that everybody is able to see? Kendall’s security cameras captured her fight with the Robinette’s clear as day, including their witchcraft and their interaction with the demons (if that’s what they were), so does everyone just know that paranormal stuff is real now? Are they gonna, y’know, do anything about all these ghosts and demons? Who actually was Oli, was she just a witch that assisted them? How did they hypnotise people into drinking their tampered drinks or eating tampered food? They explained how they used the drugs to make people more agreeable but there was reference to hypnotism and it was never explained how they compelled people into consuming things, other than being super pushy. What actually were the experiments they were performing on their captors? There was mention of using them as human hosts, but it sounded like the experiments were more varied than that. As a result it did feel a little unfinished and while I enjoyed the book I do feel it was perhaps a little too ambitious for the length of the story and could have done with being significantly longer for better pacing.
🔥Quick Fire Review🔥
Genre/Themes: 🕵🏻♀️👻🌲🏘️🔮
Tropes: Set in a Closed Community, Garden Parties, Paranoid Thriller, Supernatural Elements, Cults, Manipulative Neighbours, Nosy Neighbours, Missing Person, Murder, Ritualistic Killing, Poisoning, Shooting, Kidnapping, Escape, Friends-to-Lovers
Positives ✅ : engaging plot, atmospheric, ambitious blend of genres
Room for Improvement 🔎 : character development, world building and lore
Rating: 🌕🌕🌕🌗
✍🏻Full Review - RISK OF SPOILERS 🛑
Genuinely really enjoyed this! It’s not the sort of genre I usually read and I didn’t realise it was part of a series when I requested it, but turns out it worked absolutely fine as a stand-alone and was a really great blend of paranormal horror, crime mystery-thriller and even a little sci-fi.
Characterisation:
The main character, Kendall, is a true crime writer and has just bought a house in a HOA community. She is paranoid following the events in the previous book, which are helpfully referenced throughout the story. Kendall is afraid of commitment. Committing to a person, following the end of a long-term toxic relationship, or committing to staying in one place. While I did root for Kendall in the story I’m not sure I would say I found her likeable. I didn’t really register any sense of humour from her, or kindness or generosity. Outside of hiking and her career, I couldn’t really tell what she liked or disliked. The strongest aspect of her personality was her paranoia and unyielding need for answers; a burning curiosity. That lent pretty well for her writing and mystery solving. She did sometimes frustrate me with both her recklessness, putting herself in blatant danger just because she had to know, and her people-pleasing. She never seemed to be able to say no, or just stand up and leave a situation. Sometimes the plot explained this, other times it didn’t.
Kendall’s best friend Sam was very similar. I rooted for him, but realistically he was also a little one-dimensional. He at least showed kindness and community spirit in his little handyman chores, and we saw some pride and anxiety surrounding his restaurant. He appeared to be similar to Kendall in his fear of commitment and discomfort with people’s emotions. But he wasn’t particularly funny or loveable. He was just okay. I did appreciate how he didn’t gaslight all the characters in the story, and listened to them and helped them find evidence. Their friends-to-lovers arc was again, okay. I didn’t feel particularly excited about it or feel on edge ‘will-they-won’t-they’, but I suppose it felt pretty natural and not forced. The avoidance and anxiety around each other after they slept together under the influence of Blair and Flip was really well written though.
Blair and Flip were genuinely terrifying. Every scene with them left me feeling anxious. My chest would always feel taut like a bowstring waiting for them to snap, or waiting for them to make another character snap with their heavy pushing and manipulation. They’re the best villains I’ve read for a long while.
Supporting characters like the Pools, Marla or Kendall’s sister Holly could have done with more scenes, especially since they end up being quite significant to the plot. Holly was occasionally written a little stereotypically, even her ‘worn flannel shirt’ was very ‘drug addict’ archetype. And again, her addiction was sort of written as her whole personality. Kendall’s sisterly instincts didn’t quite ring true sometimes.
World-Building:
The HOA community was portrayed so accurately it was a little scary. The neighbours starting hissy fits over parking on their kerb, or decorations they don’t like, or too much noise. It was uncanny. The Robinette’s pushing their company Eau de Lune and trying to hire people like it’s a pyramid scheme was eerily accurate as well. The more real-life aspects were written well, but the horror/sci-fi stuff needed a little more refinement as I was left with more questions than answers by the end. It wasn’t clear how the paranormal creatures, other than one Familiar, came to be. It was vaguely implied they were kept alive by sacrifices, with one mention of a ‘shoe fetish’, hence the shoes of victims nailed to trees. But the experimentation of human subjects appeared to be related to the ‘men in the trees’ and their survival as well. But that wasn’t explained clearly.
Prose\Plot:
While certain aspects were somewhat obvious, i.e Eau de Lune being used to intoxicate people, on the whole I found myself really engaged with the plot and the ‘whodunnit’. I didn’t predict the Guffs being murdered, even with how annoying they were, or Marla being manipulated into suicide. I didn’t expect the Robinette’s to be so brazen with murdering people in the community itself. However, the escape scene with Alba and her mother, plus the break in to their house, all seemed to be done a little bit too easily so could have been expanded on. Kendall’s interviews with witnesses about Eliana were a little unrealistic too sometimes, with people just telling her vital details that they didn’t tell the police. It felt a tad too convenient. I will also say that Eliana’s discovery was too glossed over. I was fine with it being linked to the Robinette’s, I thought it was quite clever actually, but I’d hoped to watch Kendall discover this rather than it be mentioned quickly at the end. The Eliana aspect of the story felt a bit forgotten for a big chunk of the book. The supernatural elements did leave too many loose ends for me. We know that ONE of the evil creatures is the ‘familiar’ of Flip’s old mentor, but what about the other ‘men in the trees’? Are they gone now that Flip and Blair are dead? And what about their daughters’ ghost that everybody is able to see? Kendall’s security cameras captured her fight with the Robinette’s clear as day, including their witchcraft and their interaction with the demons (if that’s what they were), so does everyone just know that paranormal stuff is real now? Are they gonna, y’know, do anything about all these ghosts and demons? Who actually was Oli, was she just a witch that assisted them? How did they hypnotise people into drinking their tampered drinks or eating tampered food? They explained how they used the drugs to make people more agreeable but there was reference to hypnotism and it was never explained how they compelled people into consuming things, other than being super pushy. What actually were the experiments they were performing on their captors? There was mention of using them as human hosts, but it sounded like the experiments were more varied than that. As a result it did feel a little unfinished and while I enjoyed the book I do feel it was perhaps a little too ambitious for the length of the story and could have done with being significantly longer for better pacing.
May 2, 2025
Clarke delivers a real wham, bam, what the heck is going on, ma'am! I started this one last night and dropped my tablet on my head when I fell asleep. I wanted to power through but didn't quite make it. So, I finished today.
This is quite the ride. Our MC, Kendall, is a true crime writer struggling through her latest project. She's moved to a remote mountain town down the block from her hunky college bestie. Twenty years after college, they've grown and tensions exist between them, but this book is not a romance. Oh, no. It's a twisty story that blends the supernatural with the superbly messed up. The Wild Things (aka The Robinettes) are the neighborhood's "it" couple and they're at the center of something very sinister.
The title here is fitting. This truly is a wild ride. Check it out if you're into dark tensions and twisty rides.
This is quite the ride. Our MC, Kendall, is a true crime writer struggling through her latest project. She's moved to a remote mountain town down the block from her hunky college bestie. Twenty years after college, they've grown and tensions exist between them, but this book is not a romance. Oh, no. It's a twisty story that blends the supernatural with the superbly messed up. The Wild Things (aka The Robinettes) are the neighborhood's "it" couple and they're at the center of something very sinister.
The title here is fitting. This truly is a wild ride. Check it out if you're into dark tensions and twisty rides.
March 15, 2025
The Wild Things by London Clarke truly took me by surprise with how completely sucked into it I was. I sat down with this thriller and suddenly I was more than halfway through it because I just did not want to stop.
What initially drew me in was the premise of a woman, Kendall, who writes true crime novels and moves to the Cove to begin researching and writing her latest book, with the added bonus of bringing her close to her best friend Sam. The characters were super interesting themselves, with distinct backgrounds and personalities that made you want to learn more about them. The relationship between Sam and Kendall is so loving and pure, and gets tested to the limits throughout the course of the novel in ways they never would have expected, and left me anxious for them, and rooting for them to maintain the sweet bond they clearly had and which made me love the two of them so much.
The interesting characters don’t end here though. There are so many eccentric characters in Kendall’s new neighborhood that made it so hard to turn away from them, from the outrageously wild to the deeply mysterious and slightly insidious. Characters like Brian and Flip, Georgia and Tate, and many besides had me deeply invested in getting answers, and unable to turn away from the train wreck that they were at times in equal measure.
The Wild Things also managed to hold this air of creepy, spooky intensity to it. At times it was almost like a horror with how it managed to masterfully to induce chills and anxiety with just the tension and uncertainty of what Kendall was facing. It was so well written and this vibe was one of the highlights of the novel for me because it was so exceptionally done. As an example there are trees Kendall comes across with Sam on a hike that have shoes nailed to them, and no other context beyond this creepy sight and that atmosphere was just so tangible it didn’t need anything more to truly get that horror across on page.
As everything starts to unravel and more information becomes clear, the book gets even more impossible to stop reading and I truly enjoyed it from start to finish. I felt deeply invested in what was happening, in getting the answers, and even just in the relationships of the characters which I wanted to see pull through and stay strong. It was such a great book and I was a little taken aback by the end with how great and being a little sad to be finished with it. It’s a definite recommend!
What initially drew me in was the premise of a woman, Kendall, who writes true crime novels and moves to the Cove to begin researching and writing her latest book, with the added bonus of bringing her close to her best friend Sam. The characters were super interesting themselves, with distinct backgrounds and personalities that made you want to learn more about them. The relationship between Sam and Kendall is so loving and pure, and gets tested to the limits throughout the course of the novel in ways they never would have expected, and left me anxious for them, and rooting for them to maintain the sweet bond they clearly had and which made me love the two of them so much.
The interesting characters don’t end here though. There are so many eccentric characters in Kendall’s new neighborhood that made it so hard to turn away from them, from the outrageously wild to the deeply mysterious and slightly insidious. Characters like Brian and Flip, Georgia and Tate, and many besides had me deeply invested in getting answers, and unable to turn away from the train wreck that they were at times in equal measure.
The Wild Things also managed to hold this air of creepy, spooky intensity to it. At times it was almost like a horror with how it managed to masterfully to induce chills and anxiety with just the tension and uncertainty of what Kendall was facing. It was so well written and this vibe was one of the highlights of the novel for me because it was so exceptionally done. As an example there are trees Kendall comes across with Sam on a hike that have shoes nailed to them, and no other context beyond this creepy sight and that atmosphere was just so tangible it didn’t need anything more to truly get that horror across on page.
As everything starts to unravel and more information becomes clear, the book gets even more impossible to stop reading and I truly enjoyed it from start to finish. I felt deeply invested in what was happening, in getting the answers, and even just in the relationships of the characters which I wanted to see pull through and stay strong. It was such a great book and I was a little taken aback by the end with how great and being a little sad to be finished with it. It’s a definite recommend!
March 30, 2025
4.5☆
Genre: Paranormal horror/ Domestic thriller
Pages: 344
ℙ𝕝𝕠𝕥: A delightfully spooky and suspenseful tale into suspiciously sinister neighbours. When author Kendall Casey moves into the neighbourhood of The Cove to research a missing person case for her book, she stumbles into some very bizarre community drama.
The Guffs are hated for their strict parking perimeters, and the Robinettes are glorified for their regular parties. Kendall finds herself in an uncomfortable situation when her sister, with a history of addiction, spontaneously arrives to crash until she can get herself back on her feet. When Kendall begins to encounter strange paranormal visions and strange behaviours from the Robinettes next door, the last thing she needs is for the Robinettes to entangle her sister in their personal business ventures. Dark truths begin to emerge as her body and mind react in uncontrollable ways, a rejection of something toxic. Something very sinister is happening.. will she and her sister be safe?
𝕋𝕙𝕠𝕦𝕘𝕙𝕥𝕤: I had no idea what I was getting with this horror thriller. The gorgeous cover pulled me in with it's mysteries! It was an excitingly suspenseful read that starts off with a bang. I enjoyed the MC's portrayal and the secret tensions everywhere. I found the writing straightforward and immersive. The eeriness of some of the not-quite-right scenes were given such enhanced nuance to really prickle your nerves. The paranormal aspects are great, very spooky. I didn't find it cliche. There were some predictable aspects, but overall, it was a very satisfying read!
Thank you Netgalley , London Clarke and BooksGoSocial for this advanced readers copy. Opinions expressed are my own.
This book is available now!
Genre: Paranormal horror/ Domestic thriller
Pages: 344
ℙ𝕝𝕠𝕥: A delightfully spooky and suspenseful tale into suspiciously sinister neighbours. When author Kendall Casey moves into the neighbourhood of The Cove to research a missing person case for her book, she stumbles into some very bizarre community drama.
The Guffs are hated for their strict parking perimeters, and the Robinettes are glorified for their regular parties. Kendall finds herself in an uncomfortable situation when her sister, with a history of addiction, spontaneously arrives to crash until she can get herself back on her feet. When Kendall begins to encounter strange paranormal visions and strange behaviours from the Robinettes next door, the last thing she needs is for the Robinettes to entangle her sister in their personal business ventures. Dark truths begin to emerge as her body and mind react in uncontrollable ways, a rejection of something toxic. Something very sinister is happening.. will she and her sister be safe?
𝕋𝕙𝕠𝕦𝕘𝕙𝕥𝕤: I had no idea what I was getting with this horror thriller. The gorgeous cover pulled me in with it's mysteries! It was an excitingly suspenseful read that starts off with a bang. I enjoyed the MC's portrayal and the secret tensions everywhere. I found the writing straightforward and immersive. The eeriness of some of the not-quite-right scenes were given such enhanced nuance to really prickle your nerves. The paranormal aspects are great, very spooky. I didn't find it cliche. There were some predictable aspects, but overall, it was a very satisfying read!
Thank you Netgalley , London Clarke and BooksGoSocial for this advanced readers copy. Opinions expressed are my own.
This book is available now!
March 4, 2025
Having almost lost her life bringing a killer to justice, our crime-writer protagonist Kendall moves for a fresh start. This is complicated by the arrival of her sister, and her subsequent involvement with Kendall’s neighbours, whom she had been trying to maintain distance from.
This was my first book by this author and found it utterly engrossing. It started off slow but managed to avoid the trap of taking too long to ramp up. The story is both a thriller and supernatural with a side helping of romance, pinch of Agatha Christie vibes and sprinkle of horror.
There is a lot going on, but everything is woven together very neatly and a very talented author pulls it off. It won’t be everyone’s cup of tea, but I am keen to avoid spoilers by not going into too much detail here.
I do need well written characters to enjoy a book, and this one delivered those in spades, alongside a truly compelling writing style. I’m surprised I haven’t heard of this author before and will be looking out for her to read more in the future. I was up reading this one far too late, the sign of a really good book.
Although this is part of a series (and I will be going back to read the first two) but can be enjoyed as a standalone.
Many thanks to NetGalley and London Clarke for an ARC.
This was my first book by this author and found it utterly engrossing. It started off slow but managed to avoid the trap of taking too long to ramp up. The story is both a thriller and supernatural with a side helping of romance, pinch of Agatha Christie vibes and sprinkle of horror.
There is a lot going on, but everything is woven together very neatly and a very talented author pulls it off. It won’t be everyone’s cup of tea, but I am keen to avoid spoilers by not going into too much detail here.
I do need well written characters to enjoy a book, and this one delivered those in spades, alongside a truly compelling writing style. I’m surprised I haven’t heard of this author before and will be looking out for her to read more in the future. I was up reading this one far too late, the sign of a really good book.
Although this is part of a series (and I will be going back to read the first two) but can be enjoyed as a standalone.
Many thanks to NetGalley and London Clarke for an ARC.
April 5, 2025
It was deeeeeeply disturbing on so many levels!
I’ve got this book from NetGalley, and I was expecting the thriller, a true crime story. But then the ghosts appeared, and I knew it’s a lost cause for me.
I'm always trying to ignore descriptions to avoid spoilers (why do they always put a lot of sensitive plot info there?..), but apparently, this was the case I needed to make an exception. But it didn't happen, unfortunately.
First half of the book was hard to drag through. Lots of non-related details, slow pace.
Then the sister arrives, and it escalates quickly. After that, it's beginning to be something intriguing.
An uneasy feeling follows you through the whole book, like you're powerless together with the main character. It's very unsettling, and I get it why someone who likes that genre will enjoy the book.
But it definitely wasn't my cup of tea.
Don’t want to read anything from that genre for a LONG time
I’ve got this book from NetGalley, and I was expecting the thriller, a true crime story. But then the ghosts appeared, and I knew it’s a lost cause for me.
I'm always trying to ignore descriptions to avoid spoilers (why do they always put a lot of sensitive plot info there?..), but apparently, this was the case I needed to make an exception. But it didn't happen, unfortunately.
First half of the book was hard to drag through. Lots of non-related details, slow pace.
Then the sister arrives, and it escalates quickly. After that, it's beginning to be something intriguing.
An uneasy feeling follows you through the whole book, like you're powerless together with the main character. It's very unsettling, and I get it why someone who likes that genre will enjoy the book.
But it definitely wasn't my cup of tea.
Don’t want to read anything from that genre for a LONG time
June 22, 2025
3.5 STARS
Thank you, NetGalley, for providing an eARC of this book.
The atmosphere was top-tier spooky, and the whole "what is real vs what is manipulation" mystery kept me flipping pages. Weird symbols in the woods, suspiciously friendly neighbours, and a ghostly something watching you sleep. It's moody, unsettling, and builds that creeping tension really well.
I really liked Kendall as a main character. She’s nosy, intuitive, and just stubborn enough to keep things interesting.
But there were a few parts that didn’t hit the mark for me. The pacing felt all over the place, some bits dragged on while others rushed by too fast. And the ending is a bit messy, with some loose threads just hanging there. It left me with some raised eyebrows and questions that never really got answered.
Thank you, NetGalley, for providing an eARC of this book.
The atmosphere was top-tier spooky, and the whole "what is real vs what is manipulation" mystery kept me flipping pages. Weird symbols in the woods, suspiciously friendly neighbours, and a ghostly something watching you sleep. It's moody, unsettling, and builds that creeping tension really well.
I really liked Kendall as a main character. She’s nosy, intuitive, and just stubborn enough to keep things interesting.
But there were a few parts that didn’t hit the mark for me. The pacing felt all over the place, some bits dragged on while others rushed by too fast. And the ending is a bit messy, with some loose threads just hanging there. It left me with some raised eyebrows and questions that never really got answered.
March 18, 2025
Another fantastic popcorn horror/thriller from my personal queen! It has been a minute since I read her work, but I was so glad to have picked this up.
As usual with Clarke, this plot is absolutely wild in the very best of ways. I’ve learned to not even try and figure out the end and for good reason. It’s never what you expect it to be, and the twists always get me because they’re so good. I ended up really loving the character development with both the primary and secondary characters. They felt exceedingly more real than past characters I have read of Clarke’s and I love to see the grow up! The setting is more modern that I’m used to with her stories but again it all worked out in the end and I found myself really enjoying this new vibe of hers. I will be sure to keep reading this series and be expecting the craziest of twists!
As usual with Clarke, this plot is absolutely wild in the very best of ways. I’ve learned to not even try and figure out the end and for good reason. It’s never what you expect it to be, and the twists always get me because they’re so good. I ended up really loving the character development with both the primary and secondary characters. They felt exceedingly more real than past characters I have read of Clarke’s and I love to see the grow up! The setting is more modern that I’m used to with her stories but again it all worked out in the end and I found myself really enjoying this new vibe of hers. I will be sure to keep reading this series and be expecting the craziest of twists!
March 15, 2025
In "The Cove," newcomer Kendall Casey discovers the intriguing and unsettling dynamics of her seemingly nice neighborhood. As she navigates her new home, she encounters territorial neighbors fighting over parking spaces and the overly friendly Robinettes next door, revealing that all is not as it seems. This gripping tale kept me hooked, and after enjoying it so much, I'm eager to explore more of the author's works, including the first two books in the series. I'm also hopeful for future installments!
March 16, 2025
Thank you to NetGalley and the publishers for my Advanced Copy. All thoughts and opinions are my own. I really enjoyed this book more than I thought I would as I haven't read the other books. Instead, I found it to be fast paced, gripping, and just enough clues to guess where it going but not enough to figure out how you are getting there. While there was a supernatural component, there was a very large human element as well. This was my first book by this author and I hope, not my last.
March 16, 2025
I was granted an arc of the book. It had all the elements I love in a book. True crime, horror, friendship. Kendall Casey moves to a small town to research her latest true crime book. The Cove seems like a picture perfect neighborhood, but it's hiding dark secrets. Kendall and her best friend Sam start unravelling the dark mysteries that swirl around her neighbors. The story is wonderfully told and the book pulls you in.
Thank you Netgalley for this book.
Thank you Netgalley for this book.
March 22, 2025
This book flew by for me! True crime meets paranormal, mlm culty I couldn’t put it down. Kendall (Ken) is a true crime writer who moved to the Appalachias to get closer to the subject of her next true crime book, a young girl who had disappeared over a decade ago never to be seen or heard from again. She buys a house in the same neighborhood as her bff from college Sam and immediately started meeting all the quirky neighbors, one of whom owns a mlm selling vitamin drinks. I don’t want to put ANY spoilers so I will stop here but this was a fun read. Thank you Netgalley for an arc in exchange for my honest review. Go read it!!
February 24, 2025
Wow! This book had everything in it - cold case, fresh murder, supernatural, cult, science, witch craft ! And they all surprisingly work together. I’ve always been a reclusive neighbor and I’ll probably stay that way now 😂 happy to hear this is part of a series - can’t wait to read the rest!
In accordance with FTC guidelines, please note in reviews that your ARC was provided by the publisher via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.
In accordance with FTC guidelines, please note in reviews that your ARC was provided by the publisher via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.
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