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Serial Chillers #1
Serial Chillers: The Witch in the Woods
The must-read middle-grade novel from the author of the super-spooky Dread Wood series. Perfect for 9+ fans of R.L.Stine’s Goosebumps and Stranger Things.
"Jennifer Killick has become the go-to horror writer for readers aged nine and over … readers are as likely to howl with laughter as with terror.”
– The Sunday Times
Welcome to Hazard. An ordinary town where strangeness is a way of life. A town where sink holes appear with no warning, where people go missing way too often and where things really DO go bump in the night …
To Travis and his classmates, Hazard is home. But when they’re set a school project to investigate the history of the town, they soon realise that something strange and alien lies beneath Hazard. What can they learn from their investigations into the mysterious witch in the woods? And – if the witch really does exist – will they make it home to tell the tale…?
Jennifer Killick's book 'Creepy Creations' was a Sunday Times bestseller w/c 2024-02-19.
"Jennifer Killick has become the go-to horror writer for readers aged nine and over … readers are as likely to howl with laughter as with terror.”
– The Sunday Times
Welcome to Hazard. An ordinary town where strangeness is a way of life. A town where sink holes appear with no warning, where people go missing way too often and where things really DO go bump in the night …
To Travis and his classmates, Hazard is home. But when they’re set a school project to investigate the history of the town, they soon realise that something strange and alien lies beneath Hazard. What can they learn from their investigations into the mysterious witch in the woods? And – if the witch really does exist – will they make it home to tell the tale…?
Jennifer Killick's book 'Creepy Creations' was a Sunday Times bestseller w/c 2024-02-19.
256 pages, Paperback
Published March 27, 2025
1 person is currently reading
109 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 19 of 19 reviews
April 17, 2025
Gosh, I adored this! It’s spooky and scary infused with urban myths, a terrifying setting and a bunch of kids who are likeable, real and honest. There’s moments of joy amongst all the scary that really help. Horror seems to be Jennifer’s domain and I’m here for it. This is a grown up version of Dread Wood (a perfect companion!) and I think it’ll be perfect for Y6s+!
June 7, 2025
This is possibly the best book she has ever written. It was non-stop action the whole way through the book. And best of all it’s the start of a brand new series.
We all know the author from gems such as Crater Lake and Dreadwood, but this book/series has turned up the creep and fear factor a notch. The atmosphere is creepy and scary all the way through and even as an adult I was scared more than once.
The new characters were marvellous, each one completely different, and each likeable in their own way. The dialogue between these characters was believable and natural.
This is going to be a popular series and I can’t wait for more of this.
We all know the author from gems such as Crater Lake and Dreadwood, but this book/series has turned up the creep and fear factor a notch. The atmosphere is creepy and scary all the way through and even as an adult I was scared more than once.
The new characters were marvellous, each one completely different, and each likeable in their own way. The dialogue between these characters was believable and natural.
This is going to be a popular series and I can’t wait for more of this.
March 18, 2025
3⭐
Thank you Farshore and Jennifer Killick for the ARC! The provison of the free digital review copy does not interfere with my judgement in the review.
First a formost, this book had an intriguing start. The relatable setting, the world-building and history in the first the first few pages had me almost rate the book 4⭐ but then came the problem.
The writing style slowly dissuaded me from enjoying the book. I'm pretty sure in proffesion writing, usage of 'cos instead of because and generally using short forms of those words are not encouraged and are usually asked to be changed. But it wasn't done here. The usage of short forms of phases like 'OMG' and 'NP' was infuriating because this a book, not a text or a call. My Kindle tracked the usage of 'cos almost 67 times. The overall writing seemed off and it seemed like the author was trying to connect younger Gen-Z and Gen-Alpha readers by writing using slang words and the overall writing style seemed like the author was desperately trying to be a younger Gen-Z or Gen-Alpha person while writing this. The writing style was super unprofessional and I was super disappointed by this.
Now I know that I am not the intended audience for this book but this book has scenes where one the MCs is vehemently rude to his parent and their is no consequence for his words. The MC taunted his mother and called her 'nuts'. Since when is this kind of language and behaviour allowed to be written in books, much less to be published.
And let's get to another important point --- stereotypical representation. There's a Sputh-Asian character who is very much described to be a stereotypical teacher who is very strict. And now, here's the real problem. There's a character named ZamZam and in the words said my Muslim friend and i quote, "ZamZam is literally holy water for Muslims. I just checked, ZamZam isn't mentioned haram to keep name for your child but it's still strange btw?" This not only harmful 'representation' by also things that should not be just easily put into Middle Graders' books without proper research or thoughts.
The BEST part of this book in my opinion was the warning from the publisher to not use the publication for training of generative AI which is prohibited.
The only redeeming part of the book was movement of the plot after hitting the 50% mark. That was when all the action properly began and things took a darker turn. The plot twists at the end and the omnious ending had me increase my rating by half a star. The overall idea and plot is amazing crafted but the writing style, the harmful representation and language put me off the book. I will hope to read the next installment if the writing style is improved.
PLEASE DO NOT TAG, SHARE OR POST THOS REVIEW ELSEWHERE WHERE THE AUTHOR CAN VIEW THE REVIEW. THIS REVIEW, LIKE MANY OTHER REVIEWS ARE ONLY MEANT FOR THE READERS.
𝑩𝒖𝒅𝒅𝒚 𝑹𝒆𝒂𝒅 𝒘𝒊𝒕𝒉 𝑺𝒂𝒎 𝒐𝒏 𝑺𝒕𝒐𝒓𝒚𝑮𝒓𝒂𝒑𝒉
Thank you Farshore and Jennifer Killick for the ARC! The provison of the free digital review copy does not interfere with my judgement in the review.
First a formost, this book had an intriguing start. The relatable setting, the world-building and history in the first the first few pages had me almost rate the book 4⭐ but then came the problem.
The writing style slowly dissuaded me from enjoying the book. I'm pretty sure in proffesion writing, usage of 'cos instead of because and generally using short forms of those words are not encouraged and are usually asked to be changed. But it wasn't done here. The usage of short forms of phases like 'OMG' and 'NP' was infuriating because this a book, not a text or a call. My Kindle tracked the usage of 'cos almost 67 times. The overall writing seemed off and it seemed like the author was trying to connect younger Gen-Z and Gen-Alpha readers by writing using slang words and the overall writing style seemed like the author was desperately trying to be a younger Gen-Z or Gen-Alpha person while writing this. The writing style was super unprofessional and I was super disappointed by this.
Now I know that I am not the intended audience for this book but this book has scenes where one the MCs is vehemently rude to his parent and their is no consequence for his words. The MC taunted his mother and called her 'nuts'. Since when is this kind of language and behaviour allowed to be written in books, much less to be published.
And let's get to another important point --- stereotypical representation. There's a Sputh-Asian character who is very much described to be a stereotypical teacher who is very strict. And now, here's the real problem. There's a character named ZamZam and in the words said my Muslim friend and i quote, "ZamZam is literally holy water for Muslims. I just checked, ZamZam isn't mentioned haram to keep name for your child but it's still strange btw?" This not only harmful 'representation' by also things that should not be just easily put into Middle Graders' books without proper research or thoughts.
The BEST part of this book in my opinion was the warning from the publisher to not use the publication for training of generative AI which is prohibited.
The only redeeming part of the book was movement of the plot after hitting the 50% mark. That was when all the action properly began and things took a darker turn. The plot twists at the end and the omnious ending had me increase my rating by half a star. The overall idea and plot is amazing crafted but the writing style, the harmful representation and language put me off the book. I will hope to read the next installment if the writing style is improved.
PLEASE DO NOT TAG, SHARE OR POST THOS REVIEW ELSEWHERE WHERE THE AUTHOR CAN VIEW THE REVIEW. THIS REVIEW, LIKE MANY OTHER REVIEWS ARE ONLY MEANT FOR THE READERS.
𝑩𝒖𝒅𝒅𝒚 𝑹𝒆𝒂𝒅 𝒘𝒊𝒕𝒉 𝑺𝒂𝒎 𝒐𝒏 𝑺𝒕𝒐𝒓𝒚𝑮𝒓𝒂𝒑𝒉
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
October 13, 2025
are kids really that mean and forgiving at that age
October 29, 2025
3.5 stars
May 4, 2025
Hazard is an aptly-named town it seems, riddled with problems such as sinkholes caused by the old mining industry, and haunted like no other place around. Travis and Zayd are in a group of four schoolkids – the other two being the class bitch and the girl Travis kind-of loved until she started hanging on the arm of said bitch – tasked with doing a joint local history report. Of course, said bitch chooses the subject for them all – the local witch, Blood-Eyed Mary. And of course said project is going to get very, very educational for them all – if they survive the lesson...
Hazard is important here – obvious, really, when it's looking like being the setting for a whole series of books – because it's where anything and everything is said to have happened. It's a macabre town where a hanging tree is celebrated in the old town square, and these days people galore go missing. It relies on dark tourism, because of the variety of nasty happenings – and this seems to feature so many of them it could have been OTT if the list of numerous evils hadn't been so well established beforehand.
Several flaws knocked off proportions of stars from my rating here. One was the peculiar mid-Atlantic flavour, as if editors both side of the pond had had a hard go at it. The fake swear words sounded American, the town definitely felt American, and yet they celebrate Guy Fawkes night and use £s as currency. Another is the present tense, first person narrative, which kind of adds an immediacy I am sure was quite within the capabilities of the author anyway, but also takes away any doubt of the narrator's survival. It certainly could have been shorter, saving some of the weirdness – especially when it proves to be flagging that up ready for future books.
But there is still a fair bit of merit here. It's not a straight out-and-out horror, but does succeed to put some creepiness on to the page, in a modern variant of the "oh, we yokels don't go in them thar woods after dark" shtick. The bitch's bitchiness isn't allowed to dominate, and yet the characters aren't watered down either. And as other reviewers have mentioned, this wants to set up a whole franchise, allowing for future books to be tauter, showing us their individual stories without all the exposition we get here. That series certainly has four star potential, and this is close enough to that grade as it is. But it's not too far from three and a half either – like this very review it could have done with more concision.
Hazard is important here – obvious, really, when it's looking like being the setting for a whole series of books – because it's where anything and everything is said to have happened. It's a macabre town where a hanging tree is celebrated in the old town square, and these days people galore go missing. It relies on dark tourism, because of the variety of nasty happenings – and this seems to feature so many of them it could have been OTT if the list of numerous evils hadn't been so well established beforehand.
Several flaws knocked off proportions of stars from my rating here. One was the peculiar mid-Atlantic flavour, as if editors both side of the pond had had a hard go at it. The fake swear words sounded American, the town definitely felt American, and yet they celebrate Guy Fawkes night and use £s as currency. Another is the present tense, first person narrative, which kind of adds an immediacy I am sure was quite within the capabilities of the author anyway, but also takes away any doubt of the narrator's survival. It certainly could have been shorter, saving some of the weirdness – especially when it proves to be flagging that up ready for future books.
But there is still a fair bit of merit here. It's not a straight out-and-out horror, but does succeed to put some creepiness on to the page, in a modern variant of the "oh, we yokels don't go in them thar woods after dark" shtick. The bitch's bitchiness isn't allowed to dominate, and yet the characters aren't watered down either. And as other reviewers have mentioned, this wants to set up a whole franchise, allowing for future books to be tauter, showing us their individual stories without all the exposition we get here. That series certainly has four star potential, and this is close enough to that grade as it is. But it's not too far from three and a half either – like this very review it could have done with more concision.
March 21, 2025
A great start to a new Jennifer Killick series, highly recommended.
If I need to suggest a book for a student, Jennifer Killick's are a brilliant choice. They feature a likeable bunch of characters using dialogue that is realistic and relatable for the target audience. The plot is well paced so that you want to keep reading and the book is an approachable length, especially for those who only read for short periods at a time. There is also plenty of humour amongst the horror.
The Witch in the Woods turns up the fear factor a notch, doing a fantastic job of creating creepy atmosphere. There are also clues throughout the story for readers to pick up on. Most will probably work it out before the final reveal, but they will still have the satisfaction of knowing they guessed correctly. I knew in advance that this would be the first in a new series, but I thought each one would be self-contained. Instead it looks like we will be getting more books featuring these new characters uncovering their town's secrets. Not everything was wrapped up by the end and several plot points I thought would be important weren't mentioned again. Hopefully they will be feature in the upcoming books in the series.
The Dread Wood series used quite a few Americanisms (such as ass rather arse) that I, and some of my students, found a little odd when the book seemed to be set in the UK based on the school system. The setting for this book feels far more like it is a fictional US town so the word choice feels more apt. It does mean that it isn't quite as relatable for my students but this plot works much better in a US setting.
I really liked it and am glad I pre-ordered a copy for the library. It's creepy and chilling but still suitable for younger readers (or nightmare-prone adults).
Thanks to NetGalley for the free eARC. It meant I could read it while waiting for the physical copy to arrive. Which is great as I already have several students waiting to read it.
If I need to suggest a book for a student, Jennifer Killick's are a brilliant choice. They feature a likeable bunch of characters using dialogue that is realistic and relatable for the target audience. The plot is well paced so that you want to keep reading and the book is an approachable length, especially for those who only read for short periods at a time. There is also plenty of humour amongst the horror.
The Witch in the Woods turns up the fear factor a notch, doing a fantastic job of creating creepy atmosphere. There are also clues throughout the story for readers to pick up on. Most will probably work it out before the final reveal, but they will still have the satisfaction of knowing they guessed correctly. I knew in advance that this would be the first in a new series, but I thought each one would be self-contained. Instead it looks like we will be getting more books featuring these new characters uncovering their town's secrets. Not everything was wrapped up by the end and several plot points I thought would be important weren't mentioned again. Hopefully they will be feature in the upcoming books in the series.
The Dread Wood series used quite a few Americanisms (such as ass rather arse) that I, and some of my students, found a little odd when the book seemed to be set in the UK based on the school system. The setting for this book feels far more like it is a fictional US town so the word choice feels more apt. It does mean that it isn't quite as relatable for my students but this plot works much better in a US setting.
I really liked it and am glad I pre-ordered a copy for the library. It's creepy and chilling but still suitable for younger readers (or nightmare-prone adults).
Thanks to NetGalley for the free eARC. It meant I could read it while waiting for the physical copy to arrive. Which is great as I already have several students waiting to read it.
October 12, 2025
THE WITCH IN THE WOODS is the first in Jennifer Killick's latest Middle Grade horror series. As ever, the queen of MG horror delivers!
This is a series all about the monster from folklore and where better to start than the witch in the woods? This is a character in so many folktales, a warning to children to behave or they'll be gobbled up.
Plus, a witch in the woods necessitates woods - and they have endless possibilities for horror. Tripping and falling over branches - and into terrible things. Getting lost. Hearing things. And more. The book really exploits the opportunities to great effect, the second half a tense sequence of running for your life (and slowly building up friendships from the shared trauma!)
We have a new cast of characters and new group dynamics. I liked that the annoying girl was the smart, know it all. She's not popular and dumb, which is a trope I am so over. Instead, Selina is really bright and there's a great nuance to why she's so pushy about it. Dani, I think, were going to explore a lot more of in coming books. Travis is your seemingly laid-back and easy going guy, but he has depths of courage and loyalty.
The town of Hazard is a great series setting. It's dripping with macabre history - an execution tree, a giant sink hole, a red river. There's so much atmosphere, which makes it perfect for horror as it's the perfect place for something to jump out at you. The variety of local legends means there's plenty for the series to explore in the same location.
There are hints in the finale about the next book - and the overall theme of the series being the truth behind the legends. I'm excited for the next book and the overall mystery arc.
This is a series all about the monster from folklore and where better to start than the witch in the woods? This is a character in so many folktales, a warning to children to behave or they'll be gobbled up.
Plus, a witch in the woods necessitates woods - and they have endless possibilities for horror. Tripping and falling over branches - and into terrible things. Getting lost. Hearing things. And more. The book really exploits the opportunities to great effect, the second half a tense sequence of running for your life (and slowly building up friendships from the shared trauma!)
We have a new cast of characters and new group dynamics. I liked that the annoying girl was the smart, know it all. She's not popular and dumb, which is a trope I am so over. Instead, Selina is really bright and there's a great nuance to why she's so pushy about it. Dani, I think, were going to explore a lot more of in coming books. Travis is your seemingly laid-back and easy going guy, but he has depths of courage and loyalty.
The town of Hazard is a great series setting. It's dripping with macabre history - an execution tree, a giant sink hole, a red river. There's so much atmosphere, which makes it perfect for horror as it's the perfect place for something to jump out at you. The variety of local legends means there's plenty for the series to explore in the same location.
There are hints in the finale about the next book - and the overall theme of the series being the truth behind the legends. I'm excited for the next book and the overall mystery arc.
June 22, 2025
I really enjoyed this book! It was quite strange at first because I haven’t read anything of Jennifer’s that wasn’t to do with the Dread Wood realm, but I really grew to like it.
When Travis, Zayd, Seline and Danielle agree to do their History school project on the local Hazard legend of Blood-Eyed-Mary, all they are trying to find is getting a good grade and then forgetting about it. Until they make the decision to go straight to her lair in the Haunted Woods. And what they see in there will change their lives forever.
As secrets are uncovered and other legends are suddenly turned upside down, the four teenagers suddenly find themselves in for a ride that they will possibly never able to escape. That’s if they even make it out of her woods alive…
I loved this book! It was very intriguing and interesting to read, as well as it was super fun to read another book from Jennifer Killick. Jennifer is definitely one of my favourite horror authors! It did feel a bit strange at first because it wasn’t Dread Wood, but I soon started to roll with it and started to love it. I absolutely cannot wait to read the next spine-tingling novel in this series when it comes out!
When Travis, Zayd, Seline and Danielle agree to do their History school project on the local Hazard legend of Blood-Eyed-Mary, all they are trying to find is getting a good grade and then forgetting about it. Until they make the decision to go straight to her lair in the Haunted Woods. And what they see in there will change their lives forever.
As secrets are uncovered and other legends are suddenly turned upside down, the four teenagers suddenly find themselves in for a ride that they will possibly never able to escape. That’s if they even make it out of her woods alive…
I loved this book! It was very intriguing and interesting to read, as well as it was super fun to read another book from Jennifer Killick. Jennifer is definitely one of my favourite horror authors! It did feel a bit strange at first because it wasn’t Dread Wood, but I soon started to roll with it and started to love it. I absolutely cannot wait to read the next spine-tingling novel in this series when it comes out!
May 30, 2025
My heart is still broken that the Dreadwood series is finished, so I had to start this book by Jennifer Killick as it's been a while since I read one of her books! As always I appreciate the little illustrations on the chapter pages and the fact the chapters are shorted is fantastic for me. Also the cover is fantastic!
Zayd is new in town, and him and his friend Travis are on a history school trip in Hazard. In which they have to work in a group to do a school project. But the group decides to do their project on Blood-Eyed Mary, a town legend about a witch. So with a Witch and random sink holes happening and getting stuck in "Mary's Cauldron" in the middle of out if bounds woods, what will happen to the group? Is everything is it seems? Or is it more sinister?
I really loved this, Jennifer never fails at writing a fantastic story! Oh and also never fails to mention One Piece and I fricking love it 😍.
I definitely can't wait to read the next one when it comes out.
Zayd is new in town, and him and his friend Travis are on a history school trip in Hazard. In which they have to work in a group to do a school project. But the group decides to do their project on Blood-Eyed Mary, a town legend about a witch. So with a Witch and random sink holes happening and getting stuck in "Mary's Cauldron" in the middle of out if bounds woods, what will happen to the group? Is everything is it seems? Or is it more sinister?
I really loved this, Jennifer never fails at writing a fantastic story! Oh and also never fails to mention One Piece and I fricking love it 😍.
I definitely can't wait to read the next one when it comes out.
March 17, 2025
This book was an utter whirlwind of excitement and I flew through the pages so fast. It was filled with suspense as our group of thrown together friends fight nightmares in Hazard.
When they’re paired together for a school history project, they choose to investigate the myth of Blood Eyed Mary which sees them get into a fair few scrapes… as they venture out into the woods, none of them knew just what they would be up against…
It was such an entertaining read and one with a plot that makes it hard for anyone to put down! It’s perfectly spooky, hair-raisingly creepy and full of suspense so you’ll be hooked from the start. I can’t wait for the next instalment - it’s a must read!
Thank you to the author and publisher for this book on NetGalley in return for my honest thoughts and review.
When they’re paired together for a school history project, they choose to investigate the myth of Blood Eyed Mary which sees them get into a fair few scrapes… as they venture out into the woods, none of them knew just what they would be up against…
It was such an entertaining read and one with a plot that makes it hard for anyone to put down! It’s perfectly spooky, hair-raisingly creepy and full of suspense so you’ll be hooked from the start. I can’t wait for the next instalment - it’s a must read!
Thank you to the author and publisher for this book on NetGalley in return for my honest thoughts and review.
April 4, 2025
Fabulously creepy middle grade novel, first in a new series.
My full review is here: http://vsviewfromthebookshelves.home....
My full review is here: http://vsviewfromthebookshelves.home....
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May 3, 2025such a fun, spooky middle grade read - can imagine my childhood self really enjoying this
July 2, 2025
Fun spooky read :)
December 19, 2025
I really love Killick's books. Another excellent horror novel for kids. Interesting story, interesting characters and a lot of good scares
July 14, 2025
I really enjoyed the atmosphere and the humour in this book. I am hoping for a bit more character development as the series continues but as a starting point I enjoyed the characters and the journey they go through, and how the group dynamic evolved. The plot itself was also intriguing and had me hooked. It will be very interesting to see where this continues.
April 7, 2025
3.75 stars. An enjoyable read, but not my fav. It is a beginning of a series, not just one book, so a lot of info dumping at the beginning that will get its pay off in future sequels.
April 7, 2025
Killick's middle grade horror is always a delight.
March 30, 2025
Absolutely terrifying and heart-stopping in places but awesome at the same time. There were so many tense moments and cliffhangers that I couldn't put it down. I knew there would be a twist but I didn't guess what it was. I think it'll be a long time before I go into the woods in the dark! A must read for fans of Jennifer Killick.
Displaying 1 - 19 of 19 reviews