Tiny Wild Things

by Danielle M. Wong

‘What. A. Wild. Ride. Seriously, you're going to need a moment (or two) to catch your breath after finishing Tiny Wild Things. The most exhilarating roller coaster in the world would be no match for this book...Danielle Wong crafts a masterful tale...I was captivated from the start.' Reader review, ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

I have always been drawn to tiny, wild things…

Journalist Fran Hendrix thinks she’s about to get the scoop of her career. A reclusive artist has chosen her to take his first interview since the tragic death of his wife years before. Not long after arriving at his secluded country estate, Fran receives a shocking anonymous message. He is lying to you. Get out while you can.

But Fran is a journalist. She’s not going anywhere without her story, even when her host refuses to answer her questions while seeming to know things about her life she hasn’t told anyone. When he suggests they go hunting together, Fran sees it as a chance to finally break through his defenses. But alone with him in the wilderness, she starts to question whether the note was right all along – and she should have gotten out while she still had the chance…

An utterly gripping psychological thriller from an award-winning author that will delight fans of The Hunting Party, The Silent Patient and Sharp Objects.

'Tiny Wild Things is an utterly gripping psychological thriller with some jaw dropping twists you don't see coming! The biggest twist? Absolutely jaw-dropping and completely unexpected! If that doesn't make you want to pick this 5 star book up and start reading it, nothing will!' Reader review, ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

'Well this was bloody good!!!! Wow I actually never would have seen this one going where it did. I loved it, wouldn't change a thing, fantastic!!!' Reader review, ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

'A brilliant and completely crazy thriller that kept me on the edge of my seat the entire time! Atmospheric and incredibly creepy. A must read for anyone who loves twisty, and very twisted, thrillers.' Reader review, ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

'Tiny Wild Things is a real page turner. There are more twists and turns than I ever imagined...Every time I thought I knew what would happen next, I was proven wrong. Fantastic writing, and a story to remain in the memory for years.' Reader review, ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

'There was a jaw dropping twist towards the end of this book that made me gasp. I mean YES!!! I love when an author gives us that surprise...I loved the short chapters and the way this was written.' Reader review, ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

'This book is wildly atmospheric...The last third of the book is insane...the twists are nuts. Like insanely crazy.' Reader review, ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

'I really enjoyed this thriller...The story is very unsettling and gives very creepy vibes...I didn't see the twist coming at all but then...the ending had me reeling!!! I didn't expect that at all!' Reader review, ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

'This book is very atmospheric, and creepy and I ate that shh up!...I feel like everything was carefully built for the reveal at the end...

Genres: Mystery, Thriller, Audiobook, Psychological Thriller

266 pages, Kindle Edition

Published August 4, 2025

About the author

Danielle M. Wong is a travel-obsessed author of psychological thrillers. She pens the type of stories that keep her up at night, featuring gripping scenes, complex characters, and twist-filled plots. She has been published to critical acclaim, earning Independent Press, Reader’s Favorite, and International Book Awards, among others. Danielle’s writing has been featured in Harper’s Bazaar, HuffPost, PopSugar, and Writer’s Digest. She is currently working on her next novel.

Follow her on Bookbub for more updates! https://www.bookbub.com/profile/danie...

Reviews

[theliterateleprechaun · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5 ⭐

New-to-me author, Danielle Wong, has definitely harnessed the setting and created a sense of anticipation, vulnerability, and unease allowing me room to peer into the shadows and become chilled! I was anxious, aware of the ever-present creepy atmosphere, and awaiting Kramer’s next manipulation. Fran Hendrix and Jonathan Kramer kept me on my toes, eagerly turning pages to experience more of the push and pull between them. More even pacing and a tauter plot would have elevated this one for me.

I was gifted this copy and was under no obligation to provide a review.

[Heather~ Nature.books.and.coffee · Rating 4 out of 5]

I thought this one sounded so intriguing. My first book by this author and I'm happy to say it was a winner. This is a mystery that the suspense builds  throughout. The main character, Fran Hendrix is a journalist who is asked by a reclusive local artist to do the first interview since his wife's tragic death years ago. She takes him up on the offer and heads to his secluded country home. Once there she receives an anonymous message to “get out while she can”.....but she wants his story. He asks her to go hunting one day and she feels like this could be her chance. But things do not go the way she wants. I won't say more because this is where things really get going. This book is atmospheric, and creepy. I loved that! You just don't know what will happen next, and there really are some crazy twists. A ‘wild’ entertaining ride.

Thank you to the publisher, author, and Suzy approved book tours for the gifted copy. All opinions are my own.

[♡Heather✩Brown♡ · Rating 4 out of 5]

#ad much love for my copy and tour spot @katerockliteraryservices #partner

𝓣𝓘𝓝𝓨 𝓦𝓘𝓛𝓓 𝓣𝓗𝓘𝓝𝓖𝓢
< @daniellemwong_ >
ᴛʜʀɪʟʟᴇʀ | ꜱᴜꜱᴘᴇɴꜱᴇ | ᴘꜱʏᴄʜᴏʟᴏɢɪᴄᴀʟ

Francine is a journalist and she’s just got a major lead. Jonathan Kramer - an artist whose only ever given four interviews in his whole life. But now he’s requesting one final interview. The interview of all interviews. Everything is on the line for Francine.

Reeling from a recent breakup there’s something in Fran’s past that remains a mystery to us. We want to know more about her life just as much as Jonathan’s. The answers come at the perfect times and makes for a compelling read.

Fran chartered a plane and then is most likely drugged as she passes out soon after having a drink. When she wakes up she’s at Jonathan’s estate, only she has no idea where in the world she is at.

Then comes the text: 𝙹𝚘𝚗𝚊𝚝𝚑𝚊𝚗 𝙺𝚛𝚊𝚖𝚎𝚛 𝚒𝚜 𝚕𝚢𝚒𝚗𝚐 𝚝𝚘 𝚢𝚘𝚞. 𝙶𝚎𝚝 𝚘𝚞𝚝 𝚠𝚑𝚒𝚕𝚎 𝚢𝚘𝚞 𝚌𝚊𝚗. Whelp, things just got real interesting.

This was a fun and fast-paced thriller that I read in one-sitting. It was a shorter read that didn’t disappoint. Creepy and bingeable af! I will def be reading more of this author.

My only complaint is that there didn’t seem to be much happening here, just weird things and an eerie vibe. But fully enjoyed it. Will def be reading more from this author.

[Pav S. (pav_sanborn_bookworm) · Rating 4 out of 5]

I recently came across this author and was intrigued by the book after receiving the widget, mainly because I was drawn to the cover. Admittedly, I usually skip over the blurb and choose books based on their visual appeal.

Journalist Fran Hendrix is excited for the opportunity to interview a reclusive artist who hasn't spoken to the media since his wife’s tragic death. Upon arriving at his remote estate, she receives an anonymous message warning her that he is not to be trusted and urging her to leave. Despite the warning, Fran is determined to uncover the story, even as the artist remains evasive and seems to know more about her than he should. When he invites her to go hunting, she hopes it will help her break through his walls. However, as they venture into the wilderness together, she begins to doubt her decision and considers whether she should have heeded the warning to escape.

The story follows the main character, Fran, who carries some dark secrets while trying to lead a seemingly normal life. She just ended a relationship due to some troubling behaviors, but there’s much more to uncover—if you want to find out, you’ll need to read the book yourself.

This is a slow-burning tale, but I found it hard to put down. With its short chapters and atmospheric setting, it felt like a quick read. I kept turning the pages, eager to discover what would happen next. The pace didn't pick up until the final quarter, and I was left astonished by the ending and all the twists that unfolded. It was quite a ride, and I’m thrilled to have experienced it!

The biggest twist? The one that hits just before you reach the last page? Absolutely jaw-dropping and completely unexpected! Kudos to the author for that!

This book is a great fit for anyone who enjoys a clever mystery that doesn’t give away too much until the very end. You might find yourself left speechless as the story comes together in those final chapters. It's definitely a binge-worthy read thanks to the short chapters—I loved every moment!

Thank you, Storm Publishing, for the digital ARC copy. I am leaving this review voluntarily.

[Balthazarinblue · Rating 3 out of 5]

2.75 stars

This book is like an entire season of Riverdale condensed into 270 pages. As an ardent lover of truly preposterous thrillers, I had to think long and hard why it didn't really work for me. Ultimately, it was the lack of internal consistency where Tiny Wild Things fell short. I can roll with a million choices that are unhinged from a reader's perspective, as long as they make sense to the characters. The motivations in this - when there were any beyond 'lunacy' - didn't ring true.

It didn't help that this is very much a book of two halves. The first is a psychological thriller in the vein of AJ Finn. It's a slow, sloooow burn where we spend more time with Fran tossing and turning restlessly in bed than the plot progressing. The second half is a balls to the wall, lightening speed action thriller worthy of Harlan Coben. While both were fine, the transition between them was unconvincing and probably the weakest section.

I wish I could have bought into this story more. Even in the scenes that had me on the edge of my seat, I wasn't invested in the outcome.

Thanks to Storm Publishing for providing me with an eARC in exchange for an honest review.

[Letsreadagoodbook · Rating 4 out of 5]

Man! I wasn't expecting to finished this book in 2 days! I didn't expect to get pulled in like i did! I was GLUED to my kindle trying to uncover the truth with fran! I was so wrapped up in this story! yes it was a little slow at the start but the more you read the more you got into the story! Jonathon really got under my skin because why would you bring my girl out there!! knowing yall serects knowing the other one was CRAZY! AS ALL GET OUT!!! after I got to the woods part I was sitting up in bed reading/holding my breath because so much tension had built up and I needed my girl to come out on top! and boom i had to reread the last few pages 2x because HUH! man! what a rollercoaster!

[Caitlin Bunting · Rating 5 out of 5]

Well this was bloody good!!!! Wow I actually never would have seen this one going where it did. I loved it, wouldn’t change a thing, fantastic!!!

[Nelia Polenz · Rating 4 out of 5]

Tiny wild things
von Danielle M. Wong
🌟🌟🌟🌟
Tiny wild things erzählt die Geschichte von Francine, die auf die Chance wartet, ihre Arbeit als Journalistin aufs nächste Level zu bringen. Als einer der berüchtigsten, in der Versenkung verschwundener Künstler Fran für ein Interview in seinem geheimen Wohnsitz auswählt, scheint ihre Chance gekommen zu sein.
Aber nach und nach verliert der Charme des Künstlers und seines Hauses an Stärke. Eine Frau taucht auf, nur nachts, die Fran zum Verwechseln ähnlich sieht. Ein Fremder schickt Fran Warnungen, sie stößt auf immer seltsamere Vorkommnisse. Und dann ist da noch die Dunkelheit, die Fran seit ihrer Kindheit im Inneren hat. Wird Fran dieses Grundstück wieder verlassen können? Wer schickt ihr Warnungen, wer ist die Frau, die sie zu verfolgen scheint?
Und wird Frans Dunkelheit gewinnen?

Das Buch startet in Frans Alltag und ich konnte mich schnell in sie hineinversetzen. Ihre 'Dunkelheit' oder 'Episoden' werden früh eingeführt, was die Spannung der Geschichte direkt am Anfang hoch anlegt. Auch Frans Albträume packen einen von Anfang an.
Als der Schauplatz sich ändert und Fran für ihr Interview im umzäunten Grundstück des Künstlers ankommt, wusste ich nicht, was ich erwarten sollte. Bis zur Mitte des Buches fiel es mir dann schwer, die Handlumgsstränge zu verfolgen und manche innere Prozesse Frans erschienen etwas weit hergeholt. Die Auflösung und Einführung von Ramona und die Wahrheit über Frans Vergangenheit passieren schnell und für mich etwas aus dem Zusammenhang gerissen. Dennoch steigt die Spannung wieder an und bleibt bis zum Schluss hoch. Der letzte Plottwist lässt einige Fragen offen, die ich gerne beantwortet hätte. Dennoch hatte das letzte Kapitel Gänsehautpotenzial und alles in allem ist Tiny wild things ein solider, packender Thriller.

[Kayla · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is wildly atmospheric, and the author brings Fran, her past, and present to life as if you're right there. The estate she's at, and the desolate woods surrounding it, made me feel unnerved, even though I was reading in bed.

This story moves more slowly in the beginning, with the tension ratcheting up. Fran is initially frustrated with the artist, Jonathan Kramer. He keeps stopping and starting the interview, and one second is forthcoming, and then shuts down the next. But as her time on the estate goes by, she slowly becomes more aware that something is not right. Random text messages from an unknown number, strange sightings in the hallway.

One thing I really enjoyed about this story is it takes aspects of a locked-room popcorn thriller without being entirely one or another. Fran is on a desolate estate, but it's a reclusive artist and she just has spotty cell reception. So it's a little locked room, but it's not to the point where it's predictable. The last third of the book is insane.

This story is really a mix of a slow-burn, but also a popcorn thriller. I normally don't enjoy those, but I think it works here because the twists are nuts. Like insanely crazy. If you're looking for a book to make you feel creeped out, and then driving in wild twists, you should read this.

[Chareta Rubio · Rating 4 out of 5]

When I started Tiny Wild Things, I expected a pretty familiar setup: a young journalist, Fran, lands her first big assignment—interviewing the elusive and once-renowned artist Jonathan Kremer. The pacing was slow at first, rich in detail and atmosphere, and I wasn’t fully convinced where it was going.

But I have to emphasize this: the ending is the best part.

As the story progresses, it shifts in tone—subtle tension builds, layers are peeled back, and then… the twist hits. And when it does, I couldn’t put the book down. I was completely hooked, racing through the final chapters, pulled in by the drama, the emotional unraveling, and the way everything suddenly made sense.

The twist is brilliant—not because it’s flashy, but because it’s been quietly waiting in the background all along.Secondary characters like Jane, Ramona, and the housekeeper add depth and quiet intrigue, creating a setting that feels both intimate and full of secrets.
And while I wish Fran had been more active earlier in the plot, by the end, I was fully invested in her journey.
Tiny Wild Things starts slow but ends with a bang. It’s a slow-burn psychological mystery with emotional weight, unexpected drama, and a twist that makes it all worth it.

[Diane Elizabeth Taylor · Rating 3 out of 5]

Our keen reporter Fran's debut scoop is an interview with elusive artist Kramer.
The plot quickly spirals into a total mystery, making us wonder why Kramer brought her there when he's so reluctant to talk.
Despite an occasionally uneven pace, the author creates a dark, gloomy atmosphere, keeping us on edge and constantly questioning.
The narrative really ramps up in the final quarter, resulting in an explosive ending that, while thrilling, left a few loose ends.
This book is ideal for those who enjoy atmospheric thrillers.
I received an advance copy and the views are my own.

[Kimy J · Rating 3 out of 5]

Thank you to NetGalley, Storm Publishing, and Danielle M. Wong for the advanced copy of this book.

I’m giving this book a 3.5/5.

The beginning was very slow, I almost DNF’d it because the story kept repeating itself and became confusing at times. The very ending was completely unexpected.

The author really knows how to write characters that feel unhinged. Some of them had me questioning their sanity!

The setting was a highlight for me. I always love a giant, creepy mansion in the middle of nowhere, it really set the mood. My personal guess for the location was the state of Maine.

[Kay Oliver · Rating 2 out of 5]

I really wanted to enjoy this story, but I didn't. I don't think its a bad book; it just wasn't my kind of book. The overreaching vocabulary kept pulling me out of the story, and it was too slow, with nothing much happening. There were some interesting parts that made me want to continue reading, but not enough. And the writing built a strong, dark atmosphere. I think those who like slow burn, atmospheric horror would love this.

[Meg Pearson · Rating 5 out of 5]

Thank you to NetGalley and Storm Publishing for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Tiny Wild Things is a haunting psychological thriller that grips you from the first page and refuses to let go.

Journalist Fran Hendrix thinks she’s landed the scoop of her career when Jonathan Kramer, a once-famous artist turned recluse, invites her for his first interview in years. Hidden away on his isolated estate, Fran soon realizes nothing here is what it seems. Anonymous notes warn her to leave. A woman who looks uncannily like her appears in the shadows. And Jonathan himself seems to know more about Fran than she’s ever shared.

As the days unfold, the line between reality and nightmare blurs. Fran is forced to confront both the secrets Jonathan hides and the darkness she’s carried within her since childhood. By the time the truth comes to light, the revelations are shocking—and devastating.

Creepy, atmospheric, and relentlessly twisty, Tiny Wild Things is a slow-burn thriller that builds to a jaw-dropping finale. If you like psychological suspense with gothic undertones, this one is not to be missed.

[Kathleen Riggs · Rating 4 out of 5]

A Lyrical and Lethal Game of Truths
Danielle M. Wong’s Tiny, Wild Things is a hauntingly atmospheric thriller that lures you in with poetic beauty before dragging you into the dark. Journalist Fran Hendrix arrives at a secluded estate hoping for a career-defining interview but what unfolds is a chilling spiral of mistrust, manipulation, and the primal instinct to survive.
Wong masterfully blends lyrical prose with taut suspense, crafting a story where nothing is what it seems. Fran’s determination makes her a compelling lead, but it’s the eerie setting and enigmatic host that truly elevate the tension. As secrets unravel in the wilderness, the question isn’t just who’s lying but whether Fran will make it out alive. Thanks to NetGalley and to the publishers of this book for giving me a free advance copy of the book to preview and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

[Paloma · Rating 5 out of 5]

Fran Hendrix is going to interview Jobathan Kramer, a recluse artist, and this article will make her career. However, when she arrives at an undisclosed location, Kramer seems to be withholding from Fran. He makes excuses, cuts the interviews short, and rarely answers the questions. Soon, Fran starts to feel creeper out. She starts to see things and can't connect with anyone back home because there is little to no cell service.
Fran is in trouble, and it isn't only from Kramer himself. It seems that there may be someone roaming the hidden halls of Kramer's home. Kramer is lying to Fran, and she is about to find out some horrible things about her family.

Loved the premise, and each revelation is better than the next. I just couldn't help gasp. And the end, now that is the twist of all twists!

Thank you, Netgalley and Storm Publishing, for this ARC. All opinions are entirely my own.

[Reader Views · Rating 5 out of 5]

Fran Hendrix works for SYNC, a popular lifestyle magazine with national circulation. After two years of working there, all she seems to get is fluff pieces. She’s trying to be patient, but she yearns to prove herself as a serious journalist. Her chance comes when her editor, Edna Pryce, contacts her with a new assignment: an interview with Jonathan Kramer, a famous artist. Fran is nervous but excited and sees this as a career-defining assignment.

Jonathan Kramer is a notoriously private man and a reclusive artist who hasn’t given an interview since the tragic death of his wife years ago, and this one may be his last. With no publicist or agent, he is secretive about the interview details and has Fran sign an NDA before he’d confirm the interview. She doesn’t know her destination, but boards a small private jet at a private airport.

On her first day at the Kramer residence, she gets an anonymous text warning her that Jonathan is lying to her and that she needs to get out while she still can. Shocked but determined to get her story, Fran tries to get on with the interview, but Jonathan proves evasive. She’s trying to get to know him better, so when he suggests they go hunting together, Fran jumps at the chance.

She starts to question her decision to accept the assignment after spending time alone with him in the wilderness. With no cell reception and not knowing where, exactly, she is, she has no choice but the see it through and hope for the best.

In Tiny Wild Things, Danielle M. Wong introduces readers to Fran Hendrix, a driven but troubled young woman who is haunted by recurring dreams and blackouts. She recently broke up with her boyfriend, Liam, because of what she refers to as “the incident.” Trying to move on, she heads to an unknown location to interview Jonathan Kramer, expecting a career boost. At first, she understands all the secrecy because he’s a famous artist. But soon she feels he’s not being honest and seems to have ulterior motives for having her there. Peeling back the layers of his life ends up affecting her own in unexpected ways.

As a fan of psychological thrillers, I was drawn to this novel because of the concept of a journalist who finds herself isolated with a man she hopes to interview as the circumstances turn nerve-wracking. At first, it appears to be a golden opportunity for her, but it soon spirals into a tense and disturbing stay at his remote country estate. Driven by her journalistic instincts and determined to uncover the truth, Fran pushes forward, even as her questions are met with silence and Jonathan reveals unnerving details about her life. I was hooked by the second chapter when Fran glances nervously at a large hole punched into the living room wall of her apartment that she’s been trying to hide with furniture and ignore. It hints that there’s something disconcerting about her, and it compelled me to keep reading.

A tense psychological thriller, Tiny Wild Things blends intrigue, suspense, and a creeping sense of unease. The suspense begins with the anonymous warning, and the atmosphere shifts from professional to worrying. Wong uses the isolation of the setting, which becomes a character in itself, and the ambiguity of her characters to create a sense of claustrophobic dread. With intense action, plot twists, and shady characters, it’s a gripping and unsettling story. The narration is in the first-person point of view through Fran’s eyes, and the descriptive language draws you in.

I’ve had more than a few episodes in my life. There are some that blend together like strands of yarn in a scarf, impossible to distinguish unless I unravel everything.

Tiny Wild Things is a suspenseful and chilling atmospheric story about trust, obsession, and the dangerous edges of ambition. Readers are left questioning loyalties, motives, and truths until the surprising end. It explores the themes of identity, isolation, human nature, and family, making it a must-read for fans of twisty, character-driven thrillers.

Hot, boiling blood courses through my body until I can barely think. I’m half shocked, half furious. Completely terrified. The fear consumes me—pulses through my veins until it’s all I feel.

[BookLover45 · Rating 5 out of 5]

In this searing, elegantly constructed psychological thriller, Danielle M. Wong delivers a taut, cerebral exploration of paranoia, perception, and power through the figure of Fran Hendrix, an ambitious journalist whose professional hunger becomes the gateway to her personal unraveling. The novel, with its claustrophobic atmosphere and masterful manipulation of psychological tension, secures its place within the contemporary canon of psychological suspense fiction, establishing the author as a consummate storyteller and a formidable voice in the genre.

At the narrative’s core is Fran’s arrival at the remote estate of a reclusive artist, a figure both charismatic and ominous, who has chosen her to conduct his first interview in the aftermath of his wife’s mysterious death. What initially appears to be a career-defining opportunity gradually curdles into a nerve-fraying descent into psychological disorientation. The anonymous warning Fran receives—He is lying to you. Get out while you can—functions as a narrative detonator, shifting the reader’s expectation from journalistic inquiry to existential threat.

The novel’s brilliance lies not merely in its plot, which unfolds with precise, inexorable pacing, but in its use of literary devices that elevate the familiar into the uncanny. The setting—a sprawling, isolated country estate—functions as both physical trap and metaphorical mindscape, a liminal zone in which truth blurs and identity fractures. The wilderness surrounding the estate, particularly during the climactic hunting scenes, becomes a mirror of Fran’s growing inner disorientation, with nature weaponized as both setting and symbol. This interplay of environment and psyche evokes the gothic tradition while remaining firmly rooted in the modern psychological thriller.

Characterization, too, is wielded with surgical control. Fran, though initially confident and sharp, gradually reveals the fragilities that make her the perfect prey for manipulation. Her desire for professional validation, paired with unresolved traumas and a tendency toward self-delusion, renders her a compellingly flawed protagonist. The artist, enigmatic and performatively elusive, remains a cipher for much of the novel, and it is this sustained ambiguity that injects the narrative with relentless unease.

The author excels at narrative misdirection. Flashbacks, dream sequences, and unreliable interior monologues destabilize the reader’s certainty at every turn. The prose, lean yet evocative, traffics in suggestive detail—fragments of memory, glimpses of suppressed truths, and elliptical dialogue—that invite speculation while withholding resolution. This technique is not only a hallmark of the genre but is here employed with particular finesse, creating a reading experience that is both intellectually engaging and emotionally harrowing.

Ultimately, what distinguishes this novel from more conventional entries in the psychological thriller genre is its interrogation of the act of storytelling itself. Fran’s quest for “the story” is mirrored by the reader’s own pursuit of narrative coherence, and both quests are subverted by the novel’s chilling denouement. In the end, the story resists being fully told—just as its central mystery resists being fully solved—leaving the reader in a state of suspended dread.

With this novel, the author does not merely craft a suspenseful narrative; she constructs a psychological labyrinth in which readers are invited to lose themselves. It is a work of sharp intelligence and artistic precision, one that unsettles not through shock alone, but through a slow, meticulous erosion of certainty. In doing so, she cements her place as a master of the contemporary psychological thriller, an architect of dread whose work lingers long after the final page.

[Els · Rating 4 out of 5]

What would you do if, as a journalist, you were chosen to interview a very famous artist? Would you go for it, even if it meant traveling to his remote country estate?
Fran has her doubts too, but this is the kind of assignment she’s been waiting for for quite some time—and despite everything, she packs her bags. But what kind of hornet’s nest has she stepped into…

This is my first book by this author, and I thought the cover and title gave off something mysterious and at the same time eerie. I was curious to find out what they would mean.

From just a few pages in, you already sense that Fran is in for much more than just a conversation with an eccentric artist. Mysterious messages, evasive answers, and the creeping feeling that she is the one being interviewed instead of the other way around.

You constantly ask yourself what the real purpose is—and maybe Fran herself has things she’s hiding from the light of day?

What I really liked was the atmosphere that’s created—it made me, as a reader, feel genuinely uneasy. However, the pacing was a bit too slow for me. The story does pick up speed toward the end, and that’s something I’m absolutely a fan of.

What I missed a little were more details about Fran’s past. I think that would have made the whole story even more compelling.

The core idea behind the book was great, and it definitely had some original elements. I found it pretty twisted—and that’s perfect for a psychological thriller.

In short: at times maybe a bit too heavy on details that didn’t add much and slowed the pace, but definitely worth 4 stars.

Thank you

[Alan · Rating 2 out of 5]

This review is for an ARC copy received from the publisher through NetGalley.
Fran is a budding journalist at a trendy magazine hoping to be something bigger. Her big break finally seems to come when a famous reclusive artist, Jonathan Kramer, asks specifically for her to write his final interview. Under all sorts of secrecy, the likes of which she could never fathom would happen, Fran is whisked away to his manor in an undisclosed location. While she was told the interview would take place under his timeline, she never imagined she would be secreted away at his place for days, with scarcely any cell phone reception. But even stranger are her dreams and the warning texts she gets saying Kramer isn't what he seems. The longer she stays, the deeper she finds the secrets go.
While the book started as somewhat of a slow burn, the mystery mainly being why Fran was chosen, and just what Kramer really intended for the interview, as he and his companion give virtually nothing to Fran. But somewhere shortly after the midway point, the book turned into an out of control car speeding down a mountain side with craziness coming from all angles. While I guessed the main secret very early on (one that was pretty far-fetched to begin with) I never could have guessed the myriad others, mainly because each one seemed like it was placed there simply to outdo all the previous ones. If you like Lifetime Channel and/or sensationalist thrillers, heavy on surprises, light on plausibility, this may be for you. I'm not sure how much the plot ever had me, but it utterly lost me the more over the top it became in the second half.

[Nikki B. · Rating 5 out of 5]

I really enjoyed this thriller Tiny Wild Things. Fran is a journalist sent in to interview reclusive artist Jonathan Kramer. As she sets off to join him at his estate, she isn't allowed any knowledge as to where his property is. She is to basically get on a plane and be escorted to the property without any knowledge of what part of the country she is even in. Once she arrives at the estate though, she finds that her outside communications are very limited as well, since the reception is very random and spotty.
Jonathan is very peculiar and strange. Questions regarding his wife that has passed on seems to be a trigger for him. He wants to interview, but on his own terms in his own way, and he seems to be procrastinating and putting it off. But in the meantime, Fran feels very unsettled in the house. She even feels like she sees a woman in her room at night, though she swears she's locked the door, and she begins to wonder if it's some sort of premonition or foreshadowing of something because the woman she sees standing in her room is her. She's also getting random weird messages to not trust Mr. Kramer and a doll keeps disappearing and reappearing in her room.
The story is very unsettling and gives very creepy vibes with Mr. Kramer seemingly being the catalyst for it all. I didn't see the twist coming at all but then, as if that wasn't enough... the ending had me reeling!!! I didn't expect that at all! If you're looking for something to leave you feeling unsettled and have you looking over your shoulder, give this one a read.

[Deanna Loves to Read!!:) · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is a very dark tale. Fran is invited by a reclusive artist to interview him. He rarely gives interviews, and there is not much known about him. She will traveling to a very isolated place. But sees this as an opportunity to further her career. Yet when she meets Johnathon Kramer, he is reticent to answer questions. And she feels a sense of danger.

So the first part of this book is slow. We get to learn all about Fran's sleeping habits, or lack thereof. There is also a lot of time spent on her dreams. I really didn't know where this was going, especially when we are reminded quite a few times that she really likes tiny wild animals.

The second half of the book takes off at rocket speed. I felt like I started reading a completely different book. The characters in this book are very much on the dysfunctional side. And many of the decisions and choices didn't make sense to me. I get that they were very dysfunctional, but I could not see where any motivation lay that started this whole thing. It does come together towards the end. I will say that the twist at the end really surprised me!

The atmosphere of this book is out of this world. Dark, creepy, overpowering- it exudes this in every scene. In some ways this was a little too dark and violent for me.

I do not think this book was for me- but it has so many higher ratings. So please, if you are interested, read the other reviews!

Thank you to NetGalley and Storm Publishing for the ARC. This is my honest and voluntary review.

[Melissa (Nissa_the.bookworm) · Rating 4 out of 5]

𝐑𝐄𝐀𝐃 𝐓𝐇𝐈𝐒 𝐈𝐅 𝐘𝐎𝐔
👀 love unreliable narrators
🏠 enjoy creepy mansions in the middle of nowhere
📰 would interview a recluse
💭 have weird dreams

• 𝐖𝐇𝐀𝐓 𝐈𝐓’𝐒 𝐀𝐁𝐎𝐔𝐓

Journalist Fran Hendrix thinks she’s about to get the scoop of her career. A reclusive artist has chosen her to take his first interview since the tragic death of his wife years before. Not long after arriving at his secluded country estate, Fran receives a shocking anonymous message. He is lying to you. Get out while you can.

But Fran is a journalist. She’s not going anywhere without her story, even when her host refuses to answer her questions while seeming to know things about her life she hasn’t told anyone. When he suggests they go hunting together, Fran sees it as a chance to finally break through his defenses. But alone with him in the wilderness, she starts to question whether the note was right all along – and she should have gotten out while she still had the chance…

• 𝐌𝐘 𝐓𝐇𝐎𝐔𝐆𝐇𝐓𝐒

This was an interesting read with a lot of twists and turns and situations you simply never see coming! It’s atmospheric, taking place at a secluded mansion in the middle of nowhere, and the people in the story are creepy and weird, like everyone is hiding something. It’s a bit of slow burn up until the second half of the story, but you really feel the tension start to build before then, and the spookiness levels are off the charts. The final twist is the most shocking, and I think those who enjoy immersive reads will enjoy this one!

[☆Laura☆ · Rating 4 out of 5]

Fran Hendrix, una joven periodista que sueña con dejar atrás los artículos banales y ganarse un lugar en el periodismo serio, recibe una oportunidad única: entrevistar al misterioso y legendario artista Jonathan Kramer, quien ha vivido alejado del ojo público durante décadas tras la muerte de su esposa. Para ello, Fran deberá viajar a un lugar secreto, sin saber siquiera su destino final, firmar acuerdos de confidencialidad y renunciar temporalmente al contacto con el mundo exterior.

Lo que comienza como un sueño profesional se convierte en una experiencia profundamente inquietante y transformadora. Aislada en una mansión antigua y rodeada de secretos, Fran empieza a notar inconsistencias, recibir mensajes anónimos advirtiéndole que algo no está bien, y descubrir que nada ni nadie es lo que parece. Mientras intenta mantener su objetivo periodístico, también deberá enfrentar traumas personales, recuerdos dolorosos, y una creciente sensación de peligro.

La novela entrelaza el suspenso psicológico con el drama emocional, mientras Fran explora no solo la historia de Kramer, sino también su propia identidad, pérdidas pasadas y la fuerza que aún guarda en su interior.

--

El final me dejó impactada y triste.

Thanks to NetGalley, the publisher and the author for the ARC in exchange for an honest.

[Suesyn Zellmer · Rating 3 out of 5]

Fran is a journalist who finally has her big break when she’s given a chance to interview a notoriously private artist. So private that no one even knows where he lives. Of course, that just makes him that much more intriguing, and there’s no way she’s passing up this chance. After some subterfuge while traveling to the mystery estate, she arrives and is impressed with his beautiful home. He’s less intimidating than expected, but just as stubborn when it comes to revealing any details about his personal life. When she receives an anonymous message claiming he is a liar, his silence becomes more sinister, and she wonders just how safe she is and what he really wants from her.

Without spoiling anything, the plot takes a turn, and the story veers off in a different direction. At that point, the credibility stretches and the more implausible it becomes. There’s a familiar trope that I couldn’t believe was included. And it’s not the only one! The others aren’t as cringeworthy, but it’s almost like the author took two different story ideas and meshed them together. But instead of an intricately woven storyline combining the two, it’s just messy.

If the story had continued to be a credible mystery, I would have enjoyed it more. I like that the author was going for something different and unexpected, but it just went a bit too far.

[Carol Werner Harris · Rating 5 out of 5]

Tiny Wild Things
by Danielle M. Wong
Pub Date: Aug 04 2025

Tiny Wild Things is an utterly gripping psychological thriller with some jaw dropping twists you don't see coming! The biggest twist? The one that hits just before you reach the last page? Absolutely jaw-dropping and completely unexpected! If that doesn't make you want to pick this 5 star book up and start reading it, nothing will!

Synopsis: Journalist Fran Hendrix thinks she’s about to get the scoop of her career. A reclusive artist has chosen her to take his first interview since the tragic death of his wife years before. Not long after arriving at his secluded country estate, Fran receives a shocking anonymous message. He is lying to you. Get out while you can.

But Fran is a journalist. She’s not going anywhere without her story, even when her host refuses to answer her questions while seeming to know things about her life she hasn’t told anyone. When he suggests they go hunting together, Fran sees it as a chance to finally break through his defenses. But alone with him in the wilderness, she starts to question whether the note was right all along – and she should have gotten out while she still had the chance…

Many thanks to #TinyWildThings #NetGalley and #StormPublishing for providing me an E-ARC of this fantastic story!

[Cindy · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thank you to NetGalley and Storm Publishing for providing me with an ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review.

A quiet, eerie mystery with classic vibes
Tiny Wild Things by Danielle M. Wong starts strong with a gripping premise: Fran, a journalist on the verge of a breakthrough, lands the opportunity of a lifetime, interviewing the elusive and famous artist Jonathan Kramer. From the very beginning, there’s an air of secrecy and isolation that pulls you in. Wong does a great job building a haunting, secluded atmosphere, with beautifully written descriptions that give the story a nostalgic, almost cinematic feel.

The slow unraveling of Fran’s backstory through snippets scattered across the novel was a clever touch, especially as everything tied together in the end.

That said, I can’t quite give it a five-star rating. While the concept was compelling, the pacing dragged a bit in the final chapters, and parts of the narrative felt repetitive. The ending, though satisfying in some ways, was also somewhat predictable.

Still, if you enjoy character-driven mysteries with a moody, introspective tone and classic, almost vintage aesthetics....this one is worth picking up!

[Susan Ballard (subakkabookstuff) · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a fast read for me; I had to find out what the heck was happening! I knew from the start something was off, but the dark and twisted things that unfolded were beyond my wildest expectations!

Fran is a journalist who gets a special invite to interview Jonathan Kramer, a reclusive artist. She must come to his country estate by secretive means.

Immediately, things got eerie: Fran is not made aware of her exact location, and she receives ominous texts stating she may be in danger. Then Jonathan suggests they go hunting, and the suspense heightens.

The author drops little breadcrumbs as to what might be going on here, but honestly, I did not put it all together. I'm not sure you can. A big part of the book is Fran trying to get information out of Jonathan for her story, who is just plain creepy - but Fran has no idea what he is hiding! The last few chapters and especially the last few pages definitely carry a wow-factor approval.

This is a thriller you can race through, with short chapters and an unsettled atmosphere. But hold onto your popcorn for this extremely wild finish!

Thank you to @suzyapprovedbooktours and @daniellemwong_ for the #gifted book.

[D.K. Hundt · Rating 3 out of 5]

TINY WILD THINGS – by Danielle M. Wong

I mean, how can you not be pulled in immediately after reading the opening lines:

‘So this is how it ends—with me standing over a corpse. Dirt wedged beneath my nails, blood caked onto my palms. Body fraught with tension. Heart thudding uncontrollably. Hands trembling, limbs stiff like the lifeless ones beneath me.’

About:

‘Journalist Fran Hendrix thinks she’s about to get the scoop of her career. A reclusive artist has chosen her to take his first interview since the tragic death of his wife years before. Not long after arriving at his secluded country estate, Fran receives a shocking anonymous message.’

‘He is lying to you. Get out while you can.

My Thoughts:

TINY WILD THINGS is a dark and twisted tale that simmers throughout. It is sprinkled with bits of mysterious messages from an unknown sender that up the ante of intrigue.

The ending, though predictable, seemed rushed. Also, I feel that an important interview (not the Artist interview) at the end was skipped, making suspension of disbelief as to how things play out in one’s favor a requirement.

Overall . . .

Recommend!

Thank you, NetGalley and Storm Publishing, for providing me with an eBook of TINY WILD THINGS at the request of an honest review.

[Country Mama · Rating 5 out of 5]

Tiny Wild Things by Danielle M. Wong is a psychological thriller involving our MC named Fran who is a journalist. Fran was called to write an exclusive story about an artist who doesn't interview or talk to anyone, she is thrilled and heads to the house to talk to him. The details about how Fran gets to Kramer's estate are so well written that you feel that you are on the trip with Fran as she arrives at the estate and sees it for the first time. Fran gets a suspicious text message about Kramer lying to her. She doesn't know what to believe or who the message came from. Fran starts to see things in the house and she realizes she is trapped with no way out. Also she finds out Kramer specifically chose her for the interview and now must find out why. This book is a fast page turner with lots of tension and suspense happening with the characters. I liked the character of Fran, she can be anyone which lets the readers step quickly into her shoes. And Kramer just isn't who he appears to be and you find out he is lying about many things. But then again that ending just is WOW. I wasn't expecting it to head that way at all. I highly recommend this one to thriller fans with a great fast paced, and tension filled story with a killer ending!