Heather

by Caitlin Mullen

A USA TODAY BESTSELLER * A NEW YORK TIMES EDITORS' CHOICE PICK

“I’ve found my favorite crime novel of the year so far, one I’m already recommending to people who love Tana French and Liz Moore…. I read Heather in a single sitting.” —Sarah Weinman, The New York Times

“If you enjoyed Mare of Easttown, you’ll love Heather. A gritty cold-case detective story, vividly and insightfully written. Not just a story of murder, it’s a thought-provoking and moving meditation on mothers and daughters and the long-reaching consequences of the choices we make.” ―Alex Michaelides, #1 New York Times bestselling author of The Silent Patient and The Fury

A small-town detective reopens an unsolved case, sending shock waves across generations of women in this gripping new mystery from the Edgar Award–winning author of Please See Us .

1990. In the myth-riddled woods of the New Jersey Pine Barrens, sixteen-year-old Annabelle Riley's twin sister, Sabrina, has been having an affair with a mysterious older man, and Annabelle is determined to uncover what's going on. Then, inexplicably, both sisters disappear.

In this same town years later, newly instated police chief Callie Hauser makes an arrest that unexpectedly resurrects details from a heartbreaking cold case. As she digs deeper, the past and the present collide, challenging everything Callie believes about right and wrong, who she is, and the town she's always called home.

A propulsive mystery as incisive as it is forgiving, Heather bears a visceral reminder that the truth of a woman's life is often complicated and unknowable—to those on the outside, and sometimes even to herself.

Genres: Mystery, Fiction, Thriller, Mystery Thriller, Audiobook, Crime, Suspense

338 pages, Kindle Edition

First published June 9, 2026

About the author

Caitlin Mullen is the author of Please See Us, which won the 2021 Edgar Award for Best First Novel and was named a New York Times best crime novel in 2020. She lives in New Jersey with her husband and children.

instagram: @caitlin_e_mullen

Reviews

[MarilynW · Rating 4 out of 5]

Heather by Caitlin Mullen
Narrated by Bailey Carr; Christine Lakin; Mia Wurgaft

New police chief Callie Hauser can't help questioning her move back home to take this job. She loved working the big city cases back at her old location but her best friend Jane needs her help after a devastating hit and run accident that has kept her from being able to take care of herself and she certainly can't take care of her three year old daughter. So Callie took this job opening to the disgust and hatred of the men working under her. Callie has always been a workaholic but having to work these small crime cases while being harassed by the men under her makes her distrust all her life decisions.

In 1993, sixteen year old twins, Sabrina and Annabelle Riley went missing. The girls were barely on anyone's radar except to feel sorry for them or to make fun of them. Abandoned and without recourses, both girls existed as best they could. Sabrina was considered the wild, bad girl, Annabelle was the studious, boring girl. In the present timeline, Callie hears something about these girls from the past and she becomes obsessed with finding out what happened to them and that obsession is going to get her in trouble.

The POVs are from Callie, Annabelle, and an eighteen year old named Blair. Blair's mom, Ivy, is all kinds of awesome, the very kind of mom that might have saved Sabrina and Annabelle. But Blair is inquisitive and her actions will blow her family apart. The narrators for all three POVs are great and I applaud the use of three distinct narrators for these three POVs.

I enjoy stories about small towns since I live outside a small town and spend time in other small towns around us. But, small towns mean that too many people know too much about the business of others. Also, small towns can have sordid secrets that rot the trust of the people of those towns. The New Jersey Pine Barrens is full of these types of secrets, of people getting away with what they should not get away with, and with the forgotten, the abused, and those without means to report abuses without risking life and limb. Small town life might not be nearly as boring or safe as one might think and Callie is butting heads with the powers that be to try to unearth misdeeds that many want to stay buried forever. I read this book with Jayme and DeAnn so be sure to check out their thoughts on the story. I enjoyed it although I wish the wildlife had been left in peace.

Pub June 9, 2026

Thanks to Macmillan Audio and NetGalley for this ARC.

[Heather Adores Books · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5⭐
Genre ~ police procedural, crime fiction
Setting ~ New Jersey
Publication date ~ June 9, 2026
Publisher ~ Macmillan Audio
Est Page Count ~ 352 (p+ 54 chapters +e)
Audio length ~ 12 hours 8 minutes
Narrators ~ Bailey Carr, Christine Lakin, Mia Wurgaft
POV ~ 3rd and 2nd (Annabelle)
Featuring ~ 3 parts, small town, cold case, slow burn

Callie is our new police chief ready to set some fresh eyes on the cold case of missing sisters, Annabelle & Sabrina, from the 90's.

These 16 year old twins don't have the best home life, so as you can imagine they don't make the best choices. There are inappropriate relationships resulting in teen pregnancy and mentions of abortion, then a stillborn, abandoned baby.

Having a mix of 3rd and 2nd person narration was jarring, so I wasn't a big fan of that.

Part 2 we meet Blair in September 2023 that ramps up the story slightly.

Overall, this was fine as cold cases go, but it was very slow moving and pretty predictable. The eerie vibes were on point, though. It's worth mentioning this is not a thriller, so don't expect that going in if that's what you prefer with your mysteries.

Narration notes:
Please as punch there are 3! They all did well.

Pre-reading notes:
Obviously I have to read this one!

[Liana Gold · Rating 4 out of 5]

⭐️ 4.5 ⭐️ How rarely do we know the truths even about our own lives?

Two missing girls, one cold case, thirty years of silence. This is a story of a small town that harbored a lot of dark secrets. Set in Pine Barrens, NJ, this is mystery/literary thriller that follows two timelines and 3 distinct narrators.. each telling a story that serves as a reminder that a woman's life is often complicated and unknowable and when a voice is lost, a lot of truth is lost with it.

1994. A 16 year old Sabrina is having an affair with a mysterious older man. Her twin sister Annabelle is determines to uncover what is going on. Then, inexplicably both sisters disappear.

2023. A small town detective, Callie, reopens an unsolved case when she makes an arrest that resurrects details of the heartbreaking past.

Body of a baby is found in the woods. No one knows whose baby it is, how it got there or who is involved. The case goes cold and silent for the next 30 years until Callie, a newly instated police chief officer, makes an arrest that opens a little crack in the cold case. The arrest sets off a chain of events, bringing Callie closer to the truth but she was not expecting to find something that is far more deeper, messier and personal.

Heather is a slow burn mystery full of suspense. While the pacing is slow at times, the story is laced with emotionally shocking moments and is more of a character driven crime fiction. I had a little trouble following the narration the first 15% and then I was hooked and couldn't put it down. I listened to the first 70% of the narration in one sitting and finished the rest the next day, also in one sitting. I loved Callies character--she was driven, on top of things, an embodiment of what I'd call a great detective and police officer. She just kept digging and digging some more and all this digging ticked a few people off (total red flags!) and she just wouldn't stop until she got what she wanted. All this digging just added more tension to the narrative, I seriously started to think I was part of the investigation! Ha!

The noisiness of the third narrator was probably my favorite part of the story. A girls own curiosity opens a can of worms. I loved how everything unfolded and readers should be prepared for emotional depth that covers dark subjects: teen pregnancy, loss, stillbirth, sexual exploitation.



Narrator: Bailey Carr, Christine Lakin, Mia Wurgaft
Duration 12 hours 2 minutes
Speed: 1.5x

Many thanks to NetGalley, Macmillan Audio and the author, Caitlin Mullen for an early ALC.

Publication date: June 9, 2026

[Melissa (Always Behind) · Rating 4 out of 5]

Deeper than I thought it would be. Engrossing story of betrayal and redemption.

Calliope "Callie" Hauser has returned to her small hometown to take the role of chief of police after the current chief is forced into retirement. There's some history with her family in town, so she's not exactly welcomed with open arms. On patrol, she pulls over a drunk driver that just happens to be her mother, which leads to Callie discovering some secrets from the past about a set of missing twins and a dead baby found in the woods. As Callie begins to investigate, she uncovers many layers of mystery.

This is such a multi-layered story. As the reader moves back and forth between the past and the present, there is more to this than just the mysterious deaths and disappearances. The dark and foreboding atmosphere of long held grievances and secrets, the abuse of power, trauma, grief, and the effects that those things have on a life moving forward.

I can't say that the mystery is all that difficult to figure out, but this book is more about the journey to unearth the truth and bring redemption to those who have lived under the pressure of lies for so long. I listened to the audiobook and the three narrators do an excellent job of giving voice to the different women. I admired Callie and her quest for the truth despite what it cost her.

I voluntarily reviewed a complimentary copy of this book, all opinions are my own.

[Gordo · Rating 2 out of 5]

The inner spine promises a "gripping new thriller" that "sends shockwaves across generations." What I got was a slow-burn cold case anchored to one of the least competent protagonists I've read in the genre.

Callie Hauser is the new Chief of Police, which I'm told means overseeing all cases — yet she's almost never at work, fixated on a single cold case she stumbles into. When she is at work, her male employees walk over her like a doormat at a ski lodge, and she takes it. She's not a feminist so much as a collection of contradictions: she assumes everything a man says is about sex and loathes them for it — except the guy she just met, who calls her "no-bullshit vibes" (sir, receipts?) and whom she trusts to take her out on the water, the second-date equivalent of an unpopular hike trail. Pulling off a glove reminds her of the way men remove a condom. High schoolers ignoring her makes her, a woman in her thirties, depressed. Pick a person.

As a cop she's worse. I knew who did it on page 27. Callie's still saying "wait, what?" on page 300. She doesn't deduce a single thing that isn't handed to her in the most literal terms — at one point she puts her phone away the one moment she actually needs it. Her internal monologue even cliffhangers like 1960s Batman: Will she survive? Tune in next week. And naming a character Damien in a book that also invokes religion and the Jersey Devil — real subtle.

Here's the thing: remove yourself from Callie and the story threads work. I liked pivoting between Annabelle, Sabrina, and Blair, watching them intersect. The bite mark reveal landed. The plot-convenient DNA test didn't bother me. And this is less a generation-shaking thriller than a quiet study of what you lose when you can't learn from your parents — Callie can't even muster feeling for her own mother.

It's not a book you can't put down. But it's not one you give up on either — until the last two chapters, where you finish purely because you're already this far.

[Barbara · Rating 5 out of 5]

★★★★★

🎧 I highly recommend the audiobook of HEATHER by Caitlin Mullen.

HEATHER is a dark, gritty, slow-burn thriller that immediately drew me in. I chose the audio, narrated by Bailey Carr, Christine Lakin, and Mia Wurgaft, and their performances elevated the story considerably. I’m not sure I would have enjoyed this one quite as much in print. The narrators brought the characters and atmosphere to life and turned this into a story I devoured.

The novel follows Callie Hauser, the newly appointed police chief of Pine Lakes, a small New Jersey town experiencing an alarming rise in drug overdoses. Callie’s mother, Jenna, has long struggled with substance abuse and alcoholism. After Callie arrests her for drunk driving, Jenna disappears.

As Callie searches for her mother, she begins uncovering pieces of Jenna’s adolescence that may help explain the trajectory of her life. When Jenna was sixteen, she discovered the body of a newborn baby. Callie also learns about a teenage girl who disappeared around the same time and was suspected of being the baby’s mother.

Through alternating timelines, Mullen gradually reveals the darker side of Pine Lakes and the culture Jenna encountered as a teenager. Central to that past is a disturbing man known only as “the Coyote,” who had a troubling connection to the town’s police chief. Mullen takes us back to an era before the #MeToo movement, when powerful, predatory men could exploit vulnerable girls and women with little fear of consequences.

In the present, Callie is juggling multiple crises. She is searching for her missing mother while trying to determine who is distributing fentanyl-laced drugs in Pine Lakes. At the same time, her best friend is involved in a suspicious hit-and-run, leaving Callie to help care for her young daughter.

What Mullen does particularly well is explore how male power, sexual exploitation, and small-town corruption can become intertwined. The women and girls in this story often have little agency, and the consequences reverberate across generations. There is loss of innocence, addiction, complicity, corruption, and secrets. So many secrets.

This is not a fast-paced thriller. It’s a dark, atmospheric slow burn in which the past steadily encroaches upon the present. I was completely invested in discovering what happened all those years ago and how it connected to what was happening in Pine Lakes now.

🎧 If you enjoy audiobooks, I strongly recommend choosing the audio. Bailey Carr, Christine Lakin, and Mia Wurgaft make HEATHER an especially compelling listen.

[Dutchie · Rating 4 out of 5]

A small New Jersey town, a newly reopened cold case, and lots of secrets… these three things have the makings of a really good novel.

In the present day, Callie is the newly installed police chief of the small New Jersey town in which she grew up. Not everyone is happy with her new position, especially her male subordinates. Trying to prove herself to them, she takes on extra shifts, and in doing so, she stumbles across a cold case that has a personal connection to her.

Rewind to the 90s… Annabelle and Sabrina are teenage twin sisters caught up in something over their heads.

Both storylines come together with the revelation of a ton of secrets and end with a satisfying conclusion.

Heather was definitely a slow burn, character-driven mystery that had me hooked from page one. While the mystery itself is not tough to solve, it didn’t lessen my enjoyment of the book. I was completely sucked in to the characters as well as the dark, moody atmosphere of the Pine Barrens.

Keep this book in mind if you’re in the mood for more of a slow burn mystery that focuses on small town secrets.

[Meagan (Meagansbookclub) · Rating 4 out of 5]

Heather is an atmospheric, character-driven mystery that slowly unravels a decades-old disappearance alongside a present-day cold case investigation. While it's a slower-paced suspense novel, the richly layered story, emotional depth, and immersive audiobook narration kept me completely invested from beginning to end.

[suspenseisthrillingme · Rating 4 out of 5]

A gritty yet lyrical take on an atmospheric cold-case mystery, Heather delivered a heartbreaking story of trauma, sisterhood, and the weight of the past. Weaving together two immersive timelines with three distinct narrators, this stunning debut was a slow-burning triumph that rocked me back on my heels. You see, on top of a haunting small-town setting that reverberated with true main character energy, the introspective feel of this literary mystery/thriller made it into quite the poignant, thought-provoking read. Taking a deep dive into mother-daughter dynamics, generational trauma, and the power of truth vs perception, it was a hard-hitting tale that I won’t be forgetting anytime soon. After all, it not only gave me definite God of the Woods vibes, but the storyline followed that up with a very Mare of Easttown-esque plot that delivered in spades.

So what was my favorite piece to this truly unforgettable novel? Well, that had to be the handful of strong yet flawed women at the center of the story. Pulling me directly into the character-driven plot with a deft hand, their nuanced personas and tragic circumstances had me gritting my teeth as chills went up and down my spine. You see, between the layers of dark family secrets and the look at the hidden struggles in all these women’s lives, it burned itself deep into my brain as I flew through the pages. Now, I do have to warn you that it wasn’t your typical fast-paced thriller packed with action and twists. No. The suspense in this book came from the high level of emotional tension and a heavy sense of dread. So if you love propulsive stories that easily live up to the hype, grab this book now. Perfect for fans of Tana French, it’s sure to blow you away. Rating of 4.5 stars.

SYNOPSIS:

1990. In the myth-riddled woods of the New Jersey Pine Barrens, sixteen-year-old Annabelle Riley's twin sister, Sabrina, has been having an affair with a mysterious older man, and Annabelle is determined to uncover what's going on. Then, inexplicably, both sisters disappear.

In this same town years later, newly instated police chief Callie Hauser makes an arrest that unexpectedly resurrects details from a heartbreaking cold case. As she digs deeper, the past and the present collide, challenging everything Callie believes about right and wrong, who she is, and the town she's always called home.

Thank you Caitlin Mullen and Celadon Books for my complimentary copy. All opinions are my own.

PUB DATE: June 9, 2026

Content warning: pregnancy, childbirth, alcoholism, drunk driving, death of a child, drug use, adult/minor relationship, sexual assault, grief, sexism, murder, gaslighting, abandonment, child abuse, miscarriage, animal cruelty/death, mention of: infertility

[Liz · Rating 3 out of 5]

Heather is a slow burn of a police procedural that involves the cold case of a dead baby in 1994 and the current investigation into the police chief’s missing mother. Callie Hauser has recently taken on the role of police chief of Pine Lake, NJ. She’s young, supposedly hand picked by the retiring police chief but her officers resent her and make life difficult for her.
The story alternates between the past, told from the perspective of Annabelle, and Callie. Annabelle is upset by her twin’s involvement with an older man. Despite being repeatedly told how smart she is, we are meant to believe she has no concept about the facts of life.
I found the book a little dry for my taste. The blurb and other reviewers mention the eeriness of the setting but I didn’t feel that at all. And Callie seemed purposely obtuse, unable to see what was right before her eyes. You know that feeling when you’re yelling at the actors in a horror movie. That would have been me yelling at Callie.
Mullen uses an odd feature of second person narrative for Annabelle’s section and third person for Callie’s. I’m not sure what she was trying to accomplish but it didn’t work for me.
There were one or two twists I didn’t see coming, but overall I found the story way too predictable and obvious.
I also found comparisons to The God of the Woods to be far off other than woods feature in both stories.
I listened to this. There are three narrators which didn’t really do much to enhance the story.

[Fern · Rating 4 out of 5]

Inject literary thrillers into my veins for the summer plz this was so good

[Barbara K · Rating 3 out of 5]

I’m not sure what review directed me to this book, but I know there was a comparison drawn to Liz Moore’s The God of the Woods. There are some grounds for comparison, but Caitlin Mullen is no Liz Moore.

The prose is uneven. Some scenes are described with a conviction that held me rapt. Just as often I flinched as I thought, “This really could have used another rewrite after a thorough critique by an experienced editor”.

But I doubt there was any interest in delaying publication; it was more important to ride the coattails of “God of the Woods”. Unearthing a decades old mystery set in a deep woods location, with the pine barrens of NJ substituted for the Adirondacks.

Mullen’s central theme of women, primarily high schoolers, taken advantage of by nasty older men has a lot of potential. The execution, unfortunately, is often clunky.

Can’t summon up more than 3 stars for this one.

[Bonnie G. · Rating 3 out of 5]

Everyone seems to love this, but I did not. It is not a bad book by any means, but it had a lot of problems IMO.

This mystery focuses on Cassie, a hotshot NJ state cop who leaves her prestigious department and moves back to her creepy, insular hometown in South Jersey when her best friend is grievously injured and needs support for her and her family. This creates the first unbelievable element of the story. Callie is a hotshot cop, but she is 30. She is instantly made Chief when the long-time and powerful Police Chief (also her mentor and something of a father figure to her) retires. Given her age, this seems like an unlikely occurrence. Also, I don't think the outgoing police chief just gets to pick their successor anywhere. Or at least anywhere but this town. She walks onto an all-male force who resents her being made Chief over one of their own (understandably!) and who refuse to be led by her. The cops, it is immediately hinted, are also powerful, somewhat corrupt, and almost to a man standard-bearers for the patriarchy. The dynamics here are interesting, but other than the cult-like relationship between the retired chief and the other officers, Mullen doesn't explore that much. That is too bad because doing so would have complexified the central story in cool ways.

And what about that central story? Cassie (for reasons that would be a spoiler, but are interesting) sets herself to getting answers in a 30-year-old cold case in which a baby was found in the woods, dead from exposure, at the same time a teenage girl disappeared. There are lots of assumptions to be made here, and I made them, and I was wrong about many of them. In addition, not long after Cassie gets to town, her mother, an alcoholic from whom she has long been estranged, disappears. It is a lot, in addition to being Chief of Police (which seems to take up little of her time), caring for her friend's 3-year old, and starting up a romance with a hot marine sciences geek. All that said, I rather liked the current day part of the story even with its flaws. It flowed well, and surprised me in good ways much of the time.

Cassie's chapters are interspersed with flashback chapters from Annabelle, which are related to the baby mystery. I can't say much about her or those chapters without spoiling. I will say two things though, that are about form and foundation and not storyline. First, these chapters are written in second-person. Second-person is hard to do well, and Mullen does not overcome that hurdle. I hated the narration. I found it precious and clumsy. Second, Mullen seems ot think that before Google people did not have access to information. It is made a big deal of that Annabelle was super smart, but everything she does makes her seem thick as a brick. Yes, she is young and afraid, but that only explains a tiny fraction of the things she does and does not do. She has a list of life-and-death problems to deal with, and she never so much as goes to the library, to a teacher, to social services, to get information. The internet was a huge game-changer when it comes to access to information, but we were not staring at fire and waiting for the gods to determine our fates before that. I came up in the 70's and 80's, and as callow and ill-informed as my friends and I might have been, we would have worked to actually solve some of the issues here. It makes no sense that super-smart Annabelle, who had adults around her offering help and access to a library, would have done and not done the things she did and did not do. Girl, read a Judy Blume book at least!

In addition to liking a lot of Cassie's story, I loved the sense of place Mullen created. South Jersey is a very different place than North Jersey, which is basically a jumble of NYC suburbs. South Jersey is rural and mostly pretty poor (with the exception of a few Philly suburbs). In the center of it all is the Pine Barrens. In addition to being (IMO) the title of the single best episode of The Sopranos, the Pines is a massive, sparsely inhabited forest filled with marshes and streams that are all brown and gooky and look like if you fell in, you would dissolve in moments. There are actual ghost towns dotted about, and lots of shacks with "keep out" signs, which all look as hazardous and as potentially fatal as the brown streams. It is one of the spookiest places I have ever been. Mullen, who I think grew up there, does a phenomenal job of taking us to The Pines and acknowledging how forbidding a place it is while also highlighting its glory. It was, hands down, my favorite part of the book.

Overall, I liked reading most of this, no regrets, but I don't get the love. I love a fuck-the-patriarchy tale, especially one that highlights how women's power is an illusion and that no matter what we do, men can always snatch it back when they want to. Mullen did good things with that messaging. But there was a lot here that did not work, and the Annabelle chapters were really unpleasant for me, not because they told a painful story (they do) but because I hated the voice and the decision to make her a genius or a moron as the story required.

[Sharmyn · Rating 4 out of 5]

A dual timeline, small town crime novel following a recently promoted police chief who is set on uncovering the secrets involving a 30 year old cold case, finding herself personally tangled in the mystery.

Set in the New Jersey Pine Barrens, the same setting as the Sopranos episode Pine Barrens where Christopher and Paulie are lost in the snow (“you’re not gonna believe this. He killed sixteen Czechoslovakians. The guy was an interior decorator.”) this was a very picturesque read and the evocative prose made this feel more literary fiction than straight up thriller.

The plot was engaging and evenly paced, and even though I figured out pretty early on what the twist would be, that didn’t take away from my enjoyment at all. I read half of this physically then listened to the other half on audiobook and the narrators also did an incredible job.

I agree with the blurb that if you liked The God of the Woods you will probably like this.

[Tini · Rating 4 out of 5]

A slow-burn, layered mystery in a haunting setting.

The New Jersey Pine Barrens have long been fertile ground for myth and mystery, and in Heather, Caitlin Mullen uses that eerie landscape to craft a slow-burning, deeply atmospheric thriller about secrets, sisterhood, and the lingering weight of the past.

The story moves between two timelines. In the present day, newly appointed police chief Callie Hauser returns to her hometown hoping to find her footing in a role that carries both professional and personal stakes. When an arrest unexpectedly resurrects details connected to the death of an infant, Callie begins investigating the cold case, as well as the long-unsolved disappearance of twin sisters Annabelle and Sabrina Riley in the mid-1990s - and it's not long before old secrets start to surface and the past begins colliding with the present.

Heather is very much a character-driven mystery, and it works beautifully on that level. Mullen takes her time exploring the complicated lives of the women at the center of the story, examining family ties, buried trauma, and the way small towns preserve both memories and secrets. The Pine Barrens themselves become almost a character in the novel, their folklore and isolating landscape providing the perfect haunting backdrop.

At times, the atmosphere and themes are reminiscent of The God of the Woods , a personal favorite of mine, particularly in the way both novels blend a missing-person mystery with a deeper exploration of family dynamics and long-held community secrets.

My main reservation with the novel itself concerns its different points of view. The twins' sections are written in second person, a stylistic choice that creates a certain distance in the narrative. As a result, those chapters occasionally feel more like a stylistic experiment than a storytelling necessity. In addition, the eventual introduction of a third perspective (Blair) doesn't always feel entirely essential to the narrative.

In the audiobook version, all three perspectives are narrated by different performers, which was an excellent choice. Christine Lakin in particular delivers a standout performance as Callie, capturing both the character's determination and her underlying vulnerability as she navigates the pressures of returning home and reopening a case everyone wants to forget about. Mia Wurgaft also provides a strong and engaging narration in her sections, though they are fewer in number. Finally, Bailey Carr narrates the perspective of the teenage twins. While her performance emphasizes the emotional fragility of the characters, the softer delivery didn't work quite as well for me - especially since I was already struggling with the second-person narration in those chapters.

The pacing of the novel leans firmly toward the slow-burn end of the thriller spectrum, prioritizing atmosphere and character over relentless twists. For readers like myself who enjoy immersive, emotionally complex mysteries, that's very much part of the appeal. Haunting, introspective, and beautifully grounded in its setting, Heather explores family, secrets, and the ways small towns hold onto the past. The result is a thoughtful and layered mystery with an unforgettable atmosphere.

Many thanks to Macmillan Audio for providing me with an ARC of the audiobook in exchange for my honest review.

"Heather" is slated to be released on June 9, 2026.

[Shantha (ShanthasBookEra) · Rating 4 out of 5]

"A small-town detective reopens an unsolved case, sending shock waves across generations of women in this gripping new mystery from the Edgar Award–winning author of Please See Us."

It is 1990 in a rural town in the New Jersey woods. Annabelle is determined to find out more about the mysterious older man her sixteen year old twin sister is having an affair with. She goes to investigate and both girls mysteriously disappear.

Decades later, new police chief Callie Hauser makes an arrest that is linked to the cold case. Soon Callie is digging up evidence that changes everything she knew to be true.

Haunting and atmospheric, this well written page turner reveals clues to the twin girls' past that are shocking and explore the abuse of young girls by older men in a tasteful way. Teenage girls don't have a lot of options, resources or allies and are easily exploited by adults willing to take advantage. This is full of unexpected twists and turns and is fabulous slow burn suspense. Highly recommend for fans of God of the Woods.

The audiobook performance by Bailey Carr, Christine Lakin and Mia Wurgaft made the characters come to life along with the tension.

Many thanks to NetGalley, Macmillan Audio and Caitlin Mullen for the gifted advance listening copy. All opinions are my own.🎧

[Sarah Dancausse · Rating 2 out of 5]

I deeply did not enjoy this book. It was predictable, the characters were undercooked, and the tropes are so. tired. nearly all the women are victims, nearly all the men suck and/or are predators, and the lady cop is only good cop because she’s a lady. If I wanted grim reality, I would read non-fiction.

[Miette Leclair · Rating 2 out of 5]

i think sometimes it’s good to read a book that you don’t think is very good to remind yourself what a gift a good book is

[Melissa · Rating 5 out of 5]

A must for God of the Woods fans!

[Ellery Adams · Rating 5 out of 5]

A slow burn, character-driven mystery featuring a young female police chief in small-town New Jersey. The family dynamics, small-town drama, old boys' club, and generational trauma reminded me so much of Karin Slaughter's North Falls series featuring Emmy Clifton. Like Emmy, Callie Hausen has a fraught relationship with her mother and long history with many of the suspects. Caitlin Mullen tackles some tough subjects here including child abandonment, child neglect, drug use, and more. Very well written and highly compelling.

[Steph · Rating 3 out of 5]

⊹ an emotional slowburn mystery about two missing girls, one rural small town, and a web of community secrets and interwoven traumas. while they are very different from one another, this reminds me of whidbey. both contain a set of complex character studies, unpacking the woes of these interconnected women all cruelly impacted by one predator.

⊹ while the character work is strong, the atmosphere is disappointing. the flashback chapters don't have much of a 90s feel (beyond rendering the teen characters without internet resources or methods of seeking help). and the pine barrens setting sounds enchanting, but it doesn't come to life. i often found myself second-guessing what season it was - in new jersey can you really go tent camping in january??

⊹ i've always been infuriated by the existence of anti-choice pregnancy crisis centers which use manipulative language to lure in young women who are vulnerable and struggling with the news of their pregnancies. this book contains a painful account of a character's experience with one of these centers, resulting in more trauma and tragedy. this is largely about the horrors that can strike girls when they are abused, neglected, uninformed, and left without choices or resources.

⊹ the forensic genealogy plot point(s) are very interesting, especially as there are many real families being torn apart by discoveries made by seemingly innocent genetic testing.

⊹ ACAB. lots of mystery novels include law enforcement protagonists, but it's easier to stomach them when they're a detective or other sort of investigator. i couldn't get on board with this book's police chief, callie, although she does eventually become aware of the enormous corruption within her local police force and decide to change occupations.

⊹ while callie is too close to the mystery to be able to unravel it, i had most of the twists worked out ahead of time. but i stayed invested regardless, which i think is a testament to the power of the multilayered characters. much empathy for these young girls, determined to survive despite a cold world that offers no lifeline.

[Katie B · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thank you Celadon Books for sending me a free advance copy!

I read Caitlin Mullen’s book, PLEASE SEE US, back in 2019. My book memory is not the best so I looked over the review I had posted on Goodreads and I’m glad I did as it refreshed my memory on the author’s writing style. She takes her time setting the stage and there’s a purpose to her writing that you just don’t get very often with this genre. She’s telling a broader, thoughtful story rather than just a whodunit type read.

Callie Hauser has moved back to her hometown in New Jersey to help take care of her best friend who is recovering from an accident. Callie is the chief of police much to the chagrin of her male subordinates. She reopens a cold case that is bound to uncover long buried secrets.

Starts off slow but I put my faith in the author and eventually became invested especially after other characters’ POVs were worked into the story. It’s a bleak read but it’s necessary to show the reality of life for girls and women. The mystery itself isn’t all that shocking and unfortunately that says a lot about where we are at as a society. But that’s kinda the whole point of the book.

[Jill · Rating 3 out of 5]

HEATHER
By Caitlin Mullen
Narrated by Bailey Carr, Christine Lakin, Mia Wurgaft

Buried Secrets in the Pine Barrens

3.5 rounded down
A slow-burn suspense novel set in the New Jersey Pine Barrens, Heather follows Police Chief Callie Hauser as she returns to her small hometown and makes an arrest that unexpectedly reopens a cold case from the 1990s. Two sixteen-year-old twin girls vanished years earlier, and Callie’s investigation begins to unsettle the town as long-buried secrets start to surface. As past and present collide, she finds herself questioning everything she thought she knew—about the case, the town, and even herself.

This is a slower-paced, dark, and atmospheric story with a quiet sense of unease. The pacing may not work for everyone, but it suits the moody, character-driven nature of the novel. Told through dual timelines, it focuses on complex women and how their pasts, relationships, and secrets shape their lives. The writing is descriptive and layered, exploring themes of trauma and memory.

This was a solid read for me, and I’d be interested in reading more from Caitlin Mullen. The narration was very well done, and I would definitely recommend the audiobook.

Thank you to NetGalley and Macmillan Audio for the ALC.

[Faith Knecht · Rating 1 out of 5]

Maybe my expectations of the type of book were off but I didn’t understand the core of this book and didn’t enjoy the execution. I probably should have DNF but I was so looking forward and curious enough to try.

I really disliked that Annabelle’s perspective was written in “you” format (not sure what that’s called). It felt like there were too many storylines to follow and superfluous info that didn’t add to the story. I’m still a little confused on how it all sorted out in the end and why there were so many side journeys.

[Joy · Rating 2 out of 5]

I was sort of blown away by how not-good this was, given some of the glowing reviews I’d seen on it. (NYT loved it!!!?!) I found it slow and plodding, and I couldn’t get really invested in the characters. I mean, we’re talking a burn so slow that I thought maybe the embers had gone out. I just cared less and less as it droned on, and then I finally skipped 2 hours and listened to the ending (and was glad I had skipped ahead).
People compare this book to Mare of Easttown, and I feel like that’s a real insult to Mare—she has such interesting characters and holds your interest. They are also comparing it to God of the Woods, which is an insult to that book, which has very well developed characters and a thoughtful plot that kept me fully engaged.

This book just wasn’t for me. Also, it had this horrible scene of child rape in it. In keeping with the book, that scene was also slow and plodding and just really horrible. (It made me yet again question what we consider to qualify as “entertainment”—a slow, disgusting child rape scene, simply to support a long-winded, dull mystery about a gross serial child rapist? This is our reading entertainment now?)

[tabiiiiiloves_books · Rating 2 out of 5]

i feel robbed of my time

[adelina gabriela · Rating 3 out of 5]

#SummerEncore

at some point i stopped trying to keep track of who was related to whom because apparently we’re all family now.

still entertaining, just a bit too neatly interconnected for my taste.

[s · Rating 4 out of 5]

thank you to netgalley, caitlin mullen, and celadon books for this eARC in exchange for an honest review!

release date: june 9th, 2026

oof. this was an emotional read. every woman in this book deserves so much better and more. it took a while for me to get into this book because it is veryyy slow in the beginning. that was my only complaint with this book. that, and there seemed to be too many side characters but omg no! i was so wrong - it is the side characters that truly bring this plot together. halfway through the book, you realize why and how every detail, minute or not, is very important. and by then, you won't be able to put this book down. the riley sisters have definitely made an impact on me.

[Heather Lilia · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.75⭐️ Rounded up (bc it deserves it)

Part litfic, part thriller, and part women's fiction... Heather was a book that reminded me, in so many ways, of The God of the Woods mixed with Clemence Michallon's feminist leaning approach to writing thrillers, with a sharp analysis of female pain passed from generation to generation and long held town secrets.

With larger than life, multilayered characters, drama up to the eyeballs, a beyond nostalgiac setting, and beautiful writing... I really enjoyed this one more than I thought I would. Initially in the first 40 pages I was wondering when the thrill would come in until I got used to Mullen's writing, which is (as I've come to learn) a style that forces you to just sit back and enjoy the ride.

While the plot may be somewhat predictable and on the lighter side, the writing and characterization were absolutely heartfelt and beautifully written. I was definitely crying at the end, and seeing the love between Annabelle and her sister Sabrina made the whole book just feel like something more ... deeper, more nuanced, more complicated.

That said, I felt really really satisfied with the ending in a way I didn't with God of the Woods, and liked the main characters a fair amount more. Definitely worth the time and read. Just know going in, it's more litfic/women's fiction than a true fast paced thriller-thriller.

[Bruno Britos · Rating 0.25 out of 5]

DNF @33%

Great 3 dnf in a row kkkkkkk i blame headlights because i want that feeling.

This one was boring and very slow pace, the theme of investigation is around drugs (which im not a fan) and we also have other pov (which is in 2 person). I didnt care about nobody, nothing happens and her mother is missing and she went on a date. im sorry what?

Not for me. Sometimes i feel kinda guilty about dnf but them i remeber, why would i make myself not have a good time? onyl to finish a book? no thanks. But i need something entertaining now