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Buried in the Woods Below
A spine-tingling new suspense-thriller from bestselling author Daniel G. Miller that will keep your heart racing to the last page.
SOME MEMORIES WERE NEVER MEANT TO STAY BURIED.
When Charlotte Hoffman's picture-perfect career implodes overnight, she retreats to the one place she swore she'd never Big Island, Minnesota. Home to her childhood best friend, Olivia Parker, and the place where her life first fell apart.
Eighteen years ago, tragedy struck, and Charlotte's blamed herself for that bloody night ever since. Now she's back, staying with the Parkers in their isolated lakeside home, surrounded by dark woods shrouded in mist and the decaying remains of a long-abandoned amusement park.
But something isn't right.
The Parkers' young twin girls whisper about ghosts in the trees. Threatening notes appear on doors. An old carousel screams in the wind. And every night the island claims another victim.
As Charlotte wades ever-deeper into danger, she can't shake the feeling that someone brought her back to the isolated island for a reason.
Someone who wants to finish what was started all those years ago.
SOME MEMORIES WERE NEVER MEANT TO STAY BURIED.
When Charlotte Hoffman's picture-perfect career implodes overnight, she retreats to the one place she swore she'd never Big Island, Minnesota. Home to her childhood best friend, Olivia Parker, and the place where her life first fell apart.
Eighteen years ago, tragedy struck, and Charlotte's blamed herself for that bloody night ever since. Now she's back, staying with the Parkers in their isolated lakeside home, surrounded by dark woods shrouded in mist and the decaying remains of a long-abandoned amusement park.
But something isn't right.
The Parkers' young twin girls whisper about ghosts in the trees. Threatening notes appear on doors. An old carousel screams in the wind. And every night the island claims another victim.
As Charlotte wades ever-deeper into danger, she can't shake the feeling that someone brought her back to the isolated island for a reason.
Someone who wants to finish what was started all those years ago.
351 pages, Kindle Edition
First published September 1, 2026
About the author
Daniel G. Miller
9 books927 followersDaniel G. Miller is the USA Today bestselling and Edgar-nominated author of the Orphanage by the Lake mystery-thriller series and the Tree of Knowledge adventure series. His novels have been published in over fifteen different languages, and he currently serves as the President of the Florida Chapter of the Mystery Writers of America. When he’s not writing, he enjoys sipping sunset cocktails with his wife, watching NBA basketball, and singing off-key to his sons, not necessarily in that order. He currently lives in Delray Beach, Florida. He loves hearing from readers, so feel free to drop him an email anytime.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 650 reviews
September 2, 2026
"SOME MEMORIES WERE NEVER MEANT TO STAY BURIED."
An isolated setting on Big Island, Minnesota, carries some dark secrets. With an abandoned amusement park, the Big Island Amusement Park, which operated a short while from 1906-1911, you get the creepy atmosphere that comes with dread and doom. A tragedy occurred 18 years ago, leaving Olivia Parker severely injured. Charlotte is the narrator and returns after being suspended from work. She stays with the Parker family to help care for their 8 year old twins, resembling the creepy twins on The Shining.
"Every night the island claims another victim."
A lakeside home in an isolated setting, comes with creaking floorboards, haunting shadows, an old carousel screams and eerie whispers from ghosts in the trees. When threatening notes appear and the dog is found dead, it is all over the place. It is disturbing as dark secrets become clear. Don't miss this if you like a dark thriller with a Gothic feel. This is perfect for the Halloween season of haunted houses. No way would I stay there.
Thank you NetGalley and Poisoned Pen Press for this ARC in exchange for my honest review.
An isolated setting on Big Island, Minnesota, carries some dark secrets. With an abandoned amusement park, the Big Island Amusement Park, which operated a short while from 1906-1911, you get the creepy atmosphere that comes with dread and doom. A tragedy occurred 18 years ago, leaving Olivia Parker severely injured. Charlotte is the narrator and returns after being suspended from work. She stays with the Parker family to help care for their 8 year old twins, resembling the creepy twins on The Shining.
"Every night the island claims another victim."
A lakeside home in an isolated setting, comes with creaking floorboards, haunting shadows, an old carousel screams and eerie whispers from ghosts in the trees. When threatening notes appear and the dog is found dead, it is all over the place. It is disturbing as dark secrets become clear. Don't miss this if you like a dark thriller with a Gothic feel. This is perfect for the Halloween season of haunted houses. No way would I stay there.
Thank you NetGalley and Poisoned Pen Press for this ARC in exchange for my honest review.
September 29, 2026
This was my first time reading this author, and nah, sorry... this didn’t do much for me at all.
With an isolated island, old amusement park history, threatening notes, creepy dolls and a whole bunch of suspicious behaviour, Buried in the Woods Below really sounded like my kind of setup. Somehow, though, it never really came together.
As the story went on, I started losing interest more than I expected. There were stretches where I genuinely didn’t feel compelled to pick it back up, and some of the characters and side threads seemed like they were building towards something, only to end up feeling more like extra reasons to be suspicious than anything that really paid off.
Once I started questioning what was going on with one particular character, I had a feeling I knew where that part of the story was going. The clues were hard to ignore after that, so a lot of the later misdirection didn’t really land.
I did appreciate that the epilogue answered most of the questions I still had, but there was so much packed into those final explanations that it started to feel a little overdone rather than satisfying.
In the end, this had potential, but it didn’t quite crack it for me. Not the best start with this author, but I’m still curious about a few of their other books, so it’s not the end of the road just yet.
Content warning:
With an isolated island, old amusement park history, threatening notes, creepy dolls and a whole bunch of suspicious behaviour, Buried in the Woods Below really sounded like my kind of setup. Somehow, though, it never really came together.
As the story went on, I started losing interest more than I expected. There were stretches where I genuinely didn’t feel compelled to pick it back up, and some of the characters and side threads seemed like they were building towards something, only to end up feeling more like extra reasons to be suspicious than anything that really paid off.
Once I started questioning what was going on with one particular character, I had a feeling I knew where that part of the story was going. The clues were hard to ignore after that, so a lot of the later misdirection didn’t really land.
I did appreciate that the epilogue answered most of the questions I still had, but there was so much packed into those final explanations that it started to feel a little overdone rather than satisfying.
In the end, this had potential, but it didn’t quite crack it for me. Not the best start with this author, but I’m still curious about a few of their other books, so it’s not the end of the road just yet.
Content warning:
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
Rounded down to 3.75 ⭐
The opening of the story is a bit slow. While I was curious as to why Charlotte is being put on suspension from her job, we don't really get the details right away. Instead she calls her mother, who asks her to come back home to look after Eric Parker's twins for the summer. Eric Parker is the father of Charlotte's childhood friend. When they were 12, Olivia was severely injured in a tragic accident that still haunts Charlotte.
Once we get through the first few chapters, and Charlotte is on the island, the story quickly comes together, and the pacing speeds up. There is a menacing, dark atmosphere hanging over the characters. There is something "off" in the story. As things begin to happen, and characters are murdered, I could not figure out where this was going and why. I found myself suspecting everyone in the story.
There are many twists in this story, and I kind of had the final one figured out a little, but it wrapped up well in a dark and disturbing kind of way.
I struggled with a few tangents that were introduced, but then never really resolved or linked to the main story. I wanted to know why this was important, why was it introduced?
Overall this is an entertaining, dark thriller that will have you questioning everyone!
Thank you to NetGalley and Poisoned Pen Press for the ARC. This is my honest and voluntary review.
The opening of the story is a bit slow. While I was curious as to why Charlotte is being put on suspension from her job, we don't really get the details right away. Instead she calls her mother, who asks her to come back home to look after Eric Parker's twins for the summer. Eric Parker is the father of Charlotte's childhood friend. When they were 12, Olivia was severely injured in a tragic accident that still haunts Charlotte.
Once we get through the first few chapters, and Charlotte is on the island, the story quickly comes together, and the pacing speeds up. There is a menacing, dark atmosphere hanging over the characters. There is something "off" in the story. As things begin to happen, and characters are murdered, I could not figure out where this was going and why. I found myself suspecting everyone in the story.
There are many twists in this story, and I kind of had the final one figured out a little, but it wrapped up well in a dark and disturbing kind of way.
I struggled with a few tangents that were introduced, but then never really resolved or linked to the main story. I wanted to know why this was important, why was it introduced?
Overall this is an entertaining, dark thriller that will have you questioning everyone!
Thank you to NetGalley and Poisoned Pen Press for the ARC. This is my honest and voluntary review.
Read
June 11, 2026Sharp and surprising, Buried in the Woods Below hooked me from page one. Rich in atmosphere, with the past rotting around Charlotte, Daniel G. Miller takes us on a deft journey into friendship, the past, and why it's worth unearthing secrets.
April 20, 2026
This was such a solid, atmospheric thriller that completely pulled me in.
Charlotte returning to her hometown after years away already carries that uneasy tension, but setting it against an isolated lakeside house, dense woods, and an abandoned amusement park? It creates this constant sense that something isn’t quite right — and that feeling never really lets up.
The pacing is strong from the start, but what I really loved was how the final stretch kicked things up another notch. The last 30% moves fast, and I absolutely flew through it needing to know how everything was going to come together.
There are plenty of twists woven throughout. I did pick up on a couple early, but there were still enough surprises to keep me engaged, and the way it all builds into the ending made it worthwhile.
This leans into that eerie, slightly unsettling space between psychological thriller and something a little darker, with an unreliable edge that keeps you questioning what’s real and what isn’t.
Heathcliff 💔 not the sole reason this wasn’t a 5⭐️ for me, but it definitely played a part.
A really engaging, twisty read with a strong finish.
Charlotte returning to her hometown after years away already carries that uneasy tension, but setting it against an isolated lakeside house, dense woods, and an abandoned amusement park? It creates this constant sense that something isn’t quite right — and that feeling never really lets up.
The pacing is strong from the start, but what I really loved was how the final stretch kicked things up another notch. The last 30% moves fast, and I absolutely flew through it needing to know how everything was going to come together.
There are plenty of twists woven throughout. I did pick up on a couple early, but there were still enough surprises to keep me engaged, and the way it all builds into the ending made it worthwhile.
This leans into that eerie, slightly unsettling space between psychological thriller and something a little darker, with an unreliable edge that keeps you questioning what’s real and what isn’t.
Heathcliff 💔 not the sole reason this wasn’t a 5⭐️ for me, but it definitely played a part.
A really engaging, twisty read with a strong finish.
September 23, 2026
Thank you to NetGalley and Poisoned Press for an eARC in exchange for honest feedback.
I actually really enjoyed this one! The story pulled me in right away, I liked the writing style, and it was an easy book to keep picking back up because I genuinely wanted to see how everything played out.
Unfortunately…the twists and I were not on speaking terms because I had already figured them all out. Every time a reveal was coming, I was basically sitting there like, “Yep, that’s exactly what I thought.” The predictability really took away from the reading experience for on this one. With that said, I still intend to pick up more from this author.
I actually really enjoyed this one! The story pulled me in right away, I liked the writing style, and it was an easy book to keep picking back up because I genuinely wanted to see how everything played out.
Unfortunately…the twists and I were not on speaking terms because I had already figured them all out. Every time a reveal was coming, I was basically sitting there like, “Yep, that’s exactly what I thought.” The predictability really took away from the reading experience for on this one. With that said, I still intend to pick up more from this author.
July 6, 2026
Buried in the Woods Below, a psychological thriller
Charlotte is sort of "forced" into taking time off from work, since she hasn't taken any for a long time, and a workplace incident that needs a deeper review. As luck would have it, her childhood best friend Olivia's family has invited her to stay with them at their lake house on Big Island for the month. While Charlotte is not overly enthused, as she has lost touch with Olivia over the years, her mom convinces her to go. She also used to have a crush on Olivia's dad Eric, and isn't sure if that crush has dissipated over the years.
As soon as Charlotte arrives at the lake house, the red flags start flying in. If it were me, I am not sure I would have been convinced to stay, with no Wi-Fi, threatening letters left on the house, the creepy misty air, possibly evil twins, and eerie abandoned amusement park with screeching old rides and horrifying dolls, I would have hopped on the next boat out of there. But Charlotte decides to stay, her crush on Eric seems to be alive, and she also wants to catch up with Olivia.
With every chapter of this story, the mystery expands. Who is leaving threatening notes? The neighbor? How did Eric even get this house? And my biggest question of all, why does Charlotte stay as everyday gets weirder!? There are stories of ghosts on the island as well, and Charlotte starts to see and hear things at night, but when she goes outside, sees nothing. Add to all of that Eric's disturbing doll collection, and the fact that someone else from Charlotte's work life is also mysteriously staying on the island, it is too strange to not want to run!
I did not expect the ending at all, and I absolutely loved the unexpected reveal. You will have to read this story to learn the truth behind all of the goings on at Big Island.
Thank you so much to Poisoned Pen Press, Netgalley, and the author for a copy of this book!
Some fav quotes:
"After five minutes of weighing the pros and cons, one thing becomes abundantly clear: I need a drink."
"I shift my gaze and see Big Island rising like a specter from the water. But it’s not beautiful—it’s haunting."
"The promise of isolation feels more like entrapment now. The outside world can’t reach you here, but neither can help."
"I can’t help the sensation that I’ve entered the hotel from The Shining every time I see them."
"Now that I’m awake and half sober, it all seems so surreal."
Charlotte is sort of "forced" into taking time off from work, since she hasn't taken any for a long time, and a workplace incident that needs a deeper review. As luck would have it, her childhood best friend Olivia's family has invited her to stay with them at their lake house on Big Island for the month. While Charlotte is not overly enthused, as she has lost touch with Olivia over the years, her mom convinces her to go. She also used to have a crush on Olivia's dad Eric, and isn't sure if that crush has dissipated over the years.
As soon as Charlotte arrives at the lake house, the red flags start flying in. If it were me, I am not sure I would have been convinced to stay, with no Wi-Fi, threatening letters left on the house, the creepy misty air, possibly evil twins, and eerie abandoned amusement park with screeching old rides and horrifying dolls, I would have hopped on the next boat out of there. But Charlotte decides to stay, her crush on Eric seems to be alive, and she also wants to catch up with Olivia.
With every chapter of this story, the mystery expands. Who is leaving threatening notes? The neighbor? How did Eric even get this house? And my biggest question of all, why does Charlotte stay as everyday gets weirder!? There are stories of ghosts on the island as well, and Charlotte starts to see and hear things at night, but when she goes outside, sees nothing. Add to all of that Eric's disturbing doll collection, and the fact that someone else from Charlotte's work life is also mysteriously staying on the island, it is too strange to not want to run!
I did not expect the ending at all, and I absolutely loved the unexpected reveal. You will have to read this story to learn the truth behind all of the goings on at Big Island.
Thank you so much to Poisoned Pen Press, Netgalley, and the author for a copy of this book!
Some fav quotes:
"After five minutes of weighing the pros and cons, one thing becomes abundantly clear: I need a drink."
"I shift my gaze and see Big Island rising like a specter from the water. But it’s not beautiful—it’s haunting."
"The promise of isolation feels more like entrapment now. The outside world can’t reach you here, but neither can help."
"I can’t help the sensation that I’ve entered the hotel from The Shining every time I see them."
"Now that I’m awake and half sober, it all seems so surreal."
August 30, 2026
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for an arc of this book. All opinions are my own!
Daniel G. Miller seriously never misses for me. I have loved every book I've read by him, and Buried in the Woods Below was no exception.
This book had me constantly questioning everyone and trying to figure out what was really going on. There were so many characters I went back and forth on, and I genuinely had no clue what was about to happen. I loved the ghost element, which is normally not something I gravitate toward, but it worked so well here and added even more to the creepy, unsettling atmosphere.
One of my favorite things about this book was the writing. Miller has such a cinematic way of describing scenes that I could picture everything perfectly. The short chapters and constant buildup kept the story moving, and while the beginning was a little slower for me, around the 40% mark things really started picking up.
That ending completely stunned me. I spent the entire book trying to figure out how all the pieces fit together, but I never came close to predicting that twist. In hindsight, the clues were there, but I completely missed how they connected. It was the kind of reveal that made me want to revisit the story and see how carefully everything had been foreshadowed. I just sat there thinking damn.
Buried in the Woods Below has everything I want from a thriller: memorable characters, an unsettling setting, vivid writing, genuinely frightening moments, and an ending that left me completely speechless.
Daniel G. Miller has officially proven once again why I will always pick up his books.
Daniel G. Miller seriously never misses for me. I have loved every book I've read by him, and Buried in the Woods Below was no exception.
This book had me constantly questioning everyone and trying to figure out what was really going on. There were so many characters I went back and forth on, and I genuinely had no clue what was about to happen. I loved the ghost element, which is normally not something I gravitate toward, but it worked so well here and added even more to the creepy, unsettling atmosphere.
One of my favorite things about this book was the writing. Miller has such a cinematic way of describing scenes that I could picture everything perfectly. The short chapters and constant buildup kept the story moving, and while the beginning was a little slower for me, around the 40% mark things really started picking up.
That ending completely stunned me. I spent the entire book trying to figure out how all the pieces fit together, but I never came close to predicting that twist. In hindsight, the clues were there, but I completely missed how they connected. It was the kind of reveal that made me want to revisit the story and see how carefully everything had been foreshadowed. I just sat there thinking damn.
Buried in the Woods Below has everything I want from a thriller: memorable characters, an unsettling setting, vivid writing, genuinely frightening moments, and an ending that left me completely speechless.
Daniel G. Miller has officially proven once again why I will always pick up his books.
September 20, 2026
This book was really interesting and I had such a fun time reading it except the ending was, frustrating to say the least. It was just one of those books that sucked me in right from the beginning. There was quite a few things going on and we got the story from the past and the present. I kept trying to figure out exactly how the past fit into the present, and then it did and wow. There was a lot of foreboding and there were quite a few twists and turns which all added to the sense of creepiness. Now the reason I didn’t really like the ending, well, it kind of felt like a cop out and it was a bit much coming from a male author writing a female character. I was loving the book a lot more before that and anticipated giving this a much higher rating, but oh well.
Thank you to the publisher for my copy. All thoughts are my own.
Thank you to the publisher for my copy. All thoughts are my own.
April 17, 2026
Oh wow… I’m not sure what I was expecting, but it wasn’t this!
Daniel has become an instant read author for me.
Charlotte is a successful woman who has had a lot of tragedy and trauma that haunts her.. She’s suspended from work, and her mother suggests she visits old friends on an island with bad cell service and no WiFi.. what could happen?
Thank you for the advance reader copy!
Daniel has become an instant read author for me.
Charlotte is a successful woman who has had a lot of tragedy and trauma that haunts her.. She’s suspended from work, and her mother suggests she visits old friends on an island with bad cell service and no WiFi.. what could happen?
Thank you for the advance reader copy!
August 18, 2026
I am so happy I was give the opportunity to arc read Buried in the Woods Below. For the most part, I went into it blind. So when I opened this book to the first page and saw the Minnesota State Fair mentioned I was immeasurably giddy knowing it would be a local setting! This book has it all. An abandoned amusement park, an isolated island, ominous notes, and suspicious deaths? Say LESS. There were a few things that I had guessed correctly right of the bat which did not bother me one bit since it’s a theme I love to read about in books! But the twists and turns were awesome and the ending?! Absolutely DIABOLICAL. As I was reading, I was constantly wondering whether this story had ghosts at play or not and that alone had me sucked in. The atmosphere was so eerie that it was almost tangible. I’m so excited for everyone to get their hands on this and see what it’s all about!
September 10, 2026
I’m frustrated. 2.5 stars!!
The writing made it an easy read, will admit I was hooked in the beginning. About 60 pages in I already knew Olivia was dead, just by what she was wearing. That part was extremely predictable. The whole time in thinking… how do you not remember that your friend died? But then they said her mother lied and said she lived… and she was like 8 so, ok fair. But how do you not reach out when you’re old enough to do so? Like you’re now 30, a simple search if you were looking to find her would have shown her obituary. Idk .. sus.
The twist at the end of Charlotte being the killer didn’t even shock me. It actually annoyed me. It felt like a rushed ending. Her mom coddling her and covering up all the shit she’s done shows she’s been psychotic for a long time but still. The abrupt transition from Charlotte screaming she didn’t do it to admitting how easy it was to kill everyone actually annoyed me. It felt like the plot twist was supposed to hit harder than it did.
This book was just.. meh 🫠
The writing made it an easy read, will admit I was hooked in the beginning. About 60 pages in I already knew Olivia was dead, just by what she was wearing. That part was extremely predictable. The whole time in thinking… how do you not remember that your friend died? But then they said her mother lied and said she lived… and she was like 8 so, ok fair. But how do you not reach out when you’re old enough to do so? Like you’re now 30, a simple search if you were looking to find her would have shown her obituary. Idk .. sus.
The twist at the end of Charlotte being the killer didn’t even shock me. It actually annoyed me. It felt like a rushed ending. Her mom coddling her and covering up all the shit she’s done shows she’s been psychotic for a long time but still. The abrupt transition from Charlotte screaming she didn’t do it to admitting how easy it was to kill everyone actually annoyed me. It felt like the plot twist was supposed to hit harder than it did.
This book was just.. meh 🫠
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
I almost didn't finish this, and I kind of wish I didn't.
Charlotte's childhood friend, Olivia, invites her to spend a month in their cabin on an island in Minnesota near their hometown. Charlotte, a successful consultant who's put on leave from work because she accused consulting partner Vivek of harassment/assault (it's not clear which), agrees to go to the cabin, where she'll help take care of Olivia's younger twin sisters who are TWENTY-TWO years younger. (This massive age gap is also never explained.)
What I didn't like about this is it relies on a sleight of hand that's kind of, well, underhanded.
Can't say I cared for this, or that I'd recommend it.
Thank you to NetGalley for the review copy.
Charlotte's childhood friend, Olivia, invites her to spend a month in their cabin on an island in Minnesota near their hometown. Charlotte, a successful consultant who's put on leave from work because she accused consulting partner Vivek of harassment/assault (it's not clear which), agrees to go to the cabin, where she'll help take care of Olivia's younger twin sisters who are TWENTY-TWO years younger. (This massive age gap is also never explained.)
What I didn't like about this is it relies on a sleight of hand that's kind of, well, underhanded.
Can't say I cared for this, or that I'd recommend it.
Thank you to NetGalley for the review copy.
October 5, 2026
I have not been this pissed off at a book in so long.
If this is your first review of mine you're reading, I am so sorry; I am about to be a massive bitch.
TLDR: This was boring as hell, and the dog dies.
I first saw this book on the new thrillers table at my bookstore. Every time I walked past this book, I couldn't help but read the back and think about how GOOD this sounded. Thrillers don't tend to have permanence on my bookshelves, so I told myself I would just read it on my Kindle. But since I've been reading at a snail's pace on my e-reader, after days of staring at it, I finally brought it home. I could not stop thinking about how fun this sounded, and I knew it had to be my first book in Spooktober! WHAT A FAIL.
This book was so fucking boring. I kept reading reviews, waiting for people to tell me it was a slower start, but unfortunately for me, everyone else found this immediately captivating. God, I wish I was one of them. Instead, I only enjoyed the last 20 pages, but even then it pissed me off. I was NOT a big fan of the twist ending. I always have trouble with that specific trope because it just feels like everything was for nothing.
Daniel G. Miller does the author thing where they give you enough breadcrumbs, but at the same time this plot is all over the place that you cannot help but get lost along the way. I personally would not recommend this! I normally give authors multiple tries before I knock them, but I cannot imagine reading another book from Miller if this is what he's publishing.
All that being said, please don't hate me. I'm being a bit harsh, but I could always be worse. It just didn't work for me, and I've found plenty of other thrillers that do! While not the same, this reminded me a lot of The Last Word by Taylor Adams if you want a somewhat similar recommendation!
If this is your first review of mine you're reading, I am so sorry; I am about to be a massive bitch.
TLDR: This was boring as hell, and the dog dies.
I first saw this book on the new thrillers table at my bookstore. Every time I walked past this book, I couldn't help but read the back and think about how GOOD this sounded. Thrillers don't tend to have permanence on my bookshelves, so I told myself I would just read it on my Kindle. But since I've been reading at a snail's pace on my e-reader, after days of staring at it, I finally brought it home. I could not stop thinking about how fun this sounded, and I knew it had to be my first book in Spooktober! WHAT A FAIL.
This book was so fucking boring. I kept reading reviews, waiting for people to tell me it was a slower start, but unfortunately for me, everyone else found this immediately captivating. God, I wish I was one of them. Instead, I only enjoyed the last 20 pages, but even then it pissed me off. I was NOT a big fan of the twist ending. I always have trouble with that specific trope because it just feels like everything was for nothing.
Daniel G. Miller does the author thing where they give you enough breadcrumbs, but at the same time this plot is all over the place that you cannot help but get lost along the way. I personally would not recommend this! I normally give authors multiple tries before I knock them, but I cannot imagine reading another book from Miller if this is what he's publishing.
All that being said, please don't hate me. I'm being a bit harsh, but I could always be worse. It just didn't work for me, and I've found plenty of other thrillers that do! While not the same, this reminded me a lot of The Last Word by Taylor Adams if you want a somewhat similar recommendation!
Review of advance copy received from Publisher
Thanks so much to Poisoned Pen Press for the review copy. All opinions are voluntary and honest.
I was initially very into this one. The mysteries about Charlotte’s past (and present) had me hooked enough that I needed answers despite the meandering narrative and I moved through it pretty quickly.
Then the dog dies at 30%. I don’t share spoilers normally but for me, this should be included in content warnings and I want other readers to know.
Unfortunately, that’s a hard pass for me. I skimmed the rest of the book and there’s a lot of death (adult and children) and an unreliable narrator.
Sorry to say, this one was not for me.
I was initially very into this one. The mysteries about Charlotte’s past (and present) had me hooked enough that I needed answers despite the meandering narrative and I moved through it pretty quickly.
Then the dog dies at 30%. I don’t share spoilers normally but for me, this should be included in content warnings and I want other readers to know.
Unfortunately, that’s a hard pass for me. I skimmed the rest of the book and there’s a lot of death (adult and children) and an unreliable narrator.
Sorry to say, this one was not for me.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
September 25, 2026
This has officially moved up to be THE worst book I've read for 2026, and I read a fair amount of Freida McFadden this year, so that's really saying something.
July 1, 2026
i enjoy this authors writing, the book was very spooky and atmospheric. my only issues with this one is that i predicted the big “shock” very early on in the book and i wasn’t a big fan of the ending
September 15, 2026
I loved the isolated setting, the foreboding sense of danger, and the creepy forest. I also enjoyed the many twists and the way the past connected to the present. This is a great book for fans of psychological thrillers. Thank you, @poisonedpenpress, and @danielgmillerauthor, for the gifted ebook.
September 17, 2026
3.5⭐️'s
Daniel G. Miller is a newer author to me. Earlier this year, I randomly grabbed The Orphanage by the Lake from Target and loved it. I jumped at the opportunity to read his newest, Buried in the Woods Below!
Charlotte is forced to take a leave of absence from work and accepts an invitation to spend time on Big Island in Minnesota at her childhood best friend’s home. She's hesitant because after a tragedy occurred 18 years ago, she has had no desire to return to Minnesota. However, her mom insists it will be good for her to get away for a while and spend some time with her friend’s family. While on the island, memories from the past start to resurface.
This book hooked me right away! The story starts with the tragedy from 18 years earlier, and it had my heart pounding. The atmospheric setting was perfectly unsettling: an isolated island, haunted woods, no Wi-Fi, an abandoned amusement park, threatening notes, AND creepy twins. As the story unfolded, I didn’t know who to trust, and I was questioning everyone. I had no idea where the plot was headed, and the ending took me by surprise.
Why I didn’t give it 5⭐️’s — There was a whole storyline about Charlotte having a crush on her friend's Dad, and that kind of gave me the ick. It absolutely added to the unsettling vibe, and I’m sure most people won’t think twice about it, but it wasn’t for me. Additionally, some of the subplots felt a little disjointed and weren’t wrapped up. Overall, this book was a fun read, and it kept me turning the pages. It would be a good one to add to your spooky season list because there is some ghost talk. 👻
Daniel G. Miller is a newer author to me. Earlier this year, I randomly grabbed The Orphanage by the Lake from Target and loved it. I jumped at the opportunity to read his newest, Buried in the Woods Below!
Charlotte is forced to take a leave of absence from work and accepts an invitation to spend time on Big Island in Minnesota at her childhood best friend’s home. She's hesitant because after a tragedy occurred 18 years ago, she has had no desire to return to Minnesota. However, her mom insists it will be good for her to get away for a while and spend some time with her friend’s family. While on the island, memories from the past start to resurface.
This book hooked me right away! The story starts with the tragedy from 18 years earlier, and it had my heart pounding. The atmospheric setting was perfectly unsettling: an isolated island, haunted woods, no Wi-Fi, an abandoned amusement park, threatening notes, AND creepy twins. As the story unfolded, I didn’t know who to trust, and I was questioning everyone. I had no idea where the plot was headed, and the ending took me by surprise.
Why I didn’t give it 5⭐️’s — There was a whole storyline about Charlotte having a crush on her friend's Dad, and that kind of gave me the ick. It absolutely added to the unsettling vibe, and I’m sure most people won’t think twice about it, but it wasn’t for me. Additionally, some of the subplots felt a little disjointed and weren’t wrapped up. Overall, this book was a fun read, and it kept me turning the pages. It would be a good one to add to your spooky season list because there is some ghost talk. 👻
June 29, 2026
Buried in the woods below is a tale that haunts you till the very end.
This is my first novel by Daniel G. Miller, and I enjoyed every moment of it. It gradually crawls under your skin.
A psychological suspenseful thriller that has you riding the rollercoaster and having a wild experience. Which feels perfect for the setting.
I was sucked into the atmosphere, an old island, a former amusement park that’s buried in the woods, and haunting pasts, that’ll have people running away.
I didn’t know if this was going to be paranormal or just a very eerie story. Either way, I was left unsettled.
Charlotte returns to her old best friend’s hometown, the place she swore never to return, and things start to take off from there.
She’s filled with flaws, emotionally driven, but also with the sense to be in control. I found myself invested in her throughout the process.
The rest of the characters also had me intrigued and left me with my detective hat on.
Some of the revelations and twists felt a bit predictable, but I found it entertaining. It’s been a long time since I’ve read a psychological thriller, and as soon as things started rolling out, it just made so much sense. I’m still thinking about it.
I can definitely see it being brought to the big screen.
Thank you to Poisoned Pen Press and the author for the e-galley! 🖤
This is my first novel by Daniel G. Miller, and I enjoyed every moment of it. It gradually crawls under your skin.
A psychological suspenseful thriller that has you riding the rollercoaster and having a wild experience. Which feels perfect for the setting.
I was sucked into the atmosphere, an old island, a former amusement park that’s buried in the woods, and haunting pasts, that’ll have people running away.
I didn’t know if this was going to be paranormal or just a very eerie story. Either way, I was left unsettled.
Charlotte returns to her old best friend’s hometown, the place she swore never to return, and things start to take off from there.
She’s filled with flaws, emotionally driven, but also with the sense to be in control. I found myself invested in her throughout the process.
The rest of the characters also had me intrigued and left me with my detective hat on.
Some of the revelations and twists felt a bit predictable, but I found it entertaining. It’s been a long time since I’ve read a psychological thriller, and as soon as things started rolling out, it just made so much sense. I’m still thinking about it.
I can definitely see it being brought to the big screen.
Thank you to Poisoned Pen Press and the author for the e-galley! 🖤
September 16, 2026
This book made me so mad. The twist was SO obvious early on. I kept reading because I thought surely it can't be this obvious. Ugh.
September 30, 2026
2.5. I feel like this one started off strong and quickly fell off. Just was not what I was hoping for.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
It must be so hard to write a book, that it pains me to give one a negative review. Unfortunately, there was nothing I liked about this novel. Maybe it was the tone? The plot is so predictable, that only the youngest readers wouldn’t have seen it coming. But, in that case, the subject was too dark. Charlotte is so unlikable, that I couldn’t root for her, or even care as to what happened to her. The text is full of details and dialogues that do nothing to advance the plot, and I wasn’t surprised by anything. At all. And it wasn’t also so abysmally horrid, that I hate-read it (which, let’s be honest, can also be fun). I just didn’t care about anything. I’m glad to see that others reviewers enjoyed it, it was not for me.
I chose to read this book and all opinions in this review are my own and completely unbiased. Thank you, NetGalley/Poisoned Pen Press.
I chose to read this book and all opinions in this review are my own and completely unbiased. Thank you, NetGalley/Poisoned Pen Press.
September 12, 2026
I loved this one! The isolated island setting, dark woods, abandoned amusement park, and creepy old carousel created the perfect eerie atmosphere without the story needing anything supernatural. There was a constant sense that something was wrong, and I loved never quite knowing who Charlotte could trust or what was really happening on the island.
The mystery surrounding the tragedy from eighteen years ago kept me hooked, especially as pieces of Charlotte and Olivia’s past slowly started coming to light. I also really enjoyed the present-day danger and the way it became increasingly clear that Charlotte’s return to Big Island might not have been a coincidence.
This had so many of my favorite thriller elements—an isolated setting, buried secrets, a past tragedy, threatening notes, suspicious characters, and people being picked off one by one. The abandoned amusement park made it even better and gave the whole book such a creepy, almost slasher-movie feel. Suspenseful, atmospheric, and incredibly hard to put down. This is the perfect fall read.
Thanks to NetGalley and Poisoned Pen Press for a digital ARC.
The mystery surrounding the tragedy from eighteen years ago kept me hooked, especially as pieces of Charlotte and Olivia’s past slowly started coming to light. I also really enjoyed the present-day danger and the way it became increasingly clear that Charlotte’s return to Big Island might not have been a coincidence.
This had so many of my favorite thriller elements—an isolated setting, buried secrets, a past tragedy, threatening notes, suspicious characters, and people being picked off one by one. The abandoned amusement park made it even better and gave the whole book such a creepy, almost slasher-movie feel. Suspenseful, atmospheric, and incredibly hard to put down. This is the perfect fall read.
Thanks to NetGalley and Poisoned Pen Press for a digital ARC.
September 9, 2026
I loved the premise of this book. I was flying through the pages trying to figure out who was behind it. Had it went a different direction, I would've loved it. But I went into this book without any trigger warnings. So I was kind of blindsided. I cannot deal with kids or animals being hurt. Call me soft if you will, but life is depressing enough. I don't want that in my books, which are my escape from real life. Also, on top of that, I feel like the particular trope this author used at the end has been overdone. I swear I've read three books lately that have used that same thing. And honestly it makes me irritated. So yeah, I hated the ending. Lol
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
September 3, 2026
Buried in the Woods Below took a little while to win me over, but once it did, I was fully invested.
The beginning was a little rough for me because there is a LOT of description. The trip to Big Island felt approximately three times longer than the actual distance traveled because I knew there were trees, I understood there was a lake, and yet we were still discussing the trees and the lake. I’m very much a plot-and-people reader, so extended descriptions of scenery tend to make my brain wander.
Thankfully, once things started happening, this became a completely different reading experience.
Charlotte and I were on the same wavelength almost immediately. She calculates probabilities, counts things when she’s stressed, overthinks social interactions and describes a gathering as basically scheduled surgery. I have never felt so understood.
Charlotte returns to Big Island eighteen years after a childhood friendship abruptly ended, and there’s a lot about that history she doesn’t fully understand. Add in a threatening note, some very questionable behavior from the people around her and the fact that the island is accessible only by boat, and suddenly all that isolation actually matters.
What I appreciated most was how carefully the story was constructed. As I got closer to the end, I started noticing things that didn’t quite fit. I figured out part of what was happening shortly before the book revealed it, but instead of being disappointed that I’d guessed it, I was more excited. That’s my favorite kind of reveal. The clues were there. I had enough information to put pieces together myself, and there was still more waiting for me.
I did have some issues beyond the heavy description. There were several points when I couldn’t understand why everyone was still staying on an isolated island after increasingly alarming things started happening.
Still, the second half more than made up for my slower start, and the final stretch was easily my favorite part. This ended up being a strong four-star read with a main character I absolutely loved spending time with.
Thank you to Poisoned Pen Press and NetGalley for the advance copy.
The beginning was a little rough for me because there is a LOT of description. The trip to Big Island felt approximately three times longer than the actual distance traveled because I knew there were trees, I understood there was a lake, and yet we were still discussing the trees and the lake. I’m very much a plot-and-people reader, so extended descriptions of scenery tend to make my brain wander.
Thankfully, once things started happening, this became a completely different reading experience.
Charlotte and I were on the same wavelength almost immediately. She calculates probabilities, counts things when she’s stressed, overthinks social interactions and describes a gathering as basically scheduled surgery. I have never felt so understood.
Charlotte returns to Big Island eighteen years after a childhood friendship abruptly ended, and there’s a lot about that history she doesn’t fully understand. Add in a threatening note, some very questionable behavior from the people around her and the fact that the island is accessible only by boat, and suddenly all that isolation actually matters.
What I appreciated most was how carefully the story was constructed. As I got closer to the end, I started noticing things that didn’t quite fit. I figured out part of what was happening shortly before the book revealed it, but instead of being disappointed that I’d guessed it, I was more excited. That’s my favorite kind of reveal. The clues were there. I had enough information to put pieces together myself, and there was still more waiting for me.
I did have some issues beyond the heavy description. There were several points when I couldn’t understand why everyone was still staying on an isolated island after increasingly alarming things started happening.
Still, the second half more than made up for my slower start, and the final stretch was easily my favorite part. This ended up being a strong four-star read with a main character I absolutely loved spending time with.
Thank you to Poisoned Pen Press and NetGalley for the advance copy.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
Whoops🤦🏼♀️missed reposting for publication day on Sept 1st!! Happy belated publication day🥳!!! (9/8/26)
———-
I know I started a review for this shortly after finishing it….just need to locate it 🙄 (8/17/26)
——-
I finally found my notes. Now if only I can read them and remember what I need to fill in!!
At the end of April (2026) I listened to the Red Letter, I believe it was called, by this author and loved it. So when I saw another book by him shortly after that, I was very excited and perhaps my expectations were a bit high going into it.
This has all of the elements for a spooky book. Tragic past, current life chaos, isolated island with creepy occurrences, 2 twin little girls who maybe aren’t so sweet. An underlying sense of doom and dread carried throughout the book.
Unfortunately I had a big twist figured out early and this time, it was a case of that takes away from the book for me instead of me wanting to give myself a pat on the back for figuring things out.
I don’t want to give the plot line away, I want others to enjoy this and hopefully have more fun with it than I did. I think this will be the perfect spooky season book for some readers!
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the arc of this book. All thoughts are my own.
Rating posted: 5/15/26
Thoughts posted: 8/22/26
Publishing date: 9/1/26
Reposted belatedly for publication day: 9/8/26 then again because I noticed I put miss not missed🤦🏼♀️🤦🏼♀️
———-
I know I started a review for this shortly after finishing it….just need to locate it 🙄 (8/17/26)
——-
I finally found my notes. Now if only I can read them and remember what I need to fill in!!
At the end of April (2026) I listened to the Red Letter, I believe it was called, by this author and loved it. So when I saw another book by him shortly after that, I was very excited and perhaps my expectations were a bit high going into it.
This has all of the elements for a spooky book. Tragic past, current life chaos, isolated island with creepy occurrences, 2 twin little girls who maybe aren’t so sweet. An underlying sense of doom and dread carried throughout the book.
Unfortunately I had a big twist figured out early and this time, it was a case of that takes away from the book for me instead of me wanting to give myself a pat on the back for figuring things out.
I don’t want to give the plot line away, I want others to enjoy this and hopefully have more fun with it than I did. I think this will be the perfect spooky season book for some readers!
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the arc of this book. All thoughts are my own.
Rating posted: 5/15/26
Thoughts posted: 8/22/26
Publishing date: 9/1/26
Reposted belatedly for publication day: 9/8/26 then again because I noticed I put miss not missed🤦🏼♀️🤦🏼♀️
May 4, 2026
4.0 ⭐️ Charlotte goes back to a family friend’s island home while taking a leave from work. However, vacation turns into survival as the people around her star disappearing and threatening notes appear on her door. The writing definitely made me feel trapped on the island with everyone as they navigated this mystery. This book has scandal, mystery, ghosts, isolation, and untrustworthy characters.
Thank you to NetGalley and the publishers for the early copy!
Thank you to NetGalley and the publishers for the early copy!
June 14, 2026
Overall; not a bad thriller but at times it seemed a little far fetched and it was a little predictable.
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