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In the Woods They Wait
A park ranger in Devil’s Den becomes obsessed with the case of a missing child—a case that mirrors the disappearance of her own brother, whom she lost in the woods many years ago—and the possibility that both were taken by something vicious and unnatural that lives deep in the Ozarks.
Fifteen years ago, Audrey Figg's little brother, Benny, vanished on a family vacation to Devil's Den state park, a day that split her life in two.
Now, Audrey is a park ranger in the very same woods with expertise in wilderness search and rescue. Audrey has found a rhythm to her training new rangers, tending to injured hikers, protecting the backcountry, and still, searching.
When a little girl, Ivy, suddenly goes missing on the trails, Audrey can’t help but notice the similarities to her own brother’s case. As Audrey widens the scope of her search, she begins to believe Ivy wasn't merely lost; it looks like she was taken by something—and maybe Benny was too. Yet the closer Audrey comes to answers, the more old memories push to the surface. Audrey is haunted not only by her brother's loss, but a terrible secret from that day. A secret she has never shared with anyone.
Utterly absorbing and disquieting, In the Woods They Wait is an enthralling page-turner, one that asks how far you would go for a sense of closure—and what would you be willing to face to get it.
Fifteen years ago, Audrey Figg's little brother, Benny, vanished on a family vacation to Devil's Den state park, a day that split her life in two.
Now, Audrey is a park ranger in the very same woods with expertise in wilderness search and rescue. Audrey has found a rhythm to her training new rangers, tending to injured hikers, protecting the backcountry, and still, searching.
When a little girl, Ivy, suddenly goes missing on the trails, Audrey can’t help but notice the similarities to her own brother’s case. As Audrey widens the scope of her search, she begins to believe Ivy wasn't merely lost; it looks like she was taken by something—and maybe Benny was too. Yet the closer Audrey comes to answers, the more old memories push to the surface. Audrey is haunted not only by her brother's loss, but a terrible secret from that day. A secret she has never shared with anyone.
Utterly absorbing and disquieting, In the Woods They Wait is an enthralling page-turner, one that asks how far you would go for a sense of closure—and what would you be willing to face to get it.
297 pages, Kindle Edition
First published September 20, 2026
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October 10, 2026
I’m sorry, but I think I am not the right audience for this book and probably should have DNF’d this early on when some of the triggers were getting to me. I can be stubborn at times though, and I kept thinking this story would veer into the space where terror would start to feel symbolic for emotional trauma. I’m generally cautious about reading books in the horror genre, but I accepted this ARC after enjoying CG Drews’ Don’t let the Forest In because I thought it might have some similar elements. More on this in a bit.
Audrey was the last person to see her brother before he disappeared in the woods while they were hiking, and she has blamed herself ever since. So she dedicates her life to being a park ranger in the Ozarks, and when a little girl goes missing, past trauma over her brother resurfaces.
I’ll start with what I liked, which was the writing style. Almost leaning toward lyrical at times, I felt like the writing was smooth and truly captured the emotional beat of the characters, and both the terror and tragedy in their situations. Despite not loving the story, I thought this was going to be a solid three up until the very end, but I need more than just lovely writing to feel emotionally invested.
What I didn’t enjoy: I had a difficult time connecting with the main character. I was sad that Audrey felt responsible for losing her brother, and I don’t think anyone should carry blame the way she did. However, the way she pushed people away seemed cruel and bullying at times, making me feel conflicted about having sympathy for her. Also, her choice to be a park ranger seemed like it stemmed from penance and obsession, and she didn’t show character growth that moved beyond guilt over her brother’s disappearance.
This is a very personal preference, but I also don’t enjoy the type of horror in this story. I’m ok with blood and guts and gore as a manifestation of psychological or emotional trauma, but when it feels like it’s just there to be scary I’ll take a pass.
I rarely mention triggers in my reviews since I expect them to be in the blurb or the beginning of the book, but claustrophobia is what almost had me DNF’ing this early on. Thankfully there’s only a few instances where the characters crawled through tight dark cave spaces, however it’s worth noting if this bothers you.
What ultimately brought my rating down from a 3 is that the ending didn’t feel poignant or bittersweet, and I found myself wondering about the point. I didn’t see character growth for Audrey, and the darkness in this story didn’t lead me to any conclusion beyond the idea that life can be unfair and sad for some people, but not for everyone. I don’t necessarily disagree that this is true sometimes, but it’s not really what I want to read about.
Now I am clearly in the minority with my opinion, so I definitely recommend reading some of the 5⭐️ reviews before deciding whether this might be something you’d enjoy.
2.5 ⭐️’s I’d like to note I did get the audiobook and the narrator was excellent.
Thank you to NetGalley and Little, Brown and Co for the eARC. All opinions are my own.
~~~~~~~~~~~
Pre-read: A park ranger investigates the disappearance of a girl in the Ozarks that mirrors her brother’s from years earlier. It seems that both Audrey and the woods are harboring a secret.
Audrey was the last person to see her brother before he disappeared in the woods while they were hiking, and she has blamed herself ever since. So she dedicates her life to being a park ranger in the Ozarks, and when a little girl goes missing, past trauma over her brother resurfaces.
I’ll start with what I liked, which was the writing style. Almost leaning toward lyrical at times, I felt like the writing was smooth and truly captured the emotional beat of the characters, and both the terror and tragedy in their situations. Despite not loving the story, I thought this was going to be a solid three up until the very end, but I need more than just lovely writing to feel emotionally invested.
What I didn’t enjoy: I had a difficult time connecting with the main character. I was sad that Audrey felt responsible for losing her brother, and I don’t think anyone should carry blame the way she did. However, the way she pushed people away seemed cruel and bullying at times, making me feel conflicted about having sympathy for her. Also, her choice to be a park ranger seemed like it stemmed from penance and obsession, and she didn’t show character growth that moved beyond guilt over her brother’s disappearance.
This is a very personal preference, but I also don’t enjoy the type of horror in this story. I’m ok with blood and guts and gore as a manifestation of psychological or emotional trauma, but when it feels like it’s just there to be scary I’ll take a pass.
I rarely mention triggers in my reviews since I expect them to be in the blurb or the beginning of the book, but claustrophobia is what almost had me DNF’ing this early on. Thankfully there’s only a few instances where the characters crawled through tight dark cave spaces, however it’s worth noting if this bothers you.
What ultimately brought my rating down from a 3 is that the ending didn’t feel poignant or bittersweet, and I found myself wondering about the point. I didn’t see character growth for Audrey, and the darkness in this story didn’t lead me to any conclusion beyond the idea that life can be unfair and sad for some people, but not for everyone. I don’t necessarily disagree that this is true sometimes, but it’s not really what I want to read about.
Now I am clearly in the minority with my opinion, so I definitely recommend reading some of the 5⭐️ reviews before deciding whether this might be something you’d enjoy.
2.5 ⭐️’s I’d like to note I did get the audiobook and the narrator was excellent.
Thank you to NetGalley and Little, Brown and Co for the eARC. All opinions are my own.
~~~~~~~~~~~
Pre-read: A park ranger investigates the disappearance of a girl in the Ozarks that mirrors her brother’s from years earlier. It seems that both Audrey and the woods are harboring a secret.
September 27, 2026
This book completely pulled me in and kept me thinking about it long after I finished. It was so incredibly well written, and I loved the way the story unfolded through the back-and-forth timelines. That structure worked so well for this story because every time I thought I understood what happened years ago, I’d get another piece of the puzzle that made me question everything again. I was constantly wanting to get back to both timelines because I needed to know how the past connected to what was happening in the present.
Audrey’s story absolutely broke my heart. Fifteen years ago, her little brother Benny disappeared while her family was visiting Devil’s Den State Park, and that moment changed her life forever. Now she’s working as a park ranger in those same woods, using her search-and-rescue skills to help others while still carrying the pain of never knowing what happened to her brother. I loved how her grief wasn’t just something mentioned in the background. You could feel how deeply his disappearance shaped the person she became.
Then another child, Ivy, goes missing in the same woods, and suddenly Audrey is faced with a case that feels terrifyingly familiar. The similarities between Ivy’s disappearance and Benny’s made it impossible for Audrey to walk away, especially when she starts wondering if her brother wasn’t simply lost all those years ago. Maybe something took him. Something unnatural hiding deep within the Ozarks.
The atmosphere in this book was incredible. The woods felt beautiful, mysterious, and genuinely unsettling all at once. I loved the feeling that there was something out there just beyond what Audrey could see, and the deeper she went into the mystery, the more I felt that same sense of uneasiness. It had that perfect combination of wilderness, mystery, grief, and something dark lurking underneath it all.
But what really got me was the emotional side of the story. Audrey is searching for more than just answers about missing children. She’s searching for closure, for an explanation, and maybe for a way to finally make peace with something that has haunted her for most of her life. And the closer she gets to the truth, the more she has to confront memories she has spent years trying to bury.
I was completely invested in her journey. I loved watching the pieces come together, especially as the past and present slowly began connecting in ways I wasn't expecting. The writing made everything feel so vivid, from the woods and the search-and-rescue elements to Audrey’s memories and fears. There was so much emotion woven into the mystery without taking away from the creepy atmosphere.
This was such an absorbing read for me. I loved the mystery, the unsettling supernatural elements, the setting, and especially the way the timelines worked together. But more than anything, I loved the emotional heart of this story. It’s about loss, guilt, family, secrets, and how desperately we sometimes search for answers when not knowing can be its own kind of torture.
This was one of those books where I felt completely lost in the story, and by the end, I was emotionally exhausted in the best possible way. Absolutely a 5-star read for me.
Audrey’s story absolutely broke my heart. Fifteen years ago, her little brother Benny disappeared while her family was visiting Devil’s Den State Park, and that moment changed her life forever. Now she’s working as a park ranger in those same woods, using her search-and-rescue skills to help others while still carrying the pain of never knowing what happened to her brother. I loved how her grief wasn’t just something mentioned in the background. You could feel how deeply his disappearance shaped the person she became.
Then another child, Ivy, goes missing in the same woods, and suddenly Audrey is faced with a case that feels terrifyingly familiar. The similarities between Ivy’s disappearance and Benny’s made it impossible for Audrey to walk away, especially when she starts wondering if her brother wasn’t simply lost all those years ago. Maybe something took him. Something unnatural hiding deep within the Ozarks.
The atmosphere in this book was incredible. The woods felt beautiful, mysterious, and genuinely unsettling all at once. I loved the feeling that there was something out there just beyond what Audrey could see, and the deeper she went into the mystery, the more I felt that same sense of uneasiness. It had that perfect combination of wilderness, mystery, grief, and something dark lurking underneath it all.
But what really got me was the emotional side of the story. Audrey is searching for more than just answers about missing children. She’s searching for closure, for an explanation, and maybe for a way to finally make peace with something that has haunted her for most of her life. And the closer she gets to the truth, the more she has to confront memories she has spent years trying to bury.
I was completely invested in her journey. I loved watching the pieces come together, especially as the past and present slowly began connecting in ways I wasn't expecting. The writing made everything feel so vivid, from the woods and the search-and-rescue elements to Audrey’s memories and fears. There was so much emotion woven into the mystery without taking away from the creepy atmosphere.
This was such an absorbing read for me. I loved the mystery, the unsettling supernatural elements, the setting, and especially the way the timelines worked together. But more than anything, I loved the emotional heart of this story. It’s about loss, guilt, family, secrets, and how desperately we sometimes search for answers when not knowing can be its own kind of torture.
This was one of those books where I felt completely lost in the story, and by the end, I was emotionally exhausted in the best possible way. Absolutely a 5-star read for me.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
Wow! This was a title that I was invited to view by NetGalley, and accepting this book to read was one of the best decisions I’ve made this year regarding books. I’ll admit, I was a bit hesitant at first, because I’m not sure if the cover appealed to me that much (sorry, I still judge a book by its cover 🤷🏻♀️). However, this was a book that I did not want to put down! I also had to double check to see if this was a debut from the author, and it is! Which means, if this book was this good, I can only imagine what we will get moving forward- and I will be reading it!
This story centers on Audrey Figg, who works as a park ranger at Devil’s Den State Park, in Ozark National Forest in Arkansas. This is the same State Park that her brother, Benny, disappeared from fifteen years ago. Audrey has made it her life mission to find out what happened to her missing brother that was never found. Through this, the story goes back and forth between present day (2019), and also the year of Benny’s disappearance (2004).
While Audrey is training her new ranger/coworker, Porter, another young girl goes missing in Devil’s Den. The young girl, Ivy, is only six years old, and Audrey promises the parents that she will find this girl. Through this search mission, many memories of Benny occur, along with the secret that Audrey has kept for years. Audrey also begins to detect many unnatural and unusual happenings in the woods.
I haven’t read such an atmospheric book in a very long time. I felt claustrophobic in the woods with Audrey and her search troops. I felt entrapped in the darkness, and felt every chill run down my spine. I felt the mosquitoes biting my skin, the humming of the cicadas, and spiderwebs getting tangled in my hair as I swatted the webbing off of my face. I also learned a lot about cairns, and the disadvantages of moving rocks and rock stacking in protected areas, such as national state parks.
I also connected with Audrey’s character immensely. I felt every ounce of pain and grief that she was carrying, and I understood why she made the life choices that she did.
The writing in this book was just superb, and this is one book that I would definitely recommend. However… the ending was a little inconceivable for me- and for that I am knocking half a star.
(4.5 stars ⭐️)
Many thanks to NetGalley, Little, Brown & Company, and the author for an advanced DRC, in which I had the pleasure of reading. All opinions are my own.
Publication date: September 22, 2026
Genre~ General Fiction (adult), Horror
This story centers on Audrey Figg, who works as a park ranger at Devil’s Den State Park, in Ozark National Forest in Arkansas. This is the same State Park that her brother, Benny, disappeared from fifteen years ago. Audrey has made it her life mission to find out what happened to her missing brother that was never found. Through this, the story goes back and forth between present day (2019), and also the year of Benny’s disappearance (2004).
While Audrey is training her new ranger/coworker, Porter, another young girl goes missing in Devil’s Den. The young girl, Ivy, is only six years old, and Audrey promises the parents that she will find this girl. Through this search mission, many memories of Benny occur, along with the secret that Audrey has kept for years. Audrey also begins to detect many unnatural and unusual happenings in the woods.
I haven’t read such an atmospheric book in a very long time. I felt claustrophobic in the woods with Audrey and her search troops. I felt entrapped in the darkness, and felt every chill run down my spine. I felt the mosquitoes biting my skin, the humming of the cicadas, and spiderwebs getting tangled in my hair as I swatted the webbing off of my face. I also learned a lot about cairns, and the disadvantages of moving rocks and rock stacking in protected areas, such as national state parks.
I also connected with Audrey’s character immensely. I felt every ounce of pain and grief that she was carrying, and I understood why she made the life choices that she did.
The writing in this book was just superb, and this is one book that I would definitely recommend. However… the ending was a little inconceivable for me- and for that I am knocking half a star.
(4.5 stars ⭐️)
Many thanks to NetGalley, Little, Brown & Company, and the author for an advanced DRC, in which I had the pleasure of reading. All opinions are my own.
Publication date: September 22, 2026
Genre~ General Fiction (adult), Horror
October 21, 2026
4 ⭐
First off, the setting in this book is incredible. Devil’s Den State Park in the Ozarks is a great backdrop to begin with, and knowing children have disappeared in those woods adds such an unsettling layer.
The story uses dual timelines. In the past, we follow sixteen‑year‑old Audrey on a family vacation, where she’s supposed to be watching her younger brother — until he vanishes seemingly out of thin air. Fifteen years later, Audrey is now a park ranger dealing with an eerily similar disappearance involving a six‑year‑old girl.
At a few points, I got mixed up since both timelines are set in the same location and involve searching for a missing child. It wasn’t a big deal, but I found myself having to stop to reorient myself. It made sense later when I found out the first draft was written with only the present timeline. That may also explain some of the repetition that stood out to me.
There were some unsettling moments, but I wouldn’t call it a full‑on horror novel. There’s the mystery surrounding the disappearances and obviously something creepy in the woods, though I don’t want to say too much. It’s definitely a slow burn, which I didn’t mind, but readers expecting a nonstop “enthralling page‑turner” might feel differently. I found myself genuinely curious as it went on, and I must say the ending carried an unexpected emotional weight.
Overall, it was an atmospheric, quick read, and an impressive debut. I look forward to seeing what she does next.
First off, the setting in this book is incredible. Devil’s Den State Park in the Ozarks is a great backdrop to begin with, and knowing children have disappeared in those woods adds such an unsettling layer.
The story uses dual timelines. In the past, we follow sixteen‑year‑old Audrey on a family vacation, where she’s supposed to be watching her younger brother — until he vanishes seemingly out of thin air. Fifteen years later, Audrey is now a park ranger dealing with an eerily similar disappearance involving a six‑year‑old girl.
At a few points, I got mixed up since both timelines are set in the same location and involve searching for a missing child. It wasn’t a big deal, but I found myself having to stop to reorient myself. It made sense later when I found out the first draft was written with only the present timeline. That may also explain some of the repetition that stood out to me.
There were some unsettling moments, but I wouldn’t call it a full‑on horror novel. There’s the mystery surrounding the disappearances and obviously something creepy in the woods, though I don’t want to say too much. It’s definitely a slow burn, which I didn’t mind, but readers expecting a nonstop “enthralling page‑turner” might feel differently. I found myself genuinely curious as it went on, and I must say the ending carried an unexpected emotional weight.
Overall, it was an atmospheric, quick read, and an impressive debut. I look forward to seeing what she does next.
September 22, 2026
A legitimately scary yet poignant read, In the Woods They Wait had me bingeing this book—with the lights on—cover to cover in one single sitting. A nightmare-inducing mix of missing-child thriller and eerie supernatural-slash-creature horror, this is one story sure to live rent-free in my head for a very long time. You see, the ominous atmosphere was everything I love. Oozing a haunting sense of claustrophobia and dread, I could feel the spider webs tickling my face and hear the oppressive din of the cicadas reverberating in the air. Immersive in quite the cinematic way, it will be an absolute crime if this book isn’t made into a movie. Paired with a found-family vibe and a deeply human cast, it all came together in a way that you don’t often find in a debut. After all, the depth to the story only made the thrills and chills even stronger as the emotional pull had me invested from page one.
Speaking of the characters, Audrey was one truly unforgettable narrator in both the past and present timelines. Emotionally complex, strong, but also vulnerable as well, she was easy to root for as things spiraled out of control. And spiral they did. Packed with gory, blood-filled scenes that had my skin crawling with fear, the fast-paced second half kept my eyes firmly glued to the pages. With an ever-present sense of unease that only grew more intense with each chapter, it was the epitome of an addictive, page-turning read even as it dove into some utterly thought-provoking themes. Exploring guilt, grief, and family with a deft hand, South delivered on multiple fronts. After all, there was still a very Stephen King-like Stranger Things-meets-Liz Moore feel. As much about unresolved trauma as it was about jump scares, it was an absolute home run. Rating of 4.75 stars.
Read if you’re a fan of:
- Supernatural/creature horror
- Missing-child thrillers
- Emotional depth
- Claustrophobic scenes
- Jump scares
- Thought-provoking themes
- Unresolved trauma
- Dual timelines
- Complex characters
- Found-family vibes
- Immersive storytelling
- Wilderness setting
- A bit of blood and gore
SYNOPSIS:
Fifteen years ago, Audrey Figg's little brother, Benny, vanished on a family vacation to Devil's Den state park, a day that split her life in two. Now, Audrey is a park ranger in the very same woods with expertise in wilderness search and rescue. Audrey has found a rhythm to her days: training new rangers, tending to injured hikers, protecting the backcountry, and still, searching.
When a little girl, Ivy, suddenly goes missing on the trails, Audrey can’t help but notice the similarities to her own brother’s case. As Audrey widens the scope of her search, she begins to believe Ivy wasn't merely lost; it looks like she was taken by something―and maybe Benny was too. Yet the closer Audrey comes to answers, the more old memories push to the surface. Audrey is haunted not only by her brother's loss, but a terrible secret from that day. A secret she has never shared with anyone.
Thank you Carrie Lee South and Little, Brown for my complimentary copy. All opinions are my own.
PUB DATE: September 22, 2026
Content warning: missing person, grief, child abuse, hoarding, alcoholism, abandonment, death, violence, animal cruelty/death, body horror, gore, gun violence, child death, suicidal thoughts
Speaking of the characters, Audrey was one truly unforgettable narrator in both the past and present timelines. Emotionally complex, strong, but also vulnerable as well, she was easy to root for as things spiraled out of control. And spiral they did. Packed with gory, blood-filled scenes that had my skin crawling with fear, the fast-paced second half kept my eyes firmly glued to the pages. With an ever-present sense of unease that only grew more intense with each chapter, it was the epitome of an addictive, page-turning read even as it dove into some utterly thought-provoking themes. Exploring guilt, grief, and family with a deft hand, South delivered on multiple fronts. After all, there was still a very Stephen King-like Stranger Things-meets-Liz Moore feel. As much about unresolved trauma as it was about jump scares, it was an absolute home run. Rating of 4.75 stars.
Read if you’re a fan of:
- Supernatural/creature horror
- Missing-child thrillers
- Emotional depth
- Claustrophobic scenes
- Jump scares
- Thought-provoking themes
- Unresolved trauma
- Dual timelines
- Complex characters
- Found-family vibes
- Immersive storytelling
- Wilderness setting
- A bit of blood and gore
SYNOPSIS:
Fifteen years ago, Audrey Figg's little brother, Benny, vanished on a family vacation to Devil's Den state park, a day that split her life in two. Now, Audrey is a park ranger in the very same woods with expertise in wilderness search and rescue. Audrey has found a rhythm to her days: training new rangers, tending to injured hikers, protecting the backcountry, and still, searching.
When a little girl, Ivy, suddenly goes missing on the trails, Audrey can’t help but notice the similarities to her own brother’s case. As Audrey widens the scope of her search, she begins to believe Ivy wasn't merely lost; it looks like she was taken by something―and maybe Benny was too. Yet the closer Audrey comes to answers, the more old memories push to the surface. Audrey is haunted not only by her brother's loss, but a terrible secret from that day. A secret she has never shared with anyone.
Thank you Carrie Lee South and Little, Brown for my complimentary copy. All opinions are my own.
PUB DATE: September 22, 2026
Content warning: missing person, grief, child abuse, hoarding, alcoholism, abandonment, death, violence, animal cruelty/death, body horror, gore, gun violence, child death, suicidal thoughts
October 28, 2026
Rating: 4.5* of five
The Publisher Says: A park ranger in Devil’s Den becomes obsessed with the case of a missing child—a case that mirrors the disappearance of her own brother, whom she lost in the woods many years ago—and the possibility that both were taken by something vicious and unnatural that lives deep in the Ozarks.
From a powerful new voice, a story that's at once a haunting southern gothic and a satisfying page-turner, perfect for fans of Stephen King and Liz Moore alike.
Fifteen years ago, Audrey Figg's little brother, Benny, vanished on a family vacation to Devil's Den state park, a day that split her life in two. Now, Audrey is a park ranger in the very same woods with expertise in wilderness search and rescue. Audrey has found a rhythm to her days: training new rangers, tending to injured hikers, protecting the backcountry, and still, searching.
I RECEIVED A DRC FROM THE PUBLISHER VIA NETGALLEY. THANK YOU.
My Review: Moving between past and present timelines usually feels forced, like the author wants to create psychological tension but erroneously believes the straightforward linear approach can't do that well enough. Debut author Carrie Lee South thought the trauma Audrey, our PoV close-third-person character, is introduced in 2004 as she wander the woods of Devil's Den State Park...a real place, quite beautiful...with some lovely, meditative prose setting a mood that's soon enough shattered along with an essential part of Audrey that can't be fixed: She saw her little brother Benny walking too far away and did nothing, didn't follow him, made no attempt to care for his safety.
He's never been seen since. No body, nothing but absence.
Fifteen years later, Park Ranger Audrey's receiving a trainee, so clearly done the job well for some time now; no lovely meditative prose, though always with Author South's surprisingly assured touch with telling details observed. Audrey is all business because she can't let herself be anything resembling happy. I was here my interest in the story picked up. This is a grief response I've become familiar with. It betrays your loved one for you to feel normal human warmth or closeness or, perish forbid, love.
No wonder religion's tortures and misery disguised as "love" remain in the populace. We're wired for it. How grim a prospect is that.
The 2019 Audrey faces an existential crisis when young Ivy goes missing in an eerie echo of Benny's disappearance. Audrey's faced trouble in her time as a park ranger but this...so intimately familiar a situation, so closely similar people, feelings, circumstances...it's all perfectly designed to hook into Audrey's unfixable breakage as a human being.
And here I come back to my initial alternating-timelines argument from above: In a deft, assured way I associate with authors of considerable age and experience, Carrie Lee South uses the back-and-forth not solely to ratchet up tension (it does, though), but to introduce previously unrevealed details, a steady accumulation of new information surfacing in Audrey's mind that reveals important clues. They lead to major, perhaps incredibly in the original sense, helpful avenues of exploration in 2019 as well as resolutions to 2004's trauma.
So effective. So very convenient. I could've whacked stars off for it, feeling cheated; instead I sat back, impressed at the care and affection Author South lavished on Audrey, her survivor guilt, and the resolutions never available to Audrey before going through the forest fire.
Because it's true, the only way out...ever...is through.
The Publisher Says: A park ranger in Devil’s Den becomes obsessed with the case of a missing child—a case that mirrors the disappearance of her own brother, whom she lost in the woods many years ago—and the possibility that both were taken by something vicious and unnatural that lives deep in the Ozarks.
From a powerful new voice, a story that's at once a haunting southern gothic and a satisfying page-turner, perfect for fans of Stephen King and Liz Moore alike.
Fifteen years ago, Audrey Figg's little brother, Benny, vanished on a family vacation to Devil's Den state park, a day that split her life in two. Now, Audrey is a park ranger in the very same woods with expertise in wilderness search and rescue. Audrey has found a rhythm to her days: training new rangers, tending to injured hikers, protecting the backcountry, and still, searching.
I RECEIVED A DRC FROM THE PUBLISHER VIA NETGALLEY. THANK YOU.
My Review: Moving between past and present timelines usually feels forced, like the author wants to create psychological tension but erroneously believes the straightforward linear approach can't do that well enough. Debut author Carrie Lee South thought the trauma Audrey, our PoV close-third-person character, is introduced in 2004 as she wander the woods of Devil's Den State Park...a real place, quite beautiful...with some lovely, meditative prose setting a mood that's soon enough shattered along with an essential part of Audrey that can't be fixed: She saw her little brother Benny walking too far away and did nothing, didn't follow him, made no attempt to care for his safety.
He's never been seen since. No body, nothing but absence.
Fifteen years later, Park Ranger Audrey's receiving a trainee, so clearly done the job well for some time now; no lovely meditative prose, though always with Author South's surprisingly assured touch with telling details observed. Audrey is all business because she can't let herself be anything resembling happy. I was here my interest in the story picked up. This is a grief response I've become familiar with. It betrays your loved one for you to feel normal human warmth or closeness or, perish forbid, love.
No wonder religion's tortures and misery disguised as "love" remain in the populace. We're wired for it. How grim a prospect is that.
The 2019 Audrey faces an existential crisis when young Ivy goes missing in an eerie echo of Benny's disappearance. Audrey's faced trouble in her time as a park ranger but this...so intimately familiar a situation, so closely similar people, feelings, circumstances...it's all perfectly designed to hook into Audrey's unfixable breakage as a human being.
And here I come back to my initial alternating-timelines argument from above: In a deft, assured way I associate with authors of considerable age and experience, Carrie Lee South uses the back-and-forth not solely to ratchet up tension (it does, though), but to introduce previously unrevealed details, a steady accumulation of new information surfacing in Audrey's mind that reveals important clues. They lead to major, perhaps incredibly in the original sense, helpful avenues of exploration in 2019 as well as resolutions to 2004's trauma.
So effective. So very convenient. I could've whacked stars off for it, feeling cheated; instead I sat back, impressed at the care and affection Author South lavished on Audrey, her survivor guilt, and the resolutions never available to Audrey before going through the forest fire.
Because it's true, the only way out...ever...is through.
September 22, 2026
Oh YES!!!!! I think I am getting better at picking out my kind of horror/spooky reads!
This debut novel was fantastic!
It has WOODS!!! 🌲🌲🌳🌲🌲🌲 and creatures!!
Fifteen years ago, while her family was camping in the woods of Devil's Den looking for a bird that hasn't been spotted in years, Audrey Figg's little brother goes missing. As an adult, she is now a park ranger who prefers the wilds of the mountains to people. She continues to search in the woods of Devil's Den for answers about what happened to her brother. A little girl has gone missing and as Audrey looks into it, she feels there are many aspects of this case that remind her of her brothers.
As the investigation progresses, you soon realize that something very dark and not quite human is lurking in the woods.
This story is told between 2 timelines through Audrey's perspective. We see her as a typical teen who gets irritated by her little brother and loves to play pranks. Adult Audrey is a strong character who seems gruff, honest and brave. As secrets about her brother's disappearance are revealed, the reader once again is given evidence that things are not always what you think they are.
The team of park rangers that are searching in the woods are are relatable, and provide more information. We learn that many other people and animals have disappeared from these woods. As the search continues, this mystery takes a turn right into the chilling. It is a superb blend of mystery and horror that I devoured in one sitting. The narrative and events are tight, the atmosphere is off the chain claustrophobic and creepy. As you read, you feel as if these woods are alive and closing in on you. I really don't want to say more, because it's best to go in blind.
And although it was a fast paced horror ride, the author completely fleshes out her characters. We see them struggling with issues of grief, guilt, desperation, and eventually an ending answers some things, and not others- BUT THIS IS PERFECT for this book!
Highly recommend this to anyone who likes a little mystery with the horror, strong likable characters, supernatural creatures, a sort of found family feeling, truly scary moments, and oh yeah- the WOODS!!
Thank you to NetGalley and Little Brown for the ARC. This is my honest and voluntary review.
This debut novel was fantastic!
It has WOODS!!! 🌲🌲🌳🌲🌲🌲 and creatures!!
Fifteen years ago, while her family was camping in the woods of Devil's Den looking for a bird that hasn't been spotted in years, Audrey Figg's little brother goes missing. As an adult, she is now a park ranger who prefers the wilds of the mountains to people. She continues to search in the woods of Devil's Den for answers about what happened to her brother. A little girl has gone missing and as Audrey looks into it, she feels there are many aspects of this case that remind her of her brothers.
As the investigation progresses, you soon realize that something very dark and not quite human is lurking in the woods.
This story is told between 2 timelines through Audrey's perspective. We see her as a typical teen who gets irritated by her little brother and loves to play pranks. Adult Audrey is a strong character who seems gruff, honest and brave. As secrets about her brother's disappearance are revealed, the reader once again is given evidence that things are not always what you think they are.
The team of park rangers that are searching in the woods are are relatable, and provide more information. We learn that many other people and animals have disappeared from these woods. As the search continues, this mystery takes a turn right into the chilling. It is a superb blend of mystery and horror that I devoured in one sitting. The narrative and events are tight, the atmosphere is off the chain claustrophobic and creepy. As you read, you feel as if these woods are alive and closing in on you. I really don't want to say more, because it's best to go in blind.
And although it was a fast paced horror ride, the author completely fleshes out her characters. We see them struggling with issues of grief, guilt, desperation, and eventually an ending answers some things, and not others- BUT THIS IS PERFECT for this book!
Highly recommend this to anyone who likes a little mystery with the horror, strong likable characters, supernatural creatures, a sort of found family feeling, truly scary moments, and oh yeah- the WOODS!!
Thank you to NetGalley and Little Brown for the ARC. This is my honest and voluntary review.
October 10, 2026
4⭐️ I really liked this mystery/thriller set in the Ozarks at Devil’s Den park.
Told from the POV of Audrey Figg, a park ranger using dual timelines focused on two child disappearances. The first was Audrey’s 13 year old brother Benny, who vanished on the trails in 2004 when Audrey was 16. The second 15 years later, 6 year old Ivy goes missing while hiking with her Mom.
Audrey has never given up searching for Benny and is consumed by grief and guilt. Her family was broken and devastated by Benny’s disappearance.
But something is not right with Devil’s Den! Strange cairns dot the trails and creek beds. Many strange unsolved disappearances over the years have haunted park director Scott, Audrey’s boss.
The search for Ivy becomes her obsession! With her coworker Porter, and dear friend Corbin they are determined to find Ivy and solve the mystery!
Atmospheric and tense, I didn’t want to put it down! I felt the tension in the woods and the fear of the searches, especially the caves! Great ending too!
Thanks to NetGalley and Little Brown and Company for the eARC in exchange for my honest review
Told from the POV of Audrey Figg, a park ranger using dual timelines focused on two child disappearances. The first was Audrey’s 13 year old brother Benny, who vanished on the trails in 2004 when Audrey was 16. The second 15 years later, 6 year old Ivy goes missing while hiking with her Mom.
Audrey has never given up searching for Benny and is consumed by grief and guilt. Her family was broken and devastated by Benny’s disappearance.
But something is not right with Devil’s Den! Strange cairns dot the trails and creek beds. Many strange unsolved disappearances over the years have haunted park director Scott, Audrey’s boss.
The search for Ivy becomes her obsession! With her coworker Porter, and dear friend Corbin they are determined to find Ivy and solve the mystery!
Atmospheric and tense, I didn’t want to put it down! I felt the tension in the woods and the fear of the searches, especially the caves! Great ending too!
Thanks to NetGalley and Little Brown and Company for the eARC in exchange for my honest review
September 23, 2026
This is a grief stricken mystery that piqued my interest in the beginning. The story starts with a boy who goes missing from the forest never to be found.
His older sister becomes a park ranger in hopes of finding out what happened that awful day. She can never really get over what happened.
This is what I would call an extremely slow burn, which, I enjoy slow burns really. However, I felt that it dragged all the way up until the 70% mark. Then the story picks up.
This is a creature feature and more of a mystery than a horror story. I wished the creature would’ve been featured much sooner than later, as it lost my interest. Please check out other reviews. I’m just not the right reader for it. Geared towards people dabbling with horror.
3 ⭐️⭐️⭐️
His older sister becomes a park ranger in hopes of finding out what happened that awful day. She can never really get over what happened.
This is what I would call an extremely slow burn, which, I enjoy slow burns really. However, I felt that it dragged all the way up until the 70% mark. Then the story picks up.
This is a creature feature and more of a mystery than a horror story. I wished the creature would’ve been featured much sooner than later, as it lost my interest. Please check out other reviews. I’m just not the right reader for it. Geared towards people dabbling with horror.
3 ⭐️⭐️⭐️
August 25, 2026
Man what a book. This was a slow burn that had me feeling extremely claustrophobic and had me holding my breath so many damn times. Many people know that there are MANY cold cases involving children in state and national parks, so reading this has me sucked in immediately. Obviously this book was purely fiction, but it had me thinking… how well do we TRULY know what creatures are lingering in the woods, yet to be discovered? I may sound crazy, but Carrie Lee South has me question everything about what may be undiscovered out there. 👀 Of you’re looking for a book that’ll fill you with dread and have you hyperventilating, look no further my friends, because here you go!
Lastly, I’d like to give a HUGE thank you to Carrie for gifting me a digital copy and refusing my offer of my first born. You’re a gem 😜
Lastly, I’d like to give a HUGE thank you to Carrie for gifting me a digital copy and refusing my offer of my first born. You’re a gem 😜
September 22, 2026
Early thoughts: The mystery at work here is extremely compelling. Also, I love hopelessly destroyed characters.
Feeling: There's more in the woods than the woods bro.
I’m curious about: how the FMC will develop. She has a brutal case of survivors guilt and it makes her miserable. How will that turn out?
"Maybe that’s what death felt like. You finish the adventure, someone switches off your power, and everything just goes black." p156
Final thoughts:
This book was such a good read. It's a monster story about a giant creature you will find familiar, with some terrifying twists. I'm impressed with the author's research on this animal, which is clearly extensive and, I think, well-used to support the plot and character choices.
Something I really enjoyed was that, once the antagonist gets identified as wildlife, the story several times interrogates the question about who or what deserves protection: a very rare animal or the humans it keeps eating? This was compelling work in part because the author keeps that theme in front of the reader while they read.
What worked:
🌲 Great setting. I love settings wild enough that the plot elements seem situated just right, no matter how wild they are!
🕷️ A very cool creature for this creature story! I enjoyed the inclusion of lots of scientific facts about similar creatures in reality, like spiders and assassin bugs.
Who this is for: fans of nature thrillers and monster horror
Rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐.5
Content Notes:
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.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
Caves, bats, claustrophobia, dirty places, the woods, darkness, spiders, being eaten alive, animal death, animal cruelty, grievous wounding, degreded bodies,
Feeling: There's more in the woods than the woods bro.
I’m curious about: how the FMC will develop. She has a brutal case of survivors guilt and it makes her miserable. How will that turn out?
"Maybe that’s what death felt like. You finish the adventure, someone switches off your power, and everything just goes black." p156
Final thoughts:
This book was such a good read. It's a monster story about a giant creature you will find familiar, with some terrifying twists. I'm impressed with the author's research on this animal, which is clearly extensive and, I think, well-used to support the plot and character choices.
Something I really enjoyed was that, once the antagonist gets identified as wildlife, the story several times interrogates the question about who or what deserves protection: a very rare animal or the humans it keeps eating? This was compelling work in part because the author keeps that theme in front of the reader while they read.
What worked:
🌲 Great setting. I love settings wild enough that the plot elements seem situated just right, no matter how wild they are!
🕷️ A very cool creature for this creature story! I enjoyed the inclusion of lots of scientific facts about similar creatures in reality, like spiders and assassin bugs.
Who this is for: fans of nature thrillers and monster horror
Rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐.5
Content Notes:
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
Caves, bats, claustrophobia, dirty places, the woods, darkness, spiders, being eaten alive, animal death, animal cruelty, grievous wounding, degreded bodies,
July 19, 2026
I don’t know what I was expecting… but it wasn’t this! 😳 Guys… go in blind!! No spoilers here!! Thank you SO much @littlebrown for my gorgeous gifted copy!! 😍🫶 Look at this cover!! 👀 👀 👀
WHAT did I just read??! That is what you will be saying when you close the book. I had SO many questions while I was reading this!! They were all answered in the end. 😳🤯
Benny goes missing in the woods… 15 years ago. His sister Audrey is not giving up. She needs to know either way…WHAT happened to him. So she literally takes a job at the state park in the Ozarks where Benny disappeared. Wow right?
First off… it was heartbreaking 💔 what the family of a missing person must go through. We got to see the grief and guilt play out on the pages. In addition though it was so atmospheric!!
I felt like I was right there. 😳 That my friends…. Was a bit terrifying. What is in the woods?? Who is in the woods?? Whatttt is going on?!
EVERYONE was a suspect in my mind. 🤨Trust NOBODY was my motto. I cringed everytime our girl Audrey was alone.
GET READY FOR IT… this book literally blindsided me.. I never saw the direction it took!! My face while reading this … 😳😮🫣🫣🫣🫣… NOW 🤐🤐🤐 go in blind!!
WHAT did I just read??! That is what you will be saying when you close the book. I had SO many questions while I was reading this!! They were all answered in the end. 😳🤯
Benny goes missing in the woods… 15 years ago. His sister Audrey is not giving up. She needs to know either way…WHAT happened to him. So she literally takes a job at the state park in the Ozarks where Benny disappeared. Wow right?
First off… it was heartbreaking 💔 what the family of a missing person must go through. We got to see the grief and guilt play out on the pages. In addition though it was so atmospheric!!
I felt like I was right there. 😳 That my friends…. Was a bit terrifying. What is in the woods?? Who is in the woods?? Whatttt is going on?!
EVERYONE was a suspect in my mind. 🤨Trust NOBODY was my motto. I cringed everytime our girl Audrey was alone.
GET READY FOR IT… this book literally blindsided me.. I never saw the direction it took!! My face while reading this … 😳😮🫣🫣🫣🫣… NOW 🤐🤐🤐 go in blind!!
April 20, 2026
I must have skipped over the whole “unnatural” mention in the description, because I TOTALLY thought this was just your run of the mill thriller/kids gone missing in the wilderness.
Let me tell you, this was a PLEASANT surprise. I literally could not put this down. Carrie Lee South’s writing is absolutely addicting. Every single chapter ended on a note that left me wanting more. The pacing is such that you can literally feel Audrey’s every emotion: the panic, the confusion… I was right there with her.
There was an exceptional amount of character development and that made me that much more invested. There is also just something about going missing in a state or national park that makes me feel incredibly uneasy. Add in that funky, supernatural element…my goodness. Was literally biting my nails.
If you are a thriller/mystery reader looking to bridge the gap into horror, this would be really wonderful place to start.
I can’t wait to read more from this author!
Thank you to the NetGalley and the publisher for sending me this advanced copy for my unbiased opinion.
Let me tell you, this was a PLEASANT surprise. I literally could not put this down. Carrie Lee South’s writing is absolutely addicting. Every single chapter ended on a note that left me wanting more. The pacing is such that you can literally feel Audrey’s every emotion: the panic, the confusion… I was right there with her.
There was an exceptional amount of character development and that made me that much more invested. There is also just something about going missing in a state or national park that makes me feel incredibly uneasy. Add in that funky, supernatural element…my goodness. Was literally biting my nails.
If you are a thriller/mystery reader looking to bridge the gap into horror, this would be really wonderful place to start.
I can’t wait to read more from this author!
Thank you to the NetGalley and the publisher for sending me this advanced copy for my unbiased opinion.
Read
October 12, 2026Дуже погано написаний (наприклад, хтось осягає, ай шіт ю нот, "essential essence" справи, добра половина героїв карикатурна, купа деталей нікуди не веде, етц.), але цілком моторошний горорчик.
Коли головна героїня була підліткою, її молодший брат з її вини заблукав у національному парку і зник безвісти. Вирісши, вона стає ренджеркою в тому самому парку - допомагає виблукати іншим туристам, підтримує порядок і безпеку. На дозвіллі прочесує ліс у пошуках якихось підказок про те, що сталося з братом (чи, будьмо реалістками, його кісток). І все йде відносно незле, доки в парку не зникає дівчинка - і головна героїня вирішує, що, по-перше, це може бути якось пов'язане зі зникненням її брата, а по-друге, можливо, багато в небі й на землі такого, що нашій філософії й не снилось - і щось із цього під'їдає туристів.
Усе страшенно мило екологічне! Шматок екосистеми жере туристів? Але ж він - невід'ємна частина біологічного різноманіття! Складаєш пірамідки з камінців чи хочеш забрати природні пам'ятки собі додому? Помреш страшною смертю, урод. І, між іншим, пірамідки з камінців складають тільки потвори (деякі моральні, деякі буквальні). І так далі, і таке інше. Подекуди прямо дуже жаскенько, а горори я читаю, будьмо відверті, не задля літературної винахідливості, тож у підсумку незле провела час
Коли головна героїня була підліткою, її молодший брат з її вини заблукав у національному парку і зник безвісти. Вирісши, вона стає ренджеркою в тому самому парку - допомагає виблукати іншим туристам, підтримує порядок і безпеку. На дозвіллі прочесує ліс у пошуках якихось підказок про те, що сталося з братом (чи, будьмо реалістками, його кісток). І все йде відносно незле, доки в парку не зникає дівчинка - і головна героїня вирішує, що, по-перше, це може бути якось пов'язане зі зникненням її брата, а по-друге, можливо, багато в небі й на землі такого, що нашій філософії й не снилось - і щось із цього під'їдає туристів.
Усе страшенно мило екологічне! Шматок екосистеми жере туристів? Але ж він - невід'ємна частина біологічного різноманіття! Складаєш пірамідки з камінців чи хочеш забрати природні пам'ятки собі додому? Помреш страшною смертю, урод. І, між іншим, пірамідки з камінців складають тільки потвори (деякі моральні, деякі буквальні). І так далі, і таке інше. Подекуди прямо дуже жаскенько, а горори я читаю, будьмо відверті, не задля літературної винахідливості, тож у підсумку незле провела час
September 28, 2026
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️💫 4.5/5
Thank you to the author and Little, Brown and Company for the gifted eARC provided through NetGalley. All opinions are my own and shared voluntarily.
In the first part of "In the Woods They Wait," I kept waiting for the horror to drop in. The story begins with a tragic event, then turns into a slowly developing mystery filled with grief, guilt, and long-buried secrets. Intriguing, but no shivers down my spine…yet. 💀
Then the second half bursts in with the chilling horror! HOLY MOLY. It gets dark, eerie, and spine-tingling, dragging me into the dark side!
Set in Devil’s Den State Park in the Ozark Mountains of Arkansas, the story centers on Audrey, a park ranger tormented by her younger brother's disappearance fifteen years earlier. Audrey kept secrets about what occurred on that day, and the guilt has stayed with her. When another child vanishes from the same park, Audrey is determined to find her before history repeats itself.
The narrative alternates between past and present, gradually revealing the full story. I love this approach. Each new piece of information adds another layer of tension and makes the park seem more menacing. Every shadow and rustling leaf feels like a warning.
Audrey is strong, stubborn, and not always easy to like. She speaks her mind without a filter, which can make her seem harsher than she actually is, but that rawness gives her a genuine feel. Her friendship with Corban reveals a more vulnerable side, and I found their bond compelling. Even the most flawed characters felt relatable, not just difficult.
The slower beginning might test readers who crave instant chills, but the payoff worked for me. With its setting (do you like eerie caves?), creeping dread, emotional family mystery, and a second half that delivers pure creepiness, "In the Woods They Wait" deserves a spot on your Spooky Season TBR.
Thank you to the author and Little, Brown and Company for the gifted eARC provided through NetGalley. All opinions are my own and shared voluntarily.
In the first part of "In the Woods They Wait," I kept waiting for the horror to drop in. The story begins with a tragic event, then turns into a slowly developing mystery filled with grief, guilt, and long-buried secrets. Intriguing, but no shivers down my spine…yet. 💀
Then the second half bursts in with the chilling horror! HOLY MOLY. It gets dark, eerie, and spine-tingling, dragging me into the dark side!
Set in Devil’s Den State Park in the Ozark Mountains of Arkansas, the story centers on Audrey, a park ranger tormented by her younger brother's disappearance fifteen years earlier. Audrey kept secrets about what occurred on that day, and the guilt has stayed with her. When another child vanishes from the same park, Audrey is determined to find her before history repeats itself.
The narrative alternates between past and present, gradually revealing the full story. I love this approach. Each new piece of information adds another layer of tension and makes the park seem more menacing. Every shadow and rustling leaf feels like a warning.
Audrey is strong, stubborn, and not always easy to like. She speaks her mind without a filter, which can make her seem harsher than she actually is, but that rawness gives her a genuine feel. Her friendship with Corban reveals a more vulnerable side, and I found their bond compelling. Even the most flawed characters felt relatable, not just difficult.
The slower beginning might test readers who crave instant chills, but the payoff worked for me. With its setting (do you like eerie caves?), creeping dread, emotional family mystery, and a second half that delivers pure creepiness, "In the Woods They Wait" deserves a spot on your Spooky Season TBR.
September 27, 2026
Lately I’ve been really enjoying thrillers about people lost in the woods so when this came up on NetGalley, I smashed that request button! The writing is amazing and the setting vividly rendered, but it slightly veers into horror later in the book, which did not work at all for me.
The story is told in alternating timelines: present-day (2019) and 15 years ago. Back then, teenage Audrey was on a camping trip with her parents and little brother Benny. Annoyed that she had to watch him, she led him off the trail and then hid. Terrified, he ran off and disappeared. Naturally Audrey has been blaming herself for this tragedy and the way it destroyed her family and has become a ranger at the park in order to continue the search for Benny and to pay penance.
In the present-day storyline, a young girl, Ivy, has gone missing, which predictably brings up a lot of trauma for Audrey. In her dogged search, she comes across a hideous creature who just may be to blame.
I felt for Audrey, and I loved her relationship with best friend Corbin and how this horrible incident took over her life. I absolutely hated the horror aspect and would have far preferred the book go in a completely different direction—especially since it didn’t seem to have a deeper meaning—it just felt like a lazy way to explain things.
Overall, 3.5 stars rounded up. If you don’t mind a little horror in your thrillers, you might love this! Thanks to Little, Brown and Company for the ARC!
The story is told in alternating timelines: present-day (2019) and 15 years ago. Back then, teenage Audrey was on a camping trip with her parents and little brother Benny. Annoyed that she had to watch him, she led him off the trail and then hid. Terrified, he ran off and disappeared. Naturally Audrey has been blaming herself for this tragedy and the way it destroyed her family and has become a ranger at the park in order to continue the search for Benny and to pay penance.
In the present-day storyline, a young girl, Ivy, has gone missing, which predictably brings up a lot of trauma for Audrey. In her dogged search, she comes across a hideous creature who just may be to blame.
I felt for Audrey, and I loved her relationship with best friend Corbin and how this horrible incident took over her life. I absolutely hated the horror aspect and would have far preferred the book go in a completely different direction—especially since it didn’t seem to have a deeper meaning—it just felt like a lazy way to explain things.
Overall, 3.5 stars rounded up. If you don’t mind a little horror in your thrillers, you might love this! Thanks to Little, Brown and Company for the ARC!
Want to Read
February 20, 2026oooh this one sounds so good! I love missing person mysteries!
*** ARC REC'D THANK YOU SO MUCH!! **
*** ARC REC'D THANK YOU SO MUCH!! **
Review of advance copy
First of all thanks to Booktrovert for the gift of this ARC prior to publishing. It was definitely a slow burn but never boring. I really wasn’t sure where it was going and that made it really good. The last 30% was a wild panic-inducing thrill. It was terrifying. Before that, there were a few little hints that started to make me wonder where this was headed. The raw emotion, the constant guilt, and the penance Audrey put herself through could have seemed boring but it wasn’t. The ending was satisfying. The losses were real. A well written story that I really enjoyed. I will be avoiding Devil’s Den and all of the Ozark Mountains, for the record.
June 8, 2026
I was invited to read this eARC by Little, Brown & Company and NetGalley. When I read the description, I knew I had to read it. Set in the Ouachita National Forest at Devil’s Den in West Fork, AR, which is a mere 40 minutes north of where I live, I knew there was no way I was passing this one by.
Audrey lost her brother in this very forest when they were teenagers, and 15 years later, she is a ranger at the park and has spent those 15 years continuing to look for her brother. Strange things are happening here that she can’t quite put her finger on, as though there is something out there lurking in the woods. It had a “Stranger Things” vibe to it. The book goes back & forth to when her brother went missing to the current, where a 6 year old girl just went missing. It was a fast-paced, entertaining read with a darkness to it that still kept things interesting.
Many thanks to NetGalley & the publisher for an invitation to read an eARC of this book in exchange for my honest opinions.
Audrey lost her brother in this very forest when they were teenagers, and 15 years later, she is a ranger at the park and has spent those 15 years continuing to look for her brother. Strange things are happening here that she can’t quite put her finger on, as though there is something out there lurking in the woods. It had a “Stranger Things” vibe to it. The book goes back & forth to when her brother went missing to the current, where a 6 year old girl just went missing. It was a fast-paced, entertaining read with a darkness to it that still kept things interesting.
Many thanks to NetGalley & the publisher for an invitation to read an eARC of this book in exchange for my honest opinions.
May 9, 2026
✨✨✨Oh, a creature…✨✨✨
I thought In the Woods They Wait was just a mystery/thriller. A search for a missing child in the Ozarks, but it definitely changed into a bit of a creature book also. It does say “unnatural” in the synopsis but I forgot about that. I didn’t mind that at all, but the direction it went (the reveal) was not anything I found exciting to be honest. I ended up wishing it didn’t go that supernatural direction since for me it was a bit lackluster. Also, some parts of the book were quite repetitive. Audrey was an interesting MC. At first I didn’t love her character, but as we got more depth with her I did start to really like her!! I loved the overall atmosphere and vibe of the book, but it was slow and just didn’t quite land for me.
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for providing a free ebook copy in exchange for an honest review. This book is expected to be released September 22, 2026.
I thought In the Woods They Wait was just a mystery/thriller. A search for a missing child in the Ozarks, but it definitely changed into a bit of a creature book also. It does say “unnatural” in the synopsis but I forgot about that. I didn’t mind that at all, but the direction it went (the reveal) was not anything I found exciting to be honest. I ended up wishing it didn’t go that supernatural direction since for me it was a bit lackluster. Also, some parts of the book were quite repetitive. Audrey was an interesting MC. At first I didn’t love her character, but as we got more depth with her I did start to really like her!! I loved the overall atmosphere and vibe of the book, but it was slow and just didn’t quite land for me.
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for providing a free ebook copy in exchange for an honest review. This book is expected to be released September 22, 2026.
March 14, 2026
Thank you to Net Galley for the eARC!
In The Woods They Wait is a great suspense thriller/horror story and a victorious debut novel for Carrie Lee South. Unlike some other suspense thrillers I’ve read, this one lacked super surprising plot twists, but it did not lack character development, spookiness, dread, or gore.
Things come to a nice resolution at the end as well. I very much enjoyed this book and I look forward to reading more from Carrie Lee South. And remember, don’t follow the cairns 😱
In The Woods They Wait is a great suspense thriller/horror story and a victorious debut novel for Carrie Lee South. Unlike some other suspense thrillers I’ve read, this one lacked super surprising plot twists, but it did not lack character development, spookiness, dread, or gore.
Things come to a nice resolution at the end as well. I very much enjoyed this book and I look forward to reading more from Carrie Lee South. And remember, don’t follow the cairns 😱
November 13, 2026
This review is for an ARC copy received from the publisher through NetGalley.
In 2004, teenage Audrey and her family are vacationing in Devil's Den State Park in Arkansas. When she's forced by her parents to bring her annoying younger brother Benny along on a hike, she decides to play a prank on him. But the prank goes awry and Benny ends up missing in the woods, never to be found. Fifteen years late, Audrey is now a park ranger, partially as a way to keep looking for signs of what happened to Benny. When a little girl suddenly goes missing in the park, it starts feeling eerily similar to Audrey. As she helps hunt for the missing girl, she'll discover that something worse that she could ever imagine awaits in Devil's Den.
For about 80% of the book, this was a slow-burn but riveting mystery about what's causing people to disappear in the state park. While Audrey has her own hidden secrets, she also learns that others she trusts have secrets of their own regarding what's in the park. And when those secrets come to light in the last 20% of the story, it was not at all what I was expecting, especially based on the cover, synopsis and what takes place in the novel up to that point. The true horrors caught me by surprise, which is no small feat. Though from the point on, a lot of what occurs was fairly predictable - I pretty much foresaw the fates of certain characters long before they were revealed - and the finale a bit rushed and convenient. But not unentertaining. Without spoiling where the story goes, all I can say is the last portion comes at you very surprisingly based on where the book seemed to be heading.
In 2004, teenage Audrey and her family are vacationing in Devil's Den State Park in Arkansas. When she's forced by her parents to bring her annoying younger brother Benny along on a hike, she decides to play a prank on him. But the prank goes awry and Benny ends up missing in the woods, never to be found. Fifteen years late, Audrey is now a park ranger, partially as a way to keep looking for signs of what happened to Benny. When a little girl suddenly goes missing in the park, it starts feeling eerily similar to Audrey. As she helps hunt for the missing girl, she'll discover that something worse that she could ever imagine awaits in Devil's Den.
For about 80% of the book, this was a slow-burn but riveting mystery about what's causing people to disappear in the state park. While Audrey has her own hidden secrets, she also learns that others she trusts have secrets of their own regarding what's in the park. And when those secrets come to light in the last 20% of the story, it was not at all what I was expecting, especially based on the cover, synopsis and what takes place in the novel up to that point. The true horrors caught me by surprise, which is no small feat. Though from the point on, a lot of what occurs was fairly predictable - I pretty much foresaw the fates of certain characters long before they were revealed - and the finale a bit rushed and convenient. But not unentertaining. Without spoiling where the story goes, all I can say is the last portion comes at you very surprisingly based on where the book seemed to be heading.
May 16, 2026
I was given the ARC of "In the Woods They Wait" by Carrie Lee South, from NetGalley and the Publisher Little, Brown & Company in exchange for my honest Review.
I am always up for an in the woods thriller that follows a disappearance and the mystery that hangs heavy in the air with all the unknowns. This book was packed full of suspense and fear and got my heart rate up multiple times.
I liked the writing and it had a very nice flow to it but once I got into the thick of the reveal I was left a bit let down not just by the unrealistic circumstances but by the fact that the characters development was guiding you one place and took you some where else entirely. I felt let down by how certain long-term relationship were left unfinished and without closure or with what felt like the wrong wrap up.
This book moved along so quickly for me and was headed for a 4-5 star finish but didn't deliver. I am not one to give spoiler reviews so I am doing my best to steer clear of that but I was disappointed in the ending. In fact it was more than a little disappointing and It felt very unfinished and disconnected. If your going to have a book end like this one did then it should start and carry through in a much different tone and be in a completely different genre... There needed to be so much more as far as Audrey's relation ship with her life long BFF Corbin as well as with Audrey's mother. I also felt like Audrey's mentor Scott deserved so much more as well...
For some this book may hit the mark but for me I craved more body and completion to the characters relationships. Especially since it felt like it was leading you there just to be wrapped up in a way that left me with an immense sense of disbelief, and a WTF moment as if I was being punked or my Kindle must have switched books on me or something... It didn't..... so then came a sadness and frustration that I wasn't going to get the ending or even what felt like the rest of the same story that I got 80% of and then 20% of something else entirely....
But I am still grateful to NetGalley and the publisher, Little, Brown & Company for this ARC!
I try to never regret any book I have read! It could end up a recommendation for someone I have yet to encounter!
Happy Reading!
I am always up for an in the woods thriller that follows a disappearance and the mystery that hangs heavy in the air with all the unknowns. This book was packed full of suspense and fear and got my heart rate up multiple times.
I liked the writing and it had a very nice flow to it but once I got into the thick of the reveal I was left a bit let down not just by the unrealistic circumstances but by the fact that the characters development was guiding you one place and took you some where else entirely. I felt let down by how certain long-term relationship were left unfinished and without closure or with what felt like the wrong wrap up.
This book moved along so quickly for me and was headed for a 4-5 star finish but didn't deliver. I am not one to give spoiler reviews so I am doing my best to steer clear of that but I was disappointed in the ending. In fact it was more than a little disappointing and It felt very unfinished and disconnected. If your going to have a book end like this one did then it should start and carry through in a much different tone and be in a completely different genre... There needed to be so much more as far as Audrey's relation ship with her life long BFF Corbin as well as with Audrey's mother. I also felt like Audrey's mentor Scott deserved so much more as well...
For some this book may hit the mark but for me I craved more body and completion to the characters relationships. Especially since it felt like it was leading you there just to be wrapped up in a way that left me with an immense sense of disbelief, and a WTF moment as if I was being punked or my Kindle must have switched books on me or something... It didn't..... so then came a sadness and frustration that I wasn't going to get the ending or even what felt like the rest of the same story that I got 80% of and then 20% of something else entirely....
But I am still grateful to NetGalley and the publisher, Little, Brown & Company for this ARC!
I try to never regret any book I have read! It could end up a recommendation for someone I have yet to encounter!
Happy Reading!
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
4.5/5 stars rounded up.
This book really had everything that I love in it which is why I'm incredibly happy that this ended up being a strong read. Any book with unexplained disappearances in the woods and I'm sat. It all worked for me—the pacing, the writing, the setting, the suspense. I've been having a lot of hit-or-miss reads recently but this one was a breath of fresh air. This story had me gripped from start to finish. The mystery and atmosphere were both incredibly compelling to me. While reading, I was reminded a bit of the I was excited to get that same feeling again, here. I found that I was not expecting the reveal, at all. I had a bunch of guesses, but they weren't quite right.
My only complaint is that the ending was a bit more rushed than I was hoping for. I think this book could've benefited from being longer than it was. I would've liked to see the action be more drawn out once they went "hunting" in the woods. It wrapped quicker than I had hoped for. I think there was an opportunity to increase the terror if this section was expanded on. I would've liked a more well-rounded conclusion as well. I thought there could've been more closure between certain characters. Minor complaints, and they didn't take much away from my enjoyment of this book.
I'll also mention that this might be a difficult book for you to read if you struggle with animal deaths or anything pertaining to insects. There are a few different mentions and descriptions of animal deaths and the same with insects throughout the book.
Thank you to NetGalley and Little, Brown and Company for the ARC. All opinions are my own.
CW: Addiction, Alcoholism, Animal cruelty, Animal death, Body horror, Child death, Death, Gore, Gun violence, Physical abuse, Violence, Blood, Kidnapping, Grief, Murder, Abandonment, Alcohol, Injury/Injury detail
This book really had everything that I love in it which is why I'm incredibly happy that this ended up being a strong read. Any book with unexplained disappearances in the woods and I'm sat. It all worked for me—the pacing, the writing, the setting, the suspense. I've been having a lot of hit-or-miss reads recently but this one was a breath of fresh air. This story had me gripped from start to finish. The mystery and atmosphere were both incredibly compelling to me. While reading, I was reminded a bit of the I was excited to get that same feeling again, here. I found that I was not expecting the reveal, at all. I had a bunch of guesses, but they weren't quite right.
My only complaint is that the ending was a bit more rushed than I was hoping for. I think this book could've benefited from being longer than it was. I would've liked to see the action be more drawn out once they went "hunting" in the woods. It wrapped quicker than I had hoped for. I think there was an opportunity to increase the terror if this section was expanded on. I would've liked a more well-rounded conclusion as well. I thought there could've been more closure between certain characters. Minor complaints, and they didn't take much away from my enjoyment of this book.
I'll also mention that this might be a difficult book for you to read if you struggle with animal deaths or anything pertaining to insects. There are a few different mentions and descriptions of animal deaths and the same with insects throughout the book.
Thank you to NetGalley and Little, Brown and Company for the ARC. All opinions are my own.
CW: Addiction, Alcoholism, Animal cruelty, Animal death, Body horror, Child death, Death, Gore, Gun violence, Physical abuse, Violence, Blood, Kidnapping, Grief, Murder, Abandonment, Alcohol, Injury/Injury detail
October 2, 2026
#ad much love for my finished copy @novelsuspects & @littlebrown #partner
🅸🅽 🆃🅷🅴 🆆🅾🅾🅳🆂 🆃🅷🅴🆈 🆆🅰🅸🆃
< @
ᴀᴠᴀɪʟᴀʙʟᴇ ɴᴏᴡ
The dead don't feel guilt. That's just what you get for being the survivor. 30
In 2004, Audrey was only a kid when her 13-year-old brother Benny disappeared while hiking in the woods. He was never found. Now it’s 2019, and another kid, Ivy, has gone missing. It’s happening again. It’s all happening again.
Fifteen years later, Audrey is working as a park ranger, rescuing people who find themselves in trouble on the very trails that took her brother. But Audrey is still fighting her own demons. The guilt she carries is heavy, and in a lot of ways, she stopped really living the day Benny disappeared. She’s spent all these years looking for redemption - and looking for him.
Now she needs answers, and she’s determined to get them.
Superstitions and rumors have always swirled around these trails. There were rumblings that the Devil himself lived beneath the mountain. And honestly, the setting was PERFECT for this story. With miles of wilderness and danger lying dormant everywhere you look, someone could disappear out there for a hundred different reasons. But what if there’s another explanation?
The story alternates between 2004, during Benny’s disappearance, and 2019 as the search for Ivy unfolds. Y’all know I’m not a huge fan of dual timelines, but it worked SO well here. I also really enjoyed the philosophical side of the story -!it made for some compelling dialogue and gave me a lot to think about.
But the atmosphere here was where this book excelled. There’s something primal about the fear of being surrounded by miles of trees, completely cut off from everything familiar, and slowly realizing you might not be alone. The tension just kept growing and there were definitely moments where I was thinking, absolutely TF not. I would have been out of those woods immediately.
Dark, eerie, and unsettling, In the Woods They Wait is for anyone who loves isolated settings, creepy forests, missing-person mysteries, slow-building dread, and stories that make you wonder what might be waiting just beyond the tree line.
Mem
Pack your patience
Recommend.
🅸🅽 🆃🅷🅴 🆆🅾🅾🅳🆂 🆃🅷🅴🆈 🆆🅰🅸🆃
< @
ᴀᴠᴀɪʟᴀʙʟᴇ ɴᴏᴡ
The dead don't feel guilt. That's just what you get for being the survivor. 30
In 2004, Audrey was only a kid when her 13-year-old brother Benny disappeared while hiking in the woods. He was never found. Now it’s 2019, and another kid, Ivy, has gone missing. It’s happening again. It’s all happening again.
Fifteen years later, Audrey is working as a park ranger, rescuing people who find themselves in trouble on the very trails that took her brother. But Audrey is still fighting her own demons. The guilt she carries is heavy, and in a lot of ways, she stopped really living the day Benny disappeared. She’s spent all these years looking for redemption - and looking for him.
Now she needs answers, and she’s determined to get them.
Superstitions and rumors have always swirled around these trails. There were rumblings that the Devil himself lived beneath the mountain. And honestly, the setting was PERFECT for this story. With miles of wilderness and danger lying dormant everywhere you look, someone could disappear out there for a hundred different reasons. But what if there’s another explanation?
The story alternates between 2004, during Benny’s disappearance, and 2019 as the search for Ivy unfolds. Y’all know I’m not a huge fan of dual timelines, but it worked SO well here. I also really enjoyed the philosophical side of the story -!it made for some compelling dialogue and gave me a lot to think about.
But the atmosphere here was where this book excelled. There’s something primal about the fear of being surrounded by miles of trees, completely cut off from everything familiar, and slowly realizing you might not be alone. The tension just kept growing and there were definitely moments where I was thinking, absolutely TF not. I would have been out of those woods immediately.
Dark, eerie, and unsettling, In the Woods They Wait is for anyone who loves isolated settings, creepy forests, missing-person mysteries, slow-building dread, and stories that make you wonder what might be waiting just beyond the tree line.
Mem
Pack your patience
Recommend.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
4.5 stars!
Going into this read blind was definitely the way to go! I knew it was horror, but I was not prepared for the suspense that unfolded.
The story kicks off immediately with park ranger Audrey Figg, who, as a child, experienced the traumatic disappearance of her brother Benny in the woods. That event left a lasting mark on her and her family, driving her to keep searching for answers even years later. When a small girl goes missing under eerily similar circumstances, Audrey feels compelled to lead the search, knowing the woods intimately. But as the search progresses, things take a creepy turn, and there are moments that are difficult to explain. The tension was palpable. I could feel the chill in my bones when she spotted something lurking in the shadows!
Fifteen years on, Audrey is still seeking answers, but one fateful night, she reveals one of her most closely guarded secrets concerning her brother's disappearance. It’s heart-wrenching to uncover the truth behind that one fateful decision. We follow the search party and meet several characters, each of whom is likable and relatable, making you feel like part of the ranger team. However, it soon becomes clear that not everything is as it seems. The ranger in charge has been secretly watching the woods because he suspects there's something out there that defies explanation. As the story unfolds, we gradually uncover details that shed light on the mysteries surrounding the disappearances of both people and animals.
The author captured my attention right from the start. I couldn’t put it down! It’s hard to believe this is a debut novel because it's so compelling. I found myself on edge the whole time, half-expecting a goblin or some odd creature to jump out from the pages. The secluded setting was vividly depicted, creating an almost atmospheric sense of dread. Bravo to the author for such a well-crafted story!
If you enjoy heart-pounding, devastating tales filled with cathartic endings, an unexplainable monster in a dark narrative, and love the thrill of unraveling a mystery, this could become your new favorite. It’s fast-paced yet carefully weaves poignant themes of survival, long-held grief, and the guilt stemming from a family's unraveling, ultimately leading to closure regarding Benny's fate. In the Ozark wilderness, we’re left wondering what may be lurking in the dark, and honestly, some mysteries may be better left unsolved. I've been turning my house into a 24/7 nightclub this week because it seems that the darker the atmosphere, the more the plot twists thrive! Ha!
Thank you, Little Brown Company and NetGalley, for the DRC copy. I am leaving this review voluntarily.
Going into this read blind was definitely the way to go! I knew it was horror, but I was not prepared for the suspense that unfolded.
The story kicks off immediately with park ranger Audrey Figg, who, as a child, experienced the traumatic disappearance of her brother Benny in the woods. That event left a lasting mark on her and her family, driving her to keep searching for answers even years later. When a small girl goes missing under eerily similar circumstances, Audrey feels compelled to lead the search, knowing the woods intimately. But as the search progresses, things take a creepy turn, and there are moments that are difficult to explain. The tension was palpable. I could feel the chill in my bones when she spotted something lurking in the shadows!
Fifteen years on, Audrey is still seeking answers, but one fateful night, she reveals one of her most closely guarded secrets concerning her brother's disappearance. It’s heart-wrenching to uncover the truth behind that one fateful decision. We follow the search party and meet several characters, each of whom is likable and relatable, making you feel like part of the ranger team. However, it soon becomes clear that not everything is as it seems. The ranger in charge has been secretly watching the woods because he suspects there's something out there that defies explanation. As the story unfolds, we gradually uncover details that shed light on the mysteries surrounding the disappearances of both people and animals.
The author captured my attention right from the start. I couldn’t put it down! It’s hard to believe this is a debut novel because it's so compelling. I found myself on edge the whole time, half-expecting a goblin or some odd creature to jump out from the pages. The secluded setting was vividly depicted, creating an almost atmospheric sense of dread. Bravo to the author for such a well-crafted story!
If you enjoy heart-pounding, devastating tales filled with cathartic endings, an unexplainable monster in a dark narrative, and love the thrill of unraveling a mystery, this could become your new favorite. It’s fast-paced yet carefully weaves poignant themes of survival, long-held grief, and the guilt stemming from a family's unraveling, ultimately leading to closure regarding Benny's fate. In the Ozark wilderness, we’re left wondering what may be lurking in the dark, and honestly, some mysteries may be better left unsolved. I've been turning my house into a 24/7 nightclub this week because it seems that the darker the atmosphere, the more the plot twists thrive! Ha!
Thank you, Little Brown Company and NetGalley, for the DRC copy. I am leaving this review voluntarily.
October 5, 2026
Thank you so much to NetGalley and Little, Brown and Company for the gifted ebook.
My Review
I will definitely be reading more from Carrie Lee South after this because this book was stunning. I honestly don't even know how to put everything I felt while reading it into words. I loved how the horror and thriller parts of the story worked together, but what really got me was Audrey. I didn't feel like I was just following her through this story. I felt like I was right there with her, experiencing the fear and horror of everything that was happening.
There is also so much grief underneath this story, and I thought Carrie Lee South did an amazing job writing about it. Audrey has carried the disappearance of her brother with her for years, and you can feel how much that loss has become a part of her life. That emotional side of the story mixed with everything happening in the woods made this so much more than just a creepy read for me. This is one of those books that completely pulled me in and reminded me why I love horror and thrillers so much.
Would I Recommend?
Absolutely. If you love horror and thrillers that are creepy but also have a strong emotional story underneath them, read this one. Carrie Lee South is definitely an author I'll be looking for again.
My Review
I will definitely be reading more from Carrie Lee South after this because this book was stunning. I honestly don't even know how to put everything I felt while reading it into words. I loved how the horror and thriller parts of the story worked together, but what really got me was Audrey. I didn't feel like I was just following her through this story. I felt like I was right there with her, experiencing the fear and horror of everything that was happening.
There is also so much grief underneath this story, and I thought Carrie Lee South did an amazing job writing about it. Audrey has carried the disappearance of her brother with her for years, and you can feel how much that loss has become a part of her life. That emotional side of the story mixed with everything happening in the woods made this so much more than just a creepy read for me. This is one of those books that completely pulled me in and reminded me why I love horror and thrillers so much.
Would I Recommend?
Absolutely. If you love horror and thrillers that are creepy but also have a strong emotional story underneath them, read this one. Carrie Lee South is definitely an author I'll be looking for again.
October 12, 2026
This was such a good, spooky read that grappled with heavy topics such as grief and trauma. I liked the slow burn unraveling of what the heck is going on? type questions and I enjoyed the writing a lot. I had some ideas of what I wanted the reveal to be, but was a bit letdown by the actual reveal. I felt like the woodsy, dark vibes of the setting really added a lot to the mystery surrounding the disappearances and I found a lot of the horror aspects unsettling. Can't wait to read more from this author, this was a solid, promising debut!
Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for the advance copy.
Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for the advance copy.
November 14, 2026
Some of this actually unsettled me! I had no idea where things were heading. However, I thought parts of the story came to a conclusion that was… too simple/not very interesting for the overall mystery and main character’s arc. I highlighted many passages that spoke to me!
I loved learning more about Arkansas and the Ozarks. I loved the inclusion of Ozark folklore and witchcraft.
I loved learning more about Arkansas and the Ozarks. I loved the inclusion of Ozark folklore and witchcraft.
October 25, 2026
My question is why is this considered an adult horror? I’ve read scarier Goosebumps books. Overall, this was a cheese fest and not in a good way.
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