Where Wild Roses Grow

by E.J. Wood

329 pages, Kindle Edition

Published May 31, 2026

About the author

Wood is just a storyteller!
E.J. Wood is a British author of crime, horror, dark romance, and psychological suspense.

Aside from her memoirs, her books feature unhinged, and morally grey characters, although, some readers may argue that even her memoirs feature some very unusual characters.

Wood started writing in 2001. She published a 3-part series of erotic short stories (The Red Death Diaries) in 2015 with Smashwords, and later with Amazon in 2017. Her debut novel, Beyond the Pale was published in 2018.

She loves to chat with her readers and is very active on her Facebook page E.J. Wood Author, so please do reach out. If you have something positive to say about any of her books, she'd be grateful if you left a review and told your friends, as most of all, she just wants you to enjoy her stories.

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Reviews

[Samantha · Rating 5 out of 5]

My review of Where Wild Roses Grow: emotional, gripping, and full circle. The story balances the ugliness of life with moments of unexpected beauty, weaving in twists that kept me hooked.

“Being with the living hurt too much” (p. 31) and “The dead weren’t the ones to fear” (p. 30) really capture the tone. Looking back at page 17, I realized—she knew.

A haunting story about protection, consequences, and what it takes for someone to truly live.

[Michelle Shamy · Rating 5 out of 5]

Madison, a beautifully intelligent woman. Anthropologist who prefers bones over people. Bones don’t leave you. They don’t hurt you. You’re safe. That’s where Madison felt the most comfortable. This story holds a depth that you don’t truly understand until you get deeper into the story. This isn’t a simple A and Z type of read. It’s a rollercoaster. A wild one at that. Comfort distant always mean safe. Intelligence doesn’t always equal awareness. And this was Madison’s flaw. She had no idea she was being stalked. And that this person was obsessed with her, she’d never have a relationship in the way she wanted. Especially not with Guy. The one who moved in next to her. This story takes you on a trip with twists and turns down a dark path. Every time you think you know what’s going to happen, you have no clue.
I was literally on the edge of my seat, gripping my iPad, eyes wide open, waiting for it. That moment. That instant when it all comes together. Once you start this, there’s no stopping. You’re in it for the long haul. This will crawl into your head, into the darkest recesses that you try to lock down, and take up residency there. And you’re going to allow it. Because there’s just no turning back.

[JD Setzer · Rating 5 out of 5]

If “criminal minds” and “You” had a nightmare of book baby, this would be it!

Madison graves, experienced anthropologist, has always loved working with the dead.
Beneath the shadow hides a stalker who is completely obsessed with everything about and determined to eliminate anyone who hurts her!
The truth eventually becomes clear as the closer he comes to her the more the line blurs between reality and obsession.

The book keeps you hooked from page one and doesn’t let it till the end’ highly recommend!!!

[Vicsta Dolan · Rating 5 out of 5]

My life is bones; they don’t intimidate me and they don’t lie. These captivating lines immediately draws you in from the first page.

Crafted in a punchy style, the book is set in Washington D.C. and unfolds from the perspectives of two main characters: the bone keeper and the jackal. It delves into dark themes like stalking, obsession and murder.

I absolutely loved this book. It’s a fantastically descriptive dark story with twists as big as a fairground ride that kept me on the edge of my seat. This is definitely a book you shouldn’t miss; I’d give it an easy 5 stars.

[Daniel Dawn Komanski · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is the second book I have read from this author and absolutely love the darkness of her stories yesterdays still feel the character’s love / pain they feel as well. I would definitely Recommend this book and any of her other great stories. You won’t be disappointed.

[Irina Sandoval-Hickson · Rating 5 out of 5]

⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐️ (Arc)
Where Wild Roses Grow by E.J. Wood was such a fast-paced, addictive read. The story moves quickly without losing depth, and every twist kept me locked in—I never felt like I could fully settle because something new was always unfolding.
The characters were a standout for me. They felt layered, intense, and real enough to stay with you even after you put the book down. And those twists? Sharp, unexpected, and perfectly timed.

[Miss S · Rating 5 out of 5]

Where Wild Roses Grow completely pulled me in from the very first page and didn’t let go until the final reveal. If you’re a fan of Bones, this feels reminiscent of that world — forensic anthropology, analysing the dead, uncovering truths hidden in bones — but much darker, more obsessive, and far more psychologically intense.
Madison Graves was such a compelling main character. Strong, intelligent, and completely at home among the dead, yet underneath it all there’s this growing sense of vulnerability as someone becomes dangerously fixated on her. The dynamic between obsession and understanding was written so well that at times the characters felt like dark kindred spirits, which made everything even more unsettling.
The pacing was fantastic — fast, addictive, and packed with twists that genuinely caught me off guard. The tension builds so naturally throughout, and the stalker storyline becomes increasingly chilling the closer everything gets to the truth.
What I really loved was that despite the darkness, there were also moments of humour woven in that gave the characters more depth and made them feel real. It balanced the heavier themes perfectly without taking away from the suspense.
Dark, clever, creepy, and impossible to put down. A brilliantly written psychological thriller with obsession, murder, tension, and twists done right. Easily a 5-star read for me, and I’ll definitely continue devouring E.J. Wood’s work.

[Dianne Qualls · Rating 5 out of 5]

I received this book as a free ARC read. This is my free and truthful review of Where The Wild Roses Grow.
E.J. Has done it again! I rarely come across an author or book that can throw me off the plot. Let me say when I do I am going to stand up and shout from the roof tops. Where The Wild Roses Grow is a dark psychological thriller that will think you are going down one trail but then you finish a page and the twist slap you in the face. Maddison is and always has been unique and unusual by normal standards. Preferring the dead to the living. An anthropologist struggling to leave her past behind when she meets her new neighbor Guy. Guy is new in town and looks like the right man for Madison to have a little fun with. But there's someone else at play. Someone who won't let Madison have a normal relationship. Maddison's trauma keeps her detached and prevents her from letting people get to close. The living always leave you right? Soon questions will begin to form, suspicious will lead to complete darkness and depravity. The question the reader will be left asking is... Who is who? and just who needs to be protected from who?
Grab a copy of this book immediately because the darkness in these pages will keep you on the edge of your seat, leg bouncing, brain screaming "I NEED ANSWERS!"

[Heather Shower · Rating 5 out of 5]

This isn’t a simple start-to-finish read, it’s a dark, twisting rollercoaster that keeps pulling you deeper the further you go.
Madison is intelligent but dangerously unaware, and that flaw drives the tension as she has no idea she’s being watched by someone obsessed with her, someone who’s been quietly controlling more than she realizes, especially when it comes to Guy.
The pacing is fast, the twists hit hard, and just when you think you’ve figured it out, the story shifts again. I was completely hooked, on edge the entire time.
The characters feel real and layered, and the subtle moments of humor balance the darker themes perfectly. Add in the eerie thread of her past, the hollar, the bones, the sense she was never truly alone—and it all comes together in such a chilling way.
Dark, clever, creepy, and impossible to put down. A standout psychological thriller.

[Ambreezy83 · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wow, this one was good. She might be the keeper of bones but also the keeper of dark secrets. She doesn’t know there have always been eyes on her. He’s always been there in the shadows keeping her safe from the men that take what isn’t theirs to have. She’s always expected a ghost but in the hollar no one questions the wind. In DC, she’s made a name for herself and her study of bones but random circumstances bring around someone she’s not sure she can open up to but ends up needing. She tries to leave the hollar but it keeps bringing her around.

[Makayla · Rating 5 out of 5]

Where do I begin with this?!
Let’s start out with how amazing this story was. How fast it gripped me and pulled me in. From the beginning I was hooked, obsessed, wanting more. Every time I think I’ve figured it out, I was wrong. In the end when it’s revealed who the stalker was, I was so shocked.

The story was phenomenal, the writing was amazing, the plot was beautiful. I would definitely recommend this if murder, stalking, obsession, and dark romance is their thing.

I look forward to reading more by E.J. Wood!

[Brittany Fox · Rating 5 out of 5]

My first read by E.J and it was a wild ride. I absolutely love The Jackal. The Bone Keeper is also very creative. Madison grows up knowing live beings are full of disappointment, dishonesty, just disgusting beings. Bones though they are quiet, they can't lie to you, and they will keep your secrets should you want to share them. I love multiple POVs and this book certainly does not disappoint while bouncing from one to the other.
Can't wait to read more by this author.!

[syrenareads · Rating 4 out of 5]

Where Wild Roses Grow kept me gasping from start to finish. The Bone Keeper gave me total Bones vibes, and the way she grew and leaned into her darkness completely surprised me in the best way. It’s a shorter read with gritty, tension and an unexpectedly sweet ending. Perfect if you love stories that feel like Bones meets Criminal Minds meets You.

[LaTanya Stewart · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was my first book by this author. I had the privilege of being an ARC reader. This had me hooked from the beginning. The stalking of it all! How far would you go for love? And the twists when it all comes together... Definitely not my last book by E.J. Wood

[Carol Jones · Rating 5 out of 5]

This had me hooked from the very 1st page, and kept me that way until the very end.
Think bones but darker.
The twists and reveals give this a 5* read for me. Thanks to EJ Wood for the ARC Opportunity

[Sarah Between the Lines Book Reviews · Rating 5 out of 5]

A new favorite dark romance!
This reminded me of the show “Bones” mixed with “YOU”.
Devoured this book in one sitting, fast paced and doesn’t let up till the end.
The humor in this book was a huge bonus!


Thank you so much E.J. Wood for the privilege of being one of your first readers!

[Rebecca Charlesworth · Rating 4 out of 5]

What I would say is a dark romance read. The Jackal and The Bone Keeper, our leading characters, both keepers of secrets and dark pasts, that culminate in a dark preset and no doubt dark futures. Fast paced and held my interest as to where the storyline was going and what was going to happen next.

[Mandy · Rating 5 out of 5]

Chilling, clever, and quietly unsettling. Tension builds, the pacing cuts sharp, and the psychological edge lingers. Obsession turns dangerous. Dark, addictive, and hard to shake.