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Strange Harm
Not yet published
Expected 2 Mar 27From the author of Motherthing—When a teenage girl disappears from a supposedly haunted wood, everyone has a theory. Their stories are strange, but the truth is even stranger.
When Janie Yearling disappears from the small town of Gold River, her parents, Calvin and Annette, immediately make the primetime rounds, pleading for her safe return on every talk show and network news program that will have them. Annette becomes a bona fide star; her exquisite poise in the face of such pain is a marvel. Calvin, on the other hand, can’t stop crying long enough to get a word out; he becomes a punch line at best and, at worst, a potential suspect.
Fifteen years later, they’re no closer to finding out what happened to Janie; only now, no one cares. Janie’s story is circling the daytime TV drain when a young woman who’d once suffered her own star-making tragedy asks if Calvin and Annette want to be the subject of her new podcast. Calvin is skeptical, but Annette is thrilled—this could be their last chance to find out what really happened to their girl.
Was it the creepy drifter who crossed paths with Janie in town that night, like most people believe? Or was it Calvin’s pet theory—one the disturbed podcaster seems to be stoking, even though it drives Annette up the wall—that Druda, the tortured spirit said to haunt the river, pulled her into another world? Chilling, funny, and ultimately moving, Strange Harm is a kaleidoscopic novel about the many layers of narrative at work on us constantly—keeping us scared, keeping us anxious, and keeping the truth concealed.
When Janie Yearling disappears from the small town of Gold River, her parents, Calvin and Annette, immediately make the primetime rounds, pleading for her safe return on every talk show and network news program that will have them. Annette becomes a bona fide star; her exquisite poise in the face of such pain is a marvel. Calvin, on the other hand, can’t stop crying long enough to get a word out; he becomes a punch line at best and, at worst, a potential suspect.
Fifteen years later, they’re no closer to finding out what happened to Janie; only now, no one cares. Janie’s story is circling the daytime TV drain when a young woman who’d once suffered her own star-making tragedy asks if Calvin and Annette want to be the subject of her new podcast. Calvin is skeptical, but Annette is thrilled—this could be their last chance to find out what really happened to their girl.
Was it the creepy drifter who crossed paths with Janie in town that night, like most people believe? Or was it Calvin’s pet theory—one the disturbed podcaster seems to be stoking, even though it drives Annette up the wall—that Druda, the tortured spirit said to haunt the river, pulled her into another world? Chilling, funny, and ultimately moving, Strange Harm is a kaleidoscopic novel about the many layers of narrative at work on us constantly—keeping us scared, keeping us anxious, and keeping the truth concealed.
Kindle Edition
Expected publication March 2, 2027
About the author
Ainslie Hogarth
8 books739 followersAinslie Hogarth is the author of five novels. You can find her short fiction in Hazlitt, Maisonneuve, Room Magazine, Black Static, and more.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 42 reviews
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
Ainslie Hogarth is so back. This is a monumental step-up from Normal Women.
Strange Harm follows eight unique point of views nearly fifteen years after a teenager, Janie Yearling, disappears without a trace from her small town. There are a lot of theories and speculation as to what happened to Janie. Did a mysterious man known as Baby Face come into town with a stolen ID and a stolen car? Did Janie get swept up in the local Gold River? Or is there something more sinister at play?
This book will keep you on the edge of your seat. Hogarth's storytelling is just so strange and chaotic that it keeps your eyes glued to the page. I desperately needed to know what happened to Janie, and each character's unique perspective keeps the novel fresh, engaging, and mysterious.
Hogarth, you won me back with this one...
*Thank you to Netgalley for providing me an ARC copy of this book. All opinions expressed are entirely my own.*
Strange Harm follows eight unique point of views nearly fifteen years after a teenager, Janie Yearling, disappears without a trace from her small town. There are a lot of theories and speculation as to what happened to Janie. Did a mysterious man known as Baby Face come into town with a stolen ID and a stolen car? Did Janie get swept up in the local Gold River? Or is there something more sinister at play?
This book will keep you on the edge of your seat. Hogarth's storytelling is just so strange and chaotic that it keeps your eyes glued to the page. I desperately needed to know what happened to Janie, and each character's unique perspective keeps the novel fresh, engaging, and mysterious.
Hogarth, you won me back with this one...
*Thank you to Netgalley for providing me an ARC copy of this book. All opinions expressed are entirely my own.*
Read
October 8, 2026📢 New book coming March 2027 from Ainslee Hogarth! I NEED THIS SO BADLY I CAN'T BREATH OMG!!!
Did Not Finish
November 4, 2026DNF @ 14%
The cover definitely gave me ‘Twin Peaks’ vibes. The pages in-between didn’t hold up.
Usually, I give a book a little bit more of my time than this but there was absolutely nothing begging me to stick around. It started off dull to where I started to drift off. Had to go back and reread a bunch of pages because I needed to know if I was missing anything. Sadly, I was not.
The cover definitely gave me ‘Twin Peaks’ vibes. The pages in-between didn’t hold up.
Usually, I give a book a little bit more of my time than this but there was absolutely nothing begging me to stick around. It started off dull to where I started to drift off. Had to go back and reread a bunch of pages because I needed to know if I was missing anything. Sadly, I was not.
Did Not Finish
October 6, 2026Okay, I feel bad, but I just don’t think this was very good.
The POV time jumps were cleverly interwoven, but honestly I just didn’t care.
The cover, however? Immaculate.
Thank you to the publisher for the eARC via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
The POV time jumps were cleverly interwoven, but honestly I just didn’t care.
The cover, however? Immaculate.
Thank you to the publisher for the eARC via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
I was very excited to be approved for this ARC! Thank you to Doubleday and NetGalley for providing an advance copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
5/5 - I have read 158 books so far this year and this is my 6th 5 star read.
I enjoyed Motherthing (4/5) by the same author, but Strange Harm completely blew it out of the water:
I loved how this book was structured, each section a different POV contributing a little bit more to the story. The way Hogarth did this was incredibly clever. She started out with one story as the catalyst and began a loosely connected chain. Seeing from the various characters' perspectives not only provided information a reader would otherwise not have, but it denied readers access to the motivations of those whose perspectives were not inhabited at the time. This was highly effective. It kept the sense of uncertainty pervasive on all fronts, especially given that several of the narrators were unreliable. Even the section I found the least compelling served a definitive purpose.
The author has a unique voice, a slightly uncanny way of describing things that made my mental images of scenes visceral, almost tangible. At parts I felt like I could almost eat the text. This was not always pleasant given some of the content, LMAO, but her writing was fantastic.
The reading experience was propulsive. It came in waves - during my initial readthrough I kept hitting swells where I literally could not tear my eyes away as I sped through the text, then things calmed for a bit before hitting another swell, and so on. It's been a while since I felt so glued to the page.
Everything was tightly plotted, but the details were revealed piecemeal. I was not certain which were most important to focus on until the end. After I finished reading, I skimmed through carefully and it was all there - every hint and clue. Not every question is answered - it does not need to be - but there are no loose ends. The book basically invites rereading to catch anything that might have been missed the first time. It's a very different book, but I remember feeling similarly impressed when I read The 7 1/2 Deaths of Evelyn Hardcastle - there are a lot of layers to keep track of, and the author presents them brilliantly.
Hogarth also did her research. I have some familiarity with certain subjects that were discussed and she got them exactly right - whether it was stating a historical fact or showing how something works. I can't go into details because I don't want to give away any spoilers, but her research was meticulous. I'm nitpicky about that, so it's something I appreciate.
I can't go into anything else I loved about this book without revealing too much - just read it! It's much more interesting than the blurb might lead you to believe.
Usually, when I rate something 5 stars it's instant and unquestionable. For this one, I wasn't certain until I went back and reread some parts to get the full scope of what the author accomplished - and then the more I thought about it, the more I loved it. So I'm not JUST going to highly recommend this, but I'm also going to recommend that you read it twice. I've already preordered a physical copy so I can have it on my shelves, which is probably the biggest compliment I can give a book.
#StrangeHarm #NetGalley
5/5 - I have read 158 books so far this year and this is my 6th 5 star read.
I enjoyed Motherthing (4/5) by the same author, but Strange Harm completely blew it out of the water:
I loved how this book was structured, each section a different POV contributing a little bit more to the story. The way Hogarth did this was incredibly clever. She started out with one story as the catalyst and began a loosely connected chain. Seeing from the various characters' perspectives not only provided information a reader would otherwise not have, but it denied readers access to the motivations of those whose perspectives were not inhabited at the time. This was highly effective. It kept the sense of uncertainty pervasive on all fronts, especially given that several of the narrators were unreliable. Even the section I found the least compelling served a definitive purpose.
The author has a unique voice, a slightly uncanny way of describing things that made my mental images of scenes visceral, almost tangible. At parts I felt like I could almost eat the text. This was not always pleasant given some of the content, LMAO, but her writing was fantastic.
The reading experience was propulsive. It came in waves - during my initial readthrough I kept hitting swells where I literally could not tear my eyes away as I sped through the text, then things calmed for a bit before hitting another swell, and so on. It's been a while since I felt so glued to the page.
Everything was tightly plotted, but the details were revealed piecemeal. I was not certain which were most important to focus on until the end. After I finished reading, I skimmed through carefully and it was all there - every hint and clue. Not every question is answered - it does not need to be - but there are no loose ends. The book basically invites rereading to catch anything that might have been missed the first time. It's a very different book, but I remember feeling similarly impressed when I read The 7 1/2 Deaths of Evelyn Hardcastle - there are a lot of layers to keep track of, and the author presents them brilliantly.
Hogarth also did her research. I have some familiarity with certain subjects that were discussed and she got them exactly right - whether it was stating a historical fact or showing how something works. I can't go into details because I don't want to give away any spoilers, but her research was meticulous. I'm nitpicky about that, so it's something I appreciate.
I can't go into anything else I loved about this book without revealing too much - just read it! It's much more interesting than the blurb might lead you to believe.
Usually, when I rate something 5 stars it's instant and unquestionable. For this one, I wasn't certain until I went back and reread some parts to get the full scope of what the author accomplished - and then the more I thought about it, the more I loved it. So I'm not JUST going to highly recommend this, but I'm also going to recommend that you read it twice. I've already preordered a physical copy so I can have it on my shelves, which is probably the biggest compliment I can give a book.
#StrangeHarm #NetGalley
October 13, 2026
Strange Harm is the kind of supernatural mystery that keeps you piecing things together right alongside its characters. Told through multiple perspectives, the story gradually builds a bigger picture of the disappearance at its center, with each new voice adding another layer to the mystery. I especially loved how immersive the character work was; you really get to inhabit these people’s lives and mentalities as the story unfolds.
This book genuinely scared me. After reading plenty of horror, I thought I was pretty well-equipped to handle a little supernatural dread, but this was my first time experiencing a genuine, stomach-dropping jump scare through a book. At ONE IN THE MORNING, no less.
5 stars, no notes!!
Shoutout to NetGalley and Doubleday Books for sharing this title with me.
This book genuinely scared me. After reading plenty of horror, I thought I was pretty well-equipped to handle a little supernatural dread, but this was my first time experiencing a genuine, stomach-dropping jump scare through a book. At ONE IN THE MORNING, no less.
5 stars, no notes!!
Shoutout to NetGalley and Doubleday Books for sharing this title with me.
Review of advance copy received from Publisher
Ainslie Hogarth smashed it out of the park with this one; ostensibly a story about a missing teenage girl and a podcaster who reignites the search fifteen years later. But no, this is so much more and so much better than that description.
Barely over two hundred pages but feeling the richness and nuance of a book double the size, I read Strange Harm in a single day. Multiple character perspectives that flow seamlessly, building immersive tiny worlds. Constantly questioning what the thing is to be afraid of - an ancient spirit or a modern man? What do we inherit, what do we create?
Haunting, spooky, sinister and sad. Truly impressive.
Barely over two hundred pages but feeling the richness and nuance of a book double the size, I read Strange Harm in a single day. Multiple character perspectives that flow seamlessly, building immersive tiny worlds. Constantly questioning what the thing is to be afraid of - an ancient spirit or a modern man? What do we inherit, what do we create?
Haunting, spooky, sinister and sad. Truly impressive.
November 12, 2026
This book reminds me of an anthology. Every chapter is different characters but they are all tied together to make one big story.
*some spoilers*
**very long review 😁**
Druda is our first character. In this chapter we get set up for the rest of the book. Glass plays a huge part in all this.
Next is Tammy, a 10 year old stuck at the Golden River while her older brothers fish. All 4 brothers are abusive. Her father died when she was 3 months old and feels thats why they hate her. She ends up wandering off into the woods 😬 she comes across a lot of creep things like bones, dolls, antlers, ect. She even comes across some of the broken glass from Druda from years before. This glass changes reality when looked into.
She encounters Druda, an evil spirit now in this forest. We jump years into Tammy being an adult. She still has the piece of glass and loves telling her children about the encounter. One of her children and her only son, Calvin is there for her on her death bed. He believed she saw Druda that day. They were really close. He is our MC for our next chapter.
Man is Calvin superstitious.
Calvin and his wife Annette’s daughter, Janie has went missing for 15 years. Calvin blames his daughter missing on his mother stealing that piece of glass from Drudas spirit all that long ago. It’s so sad that he’s the only one that ever believed Tammy about her seeing Druda in the forest that day. Anyways Starling has come to talk to Calvin and Annette about their daughter for a podcast. Apparently starling was also a missing child at some point.
Next up we have Michelle. It starts off with her as a nurse. She is helping Jane Doe King city 1999, and lord did our Jane doe go through it. She wants one day heck even one minute in Jane does body because she’s so beautiful and Michelle thinks she herself is ugly. She starts obsessing over Jane doe. Jane has a locket that ends up somehow having Michelle’s initials on the back. She feels it’s sign. It honestly gets weird here. Jane doe becomes Bonnie! I really liked this chapter. I was confused how it all fit in with the rest of the story but the very end, it clicked. Bonnie is not Michelle’s gift. Someone very very close to her is though.
Next up is starling. Our girl from the podcast. Because of how starling was born, a lot of people believe she is a god. She did go missing, but not how I was expecting. Michelle is talked about in this chapter some more and man do I hate Michelle now. This chapter was different. She keeps waking up with a taste in her mouth and she’s obsessing over figuring out what the taste is. Shes trying to also get a show to tell her horrible story of when she was missing. Ive been reading too many books about weird and disgusting eating habits. Add this arc to that list. She does find what shes needs thanks to some gifted tarot cards. So many dots connected in this chapter.
Our next chapter is Annette, Calvin’s wife and missing Janie’s mother. Shes clearly spiraling after Janie disappeared, but what parent wouldn’t? She thinks Calvin is foolish for thinking it was Druda who took their daughter and not the obvious suspect everyone thinks did it. And she is so fed up with Calvin and Druda. And for some reason she also seems somewhat obsessed with starling. And when Calvin tells starling about Druda, Annette feels like he went behind her back because he did.
Daryl is next. She was briefly mentioned before and she saw Janie and the suspect the night Janie went missing. She makes dolls (Druda dolls) as offerings to take to the forest and give to tourist. Shes never seen Druda but knows Druda took Janie. Well Daryl witnessed some weird stuff in the forest that night (in walks Calvin and starling). Daryl isn’t normal in my option but that’s clear in the chapter.
Lastly we have Janie, the missing daughter. We get into the night she went missing. This chapter started out funny and ended so sadly. I’m not going to go too much into this chapter because I don’t want give the whole book away.
Man i absolutely loved this arc. I’d probably even read it again.
Thank you NetGalley, Ainslie Hogarth, and Doubleday Books for a copy of this arc in exchange for my honest review.
*some spoilers*
**very long review 😁**
Druda is our first character. In this chapter we get set up for the rest of the book. Glass plays a huge part in all this.
Next is Tammy, a 10 year old stuck at the Golden River while her older brothers fish. All 4 brothers are abusive. Her father died when she was 3 months old and feels thats why they hate her. She ends up wandering off into the woods 😬 she comes across a lot of creep things like bones, dolls, antlers, ect. She even comes across some of the broken glass from Druda from years before. This glass changes reality when looked into.
She encounters Druda, an evil spirit now in this forest. We jump years into Tammy being an adult. She still has the piece of glass and loves telling her children about the encounter. One of her children and her only son, Calvin is there for her on her death bed. He believed she saw Druda that day. They were really close. He is our MC for our next chapter.
Man is Calvin superstitious.
Calvin and his wife Annette’s daughter, Janie has went missing for 15 years. Calvin blames his daughter missing on his mother stealing that piece of glass from Drudas spirit all that long ago. It’s so sad that he’s the only one that ever believed Tammy about her seeing Druda in the forest that day. Anyways Starling has come to talk to Calvin and Annette about their daughter for a podcast. Apparently starling was also a missing child at some point.
Next up we have Michelle. It starts off with her as a nurse. She is helping Jane Doe King city 1999, and lord did our Jane doe go through it. She wants one day heck even one minute in Jane does body because she’s so beautiful and Michelle thinks she herself is ugly. She starts obsessing over Jane doe. Jane has a locket that ends up somehow having Michelle’s initials on the back. She feels it’s sign. It honestly gets weird here. Jane doe becomes Bonnie! I really liked this chapter. I was confused how it all fit in with the rest of the story but the very end, it clicked. Bonnie is not Michelle’s gift. Someone very very close to her is though.
Next up is starling. Our girl from the podcast. Because of how starling was born, a lot of people believe she is a god. She did go missing, but not how I was expecting. Michelle is talked about in this chapter some more and man do I hate Michelle now. This chapter was different. She keeps waking up with a taste in her mouth and she’s obsessing over figuring out what the taste is. Shes trying to also get a show to tell her horrible story of when she was missing. Ive been reading too many books about weird and disgusting eating habits. Add this arc to that list. She does find what shes needs thanks to some gifted tarot cards. So many dots connected in this chapter.
Our next chapter is Annette, Calvin’s wife and missing Janie’s mother. Shes clearly spiraling after Janie disappeared, but what parent wouldn’t? She thinks Calvin is foolish for thinking it was Druda who took their daughter and not the obvious suspect everyone thinks did it. And she is so fed up with Calvin and Druda. And for some reason she also seems somewhat obsessed with starling. And when Calvin tells starling about Druda, Annette feels like he went behind her back because he did.
Daryl is next. She was briefly mentioned before and she saw Janie and the suspect the night Janie went missing. She makes dolls (Druda dolls) as offerings to take to the forest and give to tourist. Shes never seen Druda but knows Druda took Janie. Well Daryl witnessed some weird stuff in the forest that night (in walks Calvin and starling). Daryl isn’t normal in my option but that’s clear in the chapter.
Lastly we have Janie, the missing daughter. We get into the night she went missing. This chapter started out funny and ended so sadly. I’m not going to go too much into this chapter because I don’t want give the whole book away.
Man i absolutely loved this arc. I’d probably even read it again.
Thank you NetGalley, Ainslie Hogarth, and Doubleday Books for a copy of this arc in exchange for my honest review.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
Huge thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the opportunity to read and review Strange Harm Ainslie Hogarth.
Two grieving parents, Calvin and Annette Yearling are turned into media spectacles when their daughter, Janie disappears one evening. Annette becomes the public's darling, while Calvin is constantly criticized for his very public display of emotions. Annette focuses on facts and statistics, while Calvin whispers about Druda, the vengeful spirit that haunts the nearby river.
15 years later the stories magic has faded, leaving the parents no closer to finding their daughter. Annette, stoic and determined to find and answer turns to another survivor of loss, a podcaster rumored to be psychic. Hoping to revive public interest again and find out what really happened to their daughter.
Strange Harm is a weirdly beautiful, sad, gothic horror. This is one of those novels that sits with you for a while, trying to decide if you loved it or hated it. I fell on the side of love.
Ainslie Hogarth did a beautiful job depicting the characters; showing how media twists public opinion, the struggle of two people clearly in love but dealing with grief in two entirely separate ways and the horror of the unknown.
There is a lot going in the story and the plot gets lost at times, but still beautifully done. 4.5 stars rounded up to 5.
Two grieving parents, Calvin and Annette Yearling are turned into media spectacles when their daughter, Janie disappears one evening. Annette becomes the public's darling, while Calvin is constantly criticized for his very public display of emotions. Annette focuses on facts and statistics, while Calvin whispers about Druda, the vengeful spirit that haunts the nearby river.
15 years later the stories magic has faded, leaving the parents no closer to finding their daughter. Annette, stoic and determined to find and answer turns to another survivor of loss, a podcaster rumored to be psychic. Hoping to revive public interest again and find out what really happened to their daughter.
Strange Harm is a weirdly beautiful, sad, gothic horror. This is one of those novels that sits with you for a while, trying to decide if you loved it or hated it. I fell on the side of love.
Ainslie Hogarth did a beautiful job depicting the characters; showing how media twists public opinion, the struggle of two people clearly in love but dealing with grief in two entirely separate ways and the horror of the unknown.
There is a lot going in the story and the plot gets lost at times, but still beautifully done. 4.5 stars rounded up to 5.
Review of advance copy received from Edelweiss+
STRANGE HARM is an immersive, kaleidoscopic, and unsettling novel that follows the residents of gold river after a local teenager goes missing in the woods. everyone in town has their theories about what happened to janie yearling: many think she was a victim of a creepy stranger who was seen in town the night she went missing; others think she was taken by druda, the vengeful spirit who's said to haunt the river; and some will even admit that no one knows what happened to janie. all of them are tangled in the connected web of grief, rumors, and sensationalism that takes over in the wake of janie's disappearance, and the way things shake out will leave you reeling in its aftermath. STRANGE HARM is slow moving, but wildly compelling, told from several points of view of varying degrees of reliability, and hogarth leaves you in the dark until the very last page, when everything comes together. it's a book that will haunt you, begging to be read a second time, and it's dressed in an absolutely irresistible cover. i can't recommend it enough.
September 4, 2026
Fuck. Ainslie Hogarth, you are a wizard.
I love an ancient haunting that continues to frighten and advise a community for generations to come. That’s the town of Gold River, plagued by an ages-old mourning woman who fends for her trinkets by cursing the folks she encounters.
Believe it or not, many townsfolk believe the lore, and let it impact their daily actions. When Janie Yearling goes missing one summer evening, it catapults one family into a rabbit hole of grief and bargaining with what’s a stake.
Told from multiple perspectives, we hear how each narrative is connected, both innocently and nefariously.
This one stuck to me DEEP, and I really can’t stop thinking about it.
I’m so thankful to our wonderful author, Doubleday Books, and NetGalley for advanced access prior to pub day March 2, 2027.
I love an ancient haunting that continues to frighten and advise a community for generations to come. That’s the town of Gold River, plagued by an ages-old mourning woman who fends for her trinkets by cursing the folks she encounters.
Believe it or not, many townsfolk believe the lore, and let it impact their daily actions. When Janie Yearling goes missing one summer evening, it catapults one family into a rabbit hole of grief and bargaining with what’s a stake.
Told from multiple perspectives, we hear how each narrative is connected, both innocently and nefariously.
This one stuck to me DEEP, and I really can’t stop thinking about it.
I’m so thankful to our wonderful author, Doubleday Books, and NetGalley for advanced access prior to pub day March 2, 2027.
September 20, 2026
Thank you Ainslie Hogarth for restoring my faith in literary horror and in originality and in novel construction and in beautifully poignant observations about the world amidst perfectly gruesome scenes.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
With Janie Yearling being lost, her beautiful countenance is splashed all over the networks and her infamy is thus achieved. The parents left behind in the debris, Annette and Calvin, do their best to be an advocate for their daughter while also avoiding the suspicion at the same time. After fifteen years, the Janie story is dead, and with it any hopes of her resurfacing in real life OR in the media. When the parents are given the chance to sit in on a podcast about their daughter, both parents are intrigued while facing their own reasons not to participate. Druda, the water spirit suspected to linger near the bodies of water in town, is a popular accusal for Janie's disappearance and mostly the focus of this book in itself.
The most interesting part of Strange Harm is how each piece is disjointed, and given to the reader in portions. This ensures the plot and story is ever shifting, giving you as the reader a real chance to wear the shoes of each character. The pacing being slow took me out of this story, but the folkloric bent with the lure of tabloid and podcast perusals was truly delectable. Thank you to NetGalley and Doubleday Books for the eARC. All opinions are entirely my own.
The most interesting part of Strange Harm is how each piece is disjointed, and given to the reader in portions. This ensures the plot and story is ever shifting, giving you as the reader a real chance to wear the shoes of each character. The pacing being slow took me out of this story, but the folkloric bent with the lure of tabloid and podcast perusals was truly delectable. Thank you to NetGalley and Doubleday Books for the eARC. All opinions are entirely my own.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
I’m not quite sure how to structure this review. The first about 40-50% of this book was amazing! It took a minute to get into the flow and writing style but once I did I was fully immersed! Unfortunately it slowly started to fall apart once the multiple time periods and POV’s became more modern day. It almost felt like I was reading two different books.
I did enjoy how Ainslie Hogarth weaved the different POV’s together. You would go from one persons POV and then the next would pull from the previous and build upon it or explain it further. It helped propel the story forward even when I was struggling to stay engaged.
I really wish this had been more horror forward as I kept waiting for the big jump. I do think many people will love Strange Harm and I may just be an outlier. I think if I had been sucked in throughout the entire book I would have rated it higher but because I struggled to get through such a short book it I am settling at a 3.5/5. I will definitely read from Hogarth again as I did enjoy parts of this book!
Thank you to Ainslie Hogarth, Doubleday Books, & NetGalley for the advanced reader copy in exchange for my honest review!
I did enjoy how Ainslie Hogarth weaved the different POV’s together. You would go from one persons POV and then the next would pull from the previous and build upon it or explain it further. It helped propel the story forward even when I was struggling to stay engaged.
I really wish this had been more horror forward as I kept waiting for the big jump. I do think many people will love Strange Harm and I may just be an outlier. I think if I had been sucked in throughout the entire book I would have rated it higher but because I struggled to get through such a short book it I am settling at a 3.5/5. I will definitely read from Hogarth again as I did enjoy parts of this book!
Thank you to Ainslie Hogarth, Doubleday Books, & NetGalley for the advanced reader copy in exchange for my honest review!
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
3.5☆
I really struggled with rating this book because the first 35-40% had me quite obsessed but then there is a tone shift that is quite jarring & I am not sure I loved it. The beginning of the book felt super atmospheric and almost gothic in a way & then it randomly moved into the standard, modern 'weird girl lit' that we've come to see become very popularized recently. & at times it felt weird for the sake of weird.
Now, I don't think that in itself is a bad thing, but I did struggle with how quickly the shift occurred. It honestly felt like I started reading a whole new book after the half. But wow, the first half really did it for me. I really wanted more Druda. Give me more Druda.
If the book's tone stayed consistent throughout, this book would have been a 5☆ for me.
I know for a fact that this book is going to be a hit though. The author knows her audience and I think they are going to absolutely go feral for this book. I'm actually really excited to see the Booktok buzz as it happens.
Tons of thanks to Ainslie Hogarth, Doubleday, and Netgalley for the chance to read/review this title early!
I really struggled with rating this book because the first 35-40% had me quite obsessed but then there is a tone shift that is quite jarring & I am not sure I loved it. The beginning of the book felt super atmospheric and almost gothic in a way & then it randomly moved into the standard, modern 'weird girl lit' that we've come to see become very popularized recently. & at times it felt weird for the sake of weird.
Now, I don't think that in itself is a bad thing, but I did struggle with how quickly the shift occurred. It honestly felt like I started reading a whole new book after the half. But wow, the first half really did it for me. I really wanted more Druda. Give me more Druda.
If the book's tone stayed consistent throughout, this book would have been a 5☆ for me.
I know for a fact that this book is going to be a hit though. The author knows her audience and I think they are going to absolutely go feral for this book. I'm actually really excited to see the Booktok buzz as it happens.
Tons of thanks to Ainslie Hogarth, Doubleday, and Netgalley for the chance to read/review this title early!
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
I was drawn in by the cover, and completely hooked by the supernatural dread. With eight different POVs it seems like this would be chaotic, but each character’s pov flows so seamlessly into the next. They were sectioned off well and left the perfect amount of clues behind for us to scramble to pick up and piece together. There were so many theories surrounding the disappearance of Janie 15 years ago, but the Druda had me so intrigued. The writing was so descriptive and unique, and was almost impossible to put down. I finished this in one day, and I’m already feeling like I need to reread it. The way the story plays out and how it ends almost makes a reread necessary, just to make sure you haven’t missed anything. But trust me, you will definitely be thrilled to read it again!
Thank you so much Ainslie Hogarth and NetGalley for my gifted arc in exchange for my honest review!
Thank you so much Ainslie Hogarth and NetGalley for my gifted arc in exchange for my honest review!
October 21, 2026
When I finished this book i immediately knew I had to read it again, and I looked forward to it.
I devoured it again the next day.
I loved it. The way this story flows from character to connected character was so well done. The pacing felt perfect, never a slump. The writing?!? So unique, gorgeous, funny and visceral. Some of her descriptions were truly stomach turning or terrifying.
The ending was tear jerking but so satisfying at the same time. The way everything comes together was just perfect. The initial chapter with Druda hooked me so hard. There’s a lot to enjoy here and lots of things and clues to look for upon rereads. So glad I got this ARC, thank you netgalley and Doubleday books for the great read!
I devoured it again the next day.
I loved it. The way this story flows from character to connected character was so well done. The pacing felt perfect, never a slump. The writing?!? So unique, gorgeous, funny and visceral. Some of her descriptions were truly stomach turning or terrifying.
The ending was tear jerking but so satisfying at the same time. The way everything comes together was just perfect. The initial chapter with Druda hooked me so hard. There’s a lot to enjoy here and lots of things and clues to look for upon rereads. So glad I got this ARC, thank you netgalley and Doubleday books for the great read!
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
I was so excited to get this author's eARC via NetGalley. I really enjoyed this. I loved the weird narration style, and I loved how the whole story was pieced together in multiple fragmented POVs. There were so many little quotes that stuck out to me, each character so different.
I'm actually dying for the release date now so that I can see what other friends will think of the ending, and I have questions to discuss.
The commentary on true crime, morbid curiosity for historical legend, the wariness that women hold in their daily lives, and opinions on victims and the expectations for their families really stood out to me.
I'm actually dying for the release date now so that I can see what other friends will think of the ending, and I have questions to discuss.
The commentary on true crime, morbid curiosity for historical legend, the wariness that women hold in their daily lives, and opinions on victims and the expectations for their families really stood out to me.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
Insane in the best kind of way. As someone who adores Motherthing I knew this would be crazy, I just didn’t know I would also cry?
Thanks to NetGalley & the publisher for letting me read this one early. I can’t wait for others to get sucked in
Thanks to NetGalley & the publisher for letting me read this one early. I can’t wait for others to get sucked in
September 16, 2026
I could tell right away this story was going to be a 5 star read for me, and Hogarth totally sticks the landing (even elicits some tears from yours truly!) Dang, that story moved me! I’m always enraptured by Ainslie Hogarth’s character writing— they feel like people I know and understand. Not sure what that says about me, but it speaks volumes of her ability to communicate motivations and emotions deeply and realistically. Each character has a fully fleshed-out psychological profile and I buy it..I buy it so much! These characters act as trusted tour guides to lead us through whatever fresh hell our author has dreamed up. They also act as anchors to keep us there, fully immersed in the discomfort of any one flawed human’s journey. It’s amazing what trap you’ll willingly walk into when you trust the person leading you there. The writing here reminded me of early Chuck Palahniuk in a way—specifically Haunted, an all-time favorite of mine.
I appreciate the way our author puts words to the experience of deep loss, and it’s cathartic to nod along to something so inexpressible. Hogarth knows what it feels like, and knows how to make us feel it, too. This latest endeavor has officially cemented her as an “instant read” author for me.
I appreciate the way our author puts words to the experience of deep loss, and it’s cathartic to nod along to something so inexpressible. Hogarth knows what it feels like, and knows how to make us feel it, too. This latest endeavor has officially cemented her as an “instant read” author for me.
September 15, 2026
Provided as an ARC via Netgalley on exchange for an honest review.
I wasn’t sure what I was getting into with this plot wise especially with the sudden abrupt shifts that happen a few times in the beginning set up, and a part of me is still unsure, but man was this heart breaking. A slow burn descent with so much grief, so much humanity, and so different from her previous work Motherthing. I loved this.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
This is a journey through the minds and loves of a small town, centered around a missing girl, an urban legend, and a young woman who is unsure of her purpose. I would not quite classify this as horror, I think it's more in line with Otessa Moshfegh in terms of style and substance, but there is a horror aspect to the story. There is no clear-cut resolution at the end, so if you're not a fan of open interpretation, this is not for you. I enjoyed the novel even though I found most of the characters to be people I would not interact with or enjoy (Annette and Starling, looking at you). Overall, an intriguing look at what family gives us, nature and nurture, obsession, and loss. 4/5
When Janie Yearling went missing in Gold River, her parents became 'pain celebrities' (as one character in the book coins it), making the rounds on talk shows and news programs begging for the return of their daughter. Annette becomes an icon, working with 'The Foundation', whereas Calvin's crying left people thinking he was remorseful and somehow involved in the disappearance. Fifteen years later, Annette gets Calvin to agree to go on a podcast hosted by a young woman with her own unfortunate past. Starling grew up not thinking anything was off, until learning her mother was actually a nurse who took her from her real mother, a Jane Doe coma patient. Starling is looking to extend her own time in the limelight to make some money and figure out what she wants to do with her life.
There are many theories around town about what really happened to Janie. Most of the town, including Annette, believe it was a creepy drifter they call Baby Face, who went through town that night using an alias. Calvin's theory, shared by some of the more eccentric characters in town and intriguing to Starling, involves Druda, the tortured spirit that is said to haunt the river and has a tie to his family's past. He believes Druda pulled Janie into another world as punishment for his own mothers' actions. As motives and stories are revealed, the odd atmosphere of Gold River seeps into the mind of the reader, and each must decide whom they trust, and which story they believe.
Thank you to NetGalley for an eARC of this novel.
When Janie Yearling went missing in Gold River, her parents became 'pain celebrities' (as one character in the book coins it), making the rounds on talk shows and news programs begging for the return of their daughter. Annette becomes an icon, working with 'The Foundation', whereas Calvin's crying left people thinking he was remorseful and somehow involved in the disappearance. Fifteen years later, Annette gets Calvin to agree to go on a podcast hosted by a young woman with her own unfortunate past. Starling grew up not thinking anything was off, until learning her mother was actually a nurse who took her from her real mother, a Jane Doe coma patient. Starling is looking to extend her own time in the limelight to make some money and figure out what she wants to do with her life.
There are many theories around town about what really happened to Janie. Most of the town, including Annette, believe it was a creepy drifter they call Baby Face, who went through town that night using an alias. Calvin's theory, shared by some of the more eccentric characters in town and intriguing to Starling, involves Druda, the tortured spirit that is said to haunt the river and has a tie to his family's past. He believes Druda pulled Janie into another world as punishment for his own mothers' actions. As motives and stories are revealed, the odd atmosphere of Gold River seeps into the mind of the reader, and each must decide whom they trust, and which story they believe.
Thank you to NetGalley for an eARC of this novel.
October 17, 2026
Thank you to NetGalley, Doubleday Books and Ainslie Hogarth for the ARC of Strange Harm!! All opinions expressed herein are my own.
It has been 15 years since Janie disappeared in the woods and was never seen again. Her parents took on different ways to cope, her mom, Annette, becoming somewhat of a celebrity. Her dad, Calvin, became somewhat of a recluse; believing, but not believing that the vengeful spirit of Druda (a malevolent being that roamed the very woods where Janie disappeared) had been the one to take her that night. Now, with the help of a podcaster, Janie’s disappearance is back in the spotlight. Will supernatural entities prevail, or will it be as simple as a drifter who took her and never returned her?
Starting off strong, the first chapter was heartbreaking and also a perfect start. Each chapter belonging to a certain character was a beautiful touch and a way to see the profound way in which the story impacted each and every one of them. As the stories progressed they became more and more unhinged, in what I thought would really be interesting and complex.
Having said that, I was expecting a huge climax or somehow that things were building to a massive, interesting and surprising reveal, but all I felt was disappointment. The story didn’t progress as I expected but just fell flat and seemed a bit unfinished. Certain characters added depth and others just left more questions than anything, like why were they a part of the story and how do they fit. I didn’t see the purpose of some of the characters and felt they were just fillers.
Overall, not what I expected and I don’t really feel that this met my expectations.
It has been 15 years since Janie disappeared in the woods and was never seen again. Her parents took on different ways to cope, her mom, Annette, becoming somewhat of a celebrity. Her dad, Calvin, became somewhat of a recluse; believing, but not believing that the vengeful spirit of Druda (a malevolent being that roamed the very woods where Janie disappeared) had been the one to take her that night. Now, with the help of a podcaster, Janie’s disappearance is back in the spotlight. Will supernatural entities prevail, or will it be as simple as a drifter who took her and never returned her?
Starting off strong, the first chapter was heartbreaking and also a perfect start. Each chapter belonging to a certain character was a beautiful touch and a way to see the profound way in which the story impacted each and every one of them. As the stories progressed they became more and more unhinged, in what I thought would really be interesting and complex.
Having said that, I was expecting a huge climax or somehow that things were building to a massive, interesting and surprising reveal, but all I felt was disappointment. The story didn’t progress as I expected but just fell flat and seemed a bit unfinished. Certain characters added depth and others just left more questions than anything, like why were they a part of the story and how do they fit. I didn’t see the purpose of some of the characters and felt they were just fillers.
Overall, not what I expected and I don’t really feel that this met my expectations.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
The introduction to Strange Harm is through Druda. She is a young teen girl whose family is among the original settlers in Gold River. When Druda is presented with a coveted Venetian glass mirror, she is horrified by what she sees in her reflection. Druda’s legacy results in the urban legend of her as a mythical bog witch, whose legend attracts visitors near and far who bring presents to curry her favor.
Each of the following chapters are stories tenuously tied to Druda. Some of the narrators are unreliable. In my opinion, these stories were the most interesting. The author is adept at making the setting feel immersive. You can almost hear the hum of the machines, or feel the sunlight in the room. In addition,some of the actions of the narrator feel visceral and uncomfortable. Those scenes are hard to forget, in the best way. A few of the chapters are from different periods of time. All of the stories are different strata that form the lore of Druda and how she impacted subsequent generations of Gold River. Strange Harm is unique and a story that stays with you long after the final page. Highly recommended.
Thank you to Ainslei Hogarth, Doubleday Books, and NetGalley for the ARC in return for an honest review.
Each of the following chapters are stories tenuously tied to Druda. Some of the narrators are unreliable. In my opinion, these stories were the most interesting. The author is adept at making the setting feel immersive. You can almost hear the hum of the machines, or feel the sunlight in the room. In addition,some of the actions of the narrator feel visceral and uncomfortable. Those scenes are hard to forget, in the best way. A few of the chapters are from different periods of time. All of the stories are different strata that form the lore of Druda and how she impacted subsequent generations of Gold River. Strange Harm is unique and a story that stays with you long after the final page. Highly recommended.
Thank you to Ainslei Hogarth, Doubleday Books, and NetGalley for the ARC in return for an honest review.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
I'm afraid Strange Harm might be one of those cases where the cover is better than the book itself (the book wasn't bad, but the cover really slaps).
I liked the folkloric elements and there was fun/eerie imagery. I also liked the exploration of facts vs. truth and how different perceptions of the same events can shape our worldviews/behaviors. However, this was not enough to pull all the threads through this novel and I felt that it did not totally cohere.
I typically enjoy books from different points of view, but I think the ambition exceeded the execution. I didn't find that the voices for the different POVs were differentiated enough, despite changing POV/tense (some were in first vs. third person narration and some in past or present tense or some combination thereof). Some of the POVs were too short, with more telling than showing--this was particularly noticeable in Calvin's mom's POV.
Like other reviewers, I did not understand the designation of humor/satire and if it's marketed this way, it will do the novel a disservice.
If you're looking for a, eerie, character-driven story that's more vibes than plot, this is for you. It just wasn't quite for me. 3 stars. Many thanks to Doubleday for the ARC via NetGalley!
I liked the folkloric elements and there was fun/eerie imagery. I also liked the exploration of facts vs. truth and how different perceptions of the same events can shape our worldviews/behaviors. However, this was not enough to pull all the threads through this novel and I felt that it did not totally cohere.
I typically enjoy books from different points of view, but I think the ambition exceeded the execution. I didn't find that the voices for the different POVs were differentiated enough, despite changing POV/tense (some were in first vs. third person narration and some in past or present tense or some combination thereof). Some of the POVs were too short, with more telling than showing--this was particularly noticeable in Calvin's mom's POV.
Like other reviewers, I did not understand the designation of humor/satire and if it's marketed this way, it will do the novel a disservice.
If you're looking for a, eerie, character-driven story that's more vibes than plot, this is for you. It just wasn't quite for me. 3 stars. Many thanks to Doubleday for the ARC via NetGalley!
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
The synopsis of this book is a little too misleading for me. The book is about Calvin and Anette searching for their daughter, but it felt like more of a side plot than the main idea, if that makes any sense. The "Calvin is at worst a potential suspect" was really only mentioned a couple times, nowhere near enough to warrant it being mentioned in the main synopsis. I'm not really mad about it because I did like the idea of the story, but I wish it had been marketed as more Druda-forward.
That said, I loved the setup of the different POVs. It didn't alternate between people, each new POV added to the string connecting everything, and I loved the way it was done. The first half of the book was definitely better than the second and I wish it had continued on with the creepy elements from the beginning. I also wasn't the biggest fan of the ending; it felt rushed and like it should have been longer.
Thanks to NetGalley for the ARC
That said, I loved the setup of the different POVs. It didn't alternate between people, each new POV added to the string connecting everything, and I loved the way it was done. The first half of the book was definitely better than the second and I wish it had continued on with the creepy elements from the beginning. I also wasn't the biggest fan of the ending; it felt rushed and like it should have been longer.
Thanks to NetGalley for the ARC
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
Strange Harm is a strange read that does involve strange harm. I wanted to read it because I loved Motherthing. I was warned that Ainslie Hogarth’s books are all quite different from each other, and that is true. Get out your pencil and paper because note-taking while reading this book is required. Every section, of which there are 8, jumps to someone else’s point of view and there are more characters added in each of those sections.
Small town drama, missing teen girl, creepy drifter, long-standing spirit haunting the town….also fem rage, visceral grossness, fear, longing, and mystery. Don’t worry, you DO find out what happened.
I really like Janie - a teen girl who feels real. Also, she loves 90s thriller movies, and she gave me a rec that I strangely haven’t seen. I’ll be seeking out Copycat shortly.
Thanks NetGalley and Doubleday Books! Pub date March 2, 2027.
Small town drama, missing teen girl, creepy drifter, long-standing spirit haunting the town….also fem rage, visceral grossness, fear, longing, and mystery. Don’t worry, you DO find out what happened.
I really like Janie - a teen girl who feels real. Also, she loves 90s thriller movies, and she gave me a rec that I strangely haven’t seen. I’ll be seeking out Copycat shortly.
Thanks NetGalley and Doubleday Books! Pub date March 2, 2027.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
Why is this marketed as funny? There was not one bit of humor. The book seems to lean into shock value and body horror over actual storyline. The narrative was lacking and I was hoping the end would provide some sort of clarity. Unfortunately, I was left disappointed. I love when the story is left open ended/left to interpretation but that is contingent on there being a strong narrative framework.
Additionally, it feels like the author's writing is the embodiment of the weird kid that eats his boogers & kills small animals because any attention is good attention. This is very much in the same vein as her previous novel, Motherthing. A sad husband and egotistical wife try to cope with a traumatic event, but Hogarth adds unnecessary gross out details that do nothing but make the reader contemplate not finishing the book
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
I didn't realize how short this book was when I requested in on NetGalley or when I started reading it. It's less than 200 pages, so I think a lot of readers will be able to get in done in one day or even one sitting.
I haven't read anything else by this author, but I've heard good things, so I was excited!
Sadly, this wasn't all that engaging for me. There was something very disconnecting about the writing style. It felt a little too matter-of-fact for this kind of story. I think a more personal writing style would've gotten me a bit more invested.
The characters were just too flat and almost cliche for my taste. Maybe that was on purpose, but it didn't feel that way.
Thanks to NetGalley for the e-ARC of this book in exchange for my honest review!
I haven't read anything else by this author, but I've heard good things, so I was excited!
Sadly, this wasn't all that engaging for me. There was something very disconnecting about the writing style. It felt a little too matter-of-fact for this kind of story. I think a more personal writing style would've gotten me a bit more invested.
The characters were just too flat and almost cliche for my taste. Maybe that was on purpose, but it didn't feel that way.
Thanks to NetGalley for the e-ARC of this book in exchange for my honest review!
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
I received this book as an eArc from NetGalley. This is an interesting story that centers around the disappearance of a young girl named Janie. Was Janie abducted by a mysterious drifter spotted in town that evening, or was something more supernatural involved, like the malevolent forest spirit Druda? Throughout the tale, we get the perspectives of many people connected to Janie's disappearance or the effort to find her. The book also had a lot of prescient things to say about the true crime industry and how it uses people's pain for entertainment and "content." This book definitely has creepy and unsettling vibes, and overall I enjoyed it! It also has a satisfying conclusion, providing answers to what happened to Janie all those years ago.
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