Black Pine

by Shawn Winchell

Fellers Grove has always been a quiet little town where nothing much ever seems to happen. Except for the local tavern, everything closes as soon as the sun goes down. If it weren’t for the logging company that was founded there, no one would have ever heard of it.

But that all changes when a young, single mother disappears.

Angie Edwards is waiting for the results of her detective’s exam when she gets the call. Her sister is missing. It’s been more than a year since she last spoke to her sister, but Angie drops everything to be there for her nephew.

When she arrives in Fellers Grove, she forces her way onto the case. Her sister is out there somewhere, and Angie will do whatever it takes to find her . . .

No matter what it costs.

181 pages, Kindle Edition

Published September 1, 2026

Reviews

[Tiffany · Rating 5 out of 5]

"Marge is convinced she knows what happened to that Edwards gal. Says the trees took her."

I received this book during one of my longest reading hangovers to date, but Black Pine was apparently just what I needed! This is my first read by Shawn, and I really enjoyed his writing style. It flows naturally and isn't overly wordy, though somehow still eerie AF, and the storyline wasn't something I'd heard of before. Plus the inspiration behind the story was super cool to find out, it originally being a "write your own scare/choose your own adventure" project between Winchell and some Facebook friends. I'm usually iffy about shorter novels, just because the timing has to be right, but even though there is zero slow burn in this book, it doesn't feel rushed. Shawn really nailed the pacing of how things unfold. I definitely won't be hiking in the PNW any time soon 🌲

[Ali O · Rating 5 out of 5]

Black Pine by Shawn Winchell
🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟
Mysterious, chilling, haunting and suspenseful!!
Angie Edwards, a police officer, is waiting for the results of her detective exam when she gets a call that her sister has gone missing. Her nephew is alone, so she immediately drops everything to go to him. Once she’s in this small town, she begins to do some digging around in hopes of finding her sister.
But what she finds is very eerie; the trees in the forest are calling to her.
This town has lots of secrets and Angie hopes she can figure things out before it’s too late!

This book is fast paced and has great imagery. I felt like I was in a forest too! 🪾🪾

I was lucky to get an arc of this amazing book! Shawn Winchell is a fanatic writer and I’ve loved all the books I’ve read of his. I can’t wait to read more!!

**This excellent book is out now! Make sure to grab your copy!!**

[Rachel Browning · Rating 5 out of 5]

“Black Pine” by Shawn Winchell got under my skin in the best way. I made the mistake of reading it alone in the dark, in bed, and every little noise had me jumping. The creeping sense of dread builds steadily, creating an atmosphere that's genuinely unsettling and impossible to shake.
What makes this story even more fascinating is discovering it was inspired by a project Shawn created in a Facebook group. Knowing there was a deeper story behind the story added another layer to the experience and made it even more memorable.
If you love horror that relies on tension, atmosphere, and that lingering feeling of unease long after you finish the last page, Black Pine is one I highly recommend. It's eerie, haunting, and completely unputdownable.

[Bret Brodersen · Rating 5 out of 5]

ARC -Black Pine is a real page turner with suspense and mystery placed it a small town which sounds vaguely similar to those found in the logging river valleys of the Pacific Northwest centered around the mysterious disappearance of a police officers sister in Fellers Grove. This book includes mystery, decades old secrets and a crazy old woman who claims she knows where the woman disappeared too. The ending will leave you questioning walking into the woods.

[Lisa Wilcox · Rating 5 out of 5]

Black Pine by Shawn Winchell

Holy mother of god I may never go into the woods again! This book got me cause I was raised in the Adirondacks and always thought I heard noises in the woods. Now I know I was right. Mr. Winchell never disappoints! This may be my favorite one yet! Very well written and makes for good scare.

[Sarah Workman · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was such a quick read! It’s a very plot driven book and I was left craving a deeper connection with the characters. Besides that, I really enjoyed it. It was eerie and unique in the best ways.

Thanks to the author for the advanced copy!

[Emily Haynes · Rating 5 out of 5]

Fellers Grove is a small town where nothing ever happens. Now Angie has to come back to her hometown her sister is gone. She hears strange voices calling her. The woods hide a secret. Can she save her loved ones?

[Mandy · Rating 5 out of 5]

Dark, addictive, and impossible to put down. Black Pine delivers chilling suspense, compelling characters, and well-timed twists that keep you hooked from start to finish.

[Carrie Spring · Rating 5 out of 5]

Shawn Winchell does it again! This is my new favorite (next to Eliza). The lengths we do for someone we love…even as terrifying as it can be.

[Michelle Godard-Richer · Rating 5 out of 5]

If you’re looking to get into spooky season reads, this is a great one to add to your TBR. Every character plays an important role in how the story unfolds, and I loved how the trees are a character onto themselves. The author puts a unique spin on the small-town, creepy forest and missing-persons tropes, merging them into something new, very scary, and entertaining.

[Carol Nauss · Rating 5 out of 5]

If you're looking for a creepy, suspenseful book, this is perfect! What has happened to the many people disappearing from the small logging town of Fellers Grove? Have the trees taken them like crazy Marge suggests? Or is someone or something more sinister behind the disappearances? A dark, twisty tale set in the Pacific Northwest which will have you looking at pine trees in a whole new way.