Jump to ratings and reviews
Rate this book

The Woman in the Woods

Rate this book
Reporter, Rachel Harper, begins to investigate the disappearance of a local student. In the hope of redeeming her career, she is determined to find out what happened to Gemma. But beneath the surface of her professional life lies a secret she is too ashamed to confront.

When Gemma's body is discovered in Leigh Woods, Rachel becomes obsessed with finding her killer. But as the list of suspects mount it is clear that someone is following her every lead.

Can Rachel discover what happened on that cold winter night before her own demons catch up with her?

277 pages, Kindle Edition

Published July 19, 2016

22 people are currently reading
136 people want to read

About the author

Louise Mullins

30 books151 followers
Published by Fortress & Aria Fiction (HoZ).

Dubbed the Queen of Domestic Noir, Louise Mullins' titles often delve into the darker aspects of the human psyche where more often than not somebody a little close to home knows more than they're willing to admit. So far her novels involve the murky world of addiction, child abuse, serial killers, missing women, rape, kidnapping, murder, domestic violence, drug smuggling, human trafficking, and arms dealing.

Louise Mullins is a critically acclaimed, international best-selling author of psychological crime and procedural thrillers.

Louise Mullins writes full-time using the experience she gained in a prior life working in the field of forensic mental health and psychological therapy, working with offenders and survivors of serious crimes.

Keep up to date on Louise Mullins' latest releases via GoodReads, Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram using the following links:

Websites:
https://www.louisemullinsauthor@wix.com/

Instagram:
https://www.instagram.com/mullinsauthor/

Facebook:
https://www.facebook.com/MullinsAuthor/

Twitter:
https://twitter.com/MullinsAuthor

Ratings & Reviews

What do you think?
Rate this book

Friends & Following

Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!

Community Reviews

5 stars
48 (32%)
4 stars
51 (34%)
3 stars
37 (24%)
2 stars
9 (6%)
1 star
4 (2%)
Displaying 1 - 22 of 22 reviews
Profile Image for Sharon.
Author 3 books56 followers
July 26, 2016
Thank you to Bloodhound Books for the review copy in return for an honest review.

This book had a great plot and some intriguing characters who tell the story throughout, we have Rachel the investigative journalist who is also an alcoholic, Lee - recovering alcoholic and university lecturer and Emma - the victim.
The book switches between the 3 characters as each tell their story leading up to Emma's murder and the reader was kept guessing throughout as to who the murderer was.
I really struggled to connect to any of the characters and found them difficult to engage with. I felt that I wasn't really given the opportunity to get to know them and almost felt as though there had been a book before this that would have given me the background that I needed to engage. I found myself struggling to keep up to speed with where we were as chapters flicked back and forward. Rachel really irritated me and I found some of her interactions with others stretched credibility just a wee bit too far for me.
Overall I think it was a good book, an interesting plot line but a little too disjointed for me. I have read some outstanding psychological thrillers this year and this one just fell short of the mark for me personally.
Profile Image for Nila (digitalcreativepages).
2,668 reviews222 followers
August 11, 2019
This was a good read of a missing girl followed by the murder mystery. Gemma disappeared, Rachel investigated, Lee was in a quandary who seemed to have links to both women. An unsolvable equation soon emerged between them.

My first book by author Louise Mullins, the story was told in 3 POV. Gemma, the victim, telling us about the day she was lost and events leading to that. Rachel as an alcoholic, investigative journalist, kept dithering over various details. She was hungover more than she investigated. Lee with connections to apparently all the women in the story.

All 3 were quite unlikable, but they managed to tell me a story which kept me from guessing the killer. Till the mid-half where it kind of became obvious. I am a great detective, you know.

A steady pace with a good easy to understand style of writing, a murky plot line kept me entertained through the afternoon.
Profile Image for Alexina.
476 reviews41 followers
July 18, 2016
3:5-4 stars.

I found the tension in this book well written. It's told from three points, which are easy to keep track of.

The story flowed well and youar kept wondering how or if the three main characters are known to each other.

The plots developed well, and was an easy read.

I enjoyed the writing style and would read more from the author.

A good read, one I would recommend to friends who like thrillers.

I was given an arc copy for an honest review.

Profile Image for Sarah.
2,962 reviews229 followers
July 18, 2016
The Woman in the Woods is the first novel I have read by this author.

The story itself flicks between three characters as well as flicking between the present as well as in Gemma’s case, events leading up to her death.

Rachel is an alcoholic who is only just managing to function. I think she is only surviving as she is so passionate about her work. I liked how she is slightly different to a lot of reporters portrayed in books and you can tell she really cares about what has happened to Gemma.

Through Rachel it feels a bit like we are investigating alongside her to get to the bottom of Gemma’s death. It was interesting to see how Rachel was battling her demons whilst trying to keep her head clear for her work. She is quite a damaged woman who has totally lost control of everything in her personal life and it was quite sad to read of her road to self destruction.

Even though I had empathy for the characters in this novel, none of them really grabbed me which I think made it harder for me to relate to any of them. The author does keep the reader guessing as to who the murderer is by leading you down other paths so it has you thinking it’s one person only to realise it can’t be, so I ended up changing my mind a couple of times as to who it could be and I was wrong each time.

Overall The Woman in the Woods is a good and steady read. I think for me though, as I have read so many psychological thrillers already this year so far, the bar has been set very high, so much so that the shocks and twists just didn’t have the impact on me that I crave for from this genre. This isn’t the authors or the books fault and I’m sure it will still do well with other readers.

My thanks to Bloodhound Books for a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
Profile Image for Lisa.
211 reviews
July 18, 2016
I received an ARC of this in return for an honest review. Thank you Bloodhound Books.
The story is told by three different people,each taking their turn. You know they must all be connected but you're yet to find out how. This story kept me guessing right until the end. I loved it. This is the first book I've read by Louise Mullins but it definitely won't be the last!
67 reviews5 followers
July 17, 2016
A great read we meet our 3 main characters(Rachel,Lee and Gemma) as individuals and then as their stories intermingle and the consequences.Each has secrets they are having varying degrees of being able to keep secret and also to live with.
A well written book that keeps up the tension and leaves us guessing to the end.I enjoyed this book immensely and look forward to reading more from this Author
Profile Image for Grumpy Old Books.
105 reviews13 followers
March 7, 2022
After reading this novel it's seems that Louise Mullins title as the Queen of Domestic Noir is well earned. This is a twisty tale of marital infidelity, middle-class alcoholism and retail addiction and last but not least murder. All this could be be happening in your street. Strong but flawed female characters abound throughout this book

The tale is told from three viewpoints and two timelines, which if you're not careful, can lead to confusion. So make sure you check the headings at the start of each chapter which give the characters' name and date.

The three main character's are Gemma a young student who has recently lost her mother, Lee a teacher who is an ex- alcoholic but has now traded his old addiction for a new one and Rachel who is a barely functioning journalist and heavy drinker. There is a murder early on and we subsequently bounce around different viewpoints trying to ascertain the killer. As we head to the denouement the pace quickens and the last few chapters were a blur of rapid page turning, which is always a good sign.

There were some interesting points in the narrative. There is a serial womaniser/cheater yet he isn't a horrible character. As if society (or the author) isn't passing judgement on him. I don't think I have seen this very often. I suppose in most novels it is frowned upon even if infidelity is technically legal.

Interspersed throughout are press reports written by Rachel (a clever embellishment by the author.) The last one in the book ties up all the loose ends (again a clever idea.) However it didn't quite ring true as a newspaper report, it seemed more akin to an epilogue. I couldn't work out for a while, why that was. Eventually after reading a paper it cam to me. The author uses first names in the report, while the paper I read used last names or full names. Such a small thing, but slightly alters the feel.

Everybody's life in this book is cocked up, it's just some can wing it a bit more than others. These are all broken people, to a more or lesser degree and as such are true to life. Everyone in this book is using some sort of crutch to get by day to day, whether its alcohol, sex, shopping, drugs or just being close to another person. I suppose at the end of the day we are all dependant on someone or something.

Enjoyable read. Does what it says. Twisty domestic noir.
check out our other reviews at grumpyoldbooks.blogspot.com
Profile Image for Caz C Cole.
258 reviews37 followers
July 19, 2016
What would you do if you’re living a lie? What if you’ve got so much potential but the booze gets in the way? Why would you jeopardize everything you’ve got – everyone you love – for the thrill of pleasure or lust? And how do a few seemingly harmless events end up with death and deception?

Louise Mullins’ psychological thriller starts with a nocturnal scene that promises no good – a grave is being dug, a body to be disposed of. There is talk of “something ethereal” in the night, but there is nothing heavenly in the dead body’s “nauseating smell”. Whose body? We don’t know – yet. But we are bound to find out. Soon.

Rachel is a crime journalist, once a crack reporter, but alas she has fallen into the habits of an alcoholic. When Rachel does focus, she is brilliant as ever, persistent to follow her investigative cases through, no matter where they lead. Now she has been commissioned to do a featured article on missing persons when she spots the missing of 18-year old Gemma Wild Bristol police website. Could it be that Gemma is the one lying in that grave in the woods?

We will have to wait to find out. First we get an insight into the lives of those characters involved, learn to know Gemma’s grief over the tragic death of her mother that’s turned her stepfather Kevin into an alcoholic. And it seems that Gemma not only has a rejected boyfriend but also a secret – a married lover.

DI Mike Blake of the Boston police keeps Rachel informed about the latest on the disappearance of Gemma. Rachel is desperate to get a grip on the case and to find out what happened, even if she blacks out from time to time because of the alcohol.

Was Gemma in mortal danger before she disappeared and is Rachel risking her life now? Sometimes Rachel feels real close to a clue, but then it's all darkness again, due to yet another alcoholic rage. Will she hit rock bottom before finally packing her life together, being able to trust herself and her investigative instincts?

Louise Mullins has written a gripping thriller, in which she paints a picture of the lives of those involved, but deliberately leaves out several details. Some we get familiar with in later chapters, some we can only guess at. Each chapter has the names of the main characters in the title along with the date. That helps putting in perspective the events in the book. It is an enjoyable read, sometimes despite the darkness even poetic "the moonlight casts a shadow over the shallow grave."

Read the full review on my website: http://www.bitsaboutbooks.net/the-wom...
Profile Image for Nicki Southwell.
712 reviews8 followers
July 20, 2016
Investigative journalist Rachael quickly picks up news of a missing girl at the local university. She is researching an article about missing people, so this is of great interest to her.

Gemma goes missing after her last tutorial and doesn't make it home. Her Stepfather reports her missing and the story unfolds.

All the men in contact with her are under suspicion, their alibis checked and motives examined. Rachel meanwhile is doing her own work and traces her friends to interview them herself. A long-standing contact in the police force is helpful in

This thriller keeps you guessing as suspects and witnesses rule themselves find out of the frame only to then find their stories don't add up.

Rachel is desperately trying to keep her mind on the job and not letting her own demons take over. She is ashamed at how much things have spiralled out of control since her relationship ended 6 months earlier.

Louise Mullins has great insight when it comes to all these characters and she doesn't disappoint those of us wanting a cracking read. Her plot is genius and the story unfolds fast enough to keep you hooked.

With thanks to Bloodhound books for an ARC in exchange for an unbiased review.
Profile Image for Misfits farm.
2,094 reviews86 followers
July 17, 2016
This is the story of 3 people. Each chapter is about one of them alternately. Rachel is a freelance reporter. Freelance because her best friend is a bottle. Lee’s wife Fiona has a habit that he doesn’t know about until things get out of hand. He himself has not been completely truthful. Both of them trying desperately to forget what happened in the past. Gemma is at University and believes her life is not like that of the other students as she herself has a secret- a man she thinks is her boyfriend until she finds otherwise when she could most use his support.
A well written book that keeps you hooked. You just know that the individuals’ stories are going to intertwine at some point but not quite sure how until a little way in. You think you know who the culprit is, then you don’t, then you change your mind, and then are not sure. I had my suspicions- was I right? I won’t spoil it! A very enjoyable read.
I was given an ARC of this book in exchange for an open and honest review
Profile Image for Sylv.net Sylvia Kerslake PA.
102 reviews5 followers
July 19, 2016
I was given The Woman In The Woods in exchange for an honest review by Bloodhound Books.

I was hooked right from the start, there were many twists and turns throughout it, which threw me off the scent and I certainly didn’t guess who it could have been and also what the outcome was going to be.

I loved Rachel, she was a really good character to have in the book, I was left wanting her to solve the mystery of who the woman in the woods was, with her many interviews of suspects.

At first I wasn’t sure that the flitting from the three main characters would work, but by the end of it, I can see why Louise did this, the tension as to what would happen especially as it was nearing who the murderer was caused many a late night as I would read just ‘one more chapter’.

I am definitely going to be keeping an eye out for more books from Louise Mullins in the near future and will be checking out her other books.

Do I recommend you reading The Woman In The Woods? Definitely
Profile Image for B.A. Steadman.
Author 2 books31 followers
July 26, 2016
I was sent this book as an ARC by Bloodhound Books in exchange for a fair and honest review. Mullins follows a pattern familiar to readers of psychological fiction where we invade the minds of three of the main characters and see the world from their point of view. This makes our decisions about other characters complicated as we have to work out who is telling the truth. All three main characters are damaged in some way, and it is Mullin’s skill that she leads us on a convoluted path to uncover the truth. The main narrator, Rachel, whilst battling alcoholism, does earn our empathy as she teases out the truth from the lies, and finds a way through to sobriety. I enjoyed this debut, it introduced a possible team of Rachel and the harassed DI Blake, and I look forward to reading more from the author.
Profile Image for Terry.
1,065 reviews34 followers
July 22, 2016
Gemma went missing, found murdered. Who could be the murderer, ex boyfriend, tutor, friend, quite a few suspects. Rachel is an investigative journalist, she's also an alcoholic, alcohol is blurring the edges of her life, she fights to keep on top of it work & life. Interviewing people as she finds herself drawn to this case & knowing the people involved just makes it more interesting for her. Have they fooled her & covered their tracks well!
This book goes from person to person with each chapter. Not mixed up it draws you in and flows really well. A good thriller with a mixed bunch to keep you wanting more
Profile Image for Heleyne Hammersley.
Author 11 books83 followers
July 22, 2016
Three seemingly different lives are cleverly interwoven in this exciting thriller. I enjoyed the way that the action cuts between the perspectives of the main characters and the cliffhanger at the end of each section. I read it in three sittings!
I received an ARC from Bloodhound Books in return for an honest review.
Profile Image for Nelly.
180 reviews12 followers
July 23, 2016
A good fast paced story with characters that are engaging and easy to read about, and a great deal of truth in their lives.

Enjoyable and will read more by the author in the future. Thanks Bloodhound books for my copy.
Profile Image for Rose McClelland.
Author 9 books113 followers
June 30, 2020
Thoroughly enjoyed this book! It is really well written and the characters jumped off the page.

I especially enjoyed the character of Rachel - a journalist who is severely struggling with alcoholism yet is still in denial. The descriptions of her hangovers were so vivid and expertly written.

This is a fast-paced novel and the twists & turns just keep coming! It will keep you guessing right to the very end.

Looking forward to reading more from this author.
Profile Image for Lisa.
334 reviews15 followers
August 8, 2017
This will keep you guessing.

This story unfolds in a tangled web of deceit and will send you due an one blind alley after another, to purchase a bunch of red herrings! In other words the twists and turns will keep you guessing right other end.

Compelling indeed and if you are a fan of psychological thrillers and a but of murder mystery then this is the book for you. X
2 reviews
June 3, 2017
Great who done it!

This is written in such a way it continues to keep you guessing who the culprit is until the end
1 review
January 7, 2018
Page turner

Good book, first time reading from this author. Will read another book
Can't wait for the next one. The end
Profile Image for Samantha Curtis.
244 reviews19 followers
September 18, 2016
I absolutely loved this book!

Even tho it took me a while to read (busy family life) I really did enjoy it.
Can't believe 2016 has be brilliant for books and I will read more of this author.
Profile Image for Sharon.
15 reviews
January 8, 2017
It feels as if the author has brainstormed twists and like all the ideas that they created so included them all in the book. I would have much rather the author used less and developed the twists.
Displaying 1 - 22 of 22 reviews

Can't find what you're looking for?

Get help and learn more about the design.