What do you think?
Rate this book
The People in the Woods
Brand new from author Robert Brown, comes a mystery that will have you consumed from first page to last, in this dramatic and gripping fast-paced Thriller.
PROFESSOR NICK UPTON’S DISCOVERY IN THE WOODS COULD BE HIS LAST.
Anthropology Professor Nick Upton is tired of his life, tired of the redneck state he has to live in, tired of uninterested students, and most of all tired of his own laziness. Something has to change.
But his grey existence gets violently shaken when he discovers during a run, signs of a sinister cult sacrificing animals in abandoned houses around his Upper Midwest college town.
Soon he is plunged into a dark world where town and gown rivalries turn murderous and forces him to team up with the locals, he’s never trusted in order to face the growing evil in the hidden depths of the countryside.
But can Nick and his band of locals prevail or will this be the challenge that finally breaks the bored Professor!
PROFESSOR NICK UPTON’S DISCOVERY IN THE WOODS COULD BE HIS LAST.
Anthropology Professor Nick Upton is tired of his life, tired of the redneck state he has to live in, tired of uninterested students, and most of all tired of his own laziness. Something has to change.
But his grey existence gets violently shaken when he discovers during a run, signs of a sinister cult sacrificing animals in abandoned houses around his Upper Midwest college town.
Soon he is plunged into a dark world where town and gown rivalries turn murderous and forces him to team up with the locals, he’s never trusted in order to face the growing evil in the hidden depths of the countryside.
But can Nick and his band of locals prevail or will this be the challenge that finally breaks the bored Professor!
154 pages, Kindle Edition
First published March 7, 2019
320 people are currently reading
201 people want to read
About the author
Robert Brown
14 books4 followersRobert Brown is an author and former freelance journalist in is mid-forties from California. Having been born and raised in the UK he moved to the US as a teenager with his family where he now lives with his wife and two children.
Robert has always been intrigued by true crime which led in part to his previous career of a freelance journalist writing for local publications primarily about unsolved murders. It was obvious to Robert that his passion for this genre would lead to him writing his first book "Deadly Illusions" in 2017.
Apart from writing Robert loves to spend time with his family and to indulge his other passion of the great outdoors. Having been raised in the UK it's no surprise that Robert is also a keen anglophile which is also reflected in his writing.
Robert has a unique writing style that uses both his UK and US backgrounds that creates stories that can be enjoyed by readers on both sides of the pond. Keep an eye out for further publications from Robert soon.
Robert has always been intrigued by true crime which led in part to his previous career of a freelance journalist writing for local publications primarily about unsolved murders. It was obvious to Robert that his passion for this genre would lead to him writing his first book "Deadly Illusions" in 2017.
Apart from writing Robert loves to spend time with his family and to indulge his other passion of the great outdoors. Having been raised in the UK it's no surprise that Robert is also a keen anglophile which is also reflected in his writing.
Robert has a unique writing style that uses both his UK and US backgrounds that creates stories that can be enjoyed by readers on both sides of the pond. Keep an eye out for further publications from Robert soon.
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 26 of 26 reviews
April 2, 2019
Kindle freebies, how random you are. Brown’s debut was decent enough, so when this one of his popped up as a freebie, I downloaded it too. Alas, this one featured no magicians. No, actually, it wasn’t just that, it was inferior in every other way too. Brown still does that easy breezy crime fiction thing decently enough, minimal word per page count, dialogue driven, short paragraphs/chapters, etc. for a quick read, but plot wise this one left a lot to be desired. You might go in expecting an exciting tale of an anthropology professor discovering a local cult operating out of the boonies of a college town, but what you really get is a silly story of how one educated citified man have come to love and appreciate the local yokels of the small backward town he found himself in. OK, this isn’t to say the cult thing isn’t there, it‘s just that it gets completely overwhelmed by the laughable heavy (very heavy) handed moralistic aspect of it all. So first third of so of the book you spend with Nick the professor dissing the locals, over and over and tediously over again, and then they all get involved in the plan to uncover the cult and the he realizes that though they may not provide intellectual conversation or stimulating opinions that can get him to shoot guns, drink sh*tty beers, sex up his long neglected wife, engage in some passive lusting after a minor and in general have lots of booniestyle excitement. Yeehaw, Nick, yeehaw. You are uppity no more, Nick Upton, you aptly named charmer, you. The cult itself is completely underwhelming. All the mysterious aspects it might have had and even their undeniable evil gets quickly overwhelmed by what appears to be (and then is) the sheer obnoxious stupidity of the perpetrators. And the chery on top is that the reasoning for their actions as we eventually find out feeds directly into the soap platform of the main theme. Oh why oh why can’t the town folk and the local folk just all get along. Oh how trite. Would have been fun enough of a quick mindless thriller read, but this one got sunk by its moral. It was still quick and mindless, obviously, just skimped on the fun. Pass.
April 25, 2019
I started this late at night, reading my e-reader in a dark bedroom and it was terrifying! The opening chapters really got me hooked. A professor at a Midwest university town stumbles upon strange goings on in the woods and befriends some local guys to deal with it.
But, dear reader, the real terror isn’t all that macabre stuff! No, the real problem is...intolerance! It’s coastal elites judging rural Americans and thinking that they’re stupid. The messaging is not subtle. Reading this is like getting repeatedly smacked in the brain with this one concept:
Don’t judge people, don’t assume people are stupid..oh, and also you should probably turn a blind eye to racism?!? Or maybe the author is trying to say that while some rednecks are racist, most of them are just discussing race in blunt terms, whereas our middle-class hero is unable to ever discuss race at all? Whatever the author is trying to say this is not the kind of musing that I signed up for when I picked up a book called The People in the Woods.
The big reveal of the novel comes out of nowhere, with very little build up and, guess what, it’s another punch to the brain with the author’s favourite theme. This book is short, well written, I loved the horror aspects, but its just crying out for just a little bit of nuance. But, he’s a pretty new author and I’ll read more of his stuff in the future.
But, dear reader, the real terror isn’t all that macabre stuff! No, the real problem is...intolerance! It’s coastal elites judging rural Americans and thinking that they’re stupid. The messaging is not subtle. Reading this is like getting repeatedly smacked in the brain with this one concept:
Don’t judge people, don’t assume people are stupid..oh, and also you should probably turn a blind eye to racism?!? Or maybe the author is trying to say that while some rednecks are racist, most of them are just discussing race in blunt terms, whereas our middle-class hero is unable to ever discuss race at all? Whatever the author is trying to say this is not the kind of musing that I signed up for when I picked up a book called The People in the Woods.
The big reveal of the novel comes out of nowhere, with very little build up and, guess what, it’s another punch to the brain with the author’s favourite theme. This book is short, well written, I loved the horror aspects, but its just crying out for just a little bit of nuance. But, he’s a pretty new author and I’ll read more of his stuff in the future.
April 18, 2021
This story was suspenseful, albeit a bit farfetched. I didn't like the main character, Nick. I found him snobbish in his views of the town and it's people, referring to them as trailer trash, even as they accepted him and helped him without question. Admittedly, his views changed somewhat as the story progressed, but I still found him unlikable, and that made it hard to enjoy the story.
The writing was solid, and seemed well edited, without the British words and spellings that so often abound in books written by English authors writing books that take place in America. The writing however, was filled with stereotypes, and had a southern feel to it though I think it was supposed to take place in the Midwest. It gave me the feeling that the author shared Nick's views of middle America, or America in general. If these things don't bother you, and you enjoy adventure and suspense then you will probably enjoy this book. If not, then you will only have wasted a few hours wait is short.
The writing was solid, and seemed well edited, without the British words and spellings that so often abound in books written by English authors writing books that take place in America. The writing however, was filled with stereotypes, and had a southern feel to it though I think it was supposed to take place in the Midwest. It gave me the feeling that the author shared Nick's views of middle America, or America in general. If these things don't bother you, and you enjoy adventure and suspense then you will probably enjoy this book. If not, then you will only have wasted a few hours wait is short.
April 24, 2019
I’ve never read anything by this author before and, based on this book, I never will again. I found the condescending attitude of the main character so exasperating; there was absolutely nothing likeable about him. I would’ve endured had I liked the story but I didn’t. Life is too short to spend time reading poor novels and I gave this one a fair chance getting about a quarter of the way through but, unfortunately,in my opinion it didn't redeem itself.
May 19, 2019
Whew!! Talk about riding a rocket, I think I just did. I could hardly stand to put this one down. Best of all, trying to outguess the Author, I got it ALL WRONG, and that was the best part!!
This is a very fast-paced mystery that catches you in the first chapter and never lets go. My head was spinning and I couldn't turn the pages quickly enough. Do I recommend it? Most definitely I do!! I hope you enjoy it as much as I did.
This is a very fast-paced mystery that catches you in the first chapter and never lets go. My head was spinning and I couldn't turn the pages quickly enough. Do I recommend it? Most definitely I do!! I hope you enjoy it as much as I did.
March 30, 2019
Finding his life has become a bit stale, Professor Nick Upton decides he needs to get back to the life he had in younger years and find some excitement. What he finds is strange happenings that look to be a satanist cult. Nick is on a journey to uncover what is behind the mutilated animals and more. Good read.
April 27, 2019
Too much bigotry, racism, prejudice...pretty sad when you call the people saving your life and your families lives...backwoods hicks.
The author half used the N word, called poor white people "white trash", and called another group of people wetbacks. Also, other comments about the one visible black person in the story.
The cult story, just never added up.
I won't be reading anymore by this author.
The author half used the N word, called poor white people "white trash", and called another group of people wetbacks. Also, other comments about the one visible black person in the story.
The cult story, just never added up.
I won't be reading anymore by this author.
April 29, 2019
People In the Woods
An interesting approach to a mystery. While on a daily jog an anthropologist finds some unique ritualistic stick figures along with some mutilated animals. This leads to making friends with locals. An understanding leads to an unlikely team solving the mystery.
An interesting approach to a mystery. While on a daily jog an anthropologist finds some unique ritualistic stick figures along with some mutilated animals. This leads to making friends with locals. An understanding leads to an unlikely team solving the mystery.
June 6, 2019
Keeps you on the edge of your seat!
This is the first book that I've read by this author. The book has well defined characters and the plot is easy to follow. This book is well written and has a good amount of action to keep you glued to it. I thoroughly enjoyed reading the book. If you enjoy reading a good thriller then I highly recommend this book.
This is the first book that I've read by this author. The book has well defined characters and the plot is easy to follow. This book is well written and has a good amount of action to keep you glued to it. I thoroughly enjoyed reading the book. If you enjoy reading a good thriller then I highly recommend this book.
May 12, 2019
Lots of action. Keeps you turning the pages
It grabs you from the first page and doesn't let you go.i really loved this book with all it's twists and turns and non stop action . I definitely recommend this book. I received a free copy of this book and this is my honest review.
It grabs you from the first page and doesn't let you go.i really loved this book with all it's twists and turns and non stop action . I definitely recommend this book. I received a free copy of this book and this is my honest review.
April 5, 2019
very good
April 26, 2019
Very boring. The plot wasn't interesting enough. Didn't like the ending at all.
April 22, 2019
Good night's read
Entertaining and fast paced. Good book.If your in the mood for something light. Holds your interest and is a quick read.
Entertaining and fast paced. Good book.If your in the mood for something light. Holds your interest and is a quick read.
April 30, 2019
Enjoyed this book
May 9, 2019
It was a bit slow in the beginning, but then I was hooked. Really good.
May 29, 2019
Thriller
This book was a definite page Turner. I'm not really into cult or mythology but this book did keep my interest.
This book was a definite page Turner. I'm not really into cult or mythology but this book did keep my interest.
September 1, 2019
Integration of sub-cultures in a community to combat a common threat is an excellent formula for the main plot of this book. Suspense, drama & a riveting storyline combine to make great read!
September 28, 2019
It was ok.
I felt as if I needed more depth to build suspense and plot. The story has great potential, but to me, falls flat. With more time involved, this would be a better story!
I felt as if I needed more depth to build suspense and plot. The story has great potential, but to me, falls flat. With more time involved, this would be a better story!
June 21, 2020
A Thrill a Minute
This is a thrill ride not to fast but just right. Character that are so real and we'll we find the fight for teir lives
This is a thrill ride not to fast but just right. Character that are so real and we'll we find the fight for teir lives
July 5, 2020
This was a good book. Some parts seemed to drag but overall it was good.
July 9, 2019
This was an interesting book that I enjoyed reading. Not only was there action but the story was about a town and the university were it was located. It showed man's inability to accept differences in other men, and how it is so easy for a few events to be misunderstood and cause terrible feelings to form. There was also murder and mayhem with the thought of how far will a person go to protect their loved ones.
July 25, 2019
I LOVED this Book it's a Page turner. It is a very good Book :)
did-not-finish
January 16, 2025I got almost halfway through this book before I gave up. I got so tired of "the professor" being constantly surprised that some of "the locals" actually knew words longer than three syllables and some of them were decent, kind people. I skipped to the end and that really didn't seem to be much better than the rest, so this goes on the DNF shelf and there it will stay.
Want to read
March 20, 2019Change to Kindle
April 17, 2019
Fast paced...
It certainly was. The story wrapped up too quickly for me. I wanted to know more of everyone's fates. Like how a town previously divided became the beginnings of better cultural understanding.
It certainly was. The story wrapped up too quickly for me. I wanted to know more of everyone's fates. Like how a town previously divided became the beginnings of better cultural understanding.
Read
May 30, 2019Don't Read At Night With The Curtains Open
The title grabbed my attention..although I didn't realize it was a crime thriller which normally is not my genre...but.....I was pleasantly surprised.....the subject matter...jogging through the woods and coming upon a group of people in hooded robes doing an animal sacrifice has to be the worst kind of nightmare...you can run...but you can't hide!
The title grabbed my attention..although I didn't realize it was a crime thriller which normally is not my genre...but.....I was pleasantly surprised.....the subject matter...jogging through the woods and coming upon a group of people in hooded robes doing an animal sacrifice has to be the worst kind of nightmare...you can run...but you can't hide!
Displaying 1 - 26 of 26 reviews