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The Woman in the Woods
When Allie moves to a quaint old cottage with her husband, it’s their dream home. Nestled in the village of Pluckley, it seems a perfect haven in which to raise their two children. But Pluckley has a reputation. It’s known as England’s most haunted village. And not long after the birth of their new son, Allie begins to notice strange things…
What’s the flash of white she sees moving quickly through the woods to the back of their house? And what’s the strange scratching noise coming from the chimney?
As Allie discovers more about the history of their new home, she uncovers a story of witchcraft and superstition, which casts a long shadow into the present day. And not everything is as it seems. Her family might well be in danger, but it’s a danger none of them could have foreseen…
What’s the flash of white she sees moving quickly through the woods to the back of their house? And what’s the strange scratching noise coming from the chimney?
As Allie discovers more about the history of their new home, she uncovers a story of witchcraft and superstition, which casts a long shadow into the present day. And not everything is as it seems. Her family might well be in danger, but it’s a danger none of them could have foreseen…
368 pages, Paperback
First published October 14, 2021
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 175 reviews
October 15, 2021
The Woman In The Woods is dark, creepy and almost spooky for a psychological thriller.
From the moment I started reading this I had a sad feeling whilst reading right until the end.
The mental illness factor in this book is extremely well written and easy to understand but also shockingly sad and heart breaking.
The 3 🌟 rating is because I had a sense I wanted to finish for a happy ending but also I wasn't really worried on the other hand if I didn't finish because I wasn't truly invested.
I'd still recommend this but it may not be for everyone 📖
From the moment I started reading this I had a sad feeling whilst reading right until the end.
The mental illness factor in this book is extremely well written and easy to understand but also shockingly sad and heart breaking.
The 3 🌟 rating is because I had a sense I wanted to finish for a happy ending but also I wasn't really worried on the other hand if I didn't finish because I wasn't truly invested.
I'd still recommend this but it may not be for everyone 📖
October 18, 2021
Approaching Halloween, this is the perfect read to get you in the mood. It is chilling, it is atmospheric and will have you questioning Allie and her actions throughout.
Moving into the spookiest village in Britain, I think Allie knows, deep down, that there are going to be some ghostly tales that she learns about. What she wasn’t anticipating was that these legends even feature her own house. With this knowledge comes fear and superstition as Allie becomes increasingly convinced that she is being haunted by a woman who used to live in the house hundreds of years ago. However, Allie’s husband and close friend are dismissive of her claims, excusing her delusions for new-baby stresses.
This book covers a range of topical issues, including mental health and the stresses of motherhood. I did forget the name of Allie’s baby as he is so often referred to as ‘baby’; I think the writer could have used his name a bit more to make it more personal and for her relationship with her son to be more convincing. Exasperated for Allie when no one seems to believe her about seeing something in the woods behind their house, Hall also explores the sensitive issue of mental health and how precarious it is. Whilst I was frustrated and sympathetic that everyone around her is so dismissive, I do think Hall uses this topic rather carefully, especially when combined with postpartum feelings.
For sure, this book is incredibly atmospheric, particularly when Allie experiences such ghostly occurrences around the house. The chilling landing, the reflections in the mirror, voices, scratchings in the chimney… this book has the ingredients for a spine-tingling, atmospheric read. The isolation that Allie feels as a new mum is symbolised by the woods that seem to engulf her back garden. Therefore, I was convinced that believing she can see a figure in the trees became a metaphor for Allie desiring to reach out and her opinions being accepted. She is determined she is not ‘crazy’, but not even her husband seems to trust her. How can she change his opinion?
The theme of witchcraft was fascinating and I enjoyed reading the history of Allie’s house. Furthermore, when trinkets are discovered in the house, it added to the idea of spells and charms. I loved reading about the legends of Pluckley but think the writer could have developed this slightly further and allowed more magic and witchcraft to take more prominence in the story.
Quickly captured by this story, I found I could not put it down. Obsessed with Allie’s story, I was so curious to discover what the explanations would be behind her many accusations. In truth, I was surprised by the ending and think it could have been elaborated further, making significant connections to the history of the house but, it seemed to satisfy the overall atmosphere of the novel. At the same time, I thought Allie’s treatment at the end was quite sad because it justified how other characters behaved towards her in the novel. I think I was desiring more strength from Allie after all she had experienced.
This was an immersive read with a haunting setting, a haunted house and a woman haunted by what many consider as a figment of her imagination… or is it?
With thanks to HQ Digital and NetGalley for providing me with a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
Moving into the spookiest village in Britain, I think Allie knows, deep down, that there are going to be some ghostly tales that she learns about. What she wasn’t anticipating was that these legends even feature her own house. With this knowledge comes fear and superstition as Allie becomes increasingly convinced that she is being haunted by a woman who used to live in the house hundreds of years ago. However, Allie’s husband and close friend are dismissive of her claims, excusing her delusions for new-baby stresses.
This book covers a range of topical issues, including mental health and the stresses of motherhood. I did forget the name of Allie’s baby as he is so often referred to as ‘baby’; I think the writer could have used his name a bit more to make it more personal and for her relationship with her son to be more convincing. Exasperated for Allie when no one seems to believe her about seeing something in the woods behind their house, Hall also explores the sensitive issue of mental health and how precarious it is. Whilst I was frustrated and sympathetic that everyone around her is so dismissive, I do think Hall uses this topic rather carefully, especially when combined with postpartum feelings.
For sure, this book is incredibly atmospheric, particularly when Allie experiences such ghostly occurrences around the house. The chilling landing, the reflections in the mirror, voices, scratchings in the chimney… this book has the ingredients for a spine-tingling, atmospheric read. The isolation that Allie feels as a new mum is symbolised by the woods that seem to engulf her back garden. Therefore, I was convinced that believing she can see a figure in the trees became a metaphor for Allie desiring to reach out and her opinions being accepted. She is determined she is not ‘crazy’, but not even her husband seems to trust her. How can she change his opinion?
The theme of witchcraft was fascinating and I enjoyed reading the history of Allie’s house. Furthermore, when trinkets are discovered in the house, it added to the idea of spells and charms. I loved reading about the legends of Pluckley but think the writer could have developed this slightly further and allowed more magic and witchcraft to take more prominence in the story.
Quickly captured by this story, I found I could not put it down. Obsessed with Allie’s story, I was so curious to discover what the explanations would be behind her many accusations. In truth, I was surprised by the ending and think it could have been elaborated further, making significant connections to the history of the house but, it seemed to satisfy the overall atmosphere of the novel. At the same time, I thought Allie’s treatment at the end was quite sad because it justified how other characters behaved towards her in the novel. I think I was desiring more strength from Allie after all she had experienced.
This was an immersive read with a haunting setting, a haunted house and a woman haunted by what many consider as a figment of her imagination… or is it?
With thanks to HQ Digital and NetGalley for providing me with a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
August 1, 2021
Another most excellent psychological thriller from Lisa Hall, this time with a ghostly heart and creepy undertone that is really unsettling.
A mother struggling to cope, living in the most haunted village in Britain, what could possibly go wrong? Well lots of things it turns out and the author takes you on a personal journey full of twists and turns and a massive dose of witchy woo.
I loved it, was never sure where it was going, The Woman In The Woods is a genuinely compelling and oft creepy delight to read. Recommended. Perfect Halloween reading.
A mother struggling to cope, living in the most haunted village in Britain, what could possibly go wrong? Well lots of things it turns out and the author takes you on a personal journey full of twists and turns and a massive dose of witchy woo.
I loved it, was never sure where it was going, The Woman In The Woods is a genuinely compelling and oft creepy delight to read. Recommended. Perfect Halloween reading.
October 1, 2021
A great read from Lisa Hall.
Allie and Rav have recently moved to an old house in the countryside with their two young children.
Allie is struggling to cope with the lack of sleep due to her newborn baby waking in the night and when things start happening in and around the house, her husband dismisses it as her being overtired.
Allie is sure she saw someone in white out in the woods behind their house and is woken by a terrifying nightmare more than once.
There’s also a scratching noise coming from the chimney area, and she is desparate to know what’s going on.
She meets some other new mums and one of them tells her she’s living in what they call, ‘The Witch’s house.’
Allie doesn’t take much notice at first but when she speaks to a previous owner, she thinks the house is trying to harm her and her family.
Her friend, Naomi offers support but soon Allie questions where her loyalties lie.
This is an atmospheric psychological thriller that I really enjoyed.
Thanks to HQ and NetGalley for the opportunity to read this book.
Allie and Rav have recently moved to an old house in the countryside with their two young children.
Allie is struggling to cope with the lack of sleep due to her newborn baby waking in the night and when things start happening in and around the house, her husband dismisses it as her being overtired.
Allie is sure she saw someone in white out in the woods behind their house and is woken by a terrifying nightmare more than once.
There’s also a scratching noise coming from the chimney area, and she is desparate to know what’s going on.
She meets some other new mums and one of them tells her she’s living in what they call, ‘The Witch’s house.’
Allie doesn’t take much notice at first but when she speaks to a previous owner, she thinks the house is trying to harm her and her family.
Her friend, Naomi offers support but soon Allie questions where her loyalties lie.
This is an atmospheric psychological thriller that I really enjoyed.
Thanks to HQ and NetGalley for the opportunity to read this book.
June 16, 2022
I've read all of Lisa Hall's previous books and enjoyed them for the most part but this one absolutely did not work for me.
The blurb makes it sound like it will be a creepy, chilling thriller but really the blurb should read:
"Woman has baby and is tired. Woman is reminded daily by friends and family that she is tired. Slightly odd things start happening in her supposedly haunted house, but she's tired so they must be in her head. Also, she's tired." Get the point?
It just felt too predictable, too repetitive, not quite chilling enough to warrant that label and I really don't like the tired trope of someone not being believed due to mental health/illness.
The blurb makes it sound like it will be a creepy, chilling thriller but really the blurb should read:
"Woman has baby and is tired. Woman is reminded daily by friends and family that she is tired. Slightly odd things start happening in her supposedly haunted house, but she's tired so they must be in her head. Also, she's tired." Get the point?
It just felt too predictable, too repetitive, not quite chilling enough to warrant that label and I really don't like the tired trope of someone not being believed due to mental health/illness.
September 23, 2022
Witches
Ghosts
Haunted village
And…….
Creepy moments that will have you wondering what is going on.
This is what you will get with reading The Woman in the Woods.
Many thanks to NetGalley, the publisher and author for the opportunity to read this book for my honest review. All opinions expressed are my own.
Ghosts
Haunted village
And…….
Creepy moments that will have you wondering what is going on.
This is what you will get with reading The Woman in the Woods.
Many thanks to NetGalley, the publisher and author for the opportunity to read this book for my honest review. All opinions expressed are my own.
November 8, 2021
A very boring storyline couldn't get past the first chapter
September 12, 2021
This is a tricky book to review because I love Lisa Hall and I adore her writing style. This book is signature Hall. From page one you’re drawn in and it’s truly captivating to read. The plot itself has this slow, creeping pace that builds and builds as to create this sense of craziness that the main character feels. At times this book is extremely creepy and edging on the border of horror/fantasy. A perfect read for Halloween!
The reason I’ve rated it so lowly is that I felt it could’ve been so much more! Details such as her passion and knowledge of flowers took a backseat when really that could’ve been played up much more heavily to coincide with the witchcraft and potions.
I didn’t like how all of a sudden things/people/hobbies (like the mural for example) were suddenly flung into the story and made really important to the main character when really in terms of contribution to the plot they were very minimal.
It was weird that everybody in the book was referred to by name except her son. Who was always called ‘the baby’, like we’d forget he was the one being breastfed every chapter! Whilst I call my child ‘baby’ the reference to her son as ‘the baby’ felt really impersonal and like she was deliberately disowning him.
The further I got into the book I began to get annoyed with Allie. She had all these things happen between her, Rav and Naomi and she never thought to just confront them and ‘have it out’. As a reader I found it a bit too obvious that it was all a writers trick and she was reading everything incorrectly. So for me, this element got in the way of the spooky house theme.
This book had all the right ingredients: top author, excellent writing style, compelling theme. But I just felt it wasn’t grounded as a story. Everything about it was too flippant and changeable and it couldn’t decide if it wanted to be a psychological thriller or family drama.
Whatever it was i genuinely enjoyed reading it! But it’s not my favourite from this author and I’m just a bit disappointed that Lisa didn’t really push her creativity in this book.
Thanks to NetGalley for my advance copy in exchange for my honest review.
The reason I’ve rated it so lowly is that I felt it could’ve been so much more! Details such as her passion and knowledge of flowers took a backseat when really that could’ve been played up much more heavily to coincide with the witchcraft and potions.
I didn’t like how all of a sudden things/people/hobbies (like the mural for example) were suddenly flung into the story and made really important to the main character when really in terms of contribution to the plot they were very minimal.
It was weird that everybody in the book was referred to by name except her son. Who was always called ‘the baby’, like we’d forget he was the one being breastfed every chapter! Whilst I call my child ‘baby’ the reference to her son as ‘the baby’ felt really impersonal and like she was deliberately disowning him.
The further I got into the book I began to get annoyed with Allie. She had all these things happen between her, Rav and Naomi and she never thought to just confront them and ‘have it out’. As a reader I found it a bit too obvious that it was all a writers trick and she was reading everything incorrectly. So for me, this element got in the way of the spooky house theme.
This book had all the right ingredients: top author, excellent writing style, compelling theme. But I just felt it wasn’t grounded as a story. Everything about it was too flippant and changeable and it couldn’t decide if it wanted to be a psychological thriller or family drama.
Whatever it was i genuinely enjoyed reading it! But it’s not my favourite from this author and I’m just a bit disappointed that Lisa didn’t really push her creativity in this book.
Thanks to NetGalley for my advance copy in exchange for my honest review.
September 26, 2021
I think I would have enjoyed this book much more if I hadn't previously read a book very similar only recently.
The writing was good and the story was engaging. Although, there were definitely parts where more talking than action was actually happening.
There were lots of creepy vibes in this book, which I very much enjoyed.
This book does contain one of my favourite tropes, the creepy house trope.
However, it also contained one of my least favourite tropes, the woman not being believed because of mental illness. I find that a little tiresome to read in 2021.
This was a quick and easy to read thriller. It was enjoyable although it was nothing special and very similar to lots of other books I have read previously.
Unfortunately, I did find the ending to be a bit of a let down too.
Overall, a fun and creepy read but nothing remarkable.
TW: death, murder and mental illness references
The writing was good and the story was engaging. Although, there were definitely parts where more talking than action was actually happening.
There were lots of creepy vibes in this book, which I very much enjoyed.
This book does contain one of my favourite tropes, the creepy house trope.
However, it also contained one of my least favourite tropes, the woman not being believed because of mental illness. I find that a little tiresome to read in 2021.
This was a quick and easy to read thriller. It was enjoyable although it was nothing special and very similar to lots of other books I have read previously.
Unfortunately, I did find the ending to be a bit of a let down too.
Overall, a fun and creepy read but nothing remarkable.
TW: death, murder and mental illness references
October 10, 2021
I love Lisa Hall, and realized that the main plot was somewhat similar to ‘tell me no lies’. I still liked it, the book was another fast-paced thriller. I saw most of the twists coming, but not too early which gave me the satisfaction of guessing it, but not too early which kept me engaged, looking for clues.
October 18, 2023
This thriller was not bad, but it is a very slow burn. I don’t love the angle this book took and I thought there were several unanswered bits with the ending. I liked the creepy witchy parts of the book. I didn’t love the characters and found myself not really caring what happened to any of them. The twists weren’t bad but I saw them coming. Allie and her husband have moved into an old house in the most haunted town in England. Allie has a toddler and a 4 week old baby to care for and is struggling with nightmares that keep her from sleeping well. As Allie learns more of the history of their house she starts to worry for her children.
June 1, 2022
**ARC provided by the publisher for review consideration. All thoughts are my own**
Some unsettling moments, though the ending left me wanting more.
Ok, after marinating a few more days I have THOUGHTS
Some unsettling moments, though the ending left me wanting more.
Ok, after marinating a few more days I have THOUGHTS
November 1, 2024
I've never before been so pleased to have a book suddenly speed up to its denouement, at a rate that would normally have seemed both odd and at-odds with the previous storyline...were I not just SO freaking glad for it to all be over.
Annoying.
That's what this book was.
You know the whole way through that it's setting up one vague premise, which is going to be given ye olde switcheroo treatment before the end, but omigod, did it all have to be so interminably stupid? Or dull? Or utterly fucking pointless?
Regardless of whether or not premise a/ is going to be true, or if premise b/ will wind up being the real explanation, one thing above all radiates out from this silly little story: women are stupid and annoying and deserve most of the dumb shit that befalls them in this world.
Everything about this story was wrong and yes, it did sort of hurt. It hurt my soul to think that I had wasted yet another day's reading on something that just made me remember why I don't really like having to deal with women very much. They can't even be batshit insane in a slightly original or even vaguely dignified sort of way. It's always the same vapid malaise that comes from being "a bit tired" or "not been sleeping much lately"...even though women are like, supposedly super-mega-strong-and-independent and don't need no man...yadda yadda yadda...but miss a few night's sleep and they're crying out for SSRIs and a bloody talk-therapist's appointment. Weak sauce.
(And yes, I say that as a woman...a woman who did indeed go a bit batcrap insane for a short period of time a few years back...but I knew that the things I was seeing were not real. I wasn't annoying, whiny or insufferable enough to allow myself to get all stupid and pathetic over something as harmless as hallucinations. I knew logically that what I was seeing wasn't real...it just annoyed me that despite my ability to see it as nonsense, the somewhat frazzled part of my brain took a while to catch up with the still rational part, so I had to roll my eyes at the things that weren't there for a while until I stopped being a ridiculous female, calmed my tits, and got my shit together. So yes, when I speak on these things, I have both walked the walk and talked the talk. Which is why I find it so irritating when broads get all fainting-couch-ready, the moment they start to have a wonky moment...and why these limp, slightly sweaty storylines continue to annoy me, with their startling unoriginality.)
Between the endless talk of breastfeeding (gag) and the woo about witches, I really was just hoping that the MC would hurry up and murder her own children as soon as possible, as well as her annoying friend - who regardless of really, actually, supposedly being genuinely concerned for Ms Bats-In-Her-Belfry was grotesquely cloying to the point of also deserving to be euthanized by the end - because that would have made for something vaguely interesting to laugh at. As it was, things progressed exactly as I knew they would (with the exact "reveals" being as predictable as a Kamala Harris non-answer, retardedly burbled out in response to every question asked of her) and my only singular moment of actual, glorious surprise, was in finding that the last 4% of the book was the opening chapter to another pile of drivel written by Lisa Hall...drivel I will not be wasting any more time, energy or attention on.
And of course, let's not leave out the "oooh....woo!" final attempt at a jump-scare: just to try and inject the vaguest shred of interest, or concern - or anything other than the desire to gouge one's own eyeballs out with a rusty teaspoon - into the last dying breaths of this absolute waste of everyone's fecking time. These kinds of shenanigans are so easy to see coming, they make 'Gorlock The Destroyer - aka - Big Al Weezy' look like an ethereal, misted, sea-wraith at sun-up.
Why did I think this would be any better than any of the other garbage-tier titles I have made my way through, this past month? Maybe it's because, being a woman, I too am so terminally fucking retarded, that I keep on doing the same thing, over and over again, yet expect a different (better) outcome, that I know will never materialise. Just because I knew that those were hallucinations I was experiencing that one time, didn't mean I wasn't seeing things that weren't there. And just because I can see how stupid my own choices have been, and how idiotic my expectations always are, doesn't mean that I don't still go seeking out the very thing that I know will disappoint me. The true horror of Halloween, is in learning that there's little to be done about this ridiculousness of our sex...or any of our other stupid little feminine foibles. *sigh*
Women: the smarter we get, the dumber we become.
Annoying.
That's what this book was.
You know the whole way through that it's setting up one vague premise, which is going to be given ye olde switcheroo treatment before the end, but omigod, did it all have to be so interminably stupid? Or dull? Or utterly fucking pointless?
Regardless of whether or not premise a/ is going to be true, or if premise b/ will wind up being the real explanation, one thing above all radiates out from this silly little story: women are stupid and annoying and deserve most of the dumb shit that befalls them in this world.
Everything about this story was wrong and yes, it did sort of hurt. It hurt my soul to think that I had wasted yet another day's reading on something that just made me remember why I don't really like having to deal with women very much. They can't even be batshit insane in a slightly original or even vaguely dignified sort of way. It's always the same vapid malaise that comes from being "a bit tired" or "not been sleeping much lately"...even though women are like, supposedly super-mega-strong-and-independent and don't need no man...yadda yadda yadda...but miss a few night's sleep and they're crying out for SSRIs and a bloody talk-therapist's appointment. Weak sauce.
(And yes, I say that as a woman...a woman who did indeed go a bit batcrap insane for a short period of time a few years back...but I knew that the things I was seeing were not real. I wasn't annoying, whiny or insufferable enough to allow myself to get all stupid and pathetic over something as harmless as hallucinations. I knew logically that what I was seeing wasn't real...it just annoyed me that despite my ability to see it as nonsense, the somewhat frazzled part of my brain took a while to catch up with the still rational part, so I had to roll my eyes at the things that weren't there for a while until I stopped being a ridiculous female, calmed my tits, and got my shit together. So yes, when I speak on these things, I have both walked the walk and talked the talk. Which is why I find it so irritating when broads get all fainting-couch-ready, the moment they start to have a wonky moment...and why these limp, slightly sweaty storylines continue to annoy me, with their startling unoriginality.)
Between the endless talk of breastfeeding (gag) and the woo about witches, I really was just hoping that the MC would hurry up and murder her own children as soon as possible, as well as her annoying friend - who regardless of really, actually, supposedly being genuinely concerned for Ms Bats-In-Her-Belfry was grotesquely cloying to the point of also deserving to be euthanized by the end - because that would have made for something vaguely interesting to laugh at. As it was, things progressed exactly as I knew they would (with the exact "reveals" being as predictable as a Kamala Harris non-answer, retardedly burbled out in response to every question asked of her) and my only singular moment of actual, glorious surprise, was in finding that the last 4% of the book was the opening chapter to another pile of drivel written by Lisa Hall...drivel I will not be wasting any more time, energy or attention on.
And of course, let's not leave out the "oooh....woo!" final attempt at a jump-scare: just to try and inject the vaguest shred of interest, or concern - or anything other than the desire to gouge one's own eyeballs out with a rusty teaspoon - into the last dying breaths of this absolute waste of everyone's fecking time. These kinds of shenanigans are so easy to see coming, they make 'Gorlock The Destroyer - aka - Big Al Weezy' look like an ethereal, misted, sea-wraith at sun-up.
Why did I think this would be any better than any of the other garbage-tier titles I have made my way through, this past month? Maybe it's because, being a woman, I too am so terminally fucking retarded, that I keep on doing the same thing, over and over again, yet expect a different (better) outcome, that I know will never materialise. Just because I knew that those were hallucinations I was experiencing that one time, didn't mean I wasn't seeing things that weren't there. And just because I can see how stupid my own choices have been, and how idiotic my expectations always are, doesn't mean that I don't still go seeking out the very thing that I know will disappoint me. The true horror of Halloween, is in learning that there's little to be done about this ridiculousness of our sex...or any of our other stupid little feminine foibles. *sigh*
Women: the smarter we get, the dumber we become.
November 11, 2021
Deliciously ramps up in tension and offers many ghostly tingles. I kept thinking "I want to watch this as a film, too!" The only thing that pulled it down from 5 stars (for me personally) was the lack of commitment to dealing with the ghost - I kept waiting for her to ask for Miranda's help, but it never developed quite as I hoped. It feels like a very rushed ending and I have a lot of unanswered questions...
I did feel genuine fear for the children all the time, and not just because they're children. It started out that way - a sense of worry for the tiny helpless humans - but as you emote with Allie, the mother, you really take on her possessive worries and fears.
I've been longing for a great ghost story. So yeah. Other than a meh conclusion, the twist didn't really satisfy me at all, this is well written and spoopy.
Things I still have questions about:
I did feel genuine fear for the children all the time, and not just because they're children. It started out that way - a sense of worry for the tiny helpless humans - but as you emote with Allie, the mother, you really take on her possessive worries and fears.
I've been longing for a great ghost story. So yeah. Other than a meh conclusion, the twist didn't really satisfy me at all, this is well written and spoopy.
Things I still have questions about:
November 18, 2021
This book is very much like the previous book I read. Both books are about a mother with a new baby who is struggling. Both books had a supernatural element to them. The previous book Little Darlings was based on folklore and this one was based on witchcraft.
I liked this book but didn't enjoy it as much as I thought I would. One reason is probably because I read two books, very similar one after another.
I did enjoy the fact the house the family lived in is set in a haunted village with lots of ghost stories and superstitions. I also enjoyed the witchy elements of the story. There was one major twist at the end which I did work out very early on, so I didn't get the surprise.
This book for me was an ok read. Didn't dislike it at all but was glad to get it finished. I would read more by the author.
I liked this book but didn't enjoy it as much as I thought I would. One reason is probably because I read two books, very similar one after another.
I did enjoy the fact the house the family lived in is set in a haunted village with lots of ghost stories and superstitions. I also enjoyed the witchy elements of the story. There was one major twist at the end which I did work out very early on, so I didn't get the surprise.
This book for me was an ok read. Didn't dislike it at all but was glad to get it finished. I would read more by the author.
October 30, 2021
I felt that this book couldn't really decide what it wanted to be. It's hard to explain without giving away spoilers. There are suggestions of post partum depression, paranoia, supernatural, witchcraft..... I could go on. That would be ok except that things do actually happen that aren't explained in the end.
One other thing that got quite irritating was Allie's continually calling Leo, the baby. I'm not sure if this is to indicate a lack of bonding but it was annoying.
Not one of my favourite Lisa Hall's I'm afraid.
One other thing that got quite irritating was Allie's continually calling Leo, the baby. I'm not sure if this is to indicate a lack of bonding but it was annoying.
Not one of my favourite Lisa Hall's I'm afraid.
November 14, 2022
Two of my favourite things; creepy woods and a haunted house. I've never heard of Postpartum Psychosis before, and when I looked it up, I must admit it looks horrible and I really feel for all the women that have gone through it. The author did a good job with showing Ali's increasing unstable state. Unfortunately this book had way too much baby in it for my liking. Sorry, but I'm just not fond of babies, and really don't enjoy reading too much about them. I liked the history of the cottage and the woods, it was interesting and sad. The ending was good though, gave me a real tingle down the spine.
October 24, 2025
I really wanted this to be a 4 star book but the back 1/3 of the book was disappointing. The tension carried on too long and then the reveal was such a letdown. If you’re looking for a spooky read like I was, skip this. It’s not spooky at all.
September 10, 2025
It was a decent book, spooky. 2 stars because very repetitive and got a little boring because of that.
October 5, 2021
As winter approaches, I love to dive into a good scary story – The Woman in the Woods focuses on Allie who has moved with her family to the village of Pluckley, which is famous for its ghosts and history of witchcraft.
I wouldn’t really class this book as a horror story – there’s a few witchcraft elements but that’s about it and I didn’t find it unsettling or creepy to read. It’s more of a domestic thriller and although I sympathised with Allie, I found the other characters to be annoying. I didn’t understand why her husband Rav needed to hide everything from her which made her paranoia so much worse for no reason. I spent the majority of the book (silently) screaming at Allie to just talk to her husband about the lies she had actively caught him out in and I think most of the issues would have been solved by some much needed communication on all sides. Other characters just felt sandwiched into the story to cast doubt or mislead without being fully rounded characters in their own right. The child Mina confused me as to how old she was supposed to be, and Leo is called ‘the baby’ throughout instead of his name which was jarring.
Without giving any spoilers, I felt the ending was in poor taste - in 2021 it seems a real misstep to make a topic like this a punchline twist. As well as not sitting well with me it came across as a solution that tried to tie everything in a neat bow without really explaining everything fully. With hindsight, some of the book suddenly made no sense when you knew the truth of what was going on – the items Allie found in the house for example, or the behaviour of the mums at the playgroup.
My other issue was the pacing of the book – although something like this needs a slow-burn I felt the pacing was far too slow and around 50 pages could have been easily edited out of it. There’s a lot of repetition – particularly of boring domestic tasks which did not move the narrative along and could have been cut down.
Overall, The Woman in the Woods offered a creepy read but I found myself frustrated with both the characters and the ending. Thank you to NetGalley & HQ for the chance to read the ARC in exchange for an honest review.
For more of my reviews check out www.kindig.co.uk
I wouldn’t really class this book as a horror story – there’s a few witchcraft elements but that’s about it and I didn’t find it unsettling or creepy to read. It’s more of a domestic thriller and although I sympathised with Allie, I found the other characters to be annoying. I didn’t understand why her husband Rav needed to hide everything from her which made her paranoia so much worse for no reason. I spent the majority of the book (silently) screaming at Allie to just talk to her husband about the lies she had actively caught him out in and I think most of the issues would have been solved by some much needed communication on all sides. Other characters just felt sandwiched into the story to cast doubt or mislead without being fully rounded characters in their own right. The child Mina confused me as to how old she was supposed to be, and Leo is called ‘the baby’ throughout instead of his name which was jarring.
Without giving any spoilers, I felt the ending was in poor taste - in 2021 it seems a real misstep to make a topic like this a punchline twist. As well as not sitting well with me it came across as a solution that tried to tie everything in a neat bow without really explaining everything fully. With hindsight, some of the book suddenly made no sense when you knew the truth of what was going on – the items Allie found in the house for example, or the behaviour of the mums at the playgroup.
My other issue was the pacing of the book – although something like this needs a slow-burn I felt the pacing was far too slow and around 50 pages could have been easily edited out of it. There’s a lot of repetition – particularly of boring domestic tasks which did not move the narrative along and could have been cut down.
Overall, The Woman in the Woods offered a creepy read but I found myself frustrated with both the characters and the ending. Thank you to NetGalley & HQ for the chance to read the ARC in exchange for an honest review.
For more of my reviews check out www.kindig.co.uk
October 28, 2021
This book follows Allie, and her husband Rav, after they move to a haunted village and soon find out that one of the ghost legends features the house they have just moved into, and Allie soon becomes convinced that the woman who used to live in her house (a couple hundred years ago) is haunting her, unfortunately for Allie no one believes her and they just chalk it up to the stress of being a new mother and her being tired. Allie struggles to make those around her believe that she isn’t stressed and that she is hearing sounds at night, seeing the woman in the woods behind their house, being woken up by nightmares, scratching sounds in the walls and chimney, the list goes on… After Allie speaks to one of the previous owners of the house she beings to think that the house and it’s ghostly mishaps, may be trying to harm her family.
This book is a perfect read for this spooky time of the year, it’s got the right amount of creepiness for a psychological thriller that keeps you turning the pages because you just need to find out how it ends. That, and I actually had to put the light on while reading it a few times because I got myself a little freaked out. It’s easy to immerse yourself in the pages of this book and I would recommend it to anyone who loves a good thriller.
Thank you to HQ for sending me a copy in exchange for an honest review.
This book is a perfect read for this spooky time of the year, it’s got the right amount of creepiness for a psychological thriller that keeps you turning the pages because you just need to find out how it ends. That, and I actually had to put the light on while reading it a few times because I got myself a little freaked out. It’s easy to immerse yourself in the pages of this book and I would recommend it to anyone who loves a good thriller.
Thank you to HQ for sending me a copy in exchange for an honest review.
March 2, 2024
The novel's gradual pace might not be to everyone's liking, but it has its charms.
Although the storyline didn't fully captivate me, ! found the witchcraft elements to be quite intriguing.
The ending may have left some questions unanswered, but the plot twists were not too jarring.
The haunting tale takes place in England's most eerie town, where Allie and her partner move into an old house with their toddler and newborn. Allie's recurring nightmares deprive her of rest, and as she learns more about the house's history, she becomes increasingly concerned for her children's well-being.
Despite not developing a strong emotional connection to the characters, I believe this is a matter of individual taste.
Although the storyline didn't fully captivate me, ! found the witchcraft elements to be quite intriguing.
The ending may have left some questions unanswered, but the plot twists were not too jarring.
The haunting tale takes place in England's most eerie town, where Allie and her partner move into an old house with their toddler and newborn. Allie's recurring nightmares deprive her of rest, and as she learns more about the house's history, she becomes increasingly concerned for her children's well-being.
Despite not developing a strong emotional connection to the characters, I believe this is a matter of individual taste.
July 12, 2022
This psychological thriller is a wild ride of is she or is she not crazy. I kept flip flopping and it wasn't until the end when I made up my mind, and I'm still not sure. The storyline was fun, creepy, and believable. Let's just say, I'm not trapsing through the woods after no one. The writing was really suspenseful and drew me in from the beginning. The quaint viliage seems nice and it's interesting Pluckley is a real place in England with a haunted history. The house and property house lovely, but the husband pissed me off...Ok, no spoilers. The characters were detailed well. I really felt I knew their stories and emotions. Especially the heartache of her friend Naomi. I also felt the story is realistic in people down playing women's emotions, especially after a baby. And also the feeling of loss of identity after children. Overall a great story, I enjoyed reading. Book provided by #NetGalley.
June 23, 2024
Eerie and atmospheric. A highly enjoyable story of one woman's obsession with the history of her home in the most haunted village in Britain, the stories of witchcraft that she is heard, and keeping her children safe.
I found myself pitying the lead character (Allie) throughout, especially when her husband and best friend dismiss her concerns so quickly, which seems to exacerbate her experiences and feelings and, ultimately, her illness.
The descriptions of Allie's experiences within the home, including the chills in different parts of the house, the scratching she hears, the reflections, and the shadows, made me want to keep lights on in my own house!!
The witchcraft element interested me, and I enjoyed learning about the history of the village and house and reading about the talismans.
I also liked that the author used artistic licence to build the atmosphere and story whilst basing it on real places and people (Pluckley and Isobel Gowdie)
The mental illness element is sensitively managed by the author, and the descriptions of this are clever and thoughtful, as well as thought-provoking and emotive. The author uses the descriptions of this to add to the atmosphere of the story and make the reader question (as Allie is) what is real and what is not.
I found myself pitying the lead character (Allie) throughout, especially when her husband and best friend dismiss her concerns so quickly, which seems to exacerbate her experiences and feelings and, ultimately, her illness.
The descriptions of Allie's experiences within the home, including the chills in different parts of the house, the scratching she hears, the reflections, and the shadows, made me want to keep lights on in my own house!!
The witchcraft element interested me, and I enjoyed learning about the history of the village and house and reading about the talismans.
I also liked that the author used artistic licence to build the atmosphere and story whilst basing it on real places and people (Pluckley and Isobel Gowdie)
The mental illness element is sensitively managed by the author, and the descriptions of this are clever and thoughtful, as well as thought-provoking and emotive. The author uses the descriptions of this to add to the atmosphere of the story and make the reader question (as Allie is) what is real and what is not.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
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August 26, 2023Though I can see some reasons for the choice, use of first-person present narration bugs me in this one (bugs me whenever I see it, in fact). I can't shake the image of the narrator going through the events which comprise the narrative, notebook in hand, writing it all down. It may be a weakness of my own, but I always tend to think first-person narrative only truly works when the narrator is explaining/telling/describing already completed events which they have either observed or lived through (or both). The psychological balance of the narrator makes the choice of first-person present more defensible than usual; it would certainly be a different story told by any other perspective. I'm also not 100% sure I can go with the last reversal in the tale.
May 31, 2022
Not a bad read, but I didn’t like it as much as I was expecting. I have read so many domestic thrillers with unreliable narrators, that I saw many of the twists coming. I didn’t connect with Allie at all. It’s impossible to explain why I didn’t like this novel without giving away the ending, so I will say that I enjoyed some creepy scenes in the middle of the night, with Allie standing by the window while a figure in white watches her from afar. It’s a solid book for fans of this genre, it just wasn’t for me.
I chose to read this book and all opinions in this review are my own and completely unbiased. Thank you, #NetGalley/#Harper 360, HQ!
I chose to read this book and all opinions in this review are my own and completely unbiased. Thank you, #NetGalley/#Harper 360, HQ!
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October 5, 2021Loved it. Check back for my full review.
October 24, 2021
Suspenseful
August 27, 2022
What an annoying book. I hate books about the ‘supernatural’
March 15, 2023
I've read all of Lisa Hall's books and tbh this was nearly a DNF for me. I hate not finishing a book so I ploughed on. Wouldn't really class this as a Thriller though.
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