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Woodhaven
"A brutal, bleak, quick slab of survival horror that had me gripped and intrigued from page one. This one will stay with you long after you're done reading it. Outstanding."
-Steve Stred, Splatterpunk-Nominated author of Sacrament and Mastodon
"The scariest book of 2022"
-Elford Alley, author of Ash and Tales of Terror
In the wake of a violent government overthrow, twelve-year-old Joy and her father, Warren, have escaped to their hidden family cabin in the Rocky Mountains. With a stockpile of everything they need to survive, they plan to wait out the horrors of the outside world. In the middle of the night, a stranger arrives claiming he only wants a safe place to stay. If they allow it, he says he'll commit to helping them protect the cabin. With no reason to trust him, Warren weighs his options, knowing that if the stranger was able to find them, others may also. The tension ratchets up with every page, escalating into a thrilling, paranoia-drenched conclusion. Woodhaven is a gripping, anxiety-riddled tale of survival, a claustrophobic thriller about a father balancing his morality and a daughter wrestling with the loss of everything she once knew.
-Steve Stred, Splatterpunk-Nominated author of Sacrament and Mastodon
"The scariest book of 2022"
-Elford Alley, author of Ash and Tales of Terror
In the wake of a violent government overthrow, twelve-year-old Joy and her father, Warren, have escaped to their hidden family cabin in the Rocky Mountains. With a stockpile of everything they need to survive, they plan to wait out the horrors of the outside world. In the middle of the night, a stranger arrives claiming he only wants a safe place to stay. If they allow it, he says he'll commit to helping them protect the cabin. With no reason to trust him, Warren weighs his options, knowing that if the stranger was able to find them, others may also. The tension ratchets up with every page, escalating into a thrilling, paranoia-drenched conclusion. Woodhaven is a gripping, anxiety-riddled tale of survival, a claustrophobic thriller about a father balancing his morality and a daughter wrestling with the loss of everything she once knew.
100 pages, Paperback
Published July 27, 2022
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94 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 20 of 20 reviews
July 6, 2022
Huge thanks to L.J. for sending me an advance copy of ‘Woodhaven’ to read. He sent it along with a message in the email saying ‘read when you can, no rush.’ LOL. Oh, Dougherty, you dear sweet sweet man. I would’ve read this in a single sitting when it arrived, if I wasn’t also trying to finish off a short story collection as well.
I’ve previously read Dougherty’s two Espionage Cryptid thrilles – ‘Beasts of the Caliber Lodge’ and ‘Primal Reserve.’ Both were excellent, but I was really intrigued to see what he would do with a novella. Those previous two were sprawling, cinematic pieces with multiple locations and numerous characters. This one was set in a single spot with a few characters and a quarter of the page count. Could he deliver the goods?
You betcha.
What I liked: Following the events that led to the government being overthrown and the military asserting martial law, Joy and her dad, Warren flee to the cabin in the mountains that her grandpa built. Here, Warren has been prepping for just this sort of event and they go about a mundane existence, ever vigilant and on edge, but existing.
The story picks up when a stranger forces his way into the cabin, by holding Joy and Warren’s friend at gunpoint and we begin to learn the horrible truths about the outside world as well as how this people are still surviving.
Dougherty does a great job of making this one feel timeless but also topical and I think that strength will draw in the readers well. You can read this and enjoy it as an escape, or you can read this as a ‘potential’ for what could happen in the world and how we’d each respond. We also get a great subplot about trust and what it means to the individual and how sometimes we need to work together, no matter the differences to survive.
The ending is heartbreaking, poignant and perfect. I absolutely loved it and know it will cause anguish and anger in many, many readers.
What I didn’t like: For me, the minimalism worked. If you’ve read some of my own work, you’ll know I frequently strive for a less is more approach and Dougherty applies that in spades here. So, for those who love that, you’ll be all over this. For those who want more and more and more, you’ll be disappointed.
Why you should buy this: This book is essentially the love child of ‘Armageddon House’ by Michael Griffin and ‘The Cabin at the End of the World’ by Paul Tremblay. We get just enough to keep pulling us along while knowing full well that there is a lot left out and a lot we could learn, but we most likely never will.
I really loved this one a ton and I think it showcases Dougherty’s writing in a way that gets lost in the Summer Blockbuster style Espionage releases he’s put out so far.
This one was great and had everything I look for in a story. Well done.
I’ve previously read Dougherty’s two Espionage Cryptid thrilles – ‘Beasts of the Caliber Lodge’ and ‘Primal Reserve.’ Both were excellent, but I was really intrigued to see what he would do with a novella. Those previous two were sprawling, cinematic pieces with multiple locations and numerous characters. This one was set in a single spot with a few characters and a quarter of the page count. Could he deliver the goods?
You betcha.
What I liked: Following the events that led to the government being overthrown and the military asserting martial law, Joy and her dad, Warren flee to the cabin in the mountains that her grandpa built. Here, Warren has been prepping for just this sort of event and they go about a mundane existence, ever vigilant and on edge, but existing.
The story picks up when a stranger forces his way into the cabin, by holding Joy and Warren’s friend at gunpoint and we begin to learn the horrible truths about the outside world as well as how this people are still surviving.
Dougherty does a great job of making this one feel timeless but also topical and I think that strength will draw in the readers well. You can read this and enjoy it as an escape, or you can read this as a ‘potential’ for what could happen in the world and how we’d each respond. We also get a great subplot about trust and what it means to the individual and how sometimes we need to work together, no matter the differences to survive.
The ending is heartbreaking, poignant and perfect. I absolutely loved it and know it will cause anguish and anger in many, many readers.
What I didn’t like: For me, the minimalism worked. If you’ve read some of my own work, you’ll know I frequently strive for a less is more approach and Dougherty applies that in spades here. So, for those who love that, you’ll be all over this. For those who want more and more and more, you’ll be disappointed.
Why you should buy this: This book is essentially the love child of ‘Armageddon House’ by Michael Griffin and ‘The Cabin at the End of the World’ by Paul Tremblay. We get just enough to keep pulling us along while knowing full well that there is a lot left out and a lot we could learn, but we most likely never will.
I really loved this one a ton and I think it showcases Dougherty’s writing in a way that gets lost in the Summer Blockbuster style Espionage releases he’s put out so far.
This one was great and had everything I look for in a story. Well done.
September 6, 2022
I’ve read a lot of terrific books this year, but I doubt I’ll read one better than this. Absolute white-knuckle tension from page one.
July 19, 2022
The scariest book of 2022, because the horror here is well within the realm of possibility. Dougherty doesn't need ghosts or monsters, there is no cosmic terror or UFO shenanigans. Only people at their worst. Only people trying to survive as everything close in around them. So, give it a read, and lose some sleep.
September 4, 2022
I got some Assault on Precinct 13 vibes with this home invasion come survival come post apocalyptic horror from LJ Dougherty.
LJ doesn’t give us too much information regarding the HOW and the WHY to the situation our protagonists are facing and that (for me) gives the reader a perfect thriller of a book - beat after beat - escalating to a conclusion which is terrifying and one which I loved.
The characters and pacing are terrific and it also had some ‘Thing’ vibes - not an extraterrestrial shape-shifting monster that assimilates its targets - I mean the part when they’re all feeling each other out - the blood in the Petri dishes - there’s plenty of that in this when the stranger arrives, double guessing, secrets not spoke, shifting glances and tension in abundance.
A great quick read from LJ (I read it in a few hours) and he’s 3/3 on books I’ve enjoyed… LJ for Life not just for Christmas!
LJ doesn’t give us too much information regarding the HOW and the WHY to the situation our protagonists are facing and that (for me) gives the reader a perfect thriller of a book - beat after beat - escalating to a conclusion which is terrifying and one which I loved.
The characters and pacing are terrific and it also had some ‘Thing’ vibes - not an extraterrestrial shape-shifting monster that assimilates its targets - I mean the part when they’re all feeling each other out - the blood in the Petri dishes - there’s plenty of that in this when the stranger arrives, double guessing, secrets not spoke, shifting glances and tension in abundance.
A great quick read from LJ (I read it in a few hours) and he’s 3/3 on books I’ve enjoyed… LJ for Life not just for Christmas!
March 30, 2023
This novella was quite a few things: taut, gripping, anxiety-inducing and quick.
L.J. Dougherty paints a narrative that is plausible to a point, which makes this tale that much more frightening. At only 86 pages, this story hits the gate at 70mph and does not let up on the brake until the end. And what an ending that was...
A father and his daughter are on the run from the government after some sort of martial law event occurred. They are heading to their cabin in the woods, their refuge from the chaos of everyday life. They wait for his brother and he eventually emerges, with a companion in tow. From this point on, the events pile up and it turns into a tale of paranoia, intensity and the death of a lifestyle once known.
Dougherty has a definitive style he uses to full effect here. It's simple enough to bring in the most casual of readers, yet he evokes vivid imagery that winds the story up to a dizzying fever pitch. This one needs not to be missed. I look forward to his other novels (both of which will be added to my Want-to-Read list here).
I'm giving this one ☠️ x5!
L.J. Dougherty paints a narrative that is plausible to a point, which makes this tale that much more frightening. At only 86 pages, this story hits the gate at 70mph and does not let up on the brake until the end. And what an ending that was...
A father and his daughter are on the run from the government after some sort of martial law event occurred. They are heading to their cabin in the woods, their refuge from the chaos of everyday life. They wait for his brother and he eventually emerges, with a companion in tow. From this point on, the events pile up and it turns into a tale of paranoia, intensity and the death of a lifestyle once known.
Dougherty has a definitive style he uses to full effect here. It's simple enough to bring in the most casual of readers, yet he evokes vivid imagery that winds the story up to a dizzying fever pitch. This one needs not to be missed. I look forward to his other novels (both of which will be added to my Want-to-Read list here).
I'm giving this one ☠️ x5!
August 22, 2023
I thoroughly enjoyed Woodhaven, and I went into this one blind, which made it all the more unexpected.
Highly recommended for those seeking a tense survival horror/thriller story, and this one is guaranteed to keep you on the edge of your seat.
Highly recommended for those seeking a tense survival horror/thriller story, and this one is guaranteed to keep you on the edge of your seat.
July 31, 2022
I want more..!!
Couldn't put it down. Just like reading a film. And reading the afterword, I guess I kinda was.
This novella by L.J. Dougherty had it all: tension, action, suspense, emotion. Everything that makes me turn to the next page. PLUS, having flavours of my all-time videogame, "The Last of Us", does NOT hurt, in my opinion, at all.
Even though I have both of Dougherty's novels ("Beasts of Caliber Lodge" and "Primal Reserve") on my shelf and my TBR list, I still haven't read them - but I'm definitely booking a room at Caliber Lodge and going to the Reserve VERY soon. Loved it!
Couldn't put it down. Just like reading a film. And reading the afterword, I guess I kinda was.
This novella by L.J. Dougherty had it all: tension, action, suspense, emotion. Everything that makes me turn to the next page. PLUS, having flavours of my all-time videogame, "The Last of Us", does NOT hurt, in my opinion, at all.
Even though I have both of Dougherty's novels ("Beasts of Caliber Lodge" and "Primal Reserve") on my shelf and my TBR list, I still haven't read them - but I'm definitely booking a room at Caliber Lodge and going to the Reserve VERY soon. Loved it!
July 18, 2025
While I was not a fan of the ending, I can't deny that this was a fantastically written and engaging novella. Kudos to you Dougherty, kudos.
July 6, 2022
I've read and really enjoyed Dougherty's previous two books, Beasts of Caliber Lodge and Primal Reserve. Those were an incredible mix of espionage and creature horror. Woodhaven is not about either of those but this novella packs one hell of a punch. This is a tense, action packed ride set during a time when the government and country are in turmoil.. It is for the most part set in a single location and not your typical home invasion story. I won't give away too much because part of it's charm is how this all unfolds. A 'prepper' and his daughter flee to a cabin way off in the woods he had prepared for a shit storm such as this. The characters are great and forced to trust each other in a pretty hairy situation. The tension unfolds and grabs you by the throat. Excellent action sequences and some gnarly violence here and there. I kept thinking how this would have been a killer movie. (Some really cool info in the afterward btw). Dougherty really knows how to write conflicts and situations that quickly spiral out of control. I rarely describe a book as "white knuckle" but I believe it is safe to say that about Woodhaven. Dougherty is just getting started and I can't wait to see what he comes up with next.
July 8, 2022
Modest number of pages, but enough for a mountainous heart break. Took me a half hour to process my feelings. I’m a sucker for action / adventure as I find the genre to house the most believable and trustworthy forms of love. “Woodhaven” is the perfect example. You’d be doing yourself a disservice if you didn’t indulge in this novella.
July 14, 2022
🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟 to Woodhaven by L. J. Dougherty
This book begins with all the force of a shotgun blast and maintains that relentless in your face kind of pace throughout. Having read Dougherty’s previous work I consider myself a fan, yet, Woodhaven reads nothing like his previous work. There’s a hard edge to the writing style here that works in perfect symmetry with the events that take place within the story’s pages and the characters. These people are frayed, frantic and desperate and as a reader we are immediately pulled into their story without fully understanding what is going on.
I’m trying not to spoil this story but it’s one that is so current with everything that’s happening in America as a country right now that it doesn’t feel like fiction. It feels like a harrowing, heartbreaking prediction.
This book begins with all the force of a shotgun blast and maintains that relentless in your face kind of pace throughout. Having read Dougherty’s previous work I consider myself a fan, yet, Woodhaven reads nothing like his previous work. There’s a hard edge to the writing style here that works in perfect symmetry with the events that take place within the story’s pages and the characters. These people are frayed, frantic and desperate and as a reader we are immediately pulled into their story without fully understanding what is going on.
I’m trying not to spoil this story but it’s one that is so current with everything that’s happening in America as a country right now that it doesn’t feel like fiction. It feels like a harrowing, heartbreaking prediction.
July 8, 2022
After reading Beasts of the Caliber Lodge and Primal Reserve, I was hungry for more. I was fortunate enough to get an early copy of Woodhaven for review, and it defiantly lives up to expectations. I found myself wanting more from the first few chapters, but once everything kicks into high gear, there is no stopping until the brutal end. The best thing I can say about the writing is that it invokes a cinematic response I didn't think I would get from a novel. The pace was quick and made me think of a screenplay, and when reading the afterward, I can see why.
This is a great read that I would recommend to anyone looking for more of a cinematic edge to their reading.
This is a great read that I would recommend to anyone looking for more of a cinematic edge to their reading.
February 27, 2023
Tense, desperate and such a great read. Action-packed from the opening page, this sunk its teeth into me immediately and didn’t let go until the final paragraph.
Dougherty’s characters reveal only enough to make you feel something for them, whatever that may be, and he doesn’t waste time worrying about the present state of the world or what brought it to its knees in the first place. This lent a real claustrophobic vibe to the story and I loved it.
Equal parts action movie, father-daughter drama and exercise in trust and loyalty, fans of all things post-apocalyptic should scramble to pick this one up.
Dougherty’s characters reveal only enough to make you feel something for them, whatever that may be, and he doesn’t waste time worrying about the present state of the world or what brought it to its knees in the first place. This lent a real claustrophobic vibe to the story and I loved it.
Equal parts action movie, father-daughter drama and exercise in trust and loyalty, fans of all things post-apocalyptic should scramble to pick this one up.
March 15, 2023
Pageturner! It’s adapted from a screenplay and sticks to the page count of a script so it goes fast. The suspense here is top notch. We don’t get to know a lot about how the world ended and we don’t need to — this is a limited location apocalyptic story and the character work is great. Dougherty managed to make me really care for this kid without knowing a lot about her. My only gripe is I wanted more!
October 31, 2024
A survival thriller is pretty far from what I usually read, but I enjoyed this as I enjoy this author's writing. I understand this is only about 85 pages, I wish there had been a little more to the MC Joy and her relationship with films and her parents. But the ending is very good, and I think this would be a fantastic film adaptation. Here's to hoping it will be made one day, I think many people could enjoy a story like this.
October 8, 2022
Great story! Fast paced! Looking forward to reading more from Mr. Dougherty
December 25, 2022
Loved this, a quick and very captivating read. Will order the other books published by the author right away!
February 7, 2023
Tension all the way through, lots of great reveals, and a tight well crafted story which packs so much into such a short book.
September 11, 2023
I can get lost easily if the prose doesn't flow, and LJ can WRITE.
Very cool short read. I'm sorry it took so long to post this review!
Very cool short read. I'm sorry it took so long to post this review!
February 18, 2024
A Stunning Novella.
Despite thoroughly enjoying two previous books by Dougherty, I still did not expect to love this one as much as I did. I can't even tell you why, really, but something about WOODHAVEN kept me spellbound from the first page to the last. Perhaps it was the minimalist prose (which works beautifully), or the small cast, or the single location. I do know it would look great on either a stage or a screen, and it's one of the best things I've read so far this year. Highly recommended!
Despite thoroughly enjoying two previous books by Dougherty, I still did not expect to love this one as much as I did. I can't even tell you why, really, but something about WOODHAVEN kept me spellbound from the first page to the last. Perhaps it was the minimalist prose (which works beautifully), or the small cast, or the single location. I do know it would look great on either a stage or a screen, and it's one of the best things I've read so far this year. Highly recommended!
Displaying 1 - 20 of 20 reviews