Reviews

What Waits in the Woods by Terri Parlato

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kt1432's review against another edition

mysterious tense slow-paced

Plot- or character-driven? A mix
Strong character development? No
Loveable characters? No
Diverse cast of characters? No
Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

2.0

An ex-ballet dancer returns to her hometown in the midst of a murder investigation of one of her high school best friends.

After enjoying this author’s first work, All the Dark Places, I was excited to be pulled back into the suburbs of Boston with Detective Rita taking on a new case. The title and cover gave vibes of a creepy murderer lurking in the woods and I was sold!

Only it wasn’t quite that lol. This time around there is very little action, and very little detective work. Most of the plot seemed focused on slow-paced background stories for red herrings, and they are plentiful, yet not necessary to the overall plot. There’s lots of rehashing old family drama and old high school rivalries, and the creepy woods angle never really came to fruition.

When the final reveal is made, it kind of makes sense why most of the story was background on red herrings, because the murderer and motive were pretty unrealistic and out of left field.

Overall not my favorite (2 or 2.5 ⭐️ for me means “just okay or didn’t really care for it,” not awful), but I will still read the next in the series.

Content Warnings

birchcanread's review against another edition

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4.0

3.5 stars! "What Waits in the Woods" is a captivating narrative that leans more towards police procedural than traditional thriller. While it stands independently, I was surprised to discover it's part of the "Detective Rita Myers" series as Rita doesn't take center stage as expected.

Esmé Foster's return to her hometown coincides tragically with the murder of her high school friend, Kara. As Esmé grapples with Kara's death and uncovers unsettling memories, Detective Rita Myers delves into the town's murky history, revealing past tragedies and hidden secrets. However, Rita's role feels secondary, casting a perplexing shadow on the series title.

Terri Parlato crafts a gripping tale with intricate layers of suspense. The story unravels steadily, weaving in themes of mistaken identity and a community concealing dark mysteries. The narrative's strength lies in its exploration of Esmé's journey and the haunting secrets from her past.

While the plot is engaging, the discrepancy between the series title and the narrative focus leaves one puzzled. Rita's character felt distant, which may disappoint readers anticipating her prominent role in the storyline.

Overall, despite the unexpected narrative shift, "What Waits in the Woods" offers a compelling mystery and an intriguing exploration of small-town secrets.

quirkycatsfatstacks's review against another edition

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3.5

Book Summary:

Esmé Foster had dreams of bigger things. That’s why she packed up her bags and left to become a professional ballerina. Unfortunately, the next part of her story is all too familiar, as an injury ruins her career, and an illness in the family brings her home.

Her timing couldn’t be worse, as her old best friend was found dead the night before. This is not the first time her small town has been through an upheaval. It’s not even the first time it’s felt so personal to Esmé, but this time, she will get the answers she craves.

My Review:

There’s nothing better than a thriller/mystery series, at least in my mind. So I was excited to see Rita Myers’ series getting a sequel - What Waits in the Woods. That said, I don’t think it quite lived up to the first novel in the series.

What Waits in the Woods is split into two perspectives—Esmé and Detective Rita Myers (obviously). One portrays the highly emotional side of the story, while the other delves into the forensics of it all. It’s a nice balance, for the most part.

This book has a solid concept and twists, but I think the middle lacks the most. It’s almost like we could have cut out five to ten chapters and made the book stronger for it.

Overall, What Waits in the Woods is worth reading, especially for fans who want to stay updated on the series. I intend to continue the series and hope the next one hits harder.

Highlights:
Psychological Thriller
Mystery Thriller
Diving into the Past

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rileyreadsalatte's review against another edition

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2.0

I didn’t know that this was the second book in Detective Rita Myers’s story, so I didn’t feel attached to her character or her story throughout this book. I love a good bait switch in thrillers, but this reveal felt lackluster as I didn’t feel like I got enough info to ever guess who was guilty

mle667's review

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adventurous dark tense slow-paced

2.0

The characters don’t talk to each other except to be shitty.

chrissypops's review against another edition

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adventurous dark emotional mysterious sad tense medium-paced

Plot- or character-driven? A mix
Strong character development? Yes
Loveable characters? Yes
Diverse cast of characters? Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.25

Thank you Hera, Netgalley and Terri Parlato for the eArc of What waits in the Woods.

Having read All The Dark Places by Terri Parlato, I was delighted when I got accepted for this arc, As with her other book, I really enjoy Terri's writing style as she seems to set the seen almost immediately and lets the plot roll out from there. I would say that this is a medium paced thriller, which keeps you engaged throughout. Terri puts a lot of effort into keeping the plot balanced with the character building, with some nice twists. Throughly enjoyed and greatly recommended!

4.25 stars for Storygraph. Rounded to 4 stars for Amazon, Netgalley and Goodreads.