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A review by stephshelves
What Waits in the Woods by Terri Parlato
dark
mysterious
fast-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? It's complicated
2.0
First and foremost: a huge thank you to Kensington Books, Terri Parlato, and Netgalley for the advanced digital copy!
I need you to know that I was immediately endeared to one of our FMC - Esme - as her dance career came to a screeching haunt after an injury. I experienced the exact same thing, though it was my knee to her hip. So I felt a sort of kindred spirit to her right from the get go.
With no more performance prospects and a dead end relationship, Esme packs up her life one night and begins the journey home. Upon her return she immediately learns that one if her high school friends has been murdered and it is currently an open investigation.
Enter Rita, the second voice in our alternating POV and the lead detective on the case. She is no-nonsense, straight to business, and already forming a list of suspects of her own. Surprisingly, however, this sleepy unassuming little town and its inhabitants have more secrets and mystery about than one would assume. The murderer is anyone's guess.
This novel unfortunately was not it for me. Right from the get go the writing style is bleak and bland. Instead of being shown information to absorb, we are just told things through heavy amounts of dialogue. It felt impossible to connect to the story or the characters as it sounded like a second hand retelling. While I greatly appreciated the mystery and the ultimate reveal, I found the journey getting there difficult and off putting.
I need you to know that I was immediately endeared to one of our FMC - Esme - as her dance career came to a screeching haunt after an injury. I experienced the exact same thing, though it was my knee to her hip. So I felt a sort of kindred spirit to her right from the get go.
With no more performance prospects and a dead end relationship, Esme packs up her life one night and begins the journey home. Upon her return she immediately learns that one if her high school friends has been murdered and it is currently an open investigation.
Enter Rita, the second voice in our alternating POV and the lead detective on the case. She is no-nonsense, straight to business, and already forming a list of suspects of her own. Surprisingly, however, this sleepy unassuming little town and its inhabitants have more secrets and mystery about than one would assume. The murderer is anyone's guess.
This novel unfortunately was not it for me. Right from the get go the writing style is bleak and bland. Instead of being shown information to absorb, we are just told things through heavy amounts of dialogue. It felt impossible to connect to the story or the characters as it sounded like a second hand retelling. While I greatly appreciated the mystery and the ultimate reveal, I found the journey getting there difficult and off putting.