In the tradition of Lisa Jewell and Ruth Ware, Katherine Greene’s debut thriller is a dark descent into the sinister traditions and customs of a small town in the foothills of the Appalachian Mountains. No superstition will prepare childhood friends Cheyenne and Natalie for the macabre truth that awaits them.
Cheyenne Ashby knows the dark and disturbing history of her hometown of Blue Cliff, Virginia, all too well. It’s why she left. Growing up deep within the woods with her eccentric mother, Constance, she was raised on the unusual customs and generational superstitions linked to the local legend of an evil entity that haunts the forest.
Five years ago, the bodies of three children were found in the woods. It was a man—not a mythical beast—named Jasper Clinton who was convicted of these heinous crimes. For five years the town breathed just a bit easier with a real-life monster behind bars.
But when another child goes missing, Cheyenne and Natalie are determined to discover the truth and uncover the town’s dangerous secrets rooted in its terrifying past.
The two women must confront the reality of the superstitions they always believed in and their town’s complicated connection with who—or what—lives in the woods.
Praise for The Woods are Waiting: “The Woods Are Waiting is a mystery novel in which the most dangerous monsters are those that people create for themselves.” —Foreword Reviews
“A very solid page-turner and an impressive debut.” —Horror DNA
“Old friendships are tested and many secrets are uncovered.” —The Southern Bookseller Review
“[An] added layer of supernatural horror elevates The Woods Are Waiting from an interesting thriller to a multifaceted exploration of how superstition and legend can operate alongside all too human horrors.” —Southern Review of Books
“A claustrophobic, page-turning mystery that kept me guessing. I loved every twist and turn.” —Natasha Preston, New York Times bestselling author
“Greene weaves together a creepy, atmospheric tale that dares to examine the underbelly of small-town life and expose its darkest secrets. Suspense readers will be glued to the page to discover how this eerie thriller ends.” —Karen Katchur, author of The Greedy Three
“In this enthralling debut, Katherine Greene delivers a richly layered rural gothic thriller about a small southern town paralyzed by unsolved murders and its own macabre myths. Like the wind blowing through the hickory trees, The Woods Are Waiting ripples with both tenderness and tension. A must-read for fans of Emily Carpenter and Cherie Priest.” —Amber Cowie, author of Last One Alive
“A fantastic read! Loved the creepy, folkloric sense of dread, the small town atmosphere, the mysterious woods and everything that lurks in them. Kept me guessing right to the end, so twisty!” —Melanie Golding, author of The Hidden and The Sight
“The Woods Are Waiting is an atmospheric mystery that oozes small town creepiness and kept me guessing until the end! Packed with emotional conflicts, complicated relationships, and Appalachian folklore—this slow-burn thriller is perfect for fans of Mark Edwards and T. Kingfisher.” —Aggie Blum Thompson, author of I Don't Forgive You
“The Woods are Waiting is a powerful, intricately plotted mystery—full of characters to root for, a dark, compelling story and a transporting Gothic setting. A truly thrilling read.” —Kassandra Montag, author of Those Who Return
Katherine Greene is the pen name of bestselling authors A. Meredith Walters and Claire C. Riley. They each cut their teeth on spine-tingling thrillers and true crime and their love of dark, twisted tales with a strong female voice led them to create stories that leave you guessing. Both currently live in the United Kingdom with their families.
In the tradition of Lisa Jewell and Ruth Ware, Katherine Greene’s debut thriller is a dark descent into the sinister traditions and customs of a small town in the foothills of the Appalachian Mountains. No superstition will prepare childhood friends Cheyenne and Natalie for the macabre truth that awaits them.
Cheyenne Ashby knows the dark and disturbing history of her hometown of Blue Cliff, Virginia, all too well. It’s why she left. Growing up deep within the woods with her eccentric mother, Constance, she was raised on the unusual customs and generational superstitions linked to the local legend of an evil entity that haunts the forest.
Five years ago, the bodies of three children were found in the woods. It was a man—not a mythical beast—named Jasper Clinton who was convicted of these heinous crimes. For five years the town breathed just a bit easier with a real-life monster behind bars.
But when another child goes missing, Cheyenne and Natalie are determined to discover the truth and uncover the town’s dangerous secrets rooted in its terrifying past.
The two women must confront the reality of the superstitions they always believed in and their town’s complicated connection with who—or what—lives in the woods.
Reviews
Praise for The Woods are Waiting: “The Woods Are Waiting is a mystery novel in which the most dangerous monsters are those that people create for themselves.” —Foreword Reviews
“A very solid page-turner and an impressive debut.” —Horror DNA
“Old friendships are tested and many secrets are uncovered.” —The Southern Bookseller Review
“[An] added layer of supernatural horror elevates The Woods Are Waiting from an interesting thriller to a multifaceted exploration of how superstition and legend can operate alongside all too human horrors.” —Southern Review of Books
“A claustrophobic, page-turning mystery that kept me guessing. I loved every twist and turn.” —Natasha Preston, New York Times bestselling author
“Greene weaves together a creepy, atmospheric tale that dares to examine the underbelly of small-town life and expose its darkest secrets. Suspense readers will be glued to the page to discover how this eerie thriller ends.” —Karen Katchur, author of The Greedy Three
“In this enthralling debut, Katherine Greene delivers a richly layered rural gothic thriller about a small southern town paralyzed by unsolved murders and its own macabre myths. Like the wind blowing through the hickory trees, The Woods Are Waiting ripples with both tenderness and tension. A must-read for fans of Emily Carpenter and Cherie Priest.” —Amber Cowie, author of Last One Alive
“A fantastic read! Loved the creepy, folkloric sense of dread, the small town atmosphere, the mysterious woods and everything that lurks in them. Kept me guessing right to the end, so twisty!” —Melanie Golding, author of The Hidden and The Sight
“The Woods Are Waiting is an atmospheric mystery that oozes small town creepiness and kept me guessing until the end! Packed with emotional conflicts, complicated relationships, and Appalachian folklore—this slow-burn thriller is perfect for fans of Mark Edwards and T. Kingfisher.” —Aggie Blum Thompson, author of I Don't Forgive You
“The Woods are Waiting is a powerful, intricately plotted mystery—full of characters to root for, a dark, compelling story and a transporting Gothic setting. A truly thrilling read.” —Kassandra Montag, author of Those Who Return
Author
Katherine Greene is the pen name of bestselling authors A. Meredith Walters and Claire C. Riley. They each cut their teeth on spine-tingling thrillers and true crime and their love of dark, twisted tales with a strong female voice led them to create stories that leave you guessing. Both currently live in the United Kingdom with their families.
