A very twisted and exciting crime novel. This is a well written story which keeps you well on your toes throughout as to who done it!

Thoroughly enjoyable, a home grown serial killer that it's not too hard to relate to, worryingly!

I do love a serial killer story. Don't ask me why - perhaps it's the increasing tension as he or she creeps ever closer to their next victim, while the police chase phantom leads and false trails. In this case, that's exactly what happens...until the penny finally drops and our man is apprehended, after one last twist.

Unlike many stories however, here it's actually possible to feel a little sympathy for our hunter, if not quite as possible to relate to his problem-solving methodology!

On occasion i have been known to shout at our police officer detectives, for being clueless in the face of massive clues and not asking the obvious question, but on this occasion that never happens. There is one moment you might question, but it's not ridiculous and I won't share!

All in all a good read!

Absolutely couldn't put it down
Best book in my view , totally gripping book. the storyline flows beautifully, keeps you guessing all the way , full of twists and turns
5 stars ✨

I found this novel to be hard going in the beginning and almost gave up on it, I'm glad I didn't, however, because there were as many twists and turns in the plot as there were in the forest it was set in. The characters were very believable, albeit not all likeable, and the killer was not someone I would have guessed at, even though the other suspects appeared too obvious. I personally would recommend this book and would like to thank the Publishers and Netgalley for this advanced copy.

Waited patiently for this release and boy it was worth it, absolutely gripping read, loads of twists and turns and of course the wonderful Helen Grace is still fabulous.

I received this book via Netgalley and having read the whole series to date I was rather excited.

My husband is not a reader whereas I devour a new book as often as possible and just cannot understand how anyone could not feel the same way as myself. So I made it my project to at least get him to read whilst away on holiday.

He loves the tv series Silent Witness which is often written by MJ Arlidge so I bought him the first in the Helen Grace series and he was hooked. He asked me to get him the next book and so we have gone on.

However, as the series has continued I'm afraid that each book has become less and less compelling and although I found Down to the Woods an enjoyable read it was in no way compelling. Eeny Meeny IS gripping, is chilling, is challenging but I'm afraid that for me Down to the Woods was just a watered down version of what Arlidge is capable of.

I will refrain from publishing my somewhat negative view on Twitter as I don't think that would be kind.

Wow another great installment in the series with Helen Grace. The setting this time was in the New Forest and at times I felt like I was there, just the suspense and fast paced nature of the book literally kept me awake till the early hours, I cannot get enough of this series and want more and more. Loved it.

I am new to this series of which this is the eighth involving DI Helen Grace.It is easy to read as a stand alone story but I will seek out the others in the series now. This is a well written creepy and gruesome story with lots of twists and turns that kept me gripped until the end.

Wow MJ Arlidge has done it again, this book has to be the best so far in the Helen Grace series. Helen and Charlie along with a new addition to the team DS Hudson once again find themselves trying to find a killer that they have no clues to follow. When a body is found strung up in the woods they have to find out who took him from his tent in the middle of the night without disturbing his sleeping girlfriend and why? Helen and the team seem to be going round in circles and just when they think they have got a grip on it something else throws them off the scent. Just who is picking campers off to kill and will they ever catch him? This is a fast paced book that seems to add momentum as the plot goes on and you find yourself racing to the end. I really hope it isn't too long for the next instalment, or should I say I am hoping there is another book as I have grown quite fond of the team and can't wait to read more.
Thank you to NetGalley for a copy of the book

This book has an interesting and unusual storyline which is mildly ethereal. It takes a long time to get going and you have to plough through too much description, not least of the woods. There are too many characters in the book and the eventual murderer is not significant in any way through most of the story. He appears from the outside edge near to the end. Another complication is the unnecessary information about the personal lives of the leading detectives all of whom seem to have dysfunctional private lives which are not relevant to the story. The book needs extensive slimming down and the removal of so many distractions to make it a worthwhile read.

This,for me is not the best of the Helen Grace series. It was missing s9mething but I cannot. Put my finger on exactly what. It did keep me interested but not totally gripped as previous stories have. Perhaps it’s that the characters did not seem as real as usual. Bodies of people and ponies are found in the New Forest. The team with the addition of DS Hudson ( will be become a love interest for Helen Grace?),set out to discover if there is a connection. The hunt starts and weaves a tortuous and dangerous path throwing up many red herrings until eventually the correct perpetrator is discovered
It was an enjoyable read that did not ,for me, pick up momentum until the final chase.

This electric crime novel follows Helen Grace and her team as they tirelessly fight to find the killer attacking sleeping campers at the New Forest.

A brilliantly paced novel with rich character development and unsettling imagery, Arlidge has created a novel that will keep you hooked from the first page.

The change in point of view is both a blessing and a curse for this book. Whilst we are allowed into the actions of several characters, it also disengages you with the flow of the plot at times. But not often.

There were minor holes in the plot I also would have loved to have seen closed, especially as they were of significance up until the end of the novel.

All in all it is a brilliant crime that will undoubtedly keep you up at night in wait to reach the last page

Thanks to Netgalley, the publisher and the author for a copy of this book.

I'd been looking forward to this for a while and, whilst it started off great, as soon as I hit half-way it fizzled and died. Down to the Woods is good but not as good as previous Helen Grace novels.

I'd read one review where they said they were "poleaxed" err maybe I missed that part?! Anyway, maybe Helen Grace should be put on hold for a while so she doesn't get too stale.

All in all a good book but only 3 stars as opposed to the 5 I would have loved to give

This is book 8 in a series about Detective Helen Grace. It can be read as a stand-alone but I recommend reading the whole series. They are all great reads, and it will let you understand everything that Helen has gone through. This is a gripping read with lots of twists and turns and red herrings scattered in making it an exciting read. I love the character of Helen Grace and look forward to the next book.

I’ve read all the books in this series and I enjoyed this one as much as the others.

I think the introduction on new characters was good but it lacked a bit for the older characters.

Charlie was mentioned a lot throughout the story but it felt a little the same as previous stories with her ending.

Maybe Helen Grace will get her happy ending in the next one

From the first pages the reader is in the eerie atmospheric environment of Down to the Woods and the mysterious murders of horses and campers. Helen and Charlie continue to keep up the pressure of catching baddies in the New Forest near Southampton, alongside them is Joseph Hudson, Joanne’s replacement, adding a little interest to the mix, especially for Helen.
The thorn in Helen’s side, reporter Amelia Garanita is basking in glory from her brush with death in the last book but still can’t resist making trouble for Helen in her under handed way. Will she ever give Helen a break in her quest to become recognised?
It’s nail biting, edge of the seat stuff at times. I think I’m going to like the new guy Hudson, he seems a good addition, although I did wonder at times if he had an ulterior motive for taking the job.
The book continues to deliver the same high standards that I have come to expect from the cracking DI Helen Grace series by M. J. Arlidge and I really enjoyed it. It’s good stock and worthy of an absolutely amazing series, a series that never gets stale, just gets better and better, long may it continue!
I can’t wait for the next one! I would definitely recommend this first class book!

I have read and enjoyed all the books in the series but this latest one left me disappointed. Down to the Woods is just another run-of-the-mill police procedural, with obvious red herrings, evil baddies and cliche police officers. What happened to Helen Grace, Charlie and other characters from the previous books? They seem to have lost their personalities. No suspense, no surprises, no jaw dropping moments. If this were the first book in the series, I wouldn't have bothered to read the next. It wasn't particularly bad, just dull and I struggled to finish it. I plodded on still expecting some of the 'je ne sais quoi ' of the MJ Arlidge's previous books, which sadly didn't appear.
Many thanks to Netgalley and Penguin Michael Joseph publishers for the ARC.

⭐️⭐️⭐️ 3 Stars

Having read all the author’s previous books, this was a tad disappointing.

It lacked the suspense of previous books and the end for me was a bit of an anti climax.

The storyline with Ross seemed unnecessary and the introduction of Hudson I wasn’t sure about.

Not for me sorry

I’ve read all the Helen Grace novels and this one is just as good as its predecessors. The plot was gritty, fast-paced and engaging. Can’t wait for the next one!

I really enjoy this series although this book can certainly be read as a stand alone. This is really gripping read that leaves you wanting more. Can't wait for the next book in the series.