The story is set in the New Forest and a young woman camper awakens to find her fiancee gone. There is another similar incident where a young woman goes missing. Why is this happening? Are they connected in some way? Two new forest ponies are found dead with the same injuries and DI Helen Grace and the Team are on the case to find the twisted killer before he strikes again.

Annoying journo, Emilia Garanita thinks she's one step ahead of the law and publishes news articles that aren't helpful to the case. There's a new DS on the team who is attracted to his boss and makes this known on more than one occasion.... As ever, a fast paced, gripping and twisted read which I devoured in two days. Absolutely loved it. Highly recommend.

Finally!! A new Helen Grace book is out. It feels a long time since May 2017 when the seventh book in the series was released so I was really excited to read Down To The Woods. Instead of concentrating on his Grace series, author MJ Arlidge has been busy doing other things, writing a book that doesn’t feature Grace that’s set in America for one. But thankfully he hadn’t forgotten Helen Grace and book eight has finally arrived.

I have to admit that at first I wasn’t sure about Down To The Woods, Grace is a character that I love and thoroughly enjoy catching up with when a new book is released, but I guess with the longer break it took me a little bit longer than normal to get back into the book and the character, and especially the smaller characters who aren’t quite as memorable.

But it didn’t take long before I was sucked into the story which was shockingly gruesome. Although I remain unconvinced that Arlidge can top the shock factor of the deaths in Eeeny Meeny (the first book in the Helen Grace series), he gives it a damn good try in Down To The Woods.

Grace herself seemed a little bit different in this book and I came to the conclusion that after the recent traumatic events that she’d been through Helen had grown up. She finally seemed to stop running and it even seemed that she may finally start to let people into her world and her life. Hurrah! I’m very pleased for her.

By the end of the book I didn’t want it to end, Arlidge has once again given us a twisted tale that terrifies and puts Grace and her team through their paces. For those of you who are new to Helen Grace then I strongly suggest that you start at the beginning. I’m sure that you could read Down To The Woods as a standalone, but it would be a lot better if you have read the previous books, and if you didn’t read them then you’d be missing out on some brilliant stories.

Many series lose their way around about now, but there’s no sign of that with Down To The Woods. I just hope that Arlidge doesn’t find too much else to occupy himself with so that there isn’t too long a way for book nine!

Thank you to the publishers, Michael Joseph at Penguin UK for a copy of Down To The Woods by M.J. Arlidge. I was under no obligation to review the book and all thoughts are my own.

4.5* rounded up to 5*

A killer is on the loose, abducting seemingly random people from their campsites before hunting them down through the dark forest. He catches them, kills them before stringing them up for them to be found. It's up to Helen Grace and her team to find the killer and figure out why these killings are happening.
I've read and loved all of M.J Arlidge's books and this is no different. You could FEEL and understand the fear of the victims when they were running and crashing through the forest while scared and disorientared with no clue as to what was going to happen. The story led me in different directions before pulling me back with a different plot twist and kept me guessing the whole time. Really enjoyed and would definitely recommend to crime lovers.

I love all of M J Arlidge’s books and I couldn’t wait to read this next instalment. It certainly didn’t disappoint! It gripped me from the first page and I couldn’t put it down. There was the usual twists and turns galore and red herrings, just as you think you know who it has to be something comes along and blows your theory out of the water. If you love psychological thrillers then this series is a must. This book can be read as a stand-alone but it is better to start from the beginning as you will understand the character of Helen Grace so much better. Bring on number 9!!!

I haven't met DI Grace before and was quite surprised by her back story and all the traumas in her life and I did feel trying to catch up spoiled my enjoyment of the book. This is obviously no reflection on the author and I enjoyed the rather gruesome tale of murder in the new forest, and look forward to reading some of the previous books.

Having already read a few books in the series of Helen Grace, I knew I was in for a treat with this book. I was so excited to get a copy from Netgalley in exchange for a review, that I failed to notice I am 2 books behind in this series, but desperate to start this book I will for once overlook this. I hate not reading books or watching films in their right order!!!

Someone is murdering campers in the New Forrest. They are hunted down and killed, leaving their bodies hanging from a tree!!

From the first page you are drawn in and it’s a fast paced book that will keep you turning the pages without you realising it!A rollercoaster of a ride that does not slow down until the final chapter, it is as scary and exhilarating!!

Oh M J Arlidge you never disappoint and I am eagerly awaiting for you’re next book!!!

To be honest this didn't reaĺly grip me to begin with. About 40% in and that changed. Another successful installment in the series.

#I was so excited when I had the opportunity to download this book. I have been a fan of this series and couldn’t wait to read the latest one, and it certainly didn’t disappoint. It can be read as a standalone but you will have missed out on such a great series if you dont read them all.
DCI Helen Grace has a new team member, DS Joseph Hudson, following the death of a colleague in the previous book. It will be interesting to see how their relationship develops. Helen and her team are investigating a grisly murder at a campsite in the New Forest. There appears to be no motive for the killing and when a second body is found they realise there there are links to both. Helen comes across some new information and the hunt is then on for the killer. There are lots of surprises along the way which will keep you guessing as to the identity of the killer. It is a fast paced and gripping storyline that will have you on the edge of your seat. A brilliant read,
Thanks to NetGalley and Penguin UK for giving me the opportunity to read and review this book.

Another great addition to the Helen Grace series - if you are new to the author I would strongly suggest that you start at the beginning - whilst you can read this particular book as a stand alone you will enjoy it all the more if you take the full journey.

Mind bending twists, red herrings galore and superb characterisation all lead this to being one of the stand out books of the year

Hope there is a Number 9 !!!

Thrilling and tense from the first page until the last. Very well written and had me gripped with all the various characters. I changed my mind constantly about who the murderer was and I never expected it to be him. Highly recommend!

I usually love these books and was excited to read the latest one, however I just didn't feel gripped with the story like in the others. Helen didn't appear to be as powerful character in this book. I'm not sure what it was but I felt a bit disappointed with it.

Even if it's book #8 in the series, I just can't get enough of Helen Grace! It's dark, creepy, but also heartbreaking. And I still can't stand Emilia Garanita. Ugh! I wish, someone would teach her a lesson, so she leaves the police alone to do their work. Five stars and I can't wait for more.
I chose to read this book and all opinions in this review are my own and completely unbiased. Thanks to NetGalley and Penguin UK!

The Legend that is DI Helen Grace is back!!

If you go down to the woods today you may never come out alive! There is a shocking sickness in the forest. First, it was the horses. Now it's innocent men and women, hunted down and murdered by a faceless figure. Lost in the darkness, they can run run as fast as they can they can try and hide but he will find you he will hunt you and will kill you stone Dead!

DI Helen Grace is facing a fresh nightmare, The arrow-ridden victims hang from the New Forest's ancient oaks, moving in the wind like a swing! is there a link to the victims why was they all camping in the woods did the killer lure them there or was it just a chance killings...

along with her close friend and college Charlie Brooks they hunt down the movements of the killer learning some shocking things along the way, they are on a race against time the clock is ticking the body count is getting higher but before the killer is found handcuffed and locking up behind bars there will be plenty of shocking twists before the count down reaches ZERO!

well as i said the Legend is back!! i love DI Helen Grace i like the fact shes not perfect and she has her own way of doing things, i feel protective of Helen and also of Charlie Brooks they are the perfect team ive loved all of the Helen Grace books each one more chilling and addictive then the one before M.J Arlidge has this way of making you feel you are apart of the story you feel like you are in the book apart of the case i can not wait until the next book i loved it its an amazing chilling book that i could not put down.... thank you to Netgalley and The Publishers for my copy of the book

A couple Tom and Melanie go on a camping trip in the New Forest. In the middle if the night Tom disappesrs leaving a sleeping Melanie in the tent.
A body is found deep in the woods brutally slain. DI Helen Grace is put on the case. Further incidents force the DI in a race against time to find the killer before he strikes again and again!
This book is the 4th outing for DI Helen Grace but the first book for me.
I can only say wow,what a fast paced heart pounding read.! Full of twists and turns the author really knows how to ratch up the tension throughout the book,never letting up.
I really enjoyed this book and I am now going to find the other books in this series.

A very good story line my first encounter with DI Helen Grace. Murders with an unusual MO, which led to a number of suspects but a very surprising end. Look forward to reading more of DI Grace novels.

Well the title might be like the teddy bears picnic, when you go down to the woods today, you’re sure of a big surprise.........but this book is far from a picnic, It is one of those crime thrillers you really can’t put down. I read it until 3:30am before I could drag myself away.

The usual team are back together, poor Charlie juggling work and home life, Grace doing what she does best and there’s a newcomer on the scene who looks quite promising. Emilia is one hell of a pain in the backside, you’d have thought she’d learned her lesson from the last crime when she got herself in a pickle. I found myself wishing someone would bump her off, but then I find the press are very intrusive and don’t care about anything other than a story.

This time the team are stumped trying to tie the murders together and there doesn’t appear to be a link. As they trawl through the forest, you can really feel the eerie creak of the trees and the rustle of the leaves as if the forest is reaching out to its intruders, and the feeling of being watched.

I really did enjoy this latest book by M J Arlidge and would like to thank him, the publishers and netgalley for the ARC.

I strongly advise starting this series from book one. As this is book 8 in the series and it's a cracker! I can only repeat what fans are saying about this book...get a copy and read it. I loved the setting, the new DS and the plot. I still dislike Emilia though. Thanks to Net Galley for my copy. reviews on Goodreads, Amazon and Facebook.

When the opportunity to read this book appeared on Netgalley, I had to apply to get a copy of it. I have read all the previous books in the DI Helen Grace series. I think this is the best in the series yet.

It is advisable to read the previous books in the series to get background on Helen and her team. You could read this as a stand-alone, but this is far more enjoyable if you’ve read the previous stories.

In this book, we have a new DS in the form of Joseph Hudson, ambitious and keen to make a good impression on his boss and peers.

MJ Arlidge really is one the best authors of this genre. There plenty of twists and turns, stumbling around in the dark before we find out the truth.

Thank you to Michael Joseph and Netgalley for giving me the opportunity to read this book in exchange for my honest review.

A brutal killer is hunting campers in the New Forrest. As the story develops it becomes clear the victims' pasts are linked and they are being chosen for a reason.

DI Helen Grace, DS Charlie Brooks and New arrival DS Joseph Hudson and their team are on the case. An initial suspect is quickly is identified but is a red herring. Further murky characters present themselves as potential offenders but are eventually ruled out until the killer's motive, and identity, becomes clear.

It's mostly told from Grace's perspective, with some from local journalist, Emilia Garanita who is desperate to make a name for herself, uncaring about the impact of her sensationalist articles on the police investigation.

A fast-paced and engaging thriller, gruesome in parts, I read this quickly wanting to know who was behind the murders, enough to stay up late to finish it! I haven't read any of the earlier books in the series, so have obviously missed some of the characters' back stories, but this didn't impede my enjoyment of the book.

Tom was out camping with his Girlfriend when he wakes up in the middle of the woods, alone, confused and consumed by fear. He soon realises that he’s not really alone as he is hunted through the woods by a masked killer.

Before Helen has a chance to get the investigation fully up and running another victim is snatched from their tent. The hunt for the killer is on but the woods is a dangerous place.

I absolutely adore the Helen Grace series and M.J Arlidge is one of my favourite authors. Down to the Woods is book 8 in the series and if you haven’t read the rest I highly recommend you go and pick them up now. You will not be able to put them down. However, this does work as a standalone without any confusion. It will take some of the stress and tension out of the earlier books though.

As usual, this is a fast-paced gritty book which I could not put down. I was devastated when I only had 10 minutes left of the book when our plane landed. My love for Helen and Charlie grows with every book although I really question how the hell they stay alive. They always seem to be getting into trouble. I was kept guessing until near the end and as usual, the ending was an exciting read. I hope we get to see more of Helen in the future.