Allie and her husband Rav have just moved to a new house in the quaint village of Pluckley. It seems like a perfect place to raise their children, toddler Mina, and newborn baby Leo. Their new house is a cute cottage which has been sitting empty for a while so needs some work. Cobwebs cleared, a bit of a clean, and it will be perfect, won’t it? But not long after they move in Allie starts to get some very unsettled feelings. There are scratching noises that no one else hears. Something in the woods. A sensation of someone is in the room behind her. Then the dreams start. But are they dreams?

Allie starts to research the history of the house and what she finds makes her even more unsettled. The town of Pluckley already has a reputation for being the most haunted town in England. Now her house has a history tied up in witchcraft and danger.

On paper this book sounds like a great read. However, in reality, I found it dragged a bit. It was slow to get started, and really only picked up pace towards the end. But I nearly gave up a few times along the way. The character development is a bit hit and miss, some that you expect will become integral to the story fade away. And others who remain, don’t amount to much. When the story did pick up I was enjoying it, and looking forward to a good, dramatic ending. I just don’t feel like it quite got there. There were so many opportunities to make this story so much more terrifying, creepy, disturbing, horrific - take your pick on a direction to go. In the end it feels like there was not quite a commitment to a direction, which was a shame, as there was potential. A good read if you don’t like too much scare in your scary stories.

*I received this copy from Netgalley for review, but all opinions are my own.

Allie and Rav have just moved, together with their two children, from the city to an old house in a quaint country village. Allie has recently had a baby and Pluckley is closer to Rav’s work. However soon Allie starts to become aware of some unusual noises and sensations in the house that begins to spook her. Normally a sceptic, she starts to wonder whether the place could be haunted, only to learn that not only is she living in the most haunted village in England, but that her house has its own history too.

This was a bit of a too slow burn for me. At the beginning it does drag a bit but does pick up as the story progresses. Whilst Allie seems a reliable enough soul, there are a few key characters such as Rav, her best friend Naomi, Rav’s mother for example that (probably deliberately) you remain unsure about whether you like or trust them or not. Rav works long hours and leaves her to struggle alone. She starts to feel paranoid about everything she does and sharing her thoughts only seems to exacerbate things. I was irritated by Rav’s inconsiderate behaviour that he displays throughout the book, which never seems to get flagged or dealt with.

The latter part of the book added pace and tension as the situation escalated and I was more captivated by how complex it was getting and how this was going to play out to the denouement. Sadly the reality of the situation, whilst ultimately credible left me feeling cheated. It was too sudden as if to say it was all a dream, when what I was in for was a good spooky, witchcraft riddled tale.

So because of the too slow earlier pace, which made it less compelling to read, a mixed feeling regards the characters, only really a light touch play on the witchcraft, which could have been far better fleshed out, ending with a dissatisfying denouement it has landed a 3 for me. But decent nonetheless.

This is a really good read for this time of year. It is a good storyline with excellent characters. I could feel the crescendo of craziness the main character felt and I could feel the creepy atmosphere as I read every page. I didn’t know what was real or not and I was really immersed in the story right until the very end.

Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for an ARC of this book in exchange for my honest review.

Really enjoyed this book from the start. Had me completely gripped. I was desperate to know what had happened I had so many thoughts going through my mind. Perfect for Halloween.

I was expecting something creepier and more on the horror side but this more of a domestic thriller with some folk horror aspects.
It's well written, I appreciated the storytelling but the story seemed rushed and the unreliable narrator (as the other characters) grated on my nerves.
Not my cup of tea.
Many thanks to the publisher and Netgalley for this ARC, all opinions are mine

The woman in the woods had a great blurb but I failed to get engaged with it, the story was good but I felt it was slightly over long and I didn't get with the characters, it was frustrating in parts like how many times did I have to read that Allie struggled to manoeuvre the pram in doorways, I did gloss over parts and finally got to the end but I can't say I was very bothered by the ending either.

This was typically an easy read from a reliable author, Lisa Hall. Her latest book brings in a hint of sinister witchcraft which provides moments of suspense and the storyline is generally good. However I found some of the dialogue of the main characters frustrating and slightly unrealistic. I also found some of the book a little long winded and repetitive. For me I just didn't find it to be one of the author's best, much preferring some of her other recent books, such as Between You and Me and The Perfect Couple. That said it has not put me off and maybe this one just didn't hit the mark for me. But for Lisa Hall fans I'm sure you will enjoy it nonetheless!

She’s out there. Waiting for you.

Allie, Rav and their children, two year old Mina and newborn baby Leo have moved out of London and into a lovely old cottage in the real life village of Pluckley in Kent, it's their dream home and they're both really excited about village life, but Pluckley is known as England's most haunted village and, not long after moving in, Allie starts experiencing some very weird happenings; strange scratching noises in the chimney, and what's that flash of white she keeps seeing in the woods at the back of the house? The more she hears about the history of their new home, the more certain she is that the place is haunted and her family are far from safe, but who are they really in danger from?

The Woman in the Woods is a tale of witchcraft and superstition, the plot is well crafted with authentic characters and, having read other books by Hall, it's exactly what you come to expect from this hugely talented author. She knows how to draw her readers in like a moth to a flame, hypnotising you from the very first page and keeping you dancing to her rhythm right to the very last one and, just when you think you have it all figured out she drops in a twist that will leave you with your chin on the floor, wondering what the hell just happened, but that's Hall all over, she's the queen of jawdroppers! This is an incredibly creepy and atmospheric read that will have you on the edge of your seat throughout and is the perfect Halloween read. I highly recommend.

I'd like to thank HQ and Netgalley for the auto approval, I will post my review on Amazon and Goodreads.

This is a story of a depressed woman, Allie, suffering from post natal depression after the birth of her second child,Leo. Her family’s move to an old house in a haunted village does nothing to help her condition, particularly as her husband, Rav, did not reveal to her the fact that her new home has a history associated with ghosts and domestic disasters. She imagines noises, dangers to her children and disloyalty by her husband and closest friends. She is, in fact, a mess needing serious help. The context of ghosts and unexplained noises is well described even if existing only in the mind is this troubled woman. It makes a good read.

As winter approaches, I love to dive into a good scary story – The Woman in the Woods focuses on Allie who has moved with her family to the village of Pluckley, which is famous for its ghosts and history of witchcraft.

I wouldn’t really class this book as a horror story – there’s a few witchcraft elements but that’s about it and I didn’t find it unsettling or creepy to read. It’s more of a domestic thriller and although I sympathised with Allie, I found the other characters to be annoying. I didn’t understand why her husband Rav needed to hide everything from her which made her paranoia so much worse for no reason. I spent the majority of the book (silently) screaming at Allie to just talk to her husband about the lies she had actively caught him out in and I think most of the issues would have been solved by some much needed communication on all sides. Other characters just felt sandwiched into the story to cast doubt or mislead without being fully rounded characters in their own right. The child Mina confused me as to how old she was supposed to be, and Leo is called ‘the baby’ throughout instead of his name which was jarring.

Without giving any spoilers, I felt the ending was in poor taste - in 2021 it seems a real misstep to make a topic like this a punchline twist. As well as not sitting well with me it came across as a solution that tried to tie everything in a neat bow without really explaining everything fully. With hindsight, some of the book suddenly made no sense when you knew the truth of what was going on – the items Allie found in the house for example, or the behaviour of the mums at the playgroup.

My other issue was the pacing of the book – although something like this needs a slow-burn I felt the pacing was far too slow and around 50 pages could have been easily edited out of it. There’s a lot of repetition – particularly of boring domestic tasks which did not move the narrative along and could have been cut down.

Overall, The Woman in the Woods offered a creepy read but I found myself frustrated with both the characters and the ending. Thank you to NetGalley & HQ for the chance to read the ARC in exchange for an honest review.

The Woman in the Woods is a brilliant suspenseful story. Set in the real life village of Pluckley which is supposed to be the most haunted village in England .This is a story of Family ,Legend, and Witchcraft and is very creepy ,atmospheric gripping and full of surprises . I was a little disappointed with the ending I would have liked a more dramatic end ,nevertheless this book is written so well it grabs you from the beginning and doesn't let go .A perfect book for Halloween .Many thanks to the Publisher ,the Author and NetGalley for my free copy in return for an honest review

Chillfest….
Moving into a chocolate box cottage in the country is like a dream come true. The quaint village of Pluckley seems perfect and an ideal base to raise children. Allie is beyond delighted. However, the village also has a reputation and soon Allie begins to notice things that are beyond bizarre. With perfect atmospherics and a sinister sense of creeping dread this is a compelling, one sitting read and an ideal chillfest for this time of year. Gripping, unnerving and immersive.

Well... this book had me running round chasing my tail pretty much all the way through. But it's not my first rodeo with the author so I did know what I was getting myself into and was able to eventually just give up trying to second guess, and sit back and enjoy the ride... and what a ride....!
Allie and Rav have just moved, together with their two children, from the city to an old house in a quaint country village. Rav's job takes him away from the family on long days which doesn't really help Allie as she struggles with her new born. The fact the the house is old doesn't help, and when you also add into the mix the history of both the house and the village, reputed to be England's most haunted, well... buckle up, there's danger afoot.
I really don't want to say any more about the story as it's all a bit interconnected and spooky at times. With Allie's fragile mental state and the setting I was never sure what to believe. I did believe in Allie though - as a character she came across as wholly credible and I felt for her along the way. Other characters were just as well crafted and all acted according to their narratives. Although, due to the nature of the book I did do that thing where I changed my mind about several of them along the way - told you I was spinning round!
And the story kept me on my toes throughout, second guessing until I just gave up, trusted in the author and was wholly satisfied with the ending when it eventually came. Pacing was good throughout, matching the narrative and delivered with no superfluous waffle or padding. Meaning that the book held my attention nicely and got on with itself very well.
All in all, a good addition to an already impressive back catalogue. Roll on next time. My thanks go to the Publisher and Netgalley for the chance to read this book.

Thank you to NetGalley for giving me the opportunity to read this book.

This story centres around a couple called Allie and Rav, and their two young children. They’ve moved to Pluckley, reportedly the most haunted village in the country. Allie is struggling to cope as on of the children is a newborn. This obviously makes her tired and stressed. Then, strange things start happening, which obviously her husband does not take seriously, and assumes it’s because she’s tired. She tries to settle in by making friends with other mums, and this only heightens her emotions when the other mums tell her about her house and how it’s nicknamed “The Witch’s house”. This doesn’t help Allie at all, and she tries to find support, but feels totally alone in her experiences.

I liked this book, it has all the elements needed for Halloween, it was atmospheric and creepy. I also enjoyed the characters, although felt that Allie was dismissed a lot because of her mental health, when all she needed was someone to believe and trust in her. The writing was good, there were some lulls, but overall it flowed nicely. A good, solid read.

The Woman In The Woods by Lisa Hall is a spine-chilling contemporary psychological suspense that completely consumed me.
The novel is set in the real-life location of the village of Pluckley in Kent, supposedly the most haunted village in England – but the story is entirely a work of fiction.
The plotline is well thought out and executed, drawing me in from the start and producing more than a few goose bumps!
All the characters are well drawn. We see the action in the first person from the point of view of the leading lady. As a result, our emotional response and reactions line up with hers. It is all very cleverly done to manipulate our responses.
There is the question of what is real and what is imagined. Suspicion lies in the most unlikely of places. I must confess I, wrongly, pointed the finger at some!
A new baby and a toddler are tiring but they are not what is really wearing a new mum out. Living in a reputedly haunted house means things that go bump in the night may or may not be a figment of imagination.
The Woman In The Woods was a cracking read – but not one to be read alone in an isolated cottage! Plenty of electric light and company is recommended! It was an absolutely gripping creepy psychological suspense and I cannot wait for more from Lisa Hall.
I received a free copy from the publishers via Net Galley. A favourable review was not required. All opinions are my own.

A great read from Lisa Hall.
Allie and Rav have recently moved to an old house in the countryside with their two young children.
Allie is struggling to cope with the lack of sleep due to her newborn baby waking in the night and when things start happening in and around the house, her husband dismisses it as her being overtired.
Allie is sure she saw someone in white out in the woods behind their house and is woken by a terrifying nightmare more than once.
There’s also a scratching noise coming from the chimney area, and she is desparate to know what’s going on.
She meets some other new mums and one of them tells her she’s living in what they call, ‘The Witch’s house.’
Allie doesn’t take much notice at first but when she speaks to a previous owner, she thinks the house is trying to harm her and her family.
Her friend, Naomi offers support but soon Allie questions where her loyalties lie.
This is an atmospheric psychological thriller that I really enjoyed.
Thanks to HQ and NetGalley for the opportunity to read this book.

I have never been disappointed by a book by this author and I am glad to say that this book is WOW!!!!!
I was hooked from the first page and read this book in one sitting. Finally turning the last page in the wee hours. Witchcraft, a haunted house but be warned nothing is what it seems in this book. Brilliant storytelling dealing with a difficult subject. This book definitely ticked all my boxes, an easy five stars and highly recommended.
Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for the ARC in return for giving an honest review.

I love any book by Lisa Hall and this was no exception. In fact I read it in a day. Fast paced, twisty and exciting. You won’t be disappointed

I think I would have enjoyed this book much more if I hadn't previously read a book very similar only recently.

The writing was good and the story was engaging. Although, there were definitely parts where more talking than action was actually happening.

There were lots of creepy vibes in this book, which I very much enjoyed.

This book does contain one of my favourite tropes, the creepy house trope.

However, it also contained one of my least favourite tropes, the woman not being believed because of mental illness. I find that a little tiresome to read in 2021.

This was a quick and easy to read thriller. It was enjoyable although it was nothing special and very similar to lots of other books I have read previously.

Unfortunately, I did find the ending to be a bit of a let down too.

Overall, a fun and creepy read but nothing remarkable.

TW: death, murder and mental illness references

This book was so dark.

If you haven't read Lisa's books before you really need to pick one up, you really wont be disappointed.

This book had me gripped from page 1. I needed to know more. I wasnt overly keen on Rav's character, I just found him really unsympathetic but bless her Allie I really warmed to her.

Lisa has an amazing knack of putting a twist in right at the end and I love that about her writing. I loved The Party, The Perfect Couple and now this one. I cant wait to add more to my list of favourites.
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐