26 Comments

Love this list! Have you read When the Stars Go Dark by Paula McLain? It’s set in a village in Northern California and it has Rene Denfield vibes. Highly recommend.

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Yes! I loved it, and I agree it does have similar vibes to Rene Denfield

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Loved that book! A favorite for sure.

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I second this recommendation!

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I've only read In the woods, Still missing and These silent woods, but have watched the films for No exit (super entertaining, as you said) and TWWMD, which I LOVED and I when I went to watch it I remembered how much you loved the book!!!! I need to read Michael Koryta!! I saved like 5 from this list haha I also love the woods setting!

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I have a feeling you'd love Michael Koryta's books- try Never Far Away or The Prophet sometime. And definitely try The Mountain King!!

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I’m so glad you have Stranger in the Woods on this list - it’s the first one I thought of!! 😉 I also loved These Silent Woods and I’m very excited for her upcoming release!

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I just listened to The Return of Ellie Black set partially but significant , Olympic National Forest. I live in western WA , Olympic Mts are fairly close & very familiar. Trigger warnings , a thriller . As you often say, “ I need to know what happened to …”

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I love when a story is set somewhere I've been or live close to- it doesn't often happen for me because Columbus Ohio isn't the most interesting of settings for a story- Olympic National Forest- now that's a setting!

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Wow, you have some really interesting sounding titles included on this list. Thanks for putting it together! I'm going to check out a couple of them now. I love woodsy settings for thrillers. Have you read, "Hunted" by Darcy Coates? It's really good. Also, I'd recommend, "Wicked River" by Jenny Milchman? That was quite good--though there was scene that might trigger sensitive readers/animal lovers. I skipped that part and enjoyed the rest of the story.

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Thank You! The woods is probably one of my very favorite settings for mysteries and thrillers. I haven't heard of Hunted, thanks for that suggestion - I've read another Jenny Mitchum- As Night Falls which was also set in the woods I believe.

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Excellent list! So many good ones to add to my TBR. Definitely read The River by Peter Heller. It is my go to gift book.

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Thanks! I've read The River -enjoyed it!

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I just started These Silent Woods and Renee it really is very woodsy right down to the front cover. Very eerie and mysterious feel to it the storyline.

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I’m going to add Never Far Away to my list.

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I have got to move Rene Denfield to the top of my TBR. I've had The Enchanted on my list for a couple of years, and just realized she's the same author you've mentioned a few times on the podcast. I'm very intrigued!

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I have a feeling you'd like her writing. The Enchanted is quite thought provoking, you have to let me know if you read it

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What a fun list!!!! The Child Finder was excellent!

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I enjoyed What Lies in the Woods by Kate Alice Marshall.

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That's still on my tbr!

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I think i need to add Those Who Wish Me Dead to my TBR. I have had The Child Finder on my Audible WL since you talked about it on the show. I can vouch for a few books on this list. I read The Woods so long time ago that i cannot recall the ending. However, i highly recommend The Searcher and The Hunter by Tana French. Please email me the ending to The Woods so as not to spoil it for anyone. Broken Girls by Simone St. James takes place at an abandoned school that is located in the woods. That was a great book too. Not sure if it qualifies as a book said in the woods but it was when I would recommend. t

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LOVED The Cold Vanish and Damnation Spring!! And a few of these others too! You MUST read Incident at Big Sky! I've already told you :)

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Thanks for the reminder, heading to Libby now to see f I can get it:)

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The Mountain King was so good!! I think I heard about it from your podcast 😘

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I can't wait for book 2! I'm really surprised I haven't seen anyone else talking about it

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I have a copy of The Mountain King and may have my husband read it next.

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