The Woman in the Woods

By: Lisa Hall

Narrated by: Harrie Dobby

'Chilling. an immersive read with a haunting setting, I could not put it down' FIVE STAR Reader review

'A wild ride! Let's just say, I'm not trapsing through the woods after anyone' FIVE STAR Reader review

'Absolutely gripping … a cracking read – but not one to be read alone in an isolated cottage!' FIVE STAR Reader review

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She’s out there. Waiting for you.

When Allie moves to a quaint old cottage with her husband, it’s their dream home. Nestled in the village of Pluckley, it seems a perfect haven in which to raise their two children. But Pluckley has a reputation. It’s known as England’s most haunted village. And not long after the birth of their new son, Allie begins to notice strange things…

What’s the flash of white she sees moving quickly through the woods to the back of their house? And what’s the strange scratching noise coming from the chimney?

As Allie discovers more about the history of their new home, she uncovers a story of witchcraft and superstition, which casts a long shadow into the present day. And not everything is as it seems. Her family might well be in danger, but it’s a danger none of them could have foreseen…

Bestseller Lisa Hall’s The Woman in the Woods is full of creeping unease and nerve-wracking tension, and will have readers on the edge of their seats…

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Praise for The Woman in the Woods:

‘Creepy, atmospheric, unnerving and brilliant. Shirley Jackson and Ira Levin vibes. If you’re looking for a Halloween read (legends, antiquities, and a sense of dread), this is it’ Will Dean

‘The Woman in the Woods pulses with a sinister energy that keeps you reading on. A proper nailbiter’ Mel McGrath

‘Such a different one from Lisa Hall and I loved it! Spooky and hook-y … Highly recommend. You’re all in for a treat this autumn’ Louise Beech

‘Creepy and tense’ Bella

‘I couldn’t put it down and I couldn’t read it fast enough’ Helen Phifer

‘Creepy, dark and all the chills! This book will make you question everything and everyone. Hall really knows how to drag the reader into the darkness. Fantastic!’ Lauren North

'Atmospheric, creepy and oh-so-compulsive, The Woman in the Woods is a chilling triumph' Fiona Cummins

Critic reviews

Praise for The Woman in the Woods:

‘Just finished The Woman in the Woods by Lisa Hall. I devoured this. Creepy, atmospheric, unnerving and brilliant. Shirley Jackson and Ira Levin vibes. If you’re looking for a Halloween read (legends, antiquities, and a sense of dread), this is it’ Will Dean, author of The Last Thing To Burn

‘The Woman in the Woods pulses with a sinister energy that keeps you reading on. A proper nailbiter’ Mel McGrath, bestselling author of The Guilty Party

‘Such a different one from Lisa Hall and I loved it! Spooky and hook-y … Highly recommend. You’re all in for a treat this autumn’ Louise Beech, author of This is How We Are Human

‘Creepy and tense’ Bella

‘I couldn’t put it down and I couldn’t read it fast enough’ Helen Phifer, author of The Hiding Place

‘Creepy, dark and all the chills! This book will make you question everything and everyone. Hall really knows how to drag the reader into the darkness. Fantastic!’ Lauren North, author of Safe at Home

'Atmospheric, creepy and oh-so-compulsive, The Woman in the Woods is a chilling triumph' Fiona Cummins, author of When I Was Ten

‘Both creepy and dark … [it] will have you jumping at the creak of every floorboard, because if there’s one person that knows how to drag their reader into the darkness it’s Lisa Hall’ Lauren North, Dead Good Books

Praise for Lisa Hall:

‘Chillingly believable and utterly compelling with thrills aplenty — I loved this book’ Lucy Foley, No. 1 bestselling author of The Guest List

‘Compelling, addictive … brilliant!’ B A Paris, international bestselling author of The Therapist

‘A classy thriller that’s stylish, twisty and full of suspense’ Sarah Pinborough, No. 1 bestselling author of Behind Her Eyes

Ehh, not really worth all the waiting and build up

This story could be a quarter as long as it ended up being. The author reuses words and terms to a painful extreme, the build up is so painfully slow, only for the mild excitement in the end that doesn’t actually tie up loose ends. I would say don’t waste your time, I was disappointed.

Be Patient. It’s Worth It.

It took me a while to get invested in this one.
In the beginning, there is just a little too much “happy families” too much going on about the children and “what a loving husband” etc.
But hang in there, because all of this turns beautifully on it’s head and this book becomes creepy as hell, poignantly honest, and beautifully descriptive.
I began to love the protagonist and found her to be highly relatable (and as an 49 yo with no kids that’s an achievement).
This book has all of the right ingredients:
The claustrophobia of a small British seaside town.
The eerie backstory which is entirely believable.
The inevitable point @ which we don’t really know whether we should believe the main character or not.
And, of course, perfect narration always takes things to the next level.
A really good book becomes an excellent and totally engaging experience.
I thoroughly enjoyed this book and will absolutely be reading more from this extremely talented author.
Excellent writing, and an extraordinary performance from our narrator.
Thank you both for a very spooky three nights and just before Halloween.
Yes!!!