Hazelthorn

By: CG Drews

Narrated by: Michael Crouch

CG Drews, instant New York Times-bestselling author of Don't Let the Forest In, returns with another deeply unsettling and yet hauntingly beautiful tale of murder and botanical body horror, perfect for fans of Andrew Joseph White, Annihilation, and We Have Always Lived in the Castle.

Evander has lived like a ghost in the forgotten corners of the Hazelthorn estate ever since he was taken in by his reclusive billionaire guardian, Byron Lennox-Hall, when he was a child. For his safety, Evander has been given three ironclad rules to follow:

He can never leave the estate. He can never go into the gardens. And most importantly, he can never again be left alone with Byron's charming, underachieving grandson, Laurie.

That last rule has been in place ever since Laurie tried to kill Evander seven years ago, and yet somehow Evander is still obsessed with him.

When Byron suddenly dies, Evander inherits Hazelthorn’s immense gothic mansion and acres of sprawling grounds, along with the entirety of the Lennox-Hall family's vast wealth. But Evander's sure his guardian was murdered, and Laurie may be the only one who can help him find the killer before they come for Evander next.

Perhaps even more concerning is how the overgrown garden is refusing to stay behind its walls, slipping its vines and spores deeper into the house with each passing day. As the family’s dark secrets unravel alongside the growing horror of their terribly alive, bloodthirsty garden, Evander needs to find out what he’s really inheriting before the garden demands to be fed once more.

"Genuinely creepy … Lush, angsty, queer horror."—Kirkus Reviews

©2025 CG Drews (P)2025 Recorded Books

just beautiful

got lost in the imagery but it hooked me right back in, didn’t see it coming but also just had a feeling, it was just written so nice and told so well

Oh, my heart...

If you're on the fence about getting this book, do it. This story will gut you and rebuild you from the roots up.

Also, the way Michael Crouch says kisses...

Also, book ends at Chapter 33, then restarts at Chapter 28, not sure why it's glitchy like that, but at least it's glitchy on the side of the whole book being there.

another one of CG Drews' books destroying me

good Lord, this book had me surprised all the way through. I will never get over how disgustingly descriptive their books are (in the best way). I'm so sad it's over, but so so excited for the next one

Haunting and stunning

Obsessed. The narration perfectly suits the writing style and gave me chills. I loved it

it's a 4.5.

I wasn't enjoying about 75% but the last 25% made up for it. I already loved dryads, so I unconsciously fell for the sick kid like in secret garden.