A History of Wild Places: A Novel

Written by Shea Ernshaw

Narrated by Carlotta Brentan, Cassandra Campbell, Gibson Frazier and 2 more

In this “riveting, atmospheric thriller that messes with your mind in the best way” (Laini Taylor, New York Times bestselling author), three residents of a secluded, seemingly peaceful commune investigate the disappearances of two outsiders.

Travis Wren has an unusual talent for locating missing people. Often hired by families as a last resort, he takes on the case of Maggie St. James—a well-known author of dark, macabre children’s books—and is soon led to a place many believed to be only a legend.

Called Pastoral, this reclusive community was founded in the 1970s by like-minded people searching for a simpler way of life. By all accounts, the commune shouldn’t exist anymore and soon after Travis stumbles upon it…he disappears. Just like Maggie St. James.

Years later, Theo, a lifelong member of Pastoral, discovers Travis’s abandoned truck beyond the border of the community. No one is allowed in or out, not when there’s a risk of bringing a disease—rot—into Pastoral. Unraveling the mystery of what happened reveals secrets that Theo, his wife, Calla, and her sister, Bee, keep from one another. Secrets that prove their perfect, isolated world isn’t as safe as they believed—and that darkness takes many forms.

“As spine-chilling as it is beautifully crafted” (Ruth Emmie Lang, author of Beasts of Extraordinary Circumstance), A History of Wild Places is a story about fairy tales, our fear of the dark, and losing yourself within the wilderness of your mind.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Simon & Schuster Audio
• Release date: Dec 7, 2021
• ISBN: 9781797143699

Shea Ernshaw

Shea Ernshaw is the author of A History of Wild Places, the New York Times bestseller The Wicked Deep, Winterwood, and A Wilderness of Stars. She is the winner of the 2019 Oregon Book Award. She lives in a small mountain town in Oregon and is happiest when lost in a good book, lost in the woods, or writing her next novel.

Reviews for A History of Wild Places

[Lindsey · Rating: 3 out of 5 stars]

Pretty sure this lady watched The Village and decided it would make a cool premise for a book, changed up a few details, and managed to get away with it. Right down to the blind heroine.

[Kimberly · Rating: 2 out of 5 stars]

I really liked the beginning. I was instantly intrigued with Travis and Maggie story. Travis ability to touch an item and see what had happened to the person who owned the object pulled me in. The intrigue didn’t last long after Travis followed Maggie into the woods. The story took a turn that began to lose my interest .

[Ina nimis · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

What an amazing, heartfelt & honest ride that was! I love Shea Ernshaw's work--the prose is spectacular & the themes she explores are deeply human. Well done to the wonderful cast that narrated the book too! Can't wait for Shea's new books!

[Rose Smith · Rating: 2 out of 5 stars]

One of the narrators has a lisping little girl voice that is so grating, I couldn’t finish this audiobook. Do yourself a favor a read it, don’t listen to it

[Mireya · Rating: 3 out of 5 stars]

3.75/5

What I enjoyed:
- This book had such detailed, descriptive writing. It allowed everything to flow so well.
- beautiful storytelling as an audio book
- moody and mysterious
- the questions that arise throughout the book
- they mystery of Maggie, Travis, and the Pastoral Community

What could have been better?
- very slow burn
- the first 1/2 of the book was hard to get through, as not much seemed to stand out

book reviews on instagram @casuallyreadingx

[Aaron Binkley · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

Awesome book that gets you interested right away and keep you till the end. Also, I guess I’m different then other reviewers but I loved the narrators! I found their voices relaxing and emotional throughout the story!

[Zoe Leyh · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

Loved this book. It was unique, not your typical story. A few different points of view were used to tell the story, all came together in the end. Beautiful writing, too.

[BronteZaman · Rating: 1 out of 5 stars]

Too repetitive about the same events, the rot, the trees, the fear. 40% into the book and its still on about the same thing. Lost interest.

[Dr Gabriela Eyal · Rating: 3 out of 5 stars]

I am not sure how you define plagiarism but this is the movie "The Village" in book form, complete with the blind young woman. No need to waste many hours on the book, watch the movie and in about two hours you will discover everything you need to know.

[Stephanie Kaywork · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

Great read. I couldn't figure out the mentality of the lost colony but it all came together nicely in the end.

[Kristin Ezzell · Rating: 3 out of 5 stars]

The blurb on the cover called this book a twisting and engrossing delight. I wouldn’t say that it was a delight but it was definitely twisting and engrossing! I couldn’t turn the audiobook off because I had to unravel the mystery of Pastoral and Maggie St. James. This book is a bit dark and unsettling at times but it was very thought provoking! I finished it a few days ago and I can’t decided how I feel about the ending. I like the ending of a book to leave me feeling good/happy about the outcome but I felt very conflicted about this ending.

I really enjoyed this as an audiobook. Each of the main characters is voiced by a different narrator and it made it very entertaining.

[Sadie Norcross · Rating: 2 out of 5 stars]

I'm sorry I read this. The twist was just so unrealistic I found myself wanting to immediately stop listeninh. I didn't.... But wish I had.

[Meg Marsh · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

Cadenced, beautifully narrated— and totally unique. Listened to it all in one sitting!!

[Peter Heicksen · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

Unique and addictive story with excellent narration. Most stories are reformulations of similar stories - written a hundred times over. But this one is actually different. Well done.

[Jenny deHart · Rating: 1 out of 5 stars]

By the middle, I was tired of hearing the word "flesh" and rolling my eyes at yet another absurd metaphor. The writing was forced and unvaried. Between that and the cliche plot and irritating character, I was all too glad to be done listening .

[Abbey Alexander Ziemba · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

The story I’d captivating and full of twists and turns. The narrators take some getting used to, and I think I’d have enjoyed reading it more than the audiobook- but still worth it!

[Sarah Kowalkowski · Rating: 3 out of 5 stars]

The writing was great. The narrators did a wonderful job. But I didn’t care for the ending.

[Ashley Davis · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

My first audio book, full of suspense that ties together!

[Allysa Mabanta · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

A very atmospheric novel. It kept me guessing and wondering until the very end.

[Emily Griffin Neill · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

Loved the story - some of the narration didn't fit, but really enjoyed it overall.

[Abigail Sanchez · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

There was many plot twist which I love, I did think the book was hard to get into at first but toward the middle it started getting more interesting and then the end was fast and kept me listening.

[Mary Liberty · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

I liked it. My first experience listening to a full audio book. I expected some of the plot to finish as it did but the book overall is written very well.

[Jennifer Harrison · Rating: 2 out of 5 stars]

I can’t believe I wasted time on this book. If you know anything about cults, you will be able to guess the “twist” 2 hours in and save yourself the other 10. The entire middle of the book is the main characters ignoring the obvious and acting surprised about it. Don’t bother getting to the end to find everyone victim-blaming themselves.

[Stephanie colton · Rating: 1 out of 5 stars]

The narrators are the worst ever! Don’t even know if the book is Good because it’s so distracting and annoying to listen to, going to try reading it and see if I can finish, but so far just seems like the author is trying to ratchet up suspense rather Than having a actual suspense, going to bed hard to finish this book…

[Sadie Morrison · Rating: 2 out of 5 stars]

I felt really let down by this book. there was a lot of potential to make it really cool and paranormal and play more on the whimsical themes and it felt like the writer abandoned a lot of that as the story went on. instead we get a kind of lack lustre conclusion and instead it feels like 80% of the book goes too deep into repetitive details that makes it hard to keep going without wanting to give up on the story all together. I would have loved it if those paranormal themes were more developed.

[Amy Cain · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

The storytelling was gripping. But make sure you are into a little bit of sci-if.

[Angel White · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

Well that was NOT was I expected ?? When I started reading this I was thinking this would turn into a cultish-type read instead of being a community who honestly just wanted a slower way of life. Well, I did get the cult vibe in a sense but WAY more than I saw coming.

I enjoy this author's writing. This is the third book I have read by them and while it's slow, it's beautiful and atmospheric. You feel the words versus just reading them. So despite the slower pace this was an enjoyable read.

It also marks one more off the BOTM backlist and shelf of unread books so yay me!?

[Jacquelyn LaReau · Rating: 3 out of 5 stars]

It wasn’t a very developed story, given other good reviews it was pretty forgettable.

[celeste · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

The secrets we keep from our family and ourselves, a blind girl and the sensations of raindrops and sunlight on our skin, and a community in the middle of the woods beginning to unravel and tear itself apart. The ending ties up your questions-which i appreciate.

[Keesha · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

OMG OMG OMG!!!!! Soooooo good! I was literally talking back to the book. And like another reader said not what I expected but very impressed I’ve suggested to all my clients.