What Waits in the Woods

Written by Terri Parlato

Narrated by Christina Moore and Leah Horowitz

In this riveting thriller from a new master of suspense, a young dancer’s homecoming is marred by a grisly discovery—and the realization that nothing in her past may be quite what she believed.

When Esmé Foster left the Boston suburbs to become a professional ballerina, the future shimmered with promise. Eleven years later, her career has been derailed by an injury, and Esmé knows it’s time to come back to Graybridge to help her brother care for their ailing father. But her return coincides with an unthinkable crime. Kara Cunningham, one of Esmé’s high school friends, is found dead in the woods behind the Fosters’ house.

Esmé is shocked and grieving, but also uneasy. In her dreams, she still sees the man who showed up at the scene of the car accident that killed her mother—and told Esmé he was going to kill her too. Family and friends insisted the figure was a product of Esmé’s imagination, that she was concussed after the crash. But she and Kara looked alike, sharing the same petite build, the same hair color. Could Kara’s murder have been a case of mistaken identity?

Detective Rita Myers is familiar with closeknit communities like Graybridge, where, beneath the friendliness, there are whispers and secrets. The town has seen other tragedies too, including the long-ago drowning of a young girl in a pond, deep in the woods. Even within the once-close circle of friends that included Kara and Esmé, Rita discerns a ripple of mistrust.

Day by day, Esmé discovers more about the place she left behind—and the friends and family she thought she knew. Soon, shining a light into the darkness to learn what really happened the night Kara died is the only way she can bring the nightmare to an end …

“A failed ballerina’s return home is turned upside down by the appearance of a dead body in her family’s yard … Parlato piles on the rumors, menace, and revelations.”—Kirkus Reviews

• Language: English
• Publisher: Recorded Books, Inc.
• Release date: Dec 26, 2023
• ISBN: 9798891784208

Reviews for What Waits in the Woods

[Jeanenne Robinson · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

3.5 rounded up to 4.0

The second in a series, this novel has what seems to be an intergenerational cast of characters. From older adult characters like our straight-talking detective Rita Myers to what seems to be millennials like Esme’ and her grownup friend group. Rita’s voice is practical with moments of compassion. The other main POV is Esme’ and her actions and interactions (especially going into the woods after a murder, multiple times) will perplex most mystery readers, but she requires empathy. It definitely follows the well-loved trope of “grown-up child returns to a small town and discovers secrets”, while still providing surprises at the end for Rita and readers.

My reviews and ratings are my own.

[tuckertownrn · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

Pro: good story, good characters, nice twists.

Con: when a normal person would call 911 on many of the situations the lead character was in, then so should the main character. 911, not used, police not called, characters drove instead of using cell phones. Great investigating but during critical information or scenes, the police would just drop the ball in a sense. It’s like the author didn’t feel like it needed to be looked into. Very weird and enraging.