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Nowhere
Mare of Easttown meets The Outsider in this spine-tingling and twisty debut about a series of disappearances in a small, fundamentalist town and what one broken family must do to remain together as dark forces close in.
After losing her young son in an accident, Rachel Kennan throws herself into her career as police chief of a small Virginia town to avoid focusing on her grief. Meanwhile, her husband, Finn, a washed-up writer whose alcoholism led to the devastating tragedy that changed everything, struggles to redeem himself before his family completely falls apart. Their two daughters are the only things keeping Rachel and Finn together, but the girls have demons of their own.
At the same time, a disturbing crime rocks their tightknit, religious community, sending Rachel chasing leads in a place that does not take kindly to outsiders. When an ominous force in the forest starts calling to the children, fear spawns hate among the townspeople, placing the Kennan family directly in the line of fire. Left with no choice but to rely on each other, Rachel and Finn must come together to face threats inside and out.
A haunting family saga and a disquieting horror debut, Nowhere draws from Appalachian folklore to caution us that true terror is what we bury in our own hearts.
After losing her young son in an accident, Rachel Kennan throws herself into her career as police chief of a small Virginia town to avoid focusing on her grief. Meanwhile, her husband, Finn, a washed-up writer whose alcoholism led to the devastating tragedy that changed everything, struggles to redeem himself before his family completely falls apart. Their two daughters are the only things keeping Rachel and Finn together, but the girls have demons of their own.
At the same time, a disturbing crime rocks their tightknit, religious community, sending Rachel chasing leads in a place that does not take kindly to outsiders. When an ominous force in the forest starts calling to the children, fear spawns hate among the townspeople, placing the Kennan family directly in the line of fire. Left with no choice but to rely on each other, Rachel and Finn must come together to face threats inside and out.
A haunting family saga and a disquieting horror debut, Nowhere draws from Appalachian folklore to caution us that true terror is what we bury in our own hearts.
304 pages, Kindle Edition
First published March 25, 2025
338 people are currently reading
35503 people want to read
About the author
Allison Gunn
1 book216 followersAllison Gunn is a researcher, writer, and tarot reader with a penchant for all things whimsical and strange. An alum of University of Maryland, Allison has extensively studied marginalized communities as well as folklore.
She currently resides in the wonderfully weird land of West Virginia with her twin daughters, precocious pup, and one seriously troubled tabby.
Allison is represented by Logan Harper with the Jane Rotrosen Agency. Her debut horror novel, NOWHERE (Atria | 2025) is currently available for pre-order.
She currently resides in the wonderfully weird land of West Virginia with her twin daughters, precocious pup, and one seriously troubled tabby.
Allison is represented by Logan Harper with the Jane Rotrosen Agency. Her debut horror novel, NOWHERE (Atria | 2025) is currently available for pre-order.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 1,020 reviews
September 27, 2024
*screams in frustration and throws book across room* WT-ever-loving-F was that about?? This book was scary and suspenseful and well-written, but I hate-read the entire thing because just about every character in it is absolutely awful. And that includes the main character, as she's the most horrible of them all. I mean, I get it, grief can make you act in ways you wouldn't normally act and can tear relationships apart, but Rachel is – and you should cover your ears here if you're of a sensitive disposition – a raging bitch throughout this entire novel. Her husband Finn is only marginally better and the townspeople are … well, they deserve everything they get, let's just put it that way.
But, yeah, this book is scary. I don't often get creeped out by what I read, but I read this last night before bed and then kind of didn't want to turn the lights out (and may or may not have dinked around on my phone for half an hour to bleach my brain before doing so). This is apparently the author's debut novel and I'm super impressed, because she really knows how to write horror. The plot is solid, and it grabbed me from the very start and didn't let go until the incredibly f'ed up ending. I've absolutely no complaints there.
Rachel, though … ugh. Dolores Umbridge made me seethe less. She continuously makes stupid, brash decisions with no thought for the safety or feelings of others. She knows better than everyone else and won't listen to reason because SHE'S THE CHIEF (Chief of Raging Bitchdom, amirite?) and takes it as a license to act like a twat. I hated her with a fiery passion … which means that I liked her way, way more than she likes her husband. I mean, that scene with Finn and Charlie and Lucy and the woods? Who TF goes straight to ?? And both she and Finn deserve a smack in the head for the way they talk about their kids. “Aiden was so perfect and the most wonderful thing in the world and we loved him so much … and, oh yeah, we have these two daughters and they're alright, I guess.” The townspeople are assholes and hate Rachel and Finn for all the wrong reasons, but they almost certainly would have hated them just as much had they gotten to know them because who wouldn't??
The supernatural parts, though? Bloody fantastic. I don't know if this novel is based on actual folklore or if everything is totally the author's invention, but it's wonderfully creepy (and also more than a little traumatizing).
So, yeah. 4.5 stars for the writing and negative 1,000,000 stars for the Kennans and their shitty, dysfunctional family. Negative 999,995.5 stars seems a little harsh, though, so I'll just round up to a four. If you can get past the awful characters, Nowhere is really an excellent and well-executed horror read.
Many thanks to NetGalley and Atria Books for providing me with an advance copy of this book to review. Its expected publication date is March 25, 2025.
But, yeah, this book is scary. I don't often get creeped out by what I read, but I read this last night before bed and then kind of didn't want to turn the lights out (and may or may not have dinked around on my phone for half an hour to bleach my brain before doing so). This is apparently the author's debut novel and I'm super impressed, because she really knows how to write horror. The plot is solid, and it grabbed me from the very start and didn't let go until the incredibly f'ed up ending. I've absolutely no complaints there.
Rachel, though … ugh. Dolores Umbridge made me seethe less. She continuously makes stupid, brash decisions with no thought for the safety or feelings of others. She knows better than everyone else and won't listen to reason because SHE'S THE CHIEF (Chief of Raging Bitchdom, amirite?) and takes it as a license to act like a twat. I hated her with a fiery passion … which means that I liked her way, way more than she likes her husband. I mean, that scene with Finn and Charlie and Lucy and the woods? Who TF goes straight to ?? And both she and Finn deserve a smack in the head for the way they talk about their kids. “Aiden was so perfect and the most wonderful thing in the world and we loved him so much … and, oh yeah, we have these two daughters and they're alright, I guess.” The townspeople are assholes and hate Rachel and Finn for all the wrong reasons, but they almost certainly would have hated them just as much had they gotten to know them because who wouldn't??
The supernatural parts, though? Bloody fantastic. I don't know if this novel is based on actual folklore or if everything is totally the author's invention, but it's wonderfully creepy (and also more than a little traumatizing).
So, yeah. 4.5 stars for the writing and negative 1,000,000 stars for the Kennans and their shitty, dysfunctional family. Negative 999,995.5 stars seems a little harsh, though, so I'll just round up to a four. If you can get past the awful characters, Nowhere is really an excellent and well-executed horror read.
Many thanks to NetGalley and Atria Books for providing me with an advance copy of this book to review. Its expected publication date is March 25, 2025.
October 12, 2024
3.5 stars!
After losing her young son in an accident, Rachel Kennan throws herself into her career as police chief of a small Virginia town to avoid focusing on her grief. Meanwhile, her husband, Finn, a washed-up writer whose alcoholism led to the devastating tragedy that changed everything, struggles to redeem himself before his family completely falls apart. Their two daughters are the only things keeping Rachel and Finn together, but the girls have demons of their own.
At the same time, a disturbing crime rocks their tightknit, religious community, sending Rachel chasing leads in a place that does not take kindly to outsiders. When an ominous force in the forest starts calling to the children, fear spawns hate among the townspeople, placing the Kennan family directly in the line of fire. Left with no choice but to rely on each other, Rachel and Finn must come together to face threats inside and out.
A haunting family saga and a disquieting horror debut, Nowhere draws from Appalachian folklore to caution us that true terror is what we bury in our own hearts.
I had some mixed feelings about this one. In the beginning, I loved it It has a very creepy atmosphere, and it's a little scary. I kept wondering what is in those woods! The children's nursery rhyme songs were very creepy too, coming from the woods.
The first death was very grotesque and the descriptions of it freaked me out. I felt so sorry for Rachel and Finn losing their son Aiden in an accident It is so heartbreaking. They are together just because of their children. They are coping with so much grief. Their family is falling apart. I enjoyed the supernatural aspect in this book.
When I got to the second half it seemed to lose its fizzle. The book seem to be very repetitive of everything that happened in the first half. Nothing really happened new. I love the folklore in the book and wanted more of it, and also wanted more creepiness. It bored me and I thought it was really strange. I just wanted the book to end. Even though I didn't enjoy the second half I did like it.
This was a buddy read with Debra! Check out her review!
I want to thank Netgalley, Atria Books for the copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
After losing her young son in an accident, Rachel Kennan throws herself into her career as police chief of a small Virginia town to avoid focusing on her grief. Meanwhile, her husband, Finn, a washed-up writer whose alcoholism led to the devastating tragedy that changed everything, struggles to redeem himself before his family completely falls apart. Their two daughters are the only things keeping Rachel and Finn together, but the girls have demons of their own.
At the same time, a disturbing crime rocks their tightknit, religious community, sending Rachel chasing leads in a place that does not take kindly to outsiders. When an ominous force in the forest starts calling to the children, fear spawns hate among the townspeople, placing the Kennan family directly in the line of fire. Left with no choice but to rely on each other, Rachel and Finn must come together to face threats inside and out.
A haunting family saga and a disquieting horror debut, Nowhere draws from Appalachian folklore to caution us that true terror is what we bury in our own hearts.
I had some mixed feelings about this one. In the beginning, I loved it It has a very creepy atmosphere, and it's a little scary. I kept wondering what is in those woods! The children's nursery rhyme songs were very creepy too, coming from the woods.
The first death was very grotesque and the descriptions of it freaked me out. I felt so sorry for Rachel and Finn losing their son Aiden in an accident It is so heartbreaking. They are together just because of their children. They are coping with so much grief. Their family is falling apart. I enjoyed the supernatural aspect in this book.
When I got to the second half it seemed to lose its fizzle. The book seem to be very repetitive of everything that happened in the first half. Nothing really happened new. I love the folklore in the book and wanted more of it, and also wanted more creepiness. It bored me and I thought it was really strange. I just wanted the book to end. Even though I didn't enjoy the second half I did like it.
This was a buddy read with Debra! Check out her review!
I want to thank Netgalley, Atria Books for the copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
March 18, 2025
5⭐️!!!!
This book was INCREDIBLE! I almost can’t believe this is her debut book. This book is bone chilling from cover to cover. The way she built suspense, eeriness, and horror was unmatched. I will be reading all future books by this incredibly gifted author
Update: I’ve read this twice now and not a day goes by where I don’t think about it in some capacity! Whether it’s revisiting characters or specific scenes, or walking my dog near the forest and being a bit extra aware of my surroundings due to the fear (in the best of ways!) that this book gave me! Waiting at the edge of my seat for the next book by Allison Gunn!
This book was INCREDIBLE! I almost can’t believe this is her debut book. This book is bone chilling from cover to cover. The way she built suspense, eeriness, and horror was unmatched. I will be reading all future books by this incredibly gifted author
Update: I’ve read this twice now and not a day goes by where I don’t think about it in some capacity! Whether it’s revisiting characters or specific scenes, or walking my dog near the forest and being a bit extra aware of my surroundings due to the fear (in the best of ways!) that this book gave me! Waiting at the edge of my seat for the next book by Allison Gunn!
July 15, 2025
4 solid stars! Working on a full review.
We sent this book out in a Night Worms package earlier this year. I saw it was comped to The Outsider + Mare of Easttown so I was intrigued. What I was NOT expecting was for this book to go so hard! I listened to the audiobook.
.
Read if you enjoy:
🍂creepy forests + creepy kids
🍂rural Appalachian small towns
🍂 supernatural crime thrillers
🍂domestic drama/grief
🍂folklore + regional legends
🍂dark forces
.
Definitely vibes with Ethel Cain music
.
Comps:
Elements of IT/Stephen King
Beneath/Kristi DeMeester
Devil’s Creek/Todd Keisling
The Outsider/Stephen King
Jackal/Erin E Adams
The Woods All Black/Lee Mandela
Black Eyed Kids/Ian Rogers
We sent this book out in a Night Worms package earlier this year. I saw it was comped to The Outsider + Mare of Easttown so I was intrigued. What I was NOT expecting was for this book to go so hard! I listened to the audiobook.
.
Read if you enjoy:
🍂creepy forests + creepy kids
🍂rural Appalachian small towns
🍂 supernatural crime thrillers
🍂domestic drama/grief
🍂folklore + regional legends
🍂dark forces
.
Definitely vibes with Ethel Cain music
.
Comps:
Elements of IT/Stephen King
Beneath/Kristi DeMeester
Devil’s Creek/Todd Keisling
The Outsider/Stephen King
Jackal/Erin E Adams
The Woods All Black/Lee Mandela
Black Eyed Kids/Ian Rogers
February 21, 2025
The story told in this novel is brave and terrifying, a twist on classical folk superstitions that is dark and fearless. In addition, the juxtaposition between the characters’ inner turmoil with the external events creates a twisted narrative that exists in a liminal place between private and public, personal and performative, which is really fertile ground for exploring humanity.
Unfortunately, that is as far as my praise for this book can go. I thought the atmosphere/world-building, the character and character development, and the writing itself were all not as great as the ideas that are the heart of this story. The world-building feels quite minimal. There is nothing that locates this story in any specific place, even with the main characters’ constant disdain for their adopted town taken into consideration. This could be any rural community anywhere near a forest, and even that felt absent geographical specificity. Are the woods behind the main character’s house? Are they a few miles away off the side of the highway? Are they behind the church? Are they out at the town limits where the meth labs are? There just felt like a convenient patch of forest nearby where and whenever the story needed it, it felt disconnected from any actual sense of space. Nothing really located me in the rural south save for the ancillary characters’ accents, and it just felt disconnected from place in a way that made it hard for me to feel involved in the story. The characters all felt cartoonish. The ancillary characters were all stereotypical, backwards hicks; not a single one had any other aspect of their identity that came through. The main characters felt like they were wrapped around an interesting set of conflicting emotions, but they felt like they were turned up to eleven right from the beginning, and nothing they did, especially Rachel, felt realistic (for this world). Everything felt fabricated to be as extreme as possible, which seemed to be justification for their bad decisions, bad decisions necessary for the plot to move forward, but it didn’t feel convincing. Maybe more importantly, there is no meaningful character development. The place the characters are at the end of the story is different than where they were at the beginning, but that is because they change on a dime, without any meaningful introspection or process. It is a constant hot and cold that just feels convenient and uninteresting. There is a plot thread regarding Rachel taking medication for some mental illness but we don’t know what it is, and after being mentioned briefly it isn’t touched on again, so maybe there is something there to support her constant emotional seesawing, but if so it wasn’t brought out in any meaningful way. All of her actions in the back half of the book felt disconnected from the reality she had been living in and that the story had been setting up for us in the first half, and it didn’t feel satisfying.
I think in large part this comes to the writing, which by and large fell flat, to me. The prose itself was competent enough and had a decent amount of narrative propulsion, and the dialogue felt realistic. But the chapters were so short that you never had time to really spend meaningful time in any character or any scene. As we swapped POVs across most chapters it felt disjointed, since I never felt any anchor with the characters, like every chapter was skimming the surface. It felt like there was a plot checklist and each chapter existed long enough to check off the next item on that list, and no longer. So, the connection across chapters and the deeper connection to the world or the characters just didn’t feel like it had any presence. While a dark and interesting story with the promise of complicated and engaging characters at its center, instead this felt like flat, stereotypical or expected characters doing exactly what was needed of them to move the plot to its next point. This included some story beats that didn’t really make sense and felt like they were added just to increase tension, but just left me disconnected from the internal cohesion of the story.
So, while I really liked the story and the ideas, I didn’t love this novel. I won’t mention what common folk tale/superstition it is playing with, to not give anything away (though it is obvious just from the jacket copy), but I really liked the conceptual work of the story. As I said, when we know the full backstory of the two main characters then they are actually really interesting, and I think their internal conflicts are a great playground for this story. However, we learn their histories through exposition, not their actions, and their actions as we experience them don’t reflect the tortured nuance that the exposition promises. The novel does have important ideas not just about family but about responsibility, forgiveness, and grief. There are questions about what it means to live an authentic life, being your authentic self, instead of changing who you are to meet others’ expectations, and whether that can do anything other than destroy you. So, really interesting and exciting questions, and the story and characters were an exciting vehicle to explore those questions, but in the end the pieces didn’t come together in a way that worked for me.
I want to thank NetGalley, the author, and the publisher Atria Books, who provided a complimentary eARC for review. I am leaving this review voluntarily.
Unfortunately, that is as far as my praise for this book can go. I thought the atmosphere/world-building, the character and character development, and the writing itself were all not as great as the ideas that are the heart of this story. The world-building feels quite minimal. There is nothing that locates this story in any specific place, even with the main characters’ constant disdain for their adopted town taken into consideration. This could be any rural community anywhere near a forest, and even that felt absent geographical specificity. Are the woods behind the main character’s house? Are they a few miles away off the side of the highway? Are they behind the church? Are they out at the town limits where the meth labs are? There just felt like a convenient patch of forest nearby where and whenever the story needed it, it felt disconnected from any actual sense of space. Nothing really located me in the rural south save for the ancillary characters’ accents, and it just felt disconnected from place in a way that made it hard for me to feel involved in the story. The characters all felt cartoonish. The ancillary characters were all stereotypical, backwards hicks; not a single one had any other aspect of their identity that came through. The main characters felt like they were wrapped around an interesting set of conflicting emotions, but they felt like they were turned up to eleven right from the beginning, and nothing they did, especially Rachel, felt realistic (for this world). Everything felt fabricated to be as extreme as possible, which seemed to be justification for their bad decisions, bad decisions necessary for the plot to move forward, but it didn’t feel convincing. Maybe more importantly, there is no meaningful character development. The place the characters are at the end of the story is different than where they were at the beginning, but that is because they change on a dime, without any meaningful introspection or process. It is a constant hot and cold that just feels convenient and uninteresting. There is a plot thread regarding Rachel taking medication for some mental illness but we don’t know what it is, and after being mentioned briefly it isn’t touched on again, so maybe there is something there to support her constant emotional seesawing, but if so it wasn’t brought out in any meaningful way. All of her actions in the back half of the book felt disconnected from the reality she had been living in and that the story had been setting up for us in the first half, and it didn’t feel satisfying.
I think in large part this comes to the writing, which by and large fell flat, to me. The prose itself was competent enough and had a decent amount of narrative propulsion, and the dialogue felt realistic. But the chapters were so short that you never had time to really spend meaningful time in any character or any scene. As we swapped POVs across most chapters it felt disjointed, since I never felt any anchor with the characters, like every chapter was skimming the surface. It felt like there was a plot checklist and each chapter existed long enough to check off the next item on that list, and no longer. So, the connection across chapters and the deeper connection to the world or the characters just didn’t feel like it had any presence. While a dark and interesting story with the promise of complicated and engaging characters at its center, instead this felt like flat, stereotypical or expected characters doing exactly what was needed of them to move the plot to its next point. This included some story beats that didn’t really make sense and felt like they were added just to increase tension, but just left me disconnected from the internal cohesion of the story.
So, while I really liked the story and the ideas, I didn’t love this novel. I won’t mention what common folk tale/superstition it is playing with, to not give anything away (though it is obvious just from the jacket copy), but I really liked the conceptual work of the story. As I said, when we know the full backstory of the two main characters then they are actually really interesting, and I think their internal conflicts are a great playground for this story. However, we learn their histories through exposition, not their actions, and their actions as we experience them don’t reflect the tortured nuance that the exposition promises. The novel does have important ideas not just about family but about responsibility, forgiveness, and grief. There are questions about what it means to live an authentic life, being your authentic self, instead of changing who you are to meet others’ expectations, and whether that can do anything other than destroy you. So, really interesting and exciting questions, and the story and characters were an exciting vehicle to explore those questions, but in the end the pieces didn’t come together in a way that worked for me.
I want to thank NetGalley, the author, and the publisher Atria Books, who provided a complimentary eARC for review. I am leaving this review voluntarily.
October 5, 2024
respectfully, my first and last horror book… 🩷
the writing was phenomenal and my ass was scared the entire time, i have become the most jumpy person in the last twenty four hours that my ice dumping in the freezer scared the ever loving fuck out of me :)
disrespectfully, fuck rachel kennan 🖕🏻
i cannot tell you how many times i almost dnf’d this because i just couldnt fucking stand her. she was a raging bitch, i could not stop rolling my eyes at how she kept telling people to stfu with their woe is me bullshit but would turn around and play fucking victim EVERY TIME WE GOT HER POV. finn and her children deserved a way better life and truly i wish he could have gotten all of them out in time before this story could take place, which yes i know theres no book if he did but idc. they deserved better and rachel can rot 🩷
the writing was phenomenal and my ass was scared the entire time, i have become the most jumpy person in the last twenty four hours that my ice dumping in the freezer scared the ever loving fuck out of me :)
disrespectfully, fuck rachel kennan 🖕🏻
i cannot tell you how many times i almost dnf’d this because i just couldnt fucking stand her. she was a raging bitch, i could not stop rolling my eyes at how she kept telling people to stfu with their woe is me bullshit but would turn around and play fucking victim EVERY TIME WE GOT HER POV. finn and her children deserved a way better life and truly i wish he could have gotten all of them out in time before this story could take place, which yes i know theres no book if he did but idc. they deserved better and rachel can rot 🩷
March 21, 2025
Final rating tomorrow.. but at least 4.5 stars! Thank you Atria books for the early copy in exchange for my honest feedback!
Video review: https://www.tiktok.com/t/ZT2ShR96C/
If you liked… (part 4): https://www.tiktok.com/t/ZT2G9dxNe/
Video review: https://www.tiktok.com/t/ZT2ShR96C/
If you liked… (part 4): https://www.tiktok.com/t/ZT2G9dxNe/
June 2, 2025
I started and finished this just today!! This was a creepy folklore horror/crime detective thriller that was like a mix between the books The Unmothers, Imaginary Friend, and The Outsider.
A few things didn’t work for me unfortunately. Like, pretty much every character is unlikeable, which I usually don’t care about, but EVERYONE sucked for the most part.
I also wish there was a little more clarity in the end. Like, I’m all for ambiguity, but I felt like this had the potential to be PHENOMENAL if the supernatural elements were explored a bit more.
There were also a few times where I had to rewind (I listened to the audio and think the narrator did an amazing job btw) because I was confused why a character was reacting the way they were. I was like, I had to have missed something bc why is this happening rn 😅
I will still probably recommend this one because I was hooked *the entire time*, but yeah, I wish things played out a bit differently!
A few things didn’t work for me unfortunately. Like, pretty much every character is unlikeable, which I usually don’t care about, but EVERYONE sucked for the most part.
I also wish there was a little more clarity in the end. Like, I’m all for ambiguity, but I felt like this had the potential to be PHENOMENAL if the supernatural elements were explored a bit more.
There were also a few times where I had to rewind (I listened to the audio and think the narrator did an amazing job btw) because I was confused why a character was reacting the way they were. I was like, I had to have missed something bc why is this happening rn 😅
I will still probably recommend this one because I was hooked *the entire time*, but yeah, I wish things played out a bit differently!
August 11, 2024
ARC for review. To be published March 25, 2025.
“Where I’d put this book on my shelf, Alex.” HAhahahahahaha….I kill myself.
In this debut novel Rachel Kennan is police chief in the small town of Dahlmouth, Virginia, outside Roanoke. She recently lost her eight year old son Aidan in a car accident where the vehicle was operated by her husband, Finn, a washed-up writer who was drunk at the time. The two are trying to deal with the pain and are only staying together for their daughters, teenager Charlie and young Lucy, both of whom are troubled following what happened. This whole family is barely holding it together. If they are.
Then a disturbing crime takes place and an ominous force seems to be calling the children of the town, making them disappear. What is happening in Dahlmouth?
First, ignore the cover copy because it really doesn’t give an accurate idea as to what this book is about. Given that, I thought I would like the book that was described pretty well, but this book wasn’t that. I really wanted to like it, since the writer lives in wild, wonderful West Virginia, but, other than the end, which I actually did appreciate, the book just seemed like a whole lot of running around in the woods to me.
“Where I’d put this book on my shelf, Alex.” HAhahahahahaha….I kill myself.
In this debut novel Rachel Kennan is police chief in the small town of Dahlmouth, Virginia, outside Roanoke. She recently lost her eight year old son Aidan in a car accident where the vehicle was operated by her husband, Finn, a washed-up writer who was drunk at the time. The two are trying to deal with the pain and are only staying together for their daughters, teenager Charlie and young Lucy, both of whom are troubled following what happened. This whole family is barely holding it together. If they are.
Then a disturbing crime takes place and an ominous force seems to be calling the children of the town, making them disappear. What is happening in Dahlmouth?
First, ignore the cover copy because it really doesn’t give an accurate idea as to what this book is about. Given that, I thought I would like the book that was described pretty well, but this book wasn’t that. I really wanted to like it, since the writer lives in wild, wonderful West Virginia, but, other than the end, which I actually did appreciate, the book just seemed like a whole lot of running around in the woods to me.
Want to read
July 12, 2024This sounds intriguing and right up my alley….I live in Virginia and this only adds to my desire to read and review this novel.
Who else loves a good unexplained supernatural mystery??
Who else loves a good unexplained supernatural mystery??
November 19, 2024
Okay, I started this during the daytime, knowing I'd be scared. I had the heebie jeebies from the get-go. Just finished it, and it's dark out... and I'm going to have to go devour an entire romantic comedy now, just to be able to sleep later. The little kids terrified me. The changes in the 2 main characters were lovely to see, but I was shocked by the ending. Such a thrilling ride, I was on the edge of my seat from the beginning.
February 28, 2025
The description of the book and the allure of folk superstition sucked me in but it pains me to say I think the execution just didn't work for me at all.
I'll try to be tactful but it's hard to contain just how aggravating this book was.
The characters are thinly developed and the plot, while interesting and genuinely spooky at times is overshadowed by very jarring and unrealistic dialogue.
Every line feels like it's designed to be a zinger and sucks you right out of any atmosphere. 99% of the book is the main character cursing, yelling and giving attitude to everyone else and the other 1% is every single character completely ignoring logic or their own senses.
They way people act makes no sense but it's hard to even care enough about the characters to complain.
I love Atria and am thankful to them and Netgalley to have had the opportunity to review this in advance in exchange for an honest review. I wish it weren't so, but it definitely didn't come together for me.
I'll try to be tactful but it's hard to contain just how aggravating this book was.
The characters are thinly developed and the plot, while interesting and genuinely spooky at times is overshadowed by very jarring and unrealistic dialogue.
Every line feels like it's designed to be a zinger and sucks you right out of any atmosphere. 99% of the book is the main character cursing, yelling and giving attitude to everyone else and the other 1% is every single character completely ignoring logic or their own senses.
They way people act makes no sense but it's hard to even care enough about the characters to complain.
I love Atria and am thankful to them and Netgalley to have had the opportunity to review this in advance in exchange for an honest review. I wish it weren't so, but it definitely didn't come together for me.
June 25, 2025
TW/CW: Language, drinking, drug addiction, smoking, misogyny, sexism, death of child, gory scenes, blood, violence, cutting, alcoholism, cheating, physical abuse, rape, domestic abuse, mourning, grieving, depression, homophobia, death of children
*****SPOILERS*****
About the book:
After losing her young son in an accident, Rachel Kennan throws herself into her career as police chief of a small Virginia town to avoid focusing on her grief. Meanwhile, her husband, Finn, a washed-up writer whose alcoholism led to the devastating tragedy that changed everything, struggles to redeem himself before his family completely falls apart. Their two daughters are the only things keeping Rachel and Finn together, but the girls have demons of their own.
At the same time, a disturbing crime rocks their tightknit, religious community, sending Rachel chasing leads in a place that does not take kindly to outsiders. When an ominous force in the forest starts calling to the children, fear spawns hate among the townspeople, placing the Kennan family directly in the line of fire. Left with no choice but to rely on each other, Rachel and Finn must come together to face threats inside and out.
Release Date: March 25th, 2025
Genre: Thriller
Pages: 304
Rating: ⭐ ⭐ ⭐
What I Liked:
1. Enjoying the writing
2. Like Rachel as a character
3. Creepy
4. Very atmospheric
What I Didn't Like:
1. So much fighting got annoying
2. Book felt a little too long
Overall Thoughts:
{{Disclaimer: I write my review as I read}}
So Finn let's Charlie go out with friends because she knew he was smoking. His own child blackmails him into letting her. It's a stupid thing because why would Finn even care since his separated wife has been cheating on him? So a cigarette would be the thing that breaks him with her. This part was stupid. I can't imagine a man backing down to his child over this. This would make me double down and ground her from everything. He just let's he go.
Why do adult authors write 13 year olds with this kind of vocabulary?
Like seriously? I'm not saying there are not smart teens but the whole character background of Charlie doesn't scream a vocabulary where she is dropping obscure words.
Ummm okay yeah right....
Ohhhh we find out that Adian was killed in a car accident from her father driving drunk and going into a river. What a terrible way to death. I wonder why Finn is even allowed around his kids. Plus we learn that Rachel covered up that he was drunk.
Oh poor Finn Rachel isn't being nice to the man that killed her son.
So Finn finally tells Rachel the truth and I don't understand why he would even lie. Why did he think she'd be more likely to believe a deer was in the road vs a child? That part didn't make any sense.
Final Thoughts:
God, this book left me with a headache. The way everyone was yelling at one another and fighting was exhausting. No one could talk to each other. It was just one long fight pretty much to the end of the book.
Honestly I was entertained and invested in this creepy town of Sinister meets Children of the Corn. There were some creepy things that happened.
IG | Blog
Thanks to Netgalley and Atria Books for this advanced copy of the book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
*****SPOILERS*****
About the book:
After losing her young son in an accident, Rachel Kennan throws herself into her career as police chief of a small Virginia town to avoid focusing on her grief. Meanwhile, her husband, Finn, a washed-up writer whose alcoholism led to the devastating tragedy that changed everything, struggles to redeem himself before his family completely falls apart. Their two daughters are the only things keeping Rachel and Finn together, but the girls have demons of their own.
At the same time, a disturbing crime rocks their tightknit, religious community, sending Rachel chasing leads in a place that does not take kindly to outsiders. When an ominous force in the forest starts calling to the children, fear spawns hate among the townspeople, placing the Kennan family directly in the line of fire. Left with no choice but to rely on each other, Rachel and Finn must come together to face threats inside and out.
Release Date: March 25th, 2025
Genre: Thriller
Pages: 304
Rating: ⭐ ⭐ ⭐
What I Liked:
1. Enjoying the writing
2. Like Rachel as a character
3. Creepy
4. Very atmospheric
What I Didn't Like:
1. So much fighting got annoying
2. Book felt a little too long
Overall Thoughts:
{{Disclaimer: I write my review as I read}}
So Finn let's Charlie go out with friends because she knew he was smoking. His own child blackmails him into letting her. It's a stupid thing because why would Finn even care since his separated wife has been cheating on him? So a cigarette would be the thing that breaks him with her. This part was stupid. I can't imagine a man backing down to his child over this. This would make me double down and ground her from everything. He just let's he go.
Why do adult authors write 13 year olds with this kind of vocabulary?
"Charlie quickly learned it was better not to feed that operatic tragedy."
Like seriously? I'm not saying there are not smart teens but the whole character background of Charlie doesn't scream a vocabulary where she is dropping obscure words.
"She was “the pretty one”; Gemma probably would have been the popular one, too, had she not chosen such inauspicious friends.">
Ummm okay yeah right....
Ohhhh we find out that Adian was killed in a car accident from her father driving drunk and going into a river. What a terrible way to death. I wonder why Finn is even allowed around his kids. Plus we learn that Rachel covered up that he was drunk.
Oh poor Finn Rachel isn't being nice to the man that killed her son.
So Finn finally tells Rachel the truth and I don't understand why he would even lie. Why did he think she'd be more likely to believe a deer was in the road vs a child? That part didn't make any sense.
Final Thoughts:
God, this book left me with a headache. The way everyone was yelling at one another and fighting was exhausting. No one could talk to each other. It was just one long fight pretty much to the end of the book.
Honestly I was entertained and invested in this creepy town of Sinister meets Children of the Corn. There were some creepy things that happened.
IG | Blog
Thanks to Netgalley and Atria Books for this advanced copy of the book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
March 9, 2025
3.5
Dahlmouth, is a very small creepy town in Virginia. Rachel is the police chief and her and her family are relatively new to the town. The most serious crime this town has seen is by the meth manufacturing family, until a grizzly discovery is found in the woods. Rachel begins to investigate and realizes there’s something more sinister going on. Meanwhile, Rachel‘s family is still reeling from the death of their son, Aiden. Her two daughters each are handling the death in their own ways. The younger of the two Lucy draws strange pictures and Charlie the teenager spend as much time with her friends as possible. I can’t go into too much further without running into spoilers, but this novel certainly is very creepy.
The atmosphere of the woods and the children were done perfectly. You could feel the sense of dread building up in the town with each page you turned. However, it seemed it went from slow dread to full on action that sort of lost my interest at that point. I liked the parts with the church as well as some of the lore that was vaguely touched up upon. I think more of this would helped build more depth or filler in between the beginning and the end.
Overall, this is a very creepy book and would recommend to those who like supernatural horror with some Appalachia lore.
Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for my advanced copy in exchange for an honest review.
Dahlmouth, is a very small creepy town in Virginia. Rachel is the police chief and her and her family are relatively new to the town. The most serious crime this town has seen is by the meth manufacturing family, until a grizzly discovery is found in the woods. Rachel begins to investigate and realizes there’s something more sinister going on. Meanwhile, Rachel‘s family is still reeling from the death of their son, Aiden. Her two daughters each are handling the death in their own ways. The younger of the two Lucy draws strange pictures and Charlie the teenager spend as much time with her friends as possible. I can’t go into too much further without running into spoilers, but this novel certainly is very creepy.
The atmosphere of the woods and the children were done perfectly. You could feel the sense of dread building up in the town with each page you turned. However, it seemed it went from slow dread to full on action that sort of lost my interest at that point. I liked the parts with the church as well as some of the lore that was vaguely touched up upon. I think more of this would helped build more depth or filler in between the beginning and the end.
Overall, this is a very creepy book and would recommend to those who like supernatural horror with some Appalachia lore.
Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for my advanced copy in exchange for an honest review.
August 6, 2024
“Nowhere” is a small town, woods aesthetic thriller that focuses on the town Police Chief, Rachel. Rachel’s family is in the process of grieving the loss of one of their children when her focus is shifted onto drastic events that begin to take place in town
Read if you enjoy:
Police procedures / investigative work
Small town thrillers
Nature
Multi layered horror
Rival families
Religious chaos
Subtext / psychological - personal growth themes
Folklore (Appalachian)
Thank you to Atria Books, Allison Gunn and NetGalley for the EARC!
Publish date: March 25th 2025
Read if you enjoy:
Police procedures / investigative work
Small town thrillers
Nature
Multi layered horror
Rival families
Religious chaos
Subtext / psychological - personal growth themes
Folklore (Appalachian)
Thank you to Atria Books, Allison Gunn and NetGalley for the EARC!
Publish date: March 25th 2025
October 1, 2025
3.5 Stars
The first half of this book was really scary! I was reading this on my kindle at night and I actually was scared, so that's pretty awesome. The MC reminded me of Jodie Foster's character in the latest True Detective season so that's who I was picturing.
Very much like The Outsider, True Detective, the Dark tv show - detective thriller with folklore/supernatural elements. Perfect fall spooky read.
My critiques really just come from the fact that the second half felt a bit repetitive and I wish they had done a bit more to dive into the supernatural elements. Ending was fine. Definitely going to look for more from this author in the future!
The first half of this book was really scary! I was reading this on my kindle at night and I actually was scared, so that's pretty awesome. The MC reminded me of Jodie Foster's character in the latest True Detective season so that's who I was picturing.
Very much like The Outsider, True Detective, the Dark tv show - detective thriller with folklore/supernatural elements. Perfect fall spooky read.
My critiques really just come from the fact that the second half felt a bit repetitive and I wish they had done a bit more to dive into the supernatural elements. Ending was fine. Definitely going to look for more from this author in the future!
April 6, 2025
This book went nowhere 🥱
June 21, 2025
1.5 🌟
Her attitude? WACK
Her parenting skills? WACK
Her policing? WACK
Her whole personality? WACK
Rachel has taken the cake for worst character I've ever read. I've never met a character I wanted to smack upside the head more, but then Rachel would probably like that 🙄 She was by far the worst character in the whole book, and literally every character was horrible except for the damn 6 year old. She was more a rookie than an police chief and was just constantly being an asshole to every single person. She was a straight up psychopath with zero character development. Finn was horrible too, but at least he was somewhat sympathetic.
This book, in whole, was just constant annoyance. People were just screaming at each other and jumping down each other's throats the whole time. The townspeople were just flat and stereotypical. The setting was vague and under-developed (sad and disappointed Virginian right here). The pacing was horrible; imagine a rollercoaster with a huge incline and the shortest drop. The horror felt like it was on the cusp of being creepy but the tension and atmosphere was severely underdeveloped. At least it got me the goodreads challenge.
Her attitude? WACK
Her parenting skills? WACK
Her policing? WACK
Her whole personality? WACK
Rachel has taken the cake for worst character I've ever read. I've never met a character I wanted to smack upside the head more, but then Rachel would probably like that 🙄 She was by far the worst character in the whole book, and literally every character was horrible except for the damn 6 year old. She was more a rookie than an police chief and was just constantly being an asshole to every single person. She was a straight up psychopath with zero character development. Finn was horrible too, but at least he was somewhat sympathetic.
This book, in whole, was just constant annoyance. People were just screaming at each other and jumping down each other's throats the whole time. The townspeople were just flat and stereotypical. The setting was vague and under-developed (sad and disappointed Virginian right here). The pacing was horrible; imagine a rollercoaster with a huge incline and the shortest drop. The horror felt like it was on the cusp of being creepy but the tension and atmosphere was severely underdeveloped. At least it got me the goodreads challenge.
June 14, 2025
This entire book is people yelling at each other without actually saying anything. No one listens to anyone, no one thinks logically until they are spoon fed information, and even then they ignore it and no one can communicate unless it’s shrieking, growling, spitting, yelling, or hissing. Everyone is a judgmental asshole. What a mess of a book. Author bit off way more than she could chew. Wow.
Rachel is 10x the monster that Finn ever was
Rachel is 10x the monster that Finn ever was
August 15, 2024
Nowhere reminds me of the folklore that my grandparents would share. Nowhere leads you in, fearful of what will happen next. Such a great telling of this story, a lot is going on and keeps you on the edge. I don’t want to say too much, for fear of ruining it for someone. Lucy was my favorite character in the story. Such a surprise ending. If you love creepy, suspenseful, supernatural, horror, this is a must read. Thank you to NetGalley, Atria Books and Allison Gunn for the opportunity to read this book in exchange for an honest review. Pub date March 25, 2025
July 13, 2025
Allison Gunn's debut novel "Nowhere" is both a terrifying horror novel and a moving dysfunctional family drama. It is James Tynion IV's "Something is Killing the Children" meets Celeste Ng's "Everything I Never Told You".
Rachel and Finn have a turbulent marriage, to say the least. They have three children together, but over a year ago, one of the kids---Aidan---died in a car accident due to Finn's drinking. Rachel has never forgiven him for this, and she has been having affairs with local women. Her reputation as a closeted homosexual is not much of a secret in the small Bible-belt town they live in. Most of the townspeople hate her and Finn, which often makes it difficult for her to do her job, as she is the local police chief.
Normally, life is uneventful in the small Virginia town, but a violent murder in the woods and reports of local children going missing has Rachel stymied. Her oldest daughter is also acting up in weird ways, making Rachel worry that she has succumbed to the meth/opioid addiction that has taken over so many in the region.
Her investigation uncovers an evil and ancient secret living in the woods, one that could mean an end to the small town and possibly all of humanity...
Gunn utilizes her research in the field of marginalized communities and folklore to create a fantastic first novel about a creepy Appalachian folk legend come to life. The novel also has a personal feel to it, as she based the characters on her own toxic marriage. I'm definitely looking forward to more from her.
Rachel and Finn have a turbulent marriage, to say the least. They have three children together, but over a year ago, one of the kids---Aidan---died in a car accident due to Finn's drinking. Rachel has never forgiven him for this, and she has been having affairs with local women. Her reputation as a closeted homosexual is not much of a secret in the small Bible-belt town they live in. Most of the townspeople hate her and Finn, which often makes it difficult for her to do her job, as she is the local police chief.
Normally, life is uneventful in the small Virginia town, but a violent murder in the woods and reports of local children going missing has Rachel stymied. Her oldest daughter is also acting up in weird ways, making Rachel worry that she has succumbed to the meth/opioid addiction that has taken over so many in the region.
Her investigation uncovers an evil and ancient secret living in the woods, one that could mean an end to the small town and possibly all of humanity...
Gunn utilizes her research in the field of marginalized communities and folklore to create a fantastic first novel about a creepy Appalachian folk legend come to life. The novel also has a personal feel to it, as she based the characters on her own toxic marriage. I'm definitely looking forward to more from her.
April 16, 2025
Fantastic, well written and very creepy! This is a solid debut which touches more subjects than I can count; it's a balanced mix between old Appalachian folklore and modern perspectives on how the world spins around and the right ways to live and behave in both private and professional matters. The nod to Roanoke 'how can a whole town disappear into nowhere' isn't a not-so-subtle gimmick, but a relevant part for the story about being aware of history and the stories passed from one generation to the other, but now seems to be lost in the modern way of living without an eye for the balance with the nature around us.
I have a couple of remarks on what I've stumbled upon i many reviews, I can't recognize from my own reading experience:
The characters have been described as extremely unlikable, the MC as an raging bitch nonstop, unrealistic dialogues, etc. I agree the MC isn't very likable, but the setting for her behavior, the past leading up to when the story is unfolding is described with enough informations to explain her somewhat rather aggressive verbal expression. For those finding behavior, changes, dialogues unrealistic, Im sorry to say, it really is not. The behaviors and dialogues are VERY realistic - they are honest and ugly without any vanity shielding the grim truth of how we people interact when we are in a dark dysfunctional mental place.
I had no problem with being able to find sympathy for our MC's, I felt more sad and sorrow for them and their dysfunctional down spiraling path, they were on. To make a comparison, I have had much harder to find any sympathy for Lena and Angie in Karin Slaughter's Grant County and Will Trent series 😆
The story could easily have been fleshed much more out, dug deeper into the past of the MC's, and the life and living of the little town; many subjects get only a tiny scratch on the surface sadly (the church's role and significance of the changes in cultural practices for example), but it's a debut and though I don't have any professional insider knowledge, I feel it's very typical debuts are of this length (more often 50 pages shorter), and I think it might be a subject of discussion and compromises - but that's just my line of thinking.
I've seen several reviewers writing how they liked the first half of the book much better, than the second half; I felt opposite! I enjoyed the second half more, than the first half. I was even unsure if I could get immersed in the story, kept loosing my focus in the beginning, but I'm very glad I kept at it!
I listened to the audiobook narrated by Leanne Woodward, an new for me narrator, and she did a good job for sure
I have a couple of remarks on what I've stumbled upon i many reviews, I can't recognize from my own reading experience:
The characters have been described as extremely unlikable, the MC as an raging bitch nonstop, unrealistic dialogues, etc. I agree the MC isn't very likable, but the setting for her behavior, the past leading up to when the story is unfolding is described with enough informations to explain her somewhat rather aggressive verbal expression. For those finding behavior, changes, dialogues unrealistic, Im sorry to say, it really is not. The behaviors and dialogues are VERY realistic - they are honest and ugly without any vanity shielding the grim truth of how we people interact when we are in a dark dysfunctional mental place.
I had no problem with being able to find sympathy for our MC's, I felt more sad and sorrow for them and their dysfunctional down spiraling path, they were on. To make a comparison, I have had much harder to find any sympathy for Lena and Angie in Karin Slaughter's Grant County and Will Trent series 😆
The story could easily have been fleshed much more out, dug deeper into the past of the MC's, and the life and living of the little town; many subjects get only a tiny scratch on the surface sadly (the church's role and significance of the changes in cultural practices for example), but it's a debut and though I don't have any professional insider knowledge, I feel it's very typical debuts are of this length (more often 50 pages shorter), and I think it might be a subject of discussion and compromises - but that's just my line of thinking.
I've seen several reviewers writing how they liked the first half of the book much better, than the second half; I felt opposite! I enjoyed the second half more, than the first half. I was even unsure if I could get immersed in the story, kept loosing my focus in the beginning, but I'm very glad I kept at it!
I listened to the audiobook narrated by Leanne Woodward, an new for me narrator, and she did a good job for sure
March 25, 2025
NOWHERE is such a well-executed horror AND a debut?! WELL DONE!
Rachel Kennan is the police chief of a small Virginia town who throws herself into her career to avoid grieving the loss of her son. Meanwhile, her husband Finn, a washed-up writer and alcoholic is struggling to make amends for the accident that led to the family's tragedy. Their daughters are the only thing keeping them together considering they hate each other. When a heinous murder rocks their town and suddenly children start disappearing, the Kennan family is forced to rely on each other as they face an ominous force.
First off, the fact that this is the author's debut has me STUNNED! The writing is so gripping and vivid, building tension and creating a gritty atmosphere that places the reader at the scene. There's a feeling of eerie darkness that takes over the entire story. This is horror and crime done right! The characters are so well-developed, even if they are dysfunctional and horrifying (literally and figuratively); you can't help but feel some sort of emotion towards them. I whipped through the first half in one sitting, the writing is just that compelling. This story has many themes, including grief, religion, substance abuse, sexuality and more. There is also some gore so you've been warned. It reminded me of the season of American Horror Story: Roanoke.
If you enjoy books with creepy children, folklore and The Outsider by Stephen King, you'll love this!
Rachel Kennan is the police chief of a small Virginia town who throws herself into her career to avoid grieving the loss of her son. Meanwhile, her husband Finn, a washed-up writer and alcoholic is struggling to make amends for the accident that led to the family's tragedy. Their daughters are the only thing keeping them together considering they hate each other. When a heinous murder rocks their town and suddenly children start disappearing, the Kennan family is forced to rely on each other as they face an ominous force.
First off, the fact that this is the author's debut has me STUNNED! The writing is so gripping and vivid, building tension and creating a gritty atmosphere that places the reader at the scene. There's a feeling of eerie darkness that takes over the entire story. This is horror and crime done right! The characters are so well-developed, even if they are dysfunctional and horrifying (literally and figuratively); you can't help but feel some sort of emotion towards them. I whipped through the first half in one sitting, the writing is just that compelling. This story has many themes, including grief, religion, substance abuse, sexuality and more. There is also some gore so you've been warned. It reminded me of the season of American Horror Story: Roanoke.
If you enjoy books with creepy children, folklore and The Outsider by Stephen King, you'll love this!
August 10, 2025
A spine-tingling and twisty debut about a series of disappearances in a small, fundamentalist town and what one broken family must do to remain together as dark forces close in.
The Kenans are a family in crisis. The Dad, Finn, was behind the wheel for the car when the accident took their son. Mom, Rachel, has thrown herself into her work as the police chief of the tiny Virginia town they've moved to. She barely speaks to Finn, and she is harboring more than a few secrets of her own. The remaining daughters, teenager Charlie, and 6-year-old Lucy, are aware their parents’ marriage is in trouble since they aren’t exactly hiding it, and it’s taking a toll on the entire family's relationship with one another
Rachel already has a lot on her mind when she and Deputy Jeremy Whitman, her only remotely competent officer, are called out to the scene of a grisly, horrific crime. At first, they want to call it a run-in with the local family of drug runners, but something doesn’t appear to be true about that story, and Rachel brings it to her superiors, but they don't care to listen and are entirely disinterested. Fortunately, she is able to call in a favor with an ex and get her evidence on the fast tracked for examination.
Then we learn that the local children have started hearing voices coming from the woods that surround the town. The voices are calling to them and beckoning them to come into the forest. If and when they do...because they're kids, so of course they do...but when they come out, they're "changed". they begin to urge other kids to join them. Some of the adults also begin hearing the voices as well and feel compelled to behave violently. The little community begins to spiral out of control, and the Kennan family find themselves smack-dab at the center of it all.
There are several times that Rachel and Finn might have been able to save themselves and their remaining children from what lies in wait for them, but both are so obsessed with their own drama that they can’t see the warnings blaring in their faces. Rachel especially is unwilling to consider that anyone other than herself could possibly be correct about anything, which makes her an incredibly unlikable character, even if the main causes of her behavior are somewhat understandable.
The author's lucid and evocative prose sets these scenes up so well, creating a genuinely creepy atmosphere and effectively ratcheting up the suspense as the story progresses. The story is firmly rooted in Appalachian folklore and is one of the eeriest reads I have had thus far....and I've had some creepy ones. It is also shown by closer examination the ways that we harm ourselves and those closest to us when we close off our hearts and withhold forgiveness. Grace and open-mindedness are virtues, and we can exact a terrible toll when we allow ourselves, as this family and town did, to forget that.
The Kenans are a family in crisis. The Dad, Finn, was behind the wheel for the car when the accident took their son. Mom, Rachel, has thrown herself into her work as the police chief of the tiny Virginia town they've moved to. She barely speaks to Finn, and she is harboring more than a few secrets of her own. The remaining daughters, teenager Charlie, and 6-year-old Lucy, are aware their parents’ marriage is in trouble since they aren’t exactly hiding it, and it’s taking a toll on the entire family's relationship with one another
Rachel already has a lot on her mind when she and Deputy Jeremy Whitman, her only remotely competent officer, are called out to the scene of a grisly, horrific crime. At first, they want to call it a run-in with the local family of drug runners, but something doesn’t appear to be true about that story, and Rachel brings it to her superiors, but they don't care to listen and are entirely disinterested. Fortunately, she is able to call in a favor with an ex and get her evidence on the fast tracked for examination.
Then we learn that the local children have started hearing voices coming from the woods that surround the town. The voices are calling to them and beckoning them to come into the forest. If and when they do...because they're kids, so of course they do...but when they come out, they're "changed". they begin to urge other kids to join them. Some of the adults also begin hearing the voices as well and feel compelled to behave violently. The little community begins to spiral out of control, and the Kennan family find themselves smack-dab at the center of it all.
There are several times that Rachel and Finn might have been able to save themselves and their remaining children from what lies in wait for them, but both are so obsessed with their own drama that they can’t see the warnings blaring in their faces. Rachel especially is unwilling to consider that anyone other than herself could possibly be correct about anything, which makes her an incredibly unlikable character, even if the main causes of her behavior are somewhat understandable.
The author's lucid and evocative prose sets these scenes up so well, creating a genuinely creepy atmosphere and effectively ratcheting up the suspense as the story progresses. The story is firmly rooted in Appalachian folklore and is one of the eeriest reads I have had thus far....and I've had some creepy ones. It is also shown by closer examination the ways that we harm ourselves and those closest to us when we close off our hearts and withhold forgiveness. Grace and open-mindedness are virtues, and we can exact a terrible toll when we allow ourselves, as this family and town did, to forget that.
June 19, 2025
ooo yay creepy forest demons kidnapping children and murdering people.
May 26, 2025
Not entirely sure how I feel about this one. It seemed to have some trouble finding itself, mixing Appalachia folklore/horror with a depressed and messed up grieving family. Rachel Kennan is the police chief of a small Virginian town--she and her family are outsiders to the locals, even with the death of their young son, Aiden. Aiden died in a car accident while his father, Finn, was driving drunk. Younger daughter Lucy survived, and Rachel and Finn are making it day-to-day for their daughters, even though Rachel resents Finn so completely for the loss of their son.
Gunn mixes Rachel and Finn's grief with a story rooted in local folklore: a terrifying thing/spirit in the woods, luring children into the forest, igniting hatred and violence throughout the town.
This is a truly horrible and dark story--it does not commit fully to horror or its character-driven plot, but either way, it's violent and awful, full of blood and gore. The characters are pretty mean and terrible, too. Even with the loss of her son, it's impossible to sympathize with Rachel, who comes across as a cheater and a mean, hateful person. She and Finn are terrible parents; honestly, it's not surprising their children want to turn into demons.
This story made me cringe many times and not because of its creepiness. It would have benefited from committing to a character-driven tale, focusing on Rachel and Finn's grief and outsider status in town and deeper points about exclusion of what is different leading to hate. Or, it could have gone fully into the horror story, really embracing the kids and demons. Blending both is a lot, making the plot feel choppy, uneven, and long.
I received a copy of this book from Netgalley and Atria Books in return for an unbiased review.
Gunn mixes Rachel and Finn's grief with a story rooted in local folklore: a terrifying thing/spirit in the woods, luring children into the forest, igniting hatred and violence throughout the town.
This is a truly horrible and dark story--it does not commit fully to horror or its character-driven plot, but either way, it's violent and awful, full of blood and gore. The characters are pretty mean and terrible, too. Even with the loss of her son, it's impossible to sympathize with Rachel, who comes across as a cheater and a mean, hateful person. She and Finn are terrible parents; honestly, it's not surprising their children want to turn into demons.
This story made me cringe many times and not because of its creepiness. It would have benefited from committing to a character-driven tale, focusing on Rachel and Finn's grief and outsider status in town and deeper points about exclusion of what is different leading to hate. Or, it could have gone fully into the horror story, really embracing the kids and demons. Blending both is a lot, making the plot feel choppy, uneven, and long.
I received a copy of this book from Netgalley and Atria Books in return for an unbiased review.
August 18, 2025
This book was spooky. I started reading this at night and it had me creeped out. The atmosphere is fantastic. I was completely immersed and intrigued to find out what was going on throughout this story.
Rachel and her husband Finn are still grieving from the loss of their son when Rachel gets called out to a crime scene in the woods. There is a very mysterious death and children start to go missing.
There is a lot of mystery behind all of the disappearances and tensions rise as everyone starts to become uneasy.
The characters are extremely unlikable but it doesn’t make the story any less good. In fact, I think it might make the story better. I appreciated the glimpses of real life drama within this story. The characters were incredibly cruel to each other and it made me see how marriage really might be for some.
I was engaged in this story till the very end, and this certainly is not a story where you will have any sort of happy ending. If you love dark, mysterious, scary reads then you will probably love this one.
Thank you to NetGalley and Atria Books for sending me an arc in exchange for an honest review.
Rachel and her husband Finn are still grieving from the loss of their son when Rachel gets called out to a crime scene in the woods. There is a very mysterious death and children start to go missing.
There is a lot of mystery behind all of the disappearances and tensions rise as everyone starts to become uneasy.
The characters are extremely unlikable but it doesn’t make the story any less good. In fact, I think it might make the story better. I appreciated the glimpses of real life drama within this story. The characters were incredibly cruel to each other and it made me see how marriage really might be for some.
I was engaged in this story till the very end, and this certainly is not a story where you will have any sort of happy ending. If you love dark, mysterious, scary reads then you will probably love this one.
Thank you to NetGalley and Atria Books for sending me an arc in exchange for an honest review.
September 4, 2024
I was completely floored to read that this is a debut novel. The author has either spent years perfecting her craft or she’s just a genius – the book is that good.
This is small town horror with a tinge of crime.
Our main character and her husband are exceedingly flawed, barely living through extreme grief, and so busy hurting each other that they can’t see what’s happening to their children.
The book is heartbreaking and the horror aspects of it are extremely creepy.
I loved every page of this and can’t wait to read something else from the author!
• ARC via Publisher
This is small town horror with a tinge of crime.
Our main character and her husband are exceedingly flawed, barely living through extreme grief, and so busy hurting each other that they can’t see what’s happening to their children.
The book is heartbreaking and the horror aspects of it are extremely creepy.
I loved every page of this and can’t wait to read something else from the author!
• ARC via Publisher
March 23, 2025
I’ve discovered recently that I’m a huge fan of Appalachian horror stories (if you hear something, no you didn’t) and this one was especially unsettling! Children are always creepy, including my own sometimes, and this book took that to a whole new level! And that end, it really got me 😳 As someone who was born and raised in the area of Virginia where this took place, I could appreciate a lot of elements of the story. I listened to the audiobook and was up until 3 am listening to this book 2 nights in a row. It definitely kept me up and the narrator was a great choice to tell this story.
October 1, 2025
This was soooo bad. I was tricked with the Mare of Easttown comparison. I've never hated characters more in a book; they were all truly insufferable and very two-dimensional. Also, the horror here was really lacking; I felt like it relied on too many tropes and didn't even use them in a new or interesting way. I thin there is potential here for something cool and interesting, but it just wasn't fulfilled at all, in my opinion.
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