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Heather
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Expected 9 Jun 26A small-town detective reopens an unsolved case, sending shock waves across generations of women in this gripping new mystery from the Edgar Award–winning author of Please See Us.
1990. In the myth-riddled woods of the New Jersey Pine Barrens, sixteen-year-old Annabelle Riley's twin sister, Sabrina, has been having an affair with a mysterious older man, and Annabelle is determined to uncover what's going on. Then, inexplicably, both sisters disappear.
In this same town years later, newly instated police chief Callie Hauser makes an arrest that unexpectedly resurrects details from a heartbreaking cold case. As she digs deeper, the past and the present collide, challenging everything Callie believes about right and wrong, who she is, and the town she's always called home.
A propulsive mystery as incisive as it is forgiving, Heather bears a visceral reminder that the truth of a woman's life is often complicated and unknowable—to those on the outside, and sometimes even to herself.
1990. In the myth-riddled woods of the New Jersey Pine Barrens, sixteen-year-old Annabelle Riley's twin sister, Sabrina, has been having an affair with a mysterious older man, and Annabelle is determined to uncover what's going on. Then, inexplicably, both sisters disappear.
In this same town years later, newly instated police chief Callie Hauser makes an arrest that unexpectedly resurrects details from a heartbreaking cold case. As she digs deeper, the past and the present collide, challenging everything Callie believes about right and wrong, who she is, and the town she's always called home.
A propulsive mystery as incisive as it is forgiving, Heather bears a visceral reminder that the truth of a woman's life is often complicated and unknowable—to those on the outside, and sometimes even to herself.
13 pages, Audible Audio
Expected publication June 9, 2026
25 people are currently reading
19261 people want to read
About the author
Caitlin Mullen
3 books430 followersCaitlin Mullen is the author of Please See Us, which won the 2021 Edgar Award for Best First Novel and was named a New York Times best crime novel in 2020. She lives in New Jersey with her husband and children.
instagram: @caitlin_e_mullen
instagram: @caitlin_e_mullen
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 47 reviews
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
3.5⭐
Genre ~ police procedural, crime fiction
Setting ~ New Jersey
Publication date ~ June 6, 2026
Publisher ~ Macmillan Audio
Est Page Count ~ 352 (p+ 54 chapters +e)
Audio length ~ 12 hours 8 minutes
Narrators ~ Bailey Carr, Christine Lakin, Mia Wurgaft
POV ~ 3rd and 2nd (Annabelle)
Featuring ~ 3 parts, small town, cold case, slow burn
Callie is our new police chief ready to set some fresh eyes on the cold case of missing sisters, Annabelle & Sabrina, from the 90's.
These 16 year old twins don't have the best home life, so as you can imagine they don't make the best choices. There are inappropriate relationships resulting in .
Having a mix of 3rd and 2nd person narration was jarring, so I wasn't a big fan of that.
Part 2 we meet Blair in September 2023 that ramps up the story slightly.
Overall, this was fine as cold cases go, but it was very slow moving and pretty predictable. The eerie vibes were on point, though. It's worth mentioning this is not a thriller, so don't expect that going in if that's what you prefer with your mysteries.
Narration notes:
Please as punch there are 3! They all did well.
Pre-reading notes:
Obviously I have to read this one!
Genre ~ police procedural, crime fiction
Setting ~ New Jersey
Publication date ~ June 6, 2026
Publisher ~ Macmillan Audio
Est Page Count ~ 352 (p+ 54 chapters +e)
Audio length ~ 12 hours 8 minutes
Narrators ~ Bailey Carr, Christine Lakin, Mia Wurgaft
POV ~ 3rd and 2nd (Annabelle)
Featuring ~ 3 parts, small town, cold case, slow burn
Callie is our new police chief ready to set some fresh eyes on the cold case of missing sisters, Annabelle & Sabrina, from the 90's.
These 16 year old twins don't have the best home life, so as you can imagine they don't make the best choices. There are inappropriate relationships resulting in .
Having a mix of 3rd and 2nd person narration was jarring, so I wasn't a big fan of that.
Part 2 we meet Blair in September 2023 that ramps up the story slightly.
Overall, this was fine as cold cases go, but it was very slow moving and pretty predictable. The eerie vibes were on point, though. It's worth mentioning this is not a thriller, so don't expect that going in if that's what you prefer with your mysteries.
Narration notes:
Please as punch there are 3! They all did well.
Pre-reading notes:
Obviously I have to read this one!
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
A slow-burn, layered mystery in a haunting setting.
The New Jersey Pine Barrens have long been fertile ground for myth and mystery, and in Heather, Caitlin Mullen uses that eerie landscape to craft a slow-burning, deeply atmospheric thriller about secrets, sisterhood, and the lingering weight of the past.
The story moves between two timelines. In the present day, newly appointed police chief Callie Hauser returns to her hometown hoping to find her footing in a role that carries both professional and personal stakes. When an arrest unexpectedly resurrects details connected to the death of an infant, Callie begins investigating the cold case, as well as the long-unsolved disappearance of twin sisters Annabelle and Sabrina Riley in the mid-1990s - and it's not long before old secrets start to surface and the past begins colliding with the present.
Heather is very much a character-driven mystery, and it works beautifully on that level. Mullen takes her time exploring the complicated lives of the women at the center of the story, examining family ties, buried trauma, and the way small towns preserve both memories and secrets. The Pine Barrens themselves become almost a character in the novel, their folklore and isolating landscape providing the perfect haunting backdrop.
At times, the atmosphere and themes are reminiscent of The God of the Woods , a personal favorite of mine, particularly in the way both novels blend a missing-person mystery with a deeper exploration of family dynamics and long-held community secrets.
My main reservation with the novel itself concerns its different points of view. The twins' sections are written in second person, a stylistic choice that creates a certain distance in the narrative. As a result, those chapters occasionally feel more like a stylistic experiment than a storytelling necessity. In addition, the eventual introduction of a third perspective (Blair) doesn't always feel entirely essential to the narrative.
In the audiobook version, all three perspectives are narrated by different performers, which was an excellent choice. Christine Lakin in particular delivers a standout performance as Callie, capturing both the character's determination and her underlying vulnerability as she navigates the pressures of returning home and reopening a case everyone wants to forget about. Mia Wurgaft also provides a strong and engaging narration in her sections, though they are fewer in number. Finally, Bailey Carr narrates the perspective of the teenage twins. While her performance emphasizes the emotional fragility of the characters, the softer delivery didn't work quite as well for me - especially since I was already struggling with the second-person narration in those chapters.
The pacing of the novel leans firmly toward the slow-burn end of the thriller spectrum, prioritizing atmosphere and character over relentless twists. For readers like myself who enjoy immersive, emotionally complex mysteries, that's very much part of the appeal. Haunting, introspective, and beautifully grounded in its setting, Heather explores family, secrets, and the ways small towns hold onto the past. The result is a thoughtful and layered mystery with an unforgettable atmosphere.
Many thanks to Macmillan Audio for providing me with an ARC of the audiobook in exchange for my honest review.
"Heather" is slated to be released on June 9, 2026.
The New Jersey Pine Barrens have long been fertile ground for myth and mystery, and in Heather, Caitlin Mullen uses that eerie landscape to craft a slow-burning, deeply atmospheric thriller about secrets, sisterhood, and the lingering weight of the past.
The story moves between two timelines. In the present day, newly appointed police chief Callie Hauser returns to her hometown hoping to find her footing in a role that carries both professional and personal stakes. When an arrest unexpectedly resurrects details connected to the death of an infant, Callie begins investigating the cold case, as well as the long-unsolved disappearance of twin sisters Annabelle and Sabrina Riley in the mid-1990s - and it's not long before old secrets start to surface and the past begins colliding with the present.
Heather is very much a character-driven mystery, and it works beautifully on that level. Mullen takes her time exploring the complicated lives of the women at the center of the story, examining family ties, buried trauma, and the way small towns preserve both memories and secrets. The Pine Barrens themselves become almost a character in the novel, their folklore and isolating landscape providing the perfect haunting backdrop.
At times, the atmosphere and themes are reminiscent of The God of the Woods , a personal favorite of mine, particularly in the way both novels blend a missing-person mystery with a deeper exploration of family dynamics and long-held community secrets.
My main reservation with the novel itself concerns its different points of view. The twins' sections are written in second person, a stylistic choice that creates a certain distance in the narrative. As a result, those chapters occasionally feel more like a stylistic experiment than a storytelling necessity. In addition, the eventual introduction of a third perspective (Blair) doesn't always feel entirely essential to the narrative.
In the audiobook version, all three perspectives are narrated by different performers, which was an excellent choice. Christine Lakin in particular delivers a standout performance as Callie, capturing both the character's determination and her underlying vulnerability as she navigates the pressures of returning home and reopening a case everyone wants to forget about. Mia Wurgaft also provides a strong and engaging narration in her sections, though they are fewer in number. Finally, Bailey Carr narrates the perspective of the teenage twins. While her performance emphasizes the emotional fragility of the characters, the softer delivery didn't work quite as well for me - especially since I was already struggling with the second-person narration in those chapters.
The pacing of the novel leans firmly toward the slow-burn end of the thriller spectrum, prioritizing atmosphere and character over relentless twists. For readers like myself who enjoy immersive, emotionally complex mysteries, that's very much part of the appeal. Haunting, introspective, and beautifully grounded in its setting, Heather explores family, secrets, and the ways small towns hold onto the past. The result is a thoughtful and layered mystery with an unforgettable atmosphere.
Many thanks to Macmillan Audio for providing me with an ARC of the audiobook in exchange for my honest review.
"Heather" is slated to be released on June 9, 2026.
March 16, 2026
Thank you to NetGalley and Macmillan Audio for providing an ALC in exchange for honest feedback.
I’m not typically into slow burn thrillers (and this one was slowwww) however, it was so well done that it kept me intrigued throughout. It was incredibly atmospheric and the characters were complex which added to the tension intimacy of the story. It was giving “Mare of Easttown” vibes and I can absolutely envision this book as a movie or series. Definitely a haunting read that will linger in my mind.
I’m not typically into slow burn thrillers (and this one was slowwww) however, it was so well done that it kept me intrigued throughout. It was incredibly atmospheric and the characters were complex which added to the tension intimacy of the story. It was giving “Mare of Easttown” vibes and I can absolutely envision this book as a movie or series. Definitely a haunting read that will linger in my mind.
March 2, 2026
I liked it!! Very exciting and then satisfying cold case mystery! Initially it was slow but picked up quite a bit. There is a back in forth between pov and timelines that was incredibly successful in my eyes.
When I started reading it I had the thought that I didn’t want to read about a cop solving a cold case, I’d rather read about a teenager (good girls guide to murder) or a group of old people (Thursday murder club) doing that. That said and with the most minimal spoilers - this book does eventually arrive at acab.
Heather is sort of giving Mare of Easttown, the absolutely incredible Kate Winslet mini series - I recommend that show and this book with equal measure.
Thanks for the arc and looking forward to the pub date this June. This would be a great summer read!!
When I started reading it I had the thought that I didn’t want to read about a cop solving a cold case, I’d rather read about a teenager (good girls guide to murder) or a group of old people (Thursday murder club) doing that. That said and with the most minimal spoilers - this book does eventually arrive at acab.
Heather is sort of giving Mare of Easttown, the absolutely incredible Kate Winslet mini series - I recommend that show and this book with equal measure.
Thanks for the arc and looking forward to the pub date this June. This would be a great summer read!!
March 13, 2026
This was a complicated read for me. First, thank you to MacMillan audio and NetGalley for the advanced listener copy. I think the story was beautifully narrated, with each narrator’s voice distinct and lending to the atmospheric tone of the novel. They were a highlight for sure!!
That said, I believe this novel is best received if you let it wash over you and don’t think too closely about all the mental leaps these characters are making throughout the story, or the plot gaps that could have been fleshed out, solving these mysteries quicker. You need to suspend your disbelief for an enjoyable, emotionally charged(-ish???) read with some good twists and turns. I unfortunately did not do that for most of my listen.
There were several moments here where I found myself going “well no duh”, because the writing was trying so hard to be profound and add depth to things that didn’t need any extra emotional value! Callie is described as not knowing *~*why*~* she decides to flip through the old yearbook of the twins to see her kinda-estranged mother’s photo….well like…I can tell you why, and I don’t know if the reason is as profound as it’s written to be. Sometimes humans make choices and they don’t need three poetic metaphors as justification for each choice, especially when all three narrators are written in this very specific way. These women wind up blending into each other, save for the different perspectives they’re written in. Simpler writing would have supported the grit of this story’s themes of addiction and grimy, awful men really well.
I think the story needed either way more of Blair’s perspective leading to a reveal, or none at all. Her section felt like an afterthought, though listening to it rather than reading a print copy may have lended to this feeling. I also didn’t think the love interest was necessary in Callie’s journey for anything other than giving her a place to be while other important things happened.
I’d like to pitch this as a really good, atmospheric HBO Max show, where I think some of the elements could be served in more authentic ways. There’s a lot of really rich world building and interesting material here, if we could rely more on “show” and less on “tell”.
That said, I believe this novel is best received if you let it wash over you and don’t think too closely about all the mental leaps these characters are making throughout the story, or the plot gaps that could have been fleshed out, solving these mysteries quicker. You need to suspend your disbelief for an enjoyable, emotionally charged(-ish???) read with some good twists and turns. I unfortunately did not do that for most of my listen.
There were several moments here where I found myself going “well no duh”, because the writing was trying so hard to be profound and add depth to things that didn’t need any extra emotional value! Callie is described as not knowing *~*why*~* she decides to flip through the old yearbook of the twins to see her kinda-estranged mother’s photo….well like…I can tell you why, and I don’t know if the reason is as profound as it’s written to be. Sometimes humans make choices and they don’t need three poetic metaphors as justification for each choice, especially when all three narrators are written in this very specific way. These women wind up blending into each other, save for the different perspectives they’re written in. Simpler writing would have supported the grit of this story’s themes of addiction and grimy, awful men really well.
I think the story needed either way more of Blair’s perspective leading to a reveal, or none at all. Her section felt like an afterthought, though listening to it rather than reading a print copy may have lended to this feeling. I also didn’t think the love interest was necessary in Callie’s journey for anything other than giving her a place to be while other important things happened.
I’d like to pitch this as a really good, atmospheric HBO Max show, where I think some of the elements could be served in more authentic ways. There’s a lot of really rich world building and interesting material here, if we could rely more on “show” and less on “tell”.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
I am extremely grateful to Macmillan Audio and NetGalley for giving me the privilege of reviewing an ALC (Advance Listener Copy) of this book in exchange for my honest opinions.
Heather is a wonderful slow-burn mystery that is very immersive and atmospheric. In the modern timeline, Chief of Police Callie Hauser makes an arrest that hits surprisingly close to home. While dealing with the trauma that stirs up, she uncovers shocking clues tied to a cold case from the past. In 1994, twin sisters Annabelle and Sabrina Riley are eking out a hardscrabble existence after their mother abandoned them and their father is rarely around to help. Sabrina gets caught up in a relationship with a mysterious older man, and Annabelle feels her sister pulling away. Terrified of losing the one tether to normalcy she has left, Annabelle decides to spy on her sister and find out more about the elusive stranger she only knows as The Coyote. Both sisters then disappear without a trace, and the case goes cold.
The story unfolds across the two timelines from the perspectives of Callie and the Riley sisters. The entire story is set in the New Jersey Pine Barrens, a place well known for its mythical lore and stories of hauntings. I enjoyed the way the real-life folklore of the Barrens is woven into the narrative. The sticky, summery vibes would make this a perfect seasonal read. I enjoyed the back-and-forth between the timelines, although I was a little overwhelmed by the number of characters at the start. That eventually settled down, and the story became easy to follow.
This is for sure a slow-burn narrative, but I found the pacing to be steady throughout. I have seen this compared to The God of the Woods by Liz Moore, and I definitely see similarities. I also picked up some Tana French, Ozark, and Mare of Easttown vibes. There is some suspension of disbelief required for certain elements to make sense, but nothing too far-fetched. This is as much a story of trauma and women having to make difficult choices—or having no choices available—as it is a gritty mystery. There was a nice twist about 45% of the way through that I did not see coming, and I was fully locked in by then. The audio narration was beautifully executed and added to my enjoyment of the story.
Very well written, this one will appeal to fans of slow-burn mysteries, survivor stories, crime procedurals, or anyone intrigued by the lore of the New Jersey Pine Barrens. 3.75 stars rounded up for the twist and a solid ending
Heather is a wonderful slow-burn mystery that is very immersive and atmospheric. In the modern timeline, Chief of Police Callie Hauser makes an arrest that hits surprisingly close to home. While dealing with the trauma that stirs up, she uncovers shocking clues tied to a cold case from the past. In 1994, twin sisters Annabelle and Sabrina Riley are eking out a hardscrabble existence after their mother abandoned them and their father is rarely around to help. Sabrina gets caught up in a relationship with a mysterious older man, and Annabelle feels her sister pulling away. Terrified of losing the one tether to normalcy she has left, Annabelle decides to spy on her sister and find out more about the elusive stranger she only knows as The Coyote. Both sisters then disappear without a trace, and the case goes cold.
The story unfolds across the two timelines from the perspectives of Callie and the Riley sisters. The entire story is set in the New Jersey Pine Barrens, a place well known for its mythical lore and stories of hauntings. I enjoyed the way the real-life folklore of the Barrens is woven into the narrative. The sticky, summery vibes would make this a perfect seasonal read. I enjoyed the back-and-forth between the timelines, although I was a little overwhelmed by the number of characters at the start. That eventually settled down, and the story became easy to follow.
This is for sure a slow-burn narrative, but I found the pacing to be steady throughout. I have seen this compared to The God of the Woods by Liz Moore, and I definitely see similarities. I also picked up some Tana French, Ozark, and Mare of Easttown vibes. There is some suspension of disbelief required for certain elements to make sense, but nothing too far-fetched. This is as much a story of trauma and women having to make difficult choices—or having no choices available—as it is a gritty mystery. There was a nice twist about 45% of the way through that I did not see coming, and I was fully locked in by then. The audio narration was beautifully executed and added to my enjoyment of the story.
Very well written, this one will appeal to fans of slow-burn mysteries, survivor stories, crime procedurals, or anyone intrigued by the lore of the New Jersey Pine Barrens. 3.75 stars rounded up for the twist and a solid ending
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
🎧 Audio Review: Narration was decent, just not a fan that some of the story was in second person POV.
📝 Story Review: Decent read, but not a fave.
Moving back to her home town to help a friend in need, she leaves narcotics behind to become the new chief of police in this small town. But drugs are rampant and she plans to find out who is behind it. Derailed by a cold case that involves her mother, the chief is set on a journey to unravel the truth of what happened so many years ago in this town. And then her mother goes missing…
What I Liked: The dual timeline is an aspect I enjoyed and the story from back then was tragic and emotionally moving. - I also liked the little bit of romance the chief found during this story and how that played out as a sideline and not a main focus to detract from the mystery.
What I Didn’t Like: Second person POV is not really my thing and when we went back in time, that’s what it was. - This story moved SO SLOWLY…. I honestly felt that a third or more of it could’ve been cut out easily. - The chief of police seemed more and more incompetent, unprofessional and bumbling, the deeper into the story we went. So many clues she didn’t connect and easily dismissed. I found it hard to believe she was some big city cop before coming here because she didn’t seem to act like one. It made for a somewhat disappointing story.
My Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️ 3/5
Vibes: Moving at a snails pace; a little twisty; tragic.
Tropes 👇
- Jersey Devil folklore
- Dual timelines
- Cold case reopened
- Police chief FMC 👮
- Missing person
- Drug ring
- A town filled with secrets
- Friendships are tested
- Twin siblings
- DNA tests
CW’s 👇
- Teen pregnancy
- A little religious fanaticism
- Subject of teen abortion vs birthing
- Stillbirth/abandoning newborn
- Adult preying on teen girls
- Drug use/selling
- Overdoses/teens doing drugs
- Parental neglect
- Alcoholic parent
- Dead wild animals
Audio Release Date: June 9, 2026
Audio Run Time: 11 hrs, 33 mins
Narrated By: Bailey Carr; Christine Lakin & Mia Wurgaft
Genre: Mystery/Thriller
POV: Multi; a mix of Second & Third Person
Thank you to NetGalley and Macmillan Audio for this ALC in return for my honest review.
📝 Story Review: Decent read, but not a fave.
Moving back to her home town to help a friend in need, she leaves narcotics behind to become the new chief of police in this small town. But drugs are rampant and she plans to find out who is behind it. Derailed by a cold case that involves her mother, the chief is set on a journey to unravel the truth of what happened so many years ago in this town. And then her mother goes missing…
What I Liked: The dual timeline is an aspect I enjoyed and the story from back then was tragic and emotionally moving. - I also liked the little bit of romance the chief found during this story and how that played out as a sideline and not a main focus to detract from the mystery.
What I Didn’t Like: Second person POV is not really my thing and when we went back in time, that’s what it was. - This story moved SO SLOWLY…. I honestly felt that a third or more of it could’ve been cut out easily. - The chief of police seemed more and more incompetent, unprofessional and bumbling, the deeper into the story we went. So many clues she didn’t connect and easily dismissed. I found it hard to believe she was some big city cop before coming here because she didn’t seem to act like one. It made for a somewhat disappointing story.
My Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️ 3/5
Vibes: Moving at a snails pace; a little twisty; tragic.
Tropes 👇
- Jersey Devil folklore
- Dual timelines
- Cold case reopened
- Police chief FMC 👮
- Missing person
- Drug ring
- A town filled with secrets
- Friendships are tested
- Twin siblings
- DNA tests
CW’s 👇
- Teen pregnancy
- A little religious fanaticism
- Subject of teen abortion vs birthing
- Stillbirth/abandoning newborn
- Adult preying on teen girls
- Drug use/selling
- Overdoses/teens doing drugs
- Parental neglect
- Alcoholic parent
- Dead wild animals
Audio Release Date: June 9, 2026
Audio Run Time: 11 hrs, 33 mins
Narrated By: Bailey Carr; Christine Lakin & Mia Wurgaft
Genre: Mystery/Thriller
POV: Multi; a mix of Second & Third Person
Thank you to NetGalley and Macmillan Audio for this ALC in return for my honest review.
March 16, 2026
Thank you to Macmillan Audio and NetGalley for the ALC in exchange for my honest feedback!
First things first, I wouldn’t exactly call Heather a thriller in the traditional sense. It’s more of a literary, slow-burn mystery that’s deeply atmospheric and character driven (think The God of the Woods). Personally, I love this style, but it’s certainly not for anyone seeking something fast-paced.
Heather moves between two timelines. In the present day, Callie returns to her hometown in the New Jersey Pine Barrens as the newly appointed police chief. She makes an arrest that hits close to home and rouses details of a cold case from the 1990s regarding missing sisters Annabelle and Sabrina Riley and the death of an infant.
In the mid-90s, teenage twins Annabelle and Sabrina are caught up in a complicated relationship with an older man. They’re dependent on one another for just about everything — their mother abandoned them and their father is always gone.
As Callie investigates the cold case in the present, secrets start to unravel and the two timelines begin to collide.
I loved that on the surface, it’s a cop investigating and solving a cold case mystery. But once you look a little deeper, it’s a rich social commentary. It’s equal parts family drama and literary thriller. It explores motherhood, childhood trauma, and belonging. And Caitlin Mullen does such an excellent job of weaving all of these things together to build a deeply atmospheric and moving story. I highly recommend it!
In the audiobook version, each perspective is narrated by a different voice actor, but I found their voices to be a little bit too similar. The narrator for Callie, in particular, did such a spectacular job. She made the story easy to follow and kept the listener truly invested despite the slower pacing. I also thought the soft and subtle delivery of Sabrina and Annabelle worked to really emphasize their innocence and loneliness as well.
What kept this from being a 5-star read for me was the second person point of view for the twins’ perspectives. That stylistic choice I found curious and a little confusing. I think it would’ve hit harder had the point of view remained in third or even switched to first instead of second.
Overall, I anticipate Heather to be a major hit when it releases this summer!
First things first, I wouldn’t exactly call Heather a thriller in the traditional sense. It’s more of a literary, slow-burn mystery that’s deeply atmospheric and character driven (think The God of the Woods). Personally, I love this style, but it’s certainly not for anyone seeking something fast-paced.
Heather moves between two timelines. In the present day, Callie returns to her hometown in the New Jersey Pine Barrens as the newly appointed police chief. She makes an arrest that hits close to home and rouses details of a cold case from the 1990s regarding missing sisters Annabelle and Sabrina Riley and the death of an infant.
In the mid-90s, teenage twins Annabelle and Sabrina are caught up in a complicated relationship with an older man. They’re dependent on one another for just about everything — their mother abandoned them and their father is always gone.
As Callie investigates the cold case in the present, secrets start to unravel and the two timelines begin to collide.
I loved that on the surface, it’s a cop investigating and solving a cold case mystery. But once you look a little deeper, it’s a rich social commentary. It’s equal parts family drama and literary thriller. It explores motherhood, childhood trauma, and belonging. And Caitlin Mullen does such an excellent job of weaving all of these things together to build a deeply atmospheric and moving story. I highly recommend it!
In the audiobook version, each perspective is narrated by a different voice actor, but I found their voices to be a little bit too similar. The narrator for Callie, in particular, did such a spectacular job. She made the story easy to follow and kept the listener truly invested despite the slower pacing. I also thought the soft and subtle delivery of Sabrina and Annabelle worked to really emphasize their innocence and loneliness as well.
What kept this from being a 5-star read for me was the second person point of view for the twins’ perspectives. That stylistic choice I found curious and a little confusing. I think it would’ve hit harder had the point of view remained in third or even switched to first instead of second.
Overall, I anticipate Heather to be a major hit when it releases this summer!
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
3.5 stars
Mystery? Yes. Thriller? Not by my assessment. Readers who like a slow burn across multiple timelines will enjoy the pay off in this one.
Two timelines operate in the same small town. In 1990, the focal point is a pair of teenage twin sisters. These two have basically no supervision and are really dependent on each other for everything adults should be providing. It's no surprise that some real creepers get into their business. What IS surprising is how non-functional so many people around them are. The whole time I was reading these scenes, I just kept thinking about the extraordinary value of a single functioning adult or parent or guardian in a kid's life. Yeesh.
A generation later, in the same spot, Callie, the police chief, is trying to solve a cold case. While I started off very invested in Callie's story and timeline, that was hard to hold on to throughout the read. Mullen is in no rush to get readers answers, and we really have to feel the same slow walk toward resolution that Callie does. At times, I thought this book might turn into a cold case of my own!
I have mixed feelings about this read because I enjoyed it overall and aspects of it very much. The pacing felt really inconsistent to me, and I found myself several times being surprised by how little happened in a long period of listening. I am not a patient person and tend to suffer in slow burn situations, so readers who differ in these ways may have a more consistently positive experience here.
I enjoyed this enough to know I'd absolutely read more from this author.
*Special thanks to NetGalley and Macmillan Audio for this alc, which I received in exchange for an honest review. The opinions expressed here are my own.
Mystery? Yes. Thriller? Not by my assessment. Readers who like a slow burn across multiple timelines will enjoy the pay off in this one.
Two timelines operate in the same small town. In 1990, the focal point is a pair of teenage twin sisters. These two have basically no supervision and are really dependent on each other for everything adults should be providing. It's no surprise that some real creepers get into their business. What IS surprising is how non-functional so many people around them are. The whole time I was reading these scenes, I just kept thinking about the extraordinary value of a single functioning adult or parent or guardian in a kid's life. Yeesh.
A generation later, in the same spot, Callie, the police chief, is trying to solve a cold case. While I started off very invested in Callie's story and timeline, that was hard to hold on to throughout the read. Mullen is in no rush to get readers answers, and we really have to feel the same slow walk toward resolution that Callie does. At times, I thought this book might turn into a cold case of my own!
I have mixed feelings about this read because I enjoyed it overall and aspects of it very much. The pacing felt really inconsistent to me, and I found myself several times being surprised by how little happened in a long period of listening. I am not a patient person and tend to suffer in slow burn situations, so readers who differ in these ways may have a more consistently positive experience here.
I enjoyed this enough to know I'd absolutely read more from this author.
*Special thanks to NetGalley and Macmillan Audio for this alc, which I received in exchange for an honest review. The opinions expressed here are my own.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
I was immediately drawn to this one because of the gorgeous cover, it’s honestly one of those books that just begs to be picked up. The premise also sounded right up my alley: a mystery rooted in the eerie folklore of the New Jersey Pine Barrens, a twin disappearance in the 90s, and a cold case resurfacing years later.
Overall, I thought this was a solid and compelling mystery. The story moves between past and present, slowly revealing what happened to Annabelle and Sabrina while Police Chief Callie Hauser digs into the case years later. The atmosphere is really well done, with the Pine Barrens adding a haunting backdrop that fits the story perfectly.
That said, it felt a bit slow for me at times. The pacing leans more toward a gradual, character-driven unraveling of the mystery rather than a fast-paced thriller, so it took me a while to fully get into it. Still, I appreciated how carefully the story explored the complexities of the characters and the ripple effects of long-buried secrets.
I can definitely see why this is recommended for readers of The God of the Woods by Liz Moore. While that one wasn’t a personal favorite for me either, the similarities are there in the tone, the layered mystery, and the focus on atmosphere and character.
Even if it wasn’t a perfect fit for my reading preferences, it’s a thoughtful and well-crafted mystery that I think many readers will really enjoy.
Thank you NetGalley & Macmillan Audio for this ALC in exchange of my honest opinion!
Overall, I thought this was a solid and compelling mystery. The story moves between past and present, slowly revealing what happened to Annabelle and Sabrina while Police Chief Callie Hauser digs into the case years later. The atmosphere is really well done, with the Pine Barrens adding a haunting backdrop that fits the story perfectly.
That said, it felt a bit slow for me at times. The pacing leans more toward a gradual, character-driven unraveling of the mystery rather than a fast-paced thriller, so it took me a while to fully get into it. Still, I appreciated how carefully the story explored the complexities of the characters and the ripple effects of long-buried secrets.
I can definitely see why this is recommended for readers of The God of the Woods by Liz Moore. While that one wasn’t a personal favorite for me either, the similarities are there in the tone, the layered mystery, and the focus on atmosphere and character.
Even if it wasn’t a perfect fit for my reading preferences, it’s a thoughtful and well-crafted mystery that I think many readers will really enjoy.
Thank you NetGalley & Macmillan Audio for this ALC in exchange of my honest opinion!
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
Thank you to NetGalley and MacMillan Audio for this ALC of Heather by Caitlin Mullen!
I binged this audiobook over the weekend and I can’t say enough good things about it. The writing is beautiful. The descriptions, the way it flows, it’s really good and atmospheric. The narration was well done for the audio book. It read like a movie. I am not kidding when I said I could not put it down!!
The characters are so realistic. Callie, Annabelle, Sabrina….i feel like i know all of them after reading this book. I became super invested in the 2nd part of this book when the twins were introduced. The way this novel all wraps up the lives of these characters is seamless.
I love the intricacies of motherhood, girlhood and coming of age are all wrapped into this novel. It’s heartbreaking and exciting all at the same time. My heart broke for Annabelle and Sabrina. I was so angry for Callie and Jenna. The relationships between Jane & Callie…how real female friendship feels. The complex relationship they all share felt so real to me in a way I haven’t read in a book in a long time. It was really well thought out and developed. This is so much more than a novel about mystery and cold cases.
I think this book was very well structured. There is so much going on in this book but it never feels overwhelming or hard to follow. It all wraps up very neatly with an ending that is surprising!
I feel like this book is going to be big this summer. An easy 5 star rating for me.
I binged this audiobook over the weekend and I can’t say enough good things about it. The writing is beautiful. The descriptions, the way it flows, it’s really good and atmospheric. The narration was well done for the audio book. It read like a movie. I am not kidding when I said I could not put it down!!
The characters are so realistic. Callie, Annabelle, Sabrina….i feel like i know all of them after reading this book. I became super invested in the 2nd part of this book when the twins were introduced. The way this novel all wraps up the lives of these characters is seamless.
I love the intricacies of motherhood, girlhood and coming of age are all wrapped into this novel. It’s heartbreaking and exciting all at the same time. My heart broke for Annabelle and Sabrina. I was so angry for Callie and Jenna. The relationships between Jane & Callie…how real female friendship feels. The complex relationship they all share felt so real to me in a way I haven’t read in a book in a long time. It was really well thought out and developed. This is so much more than a novel about mystery and cold cases.
I think this book was very well structured. There is so much going on in this book but it never feels overwhelming or hard to follow. It all wraps up very neatly with an ending that is surprising!
I feel like this book is going to be big this summer. An easy 5 star rating for me.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
Title Heather
Author: Caitlin Mullen
Format: 🎧
Narrators: Bailey Carr, Christine Lakin and Mia Wurgaft
Publisher: Macmillan Audio
Genre: Dark Mystery
Pub Date: June 9, 2026
Rating: 3 Stars
Pages: 352
1994 ~ Mysterious woods of the New Jersey Pine Barrens.
Story, is told between 1994 and present day,
The 16 year old Riley twins have been left to take care of themselves after their mother leaves them and their father spends all his time at work.
Promiscuous Sabrina finds herself involved with an older man, and Annabelle wants to find out what is ‘going on”.
They both disappear without a trace.
Present Day ~, Callie Hauser returns to her hometown which is the same town the Riley twins are from- Hauser is now the Chief of Police. When she finds a cold case that appears on her desk she decided to make it a priority.
Although this author is new to me, Mystery Thrillers are always my ‘go to’ stories. However - I really didn’t do my research on this one and soon found I was struggling with the cruelty of mankind- rape and abuse to women – certainly not an enjoyable read. I do admire with an Author tackles a tough subject but also like when there are solutions and not just foul language in frustration.
But I did hang in there as I was curious.
Want to thank Macmillan Audio for this audiobook.
Publishing Release Date scheduled for June 9, 2026.
Author: Caitlin Mullen
Format: 🎧
Narrators: Bailey Carr, Christine Lakin and Mia Wurgaft
Publisher: Macmillan Audio
Genre: Dark Mystery
Pub Date: June 9, 2026
Rating: 3 Stars
Pages: 352
1994 ~ Mysterious woods of the New Jersey Pine Barrens.
Story, is told between 1994 and present day,
The 16 year old Riley twins have been left to take care of themselves after their mother leaves them and their father spends all his time at work.
Promiscuous Sabrina finds herself involved with an older man, and Annabelle wants to find out what is ‘going on”.
They both disappear without a trace.
Present Day ~, Callie Hauser returns to her hometown which is the same town the Riley twins are from- Hauser is now the Chief of Police. When she finds a cold case that appears on her desk she decided to make it a priority.
Although this author is new to me, Mystery Thrillers are always my ‘go to’ stories. However - I really didn’t do my research on this one and soon found I was struggling with the cruelty of mankind- rape and abuse to women – certainly not an enjoyable read. I do admire with an Author tackles a tough subject but also like when there are solutions and not just foul language in frustration.
But I did hang in there as I was curious.
Want to thank Macmillan Audio for this audiobook.
Publishing Release Date scheduled for June 9, 2026.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
I don't think I'll ever tire of small-town mysteries, and Heather was one of those slow-burns that was both familiar and unexpected. It captured the complexity of evil rather than a straightforward answer of who was good and who was bad.
After returning to her hometown, Callie joined the local police force as their first female (and youngest in history) Chief of Police. Talk about fitting in with the boys' club. Not only did she face animosity from her colleagues, she had to deal with an alcoholic mother who would rather see the bottom of a bottle than see her daughter while she also had to scrutinize the friend she cared about most.
Many people would consider Callie a success story. But what good was recognition from a town with a history of diminishing the lives of young girls-- forgotten girls who had childhoods similar to hers?
Twins Sabrina and Anabelle were among these girls. The chapters toggled back and forth between two main timelines: Callie’s and Anabelle’s. Having Anabelle’s story added dimension and tension, but I really disliked how it was told in second person point of view. Whatever the author’s intent behind this choice, it was not for me, especially in audio format.
Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for the audiobook in exchange for an honest review.
After returning to her hometown, Callie joined the local police force as their first female (and youngest in history) Chief of Police. Talk about fitting in with the boys' club. Not only did she face animosity from her colleagues, she had to deal with an alcoholic mother who would rather see the bottom of a bottle than see her daughter while she also had to scrutinize the friend she cared about most.
Many people would consider Callie a success story. But what good was recognition from a town with a history of diminishing the lives of young girls-- forgotten girls who had childhoods similar to hers?
Twins Sabrina and Anabelle were among these girls. The chapters toggled back and forth between two main timelines: Callie’s and Anabelle’s. Having Anabelle’s story added dimension and tension, but I really disliked how it was told in second person point of view. Whatever the author’s intent behind this choice, it was not for me, especially in audio format.
Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for the audiobook in exchange for an honest review.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
3.5⭐
Heather was a mixed bag for me. The last 50%, I listened to in one sitting. I got really sucked in and needed to know what happened. The pieces she laid in the first half came together nicely to form a satisfying conclusion. I also enjoyed the different POVs and timelines. Sometimes in books with multiple POVs, one of them is so much weaker that it ruins the story, but I did not find that to be the case here.
The first 50%, on the other hand, was difficult to get through. I was contemplating whether I wanted to finish; I kept picking it up and putting it down over and over again. I can understand and appreciate a slow build, but in the case of Heather, it was too slow. A good 50-100 pages of this book could be cut to improve the pacing without changing the story.
I had the audiobook for this one, and I enjoyed the experience. The narrators did a good job, and I personally liked that one POV was in second person (I always find POV changes more obvious when listening to a book, but maybe that’s just me). The caveat I would place here is that there are a lot of characters in this story, many with very generic names. So if you have trouble keeping track of different characters across different timelines, the physical copy may be better.
Thanks to Macmillan Audio & NetGalley for this ALC in exchange for my honest opinion.
Heather was a mixed bag for me. The last 50%, I listened to in one sitting. I got really sucked in and needed to know what happened. The pieces she laid in the first half came together nicely to form a satisfying conclusion. I also enjoyed the different POVs and timelines. Sometimes in books with multiple POVs, one of them is so much weaker that it ruins the story, but I did not find that to be the case here.
The first 50%, on the other hand, was difficult to get through. I was contemplating whether I wanted to finish; I kept picking it up and putting it down over and over again. I can understand and appreciate a slow build, but in the case of Heather, it was too slow. A good 50-100 pages of this book could be cut to improve the pacing without changing the story.
I had the audiobook for this one, and I enjoyed the experience. The narrators did a good job, and I personally liked that one POV was in second person (I always find POV changes more obvious when listening to a book, but maybe that’s just me). The caveat I would place here is that there are a lot of characters in this story, many with very generic names. So if you have trouble keeping track of different characters across different timelines, the physical copy may be better.
Thanks to Macmillan Audio & NetGalley for this ALC in exchange for my honest opinion.
March 16, 2026
Thanks to #MacmillanAudio and #NetGalley for providing this ALC!
Oof! First off, let say the narrators for this book - Bailey Carr, Christine Lakin, and Mia Wurgaft - were all phenomenal. They read with such feeling, it felt like they were telling their own stories. Bravo!
Next, this story. So sad, so tragic, so disturbing. I kinda guessed who did it, but it was still very worth the journey to get there. And there were definitely detail pieces that were surprising. I really liked the ending of this book. It wasn’t a fairytale happy ending (obviously, it couldn’t be) and it wasn’t so sad that it left you feeling depressed at the end. It was the right mix of reality, but with a positive spin that gives the reader hope.
The author really did such an excellent job portraying the thought processes of teenage girls. It’s almost painful to read, remembering what it felt like to want to say things out loud, but not know how to find the words to do so. Being so full of emotions that, at the time, felt like the world’s weight was on you, or that the world was ending. It’s very real at the moment, and it’s very sad that we all have to go through it. It made me very thankful that I at least had a great mom that tried very hard to help me learn to express myself and my needs. So many do not.
#Heather #CaitlinMullen
Oof! First off, let say the narrators for this book - Bailey Carr, Christine Lakin, and Mia Wurgaft - were all phenomenal. They read with such feeling, it felt like they were telling their own stories. Bravo!
Next, this story. So sad, so tragic, so disturbing. I kinda guessed who did it, but it was still very worth the journey to get there. And there were definitely detail pieces that were surprising. I really liked the ending of this book. It wasn’t a fairytale happy ending (obviously, it couldn’t be) and it wasn’t so sad that it left you feeling depressed at the end. It was the right mix of reality, but with a positive spin that gives the reader hope.
The author really did such an excellent job portraying the thought processes of teenage girls. It’s almost painful to read, remembering what it felt like to want to say things out loud, but not know how to find the words to do so. Being so full of emotions that, at the time, felt like the world’s weight was on you, or that the world was ending. It’s very real at the moment, and it’s very sad that we all have to go through it. It made me very thankful that I at least had a great mom that tried very hard to help me learn to express myself and my needs. So many do not.
#Heather #CaitlinMullen
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
Netgalley ARC
This was a twisted story around a cold case from before Police Chief Callie Hauser was even born. Who was the older man Annabelle's twin sister, Sabrina, seeing before both girls disappeared? What is the story of the baby who was found around that time? As Callie digs deeper into this story, she finds herself and her mother, are tangled up in it in ways she never knew. While the mystery is at the heart of the story, there is also a lot of theming around generational trauma and how women don't always manage to save themselves when they find themselves cornered.
We get multiple perspectives - past and present. The storytelling was a bit jarring with the switching between third and second person narratives, but overall, it didn't bother me as I read this on audio, and the narrator did a great job creating sufficient separation in the reading. The pacing is pretty slow for a mystery, but it's not a thriller, so I wasn't expecting a very fast paced sotry. The reveals are fairly predictable, but I wasn't bored, and Part 2 introduces a new character after which the pacing picked up a lot.
A huge thank you to the author and the publisher for providing an e-ARC via Netgalley. This does not affect my opinion regarding the book.
This was a twisted story around a cold case from before Police Chief Callie Hauser was even born. Who was the older man Annabelle's twin sister, Sabrina, seeing before both girls disappeared? What is the story of the baby who was found around that time? As Callie digs deeper into this story, she finds herself and her mother, are tangled up in it in ways she never knew. While the mystery is at the heart of the story, there is also a lot of theming around generational trauma and how women don't always manage to save themselves when they find themselves cornered.
We get multiple perspectives - past and present. The storytelling was a bit jarring with the switching between third and second person narratives, but overall, it didn't bother me as I read this on audio, and the narrator did a great job creating sufficient separation in the reading. The pacing is pretty slow for a mystery, but it's not a thriller, so I wasn't expecting a very fast paced sotry. The reveals are fairly predictable, but I wasn't bored, and Part 2 introduces a new character after which the pacing picked up a lot.
A huge thank you to the author and the publisher for providing an e-ARC via Netgalley. This does not affect my opinion regarding the book.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
•𝐀𝐋𝐂 𝐑𝐞𝐯𝐢𝐞𝘄•
[Heather]
🔥 Release Date: Jun 09 2026 🔥
Thank you to Macmillan Audio and Netgalley for the advanced copy!
★★★☆☆
I really wanted to love this one. The plot sounded so intriguing, and I was hoping to get completely pulled in.
The story moves between 1990 and present day. In the earlier timeline, we follow teenage twin sisters who are basically raising themselves. Their isolation is unsettling, and the lack of competent adults around them is honestly the most horrifying part of the book. You keep waiting for someone responsible to step in, and that absence creates a creeping anxiety.
For me, the first 50% dragged quite a bit. A lot of characters are introduced early on, and it was easy to lose track of who was who. With the deliberate slower pacing, I’d look back and realize not much had actually happened. I’m probably not the most patient reader, so that definitely affected my experience.
I also wouldn’t call this a thriller. It reads more like a slow mystery. If you enjoy gradual unraveling and layered storytelling, this one will likely resonate. For me, it ended up being an unexpectedly rewarding listen once the story found its stride.
[Heather]
🔥 Release Date: Jun 09 2026 🔥
Thank you to Macmillan Audio and Netgalley for the advanced copy!
★★★☆☆
I really wanted to love this one. The plot sounded so intriguing, and I was hoping to get completely pulled in.
The story moves between 1990 and present day. In the earlier timeline, we follow teenage twin sisters who are basically raising themselves. Their isolation is unsettling, and the lack of competent adults around them is honestly the most horrifying part of the book. You keep waiting for someone responsible to step in, and that absence creates a creeping anxiety.
For me, the first 50% dragged quite a bit. A lot of characters are introduced early on, and it was easy to lose track of who was who. With the deliberate slower pacing, I’d look back and realize not much had actually happened. I’m probably not the most patient reader, so that definitely affected my experience.
I also wouldn’t call this a thriller. It reads more like a slow mystery. If you enjoy gradual unraveling and layered storytelling, this one will likely resonate. For me, it ended up being an unexpectedly rewarding listen once the story found its stride.
March 12, 2026
Plot: The novel centers on a small-town police chief who revisits a decades-old disappearance involving twin sisters in the New Jersey Pine Barrens.
Review: Heather is a compelling and immersive mystery with a haunting sense of place. The shifting timelines work well to build tension, and the novel’s focus on girlhood, motherhood, and the secrets people carry adds emotional depth beyond the central investigation. The writing is atmospheric and thoughtful, making the story feel both intimate and suspenseful.
Audio Review: The audiobook narration was also strong. I thought the narrator did a great job capturing the tone and mood of the story, helping the characters feel distinct and grounded. That said, because the narrative moves across multiple timelines and perspectives, I think the audiobook might have benefited from a larger multi-narrator cast to make those transitions even clearer.
Overall, this is a thoughtful and engaging mystery that balances suspense with character-driven storytelling. Fans of literary thrillers of the small-town secret variety will likely find a lot to enjoy in this book.
Review: Heather is a compelling and immersive mystery with a haunting sense of place. The shifting timelines work well to build tension, and the novel’s focus on girlhood, motherhood, and the secrets people carry adds emotional depth beyond the central investigation. The writing is atmospheric and thoughtful, making the story feel both intimate and suspenseful.
Audio Review: The audiobook narration was also strong. I thought the narrator did a great job capturing the tone and mood of the story, helping the characters feel distinct and grounded. That said, because the narrative moves across multiple timelines and perspectives, I think the audiobook might have benefited from a larger multi-narrator cast to make those transitions even clearer.
Overall, this is a thoughtful and engaging mystery that balances suspense with character-driven storytelling. Fans of literary thrillers of the small-town secret variety will likely find a lot to enjoy in this book.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
Many thanks to NetGalley and Macmillan Audio for the free audiobook in exchange for my honest review. Narrated by Bailey Carr; Christine Lakin; Mia Wurgaft; all of whom do a fantastic job telling this story!
The Riley twins were abandoned by their mother and eventually their father, now trying to finish high school while living in squalor. Is it any surprise when both girls disappear? Years later Callie returns to her hometown as the new chief of police. Callie becomes engrossed in a cold case involving the Riley twins and a dead baby. As Chief Callie investigates, old secrets become coming out.
This story is a well written murder mystery set in a small town. It is told in multiple POV by several of the characters and it really worked well. It has strong police procedurals, drug trafficking and plenty of suspense. It ticked all of the boxes for me! Despite figuring out the ending, I really did not care as the story had me hooked from the first chapter! Highly recommend!!!
The Riley twins were abandoned by their mother and eventually their father, now trying to finish high school while living in squalor. Is it any surprise when both girls disappear? Years later Callie returns to her hometown as the new chief of police. Callie becomes engrossed in a cold case involving the Riley twins and a dead baby. As Chief Callie investigates, old secrets become coming out.
This story is a well written murder mystery set in a small town. It is told in multiple POV by several of the characters and it really worked well. It has strong police procedurals, drug trafficking and plenty of suspense. It ticked all of the boxes for me! Despite figuring out the ending, I really did not care as the story had me hooked from the first chapter! Highly recommend!!!
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
Heather is a compelling SFC detective drama/mystery novel involving a tragic cold case. There is a dark secret in this small woodsy town of NJ, involving a web of people.
This story contains some difficult subject matter, including some that is pretty controversial. I think it might anger those on all sides of the controversy…
It’s atmospheric. It’s sad. It’s tragic. It’s empathetic.
For the most part, I enjoyed this book on audio, though I did find it to be long and excessive in its slow burn build. I think it took some unnecessary tangents trying to make cultural points that didn’t need to be there. I could sense it was a labor of love, and some topics may have been too hard to detach from in the editing process.
The narration was great, with Bailey Carr Christine Lakin, and Mia Wurgaft capturing the melancholy tone of the book.
Thank you NetGalley and Macmillan Audio for the ALC of this book in exchange for my honest review.
This story contains some difficult subject matter, including some that is pretty controversial. I think it might anger those on all sides of the controversy…
It’s atmospheric. It’s sad. It’s tragic. It’s empathetic.
For the most part, I enjoyed this book on audio, though I did find it to be long and excessive in its slow burn build. I think it took some unnecessary tangents trying to make cultural points that didn’t need to be there. I could sense it was a labor of love, and some topics may have been too hard to detach from in the editing process.
The narration was great, with Bailey Carr Christine Lakin, and Mia Wurgaft capturing the melancholy tone of the book.
Thank you NetGalley and Macmillan Audio for the ALC of this book in exchange for my honest review.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
3.5 stars! Heather is marketed to fans of The God of the Woods, and I could not agree more. Personally, I did not love that novel, but I see many similarities. The structure feels the same. The summery feeling mixed with a mystery. The writing style truly feels as though they were written by the same author. Heather is a lot more enjoyable because the story is more interesting to me!
I liked going back and forth between time. With the direction the story was going, it only made sense. I enjoyed being able to try to piece the mystery together myself with these details. The story felt a little slow at points, but once it went on more, it was less noticeable.
Thank you NetGalley, Celadon Books, & Caitlin Mullen for an ARC in exchange for an honest review. Heather is released on June 9, 2026!
I liked going back and forth between time. With the direction the story was going, it only made sense. I enjoyed being able to try to piece the mystery together myself with these details. The story felt a little slow at points, but once it went on more, it was less noticeable.
Thank you NetGalley, Celadon Books, & Caitlin Mullen for an ARC in exchange for an honest review. Heather is released on June 9, 2026!
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
I really liked Heather, I couldn't get into God of the Woods, but Heather was a steady burn. It might be because I listened to the audio. The narrators were fantastic!!! Especially Christine Lakin (a new favorite narrator), Bailey Carr, and Mia Wurgaft. They kept me listening chapter after chapter.
Heather is told in 3 POV from Callie, Annabell and Blair. Callie opens a cold case from 30 years ago about a baby found in the woods. Callie is the new sheriff in town and she's starting off with a bang.
Who's baby was it and who was her mother?
You'll need to read it to find out for yourself, no spoilers here. It's also about family and what you would do or secrets you would keep for them.
I want to thank Netgalley, Macmillan Audio and Caitlin Mullen for an advanced audio ARC in exchange for my honest review.
Heather is told in 3 POV from Callie, Annabell and Blair. Callie opens a cold case from 30 years ago about a baby found in the woods. Callie is the new sheriff in town and she's starting off with a bang.
Who's baby was it and who was her mother?
You'll need to read it to find out for yourself, no spoilers here. It's also about family and what you would do or secrets you would keep for them.
I want to thank Netgalley, Macmillan Audio and Caitlin Mullen for an advanced audio ARC in exchange for my honest review.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
This was my first book by Caitlin Mullen, and it was well worth the read. Heather kept me engaged with plenty of twists and turns that made the mystery unfold in interesting ways.
I always enjoy stories that alternate between past and present, and this one handled that structure really well. The shifting timelines helped build suspense and slowly reveal the bigger picture. The characters were also well written, making it easy to stay invested in what was happening to them.
While a few of the twists felt a bit obvious to me, many others genuinely surprised me. The ending felt slightly rushed after such a steady buildup, but it still brought the story together in a satisfying way.
Overall, a great read and a strong introduction to this author for me.
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the opportunity to preread and review this book.
I always enjoy stories that alternate between past and present, and this one handled that structure really well. The shifting timelines helped build suspense and slowly reveal the bigger picture. The characters were also well written, making it easy to stay invested in what was happening to them.
While a few of the twists felt a bit obvious to me, many others genuinely surprised me. The ending felt slightly rushed after such a steady buildup, but it still brought the story together in a satisfying way.
Overall, a great read and a strong introduction to this author for me.
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the opportunity to preread and review this book.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
This was an atmospheric mystery set in the eerie woods of the New Jersey Pine Barrens. The setting added a constant sense of tension that carried through the entire story. The timeline moves between 1994, when sixteen year old twins Annabelle and Sabrina disappear, and the present day when Police Chief Callie Hauser begins digging into a case that unexpectedly connects to that cold case. As Callie investigates, old secrets begin to surface and the past starts colliding with the present.
This leans more toward a slow burn mystery that focuses on character and the complicated lives of women. It explores family, secrets, and how small towns hold onto the past. A thoughtful and layered mystery with a haunting setting that I absolutely loved!
Thanks to NetGalley and Macmillan audio for the gifted copy.
This leans more toward a slow burn mystery that focuses on character and the complicated lives of women. It explores family, secrets, and how small towns hold onto the past. A thoughtful and layered mystery with a haunting setting that I absolutely loved!
Thanks to NetGalley and Macmillan audio for the gifted copy.
March 14, 2026
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the advanced listener copy of this book.
When I heard that this book was reminiscent of God of the Woods, I knew I needed to give it a listen. That was one of my top books read last year, and I have to say I was not disappointed in this read!
The narration was one of my favorites. The narrator's voice was engaging and really helped bring the story together. I know people normally mention narration when it's multiple narrators' narrating, but I have to say I really enjoyed her voice.
The story was great! I liked Callie and spent the book wondering what happened to her mom, Annabelle, and Sabrina. I really loved how all of the women in the book somehow tied into each other perfectly. This was a great read that I would recommend to honestly anyone! Definitely a copy I'll pick up for my mom to read as it's not niche it's just good fiction!
When I heard that this book was reminiscent of God of the Woods, I knew I needed to give it a listen. That was one of my top books read last year, and I have to say I was not disappointed in this read!
The narration was one of my favorites. The narrator's voice was engaging and really helped bring the story together. I know people normally mention narration when it's multiple narrators' narrating, but I have to say I really enjoyed her voice.
The story was great! I liked Callie and spent the book wondering what happened to her mom, Annabelle, and Sabrina. I really loved how all of the women in the book somehow tied into each other perfectly. This was a great read that I would recommend to honestly anyone! Definitely a copy I'll pick up for my mom to read as it's not niche it's just good fiction!
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
I thoroughly enjoyed this atmospheric, slow burn mystery. The dual timeline, multiple POV keeps the reader enthralled throughout the book. I really felt for Callie as she was investigating the 30 year old case of a dead baby while trying to find her missing mother.
The setting of the pine barrens in southern New Jersey piqued my interest as I grew up not far from there. The author does a wonderful job of conveying the sense of place.
The narrators are fantastic and make the listening experience wonderful.
This is not a thriller. I highly recommend to readers/listeners who enjoy a well crafted slow burn mystery.
3.75 out of 5 stars
Thanks to Macmillan Audio for the ALC in exchange for my honest feedback.
The setting of the pine barrens in southern New Jersey piqued my interest as I grew up not far from there. The author does a wonderful job of conveying the sense of place.
The narrators are fantastic and make the listening experience wonderful.
This is not a thriller. I highly recommend to readers/listeners who enjoy a well crafted slow burn mystery.
3.75 out of 5 stars
Thanks to Macmillan Audio for the ALC in exchange for my honest feedback.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
This book is compared to Moore’s The God of the Woods which I thought was an apt comparison. It's about an event that unearths a mystery from years ago. It's in a small town. It's a quiet story which ends up not being about the mystery. All of these I think are reasonable parallels.
This is a slow burn but, for me, it was an excellent read from beginning to end. I loved Callie from the very beginning and was invested. The audio book was truly excellent. The narrators brought the story alive and made it so there wasn't a moment of boredom in this slow moving story. I loved it from beginning to end.
with gratitude to netgalley and Macmillan Audio for an advanced copy in exchange for an honest review
This is a slow burn but, for me, it was an excellent read from beginning to end. I loved Callie from the very beginning and was invested. The audio book was truly excellent. The narrators brought the story alive and made it so there wasn't a moment of boredom in this slow moving story. I loved it from beginning to end.
with gratitude to netgalley and Macmillan Audio for an advanced copy in exchange for an honest review
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
I received the audio ARC of this book from NetGalley and just finished it a few minutes ago. I really enjoyed the plot and our FMC, Callie. The narration was very good for the most part, but the voice of Opal (Callie’s niece) was grating as heck. I don’t listen to many audiobooks so I’m not sure how kids usually sound… Two timelines and a full cast of characters in both - it may have been easier to track reading than listening, I had to rewind several times. Still, excellent writing, I would definitely read something else by Caitlin Mullen - but will do the ebook or paper next time.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
I really liked the MC in the present-day storyline. She was a bit of a badass, but still humble and full of insecurities—it was refreshing to see a woman who wasn’t perfect, just trying to do her best. I also enjoyed the way the past and present timelines were woven together. Many of the “whodunnit” elements were spelled out fairly clearly, which I actually appreciated. It meant I didn’t have to spend the whole time trying to decode foreshadowing or hidden clues and could just enjoy the story as it unfolded.
Review of advance copy received from Publisher
In the New Jersey Pine Barrens, a new police chief reopens a thirty-year-old cold case that changes everything she thought she knew about herself, her mother, and her hometown. What I loved about this thriller is the role of teenage girls: twins who disappeared, her mother as a teen, and a girl who nearly overdoses on heroin. Mullen examines abuse, poverty, friendship, and addiction, and the roles each plays in these girls' lives. Told in a dual timeline, this book is immersive and propulsive. I really could not put it down.
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