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The Answers are in the Forest
New town. New house. Unexplainable occurrences.
It didn’t take me long to figure out that there’s something strange about the house my mom and I moved in to.
Weird drawings, toys appearing out of nowhere, the sound of footsteps and kids giggling at night—it all points to one thing…our house is haunted.
Instead of packing my stuff and running as far away from the creepy house as possible, I decide to investigate. Risky? Stupid? Maybe. But rather than feed my fear, the mystery that surrounds the haunting leaves me wanting answers.
The pile of questions I have leads me straight to Rusck and his twin brother. Oh, and did I mention there’s a talking rabbit as well? Yup, this particular rabbit seems to be possessed by a five-year-old girl—which only raises more questions.
Desperate to piece together the puzzle of missing children, we soon realize that if we’re not careful, we might be the next victims to fall down this dark, deadly, rabbit hole.
It didn’t take me long to figure out that there’s something strange about the house my mom and I moved in to.
Weird drawings, toys appearing out of nowhere, the sound of footsteps and kids giggling at night—it all points to one thing…our house is haunted.
Instead of packing my stuff and running as far away from the creepy house as possible, I decide to investigate. Risky? Stupid? Maybe. But rather than feed my fear, the mystery that surrounds the haunting leaves me wanting answers.
The pile of questions I have leads me straight to Rusck and his twin brother. Oh, and did I mention there’s a talking rabbit as well? Yup, this particular rabbit seems to be possessed by a five-year-old girl—which only raises more questions.
Desperate to piece together the puzzle of missing children, we soon realize that if we’re not careful, we might be the next victims to fall down this dark, deadly, rabbit hole.
212 pages, Paperback
Published March 29, 2019
32 people are currently reading
52 people want to read
About the author
Katie Kaleski
11 books109 followersKatie Kaleski has started down many career paths and held many jobs—indie craft store clerk, pizza maker, photo developer, shoe salesperson and cashier, dental assistant in the army, daycare teacher, student teacher—but her favorite one by far is being a writer.
She’s originally from Chicago, so she says things like pop, gym shoes, and front room. Her favorite food group is sugar, and she loves writing young adult and romance novels.
She’s originally from Chicago, so she says things like pop, gym shoes, and front room. Her favorite food group is sugar, and she loves writing young adult and romance novels.
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Displaying 1 - 14 of 14 reviews
May 6, 2019
(This review will be on my blog All the Ups and Downs soon.)
I'm a big fan of ghost stories and haunted houses, so when I heard about The Answers Are In The Forest by Katie Kaleski, I knew it was a book I had to read. Luckily, it was a good read.
I went into The Answers Are In The Forest thinking this would be more of a haunted house/ghost story, and while there are ghosts, it's not a spooky ghost story. This is more of a horror mystery than a ghost story. Local children ranging in age from 8 through 15 have been murdered. They use dead rabbits as vessels for their spirits to talk to Gabby, the main character. Gabby feels compelled to solve the mystery of who the killer is. However, this puts Gabby in grave danger. I will say that the plot has been done before in other books, but The Answers Are In The Forest still makes for an interesting read. I didn't predict who the actual killer was at all. Even those I thought were guilty turned out to be innocent. Sometimes the plot felt a bit confusing, but I was able to figure it out easily enough after reading a bit more. There is a bit of a cliff hangar at the end of the book, but this is to be expected as it's part of a new series. For those that aren't big into series, I think this book could do alright as a standalone.
All the characters felt like real life people. There were times when Gabby felt a bit spoiled, but she is a teen, and we've all had moments like that. I did admire her tenacity to find out what happened to the murdered children no matter the danger to herself. I found Gabby's mom to be annoying. This wasn't because she was written poorly, but I just didn't like how uninterested she was in what was going on with Gabby especially when Gabby ended up in the hospital. Gabby's mom started out being somewhat caring, but she seemed to just become uninterested as the book progressed. My favorite character was Rusck. I just loved how caring and loyal Rusck seemed to be. I also admired his determination.
The pacing for The Answers Are In The Forest was done well for the most part. There were a few times that it did go too quickly, and I found myself wondering what had just happened. However, it would slow down to a good pace quickly enough, and I was able to enjoy reading it again.
Trigger warnings include profanity, violence (sometimes fairly graphic), and murder (both children, adult, and animal).
Overall, The Answers Are In The Forest is an interesting read although the plot has been done before. The characters are interesting enough and the plot flows well for the most part. I would recommend The Answers Are In The Forest by Katie Kaleski to those aged 15+. I will definitely be reading the next book in the series!
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(A special thank you to YA Bound Book Tours for providing me with an eBook of The Answers Are In The Forest by Katie Kaleski in exchance for an honest and unbiased review.)
I'm a big fan of ghost stories and haunted houses, so when I heard about The Answers Are In The Forest by Katie Kaleski, I knew it was a book I had to read. Luckily, it was a good read.
I went into The Answers Are In The Forest thinking this would be more of a haunted house/ghost story, and while there are ghosts, it's not a spooky ghost story. This is more of a horror mystery than a ghost story. Local children ranging in age from 8 through 15 have been murdered. They use dead rabbits as vessels for their spirits to talk to Gabby, the main character. Gabby feels compelled to solve the mystery of who the killer is. However, this puts Gabby in grave danger. I will say that the plot has been done before in other books, but The Answers Are In The Forest still makes for an interesting read. I didn't predict who the actual killer was at all. Even those I thought were guilty turned out to be innocent. Sometimes the plot felt a bit confusing, but I was able to figure it out easily enough after reading a bit more. There is a bit of a cliff hangar at the end of the book, but this is to be expected as it's part of a new series. For those that aren't big into series, I think this book could do alright as a standalone.
All the characters felt like real life people. There were times when Gabby felt a bit spoiled, but she is a teen, and we've all had moments like that. I did admire her tenacity to find out what happened to the murdered children no matter the danger to herself. I found Gabby's mom to be annoying. This wasn't because she was written poorly, but I just didn't like how uninterested she was in what was going on with Gabby especially when Gabby ended up in the hospital. Gabby's mom started out being somewhat caring, but she seemed to just become uninterested as the book progressed. My favorite character was Rusck. I just loved how caring and loyal Rusck seemed to be. I also admired his determination.
The pacing for The Answers Are In The Forest was done well for the most part. There were a few times that it did go too quickly, and I found myself wondering what had just happened. However, it would slow down to a good pace quickly enough, and I was able to enjoy reading it again.
Trigger warnings include profanity, violence (sometimes fairly graphic), and murder (both children, adult, and animal).
Overall, The Answers Are In The Forest is an interesting read although the plot has been done before. The characters are interesting enough and the plot flows well for the most part. I would recommend The Answers Are In The Forest by Katie Kaleski to those aged 15+. I will definitely be reading the next book in the series!
--
(A special thank you to YA Bound Book Tours for providing me with an eBook of The Answers Are In The Forest by Katie Kaleski in exchance for an honest and unbiased review.)
May 27, 2021
Gabby is forced to move into an old house with her mom as a fresh start. While Gabby is trying to get use to not having her brother around and a new school, the house brings a different mystery. One that the ghosts are insistent she help them with, and Gabby cannot ignore them. Missing kids, weird toys, a decaying rabbit that speaks. There's only so much time before another kid goes missing and ends up a ghost too. And that could be Gabby herself.
This YA paranormal had just enough creepiness. The best part: the talking rabbits. Gabby doesn't have a pretty life, but she does have a good heart. She's rightfully scared but brave enough to help the ghosts find their murderer. But who can it be? There are lots of red herrings, and I like those twists, even if I wasn't a big fan of the final one. I adored Rusck and his twin brother, Creed who had nearly died himself the previous year. I hoped I could put my faith in them, and it was fun that I was suspecting everyone.
This YA paranormal had just enough creepiness. The best part: the talking rabbits. Gabby doesn't have a pretty life, but she does have a good heart. She's rightfully scared but brave enough to help the ghosts find their murderer. But who can it be? There are lots of red herrings, and I like those twists, even if I wasn't a big fan of the final one. I adored Rusck and his twin brother, Creed who had nearly died himself the previous year. I hoped I could put my faith in them, and it was fun that I was suspecting everyone.
December 31, 2019
Gabby knows that she should try harder but it isn't easy but she will try for her brother Gerald especially as she is the reason that he is in prison. She can't stand her mother and she has no choice but to go to school. Where everyone treats her differently but some do make friends with her so maybe it won't be so bad. But she wonders about the strange boy Rusck he has many secrets and she wonders why she always sees him near her house. Then she finds out that his brother was found almost dead in her front yard and she doesn't believe the stories about the talking bunnies that is until she finds them in her basement. Can she help the lost children find the answers that they need? Who murdered them and will anybody believe her? She knows that time is running out and can she trust Rusck to help her? Will her true family come out in the end? A good read.
May 10, 2019
This book keeps you guessing until the bitter end. Suspense, mystery and a little bit of romance, what more could you ask for in a thriller. Fun twist with the way the ghosts talked to Gabby! Gabby was a fun, spirited and we'll developed character. Likeable from the start as were all supporting characters as well. Definitely surprised at who the killer was. Brothers rushing in to save the day was a highlight at the ending. Seeing as the deer showed up I hope there is more to come with Gabby and the gang.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
June 30, 2019
this book was not what I expected. It is a mystery with some slightly creepy parts. Gabby's new house is haunted, and the way that the ghosts decide to communicate is a bit disturbing. As she tries to figure out what is going on, she gets close with a local boy, whose twin brother has something to do with the house but can't remember anything. I did not see the twist at the end coming at all. There is an interesting mix of characters and plot twists that kept me interested until the end. There is no adult content, and there is violence.
November 16, 2021
Creepily amazing
Definitely a different take on a supernatural murder mystery. Gabby and her mom relocate to a new town and crappy house for a fresh start. Almost immediately, Gabby experiences ghostly encounters and worse. What's up with talking zombie rabbits? Great read.
Definitely a different take on a supernatural murder mystery. Gabby and her mom relocate to a new town and crappy house for a fresh start. Almost immediately, Gabby experiences ghostly encounters and worse. What's up with talking zombie rabbits? Great read.
July 2, 2023
Suspenseful ghost story
Some ghost children find a creepy way to ask for help from a teenager with her own problems. They need to figure out who killed them so they can be at peace. Good story.
Some ghost children find a creepy way to ask for help from a teenager with her own problems. They need to figure out who killed them so they can be at peace. Good story.
April 9, 2019
A really creepy story that may keep you up late at night reading to the last page and will also have you looking at a certain animal in a different way.
June 9, 2019
Quick, fast paced and kinda creepy. Thought the ending and killer was out of the blue and unrealistic but other than that it was an interesting read.
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October 16, 2025
The Answers Are In The Forest
Really enjoyed reading this very thrilling and interesting book. Never expected the ending. Highly recommend that you read it you won't be sorry.
Really enjoyed reading this very thrilling and interesting book. Never expected the ending. Highly recommend that you read it you won't be sorry.
April 13, 2019
This book gave me the chills and was so hard to put down! There's some killer mystery telling entwined with a plot that will make you want to search up your favorite episodes of "Are You Afraid of the Dark" after you're done reading because you still want MORE :) Recommending this one to all my friends :)
May 15, 2019
Heartfelt Horror
Who would have expected a horror novel with such a shocking reveal to in other part make me weepy? It's the mark of a very good writer to be able to combine the bizarre and horrible with the touching and make it all believable. Congrats to Ms. Kaleski in doing that.
Who would have expected a horror novel with such a shocking reveal to in other part make me weepy? It's the mark of a very good writer to be able to combine the bizarre and horrible with the touching and make it all believable. Congrats to Ms. Kaleski in doing that.
July 1, 2019
“Yeah it was around this time last year. His brother, his identical twin, went missing for for a few days and when they found him, he was barely conscious, almost dead, on someone’s front lawn mumbling about rabbits. Somebody beat the living daylights out of him. But he kept saying stuff like ‘the rabbits say we need to help the children’ and all that weird crap.”
When Gabby moves to a new town with her mother, she’s bewildered by the strange occurrences she experiences in their new home. Strange drawings, toys appearing out of nowhere and the sound of a child giggling instantly have her on alert. But instead of running, Gabby decides to investigate. With the help of Rusck, Gabby comes to realise that several children have gone missing over the years, their bodies never found. As the killer finally sets their sights on her, can Gabby unravel their identity and free the souls that are trapped?
The Answers are in the Forest was my first introduction to the author. I was intrigued by the synopsis and couldn’t resist requesting an ARC. Usually I avoid horror genres as I’m scared of my own shadow. There were several twists and turns in this book however, to keep the reader invested as Gabby tries to find out the identity of the killer as well as the missing children. My heart went out to the tragic victims, particularly Kevin and I found myself welling up at one stage. The end reveal came as a complete shock and the teaser at the end has ensured that for Gabby, the nightmare is far from over...
When Gabby moves to a new town with her mother, she’s bewildered by the strange occurrences she experiences in their new home. Strange drawings, toys appearing out of nowhere and the sound of a child giggling instantly have her on alert. But instead of running, Gabby decides to investigate. With the help of Rusck, Gabby comes to realise that several children have gone missing over the years, their bodies never found. As the killer finally sets their sights on her, can Gabby unravel their identity and free the souls that are trapped?
The Answers are in the Forest was my first introduction to the author. I was intrigued by the synopsis and couldn’t resist requesting an ARC. Usually I avoid horror genres as I’m scared of my own shadow. There were several twists and turns in this book however, to keep the reader invested as Gabby tries to find out the identity of the killer as well as the missing children. My heart went out to the tragic victims, particularly Kevin and I found myself welling up at one stage. The end reveal came as a complete shock and the teaser at the end has ensured that for Gabby, the nightmare is far from over...
Displaying 1 - 14 of 14 reviews