Title: Stranger in the Woods
Author: Anni Taylor | AnniTaylor.me
Publisher: Anni Taylor
Genres: Psychological Thriller, Women’s Contemporary Fiction, Women’s Psychological Thriller
Release Date: September 16th, 2018
BOOK DESCRIPTION
Photographer Isla Wilson is thrilled she’s landed her dream job, but the clients who hired her are getting stranger by the day.
It sounded so perfect—a month’s assignment at the lush Scottish Highlands property of architect Alban McGregor, and his wife, Jessica.
But in the woods, there’s a playhouse with a chilling history.
Two years ago, the McGregors’ daughter Elodie was abducted and then died in that playhouse. The townspeople insist her abductor had to be a stranger in their town. Alban refuses to knock the playhouse down, even keeping a picture of it on his wall.
Sensing the McGregors and townspeople are keeping terrible secrets, Isla plans to discover the truth.
But the closer Isla comes to uncovering answers, the more the danger mounts. And with a dense cover of snow now blanketing the town, all chance of escape might already be gone.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
ANNI TAYLOR lives on The Central Coast, north of Sydney, Australia, with her partner and four boys. Her thriller novels include The Game You Played, The Six, Stranger in the Woods, Poison Orchids and One Last Child. Previously, she was a Features’ Writer and Community Manager for Fairfax Media, Australia.
She also writes young adult fiction under the name, ANYA ALLYN.
WEBSITE: annitaylor.me
REVIEW OF STRANGER IN THE WOODS BY ANNI TAYLOR
Unbelievably creepy and disgusting.
Stranger in the Woods includes some characters who might fit in with a cozy mystery, but this thriller is anything but. The book takes a series of seemingly insignificant, but ultimately eerily coincidental, steps toward a wild ride of a conclusion. At various points throughout the book, there are multiple “villains” of different types and motivations, constantly leaving you guessing at who is ultimately to blame for the tragedies that have taken place in and around this small town.
The intrigue of the story begins when Isla learns about a cold case from two years ago in which a child was victimized and the perpetrator was never found. This leads to questions—and accusations—that morph into awkward interactions and tense altercations leaving Isla feeling like she’s being simultaneously tip-toed around and heavily scrutinized. And she’s right on both counts.
If you’re looking for a multi-layered storyline with extreme twists and turns wrapped in a preternatural vibe, Stranger in the Woods should be your next read.