Review: What Waits in the Woods - Terri Parlanto

Review: What Waits in the Woods - Book #2 Detective Rita Myers - Terri Parlato - December 2023

You know that feeling when you spot a book cover across the library app and just know you have to read it? That was me with What Waits in the Woods. Total cover crush, and bonus points for discovering a new-to-me author! I devoured this one as a Libby ebook on my phone during my commute and late-night reading sessions.

Terri Parlato weaves a solid small-town thriller that had me genuinely creeped out at times. Esmé's return to Graybridge after her ballet career ends should have been a quiet homecoming, but instead she's thrust into investigating her childhood friend's murder in her own backyard , possibly at the hands of the same man who threatened her years ago. The atmospheric New England setting absolutely worked for me, all those woods and whispered secrets.

What I loved was The dual timeline structure kept me engaged, and Detective Rita Myers was a refreshing perspective.  The mystery itself had enough twists to keep me guessing.

Overall, this was an enjoyable thriller perfect for a cozy reading weekend. While it didn't completely blow me away, it was atmospheric enough to keep me turning pages, and I'd definitely pick up another Parlato book. If you love small-town mysteries with dark secrets lurking beneath polished surfaces, give this one a shot!

Amazon: https://amzn.to/4k9zJgc