Book Review: The Girl in the Woods by Kristen Ashley

The Girl in the Woods was fantastic! It's one of those stories that I picked up and never wanted to put down because I had to know all the things. From the romance to the suspense, I was hooked!

The Girl in the Woods (Misted Pines #2) by Kristen Ashley

This body would be the last for Zachariah Lazarus…

The Crystal Killer’s latest casualty was discovered in a sleepy town in the Pacific Northwest, Misted Pines.

His years in the FBI, and tracking the Crystal Killer, have taken their toll on Rus. He lost his marriage to the job. And the burdens he carries for the victims was crushing him.

Misted Pines has recently survived a killer’s rampage and a town scandal that made global news. The media was primed to devour a new story. So Rus already has his work cut out for him.

But it’s more.

Something is just not right with this latest victim.

As Rus works with the local sheriff to unravel the mystery, the victim’s employer, Lucinda Bonner, decides she’s going to do everything she can to help.

To help Rus find the killer. To help Rus survive the hunt. To help Rus navigate the intricate, and sometimes sordid, history of the town of Misted Pines.

And to help Rus let go of his burdens.

5 out of 5 stars

The Girl in the Woods was an exciting, thrilling, and passionate read! I loved the characters, the intensity, the slow-burn romance, and the suspense element that was playing out. This had a fantastic build that had me hooked right until the end. Amazing read!

I loved Rus so much. I was pulled into his anguish and was completely invested. He was such a good guy that worked hard and was incredibly perceptive. Lucinda was a loving and caring force that was in charge and owns who she is. I loved all the details about their past and the build to learning those histories. I liked their connection and the subtle flirting happening between them. They had a lot of wonderful moments from sweet and emotional to fiery and hot. I loved the progress of their relationship, it was subtle in a way, but very much present, making the moment when they really connect that much more intense.

I loved the mystery! I liked all the details about the Crystal Lake Killer and how everything developed, I also really enjoyed what was going on in Misted Pines and how it all connected. It was twisted and a very hard subject matter was talked about, the crimes done were brutal and sadistic. It's detailed but I didn’t feel it was overly graphic. I loved the development and hints as everything was pieced together. By the time the conclusion came around, I was on the edge of my seat. The ending was fantastic!

The secondary characters were incredibly well done. I liked how the characters from the first book were integrated and getting more of their personalities. I loved getting more of Harry the sheriff, he’s such a strong presence that draws me in. I would love for this man to get his own story. There's even a connection to one of my favorite KA series and I was beyond thrilled. I was literally cheering when all those dots connected.

This was a well-told story with a great flow and excellent descriptions. I found it to be incredibly consuming. I thought the romance balanced well and liked that there wasn't a ton of drama surrounding Rus and Lucinda’s relationship, that goodness was saved for the mystery aspect. If you want intense suspense combined with a beautiful romance, then I highly recommend The Girl in the Woods!

Complimentary copy received.