The Girls in the Woods

Today is Northern Hemisphere Hoodie-Hoo Day!  I am not kidding!  On this day you are supposed to go out at noon (I was not even awake then), wave your hands over your head and chant "Hoodie-Hoo".  It is supposed chase away the winter blues and encourage (or, in some areas, welcome) spring.  This is an actual copyrighted holiday (by Wellcat.com). It is also Love Your Pet Day!  A day to pamper your cat, dog, gerbil, or etc.  In my house the dogs think everyday is Love Your Pet Day (I have to admit that they are spoiled).  

The Girls in the Woods by Helen Phifer is the fifth book in The Annie Graham series.  The novel starts out in 1895 with Mr. Tyson photographing three sisters except one of them just passed away.  Mr. Tyson specializes in memento mori photographs (of dead people).  It is a lucrative business and Mr. Tyson keeps an album of all his photos.  Speed ahead to 1995 in Barrow, England.  Annie Graham Ashworth is six months pregnant.  Annie is to stay away from police work and just relax (like that is going to happen).  Will Ashworth (her husband) is called out to a crime scene in the woods.  A group of students discovered a skeleton in the woods. A young teenager was killed and buried.  Then Annie’s niece, Matilda “Tilly” Graham goes missing.  Tilly would never disappear completely.   Then Annie starts getting visited by a ghost of a deceased teenager.  Is there a connection between the body in the woods, the ghost, and Tilly’s disappearance?  Annie cannot help but look into the matter.  Will she be able to find her niece in time and at what cost?

I thoroughly enjoyed The Girls in the Woods.  It had some great elements (mystery, suspense, paranormal) and a wonderful twist at the end (I like it when something unexpected happens).  I have not read the other books in The Annie Graham series, but it did not hinder my enjoyment.  I think it would, though, be beneficial to read the other books in the series (I know I want to read them).  The Girls in the Woods is a complex story with a great deal of action.  It is a definite page turner!  I give The Girls in the Woods 5 out of 5 stars.  I am looking forward to the next book in the series.

The other books in The Annie Graham series are:  The Ghost House, The Secrets of the Shadows, The Forgotten Cottage, and The Lake House.  I received a complimentary copy of The Girls in the Woods from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

I have to head out for some errands.  I need to hit the hardware store and pick up more dog treats (and bones).  I hope everyone has a lovely, relaxing Sunday!  Don't forget that Downton Abbey is on tonight (I do not want the series to end). I am currently reading Shards of Murder by Cheryl Hollon (good book).  Take care and Happy Reading!

Kris
The Avid Reader