What Lies in the Woods by Kate Alice Marshall
Naomi Shaw formerly held a magical belief. She spent the summer of 1992 wandering the woods with her two closest friends, Cassidy and Olivia, dreaming of a world of ritual and enchantment. It was known as the Goddess Game. When Naomi was attacked, the summer came to an abrupt end. She miraculously recovered from her seventeen stabbings and lived to identify the attacker. The youngsters’ evidence helped catch a serial killer who had been wanted for killing six people. They had been heroes. They also told lies. The pals have maintained a dangerous secret for many years. But now that Olivia wants to talk, Naomi decides to learn the truth about what actually occurred in the woods, no matter how perilous it may be.
What Lies in the Woods by Kate Alice Marshall
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Naomi was just eleven years old when she withstood a brutal assault. Naomi was attacked and stabbed seventeen times while playing in the woods with her best pals Olivia and Cassidy. Assailant Alan Michael Stahl was recognized by Cass and Liv as they witnessed the assault, and the police were eager to put him behind bars.
When Naomi learns that Stahl has died in prison twenty years later, she chooses to return home and get in touch with Liv and Cass in order to put her horrific experience to rest. But meeting her former acquaintances simply exacerbates old wounds rather than providing any consolation. Liv claims to have a significant secret she wants to tell Naomi and is visibly upset about something. And that’s not the only secret that might come to light. Years ago, the three sisters made a discovery in the woods and vowed never to talk about it. However, when tragedy hits out of the blue, Naomi starts to doubt her memories. What actually transpired on that day in the forest? And how does it relate to the girls’ major secret? Naomi sets out on a perilous adventure to discover the truth with the aid of a podcaster who has his own reservations about what actually occurred.
Three eleven-year-old girls who become closest friends choose to play a fantasy game together throughout the summer. Cass devises a game in the guise of a fairy tale in which the girls will offer “sacrifices” to Persephone. They give themselves the names of Greek goddesses. The game starts when Naomi gathers items she finds around the house.
They visit a location in the woods they refer to as the grotto where they encounter something terrible. They keep it a secret. 22 years have passed, and they have not said a word. Naomi is brutally attacked while she is alone herself in the woods and Cass and Liv are down by the pond. She sustained multiple stab wounds. She has no memory of being discovered or waking up in the hospital.
Naomi is plagued by issues caused by the attack and everything that came before. The person that keeps the gang together and has the compulsion to make everything right is Cassidy “Cass.” Olivia “Liv” has struggled her entire life and has always been prone to fragility. The women are still essentially a disaster after 22 years. Naomi jumps from unsuitable man to unsuitable man while Cass, at least on the outside, appears to be holding it together. Liv suffers from ongoing depression. The women decide to meet together after the man they all accused passes away from cancer while incarcerated. Liv wants to spread awareness of Persephone. Lies, corruption within the sheriff’s office, other secrets, and even murder occur next.
When Naomi first meets Ethan, a podcaster, she hardly knows where to go. Naomi has a lot of trouble with trust. Naomi feels like a ping pong ball as more is revealed. But she is determined to track the solutions to her problems.
