Down to the woods was an interesting read with a good storyline. A good story with interesting characters.

I’ve not read this series before so knew I’d be missing some history and background of the characters but this didn’t effect. My enjoyment of the book. I’m not an avid fan of UK based murder/ police procedurals but this was fast paced, gruesome enough (without overkill). I like the main character and I’ll be reading more in this series I am certain. I am going to assume the lack detail on any. Character was due to it being within a series albeit I did find those that were new or specific to this book still lacking of depth so didn’t really get a feel or understanding of anyone.

Thank you to Netgalley and Penguin UK - Michael Joseph for a review copy. This is an unbiased review of the author's work and style. If you want plot lines and spoilers please see the publishers blurb and other reviewers' reports.

Published in September 2018 "Down to the Woods" is the 8th volume in Matthew Arlidge's Inspector Grace novels. His experience in television script writing comes to the fore in his ability to put over in few words a scene, pulling the reader into the novel's world. Whilst he has long experience in the media his books only came to the fore in 2014 since when he has proved his ability in police procedural fiction.
If you have not read the previous seven DI Grace's cases I would advise starting at volume 1 "Eeny Meeny" if you then like what you read you have the joy of seven more of the same waiting for you.

Five stars and worth it

I love M J Alridge's work on DI Grace. Each book just gets better. This novel was fast paced, intriguing and was a great murder mystery to solve. I love the series it is one of the best i have read and i can't wait for the next DCI Grace novel.

I honestly wish I could give a better review of this book. I have been a fan of the Helen Grace series since Eeny Meeny was released back in 2014 and would recommend the books to everyone. However Down to the Woods disappointed me.

I thought the plot was pretty mediocre for Arlidge and if I'm being honest, I think had Helen been a cat, she would have used up all her nine lives a long time ago. I have never known a character to have survived as many situations as Helen and although I love her character, I was starting to wonder if I would be more hocked if things became a little more realistic and she was killed off? I really really hate saying that!

I definitely thought the plot was more realistic than one or two of his other books, as it is a crime I can imagine reading about in the paper. I also loved Charlie as usual and could even imagine her taking over Helen's role at some point.

I think Il always be trying to compare the other books in this series to Eeny Meeny because it was just so brilliant!

This is definitely no teddy bears picnic, but there is certainly a surprise waiting down in the woods - only this one is deadly.Campers are being hunted and their bodies left hanging from the trees, it's up to DI Helen Grace to catch this latest serial killer before more blood is shed.This may well be the 8th book in the series but Arlidge still hasn't lifted their foot from the pedal, and this is another compelling read.

Another hit from the creator of DI Grace. Having read all the previous books in this series I was seriously excited to be given the opportunity to review through Netgalley. I was not let down either. Written just as well as the previous books and gripping from the outset.. Have recommended to everyone I know to read this book and the rest of the series.

You cant go wrong with a Helen Grace crime thriller and this book didn't disappoint.
The story is unpredictable, and captivates the reader with twists.
I really enjoy this series of books.
Highly recommend

As a frequent visitor to the New Forest as a camper when I was growing up this tale gave me the shivers. Really wasn’t sure what the outcome would be as the reader is tossed this way and that, wondering who the culprit could be.
Refreshing change for the strong female lead to give into her temptations, as I sometimes feel that they are expected to maintain their aloof demeanour in other series that I have read I order to show their independence and strength.
Can be read as a stand-alone too. Would recommend.

DI Helen Grace book 8 - I just love this series, this is just a good as the rest
Thanks to Netgalley for the ARC in return for an honest review.

Another amazing novel. Written so engrossingly that it was hard to put down. I haven’t read all the books in this series so struggled to understand some parts but it can definitely be read as a stand alone novel. The reason for the 4 not 5 stars is that I find the back story of the other detectives a bit tedious and add nothing to the storyline. Engaging story and I shan’t be going near any woods soon.

I was really excited to read the next Helen Grace case. This was the series that first got me hooked on crime thrillers and although I've read a lot of books in this genre since, they never fail to disappoint me. As is typical, the crimes featured are pretty unique and a lot gorey. Helen Grace is surrounded by a really interesting team and it was good to get a bit more of Charlie's backstory in this one. A new member joins the team in the form of Hudson and this adds a new dynamic too. Full of suspense, with plenty of twists and turns. Highly recommended!

One thing you know to expect from a DI Helen Grace book; the first theory and suspect she comes up with will not be the killer, usually the second one isn’t either. And you believe her each time. So just when you are wondering who the killer can possibly be, the book races to its conclusion and you never guessed it though the clues are there. ‘Down to the Woods’ is eighth in the Grace series by MJ Arlidge. He is expert at twisting, turning, somersaulting the plot and part of the fun as a reader is figuring out the puzzle he has set.
In the New Forest, campers are disappearing from their tents and being chased through the isolated woods before being killed. I didn’t dwell on the gruesome bits; I prefer the puzzle part of crime novels, the answers are always with the people. Apart from PD James and Susan Hill, this is the series of crime novels I keep on reading. Why? Because Helen Grace is an unusual heroine; she is strong but vulnerable, confident yet quaking inside, spiky but desperate for companionship. For the moment that support comes from her team. The secondary story of her DS, Charlie Brooks, continues. Charlie’s daughter Jessie is having nightmares and the household is short on sleep, while Charlie’s husband Steve wants another baby. And there is a new DS, tall, dark, motorbike riding DS Hudson. Local reporter Emilia Garanita is pushing for the big story, overstepping the line, being a nuisance, endangering herself, as usual.
Just when I was beginning to think Helen was less of a livewire, running into danger without thinking first, when she does exactly that. ‘Down to the Woods’ is perhaps a little less explosive than the earlier books, but this is now a mature crime series and Helen is 45. The challenge for Arlidge is to come up with stories that keep us guessing right until the end without relying totally on Helen. Female characters – Helen, Charlie and Emilia – are undoubtedly Arlidge’s strength and it will be interesting to see if DS Joseph Hudson joins the team on a permanent basis.
One thing disappointed me. More than any previous book, there seemed to be a lot of repetition of stuff the reader can work out for herself; of the ‘if this happens then that might be next’ sort of question. No need for the summarising.
Read more of my book reviews at http://www.sandradanby.com/book-reviews-a-z/

I am a huge fan of this whole series.
I loved the setting of wooden camping areas and the wonderful addition of new characters. Its brilliant to read a series with such great character development. Helen is blossoming into a brilliantly strong and convenient lady and is dealing with her demons head on and coming out the other side.
This is a great solid procedural murder mystery series, with characters you will come to care for so deeply.

This is crime fiction at its best. You are gripped from the first page to the last. You feel as if you are right there in the pages with the characters. Its action packed, gritty and with just the right of emotion. A cracker of a read. Well done MJ Arlidge .

The latest installment in the Helen Grace series does not disappoint. A fantastic story, only slightly let down by the ending.

I have read all the books in this brilliant series with Helen Grace in charge of her team, this time with a new addition. This was completely different to the others in the set mainly due to the location. Kept me hooked until the end.

I've read other MJ Arlidge books and always enjoyed them, so I was really looking forward to "Down to the Woods." It didn't disappoint.

A wide range of characters and a decent number of suspects conceal a surprising motive for a series of brutal murders. Although it's a long book, it's fast paced and flies by, as you gradually delve into the background of the victims and discover why someone would want people with seemingly no connection dead.

If you're a fan of police procedurals and British thrillers, you'll love this.

Thanks to Netgalley for the ARC without obligation.

Thanks to the publisher and NetGalley for a copy of this book for an honest review. I should start by confessing that I don't see the 5 stars that some other reviewers find in this book; yes, the plot moves at a cracking pace, and there is the good sprinkling of false leads to send the reader down blind alleys that one finds in the best crime novels. But, for me at least, the characters felt a little too two-dimensional and stereotyped. The occasional odd and even inappropriate use of some of the descriptive language was also off-putting and somewhat surprising in an experienced author. The use of especially gruesome aspects of crime scenes can be effective in the right settings, but this reader found this aspect added little to the enjoyment of reading. Having said all of that I did want to finish the book to see how the leads would be untangled and finished the book reasonably quickly. Overall, therefore, it's a four star book for me - a read that has enough positives to avoid regret over its purchase, and sufficiently engaging to read briskly over a few nights.

A classic book as part of the loved series....the usual twists and turns with emotion and likeable characters....doesn’t disappoint!