I loved books 1-6 in this series but was pretty disappointed in Book 7 which, to me, felt like a quick and dirty second draft rather than a full book. Here, in Book 8, MJ Arlidge has definitely fleshed out the story and characters more. The premise is creepy and disturbing and it was good to get to know a new character, DS Joseph Hudson, as, to some extent, Helen, Charlie and Emilia were largely as they always are. I really enjoyed the link to the short story No Way Back and it was good to see Helen with some more allies for once. I found the plot a little frustrating though as there seemed to be so many false starts to the investigation (although, I expect sadly true to life) and I did eventually think I knew whodunit and why and expected a final twist although there wasn't one this time. I would read more about Helen Grace but am looking forward to MJ Arlidge's forthcoming standalone book. Thank you to NetGalley and Penguin UK - Michael Joseph for the ARC of Down to the Woods.

Enough twists and turns with suspects coming and going to keep anyone happy. Unfortunately the story seemed to lose credibility at the end so I can only score three stars. I’ve read MJ Artidge books before but not the one that seemed to have set the scene character wise into this book. I won’t say not knowing all the why’s and wherefor’s ruined it but probably didn’t help as I never seemed to quite connect with them all.

This was the first one of M J Arlidge books that I have read, which was probably an oversight on my part due to the fact that the previous books were referred to several times in the book.
I felt that it was a little bit 'busy' with too many characters all with their own stories. Full marks to the author for keeping on top of them, as they all made sense. Thank goodness for the search button on my kindle.

Thanks to Netgalley, MJ Arlidge and Penguin books for the opportunity to read and review this book.

Down to the Woods is the latest thriller in the detective Grace series. A sequence of gruesome killings in the tranquil New Forest puzzle Helen Grace and her team. I am a huge fan of M J Arlidge and this novel does not disappoint.

DI Helen Grace (a complex character fighting her own demons) is faced with a gruesome killing in a remote area in the New Forest. This soon escalates into a series of ritualistic murders.
A fast moving twisting story line that will keep you intrigued and guessing to the end.#mjarlidge,#downtothewoods,#netgalley

Slaughtering and Torture galore: Bloodcurdling read, kept me on edge throughout in spite of the many all too graphic descriptions of the tortured-to-death butchered victims. Thank you Netgalley/ Publisher Penguin UK Michael Joseph for letting me read an advance copy in return for my honest review

Great read. Lots of suspense. Lots of twists and turns. really enjoyed it, loved the flow of the story.
Kept me reading to the end at times I didn't want to put it down

yet again MJ Alridge has really kept me on my toes love these books, always trying to guess what is about to happen and failing right until the end. Helen Grace as a character never fails to deliver.

Well written and very enjoyable

Well done can't wait until the next one

Eeeee this is SCARY! It kept me awake and I then had to keep reading. Loved it. If you like a tasty turny serial killer then this is for you! Definitely recommend. 5/5 on good reads.

Young campers keep getting murdered near the New Forest camping site. Seemingly unrelated, all victims show horrific injuries and are found miles away from the campsite, deep inside the forest. DCI Grace not only has to catch a serial killer, but also deal with the nosy reporter Emilia, who keeps publishing inside scoops on the murders, and a new member on the squad, DS Hudson.

I enjoyed the fast pace and that some of the background of Helen was provided, as I had not read any of the previous books in the series. I absolutely loved the complex character of Helen, a committed DCI with a difficult past and fearless when faced with a dangerous killer (and she can ride motorcycles!). I liked the twists and turns, although a few of them were a bit obvious. I read the book this summer, while on vacation on an island with a lovely beach and vast forest area. Once I had started reading the book, I avoided the forest. I also had to skim over the descriptions of the killed ponies.

This is the first novel of the DCI Helen Grace series that I have read and I would recommend the book and read future books of the series.

Excellent story, could not put it down. I thoroughly enjoyed reading this book and look forward to reading more books from this author. Definitely recommended to those readers who enjoy reading this genre.

Death in the New Forest National Park

As DI Helen Grace, who leads Southampton’s Major Incident Team, is introducing DS Joseph Hudson to the team they get a call out to a crime scene at the New Forest National Park – a body has been discovered deep in the woods. A young man is hanging from the branches of an oak tree in the middle of a clearing, shot with a crossbow, his face contorted with fear. What is the meaning of this horrific murder? They were dealing with a calculating, resourceful killer – someone who could fashion their own instruments of torture, someone who did not intend to be traced. When Matteo Dominici reports his girlfriend missing from the Sunnyside campsite, DI Grace finds a small incision in the fabric of the tent, wide enough to accommodate a hose or length of tubing so that the occupants can be gassed and tyre tracks nearby. Following the tracks leads them to discover the second victim – Lauren Scott. Why had these two innocent people been attacked? There had to be a clear motive, some obvious connection between the two, but if so, it was hard to discern. The perpetrator was abducting his victims while they slept next to their partners, in crowded campsites, in peak tourist season. Furthermore, the victims weren’t swiftly dispatched – they were let go, given a chance to flee. The team must work hard to find a connection, digging deep into the lives of the victims to find out what links them together.

A gripping detective novel which not only shows how detective work is a painstaking process of digging into the lives of the victims but also explores the lives of the investigators doing the digging. The detectives are human, each with their own demons haunting them and they need to put all that aside and focus on solving the brutal murders so that the victims, as well as their loved ones, can have some closure. An enjoyable read that I would recommend to everyone.

Saphira

Breakaway Reviewers received a copy of the book to review.

I ain’t going in the woods again! I don’t camp but after this I’m not doing it ever- coz someone is hunting and killing campers and stringing them up in the trees. Talk about chilling. The worst part is I could imagine this scenario could happen.

It’s number 8 in the Helen Grace series- I haven’t read the others but I definitely will now.

Crime fiction with suitable menace!

M. J. Arlidge's Helen Grace books just get better and better! I think this may be my favourite one in this series so far. A gruesome (and rather scary) murder in the New Forest sets the scene for Helen, Charlie and the new DS to be involved in a three person murder case that will test them all. Of course, a Helen Grace story would not be complete without Emilia there to report and try and be one step ahead of them so she can pull off a reporting coup! (Though she does give them a vital clue that they'd missed and sets them on the right track to catch the killer). I'm looking forward to the next in the series!

This book has really stayed with me since finishing it a few weeks ago- the scenes in the woods are really scary! The main character, Helen, is such a great protagonist- strong, convincing and likeable. The story grips you and doesn’t let you go, searching for the truth amongst hidden shadows. I liked the many possibilities and the feeling of frustration when the case hit dead ends. It was a creepy read, and one to read again- but with the lights on!

This is the first book by MJArlidge that I have read and it was an enjoyable read but I wasn’t wowed. It is page turning stuff but I felt character development was a bit lacking . However maybe I am missing out from not reading ones earlier in the series. Solid stuff for those who like action packed crime.

Normally love this authors work but tbh, I'm getting a bit bored. Same ole, same ole but this seems to happen with a lot of authors. Given Helen a holiday and write about someone else x

Expert, professional, driven if perhaps overly calculated serial murder story .. but we meet along the trail following the murderer and discover it's all about a girls being raped, revenge and betrayals . But the killer is totally. not who you think, and the police get horribly knocked around. Page turning, tough.

I have stayed with this series and looked forward to reading the latest case. Although not as gripping as earlier books, this has all the ingredients to keep the reader engaged.
Helen is still emotionally and psychologically wounded but the introduction of Hudson to the team does add frission and challenge.
The unravelling of the connections between victims is careful police work with a few "red herrings" to deploy us for a while but Arlidge quickly gets back to the case and the final chase.
There are hints of another book in the series, but can the journalist please not feature? She is a caricature: implausible and a distraction from the action!

I thoroughly enjoyed this book, I'm a big fan of this series and this was brilliant. A serial killer is on the loose in the forest slaying victims with a crossbow. Helen Grace must track the killer down before they strike again. Exciting and well written, I highly recommend this book.