Fran dearest. i have one question for you. what are you doing!? Haha, because i had this question from the start. and then it continued. stranger, secret locations, keeping things quiet, notes oh and lets hunt together. no!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! the red flag were tripping you up Fran.
this was a read that had me uneasy in the best way that a thriller like this should. i was delighting in the creepy vibes and darkness i felt would unfold.
i was constantly waiting for the next twist, or the next shiver of unease, or the next....anything and everything to come.
Fran is someone who obviously had her own stuff going on and we get to know these as we get to know the book. is this another case of someone seeing a victim they could target? her frame of mind leaving her open? but when she is chosen to interview a man who's kept himself out of the way since his wife's tragic death she cant believe it! it means she has to travel to his equally out of the way estate. pretty quickly we get our first "eeesh" moments when Fran receives a warning note. but of course she doesn't heed this she is going to uncover this story. its odd how much Kramer seems to know quite a lot more about her than she him, or than he should?
then he invites her to go hunting. and Fran sees this as getting more personal, he might let his guard down in his own space and hobby? but things very soon dont feel right (errrm hello!) and she begins to doubt not taking the warning and not escaping while she could.
the tension and atmosphere builds and builds to the climax of this book. when i didn't think i could get any more anxious it threw me once again with a great ending.
i loved being on the ride with this book. i cant wait for others to go on it too. and just when you think its all done, you breathing can mellow...well if you haven't quite finished the book at that point then you are NOT done yet...

Tiny Wild Things is a psychological thriller with an intriguing setup: Fran Hendrix, a determined journalist, heads to the remote countryside to interview a reclusive artist who hasn’t spoken publicly since his wife’s tragic death. But when she arrives, the atmosphere quickly shifts — and an anonymous warning message tells her: He is lying to you. Get out while you can.

It’s a compelling premise, and the story does a good job of building tension through isolation, suspicion, and emotional undercurrents. I appreciated the pacing — it was quick, digestible, and perfect for a weekend read.

That said, this wasn’t one of the strongest thrillers I’ve read. I picked up on several key reveals early on, so the “twist” didn’t fully land for me. The ending also felt like a missed opportunity — I would’ve personally preferred something a little bolder or less neat.

Still, the writing was solid, and the story kept me engaged. If you’re looking for a short, twisty read that doesn’t ask too much of you, this is a great pick — especially for fans of The Hunting Party or The Silent Patient who enjoy thrillers with a lighter psychological edge.

Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.

This was such a gloriously strange book.

I accidentally reset my timer whilst reading this so I have no idea how long it took to read, which is oddly fitting for this fever dream.

I haven’t watched Riverdale but I’ve seen the memes about how crazy the plot winds up as, and it seems to match the same vibe as this book.

At the beginning, it’s comparable to a similar new release- Ghostwriter- with elements of The Reappearance of Rachel Price and even The Only One Left; not in quality, I hasten to add, but in the storyline.

Then, it deteriorates into a convoluted take of crime and savage personalities; Fran was just an unsettled journalist desperate to land a big scoop by interviewing reclusive artist Jonathan Kramer, but she’s embodying Laura Croft by the last page.

Despite the ludicrous writing, this book is entertaining to read, and hams up the thriller vibes.
It may take itself seriously but that makes it no less interesting to watch the plot snowball, and the pieces being shoehorned into place.

Personally, it’s an ideal read for bad weather or bad health- too unrealistic to cause any nightmares and too cheesy to resist.

why not celebrate that sometimes more is more?

Turn off your favourite reality TV show and tune into this trainwreck!

Wow I don't really know where to start. This is the first book I've read by this author and I'll definitely check out their others. The first half of the book is a bit of a slow burn, which I quite enjoyed the mystery of it. The second half was a wild ride that I wasn't expecting. The ending was another twist I wasn't expecting and it kinda threw me. The writing style definitely created good atmosphere and it felt easy to get to know the characters. Thanks for the ARC! I really enjoyed it!

Thank you, Storm Publishing, and NetGalley for letting me review Tiny Wild Things, to provide an honest review in return.

I picked this book out to read right away, because the cover and the title just dragged me in. It was mysterious and it made you want to know more.

I have never read a book from this author before, and I am so glad I chose this one! I can’t wait to see what else this author has out there!

This book had, suspense, mystery, and even the creep factor - and well executed in all three categories.

I guessed most of what happened but that was okay for me, because this book was just written so well. The ending - OMG! I had all of the emotions at one point. Just even saying it or where, will give it away. You have to read it!

This is a MUST read book of the year, if you are looking for creepy, mysterious, and suspense, with characters to fall in love with, characters you hate to your core, and a well written plot.

I highly recommend this book, even though I only rated it 3 stars because I was able to guess almost all of the mysteries, and I hate when I am able to be right. I also felt Fran should have asked more questions before taking on this crazy assignment for work, to make the book more believable in the beginning.

Reporter Fran Hendrix has landed an interview with reclusive artist J. Kramer. This is the interview of a lifetime!
After extensive negotiations to guarantee Kramer's privacy, Fran is sent to an undisclosed location for an undetermined length of time.
Fran's unconventional assignment quickly goes from interesting to creepy. Things become unsettling quickly and Fran questions what is really happening. Why would Kramer, a world-renowned artist select her?
Tiny Wild Things starts as a slow-burn psychological thriller and picks up speed quickly.
This is a dark story filled with twists! The ending surprised me!
Thank you Storm Publishing and NetGalley for sending me this ARC!

I recently came across this author and was intrigued by the book after receiving the widget, mainly because I was drawn to the cover. Admittedly, I usually skip over the blurb and choose books based on their visual appeal.

Journalist Fran Hendrix is excited for the opportunity to interview a reclusive artist who hasn't spoken to the media since his wife’s tragic death. Upon arriving at his remote estate, she receives an anonymous message warning her that he is not to be trusted and urging her to leave. Despite the warning, Fran is determined to uncover the story, even as the artist remains evasive and seems to know more about her than he should. When he invites her to go hunting, she hopes it will help her break through his walls. However, as they venture into the wilderness together, she begins to doubt her decision and considers whether she should have heeded the warning to escape.

The story follows the main character, Fran, who carries some dark secrets while trying to lead a seemingly normal life. She just ended a relationship due to some troubling behaviors, but there’s much more to uncover—if you want to find out, you’ll need to read the book yourself.

This is a slow-burning tale, but I found it hard to put down. With its short chapters and atmospheric setting, it felt like a quick read. I kept turning the pages, eager to discover what would happen next. The pace didn't pick up until the final quarter, and I was left astonished by the ending and all the twists that unfolded. It was quite a ride, and I’m thrilled to have experienced it!

The biggest twist? The one that hits just before you reach the last page? Absolutely jaw-dropping and completely unexpected! Kudos to the author for that!

This book is a great fit for anyone who enjoys a clever mystery that doesn’t give away too much until the very end. You might find yourself left speechless as the story comes together in those final chapters. It's definitely a binge-worthy read thanks to the short chapters—I loved every moment!

Thank you, Storm Publishing, for the digital ARC copy. I am leaving this review voluntarily.

A Lyrical and Lethal Game of Truths
Danielle M. Wong’s Tiny, Wild Things is a hauntingly atmospheric thriller that lures you in with poetic beauty before dragging you into the dark. Journalist Fran Hendrix arrives at a secluded estate hoping for a career-defining interview but what unfolds is a chilling spiral of mistrust, manipulation, and the primal instinct to survive.
Wong masterfully blends lyrical prose with taut suspense, crafting a story where nothing is what it seems. Fran’s determination makes her a compelling lead, but it’s the eerie setting and enigmatic host that truly elevate the tension. As secrets unravel in the wilderness, the question isn’t just who’s lying but whether Fran will make it out alive. Thanks to NetGalley and to the publishers of this book for giving me a free advance copy of the book to preview and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

Fran is a budding journalist at a trendy magazine hoping to be something bigger. Her big break finally seems to come when a famous reclusive artist, Jonathan Kramer, asks specifically for her to write his final interview. Under all sorts of secrecy, the likes of which she could never fathom would happen, Fran is whisked away to his manor in an undisclosed location. While she was told the interview would take place under his timeline, she never imagined she would be secreted away at his place for days, with scarcely any cell phone reception. But even stranger are her dreams and the warning texts she gets saying Kramer isn't what he seems. The longer she stays, the deeper she finds the secrets go.
While the book started as somewhat of a slow burn, the mystery mainly being why Fran was chosen, and just what Kramer really intended for the interview, as he and his companion give virtually nothing to Fran. But somewhere shortly after the midway point, the book turned into an out of control car speeding down a mountain side with craziness coming from all angles. While I guessed the main secret very early on (one that was pretty far-fetched to begin with) I never could have guessed the myriad others, mainly because each one seemed like it was placed there simply to outdo all the previous ones. If you like Lifetime Channel and/or sensationalist thrillers, heavy on surprises, light on plausibility, this may be for you. I'm not sure how much the plot ever had me, but it utterly lost me the more over the top it became in the second half.

In this searing, elegantly constructed psychological thriller, Danielle M. Wong delivers a taut, cerebral exploration of paranoia, perception, and power through the figure of Fran Hendrix, an ambitious journalist whose professional hunger becomes the gateway to her personal unraveling. The novel, with its claustrophobic atmosphere and masterful manipulation of psychological tension, secures its place within the contemporary canon of psychological suspense fiction, establishing the author as a consummate storyteller and a formidable voice in the genre.

At the narrative’s core is Fran’s arrival at the remote estate of a reclusive artist, a figure both charismatic and ominous, who has chosen her to conduct his first interview in the aftermath of his wife’s mysterious death. What initially appears to be a career-defining opportunity gradually curdles into a nerve-fraying descent into psychological disorientation. The anonymous warning Fran receives—He is lying to you. Get out while you can—functions as a narrative detonator, shifting the reader’s expectation from journalistic inquiry to existential threat.

The novel’s brilliance lies not merely in its plot, which unfolds with precise, inexorable pacing, but in its use of literary devices that elevate the familiar into the uncanny. The setting—a sprawling, isolated country estate—functions as both physical trap and metaphorical mindscape, a liminal zone in which truth blurs and identity fractures. The wilderness surrounding the estate, particularly during the climactic hunting scenes, becomes a mirror of Fran’s growing inner disorientation, with nature weaponized as both setting and symbol. This interplay of environment and psyche evokes the gothic tradition while remaining firmly rooted in the modern psychological thriller.

Characterization, too, is wielded with surgical control. Fran, though initially confident and sharp, gradually reveals the fragilities that make her the perfect prey for manipulation. Her desire for professional validation, paired with unresolved traumas and a tendency toward self-delusion, renders her a compellingly flawed protagonist. The artist, enigmatic and performatively elusive, remains a cipher for much of the novel, and it is this sustained ambiguity that injects the narrative with relentless unease.

The author excels at narrative misdirection. Flashbacks, dream sequences, and unreliable interior monologues destabilize the reader’s certainty at every turn. The prose, lean yet evocative, traffics in suggestive detail—fragments of memory, glimpses of suppressed truths, and elliptical dialogue—that invite speculation while withholding resolution. This technique is not only a hallmark of the genre but is here employed with particular finesse, creating a reading experience that is both intellectually engaging and emotionally harrowing.

Ultimately, what distinguishes this novel from more conventional entries in the psychological thriller genre is its interrogation of the act of storytelling itself. Fran’s quest for “the story” is mirrored by the reader’s own pursuit of narrative coherence, and both quests are subverted by the novel’s chilling denouement. In the end, the story resists being fully told—just as its central mystery resists being fully solved—leaving the reader in a state of suspended dread.

With this novel, the author does not merely craft a suspenseful narrative; she constructs a psychological labyrinth in which readers are invited to lose themselves. It is a work of sharp intelligence and artistic precision, one that unsettles not through shock alone, but through a slow, meticulous erosion of certainty. In doing so, she cements her place as a master of the contemporary psychological thriller, an architect of dread whose work lingers long after the final page.

Fran is a journalist who finally has her big break when she’s given a chance to interview a notoriously private artist. So private that no one even knows where he lives. Of course, that just makes him that much more intriguing, and there’s no way she’s passing up this chance. After some subterfuge while traveling to the mystery estate, she arrives and is impressed with his beautiful home. He’s less intimidating than expected, but just as stubborn when it comes to revealing any details about his personal life. When she receives an anonymous message claiming he is a liar, his silence becomes more sinister, and she wonders just how safe she is and what he really wants from her.

Without spoiling anything, the plot takes a turn, and the story veers off in a different direction. At that point, the credibility stretches and the more implausible it becomes. There’s a familiar trope that I couldn’t believe was included. And it’s not the only one! The others aren’t as cringeworthy, but it’s almost like the author took two different story ideas and meshed them together. But instead of an intricately woven storyline combining the two, it’s just messy.

If the story had continued to be a credible mystery, I would have enjoyed it more. I like that the author was going for something different and unexpected, but it just went a bit too far.

Fran the journalist is given the opportunity of interviewing a famous artist at his house with strict rules she must agree to. He’s very closed off and secretive about his life. She worries she won’t be able to accomplish the interview in time. Shortly after, she begins to receive text messages warning her about him. This leads her to believe he may have lured her through this job to harm her.

All the characters had complex dark and evil secrets that make the story unsettling. Their interactions with each other and Fran’s past had me feeling terrified for how this was going to end. Just as I had thought I had figured out why Jonathan had chosen her for the interview, many more secrets are revealed that add more mystery to the story. This made me reevaluate all that I had thought of his motives. The ending way predictable and not believable. Overall, the story was unrealistic but very interesting.

Thank you NetGalley for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Thank you to NetGalley and Storm Publishing for providing me with an ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review.

A quiet, eerie mystery with classic vibes
Tiny Wild Things by Danielle M. Wong starts strong with a gripping premise: Fran, a journalist on the verge of a breakthrough, lands the opportunity of a lifetime, interviewing the elusive and famous artist Jonathan Kramer. From the very beginning, there’s an air of secrecy and isolation that pulls you in. Wong does a great job building a haunting, secluded atmosphere, with beautifully written descriptions that give the story a nostalgic, almost cinematic feel.

The slow unraveling of Fran’s backstory through snippets scattered across the novel was a clever touch, especially as everything tied together in the end.

That said, I can’t quite give it a five-star rating. While the concept was compelling, the pacing dragged a bit in the final chapters, and parts of the narrative felt repetitive. The ending, though satisfying in some ways, was also somewhat predictable.

Still, if you enjoy character-driven mysteries with a moody, introspective tone and classic, almost vintage aesthetics....this one is worth picking up!

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Edge of my seat good....I was trying to figure it out til the last second. I stayed into the story from page one!

Tiny Wild Things is an utterly gripping psychological thriller that blends emotional depth with chilling suspense. Danielle M. Wong delivers a haunting story of buried secrets, fractured relationships, and the quiet chaos that unravels behind closed doors. With lyrical writing and unexpected twists, this is a beautifully unsettling read that lingers long after the final page.

4.5, rounded up.

Fran is a struggling writer who is handed the chance of a lifetime — famous artist Jonathan Kramer’s last interview. There are a bunch of weird rules about the trip, but she’s not really in a position to argue. Once she arrives, everything’s just a bit odd and inconvenient. She soldiers on, though, despite Kramer’s reticence. Then, she gets a text message that changes everything.

At first, I felt like I’d read too many similar stories lately (struggling X visits reclusive Y and uncovers a major secret). However, by the end, I was on the edge of my seat. By the way, absolutely brilliant ending. I like that the author went there.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for providing an ARC. This review contains my honest, unbiased opinion.

Well, that was something a little different. I especially enjoyed it when things ramped up in the second part of the book. I like that it was not predictable. I had pretty much decided where it was going but was surprised to find that I was so wrong. A good blend of mystery, intrigue and horror. I think I would prefer it without the final twist, as this was a trick I have seen quite often. Great writing which made it easy to visualise everything that was happening. I think it would make a very atmospheric movie.

Rounding up to 4 ⭐

Starts off well, journalist Fran, sent to interview reclusive artist.
Her big break.
She's still a bit out of sorts after a break up, the cause of which is drip fed to us.
The scenes between Fran and the Kramer had ME feeling like I was walking on egg shells as I read them.
There's more going on here though, and strange goings on soon turn into full on crazy.
I felt the full on crazy a tiny bit silly at times, but it didn't spoil my enjoyment of the book, just felt like a different book.
Kept me entertained to the very last sentence.

Definitely an atmospheric thriller. It fell a little flat for me in terms of feeling like at times there was repetition or filler so story could have been tighter overall.
But the setting created a sense of feeling like I was right in the middle of the woods!
Thank you, NetGalley and the publisher, for access to this eARC.

A brilliant and completely crazy thriller that kept me on the edge of my seat the entire time! Atmospheric and incredibly creepy. A must read for anyone who loves twisty, and very twisted, thrillers.

I read this in one sitting on a Sunday afternoon. I couldn't put it down.