by Ashley Woo
First published 2026
Elinor discovers she has inherited Wildwood, her family's Vermont estate, at the perfect moment. Pregnant and unemployed, she persuades her husband to relocate to the remote property where they can build their future. The house holds mysteries for Elinor, who lost contact with her extended family years ago. She knows nothing about the prominent Brook family that runs the town or why the locals treat her as an outsider. A strange nineteenth century mural in the master bedroom captivates her. She names it "the Forest of the Dead." Dreams that feel like memories begin to plague her sleep. Visions of past tragedies blur the line between nightmare and reality. Elinor becomes obsessed with learning why her family fractured and what secrets lie buried in Wildwood's history. The house seems to harbor forces that want her to uncover the truth. Her investigation pulls her between past and present, from modern Salem to the darkest corners of the estate. The deeper she digs, the more dangerous her quest becomes.
Genres: historical-fiction, mystery, horror, adult-fiction, psychological-thriller, gothic
Vibes: atmospheric, dark, eerie, haunting, introspective, suspenseful
Tropes: generational-trauma, haunted-house, mystery-investigation, unreliable-reality
Setting: Wildwood, Vermont, Salem
Period: 19th century, 21st century
352 pages · Paperback · Harper Perennial
Content warnings: death