On a shopping outing with her companion, Yvette, a seven-year-old girl, Virginie, frantically whispers to Elise about the murder of her stepbrother and other young boys. At first, Elise thinks Virginie has a vivid imagination, and then as she becomes friendlier with Virginie's family and gets to know them better, she becomes concerned that Virginie is a troubled little girl. When strange things begin happening to Elise, she is nearly drowned and then almost raped, she becomes afraid there is more truth to what Virginie is telling her then she originally thought.

Not having all of her senses, Elise must rely on her gut instincts to figure out whom she can trust. Virginie's parents, Paul and Helene, seem to have taken a liking to Elise, as do some of their friends, and one police chief , Yssat. People seem comfortable telling Elise her secrets, and soon she knows more than are good for her, and she must find a way to convey what she knows and what she has surmised before someone is able to silence her forever.

Death From the Woods is a tense psychological thriller. From the beginning, readers will be rooting for Elise, for her recovery and for her to locate the murderer. Brigitte Aubert has created a web so tangled it will take readers most of the book to untangle it. The Parisian setting, while not crucial to the plot, provides the perfect underlying feeling that adds to the overall atmosphere of the book.

This is a strong first novel with an entirely likable, exceptionaly strong heroine. There is plenty left open to allow for a sequel (Death From the Snows) and enough is hinted at about Elise's past that make readers eager for more of this unusual woman. The pace is quick, making this an enjoyable tense read that will leave readers anxious for Elise's recovery and return.

--Jennifer Monahan Winberry