In a Dark and Lovely Wood

Read the first chapter of my thriller that will be featured on the Thriller 101 podcast.

An agent selected my submission to discuss on the Thriller 101 podcast. I started writing IN A DARK AND LOVELY WOOD in January of 2023. It is my white whale of a novel. It’s been through eleven drafts, my cut folder is almost as long as the novel itself, it’s been through beta readers. And I’ll be honest I still think it could use some tweaking. But there are parts of it that are working. Here is my query and first chapter. Let me know what you think in the comments.

If you’d like to submit your work to the Thriller 101 podcast you can do so here!

Heres’ my query:

I am seeking representation for my novel IN A DARK AND LOVELY WOOD complete at around 80,000 words, a multiple pov mystery set in the Pacific Northwest in 2004. IN A DARK AND LOVELY WOOD sprinkles suspense with excerpts from a present day podcast similar to Lisa Jewell’s None of this is True, with an overall tone similar to The Hunting Party by Lucy Foley. 

Ben and Jennifer are getting married with a summer camp themed wedding. On the way to the campground the wedding party learns a serial killer has escaped custody in the area, but it shouldn’t affect their plans. 

Allie hates the woods but can’t turn down the bride, once a very close friend, but now an acquaintance at best. She begrudgingly goes, consoling herself with the promise of free booze.

Gabe also doesn’t want to go to the wedding, but being the groom’s brother there is no way he can refuse. Ben and Gabe have had a rivalry throughout their life and to further complicate matters Gabe is having a secret affair with the bride Jennifer. But they aren’t the only ones with a secret.

One by one members of the group turn up dead. Is the escaped serial killer responsible or is it one of the party?

IN A DARK AND LOVELY WOOD will appeal to lovers of locked room mysteries, fans of stories with dysfunctional family dynamics, love for well formed flawed characters, and anyone looking for a suspenseful page-turner.

And here’s the first chapter.

In a Dark and Lovely Wood

By NC Barton

“The woods are lovely, dark and deep. 

But I have promises secrets to keep,

And miles to go before I sleep, 

And miles to go before I sleep.”

             Robert Frost

Channel Four News Report July 28th, 2004

“Several were found dead this morning in one of the most horrific scenes the Hood River has ever seen. Stay tuned. We’ll keep you up to date as we find out more.”

Wednesday, July 21st, 2004. 

Allie

I hate the woods. I hate the dirt. I hate the trees. And I fucking hate weddings. So, when Jennifer told me they were having a camping wedding, I wanted to find some plausible reason for why I couldn’t go. Work wasn’t a good enough excuse, she knew I didn’t give a shit about my job. And she’d never buy a family emergency. I had to go. Which is how I found myself trying to ferret out my black bikini from my massive laundry pile, wondering what the hell else to pack for a wedding in the woods, morning sunshine pushing obnoxiously in through the sheet I used to cover the window. I should’ve packed before, I realized this, but in my usual style I had been putting it off. And last night after my closing shift at the bar, the other bartender, the new bus boy and I got a teensy bit hammered.

My head pounded now. Is that why they call it hammered? What I needed was just a little nip of something to take the edge off the headache. I padded lightly to the kitchen downstairs then realized my roommates were all gone, off to work already and I didn’t have to worry about being quiet. Hopefully I was worried about it last night when I got home. I grabbed a bottle of Prosecco and the Simply Orange from the fridge then a jelly jar from the dish drying rack.

The cold champagne bubbled into the jelly jar, sparkling in the light. I added a splash of OJ, just a splash. If my grandmother taught me anything it was how to make a proper mimosa. I took a little sip. Sweetness filled my mouth first then the bite of the alcohol. Grandma’d cringe at the bottled OJ but she’d approve of the ratio. The cool liquid was refreshing, but the drink wouldn’t stay cool long. It was only a little after ten and already eighty degrees. It seemed like since I moved to Portland each summer was hotter than the last. 

There was a knock at the door, making me dribble the last sip onto my shirt. Shit.  It must be Dana. She’s early, and in other news we need air to breathe.

I plop an ice cube while the knocking continues, this time louder. Jesus, the woods will still be there.

I opened the door fully expecting an earful from Dana, but it wasn’t her. The bus boy stood on my doorstep, his beautiful light blue eyes, made all the more startling by his dark lashes and light brown skin, were directed right at me. What was his name and what was he doing here? He had a backpack slung over one shoulder. 

“Hey, I hope I’m not late?”

“Late?”

He glanced down at my bare legs. I hadn’t yet put on pants, so I was hanging out in my black underwear and a black and grey tie-dye tank top.

“Or too early?”

I shook my head and immediately regretted the motion.

“Yeah. For the wedding in the woods. You invited me last night, remember?”

Did I invite the bus boy—was it Ernie?—to come with me to the wedding? I don’t remember a lot about the end of the night. It was entirely possible. And it would probably make the whole thing a lot more fun. I wouldn’t just be trapped with a bunch of people I used to be close to in college, but now all look their noses down at me with their fancy jobs and five year plans. He could be my shield.

“Come in. Want a mimosa?” 

“Yeah!”

Ernie followed me into the kitchen, throwing his bag down. He wiped his face with the edge of his shirt, and I got a glimpse of his cut stomach underneath. Drunk Allie was very smart inviting him along. People don’t give her enough credit. I make Ernie a mimosa and hand it to him.

“Are you sure you can go the whole time? The wedding itself isn’t today, it’s Saturday. But the bride and groom rented out a campsite and the wedding party is camping there together until Sunday. It’s supposed to be like summer camp or something. You don’t have any shifts at the bar?”

Ernie swallowed his sip of mimosa. “Allie, you explained it all last night. I got my shifts covered when you asked me to come. I’m free as a bird.”

Asked me to come. Something was still nagging me about that, but before I could poke at the feeling any further there was another knock. 

I opened the rickety front door. Dana stood before me in low cut jeans and a purple satin spaghetti strap tank top, just the bottom of her flat stomach showing.

She emitted a high-pitched squeal that nearly split my head in two. “Allie! Are you so excited?”

Her face pinched a little as she saw Ernie behind me.

“I am. So excited.” I said flatly. “Almost ready. Can I get you a mimosa?” 

“Umm, no. Jennifer and Lauren are waiting in the car. We have to get going. You’re not even dressed.” That last part she said in a whine that made me regret even agreeing to ride with them in the first place. But I didn’t own a car so, not a lot of other options. 

“I’ll throw on pants, then we can grab our stuff.”

“Our stuff?”

“Oh yeah this is Ernie. He’s my date for the wedding.” I smiled and sipped my champagne.

“I wish you would’ve let us know. He should’ve gone in the boy's car.”

“The boy's car?” 

“The girls are going in my SUV, the boys went in Ben’s. We’re all meeting in Hood River for lunch at a brewery, then we'll ride the school bus the rest of the way.” She clapped her hands, her sparkly nails accentuating the movement. “Isn’t that fun?”

I got out my flip phone ready to text the boys. “Has Ben already left?”

“They did, yeah. They wanted more time at the brewery,” Dana clicked her tongue and brushed her layered dark brown hair over her shoulder. 

Downing the rest of my glass, I snapped my phone shut. “He’ll just have to go with us. Don’t worry, he won’t ruin our estrogen vibe.”

Boys' car and girl's car. Ridiculous. 

Before she could protest, I ran upstairs, threw on some jeans and slipped into my Van’s I had left by my bed. Then went down to the kitchen and filled a travel mug with the rest of the champagne, a bit of juice, and screwed the lid on.

Ernie was sipping out his cup looking completely relaxed on the couch and Dana was making eyes at the car waiting on the street. 

“All ready.”

We piled into Dana’s brand-new Mercedes SUV, a graduation present from Mommy and Daddy. Jennifer sat shotgun, her long blond hair tied in a messy bun, aviator glasses perched on her button nose. Lauren didn’t look very pleased as I scooted into the middle seat to make room for Ernie.

“Allie!” Jennifer said. “You look great! Oh my god, look at your arms, girl! Where do you work out?”

I gave a half laugh but beamed a little. They did look good. “Just moving kegs at the bar. This is my friend Ern-“

Ernie whispered in my ear next to me. “It’s Eric.”

I looked at him sharply and whispered back my cheeks warming. “Eric? Really?”

He nodded, smiling. I mouthed sorry.

“This is my good friend Eric. Eric, this is Lauren, Dana and Jennifer. He’s my date for the wedding. Hope you don’t mind him riding with us. I wasn’t aware of the segregated vehicles.”

The car was suddenly so silent you could hear a baby crying off in the distance. 

Thanks for reading. Let me know if you want to read further!