If It's the Birds, We're in Trouble by L. Marie Wood
If It’s the Birds, We’re in Trouble is an epistolary experimental horror novella by award-winning author L. Marie Wood. Releasing on June 5, 2026 from Undertaker Books, it weighs in at 198 pages.
I was approached by the publisher to read an ARC of If It’s the Birds, We’re in Trouble, and I’m so glad I said yes. Aside from reading some of Wood’s short pieces in various anthologies, this was my first time reading a stand-alone book by the author. I don’t know why it’s taken me this long!
I love the cover of this book. Right away, I got the distinct feeling that I was about to take a deep dive into some very deep secrets. Not only that, but the coffee rings and hints at clues and found footage piqued my interest, as well. Now, having read the book, I have a whole new perspective on the cover and am enamored with it even more. It hints at only a few types of epistolary media you’ll encounter.
This book was so unique and immersive. If you read it, you’ll understand why I feel like I had an actual experience—and why I truly feel as if I got the chance to take a sneak peek at some spooky, chilling, top secret information. (Shh. Don’t tell anyone!) I will divulge that one of my favorite bits of found footage documentation in the book was the essay. The experience I had as a reader, as well as the visual enjoyment of the pages themselves, was a plus. The creativity and depth throughout the book is absolutely top notch.
To say If It’s the Birds, We’re in Trouble has layers is an understatement. It’s a well-constructed puzzle that gives you all of the clues, but as a reader you get to put it together piece by piece. Each time you come across another document or piece of the file you’re exploring, it’s a treat, because your brain finds a way to connect it with another item you’ve read in the book. You get both a feeling of accomplishment and the thrill of discovery in every section as you progress. You could read the book numerous times and the story wouldn’t get old, because you could delight in remembering a fact or realizing something you hadn’t the first time. If you’re a sleuth, a horror nerd like me, or a puzzle fan (also like me!), this is definitely a book for you.
It’s been a few days since I finished reading If It’s the Birds, We’re in Trouble, and I’m still thinking back on parts of the book and contemplating what some of the events meant and how the various writings throughout the book related to each other as well as to our world today. I sensed a parallel to tragedies and events our society has experienced over the past decade along with ecological events we are currently experiencing and trying to safely navigate. Those bits make this book quite unnerving and scary. The unknown and the tease of unsettling possibilities can be terrifying, and Wood does a tremendous job of bringing those fears to life.
Thank you to Undertaker Books
for allowing me to experience this book
prior to its release in exchange
for an honest review.
Need more L. Marie Wood? Here you go!
From L. Marie Wood’s Website:
L. Marie Wood is a Golden Stake Award and two-time Bookfest Award-winning, Ignyte Award and two-time Bram Stoker Award® nominated author. Wood is the Vice President of the Horror Writers Association, founder of the Speculative Fiction Academy, an English/Creative Writing professor, and a horror scholar. Learn more at www.lmariewood.com.
Undertaker Books
At Undertaker Books, our mission is to provide publishing services to indie authors worldwide, spotlighting new and unique voices within the realm of horror fiction. We strive to offer a seamless publishing journey from submission to publication while providing valuable feedback every step of the way.
We believe in collaboration between authors, publishers, editors, and designers to bring diverse voices to the forefront of the horror genre. Our passion lies in creating a long-lasting partnership with authors by focusing on the “less is more” concept: quality releases, not the quantity of them.
Undertaker Books is not limited to any specific theme or subgenre. Instead, we are dedicated to innovative storytelling and embracing the myriad voices that contribute to horror literature. To our readers, we hope to bring you stories you’ll take to your grave.
***from the Undertaker Books website
