Pine Barrens Inspire New Mystery Novel

Author Caitlin Mullen found the desolate New Jersey Pine Barrens to be the perfect setting for her new mystery novel, "Heather," released on June 9. This 1.1 million-acre forest, covering parts of seven counties, offers an eerie and isolated backdrop, complete with lost cell service and a disorienting terrain.

Mullen's novel begins with a narcotics detective returning to her Pine Barrens hometown and immediately arresting her mother. The story then delves into complex narratives involving old family secrets and the predatory nature of some hidden threats. Like other thrillers, "Heather" utilizes the untamed wilderness as a significant element.

Mullen spent her formative years in South Jersey and found inspiration in the region's natural beauty, including wild blueberries and unique flora, as well as its hidden history. Her experiences, including personal loss, deeply influence her writing, shaping characters who are often searching for something lost.

Following a career in publishing, Mullen moved back to Princeton, New Jersey, in the early months of the pandemic. She began writing "Heather" in 2022, making trips to explore abandoned sites and ghost towns within the Pine Barrens, an experience she described as both liberating and frightening, especially given local legends like the Jersey Devil.