“Nicole Bell’s book, What Lurks in the Woods, is a personal journey, raw, real, and heartfelt. If we all knew what Nicole describes in her book, Alzheimer’s could be a much less common disease. For anyone with a family member with cognitive decline or risk for decline, this book provides a kindred spirit of support and knowledge, and I recommend it highly.”

— Dr. Dale Bredesen, MD, Professor, and author of the New York Times bestseller The End of Alzheimer's

"This book is a private window into the pain and destruction caused by chronic illness. Nicole Bell's passion for finding the root cause of her husband's illness is awe-inspiring, and those suffering from medical mysteries will learn much from her journey. What Lurks in the Woods is a powerful story that will reframe your view of modern medicine."  

— Dana Parish, co-author of the best-selling book, Chronic, and Sony Music singer/ songwriter

“What Lurks in the Woods is a raw and wrenching memoir that will jolt you out of the fairy tale that doctors have it all figured out. Spoiler alert—We don't. But real answers start with the right questions, and Nicole Bell asks them in abundance. May her tragic journey of discovery help others to find their way.”

— Dr. Steven Phillips, MD and co-author of the best-selling book, Chronic

“In this courageous memoir, Nicole Bell describes her beloved husband’s descent into early dementia and the cruel realization that his disease was fueled by a mix of undiagnosed tick-borne diseases. This riveting narrative is a must-read for caregivers of mentally ill loved ones who are searching for answers in the face of a medical system unwilling to seriously explore the links between microbes and mental illness.”

— Kris Newby, science writer and author of BITTEN: The Secret History of Lyme Disease and Biological Weapons

"What Lurks in the Woods is a powerful example of a real-life hardship caused by the trials and travels of tick-borne illness. Nicole Bell artfully captures the painful emotions, confusion, and heartache that permeate patients and their families. The story is captivating, and the vivid detail brought me into the room through every twist and turn. Bell also highlights the incompleteness of traditional medical treatment and encourages those on a similar journey to reject the typical rhetoric that there is no hope. Anyone dealing with chronic illness will connect with this book."

— Dr. Chris Turnpaugh, MD, President and Founder of Turnpaugh Health and Wellness Center

“What Lurks in the Woods is a captivating story of one family’s struggle to make sense of a heart-breaking diagnosis of early-onset Alzheimer’s disease and the potential role that subclinical infections could have played in the irreversible damage caused over more than a decade. It is a must-read for those investigating the role of infection in chronic disease, including researchers and advocates in the Alzheimer’s disease and tickborne disease communities. I couldn’t put it down!”

—Dr. Amanda Elam, CEO and Co-founder of Galaxy Diagnostics, Inc.

“This is a heart-wrenching love story and intimate memoir of profound loss at the cruel hands of Alzheimer’s Disease. Impeccably detailed, this is a wife's journey navigating a complex medical landscape, leveraging her brilliant scientific mind to unveil the origin of her husband’s Alzheimer’s. What Lurks in the Woods calls attention to decades of research suggesting infectious, immune and lifestyle factors are all important in the development of this horrific disease. It is a poignant call-to-action for the medical and research communities to develop precise, early strategies for assessing and treating Alzheimer’s patients.”

—Nikki Shultek, Principal and Founder of Intracell Research Group