| Title | : | Such a Quiet Place |
| Author | : | |
| Rating | : | |
| ISBN | : | 1982147288 |
| ISBN-10 | : | 9781982147280 |
| Language | : | English |
| Format Type | : | Hardcover |
| Number of Pages | : | 337 |
| Publication | : | First published July 12, 2021 |
Hollow’s Edge use to be a quiet place. A private and idyllic neighborhood where neighbors dropped in on neighbors, celebrated graduation and holiday parties together, and looked out for one another. But then came the murder of Brandon and Fiona Truett. A year and a half later, Hollow’s Edge is simmering. The residents are trapped, unable to sell their homes, confronted daily by the empty Truett house, and suffocated by their trial testimonies that implicated one of their own. Ruby Fletcher. And now, Ruby’s back.
With her conviction overturned, Ruby waltzes right back to Hollow’s Edge, and into the home she shared with Harper Nash. Harper, five years older, has always treated Ruby like a wayward younger sister. But now she’s terrified. What possible good could come of Ruby returning to the scene of the crime? And how can she possibly turn her away, when she knows Ruby has nowhere to go?
Within days, suspicion spreads like a virus across Hollow’s Edge. It’s increasingly clear that not everyone told the truth about the night of the Truetts’ murders. And when Harper begins receiving threatening notes, she realizes she has to uncover the truth before someone else becomes the killer’s next victim.
Such a Quiet Place Reviews
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First half=Boring. Second half=Riveting!
Hollow's Edge, a safe, picturesque community, seems like the ideal place to live. However, the community changed dramatically when a murder occurred. When the accused murderer returns home, the neighborhood implodes.
What appears idyllic on the outside is full of cracks. The neighbors are nosey, controlling, and complicit. They all have cameras and are obsessed with monitoring the feed, watching one another. Their message board has become a call to action, fueling extremes. They are all borderline creepy and way too involved in one another's lives.
Narrated solely by Harper Nash, one views the happenings of her neighbors through her eyes. But Harper is blind to see what is happening right in front of her face. I found Ruby’s character fascinating and wanted more of her. Harper was likable but a little bland.
Similar to other Megan Miranda novels, Such a Quiet Place starts slowly. The pacing is slow, focusing more on the inhabitants of Hollow's Edge and sets the tone for what is to come. Hollow's Edge serves as the perfect setting: beautiful on the outside, ugly on the inside. The first half focuses on Ruby’s return. While interesting, her return and the implications of her return dragged on for too long.
The second half centers on a big event that I don’t want to reveal, but I will say it makes this book a heck of a whole lot more interesting to read. The second half of the book also reveals many more layers to this book and the characters than I initially thought.
Such a Quiet Place is a tense and atmospheric read. I was ready to give it 2 - 3 stars based on the first 50%, but the second half provided what I love in a thriller: suspense, mind games, and some twists and turns. The constructs of the community are fascinating to read, especially watching the consequences of their herd mentality unfold. There are a few elements of the plot that were glossed over and left unresolved, but overall this book surprised me in a good way!
I received an ARC of this book from NetGalley and the publisher in exchange for an honest review. -
I don't typically write my reviews immediately upon finishing a book, but I feel like this story warrants immediate documentation before I forget everything flying through my brain. Overall, I had a really positive reaction to this story, and the compulsive readability of
Such a Quiet Place is real, folks. When I wasn't reading this story, I was thinking about it, and I read about 75% of it in a single sitting, so that should tell you something. Imagine if Desperate Housewives was set in Southern Virginia and almost everyone in the neighborhood worked for the same community college, and you'll have an accurate view of the vibe this story gives off. I am a sucker for stories featuring neighborhood drama, and when you throw in a murder mystery? Just let me grab my floaties and my marg and I'll be there in a jiffy.
One of the strongest positives of this book is the growing sense of dread that the author has created within the chapters. Miranda has a knack for spinning her tales across "days", and I really enjoy this format of unraveling the twisted web of her mysteries. The setting with many neighbors on a beautiful lake with a small forest was perfection, and the daily interactions between these frenemies really ramped up the intensity over the course of the book. I did not have the ending completely figured out, which was also a nice bonus, although I do have some thoughts on this below.
On a scale of entertainment, I truly wanted to give this one 5 stars, but there were so many plot holes and side stories that were never resolved that I just couldn't do it. Specifics will be in spoiler tags:
Questions and concerns I was left with:
-The amount of miscommunication between these people is absolutely unreal. I do understand that this is somewhat the entire point of this story, but so many issues escalated to MURDER simply because these people decided not to mention things to each other, at all, even when they see each other and talk to each other all day every day.
-Somehow, over the entire course of the book, Harper is basically running the admissions office of this community college, and never has to go to work? The one time she is supposed to show up she just... doesn't?
-Every single character, down to the children, is unlikable. There isn't a single person I felt I could root for, which did hinder me from fully connecting to the story. This was more a case of a train wreck that you can't turn away from.
There's no doubt in my mind that Megan Miranda can write, and I still fan girl over
All the Missing Girls and love discussing it with anyone who will listen, but this wasn't my favorite book from the author. If you're looking for an entertaining summer read that is full of juicy drama and neighborhood secrets, give this one a try.
*Many thanks to the publisher for providing my review copy. -
***HAPPY PUBLICATION DAY***
Who wouldn’t want to live in Hollow’s Edge? Such a beautiful suburban area, with lake access, a pool and lovely homes set in a group! Harper has lived here for quite a while, she works at the nearby University, others in this subdivision work there also. It was a wonderful place to live, and everyone knew their neighbors. But did they really????? How much do you really know what anyone is capable, even MURDER!!!!!
14 months ago this community was rocked to it’s core. Harper was out and about and heard one of her neighbor’s dogs barking incessantly. Harper went to investigate and found Brandon and Fiona Truett dead, killed by carbon monoxide poisoning. Apparently someone left the car running in the garage, the poisonous gas easily seeping into the house and killing the Truetts.
Ruby Fletcher was convicted of the murders. She was the only one seen on a neighbor’s outdoor camera coming and going in the middle of the night, down to the lake and then back home at around 2 a.m. All of the neighbors testified at her trial, but were they all telling the truth??
Ruby had been sharing Harper’s house after her ex moved out. Harper had heard Ruby come in a little after 2 a.m. There wasn’t much solid evidence but Ruby was convicted and spent 14 months in prison. She finally got a new lawyer and found herself finally freed, presumed innocent!!
Harper and the neighbors are shocked to see Ruby come back into their neighborhood. But Ruby is back for revenge, or is there more to it than that??? Does she know something else about what happened that night??
She and Harper had been good friends but now Harper doesn’t know what to make of Ruby’s return, especially after she catches her lying on several occasions.
There is a lot going on in his quiet neighborhood, if you look deeper under the rosy personas that the characters present to each other. There is a Hollow’s Edge Community website and they are busy talking to each other about Ruby’s return and, well, what to do about it????
Though the beginning of this book was a bit slow, I enjoyed getting to know the characters and trying to figure out WHO DONE IT !!!!!!!!!!! Because we don’t really know that Ruby was ever guilty or if it’s someone else among them who was the killer !!!
Things really get rolling at about 75% when there is the annual 4th of July Pool Party and Fireworks, everyone is there, INCLUDING RUBY. Things get pretty twisty, turny at this point and it was a fun ride.
As in All The Missing Girls and The Girl From Widow Hills I enjoyed Ms. Miranda’s writing. I wouldn’t call this a thriller, it’s more of a slow burn mystery that keeps building until it’s clever ending.
Except for the slow beginning I enjoyed this read a lot!!
I received an ARC of this novel from the publisher through Edelweiss. -
Happy release day! 🥳Creepy, slow burn, mysterious, capturing! A great fit for thriller cravings in the middle of July!
All right all right all right: this book’s straight, intriguing opening and slow burn whodunnit style high tension premise hooked me at the beginning.
Since I’ve read the Missing Girls and huge endorsement of Reese Witherspoon book club, I keen on enjoying Megan Miranda’s writing style and devouring her gripping page turners but even though the premise picked my interest, the execution of this slow burn thriller which quickly leads us to different suspects and confuses the hell of our minds didn’t work well with me!
The idea of bunch of academicians or people who worked for the college inhabiting at a quite neighborhood, fifty closely packed homes which are similarly designed, modestly priced, oriented toward the water named Hollow’s Edge like a big connected family till two of them had been killed and one of them got convicted from the murder excited me a lot. But I could not find anything about the characters perceptible to differentiate them from each other. Most of them were so dull, boring , ordinary. They were too boring, suffering from lack of intelligence or charisma to be killer. And at the end we got the real reason why those uninteresting people couldn’t be killers instead of irritating the hell of us.
At the beginning of the story we witness Ruby Fletcher’s return to the neighborhood, freshly out from prison, appearing at her old condo, saying hi to her roommate Harper Nash as if she wasn’t convicted for killing Truett family!
Now her conviction is overturned and her so called lovely neighbors testified against her to put her behind the bars! But surprise, surprise: Ruby is back! And she is so determined to avenge, making pay someone who tries to put blame on her!
Harper Nash, who was 30 years old, always seeing Ruby not only as her roommate but her younger sister scares of her but she doesn’t have guts to tell her move away. Slowly Ruby starts to occupy her place to trap Harper in her own place by wearing her clothes, driving her car, spending her money. The only thing irritates Harper was not Ruby’s suspicious attitudes. She starts getting threatening notes, feeling like someone is always watching her. Could Ruby tell her the truth from the beginning? Could someone in the neighborhood be involved in the killings of Truett family?
It seems like entire neighborhood imagined themselves as judges, juries and prosecutors of the community but giving the power to the wrongful hands may turn them into monsters or murderers.
Overall: the storyline was creative and the conclusion was semi satisfying but characterization was a little weak, storytelling is a little monotone and perpetrator is foreseeable!
It’s definitely not a bad book. I still enjoyed the slow burn whodunnit mystery idea at a close knit neighborhood and the author perfectly succeeded confusing our minds by pointing us different directions to doubt about the different characters’ suspicious motives!
So I’m giving three mysterious, revenge, I see you stars! It’s definitely moderate, easy read! I didn’t fall in love with the book but it’s still better than the most thriller books I’ve lately read.
I’m looking forward to read upcoming books of the author!
Special thanks to Netgalley and Simon&Schuster for sharing this one of the most anticipated thriller books’ digital reviewer copy with me in exchange my honest opinions. -
HAPPY PUBLICATION DAY to one of my favorite books this year thus far!
All the stars for this book that is just oozing with suspense and secrets!
Hollow’s Edge is a gorgeous subdivision...the kind of place where everyone knows everyone, and they all have frequent BBQs, holiday parties, and pool parties together. It’s always been a safe community...
...Until a little over a year ago, when The Truetts, a married couple, were found murdered in their house. Next door neighbor Ruby Fletcher was convicted of the murder.
Present Day: Harper Nash and the rest of the community try to move on as best as possible. Unfortunately, none of them can sell their homes for profit with the murder still fresh in minds. Harper actually lived with Ruby, next door to the Truetts. Now, when Ruby’s conviction is overturned on a technicality, she comes back to the one place nobody ever expected to see her again: Hollow’s Edge. More specifically, Harper’s house.
With uncomfortably thick tension in the air, suspicious activity starts trending upward in the subdivision. It appears that some neighbors were hiding secrets about the night of the murder. Is there any chance Ruby is innocent of the crime? And if so, who is the real murderer?
Does anybody really know their neighbors?
Such A Quiet Place had me hooked from the first page. It’s suspenseful, atmospheric, and great fun! The characters are all easy to keep track of, and it gives off locked room mystery vibes at times. I could imagine the sweltering heat of the summer, as well as the deceivingly quiet nights as the neighbors made their rounds for Neighborhood Watch.
The book also touches on mob mentality, which I always find interesting and alarming. There are some unexpected twists that I truly didn’t expect. I suspected each neighbor of wrongdoing at one point or another, and ended up being pleasantly surprised by at least one aspect of the ending. I don’t think I could’ve asked for more.
I got vibes of early Louise Candlish here (á la The Swimming Pool), and that is a positive. I’ve heard that author Megan Miranda can be a bit hit or miss. This is only the 2nd book of hers that I’ve read, but you can definitely consider me a fan. I already can’t wait to see what she comes out with next!
Thank you to Simon & Schuster, who provided me with a physical ARC to review, and also provided me with digital ARCs via NetGalley and Edelweiss.
I read the physical copy, and couldn’t get over the gorgeous cover!
Expected publication date: 7/13/21.
Review also posted at:
https://bonkersforthebooks.wordpress.com -
reading vlog
https://youtu.be/OOwrX15Ig0Q -
**4.5-stars**
The private neighborhood of Hollow's Edge has always been a desirable place to live. It's close to the local private college and a lot of the residents actually work there together.
Because of that, Hollow's Edge offers that bougie tight-knit, upper-class feel that many people seek. It provides a bit of solace from the outside world.
That is until the murder of Brandon and Fiona Truett. A murder for which one of their own, Ruby Fletcher, was sent to prison. But Ruby wasn't really one of them, was she?
She didn't own a house in Hollow's Edge. She was just staying there with Harper Nash after Harper's fiance moved out. Ruby was younger than everyone else, not as settled. She was known to raise a few eyebrows from time to time.
Now a year and half has passed since the Truett's tragic deaths. Ruby has been released from prison on a technicality and guess where she ends up?
Right back in Harper's house. Harper is horrified. There is a possible murderer living under her roof. A murderer who is most likely quite peeved that her friend's testimony may have helped put her away in the first place.
It doesn't take long before rumors and suspicions are circling around Hollow's Edge, sowing seeds of contention amongst the remaining residents.
It's clear to Harper that Ruby is up to something, although she's not sure what. She knows Ruby is hiding things from her; the scariest of which may be her intentions. Is Ruby seeking revenge, or something else?
Such a Quiet Place is pure entertainment. It kicks off very quickly and the suspense really never lets up.
I though Miranda did a great job building the tension over the course of the story. I was completely enthralled by it the entire time; wanting to know the truth about the Truetts and Ruby Fletcher.
For me, this is a super solid Domestic Thriller. It had red herrings, twists, reveals, unlikable, judgemental characters and a steady, nail-biting pace.
I love stories set in insulated neighborhoods full of scandal. Stories that portray the often dramatic interactions amongst neighbors and friends. It's amazing the sort of secrets that can be found in such places.
I was really looking forward to this title and I had a ton of fun reading it. Completely engaging, beginning to end.
Thank you so much to the publisher, Simon & Schuster, for providing me with a copy of this to read and review. I can't wait to see what twisted things Megan Miranda comes up with next!! -
What a slog. I don't think I'm the right reader for this author. I couldn't get into her books. This is my second novel by Miranda and after seeing much positive feedback, I was sure I'll like it more than
The Last House Guest.
Such a Quiet Place is about paranoid neighbors. Ruby went to prison for a double murder. A little over a year later her conviction is overturned. She's now out and it stirs everyone's anxiety in Hollow’s Edge. The plot sounded good to me. It's hard to explain why I was bored.
DNF 50%. -
Said in my best Jack Nicholson voice...”I’m baaaack!”
With her conviction overturned on a technicality, Ruby removes her shoes and lets herself into the house she had been sharing with her friend, Harper, startling her as she was preparing a meal. The knife clatters to the floor! 🔪
Nobody expected Ruby to return to Hollow’s Edge.
Nobody thought she would expect to move back into the house next door to the “crime scene”-the one where the murdered bodies of Brandon and Fiona Truett had been found- the crime SHE was convicted of 14 months prior.
There was no time to prepare.
An alert is quickly sent out on the “Hollow’s Edge Community Page” (which opens each chapter)
And, just as quickly deleted.
Because the neighbors have learned how to work together and cover evidence-the truth is not always told.
And, Ruby, who claims she is innocent-wants to make sure that someone is going to pay...
I have to admit...I have read only one other book by Megan Miranda-“All the Missing Girls” and I was not “wowed” by it. I never requested another until the book description of this one intrigued me, and I read a couple of positive early reviews…
I am SO glad that I decided to give the author a second chance!
I was RIVETED by this neighborhood mystery from page one!
I loved the the glimpses into the lives occurring behind the white picket fences of the backyards in Hollow’s Edge, and the vivid descriptions of the things we all take for granted like sunning by the pool, and July 4th barbecues and fireworks!
I could NOT put this one down!
I had to find out if Ruby was guilty or innocent!
Now I know-and my only remaining question is-how will I find the time to fit in all of Ms. Miranda’s previously published books that I have missed?
Thank You to Simon & Schuster for my gifted copy provided through NetGalley!
It was my pleasure to provide a candid review!
NOW AVAILABLE!! -
Ruby has returned to the scene of the crime. Her conviction has been overturned.
I loved the private and idyllic neighborhood setting. This is a close community that feels safe until Ruby shows up unexpectedly. The neighbors get together and like a team, they form a cohesiveness and pledge to not let Ruby upset the apple cart. No one wants to be her next victim!
I could feel the tension and turned the pages quickly. The slow unraveling of secrets, the trails left behind, all led to an unpredictable, well paced mystery with a few dark secrets lurking in some closets.
Overall, a nice mystery suspense read to while away the hours.
Thanks to NG and the publisher for my advanced review copy. OUT on July 13, 2021 -
(2.5?) I usually fly through her books and call them the perfect beach reads but this one was a disappointment.
The beginning had a lot of potential, as usual, small town vibes murder mystery but the second half and ending weren't as good as her other books. -
there's no nice way to say this, but i think this would have been fascinating had it been written by someone else.
the pieces were there but the execution was not. it had the setting and vibe of a liane moriarty book with the psychologizing of a gillian flynn/karen slaughter and yet... something was missing. the tight knit community felt hollow. the lead up to the climax of the story was far too slow and dull. and none of the characters had enough personality to make for convincing red herrings.
and the ending really really sucked, to me. so. make of that what you will. -
On paper Hollow's Edge appears to be an idyllic place to live. It is quiet, has a neighborhood pool, a lake and a forest to enjoy. The residents in the community have a neighborhood watch and get together for community parties. Sounds like a lovely place to live - that is if you can get past the murder of Brandon and Fiona Truett. It rocked the neighborhood and had neighbors looking over their shoulders and pointing fingers. The neighborhood is now tainted. It is hard to sell their homes, and they are still reeling from testifying in court.
Ruby, who was convicted for the murders of the Brandon and Fiona Truett, has been released from prison after serving fourteen months. She lived with Harper and all the evidence pointed to her being the killer. But when Ruby's conviction is overturned and she shows up at Harper’s home, everyone is nervous and questioning two things - why did Ruby come back and are they safe? Soon with the neighborhood on edge, it becomes evident that not everyone told the truth about the night of the murders and that that this perfect community is not so perfect after all.
This was a fun little whodunit for me. The first few chapters were slow for me but after that the book went rather fast. I loved trying to figure out what really happened that night, trying to figure out each character's motivation and if he/she could be trusted. All that glitters is not gold in this neighborhood!
This neighborhood is an interesting group of people, and by the end we know more about them. The neighborhood of Hollow's Edge has a small town feel to it. Like Cheers, everyone knows you name, and they even know your business. Sometimes you must take the good with the bad when living in a tight knit community. As the book progresses, Miranda shows us that these characters are not as perfect as they would have their neighbors believe.
Such a Quiet Place was slow to start but ended strong. There are some twists and little reveals which are interesting. There is an underlying sense of tension throughout the book. I could feel the character's mistrust, their anxiety and their doubt. Speaking of the characters, some are likeable, some unlikeable and some had me shaking my head.
Plus, who did not enjoy reading their community page? Nice touch!
Overall, a tense whodunit which delivers proving that Megan Miranda knows how to build suspense and tension. If you have not read one of her books, give her a read. You may be surprised. Once the ball got rolling in this book, it was full steam ahead to the end!
Tense, riveting and entertaining
Thank you to Bookouture and NetGalley who provided me with a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. All the thoughts and opinions are my own.
Read more of my reviews at
www.openbookposts.com -
It took me a while to get through Such a Quiet Place: I've learned from past experience that you should read every word carefully in a Megan Miranda thriller.
And yes, I was rewarded for my diligence: I did suspect the killer - just not the motive. Everything was hiding in plain sight, but despite all the clues, a reader is still hard-pressed to understand WHY the Truetts were killed. Did a group of homeowners band together to wantonly implicate one of the residents? Was she really guilty? Had Herd behavior resulted in false or tailored testimony that resolved the police investigation differently?
The pacing of this story was an excruciating crawl, with so many minor details coming at the reader that you started to suspect tons of red herrings. Turns out, almost every random tidbit of information was important. Even the action was on slow motion, right up until the last chapter, when suddenly everything sped up and happened at once.
As Harper summed up (don't worry, no spoilers here) "We'd.... manifested fear. Truth by mob..." I was worried that Harper was going to be the next target of the homeowners' collective suspicions.
The ending was a jaw-dropper, and I was so glad - finally! - to know the answer to the incessant question drumming in my head: WHY? WHY? WHY? I'm rating this one a 3.75 out of 5, rounded up to a 4 because all the clues were THERE, you just couldn't make heads or tails of them without that one vital item that pointed you in the right direction to the big AHA! moment. My thanks to the author, publisher and NetGalley for an ARC of this novel in exchange for an honest review. -
Hollow’s Edge is such a quiet place. Or it used to be. Until Ruby was sentenced to 20 years for the murder of her neighbors, the Truetts. Set free on a technicality after serving only 14 months, she appears on Harper’s doorstep, her old roommate. Most of her neighbors thought she was guilty and testified against her. All except Harper, who isn’t so sure.
Ruby’s appearance in the neighborhood has everyone abuzz on the community chat board. Is she back for revenge against those who testified or is she willing to let bygones be bygones? Everyone is on edge.
The first half is atmospheric, setting the perfect tone for the small-town feel of the neighborhood with the gossip and speculation in the chats, which opens each chapter. I thought this was a fun aspect of the story. No one is particularly likable and no one was trustworthy. I had fun speculating who was the guilty party, and was happy to find out I was wrong.
Some readers find the beginning slow but I enjoy a character-driven mystery where the mood is set and the tension slowly builds. The tension ramps up after the 4th of July neighborhood party when someone turns up dead. Kudos to the author for surprising me with the final reveal. This was my first Megan Miranda novel, and it won’t be my last.
• I received an e-book copy via NetGalley. All opinions are my own. -
3.25*
Typically, neighborhood-based thrillers are some of my favorites. It makes me question what could be going on down my own street. And has me thanking my lucky stars that I live in a quiet, bucolic neighborhood. Though a new couple did just move in at the end of the block. So, we shall see! I will need to keep a discrete (or not so much) watchful eye on them!🧐
A murder in the Hollow’s Edge neighborhood. Once a prestigious and highly sought-after residence. Now the remaining home owners can’t even sell their homes.
To further complicate things, one of their “good neighbors” Ruby, had been convicted of that very killing! Shockingly, that verdict was recently overturned and Ruby has now returned to pick-up where she left off.
Everyone remains convinced she’s still guilty, literally getting away with murder. So what if she truly is innocent? What exactly does that mean for everyone else on the block!?
I struggled with this book from the start. There were so many characters that I simply couldn’t keep them straight throughout the entire read.
The big reveal of the mystery behind the killing was a considerable let down for me as well.
Even given my disappointment, I’ve enjoyed this author in the past and won’t hesitate reaching for her next project.
A buddy read with Susanne
Posted to:
https://books-are-a-girls-best-friend...
Thank you to Goodreads Giveaway. -
Super enjoyable! This book was interesting all the way through and kept me guessing the entire time, too. There are a lot of characters in this book, which can sometimes be confusing, but I found it easy to keep them straight and keep up with their storylines. I really liked that a neighborhood map was included in the beginning of this book and found myself referencing back to it a couple times throughout the book. This was my 2nd Megan Miranda novel, and I am definitely a fan and will be reading more!
Thank you Simon & Schuster and Net Galley for the ARC in return for my honest review! -
3.0 stars — “Such a Quiet Place” is the 4th book I have read by Megan Miranda and I hate to say my least favorite one to date. The premise is a good one, as the book begins with convicted murderer, Ruby, being released on a technicality after 14 months in prison. She immediately returns to the home she lived in when she was convicted of the murder of her next door neighbors to live again with her roommate, Harper. What makes it awkward is that Harper and the rest of the tight knit group of neighbors all testified and assisted the prosecution in getting a conviction against Ruby. The best part of the book is Harper trying to determine whether Ruby is a danger to her and the others as a murderer in their midst or whether the neighbors hid or manipulated evidence to frame her. Unfortunately, the book loses a lot of its steam as it introduces way too many characters that all have issues which are difficult to keep track of. Double unfortunately, most of them like to sneak around at night, walk off into the woods and say and do things that are unrealistic which brings this otherwise interesting book to a screeching halt. By the end, I didn’t really care “who did it” or the ridiculous resolution to the story because the author had wayyyyyyy too many characters and wayyyyyy too much happening to make this an enjoyable story.
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4-5 stars
It’s Saturday 29th June and a Hollows Edge Community Page message reads ‘She’s back’. To whom are they referring. It’s Ruby Fletcher, convicted of the murders of Brandon and Fiona Truett, sentenced to twenty years but serving fourteen months having been released on technicalities and she’s on a mission, determined that someone will pay. Harper Nash narrates the story, Ruby used to rent a room from her.
This is a really good slow burner mystery as you try to figure out whodunnit. Is Ruby a murderer or a bare faced liar? She’s certainly a powerful personality, you could accuse her of being manipulative and she takes great pleasure in needling the surface perfect small tight knit community. Harper seems to bend with the wind and Ruby easily gets exactly what she wants. The characterisation is really good and you can visualise them as they scuttle around, each trying to keep their persona intact when actually underneath it’s a bubbling cauldron of secrecy and lies. The premise is so good - how well do we actually know people beyond what they choose to reveal? What’s especially unsettling here is the toxic mob mentality of self and neighbourhood preservation. I really like the way the plot builds and builds, layer upon layer as we see there’s tension and fear, there are threats but not necessarily overt ones and a growing aura of paranoia. There are some good twists and at times it’s quite creepy and chilling. There are intriguing shifts in the balance of power throughout which ultimately leads to it all spinning out of control. The ending is really good and extremely tense.
Overall, this is a well written and enjoyable slow burner mystery that keeps you hooked as you try to figure the puzzle out.
With thanks to NetGalley and especially to Atlantic Books, Corvus for the much appreciated arc in return for an honest review. -
I’ve been a fan of Megan Miranda since her first novel, All the Missing Girls. This one is an interesting domestic thriller. Hollow Place is a small, quiet lakefront neighborhood in Virginia. A place where everyone was friends. Until a couple was killed in their house and Ruby Fletcher was found guilty of the crime. But now, her conviction has been overturned and she’s returned to the community, setting everyone on edge, especially Harper Nash.
Miranda created a lovely slow burn sense of tension. My mind whipped back and forth about who should be trusted. “Turned out, we were all so close to criminal. All you needed was a good enough motive.” She makes some great points about miscommunication when folks don’t talk face to face.
Not a lot of character development here. It’s all about the suspense. There were several great twists I didn’t see coming, especially the ending. This isn’t a story that ties up all the plot points neatly at the end. I definitely would have liked to learn the whys between a few of the issues.
My thanks to NetGalley and Simon & Schuster for an advance copy of this book. -
Idk, I wanted to love this but it was just so boring and there were so many characters and I didn’t enjoy the writing style. This was my first Megan Miranda and I’m pretty bummed I didn’t enjoy it 😭
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“Such a Quiet Place” is akin to a locked- room murder mystery in that claustrophobic feel and limited number of suspects. In this case, the one room is the neighborhood of Hollows Edge, with its neighborhood watch, homeowners association message board, and security cameras. The majority of the residents are employed by the local college. Everyone knows everyone’s business. The homes are so close that neighbors frequently hear each other’s movements and conversations. Everyone is polite, yet remote. The residents consider themselves almost family, yet they rarely talk directly to each other.
A murder happened 18 months prior to the opening of the story. Brandon and Fiona Truett were found dead in their home. Ruby Fletcher was convicted of the crime. She was roommates with Harper Nash. Ruby is a brash young adult who worked at the college. She had a way of dismaying her neighbors. When the bodies of the couple were found, the residents checked their security cameras. Through very vague evidence, the neighbors determined that it was Ruby who did it. Ruby was convicted and served time in jail until new evidence exonerated her and she returns to Hollows Edge.
The problem is that if Ruby didn’t kill the Truetts, who did? Did the neighbors send the wrong person to jail? Furthermore, every resident testified against her. Is she seeking revenge by coming back?
Author Megan Miranda takes the reader on a ride, showing differing perspectives. The reader follows Harper as she slowly unwinds the events of the night in question. Harper comes across as an unreliable narrator at times, which adds suspense. Miranda shows how negative opinions of others can cloud our judgements of facts, or even trying to get to the facts. Each resident is hiding something and secrets are great fodder for suspense.
This was an intricately plotted suspense story. Miranda uses social media posts, and her chapters are broken into days which adds to the tension. It’s a slow burn of a story in which you will be pleased with how Miranda wraps it up. -
A slow burn mystery which hooked me in and made me suspect everyone!
Hollow's Edge is an idyllic, peaceful, safe neighbourhood. Or is it?! A double murder. A conviction. A release.
Now Ruby, the convicted neighbour is back, her conviction overturned. It's made Harper Nash wonder, what really happened that night? Is anyone who they appear to be? It's 'such a quiet place,' but can you trust anyone?!
I loved the setting for
Such a Quiet Place! I could really visualise the small, gossipy town of Hollow's Edge; lovely houses by a lake, surrounded by forest, a beautiful place filled with toxic characters who have endless secrets and lies! The neighbours, who were once close, were filled with unease, anxiety and fear. They no longer trusted each other, they were suspicious of one and other, there was so much tension between them under the surface.
Megan Miranda really got to the heart of what happens when a group of people develop a herd mentality, where finger pointing and witch hunts start. The neighbours here only cared about self preservation, doing anything to protect themselves.
Although quite slow, particularly in the middle part, where it did become a little repetitive, there were some great twists in the last 25%! It became quite creepy and I had no idea whodunnit! The ending was also quite satisfying for me.
The miscommunication between the neighbours did drive me a little crazy, but I felt it was quite clever because it definitely happens in real life when people only communicate by text/social media. I particularly liked the local online community page!
However, it doesn't get top marks from me because I didn't like ANY of the characters! There were some real shady ones, and some felt a bit two dimensional. I wanted to get to know some of the other people on the street better, see their background, thoughts and feelings.
But I zipped through this book, and it took my mind off current issues, and kept me company when I was awake at 5am!
Available now!
Many thanks to NetGalley UK and Atlantic books for the ARC, in exchange for an honest review! -
You can't settle on the truth until you've seen it from all sides.
Funny how that truth thing works. It's the he said, she said, and they said mechanics of it all. And then it filters through your own eyes and ears and emotions.....
Hollow's Edge is a quiet community clustered near a small Virginia college. A majority of the residents all seem to be employed at this college as faculty, counselors, staff, or security. Professional lives seem to mingle after hours with private lives. A snug little existence until it no longer was.
Tragedy struck within the Truett home when Brandon and his wife, Fiona, were found dead from carbon monoxide poisoning. After a police investigation and eye witness reports, Ruby Fletcher was arrested for murder. Ruby used to walk the Truett's dog and had access to their house. Video also placed Ruby at the scene. Done deal? Not so fast.
After fourteen months in prison, Ruby is set free when the verdict is thrown out because of tainted information. But ol' Ruby shows up at Harper's house where she was Harper's roommate prior to the incident. A bad penny on her doorstep, Harper takes her in when no one else will. The grumblings and the side glances begin in the community. Pressure builds on Harper to get rid of Ruby. Maybe someone is one step ahead of her.
If you've ever read Megan Miranda before, you know that she is a master of suspense and a wizard with characters. Such A Quiet Place sets a panoramic view of a close-knit group of neighbors who go well beyond the usual Neighborhood Watch scenario. You either belong or you absolutely don't. There are no in-betweens.
As the story unfolds, Megan Miranda sits us in close proximity to these multi-layered characters who all seem to have pointed quirks that you can't help but notice. There's some bad business brewing behind closed doors and, as readers, we begin to eyeball these people in a different light. Miranda will see to it. She's that good at shuffling the cards of human nature with face cards up for viewing. Buckle up. It won't just be crickets chirping in Such A Quiet Place. Guaranteed.
I received a copy of this novel through NetGalley for an honest review. My thanks to Simon & Schuster and to the talented Megan Miranda for the opportunity. -
Thanks to NetGalley and Simon & Schuster Canada for the ARC in return for an honest review. This is my first book by Megan Miranda, and I have learned that the author has many ardent followers who have praised her previous books highly. I intend to read another of her earlier books. I found this moved at a slow pace and was a thriller that did not thrill me. I regret it just wasn't a book I could engage in and struggled throughout. The situation was tense, but I was not feeling the tension.
The story is set in an upper-middle-class gated community. It is supposed to be an idyllic place to live beside a lake. Most of the homes are similar and with fenced yards. The majority of the folks work at a college across the lake. The homes have outside security cameras, and there is a large community pool. There is a password-protected community message board and a neighbourhood watch to deter outsiders from wandering around the private neighbourhood.
I regret not liking the two main characters. Harper was a weak-willed pushover who allowed her younger lodger, Ruby, to dominate and get her own way. She moved into Harper's home after Harper's boyfriend left her. For Harper, this was a convenient way to help pay for the mortgage. Very late one night, Harper heard Ruby go out. It was during that night that a nearby couple, the Truett's, were murdered. Ruby at one time had a key to their home as she cared for and walked their dogs. Her image was seen on the cameras as she wandered around the neighbourhood the night of the murders. She was unpopular in the community as people suspected her of theft and disliked her aggressive attitude.
She went to prison for murder based on circumstantial evidence and was sentenced to a 20-year term. Ruby's father instructed Harper to discard her clothes and other belongings left behind. After 14 months, Ruby was released on a technicality and strolled into Harper's home as if she had never been away. Harper is afraid to exert herself and demand Ruby leave, although neighbours urge her to do so. She feels obligated to buy Ruby new clothes and other things to replace those she threw out. She helps herself to Harper's car for a short visit to her lawyer, although being told meekly that Harper needed it. She didn't return the car until more than a day later. Harper seems afraid to assert herself in her own home.
People have been uneasy since the murders in the quiet place. The couples' home has remained empty, and they feel their property values are decreasing due to Ruby's conviction and return. Harper is stressed because she fears someone is watching her home and leaving harassing notes. People are watching Ruby as she brazenly wanders around the community with little concern for how she is viewed.
Harper finds a large sum of money and a knife that Ruby hid away before her imprisonment. Most everyone insists Ruby was definitely guilty because if she wasn't, it must be one of them. This couldn't be so, could it? It raises the question of how well one knows their neighbours. I regret I didn't come to know them as they seemed bland and boring to me and never came alive on the pages.
With the possible exception of Harper, the members of the community believe in the young woman's guilt. Even though Ruby annoys and stresses her, Harper has some doubts.
I apologize that this book just wasn't for me. Prospective readers should read the positive reviews and not be deterred by my misgivings. -
3 word summary: Karens gone wild!
⏰ 𝐒𝐡𝐨𝐫𝐭𝐞𝐬𝐭 𝐒𝐮𝐦𝐦𝐚𝐫𝐲 𝐄𝐯𝐞𝐫: Hollows edge is cray, y’all! So a couple was murdered and Ruby Fletcher was convicted. She’s the roommate of protagonist Harper Nash, and now Ruby is back after a 5 year sentence on an overturned conviction. All the Karens have their eyes out the windows while Ruby saunters in like all is peachy. Harper is caught in the middle. Did Ruby kill their neighbors? Or is there still a sinister killer hiding among the neighbors?
💡𝐓𝐡𝐨𝐮𝐠𝐡𝐭𝐬: Dude. Remind me not to move into THIS ‘hood. Everyone is in everyone’s business and when Ruby returns, it’s like everyone lights up and the abandoned pinball machine of a neighborhood comes alive. This is my 4th Miranda book and what she does well is weave - she weaves characters. She weaves a plot web. The woman must have sore fingers! The first half was focused a lot on Ruby and Harper - your close friend went to prison for killing someone and now she’s in your house? It made me truly ponder - what would I do?
What I enjoyed most was that this seemed realistic - who wants to live in a house (or near it) where someone was killed? And how fast neighbors turn on one another? Pfft! I’ve heard so many stories of back-stabbing neighbors, (which is probably why this past 2 years we’ve seen lots of books about neighbors - we were stuck by em’ thru COVID!)
Protagonist Harper was a bit of a weak lead for my taste, never taking control or even finding a voice; she’s a character who lets things happen rather than MAKING them happen. But in the same token, I could understand her because I KNOW this person - the I’m-stuck-in-the-middle person. I wish I could have sprinkled her with more assertiveness.
Recent neighbors-who-make-you-go-hmmm books I also liked: Suburban Dicks, The Hunting Wives, Good Neighbors (Sarah Langdon)
𝗔𝗹𝗹 𝗺𝘆 𝗿𝗲𝘃𝗶𝗲𝘄𝘀 𝗮𝘃𝗮𝗶𝗹𝗮𝗯𝗹𝗲 𝗮𝘁 𝗦𝗰𝗿𝗮𝗽𝗽𝘆𝗠𝗮𝗴𝘀.𝗰𝗼𝗺 𝗮𝗿𝗼𝘂𝗻𝗱 𝘁𝗶𝗺𝗲 𝗼𝗳 𝗽𝘂𝗯𝗹𝗶𝗰𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻.
📚𝐆𝐞𝐧𝐫𝐞: Mystery/Domestic Fiction
😍𝐑𝐞𝐜𝐨𝐦𝐦𝐞𝐧𝐝𝐞𝐝 𝐭𝐨: Oh if you wanna relish is some horrible neighbor muck. It’s kinda fun!
🙅♀️ 𝐍𝐨𝐭 𝐫𝐞𝐜𝐨𝐦𝐦𝐞𝐧𝐝𝐞𝐝 𝐭𝐨: if you can’t tolerate a female protagonist who is too quiet.
Thank you to the author, NetGalley and Simon and Schuster for my advanced copy in exchange for my always-honest review and for making me side-eye some neighbors and making things kinda awkward. -
5 kept me guessing stars
Hollow’s Edge is a lovely neighborhood with a lake, community pool, and many residents work at the nearby college. It’s lovely until one of the least liked couples is murdered. Suspicion is turned on every resident and one of them (Ruby) is sent away to prison, based on camera footage from some of the residents.
A little over a year later, Ruby is released on a technicality and she’s back at Hollow’s Edge. Fear and suspicions are running high throughout the neighborhood. We see everything through Harper, she works at the college in admissions and Ruby was living with her when she was arrested.
Even though Harper and Ruby were friends then, it’s hard to tell how things stand between them now. Is Ruby really guilty of the murder or was she framed? Harper is torn between wanting Ruby to get out of her house and reconnecting with her friend. Threatening notes start turning up and a neighborhood Fourth of July party ends with tragic fireworks.
This suspenseful book kept me guessing and I suspected everyone! I would characterize this more as a mystery and the ultimate reveals were a surprise to me. This was my first read from Megan Miranda, but I’m definitely interested in reading her other books now!
This was a fun buddy read with Jayme and Susan and we all liked it!
Thank you to NetGalley and Simon & Schuster for the complimentary copy of this one to read. I think this would make a great beach read. -
3.5 Fangs
I wouldn't want to live in Hollow’s Edge. A place where everyone has a camera and policing the other neighbors' comings and goings are the usual.
No one should hate it more than Ruby Fletcher. While living in Hollow's Edge, the couple next door, Brandon and Fiona Truett are found murdered by carbon monoxide poisoning and the fingers were all pointed at Ruby.
During this time Ruby was living with Harper Nash who is the one who discovers the bodies. Ruby goes to prison but 14 months later, she is out on a technicality and what does Ruby do? She comes back to the scene of the crime and to the house, she shared with Harper.
The big question is why is Ruby back? Is she looking for revenge or absolution?
The story is told from Harper's point of view. She is older than Ruby and she liked her while living together before the murders. In the present, she is not sure what to think of Ruby. At times, is like time never passed and the friendship is there, at others she fears her.
This I will consider a slow burn. Starts slowly but picks up in the second half. I liked the mystery surrounding the deaths and also the real reason for Ruby's return. There is a good twist that propels the story forward and brings so many more questions to the table.
I liked Megan Miranda's work and I enjoyed Such a Quiet Place with its suspense and delivery.
Cliffhanger: No
3.5/5 Fangs
A complimentary copy was provided by Simon & Schuster via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.
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After Harper‘s fiancé leaves her, she gets a new roommate named Ruby. When the Tates are found dead in their home, Ruby is accused of being the murderer. This takes a toll on the small neighborhood located in a quiet college town. Who could’ve murdered the Tates?
When Ruby is released from her imprisonment and the charges are dropped against her, she moves back in with Harper to the surprise of the entire community. Why is Ruby here? What does she hope to accomplish? Does she have revenge in her plans?
This book kept me guessing until the very end. I’ll be adding more books by this author to my list! -
The narrator, Harper, moves into the Hollow's Edge Community because of the quiet friendly suburban neighborhood. The amenities include a lake, a communal pool, fenced in yards and celebrations with the neighbors, as well as a neighborhood watch program. After her boyfriend leaves her, she moves in a roommate Ruby. You can find out all of this from the Hollow Edge Community Page....but what you should fear in this community is what you can't see.
"We became the very thing we feared."
"We were good people with bad intentions or bad people with good intentions."
14 months ago two of their own, the Truitt's, were found dead in their home from carbon monoxide poisoning. Ruby was charged and convicted of the crime and sentenced to 20 years in prison. She maintains her innocence and her conviction is overturned. Unexpectedly and unwanted, she waltzes back into Harper's house nonchalantly..... she's back to the scene of the crime she was convicted in view of the darkened empty home of the Truitt's.
An old cliche can be proven in this unsettling mystery "Keep your friends close, but your enemies closer". The implications everyone made while advocating to protect their community, she vows to seek revenge and find out who is lying.
The community page comes alive with posts what to do now that a convicted killer is back in town. Then the posts are deleted but not before revealing passive aggression, hidden secrets and some obvious one-upping each other, but underneath they are fearful and ashamed of what might be exposed. Who is lying? Why is Harper receiving threatening notes?
You do not want to miss this riveting mystery novel from Megan Miranda. I could not wait to find out the truth behind a web of lies, but getting to it is well worth the ride unlike any other. The description and interception of the characters becomes a trail of whodunit questions and illusions of what we classify as a good neighbor. Open your eyes....
Thank you NetGalley and Simon & Schuster for this unforgettable, well-written ARC in exchange for my review.
