TITLE/AUTHOR: Such a Quiet Place; Megan Miranda
PUBLISHER: Simon & Schuster Audio
YEAR PUBLISHED: 2021
GENRE: Fiction / Thriller
FORMAT: audio download / LENGTH: 9 hours 33 min.
SOURCE: Publisher / audio download
SETTING(s): Hollows Edge (a lakeside college community)
ONE SENTENCE SUMMARY: A puzzling neighborhood murder and the release of the convicted individual puts a once peaceful neighborhood on edge.
BRIEF REVIEW: Hollows Edge was once a peaceful, lakeside college community of just 10 homes, a homeowner's association with community pool. It was a place where neighbors were once civil toward others. Then Brandon and Fiona Truett were found dead and Ruby Fletcher, the 25 year old tenant of resident Harper Nash was convicted of their murders based on security clips and testimony of residents. Now Ruby's conviction has been overturned after serving just 14 months and she's wrangled her way back into Harper's home, determined to find out who really killed the Truetts.
Naturally Harper, a quiet, non confrontational type, is not happy having Ruby in her home and, the neighbors, especially Charlotte, who heads the HOA is up in arms. She pressures Harper to get Ruby to move out but, Ruby's strength in is manipulating people and she's determined to find the killer. Of course there are quite a few unlikeable characters and several residents who worked at the local college who knew the decreased resulting in several suspects to these crimes.
The story takes place over eleven days in the summer around the 4th of July. It is a time when residents gathered and generally celebrated but that is not the case this year as people are pitted against each other and everyone seems to be pointing fingers. I loved the setting and although the story had a slow start, I found myself engaged and suspicious of a few characters - anxious to find out more. Ruby and Charlotte were easy to dislike and I wanted to shake Harper at times as well. I felt that the story lacked the thriller aspect I had hoped for and the twist at the end felt like a bit of a let-down to me. Overall, it's a bit of a slow burn and it left me wanting more.
RATING: 3.5/5
Thanks go to Simon & Schuster for allowing me access to this audiobook in exchange for my unbiased review. The audiobook was read by Rebekkah Ross who did an okay job.
Too bad this one wasn't a bit more of a page-turner right? But the premise sounds good.
ReplyDeleteI liked the setting Susan, but, honestly, I think this is my 5th or so - nosy neighbors, cul-de-sac type thrillers in the last near. I think I need to branch out even more but, I do like them.
DeleteToo bad it didn't have the thriller killer going on.
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DeleteIt lacked that wow factor surprise ending and I felt the ending disappointed.
DeleteThe book does have an interesting thesis but it sounds as though the execution of it fell a bit short.
ReplyDeleteYes, I wanted less meddling characters and a more satisfying ending.
DeleteThere are so many thrillers out there now that it's pick and choose time. Just so-so books are ones it's easy to leave behind.
ReplyDeleteYou hit the nail on the head - "so many thrillers out there now", I, as well need to be more picky.
DeleteOkay, so not great. I did request this one from the library.
ReplyDeleteI had never read anything by her before. I think I confused her with someone else. I think I'm on thriller overload. I need to branch out or be way more selective. We will have Billy Summer out soon, that should be fun. You never read "Later" did you?
DeleteAh well, most books fall into this 3-3.5 category, even if I'd hoped for more on this one.
ReplyDeleteYes, it seems that way. I think I'm going to try more crime and mysteries instead of so many thrillers.
DeleteNo not really but, we can't have all winners.
ReplyDeleteI was wondering about this one. I've read almost all of her books, so not sure why I missed this coming out. Too bad it was lacking some of the thrill!
ReplyDeleteI've been seeing this one a lot on social media. I do enjoy these domestic/suburban type thrillers so while it may not have been a 5 star read I might still check it out.
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