The first bits of snow hit the other day. I’m not excited about it but it makes for a good photo.
Thanks to Minotaur Books for the free copy in exchange for my honest review
THESE SILENT WOODS – Kimi Cunningham Grant (Releasing November 16th, 2021)
Book Description:
No electricity, no family, no connection to the outside world. For eight years, Cooper and his young daughter, Finch, have lived in isolation in a remote cabin in the northern Appalachian woods. And that’s exactly the way Cooper wants it, because he’s got a lot to hide. Finch has been raised on the books filling the cabin’s shelves and the beautiful but brutal code of life in the wilderness. But she’s starting to push back against the sheltered life Cooper has created for her—and he’s still haunted by the painful truth of what it took to get them there.
The only people who know they exist are a mysterious local hermit named Scotland, and Cooper’s old friend, Jake, who visits each winter to bring them food and supplies. But this year, Jake doesn’t show up, setting off an irreversible chain of events that reveals just how precarious their situation really is. Suddenly, the boundaries of their safe haven have blurred—and when a stranger wanders into their woods, Finch’s growing obsession with her could put them all in danger. After a shocking disappearance threatens to upend the only life Finch has ever known, Cooper is forced to decide whether to keep hiding—or finally face the sins of his past.
Vividly atmospheric and masterfully tense, These Silent Woods is a poignant story of survival, sacrifice, and how far a father will go when faced with losing it all.
My Thoughts: 5/5 stars
I’m happy to have another five star read to add to the 2021 wrap up! THESE SILENT WOODS is an incredible debut for Kimi Cunningham Grant and while it wasn’t the thriller I was anticipating it was still such an engrossing and tense read!
The characters are well developed and complex that they just spring to life. The setting is so vivid and you can just feel the isolation that Cooper and Finch experience. I can understand why it’s difficult for her to accept that she can’t leave the woods – I wouldn’t be able to just stay isolated like that.
The secrets that keep Cooper hidden in the woods slowly get revealed and I loved the way it came together. The atmosphere was great and I think the fact that I live in the middle of 20 acres really helped me get in the mood for this book. I highly recommend it and can’t wait for her next book.
Jessicamap Reviews 