I have to point out how much I love Campbell’s titles, It’s Always the Husband is so clever and this one is pretty smart as well! In an over saturated market things like a strong title always stand out from the crowd and after reading both of her books I can now say that there’s much more to her books than an eye catching title. They’re of the slow building, character driven variety but they sure pack a punch in the end.

This is told from various viewpoints, you have sisters Bel and Rose as well as Sarah, who is married to a young, handsome and charismatic teacher. The blend of two teenaged viewpoints and one adult gave this a YA vibe in a really good way. Campbell nailed the voices of both teenaged girls just trying to get through high school and a young wife and mom trying to keep multiple plates spinning while being scrutinized by an entire campus.

Once again this isn’t a fast paced, twisty, edge of your seat thriller but the ending was ultimately satisfying and it still managed to read like a fun page turning mystery with a heavy emphasis on character development and the bond between sisters. Twin sisters are always interesting and when you’re never sure how they really feel about each other it’s just double the fun 😜

She Was the Quiet One in three words: Simmering, Enthralling and Intelligent.

Wow—what a story! There were so many unreliable characters, I had no idea what was going to happen. At times this book made me feel claustrophobic with the situations the characters were in, but that’s a good thing! Michele Campbell nailed the thriller with this one.

Not only does this fit the widely popular thriller genre, it is also so timely in that we hear so many stories of teachers (and other men in authority) taking advantage of young girls.

Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for the chance to read an advance copy of this. All thoughts are my own.

While this was an entertaining read, it was just missing something. Maybe a big twist in the middle or the end?? The gist of the story was quite predictable, but Campbell did keep me reading the pages to find out just what happened to Bel, or was it Rose?? With twins, a boarding school and dark secrets, this book read more like a YA novel, not the psychological suspense I was hoping for.

3.5 Stars!

Thank you to St. Martin's Press for the advanced Finished copy of this book!

That Thing. Her Sister. Her Twin.


This was my first Michele Campbell books. I've heard awesome things about It's Always The Husband (it's also sitting on my TBR shelf) so I was really excited when I heard she was coming out with a new one. This book has been receiving a ton of hype as a best book of the summer.

Bel and Rose are fraternal twins. They've had a tough life and both of their parents have died. They go live with their Grandma who immediately ships them off to a family legacy boarding school. Rose is excited - these are her kinds of people, Bel is not as she's the rebel and doesn't like rules. They start to hang out with different crowds and this causes a rift between the sisters. Bel is hanging out with the troublemakers and Rose is trying to figure out how to get her sister away from them so she doesn't cause more trouble.

Heath and Sarah are high school sweethearts. They're married with two kids and are the dorm advisors for the Odell academy (boarding school where the twins go). They seem like every normal couple: happy and in love with the perfect life until you realize everything isn't so perfect; in fact far from it. As the book continues on secrets start to unravel about Heath and the past is not so pretty. He's vying for the headmaster's job but these secrets may come back to bite him as the story unfolds.

The story opens up where we find out only one sister is alive. How can a prep school with barely any locks and cameras have this happen? What secrets is everyone hiding? This book explores marriage issues, underage sexual affairs, hazing, bullying, assault, etc. That is one thing that I enjoyed about this book was that the author intertwined all of this subjects into one story but didn't rush any of them in the storyline.

I think where this fell a little short for me was in two places: 1. This almost felt YA to me in a sense. I think it was because the two main characters were teenagers and I think I associate main teenage characters with Young Adult books. It's definitely not YA when it's all said and done but it had a YA feel to it at times. 2. The ending was predictable. I knew what happened pretty much from the beginning. With my thrillers I enjoy twists and turns until the end. Maybe this falls more into the light thriller/suspense category.

I would recommend this book if you're looking for a book that addresses multiple subjects that could be considered complex. It explores relationships of siblings and a marriage/family. I think some people will find it interesting and others who are looking for a twisty thriller, well, this one is not for you.

This publishes on July 31st!

Many thanks to NetGalley, St Martin's Press and Michele Campbell for the opportunity to read and review her latest thriller - I loved it! Maybe I was just in the mood for some snarky mean rich girl boarding school tales, but I couldn't put this book down - 4.5 stars!

Twins, Bel and Rose are sent to the prestigious Odell School by their grandmother after their mother died. The girls' father was already deceased so they were now orphans. The book opens with the murder of one of the girls - but we don't know which one nor who committed the murder. The girls have some sibling rivalry which gets much worse when they get to Odell and find very different friends.

Sarah and Heath Donovan are teachers at Odell, recently promoted to be the head of the dorm where both girls live. Heath is very driven to succeed at Odell and has lofty ambitious. Sarah is content to be a teacher and mom to their two small children.

Told in different viewpoints with police interviews mixed in, this book really kept me intrigued to find out all of the answers.

I was excited to have the opportunity to review this book. (Thanks Netgalley!!) I really enjoyed Michele Campbell's previous book, It's Always the Husband and I love books seet in boarding schools. Win/win for me.

She Was the Quiet One introduces us to twins, Rose and Bel, who have just lost their mother and are sent to boarding school by their grandmother. At the school, there are two teachers who are married and oversee the dorms. The point of view alternates between these characters.

Well written, suspenseful w ith an edge of creepy at the boarding school. I enjoyed this book even more than her first and am looking forward to reading more by this author.

The blurb for this one promises twists, turns, and dark secrets. It is an interesting story, and there are plenty of dark secrets, but I didn't find much in the way of twists and turns. Instead, most of it was rather predictable, especially the killer's identity in spite of a few decent red herrings. A few things were a stretch on the believability scale, but a lot were necessary for flow and plot so could be easily overlooked. The exception to that came toward the end - first, with the twins' grandmother and her change in personality. I just didn't buy it. The other was the epilogue, and while I can understand wanting to wrap everything up with a neat little bow, it was just over the top. Sadly, it was also the only real twist in the book. As the setting for the story is a boarding school, quite a bit of it revolves around teenage angst, primarily that of Rose and Bel, but that was expected given the storyline. At the end of the day, it did hold my interest, but I was disappointed in the complete predictability of it all.

5 Stars + Bestselling author, Michele Campbell returns following (2017) It's Always the Husband with her latest "unputdownable" edgy suspense thriller SHE WAS THE QUIET ONE—Cleverly crafted, twisty and dark, this cat-and-mouse tale will grab you and never let go until its grisly, gratifying, and jaw-dropping conclusion. Dirty little secrets.

“The only quiet woman is a dead one.” —Sylvia Plath

Twin sisters Rose and Bel find themselves pitted against one another as the school brings out a dangerous rivalry between them, and the wife of one of the school's teachers begins to question the man she's married to. What is going on at this prestigious school behind closed doors?

LOVED!

From sibling rivalry, social media, schoolgirl crushes, privilege, power, ambition, hazing, deception, stalking, infidelity, dark secrets, to murder — this scandalous thriller set in this prestigious New Hampshire boarding school, has it all! Never a lull in the suspense and the author cleverly keeps the reader guessing until the explosive nail-biting conclusion.

Two twin sisters. Bel and Rose Enright. Bel hated Odell Academy. However, she had promised Rose to give it a real try, so she kept silent and pretended. Two different personalities.

Their mom had died in May from cancer. Bel and her mom were close. She was an artist and the bohemian lifestyle. They were all alone in the world until they found their paternal grandmother —(blue blood) Martha Brooks Enright. They had not seen her since their dad at age five.

The orphaned twins moved from California to their grandmother’s home in Connecticut. Soon she shipped them off to boarding school. After all, it was something rich people did. They would reside at the pretentious prep school in the fall and come home only for the holidays. They did not have a choice.

Rose was delighted to be able to attend one of the top schools in the country. Odell Academy in New Hampshire with its beautiful brick and iron gates and lush green campus. Both were coming in as sophomores, and soon the two sisters went their separate ways. Not only were they not roommates, but they were also no longer friends. Bel and Rose moved in different crowds.

Rose was the good girl. She got perfect grades, played the violin, and did her charity work. Bel thought Rose’s friends were dweebs like her. She was sure Rose would fit in.

However, Bel was lured in by some older popular girls. She liked to party and wear fun clothes. She was not interested in studying like her sister. These girls are bad news. Darcy, a senior, was trouble as well as the girls she hung out with. Soon they did not even associate with one another. Rose was concerned about Bel hanging out with the wrong crowd. Bel was a follower, not a leader.

Rose must find out what is going on. Bel is secretive. Until she plays dirty tricks on her roommate and her. Betrayal.

Enter more trouble . . .

The new headmaster Heath Donovan (hot, good-looking, teaches English) and coach of the cross-country team. His wife, Sarah (math teacher) and their two small children— Henry and Sophia all live on campus. They are coheads at Moreland. There is a lot of stress and pressure for the two of them to keep down the crime at the school. The bad girls, of course, think Sarah is mousy and soon make a bet to see which girl could seduce her husband first.

To make things even more intriguing, Heath has a secret past. Sarah is trying to trust him, and this move was to create a new start. Sarah comes from a wealthy family, and her husband’s past misdeeds were covered up.

Heath (narcissistic) is ambitious and wants to make a name for himself. He is a good father and supposedly a loving husband, or so his wife thinks. He tells his wife to ignore the girls; they do not want to draw attention to trouble.

Rose soon gets comfortable with her math teacher, Sarah. She is her advisor and spends time with her and the boys babysitting.

Whereas, you guessed it —Bel, the wild manipulative one has a crush on Heath, the husband. He is her advisor, teacher, and cross-country coach. Any time she can cozy up to him, she finds a way. Bel wants to please Marcy Madden. These girls are power at the school. Darcy controls Bel and the hazing.

Then everything goes wrong.

Someone is texting Sarah about her husband. There is a photo. He is good-looking, athletic, ambitious, and charming (and a good liar). They both went to this same school, and Sarah knows all too well not to trust these girls. Especially Darcy’s crowd. However, she has to protect her family, their job, and their reputation. She had kept Heath’s secrets, and he trusted her.

Things get heated. More people are involved. There is a murder that rocks the campus. A full-blown investigation. Someone is driving these texts and emails.

Now one twin is murdered, and the other is holding a knife.

However, is there something more sinister at play? Could sisters turn on one another, or is this a setup? Who would kill to keep their dirty secret hidden? Will the grandmother and her lawyer believe her?

The impending peril creates a ticking clock. The ongoing lurking darkness in the woods. The secret meetings. Dirty secrets. You know something terrible is going to happen — and everyone is a suspect. You are holding your breath as you flip the pages.

Wow! Campbell turns up the heat and intensity with this twisty and dark psychological suspense thriller. Not only does she give voice to the hormone raged college campus students, the hazing, and the vicious scheming —the introduction of Sarah and Heath, their past, and their current marriage domestic relationship brings complexity and intrigue to an even deeper level.

Also, the deliciously evil secondary characters will keep you guessing . . . And the chilling ending! Your mouth will drop.

Michele Campbell is such a dynamic storyteller (hello, have you seen her bio)? Typically, college drama does not really get me excited; however, SHE WAS THE QUIET ONE was so much more. Very compelling and great character development! Read it and find out why! Nothing is as it appears.

Highly recommend! My Top 20 Books for July and Top Books of 2018! For fans of Big Little Lies.

A special thank you to #StMartinsPress and #NetGalley for an advanced reading copy #SheWasTheQuietOne.

JDCMustReadBooks

This was my first novel by Michele Campbell and now I cant wait to go back and read her first one! I really enjoyed the different perspectives in this novel and that it followed twin sisters that were so drastically different. It kept me on the edge of my seat wanting to know what would happen next and trying to solve who was murdered and by whom.

I received an advanced copy of this book in exchange of an honest review.

4.5 Stars

Last summer I read Michele Campbell's debut It's Always the Husband, and I enjoyed it very much because of the fabulous writing, the well-developed plot, skillful characterization, the fast pace, and the suspenseful twists and turns, and I couldn't wait to see if She Was the Quiet One had all those same page-turning components to make this a read that I wouldn't be able to put down! Campbell did not disappoint with her newest read since it had all those things and more! This is a dark, intense, riveting read that I have to say that I thoroughly loved! 

Teenage twins (fraternal) Rose and Bel Enright have just suffered a tremendous loss: their mother has died, so they've been uprooted from their lives in California and sent by their wealthy grandmother to the prestigious Odell boarding school where their father attended as a boy. While you would think that attending Odell would be an excellent opportunity,  Bel wants nothing to do with the school while Rose, who is intelligent and highly academic, wants to excel and loves the thoughts of being there. It doesn't take long to realize that besides their looks...Bel being the beautiful one compared to Rose's average looks, that the twins are NOTHING alike. 

Life at Odell causes the twins to fight constantly--fighting that is mainly brought on by peer influences and their own jealousies and insecurities. Bel quickly falls in with a group of seniors at the school who happen to be the popular but "wrong crowd" and Rose constantly tries to pull her away from them before Bel does something she'll regret. Although the sisters love each other, they can't push past their inner jealousy or the social pressures to make up with one another before their relationship is ruined and tragedy strikes. 

Sarah and Heath Donovan are married teachers at Odell and dorm heads of Moreland Hall, Bel and Rose's dorm. Neither of them is quite prepared for the terrible scandal that hits Odell, one with the twins caught right in the middle of the drama! Both teachers get pulled further into the treacherous drama as Rose goes to Sarah for advice while Bel turns to Heath for his help. When murder is committed on school grounds, will the mounting scandals help Heath achieve his goal of becoming headmaster? What secrets are the married couple keeping from the other? And how far will Heath go to achieve his dreams...and what will Sarah do to help (or stop him)? 

She Was the Quiet One is filled with betrayal, dark secrets, titillating scandals, seductions, manipulations, murder, and an abundance of drama....boarding school rivalry, sisters fighting, marital crisis, and an ever increasing line of murder suspects!

Campbell has superbly crafted a cleverly plotted, fabulously characterized suspense novel that will keep you on the edge of your seat right up until the shocking conclusion, including the dramatic epilogue for a surprise finale! It is definitely an addictive read that you will not want to put down until the very end. This second book by Campbell has definitely put her on my list as favorite authors, and I highly recommend She Was the Quiet One and if you haven't picked up It's Always the Husband yet, then I definitely recommend you read that one too!

**Thank you NetGalley and St. Martin's Press for an ARC in exchange for my fair and honest review.**

This is a twisted psychological thriller. Full of richly detailed characters, some are quite simply evil. This book kept me guessing throughout. Even when I thought I knew who killed one of the twins, I second guessed myself. Predictable and yet not, because it makes you question everything and everyone. This is a great read and it keeps you turning the pages till the shocking end. Well written and with good flow, I recommend this to fans of psychological thrillers.

Crossed between a thriller and a YA, She Was the Quiet One was slow to build for me. Twins Rose and Bel find themselves being shipped to boarding school by their grandmother shortly after becoming orphans. As opposite as two can be, studious Rose acclimates herself quickly whilst dark and sultry Bel harbors her resentment and befriends the “bad girls” of the school. The two quickly find themselves at odds and when Rose bonds with the headmaster’s wife and Bel attempts a seduction of the headmaster. Full of lust, lies, and betrayal this novel picks up momentum and slams you with a final blow.

Though it took some time for me to care enough about the characters to continue reading, I found that I did enjoy this book. Labeled as a thriller, I was confused at first because the main characters are teens, so I probably would have classified this one as a Young Adult read. Regardless, it had a couple good twists, and the back and forth perspectives helped to keep the pace going. I wish I would have latched on and liked the characters sooner because I almost didn’t finish this one. As the plot thickened so did the characters, making it harder to put down. Overall, a good novel and one I would recommend.

Loved this book! The use of alternate POV, along with police interview transcription, gave the reader just enough information to pique curiosity without giving anything away.

An average who-done-it mystery intriguing enough to want to read to the end.. Teenagers, boarding school, mean girls, sexual misconduct, murder . . . but it all comes across almost a bit juvenile. The teacher/student affair is basically unbelievable, and it’s pretty obvious who the bad guy is even with a few red herrings thrown in. The police interview chapters were interesting, although there did seem to be some legal inaccuracies. Parts of the story were repetitive, especially the wife’s agonizing over what her husband did or didn’t do, could or might have done, no, he wouldn’t ever, or would he, did he?, etc.

3.5ish, stars, perhaps? She Was the Quiet One takes a turn at the boarding school story. Bel and Rose are latecomers to a privileged boarding school, starting as sophomores after the death of their mother leaves them with only their wealthy, estranged grandmother for a guardian. The twins feel quite differently starting at the school, and have vastly different personalities and attitudes. The story succeeds by building up the suspense over what has happened at the school through police interviews with other students and teachers- we know that something terrible has happened, and that the twins were involved, but exactly what is left to be determined later. The pacing felt a bit off- the beginning didn't take off as quickly as I'd have preferred, but picked up throughout the story. The ending was a definite and appreciated surprise.

I thought this book was amazing. One of my favorite thrillers of the year. Initially, I was hesitant because I don't always love books centered around teens & boarding school drama, but something about this one just captivated me. I guessed the killer about halfway through, maybe a little earlier (and was fairly certain), but I still found myself racing through this one, trying to figure out what was going to happen! I liked how the police interview transcripts were interjected every few chapters, I thought it was an interesting way to keep the story moving along. I was surprised at how invested I was in the storyline and how quickly I read this. Would highly recommend.

Enjoyable thriller with a nice kick at the end. Set in an American boarding school, there's no real suspense as to who the killer will be, but Rose and Sarah (especially Sarah) were interesting and I believed in their choices, even as they piled up. And I did love that ending!

Thrillers are my favorite, and this one was excellent! I loved the twins Rose and Bel and their dynamic relationship. The author describes the setting perfectly and you really feel like you are apart of the story looking in. No spoilers here, but this thriller has you second guessing “who done it” from the beginning all the way until the end. Grab this one now and dive in!

Bel and Rose Enright are shipped off by their grandmother to Odell School after the death of their mother. It is an elite boarding school that their father and grandfather attended. We know from the onset that one of the twins is dead and that one is probably a suspect. What we learn as we read is just how we got to this point. The story is interspersed with different people being interrogated about events leaning up to the death and then we are taken back to see just what the sisters were doing and thinking.

You can tell you are in the throes of a good book when you find yourself talking out loud while reading it. (Maybe that’s just me!) “How can you be so naive?!” “Don’t fall for it!” That was just some of the things I said and probably the few I can write on here. You will definitely become entwined in these characters’ lives. You might want to shake a couple of them but you will want to see how they work through it all. This is a true page-turner and another outstanding outing by Ms. Campbell. You should also read her book It’s Always the Husband.

Thanks to Netgalley and St.Martin’s Press for a couple of this wonderful read.

This was a good book that I read quickly. It was taut and kept my interest throughout. Seems like there are many books recently about the complicated relationship between sisters, and this was a good one, albeit a bit predictable. I look forward to reading more from this writer.