Keep your friends close and your enemies closer. Ruby’s back in town after being released from prison with her murder conviction being overturned. Harper is conflicted about how to feel with her back. The rest of the neighborhood is unhappy about her return and looking for a way to make her leave. Who do you trust? Through a series of cat and mouse games this book will leave you wanting more as you try to figure out what really happened.

I received a complimentary copy of this book. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own. Thank you NetGalley, Megan Miranda and Simon & Schuster for this edition and hearing my honest review. Looking forward to reading more with you
#partner

Megan Miranda captures the feel of a small neighborhood enclave, where everyone has secrets, and everyone is watching (more than you realize).

This story reminded me of the time my neighbors came out to watch Halley's Comet - I had no idea so many people possessed binoculars and telescopes! In Hollow's Edge, folks have cameras, and the party line seems to be "If you see something, keep it simple". Rather than talk to one another, the residents of this tight knit community communicate through rumor and innuendo on their local message board.

The story leads with the idea that even though Ruby is released from prison for the murder of the Truetts, it's on a technicality, so there's still a possibility she's guilty. Ruby doesn't make it easy for people to believe in her innocence when she gets up to things that shake up the neighborhood - including unwilling roommate Harper. Harper remains ambivalent about Ruby's innocence, and who wouldn't be skittish if they thought they were living with a murderer? Harper starts her own investigation into the murders and that's where the plot begins some great twists and turns!

Thanks to NetGalley and Simon & Schuster for an advance reader's copy for review.

Thank you to NetGalley, the publisher and the author, for an ARC of this book, in exhange for an honest review.
I have wanted to read a book by Megan Miranda for a very long time.
When I discovered that her newest book, "Such A Quiet Place", was available to review I had to request a copy.
This was an adult mystery/suspense story about murder in a small close knit neighborhood.
I found it to be intelligent, creative & addictive.
I definitely will be reading other books by Ms. Miranda.

Megan Miranda's books tend to be hit or miss for me. "Such A Quiet Place" synopsis seems like a mystery I would enjoy. The setting is Hollow's Edge, a tight-knight lakeside community. You get to know several members of the community through the perspective of the narrator, Harper.

Here's where the premise gets interesting: Ruby, Harper's former roommate is released from prison on a technicality, and guess where she turns up? Why, at Harper's house, of course. Her crime? Murdering 2 of Hollow Edge's residents. Of course everyone is on edge, and of course, everything is not always as it seems.

Overall, I found the book to be just okay. Wasn't exceptional, wasn't bad. The storyline was interesting enough, but it was too much of a slow-burn for my liking.

I received an ARC of "Such A Quiet Place" by Megan Miranda from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

I’ve read quite a few books by Megan Miranda and have had mixed results in the past but with a couple of those being five stars I know I would have to give Such a Quiet Place a try. While I did find myself getting lost in the story as I began reading this new thriller wasn’t without a few faults in my eyes.

The story brings readers to a close knit community known as Hollow’s Edge which seems like an ideal place to live, that is until you discover there had been a murder. A family in the neighborhood had been found inside their home and a tenant of one of the home owners, Ruby Fletcher, had been arrested for the murders.

Now, a year and a half later Ruby is a free woman when her lawyer got her conviction overturned. Harper Nash who had once shared her home with Ruby never expected to find Ruby on her doorstep after her twenty year sentence but there she was. Harper soon suspects that Ruby has an agenda for her return to the neighborhood who once turned on her.

The story in Such a Quiet Place seemed to get off to a slow start for me but the pace did seem to pick up a bit later on in the story. The setting in this one was a great one that drew me in despite the slower start. The big thing for me that brought my rating down to three and a half stars was that it felt when it was all said and done there were a lot of holes left that were never filled in. The wrap up was all fine and dandy but I was left wondering about several things and why they were a part of it all so while it was engaging to read I just couldn’t go higher on my rating.

I received an advance copy from the publisher via NetGalley.

Big fan of this author. Great story. Full of mystery and surprises. This is a close second to The Last House Guest.

Book Review: Such A Quiet Place by Megan Miranda

Such A Quiet Place is an adult mystery suspense about murder in a small close knit neighborhood. When the main suspect of murder is released on a technicality her presence back among “friends” stirs up secrets and more dark acts.

Harper is surprised when her former roommate Ruby comes strolling back into her life after being accused of the double homicide of a couple she dog sat for, the Truetts. All of the neighbors are convinced of Ruby’s guilt and paranoia is ratcheted back up and no one knows what she will do next. Harper is stuck in the middle between her charismatic younger friend (who never had a motive for the murders) and her neighbors. As Harper starts to dig around she stirs up more secrets than what happened to the Truett’s and her own life could be in jeopardy.

This is an extremely slow-burn bloodless murder mystery. Although Megan Miranda did a great job of building tension I found it hard for the plot to completely keep my attention as the characters were all so bland and boring. Even the crime(s) lacked the gritty and dark vibe I prefer to escape in. I’d recommend this one for readers that want to enjoy a more low-key thriller or mystery suspense but without any gore or disturbing scenes.

3.5 stars

Hollows Edge is a quiet neighborhood where people who work at the same college live. That’s until Brandon and Fiona Truett turn up dead and the police believe it is a homicide. Ruby Fletcher goes down for the crime but is released after a retrial 14 months later. Harper Nash never thought her old roommate Ruby would come back to this sleepy town after what happened but she is proved wrong when Ruby comes waltzing into her house as if she still belongs there. All of the other neighbors are frazzled to say the least and they are all working against Ruby, believing she is still guilty after being aquitted. Harper begins her own research into the situation and finds out that her neighbors have a lot to hide and what she was told is not the whole story. This is a great whodunit read. I really enjoyed this book. Congrats to Megan Miranda for another great one! This is a solid 4.5 stars for me.

Is it nitpicky of me to ask more of my thrillers than a suspenseful plot? I want verisimilitude!

This book is well-plotted. There is tension galore. But there are a lot of gaps: real-world details, that to some might slow down the plot, but to others provide the authenticity that help them willingly go along on this fictional ride.

Just one case in point (of many): The whole plot hangs on the return of a convicted killer to her neighborhood after being exonerated. Yet how did her release from prison come about? "The trial had been tainted, the investigation deemed unfair, the verdict thrown out." My Kindle tells me that this (one-sentence!) explanation falls at about 3% in the book's trajectory, so for the remaining 97% of the narrative, I wanted more. Yes, the accused's high-powered attorney talks about it, but since when do a defense attorney's bloviations count for anything?

So for the rest of the book, every time I came across some unlikely happening, the counter in my head chalked up yet another implausibility. I believe that authors are supposed to make it easy for us to suspend our disbelief, not take it for granted.

Thanks to NetGalley and Simon and Schuster for an advance readers copy.

YESSS I LOVED THIS BOOK!!!!! If you’re looking for a book that’ll keep you guessing and that you can’t put down, look no further!!

Harper lives in the gated community Hollow’s Edge where everyone knows everyone and no one’s secrets are safe. When Ruby Fletcher is released from prison on a technicality after 14 months for a double homicide in the community last year, the residents of Hollow’s Edge are shocked when she returns to Harper’s house like nothing happened. Setting the community on edge, Ruby is on a mission. But whether it’s for revenge or to prove her innocence, no one is sure.

I read most of this book in one day because it was just that good. Ruby was a complex character and I was constantly flipping back and forth on whether or not she was guilty of the murders. Her blasé attitude and ability to get her own way was unsettling but also captivating and it was easy to want to place the blame elsewhere.

I loved the dynamics of the community and how it was evident that everyone was keeping secrets. No one felt innocent but it was difficult to pinpoint what they may be hiding or why. The use of the message board, video footage, and Harper’s narration helped build the suspense and allude to something under the surface.

I also loved that the novel ended up being multiple mysteries. The twist in the middle was unexpected and added a really great layer of suspense to the story.

This has been one of my favorite suspense novels of the year and it’s one I’ll definitely be recommending quite a bit!!

Thank you to Simon & Schuster and NetGalley for a copy of this excellent novel.

A decent thriller that I’ll admit I liked much more than other Miranda books. It was definitely atmospheric and a little spooky with the neighborhood watch and the really never knowing what happened. I thought the ending was kiiiind of anticlimactic but also didn’t hate it. I liked the characters even though they were all super unlikeable. I thought the author did a good job at making them all seem guilty. And LOVED how she wrote Ruby - what a complex character and story line.

Definitely a cozy, spooky thriller I think would be a great summer read if you’re looking for things other than beaches and vacations!

Megan Miranda has been one of my favorite authors since I first read All the Missing Girls. Unfortunately, this was my least favorite of her books. This felt like a complete popcorn thriller, and I really hope that is not the direction that she takes in her future writing. NOTHING happens in this book until the 50% mark. One would think that in the first 50% of the book you would then get a true deep dive in to the characters and that was not the case.

I guess one could classify this as a closed circle mystery and one which all of the character are flawed. So, if you enjoy this type of book, you may enjoy this story.

I ended up skimming through the last 20% of the book and quite honestly was relieved when it was over.

2.5 stars

A big thank you to NetGalley and Simon & Schuster for allowing me to read an advanced copy of this book!

Harper thinks she lives in a quiet and safe neighborhood. When her roommate is arrested for the murder of two of their neighbors, she begins to question everything she thought she knew about the people that live next door. Ruby was sentenced to 20 years, but it suddenly released when new evidence comes to light. She immediately moves back in with Harper without really asking if she is welcome. The neighborhood isn’t exactly welcoming. Is it because they are scared of Ruby or scared of what she may find out about them?

The premise of this book was good, but as a whole I was underwhelmed. I had a hard time really getting invested and the story dragged a lot for me. I figured out “who done it” pretty quickly. It wasn’t my favorite, but I’m not sorry I took the time to read it!

I’m just flabbergasted! Not a word I really use but this book just surprised me. Miranda has always been an intriguing writer, putting women in strong roles but also making them villains, an equal opportunity writer. This one starts off with Ruby returning home from prison, she was convicted of murdering her neighbors, but the verdict was overturned. The neighborhood is a prickly bunch with cameras, secrets and rules. I sort of liked Ruby with her trouble starting personality and never really knowing what she was up to. There is plenty of mischief going on in this quiet community that anybody could be the true killer. Definitely a favorite thriller for the year. I have provided my review voluntarily after reading an early copy.

When Ruby returns to the neighborhood after her murder conviction was overturned, people are on edge. Everyone had testified at her trial. Was she back for revenge? As I read, I kept trying to guess who was telling the truth.. So many secrets in one neighborhood. I stayed up late to finish. Thank you NetGalley and Simon and Schuster for another great selection.

Such a Quiet Place is set in Hollow’s Edge, a small idyllic neighborhood in a college town. A year and half ago, two neighbors were murdered and one of the neighbors, Ruby, was convicted of the crime. Harper, her roommate, is surprised to see Ruby waltz back into her house after being released from prison due to her conviction being overturned. Suspicion begins to rise in the neighborhood as everyone worries the killer will strike again.

Three words to describe this book: Slow. Secrets. Lakeside.

Cover: I loved the cover which is an aerial view of Hollows’ Edge a neighborhood which plays such a big part of the novel.

Character Development: I found the character development generally lacking, especially of Harper and Ruby. The author spends a lot of time discussing big events in their life but not much about who they are at their essence.

World-Building: Miranda does an excellent job building the world in a small college town near a beautiful lake. I felt like I could clearly picture this neighborhood even though I don’t think I’d like to visit!

Plot & Pacing: This book is a slow-burn mystery. A bit too slow for my taste. I think part of the slowness is we were told vague recollections of the original event and trial, but not given specific details. It was the classic telling instead of showing the reader. Mostly, I wanted to know more about the original trial so that I could better understand the current events. Despite the slow build, the ending was great and quite thoughtful.

Twists/Shocks: As an avid thriller reader, I did not guess the ending. It was something I was not expecting at all. That said, there were not a lot of twists throughout the book.

You might like this book if:
You enjoy slow-burn mysteries.
You want a thriller without gore, violence, or large scares.
You enjoy reading about a neighborhood and how everyone relates to one another.

ARC was provided to me by Simon & Schuster, in exchange for an honest review.

#suchaquietplace #NetGalley

Such a Quiet Place
By Megan Miranda

An Entertaining and Easy Read with a Picture Perfect Setting by the Lake

⭐️⭐️⭐️

SUMMARY
The Hollow’s Edge neighborhood is just recovering from the murder of Brandon and Fiona Truett and its aftermath when the murderer is released from prison. Ruby Fletcher is released from prison and just days later shows up in Hollow’s Edge, sneaking right back into the home she once shared with Harper Nash as if nothing had happened.

Harper always thought of Ruby as an unruly younger sister. But now, she is terrified and intimidated by Ruby’s brazen return. The Truett’s had lived right next door to Harper’s home. The shocked neighbors are nervous and suspicious, and Ruby vows to get revenge for those that put her in prison. The once quiet and idyllic lakeside neighborhood is abuzz with conversations about what to do about Ruby. When Harper starts receiving threatening notes, she knows she has to uncover the truth about the Truett’s murder.


REVIEW
SUCH A QUIET PLACE is an entertaining and easy read. The premise of the story is intriguing. What would you do if the person you testified against for murder was convicted and then released and was back living in your house? And if Ruby didn’t really do it, who did?

The lakeside neighborhood setting for the story is picture-perfect. The close-knit neighbors propel the twisty story with their secret meetings and message board.
Megan Miranda’s writing makes you feel as if you are there. She captures a story full of tension and suspense. You don’t know who to believe or who to trust.

While I appreciated the story immensely, I didn’t particularly care for Ruby or Harper’s characters. Harper Nash was so intimidated by Ruby it made me mad, while Ruby’s brazen character was just as unsettling, with behaviors that didn’t seem to make much sense. Neither Harper nor Ruby had the courage to speak up and use their words to confront the neighborhood's issues.

Thanks to Netgalley for an advance reading copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.


Publisher Simon & Schuster
Published July 13, 2021
Review www.bluestockingreviews.com

An intriguing mystery is woven into the atmosphere of a small, desirable neighborhood set near a lake in suburban Virginia. The residents consider themselves close-knit and would describe the neighborhood as safe. At least it was until the Truett couple was found dead in their bedroom.

The neighborhood social media page goes nuts and the residents fo right along with it. Fueled by lies, gossip and misunderstandings, the death of the couple is blamed on Ruby, a young woman who was their dog walker and had a key to their house.

Ruby’s conviction is overturned after 14 months and she returns to the neighborhood and is our for revenge against those who helped convict her. It’s easy to imagine which character might be the guilty one because most of them were unlikable.

The story shines a light on the perils of social media and the trouble that results when people make assumptions and don’t communicate in an honest manner.

The ending was a bit unexpected, but also exciting. Looking back, I wondered why none of the residents realized what happened in the first place, because it was the most logical answer.
I really enjoyed the story. It was a great lead up to my week of vacation.

Many thanks to NetGalley and Simon & Schuster for allowing me to read an advance copy and give my honest review.

This is one of the best thrillers I’ve read all year, and I read a lot of thrillers. Harper is a fantastic POV character, and the way Megan Miranda plays with unreliable narrator tropes while still giving us a read that is surprising is masterful.

That said, my favorite character is probably the notorious Ruby. She’s just flawed enough to believe she could absolutely be a killer. Her motives are in shadows until the very end of the book, and all of the twists took me completely by surprise.

This is my favore Megan Miranda book yet! I loved the concept of a close knit community where it seems like everything is perfect. It almost reminded me a little bit of Little Fires Everywhere. It also reminded me a bit of the town I grew up in. You knew everyone and their business, or so you thought you did. You knew things, but did you REALLy know everything.

There was a lot of suspense and I finished the book in two days. Ruby was accused of a double homicide. She was released from jail early due to new evidence. She returns to the town where the murders were convicted, but she is an outsider. Even though she lived in the town, she does not LIVE in the town. She is a roommate and thus an outsider, someone who is already not in the inner circle. And of course, since she was accused of murder, no one is rolling out the banner to welcome her back.

I loved how the writing had you questioning everyone's motives at different points, even the narrator. And then something big happens, not spoiling it for you, that throws the town into an even bigger spiral.

I highly recommend this new thriller that is published on July 13th. Thank you to Net Galley and Simon and Shuster books for the e-galley read.