I’m getting a little bored of the rich quest neighborhood meets a murderer. This one is a little different because someone who is inoccent is convicted. And once she’s released she out for revenge.

Hollow's Edge is a close-knit neighborhood that has survived a tragedy. It has been more than a year ago since Fiona and Brandon Truett were found dead in their home. And Harper Nash's roommate, Ruby Fletcher, was convicted of the crime. In the fourteen months since then the neighborhood has enacted measures to make sure that they will always be safe. But now Ruby Fletcher has been released from jail on a technicality and is back at Harper's. The entire neighborhood is in an uproar and people are questioning everything they knew about the Truett's death. But when another body turns up in Hollow's Edge its residents realize that they were never really safe. Will they find out the truth or will the body count keep rising?


Having just finished another novel about a "close-knit" neighborhood, I wasn't really expecting much with Such A Quiet Place. However, I really did enjoy it. Having the convicted murderer return to the neighborhood was an interesting take. Everybody was so uncomfortable with her being there, especially Harper. I don't understand why Harper didn't just tell her to get out, but she lived in the uncomfortable environment for far longer than I would have done. I didn't really have any guesses at who really did "it" - the second "it," not the first "it." So I was a little surprised by that revelation. CLICK HERE FOR SPOILERS.


Bottom Line - Such A Quiet Place was another fast-paced novel that I finished in a matter of days. While originality seems to be scarce these days, I did like that Megan Miranda could put a new twist on the story.


Details:
Such A Quiet Place by Megan Miranda
On Instagram
Pages: 352
Publisher: Simon & Schuster
Publication Date: 7/13/2021
Buy it Here!
Thank you to NetGalley for the book for an honest review.

DNF. Unfortunately, this was a book I started multiple times but could just not get into. I appreciate having the opportunity to read this book, it was just not a good fit for me as a reader. Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for my gifted review copy.

Megan Miranda, the bestselling author of THE LAST HOUSE GUEST and other acclaimed thrillers, brings the chills right to her readers’ backyards with SUCH A QUIET PLACE, a story of murder and betrayal in a not-so-quiet neighborhood.

For the residents of Hollow’s Edge, life is pretty predictable. Situated in a college town with a lake and pool, it is the kind of place where neighbors drop in on one another, share house keys, and celebrate birthdays, new babies and children’s graduations. But that all changed 14 months ago when Brandon and Fiona Truett were murdered in their home while their neighbors slept peacefully. Though carbon monoxide poisoning was to blame, their deaths were suspicious: Fiona’s car was left running in their closed garage with the access door open to let the poison seep slowly into their home. True, Brandon and Fiona were not the most liked residents of Hollow’s Edge, but death softened the harsh opinions of their neighbors and led not only to a fair amount of grief but also to a shocking police investigation.

In the end, Harper Nash’s roommate, Ruby Fletcher, was found guilty and expected to be sentenced to 20 years in prison following a trial where nearly every resident testified against their former neighbor. But when we visit Hollow’s Edge at the start of SUCH A QUIET PLACE, the quiet, peaceful ’burb is in for a shock: Ruby is back...and she knows why she was really sent to prison.

When Harper and Ruby met, each was at a crossroads: Harper had been unceremoniously dumped by her fiancé, and Ruby, who had been living with her father in Hollow’s Edge, had just lost her home when he decided to move. Sensing a void in Harper’s life, Ruby asked if she needed a roommate, and the rest was history. Although she was five years younger than Harper, Ruby helped her through her breakup like none of her former friends and neighbors could. Sure, there were rumors that Ruby was a bit of a wild child, between the parties with her college friends, impromptu bikini-clad car washes, and a bit of missing cash here and there. But no one, least of all Harper, ever suspected Ruby of murder. Until they did.

With Ruby back, tensions in Hollow’s Edge are at an all-time high, and suspicions are flowing rapidly. It isn’t hard to conclude that not everyone was telling the truth at Ruby’s trial, but even worse, new secrets and alliances have formed in the time since Ruby was hauled away. Harper has begun sleeping with Ruby’s ex, Mac; Margo and Paul have welcomed a new baby amid rising friction; Tate and Javier, the suburb’s “perfect couple,” are having screaming matches outside; and Chase, Hollow's Edge’s very own policeman, has been suspended from his department pending an internal investigation.

Through it all, Harper has managed to stay somewhat neutral, but with a potential murderer living in her home and the neighbors watching --- and commenting, patrolling and gossiping --- at all times, even she has noticed a cooling in their friendliness. All of it starts to make her wonder what really happened that night. If they are all so convinced that Ruby did it, then why are they are so eager to make sure that their stories match and they’re all on the same side? Fueling her curiosity is Ruby’s claim that she and her lawyer have new evidence that not only clears her name, but could lead to identifying the real murderer. And then the notes hinting at the true killer start to arrive.

Combining social media posts, date and time stamps, a map and a killer premise, Megan Miranda chronicles Harper’s investigation into two tragic deaths and the rumors, suspicions and outright lies swirling around her. She is expertly skilled at writing an immersive setting: her use of the “locked-room” trope in Hollow’s Edge adds a certain chill factor to the plot, but on top of that, her technique of breaking the chapters into days turns her readers into armchair detectives, following along day by day just as Harper does. Much like Sarah Langan’s GOOD NEIGHBORS, SUCH A QUIET PLACE plays heavily on the idea of a tight-knit neighborhood and the toxicity that can breed there. On the one hand, it is terrific to live in a community where everyone knows everyone; on the other, it often can mean being seen at your worst moments and judged by even the slightest misconception or miscommunication.

Miscommunication plays a huge role in the plot, and while I usually love this device, I felt that it was a bit overused here. It is easy as a reader to say that so many issues could have been resolved if only the characters talked to one another. But in this case, I felt that there were extraneous plotlines where the levels of secrecy came off as forced. When it comes to red herrings and misdirection, however, Miranda excels. Each resident is hiding something, including Harper, and it was not until the final reveal that I had any clue what might have happened the night of the murders. Miranda plays with two horrifying angles here: first, that Hollow’s Edge convicted the wrong person; and second, that the real perpetrator is still walking among them.

The idea of a thriller taking place long after the initial crime has occurred was immediately intriguing to me when I learned that Miranda had written a new book. With the original case being “solved,” it took on more of a slowburn pace at first, with Miranda introducing each character, laying bare their descriptions of the night of the murders and then completely turning the whole case around. The first half felt a bit slow at times as a result, but when she started poking holes in the case against Ruby, I could not put the book down. Though there were no jump scares or epic scenes of violence and gore, I was absolutely riveted, chills and all.

Another classic Megan Miranda hit, SUCH A QUIET PLACE will have you thinking twice before you share a key with your neighbor. But even better, it will make you second-guess any judgments you have about them, too.

It was fine. Kind of boring, so more of a contemporary fiction rather then a fast paced thriller, but it kept me entertained enough to finish it. It reminded me of Little Fired Everywhere with the neighborhood drama and a bit of mystery thrown in.

3.5 stars.
I was pleasantly surprised by this! The only other book I've read by Megan Miranda was All The Missing Girls and I wasn't impressed at all, but I knew I wanted to give her another shot. Such a Quiet Place was a nice, domestic-y thriller. Not a favorite by any means, but I really enjoyed it. The first 30% took a while to get me hooked but by the time I was at the halfway point and the neighbor drama was in full swing, I was in. I wish the ending had unfolded a little differently but it ended up being a good read for me. I'll definitely be reading her next publications!

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for an advance reader's copy in exchange for an honest review.

I was immediately intrigued by the synopsis of this book and the beginning did hook me in with its high intensity and then slow burn but then I became pretty bored with this book. The story telling was a little monotone compared to the high tension beginning. Overall not a bad book but I wish it would have kept its pace throughout.

Hollow's Edge was a very nice neighborhood until a murder occurred and one of its residents, Ruby, was convicted of killing her neighbors. Then her conviction gets overturned and much to everyone's surprise, she returns to Hollow's Edge to live with her roommate Harper. Harper is just as surprised as everyone else and isn't sure whether she believes Ruby is innocent or not so she starts to dive into what really happened that fatal night and who is responsible for the killings.

I usually love Megan Miranda's writing but this one was a little too slow for me. The beginning was super interesting as Ruby moves back in with Harper, even though Harper wasn't expecting that to happen and the story jumps between the past and what led to Ruby's conviction and the current happenings. There are some moments that are tense and twisty but for the most part I wasn't super into it.

*Many thanks to Simon and Schuster for the gifted copy for my honest review!*

I did not enjoy it. It didn't feel like there was anything even happening in the book. It didn't feel like there was a clear plot happening and it just seemed a little unnecessary. Her other books were much more meaty and interesting while this fell flat in a lot of ways. The ending was kind of anti-climatic and I really hated all the characters. It wasn't my favorite Miranda book and she has done so much better. I recommend skipping this one because every other book was better.

I did like this book but felt it slightly dragged a little towards the middle. It was a good book with suspense in it.

Hollow's Edge seems like the perfect, idyllic place to live. Everyone is friends with everyone else, or are they? When someone in the neighborhood dies, and someone else is sent to prison for the murder the little community fractures. They are barely holding the community together when the murderer is released on a technicality and moves right back into the neighborhood determined to clear name, Except no one wants her there. When suspicious things start happening, the neighborhood tries to put a stop to it.

I did not like one character in this book and maybe that was by the author's design. However, when you don't have someone to root for, it makes it hard to care what happens. I liked the idea of this, but the tension was overplayed.

Such A Quiet Place by Megan Miranda is a suspenseful thriller set in a quiet neighborhood. Still reeling from a shocking murder, the residents of the neighborhood are just settling back into their easy-going routines when the murderer is suddenly released from prison on a technicality. She moves right back into the house she'd been staying in and sends the residents' lives into upheaval yet again. Plenty of drama and twists keep this story moving right along. Read and enjoy!

This was a great book! I was so caught up in the relationships between the residents. The neighborhood shenanigans had me second guessing up until the very end. And I continued to "worry" about the characters and what would happen to them after the last word.

Such a Quiet Place was interesting intriguing-- kept you on your toes.
Who do you believe? Who can you trust?
This book is well written, suspenseful, filled with characters/moments that leave you questioning everything!
If you're a fan of Megan's other books- you'll love /enjoy this one too!!

4 stars from me.

*Recv'd a copy via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review*

Thank you NetGalley and Simon & Schuster for an ARC of this novel in exchange for an honest review!

This story follows the many characters in Hollow's Edge, a seemingly idyllic neighborhood where gossip and perceived image reign supreme. However, all is not well in this private little neighborhood. Almost two years ago, a couple was murdered in their homes and since that time, none have been able to sell their homes and leave. The suspect was apprehended at the time; however, she has recently been released and has returned to the neighborhood to get vengeance on the neighbors who so willingly turned her in.

Although this is not my favorite Miranda novel - I think in part due to there being so many perspectives, it was an overall interesting read and worth checking out.

Megan Miranda's Such a Quiet Place is an intriguing read. Part mystery, part drama, the tone Miranda sets from the very first chapter keeps the audience on the edge of their seat.

Set in a small and tightly knit neighborhood community, everyone is living a quiet life until convicted murderer, Ruby Fletcher, is set free on a technicality and decided to return to her old house. Now the many residents, all of whom had a hand in the conviction of Ruby, are put back on watch as she returns to her old habits. In a classic illustration of "still waters run deep" readers must determine if Ruby is the cold blooded killer she has been portrayed as or of she was wrongly accused by a neighborhood that wants to keep its secrets hidden.

With a novel full of both self righteous and good intentioned characters, Miranda is able to pull the reader in and keep their attention until the very end. I think this is yet another excellent story from Megan Miranda and would recommend it to any fiction lover out there.

Thank you to Net Galley and Simon and Shuster for a copy of this novel.

Megan Miranda, need we say more? I don't think so, but we will. I love being able to read auto-read author's books early, and this one was no exception. Town secrets and dramas will always be in the top 5 of my most enjoyed books/tv series, and this one just added itself to that list effortlessly.

Finished this one last night! I must say the book started a bit slow and didn’t pick up until about 45%. However, I enjoyed the story building that was happening all throughout the first part of the book. It shadowed doubt on EVERYBODY which made it all that more suspenseful!! The last part of the book was a complete page turner. I couldn’t find myself to read fast enough to find out what was going to happen next!

DNFing this one 50% in. Nothing is happening! I love the premise of the book but at halfway through, it's a slog. The main character, Harper, is a bit of a pushover and is doing nothing to remedy her situation. I love the idea of the cast of characters in the neighborhood, but they are falling flat and I don't feel like I actually know any of them.

Another great read by this author. I loved getting caught up in this twisty tale. This is one neighborhood that I wouldn’t like to live in. I loved that even now, a few months later, I can think of this book and be transported right back into the place and the people. To me that’s a mark of a great author.

I recommend this book to lovers of domestic suspense, great characters, and descriptive settings. I enjoyed this one very much.

I found this book rather confusing. Many of the characters appeared out of nowhere, and it was difficult to keep track. The premise of the power of herd mentality did make sense, but didn’t seem to come together until the end. I enjoy Ms. Miranda’s writing, but this one fell flat.