𝑻𝒉𝒊𝒔 𝒘𝒐𝒓𝒍𝒅, 𝒊𝒕’𝒍𝒍 𝒕𝒆𝒂𝒓 𝒕𝒉𝒆 𝒈𝒖𝒕𝒔 𝒓𝒊𝒈𝒉𝒕 𝒐𝒖𝒕 𝒐𝒇 𝒚𝒐𝒖. 𝑨𝒔 𝒚𝒐𝒖 𝒘𝒆𝒍𝒍 𝒌𝒏𝒐𝒘. 𝑩𝒖𝒕 𝒕𝒉𝒊𝒔 𝒊𝒔𝒏’𝒕 𝒂𝒍𝒍 𝒕𝒉𝒆𝒓𝒆 𝒊𝒔.

Cooper and his daughter Finch have made a life for themselves cut off from the rest of the world in the Appalachian mountains. In their simple two room cabin the past can’t touch them, but it’s a life that has Cooper living in a state of hypervigilance. In their ‘small insulated world’, books and nature occupy Finch’s voracious mind but it can’t last forever. Nature it isn’t always kind, there are lessons at every turn. All he has strived for is to teach her right from wrong, but lines blur. She is like a small animal herself, having learned how to exist as one with nature at Cooper’s side. But she doesn’t know everything. The secrets he keeps hidden from Finch are, in his mind, necessary for their safety. It is his instincts that have made their survival possible but fate has a way of nosing its way in and upsetting the balance we create. Only two people know where they are, Cooper’s friend Jake and their meddlesome downriver neighbor, Scotland. Jake helps maintain their lifestyle with his yearly deliveries of supplies, without him they’d be in serious trouble. He has always been reliable, even with his health issues. Scotland is another story, a scrappy, shifty hermit who leaves Cooper unsettled, always watching he and Finch, tracking their every move closely- and over time seems too comfortable around his little girl, giving her ‘gifts’. But Cooper must maintain his calm if he doesn’t wish to be found, and that is no mean feat, especially as he is haunted by his terrible, dangerous mistakes.

Order is disrupted when Jake fails to appear. It’s a possibility Cooper has always considered, but venturing out for supplies on his own could puncture the world he has created. He knows it’s a temporary place, that one day their cabin, even the sprawling mountain will be too small to hold his girl. Finch is growing older and her curiosity is boundless. Then something exciting happens and a stranger appears, a young woman, filling Finch with urgency to get closer, where there should be fear. It is the violent events that follow that forces Cooper’s back against a wall, pushing him to again make an impossible choice. There is no where left to run but is he ready to sacrifice their lives?

This was such a good story, about how we perceive others and ourselves. It is about trauma, violence, friendship, love and the destructive choices we make. It is about things that threaten us, our instinctual reactions…the natural setting is perfect to show our own animal instincts. Yes, read it!

Publication Date: November 16, 2021

St. Martin’s Press

I’d read so many good reviews of this book, I knew I had to get it and finally, I got my hands on it. Let me just say, it was worth the wait. It brought out unexpected feels (hard to do with me) and it was also a fantastic story. I had to re-read the synopsis and make sure I didn’t spoil a bit of this one. I’m glad I did, because there isn’t much that can be said beyond it.

Long story short, if you haven’t read the synopsis, Cooper and his daughter, Finch, live out in the woods, totally off grid. The only people who know they’re there are a nosy neighbor, Scotland, and Cooper’s best friend and partner in the military, Jake. Cooper and Finch have to hide from the world, if they want to stay together. The reason why will break your heart!

Every year, Jake brings them supplies, but this year, he doesn’t show up. Cooper is terrified - they can’t make it through the harsh winter on what they have. He’s also heartbroken, because he knows his buddy wouldn’t flake unless something was wrong … like, mortally wrong.

This quandary brings a new character into the story, and as winter goes along, we meet yet another person (in a roundabout way). These characters are all flawless. I totally adored and admired Finch; she’s one of the best characters I’ve read this year.

I was going to give this four stars all along, but then the ending made me bump that up to 4.5. Then I rounded up even more to five stars because the whole thing was so well-written. From the scenery, to the writing, to the characters, it was really easy to get lost in this one.

(Thank you to St. Martin’s Press, Kimi Cunningham Grant, and NetGalley for the ARC in exchange for my review.)

I LOVED these characters that Grant created! Cooper, who tries to be the best dad possible, while raising his daughter in hiding. Finch, Cooper's daughter, whose life centers around the woods she calls home. Scotland, their distant neighbor, who seems a bit sketchy and knows a bit too much. And Cindy, Finch's mom, who died when Finch was only a baby.
The plot twist at the end was delightful, and totally unexpected. My only complaint is that the resolution was a bit too tidy, and lacking in detail.

Wow. Riveting is the word that comes to mind when I’m trying to put my thoughts down about this book. There was mystery and suspense but also a tender story about survival in the wilderness.

The way the details of the story unfold, the timing is perfect. I loved this one. Like, loved it a lot.

Scotland. 🥺🥺🥺

Highly recommend this one. I haven’t seen it around much but give it a shot! TYSM @minotaur_books for this gifted copy.

This is an atmospheric father-daughter survival story set in the Appalachian Mountains. Full of secrets, this story examines family, friendship and what one father will do to protect his family. It's not really a thriller, but more of a family study with some unexpected twists. The last quarter is really quite excellent.

When I opened this advance readers copy, I knew nothing of the author and little of the book beyond the publisher's blurb. I hoped that it would be a well-written thriller with some depth.

These Silent Woods is that and SO MUCH MORE. It's so rare to find a story that has such a strong forward movement, such tension and drama, that also delivers complex, convincing characters and profound insight into their actions.

About that tension -- at a couple of points in the narrative I had to lay aside my Kindle and jump up to pace around the room before I continued. Soon after, I sat with my head down, sobbing. There go my fears that the 10,000 or so books I've read have made me a jaded reader.

It's such an uncommon skill to create precocious child characters who are believable and not obnoxious, and yet Finch was there -- the young girl one wants to meet and watch grow up. Another character delivered such a punch of surprise -- not that the personality evolved, but that my understanding had done so.

Whether readers like to solve crime-related puzzles, whether they are hooked on suspense, whether they want to study thorny human ties, this book delivers.

Thanks to NetGalley and St. Martins Press for the ARC.

THESE SILENT WOODS by Kimi Cunningham Grant
Publication Date: November 16, 2021 by St. Martin’s Press


A beautifully written poignant exploration of parenthood and unconditional love while dealing with demons of the past. Cooper has been living off the grid for the almost eight years with his precocious and curious daughter, Finch. They have lived off the grid in an isolated cabin, deep in the Appalachian woods. …. without electricity or the every day conveniences of modern life. Finch’s education has blossomed under the loving hand of Cooper and the extensively stacked bookshelf filled with the master’s of American literature. Finch is bright and inquisitive and has read and re-read many of the books and has memorized and even able to recite lines from books and poems … her favorite is Walt Whitman ( a name which she eventually bestows on a cat ). It becomes increasingly difficult to always answer her endless questions, especially those related to their secluded lives. She is unaware of Cooper’s past and the flaws in his previous choices. She looks forward to the yearly visit from Jake, and has grown to love him. She is only aware that he is an Army “buddy” and in fact is the owner of the cabin.
The story slowly unspools through the perspective of Cooper mostly, but also some incite is provided by Finch’s actions, and questioning. Cooper is in fact, Kenny Morrison, an Army Ranger who served three tours in Afghanistan, along with Jake. The dark things he did in saving Jake’s life is alluded to, with the result him returning home with PTSD, intermittent panic attacks, and occasionally seeing things that really aren’t there. Later the reader learns how Kenny’s girlfriend Cindy dies in an auto crash, with the survival of both Kenny and Finch (with the given name of Grace Elizabeth). Some of his subsequent poor choices resulted in the necessity of their Insular life. Cooper is a complex man, haunted by his past, but has an undying love and need for his daughter to grow up in his presence. Their only exposure to the outside world comes from the yearly visits from Jake, who brings them yearly provisions …. otherwise they live off the land, along with eggs supplied by their four chickens. And, occasional interaction with their nosy, and cranky neighbor, Scotland, who drops in stealthily. (And, somehow, apparently knows about Kenny’s past ) . Cooper, unfortunately, does not know if he is truly a friend or a foe.
Grant has crated a beautiful story, that is both heart warming and wrenching. This character driven atmospheric gem is weaved with lushly detailed prose that slowly reveals the mystery behind Cooper’s decisions and actions. The storyline is addictive and results in a page-turner that progressively ratchets up the tension and intrigue , culminating in a completely unexpected denouement. This would be a marvelous book club book! Thanks to NetGalley and St. Martin’s Press for providing an Uncorrected Proof in exchange for an honest review.
( at readenrsermains.com )

This book is the perfect example of why I enjoy reading so much! 5 stars isn't enough!

Living off the land. That is what Cooper, and his daughter did for eight years. His friend, Jake came once a year with supplies, other than that, they were on their own. They had a neighbor, Scotland, who stopped over time to time, and of course, there were the chickens, but essentially, they were alone. They lived a life free of obligation, free of electricity, free of plumbing, free of outsiders.

They live in the cabin because Connor has something to hide. It the reason they are living deep in the woods away from civilization. As his daughter gets older, she has questions and a desire to have a friend. When their friend, Jake does not turn up for his yearly supply drop off, everything changes for them.

This book was lush with atmosphere, love, relationships and the bond between a father and daughter. As Connor reflects on his life, we learn about his past, his choices, and what drove him to the mountains. We see his love and devotion for his daughter. We see what Connor is willing to risk to keep her safe.

This was such a wonderfully written and absorbing book. I was captivated from the beginning, absorbed, and enchanted by the storytelling. This is a book I know will stay with me. I enjoyed the characters, the self-reflection, the mystery, and the resolution.

Not only was this book thought provoking, but it was emotion evoking as well. Man, as it got to the end, I was so worried and anxious waiting to see how things would end. The author did a tremendous job of having readers feel for the characters. I was invested in what was happening and what I thought was going to happen. This one packs a punch and left me so very happy that chose to read this wonderful book. This is a perfect fall/winter read.

Gripping, Atmospheric and heartfelt.


Thank you to St. Martin's Press, Minotaur books and NetGalley who provided me with a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. All the thoughts and opinions are my own.

Atmospheric, compelling and beautifully written!

THESE SILENT WOODS by KIMI CUNNINGHAM GRANT is an emotional, dark, gritty, and suspenseful mystery that immediately hooked me in and had me thoroughly interested in learning the truth of why Cooper and his daughter Finch were living in isolation in the Appalachian woods. The story is a heartbreaking one of adventure, survival, sacrifice, forgiveness, and one that is filled with so much heart.

KIMI CUNNINGHAM GRANT delivers a vivid, atmospheric, and character-rich novel here that was intriguing, suspenseful and beautifully written with raw, genuine and memorable characters that you can’t help but fall in love with and root for. I thought the pacing was a little more of a slow burn though until more near the end. This author definitely has a way with her vividly expressive storytelling and her gorgeous prose here is what keeps the reader reading and interested. It's not all about one thing in this book, it's a combination of the plot, atmosphere, and characters that keeps the reader invested and turning those pages.

The best part of the book for me was the unexpected and bittersweet ending which definitely touched me and made me shed a few tears. The love between father and daughter here is absolutely beautiful and touched my heart.

Thank you so much to NetGalley for my digital review copy as well as to Minotaur Books with a special thank you to Kimi Cunningham Grant for the gifted physical review copy. It was an absolute pleasure reading this book. Would definitely recommend it!

These Silent Woods details the relationship between a father, Cooper, and a daughter, Finch, while they live off the grid in the Appalachian woods with no electricity or water. No one knows they live there except for the cabin's owner, Jake, an old war buddy of Coopers. They have no neighbors save for the mysterious older man, Scotland, who is always watching the duo and appearing out of thin air whenever he feels like it. The atmosphere is rich with detail. Cooper is definitely hiding something and the descriptions of him constantly being on guard, listening for abnormal sounds, waiting for something to go wrong....I felt like I could cut the tension with a knife! But just why are they hiding in the first place and how long can they stay hidden?? Is Cooper a criminal? Things get complicated when Finch runs across a young girl in the woods one day and her ensuing curiosity threatens their way of life.

This one was recommended to me by several people so I got excited when I was presented with the opportunity to read this one before it publishes. Cooper and Finch's relationship tugged at my heart strings. Cooper's love for his daughter was developed so well that I couldn't help but root for them to find a way to stay together. I loved Scotland. I was always wondering whether he was a bad guy with bad intentions or just a lonely/nosy ol' neighbor.

Overall, this was a quick read and the payoff was worth it in the end (I teared up). Definitely check this one out if you are into books dealing with solitary survival, father/daughter relationships, and nature settings. Thank you to NetGalley and St. Martin’s Press/ Minotaur Books for sharing this digital reviewer copy with me in exchange my honest opinions. Rating: 4.25 stars!

“All those years, the choice I made to come here, the risk that choice entailed and the so-called rules that I broke in order to do it—all this time I’ve been justifying it by telling myself that at least we’re together and at least my daughter is growing up with a sense of right and wrong.”

THESE SILENT WOODS is a book I’ve been so excited to read ever since @wacoreads posted about it! I never enjoy giving a lot of plot away in a review, but with this book I especially think it’s best to go in kind of blind! It’s a story of right and wrong, choices and consequences, love and sacrifice—a father/daughter story set in the woods. The pacing was perfect and I read the whole book with the best possible sense of dread as I turned the pages. It’s not scary at all—just a tense, tight plot with characters to fall in love with. This will be one of my favorite books of the year! Highly recommend!

I chose this because I typically read the type of book but this wasn't quite what I was expecting. I thought it would be much darker It wasn't super detail-oriented and was a quick and easy read. I was able to grasp what was happening and fill in the blanks without a detailed background. The focus was on the now of the story and filled in the backstory when you needed to know something. I liked Cooper and Finch's relationship. I even liked Scotland even though he was a bit odd but living in isolation in the woods would make anybody a bit odd over time. I would recommend this title to others.

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. Cooper's got a lot to hide. Finch’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 is. Suddenly, the boundaries of their safe haven have blurred—and when a stranger wanders into their woods,

Well there’s not a lot to review here because not a lot happens. I was really expecting a much more atmospheric and dark story based on the synopsis, but it never really got there.
Cooper and his daughter, Finch have been living in a remote cabin in the Appalachian woods for almost all of Finch’s life, though he’s never really explaining to her why, and it’s all she really knows. Once a year, Coopers army buddy comes to the cabin with supplies to get them through the year and they grow and hunt anything else they need. Then when the time comes Jake doesn’t come, Cooper has to risk everything to go into town and get what they need or risk starvation. Can he do it without being recognized? A few days later, a mysterious woman arrives and they find out it’s Jake’s sister, and she adds a new set of issues to the situation, but again, nothing dramatic like you would expect. Cooper’s only neighbor makes himself more comfortable in their lives than Cooper would like, especially since they don’t want anyone to know they’re out there.
While this book wasn’t bad, it needed more substance. It needed more depth. The atmosphere that the author created was great. I just wish the story went along with it.
Thanks to Minotaur Books and Netgalley for this Arc in exchange for my review.

This review was originally posted on <a href="https://booksofmyheart.net/2021/11/04/these-silent-woods-by-kimi-cunningham-grant/" target="_blank"> Books of My Heart</a>
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<i>Review copy was received from NetGalley. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review.</i>

I was excited to find a new book by this author because I remember enjoying the first one, <strong>Fallen Mountains</strong> a lot.  The books are each standalone, totally unrelated.  The mystery is not typical; it is more about the characters past and how they ended up where they are now.

<strong>These Silent Woods</strong> was very suspenseful for me.  I was worried about the neighbor (Scotland) ,  Jake's health,  Finch getting older and wanting to venture into the world more.  Practically, there were many problems which could happen with expired licenses or lack of money or even more land development in the area.

Cooper (Kenny) is not a bad guy but he has had to deal with a lot without any support of any kind.  Cindy's parents were always going to be a problem because their way was the only way.  They wanted to force Cindy into certain choices which had nothing to do with Kenny.   I love how he educated Finch and taught her all kinds of things.

Finch was really a smart and extraordinary child.  She was of such a sweet and trusting nature.  Her skills, adaptability and moral integrity should take her far in life.

Marie was a nice surprise and her caring and connection to them made everything better and worse.  I could see no light at the end of the tunnel for them.  I wonder what really happened to the neighbor in the end.

Everything about this story is driven by the characters and their journeys.  They had difficult circumstances and hard decisions to make at times.  Their lives were not easy and things are not as black and white as it first might seem.  People are complex and can be unbelievably kind or uncaringly indifferent or unbearably cruel to others whether they understand them or not, and unfortunately there is a lot of personal bias involved.

Amazing book! I would highly recommend this book to my customers and patrons. I would recommend other books by the same author as well.

Just wow. I loved this book. It was stunning from start to end, I loved the amount of suspense at the start and how the author withheld Coopers big secret giving us a little bit at a time. This story had the perfect equation for me, military and outdoorsy! I loved the characters and loved Scotland's character throughout the entire book.

That ending!! It had me ugly crying. Absolute perfection. Everyone should read this book. Not only is it beautiful but it has the best messages.

I couldn’t put this book down! These Silent Woods had me hooked from the first few chapters.

Cooper and his daughter, Finch, live in a remote cabin in the woods hiding from Cooper’s past. As trouble stirs and uninvited guests appear, Cooper must navigate these events and protect his daughter at all costs. Even if that means facing his dark past.

Kimi has a natural writing style that made the book flow nicely and easy to read. The pace of the story was great and kept me interested. I would highly recommend this book if you’re looking for a heart-felt story about love, loss and survival.

These Silent Woods tells the story of Finch, an 8-year-old girl living in a remote cabin in the woods with her father, Cooper. Cooper is ex-military and he had to choose to live in almost complete isolation because of the secrets that keep haunting him even all those years later. The only people Cooper sees are Scotland, their nosy neighbor, and Jake, who owns the cabin and once a year visits with supplies. When Jake doesn't show up one year, Cooper knows that means their lives are about to change. What he doesn't know is that he will have to make choices that threaten the life he has built for himself and for Finch.

These Silent Woods is a slow-paced and very atmospheric book. It will not keep you up at night, biting your nails, but the pace fits its plot, so for this book it is a big plus. I was invested in the story right away and I loved the relationship between Finch and Cooper, even though Cooper's choices sometimes made me roll my eyes. I liked that we learned about Cooper's past slowly, but I was a little disappointed that I could tell what had happened to send him running to the cabin pretty early on. The ending was a huge plot twist, perhaps too big - I don't want to spoil it, but I had a hard time believing that some characters' plans would work out that well.

Overall, I think going into this book thinking of it as contemporary fiction will definitely make for a better experience. I still found it to be an enjoyable book with an amazing setting and atmosphere, I just wish the mystery/thriller elements were stronger.

Wow, this book was a perfect suspenseful read! These Silent Woods was a perfect combination of survivalist fiction - living off the land, utilizing only available resources, inability to trust nature - and the traditional thriller. A very slow build with a lot of backstory, I felt like I really got to know these characters and was in the woods with them. I wanted more from Cooper and Scotland’s neighbor relationship, but that is my only critique. Not the action packed, spooky thriller I thought it would be, but even better! I would highly recommend this book to my friends.

Thank you NetGalley, the author, and St. Martin’s Press for an advanced copy in exchange for an honest review.

#TheseSilentWoods #netgalley

Overall rating: 5/5

When you read a book for four hours straight, you know it is extremely well-written. This story was heart wrenching and captivating. The father-daughter relationship of Cooper and Finch was absolutely beautiful. The final chapters had me sobbing.

"The thing about grace is that you don't deserve it. You can't earn in. You can only accept it. Or not..." - Scotland