I received this book as an ARC from NetGalley.

This is a very powerful story about the lengths a father would go to in order to protect his daughter. Cooper and his daughter Finch live an isolated life in a cabin in the woods. The cabin is owned by Cooper's friend Jake, whom he saved during the war. Jake visits once a year to bring supplies. When Jake fails to appear, Cooper knows that something is wrong and their lives will change forever. Cooper has always known that he will have to reenter society and face the consequences of his past actions.

There are several mysterious elements to the book. Who is Sherlock? Who is the young woman who is seen wandering in the forest? Will they impact the solitude enjoyed by Cooper and Finch?

I thoroughly enjoyed this novel and look forward to others by the author.

Set almost entirely in a remote cabin deep in the Appalachian Mountains, These Silent Woods is the story of Cooper and his daughter Finch, who have been living off the grid for the past eight years. When a series of events occurs that threatens their safety and isolation, Cooper is forced to confront the mistakes of his past that led him to escape the world -- and to determine the best way forward for himself and his daughter.

These Silent Woods got under my skin in the way that all the best books do. It's richly-characterized and complex, a quietly intense, emotionally compelling, and vividly atmospheric literary suspense story. Kimi Cunningham Grant's brilliantly-executed character work made me immediately empathize with Cooper, his flaws and regrets and his fierce love for his daughter plain to see in his luminous, authentic narrative voice. And his daughter, Finch, a well-spoken and well-read eight-year-old with an affinity for birds and poetry, is lovingly-crafted and endearing. I was captivated by their lives and invested in their fate.

This book is a slow burn, split between present and past events, but I was completely riveted, waiting for Cooper's inevitable day of reckoning. And the ending, when it finally comes, is a bittersweet gut punch that simultaneously broke my heart and soothed it.

Exploring themes of sacrifice, mental health issues and PTSD, and fierce love in all its forms, These Silent Woods was not just a book I read, but an experience I had. It's not often that a book truly touches my heart, but this one did. Thank you to NetGalley and Minotaur books for my review copy.

Living off the grid is not an easy thing to do but somehow Cooper and his eight year old daughter Finch have made it work. Deep out in the woods in a small cabin with just the necessities to survive in the wilderness this father and daughter team work and love hard to make this a simple yet comfortable life. Only one neighbor a strange veteran called Scotland who Finch adores and Cooper doesn't like or trust and Coop's old army buddy Jake who owns the cabin and brings up all their supplies once a year so Coop doesn't have to venture anywhere in public. Cooper has some very dark secrets which forced him to make this change in his life so that he and Finch could stay together. Finch is Coop's only reason for living and he loves her so fiercely that hewould lay down his life or kill someone if he had to in order to keep her safe, many have said these words but for Cooper they are an iron law of life. Cooper has raised Finch in these silent woods since she was an infant and they have always been happy and made do but now that Finch is getting older she is starting to push back and wonders about the world outside of her books and the the forest creatures that have been her only friends.

One day a stranger wanders in the woods maybe lost, maybe not but Cooper has a gut feeling that the beautiful life they have been living is finally going to change and they are not yet ready for this type of change to happen. Finch watches this stranger from afar and is memorized and excited and begins creating fantasies around this unknown intruder. Cooper feels edgy and anxious each day while bringing back episodes of his PTSD which are destructive to his psyche and also for little Finch to witness. Will Coop and Finch be able to live out their lives in harmony or will everything come crashing down upon them all at once to finally tear them apart?

This was a fantastic story told with a beauty of emotion and such creative writing that I just didn't want the book to come to an end. I fell in love with this wonderful father and child and never wanted anything bad to happen to them. This is the first book that I have read by the author "Kimi Cunningham Grant" and I will be seeking out more of her books because her writing was breathtaking at times and drew me in, mind and heart and I could almost see and smell all the wonderful aspects if the woods and hear the sounds of nature, animals, and insects right outside their door. The suspense always hovered subtly in the background while the beauty of the fierce love between the two never became tiresome, all due to the exquisite writing by this imaginative author who made the story come to life. I cannot express enough how much I enjoyed this novel that had myself feeling so many emotions from the beginning until the end. I very highly recommend this book to all readers who want to read a suspense/mystery with a lot of heart.

I want to thank the publisher "St. Martin's Press - Minotaur Books" and Net galley for the opportunity to read this wonderful story and any thoughts or opinions expressed are unbiased and mine alone!

I have given this terrific book a rating of 5 BEAUTIFUL AND TRAGIC 🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟 STARS!!

Author: Kimi Cunningham Grant
Publisher: St. Martin's Press - Minor and Books
Publishing Date: November 16, 2021

I have five Goodreads friends who read this before me and all of them gave it 5 stars. When I started reading I was concerned that my expectations would be too high and I'd be disappointed. So, I began with the idea that this book would either be amazing or over-hyped.

As I read I thought the writing was excellent and the story was interesting. I cared about the characters and worried about what would happen to them. Somewhere in my head I thought this was going to be a four star read for me because I don't often give out five stars. Yet, the last 15-20% of the book was just so good that I can't withhold that last star.

Let's add a bit about the book here for a change. Cooper is a veteran who has done something which causes him to live in isolation deep in the woods with his daughter. The only two people they see are their neighbor, Scotland, and Cooper's military pal, Jake, who visits once a year. Multiple events occur in the story, which lead to changes and Cooper has to make some difficult decisions.

This was an emotional read that was very realistic. I genuinely cared about the characters and the author kept each of them true to themselves throughout. I never thought, "That would never happen," or "That character would never do that." That alone was a nice change lately. There was a building tension and a general sense of mistrust that you felt as the story progressed. I wondered where the story would go and didn't know until it was revealed.

This was just an overall great read and I look forward to reading more of this author's work in the future. I will certainly be looking out for whatever she puts out next.

#TheseSilentWoods is a story of a father and daughter living in a secluded cabin in the woods. For eight years they’ve been living on their own, hiding from a difficult past. I love my stories about motherhood but this story of fatherhood pulled at all the same heartstrings. I was absolutely captivated by this quiet and emotional story. These are the stories and characters that stay with you long after. 4.5 stars

Cooper and his 8-year-old daughter, Finch, live in a remote cabin in the Appalachian woods, hiding from both the outside world and Cooper's past. As Finch gets older, she is questioning why they live the way they do and becoming resentful toward their way of life. Every year, Cooper's friend Jake shows up to bring them food and various supplies, only this year Jake doesn't show. Jake's absence puts Cooper on edge, so when a stranger shows up in the woods he becomes frantic that their safe haven has been compromised.

I so, so, SO badly wanted to love this one. I have yet to see a review for it that is less than glowing, but I was just so dang bored. The synopsis led me to believe I would be creeped out, on the edge of my seat, holding my breath... you get the picture. But I found the story just didn't quite build fast enough for me, and the whole thing was slightly predictable. The ultimate saving grace was the ending.

These Silent Woods is, however, beautifully written, and my opinion of it won't deter me from reading Kimi Cunningham Grant's future works. Thank you to NetGalley, St. Martin's Press, and Ms. Grant for the digital ARC in exchange for my honest review.

This is the third book from this American author. She had previously written "Silver Like Dust" which is a memoir about her grandparents and "Fallen Mountains" which is a mystery. This novel features Cooper and his eight-year-old daughter Finch. They live off the grid in a remote cabin and are in hiding from the world. Their only human contact is a neighbour and an fellow veteran who visits once a year with supplies. But Finch is starting to want more and when Jake does not show up one year, their peaceful life begins to change. This is a wonderful story is really about the love between a father and daughter and is a great recommendation for fans of books such as "Where the Crawdads Sing" and "The Marsh King's Daughter". I really enjoyed it and loved the character of Finch.

For the last eight years, Cooper has raised his daughter Finch in a remote cabin in the Appalachian mountains. No electricity, no running water... just living off the land and the yearly supply run from his former army buddy, Jake. But when Jake doesn't come, Cooper has a hard decision to make. He's afraid to show his face in town due to secrets from his past, but those supplies are critical. The only other people Finch has ever known are Jake and their meddlesome hermit neighbor, Scotland, so a trip to town is new and exciting. After their trip, Finch starts pushing her boundaries, and when a stranger wanders into their woods, it spells danger for their future.
The beautiful portrayal of the woods and landscape in this book made me want to pack my bags and escape too. But by the hints about Cooper's past, I knew there was more to the story than just wanting to live off the grid. The love Cooper shows toward Finch, doing everything possible to keep them together, was wonderful to read. And the heartbreaking twist at the end almost had me in tears.
I received an advance reader copy of this book through NetGalley. The views and opinions expressed in this review are completely my own and given voluntarily.

Read this one! Part thriller - part family drama - part redemption story - this book truly has something for everyone. Beautifully written, I found myself absorbed in the story, holding my breath when the characters were in a “tense” situation - which was often. It’s the best kind of book because I felt all emotions - whew - what a ride. Heartfelt thanks to Minotaur for the advanced copy. I truly loved this one and will recommend to anyone who will listen!

I’ve been waiting all month for a five star read and I finally found it with this gem! I didn’t even reread the synopsis before I started this and I’m glad because I had no real expectations, I just knew that many of my trusted sources liked this.

There was something so subtle and quiet about the intensity of this one that just really captivated me. Between the atmosphere, (an isolated cabin in the woods,) and the incredible depth of the characters I was totally won over by this one. It reads super fast too which is always a bonus for me, definitely riveting and one I didn’t want to put down. It’s also a perfect fall read so add this one ASAP! ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Thanks @minotaur_books for my copy ❤️

“Right now the sadness is all there is. Maybe it feels like there’s something so heavy pulling at you that you’ll sink right down into the earth and never feel light again. But you will, in time. I promise”

There are times you read the exact book containing the exact words you need to hear in that moment of life. This book was that for me. It’s a story that is full of unbelievable depth and profound wisdom. It’s a roller coaster ride of emotions and I loved every minute of it. I will be recommending this to everyone!

“…becoming a parent - it makes something inside of you bloom and deepen. You love as you haven’t loved before.”

*I noticed this was categorized as a thriller on Goodreads but I don’t believe it should be. It’s more of a suspense with a little mystery thrown in. For those that do read it, I think it’s important to go into this knowing what to expect!

Thank you so much to Netgalley and St. Martins Press for this digital ARC in exchange for an honest review!

And big thanks to @kelly.hook.reads books for this one. I wouldn’t have even known to request it without her rave review!

Wow. I spent the whole time reading These Silent Woods hoping that Cooper and Finch would somehow be able to continue living their hard, but idyllic life in the mountains. I knew that something would eventually happen that would interrupt their solitude, with the grumpy, but helpful neighbor the only person aware of their location. When it finally happened, I had tears in my eyes, feeling their pain at the interruption.

For anyone who has ever known the true solitude of being the only one in the woods, able to hear the songs of the birds and the wind in the trees, and know the joy of finding that special feather or antler, you will love Kimi Cunningham Grant's latest novel just as much as I did. Not only is the setting perfect, but the characters are believable and authentic, and the plot is perfectly paced, with a little bit of detail given at a time, just enough to keep the reader completely addicted!

I thought this book would be far more of thriller than I initially thought, however this was more of a family drama and more about the lengths a parent will go to keep their child safe. I thought the plot was intriguing but about half way through the story wasn't really going anywhere. There is definitely a suspenseful element but I just felt the ending was a bit ridiculous and could have been executed much better and maybe closer to reality! In any case I think many will love this book and the beautiful description of the forest and what living in the forest can entail if totally unplugged! Thank you St. Martin's Press :)

There is something I find deeply relaxing about people living off the land away from society. The struggles, and triumphs, they have to endure from the land can be more realistic that conflicts that deal with society and other people.

Cooper and his daughter Finch have such a loving bond that is just beginning to face struggle as Finch is a growing eight year old girl starting to push the boundaries that her father has set. Living isolated, away from society, the only other people Finch knows are her imposing neighbor Scotland and her father's army buddy Jake who bring them supplies once a year. When Jake fails to show for the first time, Cooper begins to fear the worst. And when he catches a stranger on his property the life he has built to protect himself and his daughter begins to crumble.

Suspenseful and atmospheric this book about the fierceness of love and the lengths a father will go to for his daughter. The story pulled me in straight from the start and continued its fast pace throughout. The characters were so well developed. Immediately after reading I wanted to start over and look for details I missed before.

This story follows Cooper and Finch, father and daughter living in a remote cabin for the past 8 years. It is the only life Finch knows and the two spend their days tending to their small flock of chickens, hunting, trapping, and reading the cabin's large selection of books. No electricity, no running water, and no human contact except a neighbor named Scotland and Cooper's friend Jake who brings them supplies once a year. This year, Jake doesn't show up on the designated day so Cooper and Finch much venture into town for supplies. Finch is becoming increasingly interested in the world outside their secluded cabin and when she and Cooper spot a girl taking pictures in the woods, Finch latches on and can't understand why Cooper isn't interested in this new person. This sets off a chain of events that may bring an end to their years of solitude.

TW/CW: PTSD, animal death, domestic violence

I overall enjoyed this story, but I think it is being a little mislabeled as a mystery/thriller. I found this to be more of a general fiction book with some slight thriller elements in the last 25% of the book. I think the description really plays up the dramatic plot points of Cooper and Finch's lives being threatened because of Jake not showing up with supplies, this mysterious stranger in the woods, and Cooper's past coming back to haunt him. I was expecting a little more of a survival/isolation thriller with maybe some outside force tracking down to attack or kill Cooper and Finch. In reality, this is a book mostly about a father trying to do his best for his daughter and there's some unfortunate events that happen almost as an accident that may put an end to Cooper and Finch's quiet life together. I think this was a really good story but I was disappointed that it wasn't quite the mystery/thriller I was expecting it to be. I do also want to mention that I don't read a lot of just general fiction books so my gauge for some of the story-telling conventions for these types of stories may be a little off.

The highlight of this book was by-far the characters. The book is from Cooper's POV, but I found all the secondary characters to be well developed and compelling. Obviously, we mostly see Cooper with Finch, but we do see some moments with Scotland as well as flashbacks to Cooper with Jake when they served together in Afghanistan. We don't get a ton of information about the secondary characters outside of their connection/relationship/threat level to Cooper and Finch. I actually enjoyed that decision since we are so deep in Cooper's POV that he would be more focused on surviving and making sure he and Finch are safe. Cooper was an Army Ranger and served 3 tours in Afghanistan so he does live with PTSD and we do see those struggles on-page. I can't speak to the accuracy or authenticity of the representation, but I can say that the way Cooper deals with and struggles with his PTSD felt authentic to his character and didn't feel like simply a plot device (in the acknowledgement section, there was someone who reviewed these sections and helped to make them more accurate). Finch is 8 years old and, as with most children in books, she comes across to me as a little mature and a little overly cutesy. It didn't bother me too much, but she really read more to me like a 12 year old than an 8 year old. That being said, I really enjoyed her relationship with Cooper and it was refreshing to get a little glimpse of childhood wonder amongst Cooper's internal worry and dread. Finch understands some of the dangers they face out in the woods, but she also gets excited about seeing a certain type of bird or being able to go sledding once the first snow falls. I feel like all of the secondary characters gave us different lenses to see Cooper through and his interactions and choices with each of them really helped give us a well-rounded view of him as a character.

The pacing was my biggest issue and it felt a bit inconsistent. The first 75% of the book was pretty slow paced with us getting to really settle and see Cooper and Finch's relationship dynamic and how their lives are out in the wilderness. We do get some little pieces of the outside world slowly breaking through into their isolation and the panic that brings to Cooper. However, I didn't find these little breakthrough moments to be necessarily building on each other to ramp up the tension. The narrative then would shift back to Cooper and Finch's normal pretty quickly so even if Cooper was really worried about X interaction, that panic didn't seem to last long. Then, the last 25% of the book really ramped up that danger feeling and the consequences of the previous moments sort of all came to a climax. I found the pacing in the last 25% really fast and thus it felt really different and sort of detached from the earlier 75%. I wish the smaller moments of danger built upon themselves better so that there was a consistent ramping up of tension and danger. The main plot of the book only takes place over only about 2 weeks so all of these events happening so close together could very well put Cooper on edge, but I didn't get that sense of tension that I expected. Most of the book really seemed to be about Cooper and Finch's relationship and then these outside forces come to really force Cooper to face (some of) his demons and choices in life. I wish that either the first 75% spent more time building that tension and dread in Cooper or if the last 25% wasn't so drastically differently paced. I thought both sides of the story were really compelling but they were really disconnected for me.

The setting and background of this cabin in the Appalachian wilderness was really great. This was a very atmospheric read and I think a lot of that came from the amount of time we spend with Cooper and Finch outside. I think there was a good balance of the realities of their living situation and the romanticized version of rustic living. I also appreciated how focused Cooper was on making sure Finch was well cared for. I was a little worried going into the book that it would be the situation where Cooper's mental state negatively impacted his daughter like we see sometimes in these types of stories. Cooper isn't preparing for the end of the world and doesn't think the outside world is 'evil' or anything like we sometimes see. Instead, this is the one place where Cooper feels he and Finch are safe from his past and he wants to be able to keep up this lifestyle for as long as possible. The main plot of the book takes place in early December so the weather is turning more harsh and dangerous which, of course, mirrors the plot of the book and makes what may be a relatively low-stakes plot point suddenly more intense.

Overall, I really enjoyed this story but it isn't my normal read so I think I wasn't quite the right audience for it. This is much more of a general fiction book rather than the mystery/thriller that some people are labeling it. This had some interesting thriller-y moments, but overall it was a story of a father trying to do right by his daughter.

Thanks to NetGalley and St Martin's Press for the ARC in exchange for review

Expected publication date is November 16, 2021.

I received a digital advance copy of These Silent Woods by Kimi Cunningham Grant via Net Galley. These Silent Woods is scheduled for release on October 26, 2021.

These Silent Woods follows Cooper and the life he has created for himself and his young daughter Finch tucked away in the woods. Finch has known no other life than her slightly wild, very sheltered existence. Cooper, however, knows exactly what waits for them in the world outside this slice of wood and will do anything to keep that world from intruding on their rustic life.

A missed drop of supplies and a stranger in the wood change everything. Finch begins to push, wanting to know the world beyond the borders of the wood. And the threat of starvation through the long winter is real. Cooper is forced to deal with the world he left behind in a way that keeps himself and his daughter safe.

Most of this novel is very quiet, with many small threats that are really icebergs. The surface of the threat is tiny, but the potential for what lies beneath that threat is massive. As a reader, I felt this threat right along with Cooper. A simple visit to Walmart had me beyond worried for Cooper and Finch. Grant does a great job of giving us Cooper’s view of these seemingly everyday experiences.

Grant also did a very good job of layering in Cooper’s back story. There was a series of events that led Cooper to these woods, and those events are woven in through backstory in a way that fit well without pulling us out of the current story.

The only hitch for me was in the resolution of the story. At the end of the novel, the final events are not due to Cooper’s actions, but due to the choices of a secondary character. While this ending made sense, and fit with what came before, it did take a bit away from Cooper and his journey, as it was not his actions that led to the closure of the story.

Overall, These Silent Woods was a very atmospheric read that felt both small and large at the same time. While I would not call it a thriller, there is a strong feeling of suspense and threat throughout that have some of the fells of a thriller, with a more personal anchor.

This book is great! Would definitely recommend. Thanks so much to NetGalley and the publisher for the ARC.

Thank you to Minotaur Books and Kimi Cunningham Grant for letting me read early. This book will be published October 26.

There are a lot of great reviews for this one. Sadly, it wasn’t for me but you should check out some other reviews before you make up your mind. This is a novel full of love and loss but honestly, it’s a little boring. I just didn’t connect with any of the characters and it felt very drawn out. The atmosphere was great but the plot left me wanting more.

Cooper and his young daughter, Finch have been living alone in the woods for eight years. They’re in hiding and Cooper is raising Finch on the books found on the cabin’s shelves and the call of the woods outside. They’re haunted by their past and relying on themselves to get through. Fellow local hermit, Scotland, and Cooper’s war buddy, Jake, are the only people they know. When Jake doesn’t arrive with their yearly supplies like normal it sets into motion a chain of events that shows just how rough they really have it. With their boundaries blurred and a new stranger’s arrival all the history starts to come to the surface.

Thanks to NetGalley for the ARC of this title. I LOVED this book. It was so beautifully written, and completely evocative of the place in which it was set. Though the action itself started slow, and the backstory took quite some time to develop, I was entranced by the language and imagining the lifestyle of the main characters. It's hard to categorize this one, but any fan of well-written and compelling fiction would enjoy this.

This one could be made into a TV series with no problems and I would still love it. This is the tale of a discharged Ranger who is protecting his parental rights. The first 75% of the book is detailing why Cooper and Finch are living the way they do. BUT the last 25% of the book was engaging and emotional. Quick read. Loved it. Highly recommended.