This is coming from a snobby fantasy lover but hey, this is a terrific book, beyond what I expected. Yes, it's got great characters. Yes, it's got a good story. But the surprise is that it has a moral message, too. Very unexpected and well presented. Not heavy-handed. Truly thought-provoking. I really enjoyed it!
Full review to come on YouTube

This book was very well-written. It was atmospheric and compelling. I don't think that it was as thrilling as the description implied though.

I feel conflicted about the plot because parental abduction is a really serious issue and this is usually not the circumstances, which they occur.

I also am very tired of unnecessary physical descriptions of characters in books, especially when they involve fat shaming. The author went into depth about the fatness of a Walmart cashier for absolutely no reason and then made sure to point out how she waddled. So unnecessary and quite frankly, rude.

A very very very slow burn that's very character driven. I definitely thought something darker and sinister was going to happen but never did. And a lot of actions and the thoughts characters had didn't really seem logical or more explained to make more sense.

I definitely do want to read more from this writer and love to way he makes you connect with the characters and feel for them, tho again I did have some questions.

The setting was beautiful and reclusive. Very atmospheric

If you're looking for a deeper and more beautiful read with some mystery and suspense, this is for you

TW: fat shaming, child services, death of a parent,

*****SPOILERS*****
About the book: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. And that's exactly the way Cooper wants it, because he's got a lot to hide. Finch has been raised on the books filling the cabin’s shelves and the beautiful but brutal code of life in the wilderness. But she’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 really is. Suddenly, the boundaries of their safe haven have blurred—and when a stranger wanders into their woods, Finch’s growing obsession with her could put them all in danger. After a shocking disappearance threatens to upend the only life Finch has ever known, Cooper is forced to decide whether to keep hiding—or finally face the sins of his past.
Release Date:November 16th, 2021
Genre: Survival Thriller
Pages: 288
Rating: Zero stars!

What I Liked:
• The idea of the book (that's it)

What I Didn't Like:
• Too long to list 😑

Overall Thoughts: Where does he get money? He has all this money but from where.

How did he keep the plates on his bronco legal while living in the woods but no one tracking him. He was just able to go into town and NO ONE knew as the dude who lost it in the restaurant when he mentioned how much of a hero he was when he came home or that he went to school with these people.


Why does he treat Scotland like he's a pedo?


The fact that the gas station lady knew the bronco from 6 years ago when she sees so many people day in and day out. 6 years is a stupid long time!

It's odd how everyone wants to talk to him when he goes out.


Why does Finch sound she's 20 and not 8? I get being smart because you read but it's like she went to some ivy league school smarts. I read a lot as a child and not small books either. Why am I not talking like I'm teaching a class in Princeton? Plus the way she processes her feelings just seem way more advanced. There's a part where her dad is explaining to her what he did to get her back and she says "you did what you had to do." She's 8! 8! I've known lots of 8 years old and they are not that emotionally ready to respond with that kind of statement.

Is this book sponsored by Walmart? They never say go to the store they constantly say Walmart over and over.


This book beyond fucking stupid. Maria shows up to help Jake, her brother, to drop off supplies for Cooper. She ends up staying the night because sleeping in the safety of your own car makes too much sense, but damn let's sleep with in this dudes house. The next day she is fucking Susie housemarker, cooking breakfast and even wearing an apron. This shit would not be normal. It is not normal! Staying in the middle if the woods with someone you met one time and you know the story of him having the gun in the dinner, not normal. Not only that but she doesn't even fucking dare to question why this dude is in the middle of nowhere with his daughter and having food delivered. It's snowed and everyone knows that Prius' simply can not even drive in the snow. So Maria decides to stay another night. So that means sled ridding, cocoa (there is so much fucking cocoa in this book), and a snowball fight. It's later that night and Maria and Cooper start making out. Like what???..... Where the hell did this romance come from? Dudes in the middle of the woods and a woman just shows up hand delivered to him and she's into him. She only decides to stop because she doesn't want to regret this since her ex is on her mind.


This book paints the grandparents as evil because they want their granddaughter. They just lost their daughter in an accident and are grieving her death, Finch is all they have left of her. Cooper over reacted because honestly he wasn't stable enough to have a baby to take care of. The house was a mess, he wasn't sleeping, and his Ptsd was coming back. Plus he was the one driving when Cindy was killed.


This review is all over the place.

Final Thoughts: This book had me seriously like mad. I don't get mad at books but I had to walk away from it. It's not a good book. The writing is cheap. The characters are so outlandish and unbelievable. The story isn't a thriller but turns into a fucking romance when a romance was NOT needed.

Kimi Cunningham Grant show the lengths that a father will go to, to keep a family together:

In a remote cabin in the Appalachian forest, there is a remote cabin with no electricity, no running water and a simple way of life. This is where Cooper and his daughter Finch have made their home for the past eight years and Cooper would have it no other way as he has a past that he would prefer not face. But Finch is getting relentless and pushing back, wanting to explore more on her own and do her own thing. When their one connection to the outside world, who brings them supplies each year, fails to show up it sets off unforeseeable event, that will change Cooper and Finch’s lives forever.

This book is a slow burn that is very much character driven and beautifully written. It was not quite what I expected, I thought there was going to be some sinister twist or for it to get darker along the way and it just never really happens. Even what Cooper does in order to make sure that him and Finch stay together is not as bad as he makes it seem, I honestly was picturing something way worse that what actually happened. I think that this is where the book is lacking for me is from my own expectations of what this book should have been, especially with the title and how the premise is presented. I was thinking that this book was going to fall more into the thriller genre than the contemporary fiction genre. We are basically waiting for Cooper to tell his story of how he and Finch ended up in a cabin in the middle of nowhere and why they avoid people at all costs.

Cunningham Grant has a great ability to make the reader really care about the characters, and not just Cooper who is the POV that we read in the book but of Finch as well. As Cooper is the POV in this book, we are able to get a past and present aspect in the book. This allows us to get to know him before, after and now time as a person but many of his strong attributes remain the same. Finch is also an interesting character, very one with the forest and her surrounds having grown up out there and even though she is still a child you can tell the independent woman she is going to become with what she is pressing Cooper about even now. You also feel sorry for Finch as she has never had friends her own age with is why she becomes obsessed (in a way) for the girl with red hair.

Now that I know the type of book that Cunningham Grant has the ability to write, I would read another novel by her. I would just go in with different expectations after reading this book. So although this was not the book I expected it to be, I still enjoyed her writing style, characters and setting of this book. I look forward to see what Cunningham Grant comes out with next.

Enjoy!!!

An atmospheric read with a good amount of quiet suspense. It kept me entertained throughout and I liked how the author ended it. Definitely one I would recommend picking up when it's snowy outside and too cold to leave the house.

I had seen a lot of hype for this book and went in sort of blind and I'm glad I did! This book has a little bit of everything - mystery, adventure, and survival. The writing of this book was phenomenal and I think it really elevated the book experience. It was so easy to get lost in the descriptions of the remote Appalachian mountains. Everything felt so vivid and it provoked a lot of emotions as I read about the hardships and everything Cooper was doing to keep Finch safe. As a parent, it really made me think "what would I do in this situation." This book kept me flipping pages and I was so sad when it was over because I loved every part of this book!

This is a story about deciding mere survival is sufficient.

I think this book suffered from the preconception I held that it was a thriller- but in my defense it was marked as one! I don’t think this was a bad book, but it was a very slow burn that ultimately felt like primarily a slice of life story. Then, the ending was so poignant that I cried, and I think a particular line will stick with me for a long time- so I’m torn! 3 stars for the story in general, 5 for the last 15%.

Thank you Netgalley & St. Martin's Press, Minotaur Books for the eArc!

Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for the digital ARC to preview for our library!

One of my favorite books of 2021! The characters were great & the isolated setting only added to the drama! Being a dad, it was easy to relate to the relationship that Cooper & Finch had and what a father may do in order to be with his daughter! Like this one so much it will be featured on a video readers advisory program we do at our library called "What to Read Wednesday".

Holy crap! I loved this story.

Completely not what I expected.

Cooper and Finch feel like family and I’ve missed them every day since finishing this book.

The setting was beautiful, comfortable and at the same time frightening. The writing was simple yet phenomenal.

I was sucked into this story, into this quiet world, and was happy as a clam to see the story calmly unfold around me.

The ending had me in tears!

Mystery/Suspense readers - this one is a must read. The audiobook narration by Bronson Pinchot was stunning.

Thank you to #MinotaurBooks and #Netgalley for this ARC. All opinions expressed are my own.

initial thoughts: this book completely shattered my heart, before putting it back together again.

OUTSTANDINGLY BEAUTIFUL.

I cannot remember the last time I had to stop reading and physically get up and go into a different room to take a break and get a box of Kleenex.

Finch + Cooper (and Scotland + Marie) have completely stolen my heart and this book is one of my favorites of all time.

Such a deep read. The author explored some real and raw emotions. The writing was incredible. Would definitely recommend!

These Silent Woods was an unexpected treasure of a book.
The setting is atmospheric, melancholic and steeped in the love a father has for his daughter.
From the beginning it is clear that there is some unspoken secret darkness, and at a slow but steady pace, the reader is lead down the path to finding out.
I was immediately enthralled and loved every minute of it.
Why is nobody talking about this book? One of the best things I have read this past year!

I was able to get a sneak peek from Minotaur Books and from the little I read, I knew I had to read the full story. It's typically not the type of book I read but I was intrigued as to why Cooper and his daughter Finch have lived in isolation in the mountains for so many years. Aside from their nearest neighbor Scotland, they have very little contact from the real world. They look forward to his buddy Jake's annual visit in which he brings foods and supplies, and when he doesn't show up Cooper must figure out how they are going to survive as well as stay hidden. As Finch's curiosity about the outside world increases and she begins asking more questions, Cooper realizes that they are not as secluded and hidden as he thought.

I thought this was an interesting and intriguing book and enjoyed reading it. It pulls you into the story as you get to know the few characters in depth. A really good read and I look forward to reading more from this author.

Thank you Netgalley and St. Martin's Press/Minotaur Books for the opportunity to read this book.

One of the absolute best books I have read in a long time. Great characters, plot, setting. Everything. And an absolutely amazing ending I did not see coming. I could totally see this as a movie. 10/10 definitely recommend for all readers.

Having recently finished "These Silent Woods” by Kimi Cunningham Grant, I am happy to have had the chance for the e-copy; thank you NetGalley and Minotaur Books!

It's been a while since a story has taken me on a journey that has made me stay up and finish reading through sandy, tired eyes. There was so much story to this book, yet it all worked and fit together in quickly flowing chapters. No piece of the suspenseful flashbacks was left unanswered. The contentment of closing the pages after a great story has ended made it easier to say goodbye to Cooper, Finch, Scotland and even... the red-banded crow. This epilogue was also the perfect way to say "goodnight" to "These Silent Woods."

I loved the characters in this book and the way the author revealed their back story in little bits and pieces. As you read the book, you could feel a sense of foreboding in that something was going to happen soon to shake up the peaceful existence that Cooper had carved out for himself and his daughter in the woods for many years. The atmospheric setting and the descriptions of nature were beautifully written. I also loved the ending and the little surprise that happened. This is a book that will stay with me for a long time. Highly recommend.

This book was a perfect read for me! Filled with characters that I cared about, enough mystery and suspense to keep me turning the pages, and well timed twists that I did not see coming! Wonderful read!

Thank you to NetGalley, St. Martin's Press, and Kimi Cunningham Grant for the opportunity to read and review this novel.

This book was shockingly beautiful.

I actually don’t read thrillers too often, but the synopsis of this lead me to the assumption it would be one of the most feeling and atmospherics options in the genre. It did not disappoint this literary fiction fiend. A slow and moving novel that subtly cascades into an absolutely thrilling payoff. If for some reason you don’t find yourself invested in the characters early on—but how could you not—keep with it because it’s a novel worthy of the investment into the finals pages.

I can’t recommend THESE SILENT WOODS enough. I may even download the audio to listen to the next time I get to a cabin in the snowy woods.

Ugh, so slow. I couldn't finish this one because I just couldn't get into it. I tried multiple times because I heard the ending was worth it, but I just couldn't get myself to get that far.