Thoughts on : Such a Quiet Place by Megan Miranda
Such a Quiet Place by Megan Miranda
Genre : Thriller
Stand alone
About the Book :
Hollow’s Edge used to be a quiet place. A private and idyllic neighborhood where neighbors dropped in on neighbors, celebrated graduation and holiday parties together, and looked out for one another. But then came the murder of Brandon and Fiona Truett. A year and a half later, Hollow’s Edge is simmering. The residents are trapped, unable to sell their homes, confronted daily by the empty Truett house, and suffocated by their trial testimonies that implicated one of their own. Ruby Fletcher. And now, Ruby’s back.
With her conviction overturned, Ruby waltzes right back to Hollow’s Edge, and into the home she once shared with Harper Nash. Harper, five years older, has always treated Ruby like a wayward younger sister. But now she’s terrified. What possible good could come of Ruby returning to the scene of the crime? And how can she possibly turn her away, when she knows Ruby has nowhere to go?
Within days, suspicion spreads like a virus across Hollow’s Edge. It’s increasingly clear that not everyone told the truth about the night of the Truett’s murders. And when Harper begins receiving threatening notes, she realizes she has to uncover the truth before someone else becomes the killer’s next victim.
Megan Miranda is an author I generally enjoy. I’ve read several of her books by now and they’re usually fast paced and intriguing. Such a Quiet Place isn’t different in this regard, and yet, it didn’t quite work for me.
First, the good : it’s an easy read. Megan Miranda’s style is one that is quite smooth and her story engaging, and I easily read this book in a couple sittings. I loved the small town ambiance and the cast of characters, many of them suspicious in some way. Getting to know them and trying to guess what their motivations are was a lot of fun.
However, I couldn’t connect with Harper. She has little initiative, and she is such a doormat – a very intentional thing from the author, as she is described as such by other characters. For most of the book, things are happening to Harper and around her, but she does very little to push her own story forward. It’s quite convenient for the story, I must say, but also frustrating to read.
On top of that, some aspects of it didn’t make much sense – including the ending. Which is a shame, because for me a good ending can redeem a very average thriller. I’m not going to spoil it, but I simply didn’t buy it and was left disappointed.
All in all, this was okay. I didn’t love it, but I’ll for sure want to read more from Megan Miranda. Hopefully the next one will be more to my taste!
That’s too bad this disappointed, hopefully your next read is better.