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.

Atmospheric, compelling, and ominous. This is a story of a father and a daughter, isolated and separated with the highest of stakes to survive or have irreversible consequences.

I felt completely invested and compelled to find out the reason behind Finch and Cooper’s story. This is not a thriller, but had mystery elements. This would be best classified as contemporary fiction, so I think if you didn’t know this going in beforehand this could fall flat for you. To me the big reveal of why they are isolated the way they are was not as shocking as one may think, and could be disappointing if you were hoping for something more.

To me this was a story about family, and the writing paired with the environment kept me interested and invested to see the conclusion of the story.

I would of loved more of Finch’s POV which we saw at the end, and think that it would of elevated the story.

Thank you NetGalley and Minotaur Books for this ARC in exchange for an honest review ✨

This was a slow, but necessary burn. Oh my word. Halfway through I didn't think I liked this book because I couldn't see where it was going, but I wanted to see where it would end up. I am so glad that I kept going, because this book's ending was absolutely everything. The character development was top notch paired with the level of selflessness showed by a few characters was absolutely heartwarming. This book was the book I did not know I needed. I was pleasantly surprised with These Silent Woods.

Cooper and his eight-year-old daughter Finch live together in a small cabin in a remote forest in the Appalachian woods. They've been living here for Finch's whole life, and they can't leave - Cooper has gone to extreme lengths to keep and protect his daughter, and reentering society would mean that he loses precious Finch for good. They are both completely self-sufficient, relying only on once-a-year deliveries from Cooper's old friend and fellow Gulf War vet, Jake. Finch adores the woods, exploring her territory and learning everything about scouting, hunting, and trapping - although she wishes she had more friends. But this year, the date that Jake reliably arrives comes and goes with no sign of Jake. Cooper finally knows that his friend has passed away, and it's time to change their pattern and figure out how he's going to get supplies for the next year.

When I first read the description of the book, I was expecting it to be a fast-paced thriller about a father and daughter on the edge of survival, or perhaps some insidious abuse or cult story, or a chase between the authorities and Cooper. But the book is none of the above - in fact, it's a quiet, slow story about a father dealing with his past traumas of losing his wife and scars from war, and doing what he can to protect his one dearest thing in the world, his daughter. He carefully weighs the risks of taking his Bronco out to Walmart to get all of the supplies they'll need for the year against the danger of Finch being seen and taken away from him. He rehashes the story of how he got where he is now, the little losses and decisions that put him in this place. Cooper is an empathetic, compassionate man who's sorry for the things he's done, but knows he did them all out of love for Finch.

Throughout the story, you meet just a few more characters, learning how even the slightest tugs at the guardrails Cooper has set can put him on edge, but also show him what else is possible. In the end, the book is somewhat of a moral tale, a story about right and wrong, and one person's sacrifice.

I loved the characters, the writing, the plot, and the pacing of this book. It wasn't too short or too long, it was cozy but not overly slow, and you form a real relationship with the couple of characters you get to know. I really recommend this book for anyone who values strong character development, stories of grief and trauma, and the beauty of the natural world. Thank you to St. Martin's Press for the ARC via Netgalley!

This was a near perfect book.

If you are looking for a tense, emotional, character driven story, this is it. Cooper, Finch, and Scotland will stay with me for a long time. The writing was beautiful and atmospheric but these characters were perfectly developed. The only critique I had was the pacing could have been sped up a bit, however, I found it gave me more quiet time to fall into the characters. The scene at Walmart had me literally on the edge of my chair and the ending left me in tears. 5 stars.