Good read, this interesting book not quite what I expected.. This was a well written very descriptive book that I found really enjoyable.

These Silent Woods by Kimi Cunningham Grant will be in my top 10 books of 2021. It is simply outstanding.

Given the moody cover and somber title, I expected this to be a suspense or thriller, but it is SO much better. I was so pleasantly surprised by this reading experience, I don't want to ruin the journey for others. Go into this knowing very little.

This novel is perfect for readers who appreciate

- believable plot
- complex characters doing the wrong thing for the right reason
- growing sense of dread
- deeply satisfying ending

The premise: Cooper and his 8-year-old daughter Finch live in a remote cabin in the Appalachian woods. Shelves of books. Deep connections to nature. No electricity. No outside contact except occasional appearances by Scotland, a reclusive neighbor, and an annual visit from Jake, the only other person who knows where they're living.

All is well ... until Jake, with their year of supplies, doesn't come and a stranger wanders onto their property, setting off a chain of events that threatens to destroy their lives as they know it.

I could not put this novel down, and when I had to, I worried about the characters until I could read more of their well-written story. I’m deeply grateful to Kimi Cunningham Grant for this brilliant novel. I'm definitely adding your first two novels to my TBR list.

Originally slated to release October 26, this is now scheduled to publish November 16. Dear readers: preorder now, put it on your library hold list, schedule it into your TBR. Then tell me your thoughts.

Thank you Minotaur Books and NetGalley for the review copy.

What an engrossing book! Loved everything about this father/daughter relationship. This is my first book by this author and certainly not the last!

I wasn't sure what to expect with this story. What I did end up getting was a terrific, riveting page-turner I could not put down. If you ever considered living off the grid, read this first! I enjoyed every minute of it

These Silent Woods drew me in and it was an emotional slow burn suspense. It was a little more character driven then I prefer especially for a suspense/thriller but still an enjoyable book!

I have to admit, i was disappointed by this book. I read so many reviews saying how great it was, but for me it fell flat. I was interested in Cooper and what hapenes to him and Finch, but overall I am not a wilderness type girl. So the scenery, and therefore the book, fell flat for me. I have a feeling due to other reviews that a lot of people will love this book - but unfortunately, I am not one of them. 3 stars.

Pretty good story that kept me interested. The ending was sort of a twist that I didn’t see coming. I’d recommend this book to a friend.

Cooper and his daughter, Finch, live in the woods far away from most people. A watchful neighbor keeps them company. They are hiding from their past when Cooper had to do what he has to in order to save Finch.

The writing in the book is so descriptive that I could picture the cabin, the woods, the chickens, everything that happened. The book had many flashbacks that help explain the present. I really enjoyed this book.

Thank you St. Martin's Press, Minotaur Books and NetGalley for the complimentary copy of These Silent Woods by Kimi Cunningham Grant.

There's nothing a parent wouldn't do to protect their child, even if it means isolating yourselves deep in the forest. Cooper has sought refuge, with his daughter, in a remote cabin for the past eight years. Their seclusion provides the necessary shelter away from every day hustle and bustle of life that thrives outside the woods. Cooper's daily life includes hunting, daily chores and parenting to ensure he and his daughter thrive. Their only neighbor, Scotland, comes-by sporadically and knows the secret sacrifice Cooper has taken to remain alone.

The suspense slowly builds and we learn what drove this father to take such drastic measures. We also learn the woods are threatening to expose what he's worked so hard to keep hidden. These Silent Woods in an intense, dark, gripping novel full of twist and a mind-blowing ending

I loved this book! Loved! It had a little bit of everything I want from a book: great writing, character development, plot development, a beautiful love story between a dad and his daughter, a romance, suspense, and of course, tears. I loved the flashbacks explaining how Cooper and his daughter, Finch, found themselves living in the isolated woods with little contact with the outside world. Cooper’s commitment do whatever it takes to be with his daughter had me sobbing at the end. Beautiful book, I highly recommend.

I absolutely loved this novel! It's my first experience with Grant's writing, but I know it won't be my last! At its core, this is a book about a father and a daughter. Cooper and his eight year old daughter live an isolated life in a remote cabin at the edge of a national forest. But when their annual supplies are not delivered, it's a harbinger of the outside world encroaching in upon them.

It's a tense read - and also very visual with the forested backdrop. The relationship between Cooper and Finch really shines here. Cooper's own past unfolds alongside their present predicaments. His PTSD especially adds to their situation. And while the plot doesn't have many surprises, it is still a riveting read. The ending definitely had me sobbing - I really had such a visceral reaction to this one. It's a wonderful combination about the majesty of nature while also exploring different sides of humanity. I really enjoyed this and felt such strong connections to all of the characters. It's well-written, with excellent pacing and kept me awake late into the night to finish this one. I am really looking forward to reading more from Grant! This is definitely one of my favorite reads of 2021!

What a beautiful story💙

This tale about love, loss, and the lengths one man will go to in order to protect the person he loves most is heartbreaking and life-affirming. Throughout this short book, there is an undercurrent of suspense that kept me turning pages. Although the plot is familiar, the characters are richly drawn and I found myself riveted. This may not be a traditional thriller but it is definitely an engrossing read with moments that had my pulse racing. If any of this sounds up your alley, I strongly recommend picking up THESE SILENT WOODS!

Synopsis:
Cooper lives in a cabin somewhere in the Appalachian woods. He and his eight year old daughter, Finch, survive off the land, some chickens, and a vital yearly supply run made by Cooper’s friend, Jake. But when Jake doesn’t show up, Cooper knows it means his friend must have died. Now he has to figure out how to keep his fragile world from falling apart, even as Finch is growing more restless there. As we learn more about Cooper’s past, we understand what brought him to the cabin and why he and Finch can never leave…

Do you ever read a book that surprises you in a good way?

These Silent Woods was my latest surprise.

Cooper, a veteran, and his daughter Finch, have been living in the woods for the past 8 years. Once a year supplies get delivered by their friend Jake. Except this year Jake doesn’t make it. In addition, a stranger has wandered into their woods. You know Coop is hiding something. Will he have to face reality and admit his truths?

This book is a page turner and very atmospheric. It’s mysterious and at moments eerie, yet the characters are lovable. I kept turning the pages fast and the writing was great. The ending made me gasp which is always a winner for me. ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️💫

5 🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟
I would definitely be recommending this book to readers on my Instagram bookstagram account.

This is not really a thriller, but still sucked me. A beautiful story about a father and daughter surviving in the woods, this was fantastically written. Once I was sucked in, it was hard to put down!

Thank you St. Martin's Press, Minotaur Books, and Netgalley for the ARC!

Atmospheric slow burn that fills you with dreadful anticipation.

For the last eight years Cooper and his daughter Finch have been hiding. Living in a remote cabin in the Appalachian’s. 𝗧𝗵𝗲𝘀𝗲 𝗦𝗶𝗹𝗲𝗻𝘁 𝘄𝗼𝗼𝗱𝘀 are a refuge from Cooper’s past, the only people who know they are there is their only neighbor, a mysterious hermit named Scotland, and Cooper's old friend Jake, who visits each winter to bring them food and supplies. However, solitude never lasts forever. Jack doesn’t show up for his yearly visit and soon after a stranger wanders on to their land, changing their lives forever.

Unlike many thrillers, These Silent Woods lack the presence of action. Most of the book is centered around Cooper’s internal dialogue as he reflects on his past and what the future has in store for them. Instead of a fast pace thriller the reader is immersed in an emotional thriller that explores the exactly how far a parent would go to protect their child.

I loved the build up, but was a little disappointed with the end. Maybe it’s my pessimism, but it felt too polished. Nonetheless I still enjoyed the book and recommend it to those who are looking for an atmospheric thriller.

Thank you @minotaur_books @netgalley @kimicgrant for the gifted eARC copy.

This was one of my most highly anticipated reads for October and it lived up to my expectations. I was completely immersed in this story and Finch and Cooper's life in the woods. This book is not a thriller which I think is what I initially expected when I started. Instead, this is a slow, at times tense, unraveling of one man's actions and how he came to live in hiding with his daughter in a remote part of the woods, with no electricity and with only two people who know of their whereabouts. When a stranger appears in their woods, Cooper is forced to make a decision whether to find a new hiding place or face the consequences of his actions eight years earlier.

There isn't excitement at every turn of the page but yet I could not stop turning pages. I could envision every bit of their home and land, their nosy neighbor, and their quiet, serene but also rugged setting. I felt the tension with Cooper's difficult decisions and his strong bond and love for his daughter.

I will highly recommend this one to readers who appreciate a slow burn literary mystery. This one is beautifully written and I look forward to more by this author.

4.5 Stars

Cooper has raised Finch, now 8, in a remote cabin in the woods, with their only human contact an annual visit from Jake and periodic interactions with Scotland, a mysterious and to Cooper, threatening neighbor. Now, though, their peace has been threatened by a red headed girl they spot in the woods and because Jake did not come with their supplies. Cooper's back story- the reason they're living this way- spools out over the course of the novel. Finch is an amazing kid for an 8 year old, especially one who has never been in a store, seen tv, or another kid for that matter. I suspect more than a few readers will recognize the feeling Cooper has when he first goes into Walmart. He's an interesting character you'll find yourself rooting for. Then there's Marie. No spoilers as this has more than one twist and a quite surprising end. The storytelling and pacing are good- I found it a page turner. Thanks to netgalley for the ARC. Great read.

I did not know what this book was about when I requested it. I solely did that based on the title and cover. It looked great. Having said that I am so glad I did because this book was so much more than I had expected it to be.

This is a story about a father and his daughter. They live off the grid in a cabin. The father, Cooper is hiding from a painful past which if discovered would mean that he would be torn away from his daughter.
Their life and relationship is unconventional but oh so beautiful.

Their sole contact with the outside world is Cooper's best friend Jake who also owns the cabin. Every year Jake visits them with an annual haul of supplies. When he fails to show is when things get out of hand because Cooper has to make some decisions about his life and daughter's life.

I don't want to reveal more because one has to read this simple story to understand this emotional book which has its moments of suspense but leaves you weeping and your heart full of hope and joy.

I'm looking forward to reading more from Kimi Cunningham Grant.

Thanks to Netgalley and the publishers for the digital ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Finch and her father Cooper have lived off grid all of her 8 years. Finch is starting to ask questions, questions Cooper would rather not answer. When a young girl enters the valley near their isolated cabin, everything is about to change. A beautiful story of a fathers deep love for his daughter. Filled with heart, and with a bittersweet ending, this story will stay with you long after the last page is turned.