The cover to this book is so deceiving because it translate as a thriller, which this book really is not. It really is a love story between a parent and a child. First of all I spent most of this book so enamored with the concept of going off the grid and being lost in this simple world! This book made me weep, the bond between parent and child is so unparalleled and beautiful. This book does such a wonderful job of displaying this. I would buy this for anyone who loves to read!

I started this book expecting something a little more on the theme of a thriller, but what I read was better than I expected! The father-daughter bond in this story, and the lengths a parent would go for their child was wonderfullh told in this book.

I felt like I was in the cabin with Cooper and Finch and enjoyed the atmosphere the author was able to create. The characters were well defined and the story flowed in a way that made you unable to put it down.

This is labeled as a thriller/suspense and I am not sure I would agree. If anything, it's a "soft suspense" with a heavy emphasis on the character development rather than any twists or thrills. Which is fine, as the story is heartfelt and the characters are riveting. That beautiful writing helps keep the pages turning.
You definitely get a feel for Cooper's anxiety and panic about their situation, and his desperation at keeping his daughter safe. Hiding in the woods with his young daughter who is starting to push against the rules and boundaries, and who wants to see more of the world than their little cabin. Cooper will do anything to protect his daughter. Chapters here and there help to answer why they are in hiding, as well as looks into Cooper's military past that led to his PTSD. These glimpses help paint the "why" to his decision making and outlook on life.

I did find the story slow, but not in a way that distracted me or made me want to stop reading. Although a part of me was hoping for more twistiness as I was already going through the possible outcomes by the end of the first couple chapters.

With the atmosphere the author creates, I think this book would make a good winter read and I do recommend it.

Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for providing me with the ARC in exchange for my honest review.

“The thing about grace is that you don’t deserve it. You can earn it. You can only accept it. Or Not”

3.5/5
Wow this story really pulled at my heart strings and was a nice break from all the horror and thrillers I have been consuming this year. Overall I was impressed with this story, I would have given it a higher rate but it was more of a survivalist story than it was a thriller. None the less I was enthralled from the first couple of passages.

The things I enjoyed most about this story was how well Kimi Cunningham Grant’s writing made me feel like I was right there in the isolation with Cooper and Fitch. I felt the claustrophobia of being in the remote cabin with very little interaction with the outside world. I also was in suspense to learn why they were there and what could have happened to cause there current situation. As frustrated I was at times with Cooper, because I just really felt for Fitch and rooted for her to have a normal life, I still found him to be a great father and I connected with him as a parent and how at times we make what we think are the best decisions to protect our children.

I cannot say too much about the ending as not to spoil anything but it was definitely an unexpected twist-and was brilliantly done. Again, my rating would have been higher but I personally do not enjoy survivalist type stories, but this was a really good story at its core and I would highly recommend this. Thanks to netgalley and St. Martins Press for the privilege of an advanced copy in order for my honest review.

Many thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for providing me with a copy of this book in exchange for my honest opinion.

I loved it! These Silent Woods has a flawed lead character who does the wrong things for the right reason. Cooper and his daughter, Finch, live where almost no one knows where they are. He risked everything for his daughter, and he’s done right by her for eight years. Then suddenly, a chance encounter could end the only existence they know.

Tension builds at a good pace, and it connects emotionally. I expect this to be well received, and would not be surprised to see it brought to the big screen. One of my 2021 favorites!

This is a wonderful story of a father who will do anything for his daughter. Finch is one of the most delightful children I've met in fiction, and I just wanted to reach in and hug her. I appreciated the way the author presented the back story in short segments, just when I needed to know more about why Cooper and Finch were living in that remote area in a cabin with few amenities.

All of the characters were presented so fully developed they were real to me, and I shared Cooper's distrust of the neighbor, Scotland, who would appear by the cabin almost like magic. Scotland was painted with just enough oddities to make the suspicions believable.

It's been a long time since a book made me cry at the end, but this one did. A mix of sad and happy tears.

I loved the book and highly recommend it.

With themes of family, regret, honor, secrets, grace, and love, These Silent Woods shows how far a parent will go to protect a child, how far a friend will go to protect a comrade, and how far a near-stranger will go to protect them all.

Veteran Cooper and his young daughter Finch are hiding out in an isolated, remote cabin in the woods in an effort to prevent Finch's grandparents from taking her away from him after their daughter's--his wife's--death and his bouts with PTSD. Living off the land, providing for themselves, Cooper and Finch's small world is interrupted only by his friend and fellow war survivor Jake, who brings supplies once a year, and Scotland, a rural eccentric neighbor who appears and disappears at whim. And they love their quiet life. That is, until the world comes calling again in the form of a missing college student Cooper and Finch have seen in nearby national park land, and a decision must be made which will change their lives forever.

These Silent Woods is a "soft" read, with violent scenes downplayed. Tension builds slowly througout, but not too slowly. Finch is a wonderful, inquisitive, spot-on eight-year-old character. Cooper, gentle and fiercely determined to make the most of his time with his daughter, narrates, filling in the blanks of the story slowly. I would have liked to see a bit more depth with his backstory, as well as his inner life. Nevertheless, the story is a sweet look at a father/daughter relationship and survival of that relationship in a cruel and unpredictable world.

I received an ARC copy of These Silent Woods in return for my honest, unbiased review. Thanks to NetGalley, St. Martin’s Press/Minotaur Books, and the author.

Thank you to NetGalley, the author and publisher for giving me a chance to review.

I wasn’t so sure at the beginning, it was a little slow going for me, but as I continued the story kept drawing me in and I needed to know more. I’m glad I kept with it as the ending blew my mind. I loved it and will be looking for more from this author. Must read.

Father and daughter, Cooper and Finch, live a quiet, isolated life in a remote cabin in the Appalachian woods. Surrounded by books and wilderness, Finch is beginning to wonder at the world that exists beyond the trees. Cooper has no desire to enter that world. He has his reasons. Only Jake, who brings them supplies once a year, and Scotland, their next-door neighbor, know about the existence of Cooper and Finch. Other lives are on a trajectory to intersect with Cooper and Finch and throw their ordered, isolated life into confusion. I loved how the tension built slowly in this novel, how it kept me wondering just what Cooper had done. The characters are vivid and the cabin and the woods come alive. The conclusion is perfect and sad and heroic. Just how far will a father go to protect his child? I highly recommend this novel and thank NetGalley and the author for the chance to read and review this book.

A father makes a decision to raise his daughter in the woods away from society. What led up to this is told in snippets from the narrator Cooper. The book is written so beautifully in its imagery and attention to nature. The relationship between Cooper and Finch is heart warming. Everything changes when an intruder is spotted on their land.

Thanks so very much to Netgalley and St. Martin Publishing and Minotaur Books for a chance to read and give an opinion.

I don't know which I enjoyed more, the ending or the trail to get there. The descriptions of their lives, both past and current really made you feel what Cooper felt. Very well written.

This book was a page turner from beginning to end. Very captivating with amazing character development. I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

These Silent Woods is a beautiful, sometimes peaceful, sometimes tense tale of a father and his eight-year-old daughter living alone in a remote wilderness of the Appalachian Mountains. Kimi Cunningham Grant spins her story slowly and carefully, describing what might be drudgery of their daily lives, except for the fact that this little family is so bonded to one another, and each moment seems to bring wonder, appreciation, and learning.

Cooper, which is the name the father has chosen to call himself, is a man on the run. This is one of several mysteries in this book. What is his secret? Why must he and his little girl hide whenever a stranger comes near?
And there is a stranger very early in the story. He’s a rather odd man who goes by the name Scotland. Cooper immediately mistrusts him. He seems overly friendly toward his daughter, and he carries an AK-47. As a veteran who has seen terrible things, Cooper is understandably suspicious. But he is wary of everyone. Finch – the name her dad introduces Grace Elizabeth as to the strange man – immediately takes to Scotland. She is trusting and happy to have a new friend. The father-daughter pseudonyms came to him from the birds they see in the woods around them.

Finch and Cooper are about as close as a father and daughter can be. Cindy, Finch’s mother, died in a car accident when Finch was just a baby. Not long after that, Cooper brought her to his friend Jake’s rustic cabin, where they’ve lived ever since. Finch is an intelligent, inquisitive child. She draws the birds, keeps a journal, reads books like American Literature Before 1900. She has a keen sense of right and wrong, and as time goes on, she struggles to understand her dad’s reasoning and motivation for some of his rules. He has never fully explained to her why they are hiding, telling her only that he did something bad.

Early on, I suspected that the danger might come from the man called Scotland. Was I right? That would be too easy. Slowly, through the course of displaying life at the cabin, with caring for chickens, chopping wood, keeping the fire going, worrying about supplies for the winter, and other hardships, Cooper’s past comes to light as he remembers and reflects. Flashbacks to his PTSD attacks. Memories of the good-old-bad-old days. Missing Cindy. We get to know the man and understand who he is. We get to know his daughter, too. Sweet, caring, trying to be independent. Wanting to be a friend in a place where there is practically no one else around.

Until an unpredictable event disturbs the silence, solitude, and serenity of the woods.

The final chapters are tense. I think I held my breath through some of the more anxious moments. The last chapters were an emotional roller coaster for me. The resolution was an entirely unexpected “wow!”

I received an ARC copy of These Silent Woods in return for my honest, unbiased review. Thanks to NetGalley, St. Martin’s Press/Minotaur Books, and the author. My opinion and words are my own.

5 stars

"The thing about grace is that you don't deserve it. You can't earn it. You can only accept it. or Not" This was one of my many favorite quotes from These Silent Woods. This book showed how much a father is willing to do for his daughter, what all a parent is willing to sacrifice in order to see their children happy and safe. These Silent Woods was such a beautiful story about mistakes, forgiveness, honesty, second chances and the most important thing; "don't judge a book by its cover". One thing I truly loved about this book was the faith and knowledge about the bible that Scotland had, it reminded me so much of my grandmother and made me feel a deeper connection to the book. I laughed, I felt nervous, I got scared and I cried throughout the book. I cannot stress enough about how beautiful this book is and how it shows that being an honest and upstanding person goes a long way. Sometimes in life we aren't granted second chances, when an opportunity or second chance comes, we must accept it and be grateful of the things we have or have had that helped make us the person we are today. The ending/Epilogue was more than I could've asked for as a reader and I'm so content with it. Thank you NetGalley and Author Kimi Cunningham Grant for this digital ARC and the opportunity to read this amazing masterpiece before Publication Date. I recommend These Silent Woods to everyone and please be on the look out for this beauty October 26, 2021.

This book was such a fun break from all the fantasy I've been consuming lately. This book piqued my interest at the words "Appalachia", "ghosts of the past" and "survival and sacrifice". While I don't typically read thrillers (is this technically a thriller?) I picked up this book based off the summary:

A father (Cooper) and his young daughter (Finch) have been living in the remote Appalachian mountains hiding from a past that can destroy the life and relationship between the two. Only two people know of their existence: a local hermit, Scotland, and Cooper's old friend from the army, Jake. Jake arrives once a year to drop off supplies, but one year, when Jake does not arrive, Cooper and Finch's survival skills are put to the test. Cooper begins to realize that the safety he has built for him and his daughter is teetering on a knife's edge. Cooper will soon have to make decisions that will affect the course of his and his daughter's future.

I thought this book was constantly engaging, entertaining and enjoyable to read. I thoroughly liked the characters. Yes, Cooper has done some not-so-good things, but he is willing to do anything for his daughter and has recognized his mistakes. I was afraid that he would be villainized (especially when there is a young child involved) but I did not need to worry, and I felt understanding and sympathy for his character.

Finch is a joy. Writing young children can be difficult (especially when they have been raised in a not-so-standard way of life). She felt very real and mature, but still a child filled with wonder, sass, and resilience. Even though Cooper is the main pov, this book revolves around Finch- as everything our characters do is for her.

I grew up and live in an Appalachian state, so for me, this setting was very important because this is where I've been living all my life. While this book didn't delve into Appalachian culture as much as I would have liked, it's still okay with me since Appalachian culture can be so mis-interpreted and stereotyped. To me, this book takes place in my home state of Pennsylvania. The book is described as being set in "northern appalachia" (which could definitely mean pa) and near a national forest (possibly the Allegheny National Forest?). Most people don't think of Pennsylvania as having incredibly rural areas, but there are definitely parts of the state that you could hid away for 8 years and no one would find you. Also, Kimi Cunningham Grant is from Pennsylvania, just saying...

Either way, I enjoyed my time reading this book. I don't really have a lot of compare it to, since I don't read this genre very often, but I thought this was a solid book that kept me turning the page, and I look forward to this book hitting the shelves in the Fall 2021!

Thank you NetGalley for providing an ARC in exchange for a free and honest review!

Really enjoyed this book! It was the first one for me to read by this author and I can't wait to read more! The characters stick with you long after the book is over.

I love survivalist narratives. Give me all the Les Strouds and seasons of Alone, and I'm a happy girl. So when I read the synopsis for These Silent Woods, I knew I had to request it.

Cooper and Finch live in a cabin in the remote Appalachian woods. Surviving off the land, he teaches her to hunt and scavenge, relying on yearly trips from his friend for bigger supply runs. But when Jake doesn't show one year and an unexpected guest arrives, the precarious life Cooper's been hiding behind is threatened. Now, he must make the ultimate choice and face the past that haunts him before it's too late.

I really enjoyed this book.

As a protagonist, Cooper was a wonderfully layered character. His choices aren't black and white, and while we get glimpses of his transgressions, Grant is able to weave the tension into each loaded moment until the truth is revealed. Finch and Marie are also equally interesting, and my favorite moments were the interactions in their bubble. I think many readers will fall in love with their dynamic.

I loved that this wasn't an action-packed book of snipers and intrigue, but rather a quiet study of mental health and redemption. On the one hand, we get Cooper clearly suffering from PTSD and the after-effects of war. This is a trend I'm seeing more of lately, and I cannot get enough of it. It is so, so important to explore the ramifications war has on soldiers, the lingering traumas and reticence to seek help, and Grant handled the subject with grace and sensitivity. On the other hand, we get this fork-in-the-road. An impossible moral choice that forces Cooper down a soul-searching path of acceptance and redemption.

No spoilers, but the slow build final chapters both broke and shaped my heart, and I think this will be a homerun for a lot of readers.

Overall, These Silent Woods is a tense, heartbreaking journey of a father's love and the people we choose to let into our lives.

Big thanks to Minotaur for providing an eARC in exchange for honest review consideration.

Wow, this novel surprised me (in the best possible way)! These Silent Woods slowly reeled me in and had me on the hook until the very last page.

This addictive read centers around Cooper and his young daughter, Finch. They basically live off the grid in a remote cabin in the woods. As the novel unfolds, Kimi Cunningham Grant does a great job with surprising the reader with well-placed twists and turns on how and why Cooper and Finch live their lives in seclusion!

I could not put this book down! The character development was on-point! I was amazed how emotionally invested I was with these characters—when the book was over, I didn’t want to say goodbye! These Silent Woods is a total and complete 5 star novel! This is the first novel I’ve read from Kimi Cunningham Grant, but it most certainly won’t be my last!

This book brought all the feels. There were several nights I did not want to put it down but had to. You get a little of the story as you go along and want for more as you know there is something deeper. I as Cooper was suspicious of Scotland but grew to love him. The ending was not what I had figured out in my mind but was so much more than I thought possible. The suspense, Wonder and sadness made this book fantastic.

I received this book as an ARC and this is my review. This is a truly great story! The characters are colorful and the book contains a huge creepiness that makes it spellbinding. The remote setting adds to this feeling. There are twists and turns throughout and the suspense is nail-biting. I totally recommend this book to readers who enjoy dark psychological thrillers with plenty of mysterious elements.