There’s true crime thrillers, and then there’s true crime thrillers written by Noelle Ihli. She has an undeniable talent for writing adrenaline packed situational thrillers with high stakes and intense emotional depth. Such Quiet Girls is by far my favorite book thus far - and the way this story had me in a chokehold. From the beginning to the end I was locked in and this consumed me.

This is based off of the Chowchilla Kidnapping, so please check your triggers.

Excellent book, insane emotional range; intense story. I was gasping, I was crying. This was easily one of the best thrillers I’ve read this year. I can’t wait to see what Noelle writes next.

thank you to dynamite books, netgalley & noelle ihli for an e-ARC of this book in exchange for my honest review.

I was so excited to receive this arc and it did not disappoint! This was such a fast paced, heart pounding thriller and I couldn't put it down. I loved the way it was written with multiple pov's, especially the way it was all tied together in the end. I don't think I've ever been so impacted by a book before. I was shaking and in tears by the end. This was an easy 5 stars for me!

5/5 — Another standout from Noelle Ihli
This is my second read from Noelle Ihli, and both have been easy 5-star ratings. She has a real talent for crafting compelling multi-POV narratives, and Such Quiet Girls is no exception. What made this one especially gripping was the inclusion of one of the “bad guys” as a narrator—an unusual and chilling perspective that added depth and tension. The fact that it’s based on true events makes the story all the more disturbing and hard to look away from. The emotional weight is there, but so is the pacing; the tension builds quickly and doesn’t let up. Emotional, immersive, and masterfully written.

This book was amazing! It kept me on the edge of my seat and I didn’t want to put it down. It was so well written and I almost felt bad for the bad guy…almost! I do feel the ending was rushed to wrap up and I do have some questions to what happened to everyone after the incident! Nonetheless it was sooooo good!

WOW. I’m not sure how any book is going to top this one for me. I literally couldn’t put this down. Noelle Ihli is SO good at psychological thrillers and the way she bases her stories on actual events just makes them even more thrilling. I think I held my breath through most of this book. Absolutely amazing. Thank you to NetGalley and to Xspresso Book Tours for this ARC of Such Quiet Girls. ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

I really enjoyed this book from a new to me author! The story line, while seemed unbelieveable, when you thought about it, all of this could really happen. The drive and determination the main characters had was amazing. I felt the characters were well written, you will fall in love with the grandpa... and you might question yourself on some motives, but as you read questions will be answered.

Noelle’s books always give me the feels. The deep POVs always grab a hold of me and don’t let go until the end. I really connected with Sage and Jessa in this book and the harrowing ordeals they live through. Knowing the plot was based on a real mass kidnapping gave me the chills. The multiple narrators did a great job bringing the story to life in the audiobook.

If you enjoy a book that captivates you from the very beginning, takes you on an emotional journey, and is filled with unexpected twists and turns, then this book is highly recommended.

As a mother, I found myself deeply empathizing with the parents in this story, which only heightened the intensity of the narrative. What begins as a seemingly ordinary day quickly escalates into an unimaginable nightmare. Ten children and bus driver are abducted and confined in a shipping container buried twenty feet underground. Jessa is paralyzed by the immense responsibility of protecting the children, while a student named Sage is resolute to finding a way out. However, the choices they make may either save their lives or seal their fates. The kidnappers claim they will release them once the ransom is paid, but question remains—can they survive until then? The environment is dark, cramped, and increasingly suffocating.

Readers should be cautioned: book may provoke a profound fear of confined spaces and will have your heart pounding as you race to discover who survives this harrowing ordeal.

Thank you NetGalley for this arc in exchange for my honest review.

Such Quiet Girls is a fast-paced, tense story that held my attention throughout. I have read another book by this author before and liked it, and this one had a similar style. It was easy to get into and hard to put down. The fact that it is based on a true story makes the premise even more unsettling. A bus full of schoolchildren is kidnapped, and the story is told through several perspectives, including the kidnapper, one of the girls, and the girls’ mother.

Sage, one of the girls, was the standout character for me. It was refreshing to read a thriller where the main character made smart, realistic decisions instead of the usual frustrating ones. Her mother, Sheena, also came across as capable and determined. You could feel the urgency and emotion in her chapters, especially near the end.

There is a subplot involving Alzheimer’s, and the author included a note at the end explaining why she chose to include it. I appreciated the thought behind that. While nothing about it felt overly graphic or upsetting to me, I still think it is worth mentioning for readers who might have a personal connection to that topic. Everyone’s experience is different, and it is helpful to have a heads-up.

There’s also a subplot of domestic violence. Fyi.

Overall, I thought this was a solid and emotionally layered thriller. The premise is terrifying, the pacing works well, and the characters felt believable in their fear and desperation. It is the kind of story that sticks with you for a while after finishing, not just because of what happened, but because it makes you think about what people are capable of in moments of crisis.

Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for the chance to read it.

Oh. My. God.

I remember reading about something like this happening in the real world and thinking that I couldn't imagine how that would feel, both for the people trapped in captivity and the people with loved ones who were abducted. I no longer have to wonder. Noelle West Ihli gave me a glimpse inside of the minds of the people who lived through this nightmare with her literary masterpiece. I was on the edge of my seat the whole time, waiting to find out how it was going to end.

This was based on a true story, which blows my mind. I can't even imagine what has been gone through by the folks involved here. What a terrible thing to happen.

10 children on a bus headed to school, that won't make it there. Jessa is a new bus driver with a bad past she is trying to get through. Sage who is the oldest student on the bus who is one brave soul that is determined that they will make it through this and is going to make sure they get out. They all find themselves buried in a shipping container underground. The kidnappers are asking for ransom to release the children. Will the kids get out before they run out of air?

Thank you NetGalley for sharing this arc with me! I love Noelle W. Ihli’s writing. This book is based off of a true story, which made me way more engaged while reading! I loved the multiple POVs that allowed readers to get a glimpse into every side of this kidnapping. 4⭐️ definitely recommend for an exciting thriller.

A quick, fast paced thriller about a school bus of kids kidnapped for ransom. It had thrilling and suspenseful moments and was written well. The cast of kids buried underground was great. You really get a sense of their desperation over the 24 hours they’re in the bunker. The book was fairly predictable but was written well so I’d read another by this author without hesitation.

Thank you NetGalley and Dynamite Books for the early release of Such Quiet Girls. All opinions are my own.

I saw so many rave reviews about this one and knew I needed to read it. Unfortunately it fell a bit flat for me. The premise and claustrophobia in the story was difficult to read but I somehow wanted to feel more connected to the characters. I felt most connected with the grandfather character that really resonated with me. I felt like there was a lot and nothing going on at the same time…you know books like that.

I think many people will enjoy this one. I liked it but didn’t love it as much as everyone else.

I have heard so much about Noelle West Ihli and hadn't gotten to pick up one of her books yet. So, I picked up this one and loved it. The fact that it is based on a true story makes this one even more emotional and thrilling. I can't wait to read more by Noelle.

Happy Release Week!

Such Quiet Girls is a gripping thriller had me firing through the pages. The concept- school bus of children kidnapped without a trace- is terrifying on its own, but Noelle W. Ihli adds depth by focusing on the unraveling of trust between the perpetrators and the desperation of the families left behind, as well as the resilience of the children.

The story is well-paced, with enough twists to keep you guessing, and the emotional weight of the parents’ grief and fear feels raw and authentic. The tension and character-driven storytelling held strong throughout. It’s one of those books that lingers with you afterward, not just because of the mystery, but because of what it says about trauma, resilience, and how people respond to the unimaginable.

Thank you NetGalley for the arc!

wow, wow,wow!!
What a perfect delivery.
This book left me utterly breathless!
This phenomenal novel is an emotional rollercoaster that had me on the edge of my seat, tears streaming down my face.
Based on true events, the story is gripping and heart-wrenching, with masterful writing that absolutely sucked me in. I devoured it.
If you're ready for a book that'll rip your heart out and completely absorb you then this is it.
Thank you to NetGalley, the author and Dynamite Books for the privilege to review this book.

Fast paced. Tense. Attention gripping. Page turning!

A bus full of children. An abduction. Buried in a shipping container. A ransom. And a mom fighting for her girls back.

Such Quiet Girls was such a ride (no pun intended).

I genuinely couldn’t put this down and loved being able to read the story from all the different point of views. The atmosphere felt real to a point where even I felt claustrophobic. And based on actual events!? A quick and gripping read that truly embodies a bone chilling thriller!

Thank you to Netgalley for my arc copy!

One of my most anticipated reads of 2025 is here! Noelle Ihli, you’ve done it again. Happy publishing day!!!! 5 stars.

I cannot believe this story is based on true events. Wow. My mind is blown. I didn’t want to stop reading.. devoured it in one sitting! Thank you so much to the publisher for an advanced copy.

Such Quiet Girls by Noelle W. Ihli? Whew. This one took me on a wild ride.

Inspired by the real-life Chowchilla kidnapping, this book is a fictional deep dive into one of the most haunting crimes you’ve probably never heard about—and it’s told through the eyes of a kidnapped child, the bus driver, a grieving parent, and even one of the suspects. The multiple POVs made the story feel layered, raw, and emotionally intense.

This was one of those books I couldn’t put down. The pacing was relentless in the best way—it had me flipping pages like a madwoman just to find out how it ended. I was on the edge of my seat the entire time. The stakes felt sky-high, and the emotional weight of it all? Whew. It was giving “gut-punch” from start to finish.

It left me asking: what kind of person even thinks up something like this? The writing was powerful, the characters were well-drawn, and it somehow managed to be both horrifying and heartfelt. If you like thrillers that are fast, fierce, and based on real events, this one’s for you.

Thanks to NetGalley, Noelle West Ihli, and the Dynamite Books for this ARC—I devoured it!