Ten children abducted in broad daylight — and buried alive while being held for ransom.

This novel is a work of fiction, but Noelle W. Ihli drew inspiration from real events — the Chowchilla kidnapping of 1976. Which, in my opinion, makes this even more terrifying.

The POVs bounce from 4 different people: Ms. Jessa, the bus driver who has also been abducted with the kids; Sage, the oldest of the kids being held captive at 12 years old and big sister to Bonnie; Sheena, Sage and Bonnie’s mother and the key player who receives the ransom note; and Ted, one of the men who has put this whole scheme into play and is struggling with the morality of holding kids hostage in exchange for a big pay out.

The multiple POVs really made this story work. From the terrifying voices of Sage and Ms. Jessa trying to find a solution, to Sheena’s frantic journey to meet the ransom demands, to Ted’s internal struggle with how to pull off this heist without hurting anyone. Noelle W. Ihli makes it so easy to put yourself in any one of their shoes.

I highly, highly recommend this one. This story is emotional yet thrilling and will keep you on the edge of your seat. The short chapters made it so easy to keep reading and I flew through this book in about 2 days.

Thank you to NetGalley for this ARC!

Thanks to NetGalley for this ARC. I’ve read several books by this author and this one did not disappoint! I was invested from the beginning and loved the way the story was told from the different character’s perspectives.

This book is based on a true story of a bus driver and a group of children kidnapped and buried underground in a shipping container.

This book was pretty intense. I knew going in that it was based on a true story, which just added to the feelings of dread throughout. Told in multiple perspectives, the courage and strength of these characters was something else. The tension and emotions from Sheena's perspective were palpable; her story was told with such sheer desperation of a panicked mother. Sage was also a remarkable character, tough beyond her years. Definitely recommended, though not a light read.

Can Noelle Ihli write a bad book? No. Such Quiet Girls was so good. It immediately pulled me in a didn't let go til the very end. The pace was excellent. The multiple POVs helped keep me engaged and seeing the story from others perspectives. Such a roller coaster of emotions. Highly recommend.

Thank you for the opportunity to read this arc.

This was everything I had hoped it would be. Terrifying, gut wrenching, anxiety inducing, tearjerker. I love that this had 4 different POVs. You got to see every side of the story which was really nice and it didn’t feel like anything was missing. Overall, this was an easy 5 stars for me.

I was thrilled to receive this ARC and am happy to say it did not disappoint! This is based on real events of kidnapped children who were buried below ground in a shipping container while the kidnappers demanded their ransom. In the authors note at the end of the book, it mentions a podcast to listen to for more information on the real kidnapping, and I'm incredibly intrigued and will be checking it out!

I appreciated the multiple POVs as you see the characters work through their own battles over the course of the event. It gave a complete picture of what was going on and helped to relate and understand the characters. The last few chapters I tore through, I couldn't get through them fast enough to find out how this ended. A fast-paced thriller that will have you teary eyed by the end. Would highly recommend!

Genre: Thriller | Mystery

Rating: ★★★½ (Rounded up to ★★★★)

If Taken had a literary cousin with a female lead and no punches pulled, Such Quiet Girls would be it.

Jessa has just started working part-time as a school bus driver for a childcare centre. She’s trying to rebuild her life after surviving an abusive past relationship, jail time and losing custody of her daughter, who now lives with Jess’s sister. That alone sets a heavy tone—but we’re just getting started.

Then there’s 12-year-old Sage, a resilient and observant kid often tasked with looking after her younger sister, Bonnie. One ordinary day on the bus to child care turns into something terrifying: the kids are abducted, and from there, the story becomes a breathless, high-stakes race to rescue—or be rescued.

Told through alternating first-person perspectives—Jessa, Sage, their mother Sheena, and one of the kidnappers (Ted)—this story grips hard and doesn’t let go. Each voice brings its own emotional weight and urgency, creating a visceral, confronting read.

And here’s where it gets even more chilling: the story is inspired by the real-life 1976 Chowchilla kidnapping, where a group of schoolchildren were abducted and buried alive in a truck trailer. That historical link adds an extra layer of unease to an already intense plot.

Jessa is a fighter, trying to find her footing after years of trauma.

Sage is whip-smart and brave in that understated, quietly fierce way that feels completely real.

Sheena is doing her best to hold her world together, juggling a father with Alzheimer’s and the devastating fear of her missing children.

And Ted? His perspective is surprisingly compelling—not the caricature of a criminal you might expect, but a reminder that people aren’t always easily categorised.

What Worked:

The pacing: full-throttle from start to finish.

The first-person narration adds intensity and immediacy.

The real-world inspiration makes it all feel that much more unsettling.

A solid premise that plays out with tension and urgency.


What Fell a Little Flat:

While we’re given the characters’ backstories, their emotional depth feels a little underdeveloped. Their essence—the heart of who they are—never quite rises above the traumatic circumstances they’re reacting to.

It’s an incredibly dark read, with no real emotional breather. Not a criticism, just something to know going in.

This type of thriller—grim and go-go-go—might not be for everyone (myself included), but it’s undeniably gripping.


Final Thoughts:

Such Quiet Girls is tense, propulsive, and unflinching. With a chilling real-life event as its inspiration and a strong narrative voice, it delivers a high-stakes thriller that doesn’t let up. Not exactly a feel-good read, but if you like your thrillers gritty and intense, it’s definitely one to check out.

Thanks to NetGalley for the ARC. All opinions are my own.

Such Quiet Girls by Noelle W. Ihli is an emotionally charged thriller that grabbed my attention from page one. While loosely inspired by the 1976 Chowchilla kidnapping, this is no retelling. It’s a reimagined nightmare all its own, centered on the abduction of ten children, their bus driver, and a mother left unraveling in its wake.

What begins as an ordinary day quickly spirals into chaos when an after-school daycare bus vanishes. The reader is pulled into the minds of those left behind and those trapped below. We follow Sheena, a single mother already stretched thin caring for her father with Alzheimer’s, as she learns her daughters’ bus has gone missing. We’re plunged underground with Jessa, the bus driver taken alongside the children, who struggles to stay calm for their sake while slowly coming undone. Through their perspectives, along with the voices of Sheena’s daughter, Sage, and one of the kidnappers, were taken through a journey of fear, guilt, and desperate hope.

What hit hardest, though, was the quiet courage of the children. The way they clung to each other, trying to be brave when nothing about their world made sense, was both devastating and beautiful. Ihli evokes claustrophobic fear, helplessness, and the desperate longing for rescue; most admirably, she also captures the incredible resilience of children.

This isn’t just a thriller. It’s an emotional gut punch wrapped in suspense, exploring the crushing weight of responsibility, the ache of helplessness, and the unexpected strength people summon when everything falls apart. The shifting points of view offer valuable insight into each character’s mindset, although occasionally it kept me at arm’s length emotionally. I craved just a little more space to connect deeply with some of the characters. But honestly? That didn’t stop me from racing through the pages…I couldn’t seem to consume the story fast enough.

Thank you Netgalley for this advanced digital copy in exchange for my honest review.

This was definitely a page-turner! I don’t recommend starting it close to bedtime!
A day-care bus driver, with a past she’s desperate to keep secret. Innocent children picked up for after-school care; the oldest girl, 13, there to watch over her younger sister. Two men, with dastardly plans to get rich quickly. A single mom, whose two daughters are her heart and soul, forced to make decisions that could bring about tragedy. The paths of all these people intersect one sunny afternoon, leading to a series of events that none of them expected…
Due to some coarse language and some heavy topics (spousal abuse, murder, children in peril), this book is better suited for high-school age readers and adults.

*I received a digital copy from Netgalley in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are strictly my own.*

I wanted to like this book so much, but this story was a tough one for me emotionally. As a mom, some of the themes hit a little too close to home, and I found myself needing to step away more than once. It’s a testament to Ihil’s powerful storytelling, especially since it is based on a true event. Ultimately, it made the reading experience challenging for me personally, so make sure to check your trigger warnings. Thank you to NetGalley for this ARC!

I was so excited to get an ARC of this book. I read Ask for Andrea by this author and loved it. Noelle just has this way to writing twisted but thrilling tales that hook you right from the start of the story. I enjoyed the multiple POVs that are used in telling this story. It helped to make a complete story in my opinion. I felt like the story was a bit slow in the middle and a bit rushed at the end but overall I really liked it.

Thank you to NetGalley and Dynamite Books for this gifted eARC. All opinions are all my own.

Another hit by Noelle W. Ihli. Could barely put the book down. She does a great job of making you feel what the characters are feeling. Can't wait to add the physical book to my shelf when it gets released.

Ok I just loved this. I was on edge until the very end. Noelle really knows how to make a reader anxious lol (in a good way) Love her books!
5 stars!
Thanks for the copy!

I was ecstatic to get approved for Noelle Ihli's new book on NetGalley. I fell in love with her when I read "Ask for Andrea" and the fact that she was a fellow Idaho girlie was even better!! And now, I've read almost all her books.

"Such Quiet Girls" was an addictive read. One of the great things about her books is the need they invoke in you to get to the end. You want to make sure the characters in the book end up alright, and this one was no different. A bus driver and 10 kids are kidnapped and held for ransom. The book highlights being strong and courageous under pressure. It was amazing and had me tearing up at the end!!

Thank you NetGalley, Dynamite Books, and Noelle West Ihli for an eArc copy of the book for review.

One of my most anticipated books of this summer. Let me preface this with: I will 100% autobuy anything and everything Noelle Ihli produces. I absolutely adore her social media presence/personality, love her books (multiple 5 star reads), and was salivating when I heard about this book!!! Literally checked NetGalley every day just for this book.

Now, I am saddened to say this book didn’t catch traction for me. I definitely think it was a “me” thing- and mostly because of the close relation to the Chowchilla kidnapping in 1976. This was not the first time that Ihli wrote a book related to a sensationalized new story- but from a fictional standpoint. Her two previous novels in this category were very closely related to the stories they were based on and I think that’s where she lost me on, “Such Quiet Girls”. I knew about the Chowchilla story long before this book came out and I think I anticipated this book to be a fictionalized rendition of that story vs a storyline different from- but similar in concept.

The story itself was well paced, enjoyable, and a quick read. I found it hard to recognize the FMC as a 12 year old as she was initially portrayed much younger. Then to imagine a younger child with the thought process and actions of the FMC, seemed unrealistic. Though likable, I feel like Ihli failed to capture the essence of a 12 year old girl. I do love the idea of updating the story to meet real time changes- like the consideration for cell phones and GPS.

Overall, I think this book will do well on publication. I am grateful to NetGalley and Dynamite Books for this ARC!

3.5 ⭐️’s! This book definitely kept me engaged throughout. Some plot twists were predictable but still enjoyable.
I had no idea it was based off of a true story and my heart breaks for those who experienced it. The author did a great job in portraying this story. I will definitely be reading more by this author.
Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for an ARC of this book!

Great book. Based on a horrific true life crime, this story explores the various accounts of what happened. From the bus driver all the way to one of the kidnappers.

I found the chapters so immersive through all the characters and the author re-created an absolute fear that these children must have felt.

I would definitely recommend this book and look forward to increasing my knowledge reading up on the actual case.

Great job again Noelle. I love your writing style and this is just another example of how well you write page turners with emotion.

Thank you to the author, publisher and NetGalley for the chance to review this before release.

Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for this pulse-pounding, intense thriller that had me riveted to the edge of my seat. I am grateful for the ARC, which introduced me to an author, Noelle W. Ihli, who is new to me. I definitely want to read more of her books.

Two armed masked men hijack a school bus carrying ten children and the bus driver. They plan to take them hostage for ransom. The kidnappers have prepared a shipping container in an abandoned lot with a small amount of food and water and will transfer the frightened children to the large container and bury it ten feet underground. There is a small supply of fresh air and a couple of buckets for toilets. The terrified hostages are told they must remain calm and quiet, and if they do so, they will be released unharmed when the ransom is paid. What could be more of a locked room, claustrophobic ordeal? The abandoned school bus has been hidden away in the bushes, and there is no way for searchers to locate the shipping container, which is now well-hidden underground. There is no trace of what happened to the hostages. The air is becoming putrid from the bucket toilets, and children throwing up. Fresh air, food and water are running out, and the children must sit quietly in the darkness.

The story is fast-paced, and the characters are well-developed and engaging. The story is told from the viewpoint of four people. Sage, the oldest child of twelve, tries to calm her younger sister. A kidnapper, Ted, is having second thoughts about the crime in which he has participated. Jessa, the bus driver, begins frozen in fear. She feels guilty about her failure to protect her passengers and has been separated from her own child due to a troubled past. Sheena is the mother of Sage and her other young daughter, who are both missing from the bus. Sheena is the only parent who has received a ransom demand and must make a desperate decision in the hopes of saving her children. Sheena cares for her father at home. He has Alzheimer's but is one of the more engaging characters.

One of these people becomes an unlikely hero. They manage to break free through much determination, effort, and pain.

There is a strong, action-packed finish as they rush to get help for those remaining behind before they become seriously injured or die from polluted air and thirst. A gunman is in pursuit. Will anyone survive?
This may seem like a farfetched crime story, but it is based on a similar event in 1976 California, which drew worldwide attention. Twenty-seven passengers from a school bus were buried underground in a truck trailer. I remember the crime and found many pictures online from the day the hostages escaped their imprisonment.

This book will have you reaching for tissues while your heart pounds hoping for the best. I was lucky enough to read an Advanced Copy of this book and I think it has to be the author's best so far. When a bus full of elementary school children are abducted in broad daylight it will take the ingenuity of the children, their bus driver and one desperate mother to save everyone. I loved that in the book a child has the forethought to find a way out, while her mother is also able to find a way to find her children's location. This was an adrenaline ride filled with panic and desperation that places you directly in the mind of the characters.

I have been looking forward to reading this book since I first heard about it. When I saw it on NetGalley, I jumped at the chance to read this and review it. Luckily, I was approved. Knowing that this was inspired by true events, the Chowchilla kidnapping story made it even more haunting. This book shook me to my core. From the very first page, you can feel the tension. Although this book is a thriller, it's not about the thrills. It's about the trauma, their survival, and the quiet strength that people summon when they're trapped.

I always laugh when people, when authors put a character saying they let out a breath they didn't know they were holding. I literally did not breathe for the last five chapters, and then I let out a breath I definitely knew I was holding. Jess's character had so much dimension to her. I was tentatively rooting for her, but waiting for the ball to drop with news, but I didn't know what it was going to be. I knew there was more to her story, and Ihli gives you breadcrumbs to it throughout the entire story. I love the multiple points of view from the bus driver to the children, and even the kidnappers. The pacing is perfection; if you don't want to have anything to do for the day except read this book, which is what I did, it grips you from the first page, and it does not let you down. Every moment in this book counts, and it never drags. This is one of those books that you can't let go. I sat here after I read it for a good half hour, just in a book coma. It was hard to move on with life.

On a personal note, the sad story of the grandfather with Alzheimer's really touched me. Not only have I had family members with Alzheimer's, I also have a husband with multiple sclerosis, and his memory is failing. So much of the book just hit me hard in the feels. I experienced every range of emotion in this book, from anger to sadness to elation. I cheered, I cried, and I cannot recommend it enough. Such Quiet Girls is such a powerful mix of true crime inspiration and fiction that grabs your emotions as much as your nerves. Ihli creates raw, believable characters that make you care deeply about what happens to them. If you're looking for a thriller that delivers, this one absolutely does.

The Vibes it Brings
🚌 School bus gone terrifyingly wrong
🧠 Psychological tension with emotional depth
👩‍👧 Parental grief and fierce protection
😱 Buried alive nightmare fuel
🕯️ Grit, guilt, and quiet resilience
🚨 Based on chilling true events
🕵️‍♀️ Claustrophobic survival suspense
📖 Quick chapters that pull you deeper
💥 High-stakes with real heart