Such a Quiet Place

Megan Miranda is an excellent writer. She effortlessly paints a picture and drags you into a story. The plot was lacking in this one, especially compared to her other book, The Perfect Stranger, but her writing style pulled me through this one and made it enjoyable to read.

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Hollow’s Edge, a seemingly perfect neighborhood where everyone looks out for everyone, appears to be the ideal place to live and raise a family. That is until Brandon and Fiona Truett are found dead in their home and one of the residents in the sleepy neighborhood is convicted of the crime. The residents of Hollow’s Edge are anxious, unable to sell their homes, unable to forget how their own testimonies helped lock away one of their own. The neighborhood’s secrets are bursting at the seams, and then Ruby Fletcher’s conviction is overturned. The killer is suddenly living next door again. How much can you really trust your neighbor?

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What worked? The setting was brilliant. The whole story takes place in a close-knit community of houses on the same street, which may have been comforting at one point but is now full of watchful eyes. The dynamic between the neighbors, friends, and families is realistic and complicated, and the setting portrays this perfectly. 

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What didn’t work? The first-person narrative was a bit restricted. I felt I was too much in the head of the main character, and the other characters felt distant and unrelatable. Third-person probably would’ve taken this to the next level. Also, the twist at the end felt forced. There were too many coincidences and it was a little unbelievable in the end. 

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Overall, Miranda’s writing and unique style saved the book since the plot was somewhat lacking. I will say that the first page is brilliantly written and will draw you into the story before you can turn the page.