3.5 stars, rounded up
Megan Miranda is definitely a writer I always look forward to reading. The Girl from Widow Hills was one of my favorite reads last year, and when I saw Such a Quiet Place was approved in my queue, I was excited to dive in.
Fourteen months ago, Ruby was convicted of murdering her neighbors. The community of Hollow's Edge believed her to be guilty, testified against her, and went on living their lives thinking the danger had passed. But when new evidence comes to light and Ruby is let out of jail to return to Hollow's Edge, her old roommate Harper is determined to figure out the truth. Is Ruby guilty? And why did she come back? I liked this book. In a genre full of torrid affairs and intricate, twisty relationship dramas, I loved the focus on a community of young professionals. Thirty is quickly becoming the new twenty, and it was refreshing to see a cast of characters in that age range that aren't completely consumed by marriage, infidelity, parent issues, or family problems. Harper, as a protagonist, was an okay lead character for me. I didn't find her terribly interesting, but her voice was clear, defined, and easily readable--a fact I think other readers will enjoy. Through their interactions, Ruby struck me as a wronged Daisy Buchanan type, aloof and sickly-sweet but with an ulterior motive. I was hoping for a little more development, something other than the past crime and Harper's suspicions when she returns. The mystery goes toward setting up the conflict in the second half of the book, but as it stood, she felt a little flat. I think this was what kept SAQP from being a love it for me. Such a Quiet Place is character driven. The conflict, like the surface of Hollow's Edge, was quiet and polite. And while there were plenty of suspects, we weren't given much development beyond a few stereotypical depicters: troubled marriage, troubled kids, etc. Some of the names blend together, motivations all seemingly stemming from the same place, so that by the end, the climax felt a little predictable. That's not to say this isn't a fun read. Miranda's taut storytelling is a highlight here, and I would definitely recommend to fans of light suspense and see this being a popular summer title this year. Entertaining and delightfully wicked, Such a Quiet Place is a solid read I think many readers will enjoy. Out in July, add it to your TBRs.