by Melissa Barbuzzi
Content warning: Murder
Such a Quiet Place takes place in Hollows Edge, a neighbourhood that was once filled with neighbours who gathered and looked out for one another—until the murder of residents Brandon and Fiona Truett. A year and a half later, one of Hollows Edge’s residents who was accused of their murder returns home while the other residents feel stuck and suffocated, confronted every day by the Truett house and their testimonies. Will their murders be solved? Will the neighbourhood once again get back to how it once was?
Such a Quiet Place is a compelling mystery filled with secrets and paranoia. After the murders of Brandon and Fiona, everyone keeps to themselves, but eyes are always watching. The story started off as a slow burn, which worried me at first, but it quickly turned into a page-turner that kept me on the edge of my seat until the very end! The major plot twist was definitely gasp-worthy and seriously took me by surprise.
I felt fully immersed in the plot and the neighbourhood’s secrets. The characters had endless layers, and the author did a great job at slowly pulling each layer back to reveal more about the neighbours of Hollows Edge. The two main characters, Harper and Ruby, felt so incredibly real and deep to me. Normally, in thrillers, I find that the decisions made by the characters are so unrealistic but in this book I felt most decisions were realistic and true to the characters.
The murder and case were so interesting that I do wish we were given more details about what exactly went on in the weeks surrounding the murder. I was left with so many questions that I wanted answered, but I think that was mainly because I’m a true crime junkie who wanted all the details!
I also wish that we got more details about all the neighbours and maybe more of an inside look at their lives. Everyone in the neighbourhood was always watching from afar, but we never truly learned about all of their deep dark secrets.
Overall, if you’re looking for a thriller to add to your TBR pile, I highly recommend Such a Quiet Place by Megan Miranda. The twists and turns were so entertaining, and kept me on the edge of my seat! This was my first read by Megan Miranda, but I’ve already ordered two of her other books because I loved this one so much!