Review: Such a Quiet Place

Such a Quiet Place by Megan Miranda
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

I enjoyed this book. The story of a terrible tragedy that changed a once quiet and idyllic neighborhood, this book does a wonderful job of creating an aura of suspense and oppressive paranoia. A year and a half ago, two residents of Hollow's Edge were found dead, and a neighbor, Ruby, was found guilty of the crime. But her conviction was overturned, and now she has returned home and surprised her former roommate, Harper. Why is Ruby back? Was she truly guilty? Is Harper now in danger? And if Ruby wasn't responsible for the murders, which resident of this seemingly tight-knit community could be the killer? What secrets are these neighbors hiding?
This setting of this book reminded me of To Tell You the Truth, The Therapist, and even Those People. What seems on the surface to be the perfect neighborhood has actually turned out to be a prison-like enclave full of suspicion and tension. Can anyone really be trusted? Who is peeking through their blinds in the middle of the night, or tiptoeing around the security cameras in the dark?
This was a great slow-burn whodunnit. The author used the secluded neighborhood, the isolated and forested lake-side setting, and the heavy summer heat to really evoke a sense of high suspense. It was very well-done. Harper doesn't always make the smartest decisions, and sometimes I wanted to yell at her to do something different, but it did not take away from my enjoyment of the book. The ending was just a little too "easy," but I still liked the fact that the mystery was solved.
I would absolutely recommend this to anyone who enjoys a good suspenseful mystery and wants something to read on a summer vacation!

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