Title: These Silent Woods by Kimi Cunningham Grant
Publisher: Minotaur Books
Genre: Contemporary, Suspense
Length: 288 pages
Book Rating: A
Complimentary Review Copy Provided by Publisher Through NetGalley
Summary:
A father and daughter living in the remote Appalachian mountains must reckon with the ghosts of their past in Kimi Cunningham Grant’s These Silent Woods, a mesmerizing novel of suspense.
No electricity, no family, no connection to the outside world.
For eight years, Cooper and his young daughter, Finch, have lived in isolation in a remote cabin in the northern Appalachian woods. And that’s exactly the way Cooper wants it, because he’s got a lot to hide. Finch has been raised on the books filling the cabin’s shelves and the beautiful but brutal code of life in the wilderness. But she’s starting to push back against the sheltered life Cooper has created for her—and he’s still haunted by the painful truth of what it took to get them there.
The only people who know they exist are a mysterious local hermit named Scotland, and Cooper’s old friend, Jake, who visits each winter to bring them food and supplies. But this year, Jake doesn’t show up, setting off an irreversible chain of events that reveals just how precarious their situation really is. Suddenly, the boundaries of their safe haven have blurred—and when a stranger wanders into their woods, Finch’s growing obsession with her could put them all in danger. After a shocking disappearance threatens to upend the only life Finch has ever known, Cooper is forced to decide whether to keep hiding—or finally face the sins of his past.
Vividly atmospheric and masterfully tense, These Silent Woods is a poignant story of survival, sacrifice, and how far a father will go when faced with losing it all.
Review:
These Silent Woods by Kimi Cunningham Grant is an atmospheric novel that is emotionally compelling.
Cooper and his eight-year-old daughter Finch live off the grid in a cabin nestled in woods. Coop is an Army veteran whose tours in Afghanistan have left inner scars. His transition back into the civilian is aided by his longtime crush and friend Cindy Loveland. As friendship deepens into love, Cooper struggles with PTSD. In the aftermath of terrible loss, Coop is left in an untenable position and he does what it takes to keep him and his daughter together.
Retreating to his army buddy Jake’s cabin, Cooper and Finch live a surprisingly idyllic life that is only marred by his distrust of his nearest neighbor Scotland. Jake’s failure to show for his yearly supply drop is just the first of unexpected changes for Cooper and Finch. Cooper’s risky but necessary decision to briefly go into town results in worrying consequences for their continued ability to keep their identities hidden.
Despite his mistakes, Cooper is a caring, decent man who is very hard on himself. He is a quiet man who mostly lives in the moment. He is very patient with Finch as she chatters and asks him hard questions. Cooper is trying to be the best father he can and his bond with his daughter is palpable. He remains suspicious of Scotland who keeps a closer eye on them than Coop would like. But Finch loves the hermit and Scotland cherishes their friendship.
An unanticipated visitor gives Cooper a glimpse of what life could be if he had not made the missteps that brought them to the cabin. When a shocking event brings more people into his orbit, Cooper is faced with untenable choice that could be bring peace to one family while destroying another. He is forced to take a hard look at himself and decide whether or not he can live with himself if he does not do what is right. But will Cooper be able to take that final step in his own probable downfall?
These Silent Woods is a riveting novel of love and grace. Cooper is a well-drawn character who is deeply flawed but he is surprisingly appealing. He carries the heavy weight of his tortured past but his love for Finch is pure. Finch is a precocious and loving with a natural curiosity for the world around her. Scotland is eccentric yet caring and does not let Cooper’s antipathy deter him form looking out for them. The storyline is unique with Cooper’s secrets slowly unfolding throughout the novel. After Coop makes a heartbreaking yet morally right decision, Kimi Cunningham Grant brings this captivating story to a heartfelt, fraught conclusion.
