Reviews with content warning for Mental illness - These Silent Woods

Interesting enough. Reminded me of, like, My Side of the Mountain except with a murder-y subplot and war flashbacks.

Unexpectedly religious undertones that really made it more emotional. Like, I definitely didn't expect to cry while reading this book, but a couple tears slipped out.

Cooper's paranoia seemed a little unrealistic in some ways.

For example, they're from an undisclosed place, but they've relocated to a new state, ostensibly hours away from where they were. To think that anyone would recognize them after more than, like, two years is wiiiiiiild. He's not a notorious mass murderer. He kidnapped his own child and was a little rough. That's not a news story that's going to be blowing up tvs nationwide. It's just not.

BUT, the dude's mentally ill, so the unrealistic paranoia might be a feature instead of a bug.

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stormmorgan's review against another edition

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dark emotional mysterious reflective sad tense medium-paced

Plot- or character-driven? Character
Strong character development? Yes
Loveable characters? Yes
Diverse cast of characters? No
Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.25

This is usually marketed as a true crime thriller, but that plays a small role in the larger story about a widowed single father trying to keep his daughter safe.

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elizabethludwig's review against another edition

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emotional tense fast-paced

Plot- or character-driven? Character
Strong character development? Yes
Loveable characters? Yes
Diverse cast of characters? No
Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.0

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aformeracceleratedreader's review against another edition

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adventurous dark emotional reflective sad fast-paced

Plot- or character-driven? A mix
Strong character development? It's complicated
Loveable characters? It's complicated

4.5

Went into this thinking it was a traditional thriller (like wrong exit) but it wasn't. An atmospheric kind of mystery? centering a father and daughter, why they are there, the father's PTSD of his war experiences, and a lot of other drama and trauma. I think this read pretty quick, I was heavily invested in the story, but I can see some people not really caring about it. It's a lot of back and forth from the father's present day life and his past life.

I bawled like a baby at the end. Not sure if it's because hormones (period is coming) or because the ending really pulled my heart out that much but the waterworks were in full haha

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shieldbearer's review against another edition

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challenging dark reflective sad slow-paced

Plot- or character-driven? A mix
Strong character development? It's complicated
Loveable characters? It's complicated
Diverse cast of characters? No
Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

2.0

The ending literally ruined this book in the worst way possible. I'm giving it two stars because the writer is excellent with pacing, and does an excellent job laying groundwork that pays off later in a way that isn't too conspicuous. Unfortunately, the ending makes it clear that most things I really liked about this book are not intentional on the author's part. Literally just end the book when he leaves to drive into town for the last time and your experience will be a million times better.

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soobooksalot's review against another edition

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dark emotional hopeful mysterious reflective tense medium-paced

Plot- or character-driven? A mix
Strong character development? Yes
Loveable characters? Yes
Diverse cast of characters? N/A
Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0

Be warned: book gushing ahead.
The story of Cooper and Finch is one that will stay with you.
I've been looking forward to reading These Silent Woods since it's release.
Cooper and his eight-year-old daughter Finch live off the grid in a remote cabin in the woods, their supplies brought to them yearly by friend Jake.
Cooper is a veteran, having served in Afghanistan, and like so many others he did not come back the same man as when he went.
Finch and Cooper were once known as Grace Elizabeth and Kenny.
The story of what brought them to live their unconventional lifestyle is unfolded slowly, carefully. The pacing here is perfection, the plot absolutely enveloping.
I could not put this book down, though I craved to savour it.
Some beautiful characterization here, filled with flaws and goodness alike. Quiet, pure moments are woven among tension and anxiety.
Prepare for tears and heartache and heart happy and all of the feels.
I can't recommend this enough.

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sfbookgirl's review against another edition

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adventurous dark emotional reflective tense medium-paced

Plot- or character-driven? A mix
Strong character development? Yes
Loveable characters? Yes
Diverse cast of characters? No
Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.0

These Silent Woods is a moving read that consists of both heartbreaking drama and the occasional spooky vibes. Cooper and his young daughter Finch live in a cabin in the middle of nowhere, but readers don’t find out why they are living out there until much later in the story. The father-daughter duo receives supplies from Cooper’s friend Jake once a year, but when Jake doesn’t arrive, Cooper and Finch find themselves in trouble.

I really enjoyed the pacing of the story and the slow unraveling of the truth about Cooper and Finch. This isn’t your typical thriller as it focuses more on the relationship between Cooper and Finch and less emphasis on thriller-y vibes, but I think lovers of thriller books will still enjoy it. While I liked These Silent Woods, it didn’t pack the same punch that I have experienced with other thrillers. The ending wraps up nicely, but I found myself wondering about a secondary character that gets the short end of the stick. Overall, this book gets raving reviews and I would recommend checking it out.

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onemorepagecrew's review

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challenging emotional reflective medium-paced

Plot- or character-driven? Character
Strong character development? Yes
Loveable characters? Yes
Diverse cast of characters? No
Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0

This novel was not what I expected in the most wonderful way. The story is set in the Appalachian woods, a place I have lived in and hiked in, so it immediately intrigued me when I read the book description. The setting is a remote cabin without a connection to the broader world where a father and daughter have made their lives. There is a series of events that makes it more challenging for them to continue surviving in the wilderness undetected and ultimately it leads to some tough moral questions for the protagonist.

What the book description does not say is that the beautiful, and at times heartbreaking, inner monologue of the father will unveil a story far deeper than survival in the woods. The suspense for me did not come from the unexpected visitor or the threat of being discovered, it was much subtler than that. The moral dilemmas and choices that love and war placed in the father’s path are what built the feeling of tension.

I felt gratitude that the author did not bring in other character perspectives in first-hand. I loved learning about the father’s past and some of his struggles from his point of view and listening to how he observed the experiences of those around him. I appreciated the honest look at what veterans are faced with in terms of mental health and re-entry to civilian life. He was aware of his limitations and worked through them as best as he could, in the moment and when he spent time with them afterwards. The love he has for his daughter was so tangible and raw, it broke me down a few times along the way. Overall this was a gem of a book and I am so glad I picked it up.

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