These Silent Woods

This is an absorbing and well-written novel about a man on the run from the past and the daughter who he feared would be taken away from him. They live together in a cabin in the deep woods completely off the grid, with only an annual supply run provided by an old army buddy and an eccentric neighbor who is a slightly disturbing presence, able to appear without notice and given to cryptic statements. When the buddy doesn't show up and a woman appears, camping in the woods nearby, their carefully protected privacy begins to unravel.

The relationship between father and daughter, two well-developed characters, and the lengths they go to to have a life in hiding deep in the woods, makes for a moving story that carries undercurrents of show more suspense - not only what happened to send them on the run, or whether they will be found, but whether "Cooper," the father, is doing right by his precocious daughter, isolating her from the world. Though I got a bit impatient with all the time it took to learn what sent them into the woods in the first place, it's altogether a deeply satisfying story that includes (eventually) a murder mystery and a twist of an ending. show less

When my wife read 'These Silent Woods', she said, 'It's only January but I think I may already have read the best book of the year'. Long before I finished it, I agreed with her.

This is one of those books where, before you've understood the situation and the people, the quality of Kimi Cunningham Grants' prose and Bronson Pinchot's narration already have you hooked. The prose is vivid and engaging without being flashy or intrusive. You know you're in the hands of a storyteller you can surrender yourself to. The narration matches the prose flawlessly: controlled, compelling, free of melodrama and all the more powerful for it.

In 'These Silent Woods' we meet a father, Cooper, who has raised his now eight-year-old daughter, Finch, alone show more in the woods, not just in isolation but in hiding, since she was a baby. It's an intriguing puzzle. Why are they there? How can they stay there? What happens if they're found? But rather than rushing to the puzzle, Kimi Cunningham Grant invites you to immerse yourself in the experience of living in the woods and to take the time to get to know Cooper and Finch and their hard-to-read but always-watching neighbour, Scotland, the only other person for many miles.

The first three-quarters of the book was spent getting me to fall in love with Finch who is bright, brave, immensely competent, insatiably curious, fundamentally hopeful and deeply attuned both to the woods and to the moments when her father falls into a darkness that makes him a prisoner of panic; and to build empathy for Cooper a man scarred by war and loss and bad decisions, burdened by guilt and grief who is redeemed by his love for his daughter.

It's impossible not to become invested in Cooper and Finch. Not to be enchanted by the beauty of the world that Cooper has built for his daughter and not to be aware that that world is doomed because Finch is out-growing it and Cooper is so damaged by his past that he's incapable of leaving it. The further you slip into understanding the fragile peace and tranquillity that Finch has grown up in, the more you understand how threatened her way of life is.

In the last quarter of the book, everything becomes more intense. There's isn't that mad scramble to reach the end that some thrillers have. It's just that everything comes together in a way that seems inevitable and inescapable and unbearable all at the same time.

The bad things you've been subconsciously waiting for finally start to happen just at the point when a new person enters Cooper and Finch's lives so that what should be the introduction of hope becomes a ratcheting up of what they are both at risk of losing.

The denouement was heart-wrenching and totally immersive. I defy anyone to take a break from reading in the last hour or so of this book. The need to know what will happen is as strong as the fear of finding out. I imagine many people, like me, will find themselves in tears before the end.

This was a wonderful read. Just meeting Finch would have put this on my Best Reads list but the rest of the story, including the skilful slow reveal of Cooper's backstory lifts it to my 'Tell Everyone To Read This' list.

The only thing that didn't quite work for me was the epilogue, which felt rushed by comparison to the rest of the novel. I think that you could delete the epilogue and the book wouldn't suffer. show less

While searching for my next audiobook in the suspense genre, I came across These Silent Woods by Kimi Cunningham Grant on my wishlist. The setting of a father and daughter living in the woods with no electricity and no connection to the outside world because a secret is being held sounded quite intriguing. Plus, it's the perfect time of year to read about surviving in the wilderness. Well, I suppose I would think that regardless of the current season.

Cooper has lived in a cabin in the remote woods for eight years with his daughter, Finch. Their cabin has no electricity, and they never leave the woods. They receive supplies from a long-time friend, Jake, who visits once a year. There is a squirrelly neighbor, Scotland, whom Cooper finds show more distrustful and sneaky. Finch, who is quite intelligent, curious, and compassionate, learns from the bounty of books in the cabin. This year, Jake doesn’t show up as scheduled to bring their annual supplies, and Cooper is forced to develop a new plan for their survival. A stranger wanders onto their property, threatening the safe haven Cooper has created all these years. These events spark the most complex and emotionally draining spiral for Cooper and Finch.

This book was perfect! I didn’t expect to love it as much as I did when I clicked the borrow button on the Hoopla app. The writing is outstanding. Grant not only thoroughly described each scene, so I could easily imagine myself there, I could feel myself in the cabin and in the woods. The emotions of the characters, whom I adored, were so strong and powerful. I appreciate how the backstory unfolded, too. The author gradually reveals Cooper’s history and why he chose to live in the remote woods with his young daughter.

There were times I couldn’t stop listening, and there were times I was grateful for an interruption to my reading, so I could stop listening — it was that emotional. As the end neared, the tears began; tears of sadness and of joy. And the ending was exceptionally special. I was floored. The beauty of grace is impressive.

Like I mentioned, I borrowed the audiobook of These Silent Woods from my local library with the Hoopla app. I admire Grant’s writing so much that I am an instant fan. I will be reading all of her books. Narration by Bronson Pinchot was perfect. He is now included as one of my favorite narrators.

I have photos and additional information that I'm unable to include here. It can all be found on my blog, in the link below.
A Book And A Dog show less

If you’re looking for a traditional thriller this may not be the best choice, it was perfect for me though, an emotionally driven page turner.

Whether questioning the trustworthiness of the characters Cooper and Finch cross paths with or an everyday errand made to feel like such a high-stakes edge of your seat endeavor, there’s suspense throughout stemming from concern over this father and daughter’s attempt to live their life in hiding as well as a secondary drama involving a teenage girl.

I definitely didn’t agree with every choice Cooper made here but the author did a fantastic job of illustrating from an emotional standpoint why he felt like his options were so limited.

I adored Finch, I loved that she has a strong moral show more code, as much as she admires her dad she’ll call him out if she deems it necessary. It was also refreshing to see a character who’s been quite sheltered not be portrayed as completely naive, Finch is plenty savvy even though she’s only eight years old. Plus I just always find it interesting to learn more about upbringings that are somewhat outside the conventional norm.

Finch, the bond between her and her dad, and the uncertainty of how their story would play out, all of those things combined into such an absorbing read, one of my favorites of the year.

I received this ARC through a Goodreads giveaway. show less

These Silent Woods by Kimmi Cunningham Grant is the story of a secretive army vet who, upon the death of his girlfriend, almost loses custody of their baby daughter. He takes the baby and disappears into the Appalachian wilderness, living in a cabin owned by an army buddy of his. He fears that he is being sought and that his girlfriend’s parents will never give up the search. Then one day, he and his daughter see a stranger in the woods near their land and he fears that this could be the end of their safety.

I was completely pulled into this story, the author is also an award winning poet and this shows in her vivid and evocative writing. The relationship between the father and daughter pulls on the heart-strings and helps to make this show more book memorable. In fact, all the characters in the book are well developed and help to flesh out the riveting story.

These Silent Woods is a multilayered story, delivering both family relationships and suspense. There is a quiet thread of tension that runs throughout the story and makes the reader aware that the outside world could intrude at any moment. The author’s lyrical prose highlights her observations on nature and wildlife but there are a few plot holes and unbelievable twists that left me with some unanswered questions. show less

Excellent suspense tale that incorporates all sorts of moral dilemmas and some of the best characters to grapple with them. Cooper (alias for Kenny Morrison) lives in a cabin in a remote wooded area of Northern Appalachia with his 8 year old daughter, Finch (aka Grace Elizabeth). Completely off the grid (and in hiding) the two are reliant upon each other, and an enigmatic neighbor named Scotland who knows Cooper's truth. Scotland comes across alternately as threatening and helpful, but we mostly perceive Cooper's distrust since Scotland holds his fate in his (creepy) hands. Cooper is an Afghanistan vet with some unhealed issues, ("sometimes a thing in me flashes, dark and despicable: it's there, it's part of me, and on occasion it show more lurches forth and can't be held back." (3) but his heart is kind and devoted to his daughter. Finch's mother, Cindy was killed in a terrible car accident with Kenny/Cooper at the wheel and her rich, snobbish parents determined he was unfit to raise the baby - then just months old, but he took matters into his own hands and went on the lam to stay in his army buddy's cabin. Jake would bring them supplies on a yearly basis in Dec. to make it through winter, but otherwise they live off the land. Cooper was able to sustain this for 8 years, until a convergence of things happens to threaten his safe haven. Jake doesn't show up for the supply drop, having succumbed to his own war injuries. Cooper must brave a Walmart run, which is understandably overwhelming and potentially exposing. Also, a young woman has been sighted nearby, taking pictures on the fringes of the property, which borders a national park. Finch is instantly intrigued by seeing another person - especially a girl - and starts to spy on her at her campsite. Then this girl goes missing and the area is suddenly gaining attention, as well as some of the photos she took, which are rather implicating. To try to aid in the girl's search would mean giving up their hidden life, and surely each other. The right amount of tension strings out, along with an unexpected resolution. I admit my loyalties were divided throughout, which would make this a good book club book. In addition to telling a good, twisty tale, the author does a nice job or looking at the impacts of war on veterans, incorporates beautiful poetry, honors nature, and examines concepts like guilt, responsibility, grace and mercy. show less

4.5⭐️

More often than not I end up disappointed with books with a lot of hype surrounding them . So, naturally, I had my reservations about investing my time in reading this novel. But I am glad my curiosity got the better of me and I did not miss out on this beautifully written, atmospheric and moving novel about survival, a father’s unconditional love for his child, kindness, sacrifice and above all, grace.

“The thing about grace is that you don’t deserve it. You can’t earn it. You can only accept it. Or not.”

Cooper and his eight year old daughter Finch are living under assumed names in a remote cabin deep in the northern Appalachian woods. The cabin is owned by Cooper’s ex-army buddy, Jake who visits them once a year show more with supplies to last the duration till his next visit. Isolated, living off the grid their only contact with the outside world is Jake and their neighbor Scotland , who Cooper regards with more a little suspicion but whom Finch is fond of and considers her friend. Fond of animals with a love for reading and exploring the woods with her father and often on solo trips with a reasonable distance, Finch is curious of the world outside and of the people in it. Cooper suffers from PTSD which manifests in the form of panic attacks when triggered but is a loving and devoted father to Finch. When they notice a young girl on one of their walks in their neck of the woods, Copper is worried about being discovered , having his reasons for living the way he does, however, with no friends of her own Finch is curious about the girl and eager to interact with people outside her little world. Cooper’s past and his reasons for choosing to live the way he does is a mystery that is explored as the story progresses. Finch’s growing restlessness, Jake’s failing to appear on the designated date, the appearance of the girl close to his dwellings and other unforeseen events force Cooper to venture outside his self-imposed boundaries and as the tension builds Cooper finds himself in a situation that weighs heavily on both his and Finch’s safety and his conscience. As tensions build he is forced to make a difficult choice that would irrevocably alter their lives.

With a slow start the narrative gradually picks up the pace as the story progresses and I felt my heart pounding through the last quarter of the book. With its compelling narrative, lush descriptions of the natural beauty of the Appalachian forests and its wildlife and a cast of characters who will touch your heart , These Silent Woods by Kimi Cunningham Grant is a novel that will stay with me for a long time.

“I’ve always believed that if something was meant to happen, you’d have a second chance at it. But never have I been so bold as to believe in a third or even a fourth chance. Almost like the world was trying to hand you something good after all it had dealt you your whole life was heartache, like it had changed its position on who you were and what you could have. Call it what you will: karma or good luck or maybe something more. Grace.” show less