The Stillwater Girls

This was a very fast-paced read and I did find myself racing through it to find out the true mystery of the Stillwater girls - why are they in an isolated cabin in the woods cut off from modernity and mainstream society? Are they really sisters? Is their Mom who she says she really is? Why are they being chased and are they going to be okay in the end? The parallel story with Nicolette was also intriguing...while I don't want to give away the ending, I will say that some "suspension of disbelief" is required... Overall, this was entertaining and kept me on the edge of my seat...

LOVED this book!

This book had so much heart, soul, and suspense! I could not put it down, although I'm now sad that it is over! On to the next Minka Kent book!

This book promised a creepy, dark psychological thriller I was eager to read. While I didn't dislike it, I found it somewhat tame and unrealistic, given its potential. The narrative shifted between two perspectives, and I was curious about how the characters would connect. Wren, 19, lives in a remote cabin in the woods with her mother and two sisters. No electricity, homegrown food, and her mother warning her of dangers outside confine her world. When her younger sister Evie falls ill, her mother leaves and does not return. As supplies dwindle, Wren and her sister Sage must face the outside world. Nicollette, married to Brant, a renowned photographer, suspects her husband is cheating and stealing from her trust fund, disrupting their perfect life. Their lives intertwine when Wren and Sage escape the woods seeking help at Nicollette's door. The plot then becomes too unrealistic, tame, and unscary. I expected creepiness but felt underwhelmed. The ending was rushed, with loopholes. The story lacked depth, with the girls' backstories underdeveloped. I felt no real connection with the characters or the story.

This was a short but incredibly gripping read. I chose it for my book club and was immediately glad I did. The dual storylines kept me hooked, especially because at first I had no idea how they would connect — and when the connection finally hit, it was intense.

The plot twist in the middle completely changed the trajectory of the story and pulled the rug out from under me. The second half was emotional, heartbreaking, and honestly hard to sit with in the best way. There’s a rawness to the themes that made the ending hit even harder: sadness, betrayal, anger, hurt, empathy — it’s all there.

A powerful, tightly written thriller that stays with you.

Rating:

A very tense and captivating thriller. Minka Kent does a great job with character development, and the beginning kept me guessing. My only complaint is that the ending felt rushed; however, the rest of the book was strong enough to make it worth the read.