The Stillwater Girls

Two sisters raised in fear are about to find out why in a chilling novel of psychological suspense from the author of The Thinnest Air.

Ignorant of civilization and cautioned against its evils, nineteen-year-old Wren and her two sisters, Sage and Evie, were raised in off-the-grid isolation in a primitive cabin in upstate New York. When the youngest grows gravely ill, their mother leaves with the child to get help from a nearby town. And they never return.

As months pass, hope vanishes. Supplies are low. Livestock are dying. A brutal winter is bearing down. Then comes the stranger. He claims to be looking for the girls' mother, and he's not leaving without them.

To escape, Wren and her sister must break the rule they've grown up with: never go beyond the forest.

Past the thicket of dread, they come upon a house on the other side of the pines. This is where Wren and Sage must confront something more chilling than the unknowable. They'll discover what's been hidden from them, what they're running from, and the secrets that have left them in the dark their entire lives.

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Published Apr 9, 2019

256 pages

Average rating: 7.53

428 RATINGS

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Community Reviews

@MissLitLife
Mar 19, 2026
7/10 stars
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...
KikiStoneCreek
Jun 03, 2023
10/10 stars
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!
Lit_With_Alex
Mar 05, 2026
10/10 stars
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:
CozySocks
Jan 29, 2026
8/10 stars
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.
CStrauss
Jan 21, 2026
7/10 stars
Quick read. I enjoyed

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