Such a quiet place - Megan Miranda

 

Hollow’s Edge used to be a quiet place. A private and idyllic neighborhood where neighbors dropped in on neighbors, celebrated graduation and holiday parties together, and looked out for one another. But then came the murder of Brandon and Fiona Truett. A year and a half later, Hollow’s Edge is simmering. The residents are trapped, unable to sell their homes, confronted daily by the empty Truett house, and suffocated by their trial testimonies that implicated one of their own. Ruby Fletcher. And now, Ruby’s back.
With her conviction overturned, Ruby waltzes right back to Hollow’s Edge, and into the home she once shared with Harper Nash. Harper, five years older, has always treated Ruby like a wayward younger sister. But now she’s terrified. What possible good could come of Ruby returning to the scene of the crime? And how can she possibly turn her away, when she knows Ruby has nowhere to go?
Within days, suspicion spreads like a virus across Hollow’s Edge. It’s increasingly clear that not everyone told the truth about the night of the Truett’s murders. And when Harper begins receiving threatening notes, she realizes she has to uncover the truth before someone else becomes the killer’s next victim.

Everyone and their mother was telling me to pick up a Megan Miranda book, so my expectations where high starting this one. Spoiler alert, I did not like it :/

The beginning was just too boring, which made me not want to pick the book back up after setting it down. This story takes place in a super idyllic little town near a lake where everyone knows everyone, or so they think. Who wouldn't want to live Hollow's Edge? 

 Ruby Fletcher gets released from prison and shows up at Harpers house where she lived at the time of her arrested. She was arrested for the murder of the Truitt family and the whole entire town had a part in convicting her. So kinda obvious she is here to start trouble. 

From here on out there is a lot of Harper going back and forward on what to do about Ruby, believing she is innocent or not and so on. The neighborhood is on high alert at first until Ruby shows up at a party and everyone just ignores her. 

At this point in the book, I was already so annoyed by the characters. There is not a single likable character in this book. Harper is sooooo naïve, Ruby is an absolute b*tch, the boys clubs is super cliché and the women give off very 'real housewives of' vibes. 

At the party we have the big plot twist! Finally! Ruby gets murdered. Harper is now convinced that Ruby was not a killer and retraces her steps. Long story short, after doing a day or two of digging she finds out what an entire policeforce could not. The Truitts where not murdered, it was an accident. She even 'retraces' how that happened by walking around their house that has been empty for over a year. Seriously???

Ruby's killer turned out to be Charlotte because she thought her daughter had something to do with the Truitt murder and did not want Ruby proving her innocence. This is equally unbelievable for me. She never asked her daughter about it, had no evidence or motive, but she is willing to kill for it? Euhm.... ok. 

What most bothered me in this book is that there where many things introduced to the story like Harper brother's criminal past, the keys Ruby burried, Preston's presumed liking for young girls on campus, ... but nothing is done with it in the end. 

On the other hand, I did like the writing style of this author! I will definitely be giving her books another chance. 

My rating: ⭐⭐

Goodreads rating: 3,47/5