Book Summary and Reviews of These Silent Woods by Kimi Cunningham Grant

Book Summary

A father and daughter living in the remote Appalachian mountains must reckon with the ghosts of their past in Kimi Cunningham Grant's These Silent Woods, a mesmerizing novel of suspense.

No electricity, no family, no connection to the outside world.

For eight years, Cooper and his young daughter, Finch, have lived in isolation in a remote cabin in the northern Appalachian woods. And that's exactly the way Cooper wants it, because he's got a lot to hide. Finch has been raised on the books filling the cabin's shelves and the beautiful but brutal code of life in the wilderness. But she's starting to push back against the sheltered life Cooper has created for her―and he's still haunted by the painful truth of what it took to get them there.

The only people who know they exist are a mysterious local hermit named Scotland, and Cooper's old friend, Jake, who visits each winter to bring them food and supplies. But this year, Jake doesn't show up, setting off an irreversible chain of events that reveals just how precarious their situation really is. Suddenly, the boundaries of their safe haven have blurred―and when a stranger wanders into their woods, Finch's growing obsession with her could put them all in danger. After a shocking disappearance threatens to upend the only life Finch has ever known, Cooper is forced to decide whether to keep hiding―or finally face the sins of his past.

Vividly atmospheric and masterfully tense, These Silent Woods is a poignant story of survival, sacrifice, and how far a father will go when faced with losing it all.

Please be aware that this discussion guide will contain spoilers!

1. Cooper and Finch spend most of their lives in the cabin and the wilderness, totally cut off from civilization. How does the isolated setting affect the tone and atmosphere of the book?
2. Cooper and Scotland spend much of the novel seeming to dislike (or at least distrust) one another. In what ways are they similar? Is their dislike founded or unfounded?
3. Loss is a common theme throughout this story. When he learns of Jake's death, Scotland brings Finch the gift of the kitten, saying she needs a companion to help her grieve. How do you think each character processes grief in the novel, and how does it impact the actions they take?
4. Cooper, deep down, is a good man, but he does make some questionable decisions. He ...