Book Review: The Stillwater Girls | Minka Kent

Two seemingly separate stories intertwine in a shocking way in the latest novel by Minka Kent, The Stillwater Girls! In one story, two girls raised in isolation off the grid find themselves forced to leave the hold home they’ve ever known when a stranger comes to call. Miles away, a woman with everything life has to offer questions her marriage, feeling disconnected from her husband and certain he is keeping a secret. With twists, turns, and a fascinating conclusion, I found myself completely engrossed in The
Stillwater Girls!

About the Book

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.

Reflection

I always make sure to put in the book blurb so that the publisher voice is present in my reviews. But in this case, I felt that the blurb, though engaging, accurate, and intriguing, leaves out half of the story and I’m not entirely sure why. In fact, the half that is left out is also present from the very beginning of the book and is equally as intriguing—initially more-so for me! Maybe it would have felt too distracting, but I want to talk in a non-spoiler way about both stories, because they are given equal time in the book and they eventually intertwine in a fascinating way!

In alternating chapters, we here the story of Wren and Sage narrated by Wren, and the story of married couple Nicolette and Brant, narrated by Nicolette. Wren, Sage, and their sister Evie were raised in a small cabin in the woods with no modern amenities. They were completely isolated from the world, except for a man who came by every once and awhile to bring supplies. But one night Evie got very sick, and their mother took her into town to get help from a doctor. And then she never returned…

Month pass, and Wren and Sage are running out of food. The livestock are dying, and they are heading into winter alone, unsure if their mother and sister are still alive. And then the stranger comes, and everything is not ok. Desperate to get away from him, Wren and Sage may need to do the one thing they were told never to do…go into the forest and find out what is beyond.

Well the stranger was positively creepy! And Wren and Sage have a fascinating story. These are two girls living in modern times who have never seen a telephone, never had central heat, never had plumbing. And now they are alone, not even sure what their mother’s name was. In fact, it never really occurred to them that their mother had a name besides ‘Ma’… When the stranger comes, it is unclear what he wants, but very clear what he doesn’t want—for them to escape. Chills!

Then in the alternate story we meet Nicolette, an affluent woman married to a famous photographer named Brant. But their marriage is not in a good place. Nicolette finds Brant at times incredibly loving, and at other times so distant. And they have some tough times in their past. Things that are difficult for any marriage to withstand. And then Nicolette finds evidence of a secret—something Brant has never told her. What could it mean? How long has he been lying to her?

Oh Nicolette… I really enjoyed her character, actually more-so than Wren and Sage, though I liked them too. Nicolette was so relatable to me, and that connection always helps me understand the story. What Wren and Sage were going through, on the other hand—I doubt many readers have experienced that!

I could not figure out how these two stories would come together, but when they did and the twists start—whoa!!! Somewhat unbelievable, but I didn’t mind it a bit! I was along for the ride and having a blast reading this!

Thank you to Thomas & Mercer and Amazon Publishing for my copy. Opinions are my own.