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Such Quiet Girls
Ten children, abducted in broad daylight—and buried alive.
Sage and her sister won’t make it home from school today. Neither will the other children on Bus 315. But that’s only the beginning of the nightmare.
New bus driver Jessa blames herself for what happened. She couldn’t protect the kids she was supposed to deliver to daycare, just like she couldn’t protect her own daughter three years ago. But this time, everything will be different. It has to be.
Trapped in a shipping container buried twenty feet underground, Jessa and the children do their best to stay calm. The kidnappers insist that if everyone behaves, they’ll be freed when the ransom is paid. But Sage isn’t sure they’ll last that long. Neither is Jessa. It’s dark and cramped, and with every passing minute it’s getting harder to breathe.
With time—and air—running thin, Jessa and the children must find a way to outsmart their captors, or face an unthinkable fate.
Such Quiet Girls was inspired by actual events.
Sage and her sister won’t make it home from school today. Neither will the other children on Bus 315. But that’s only the beginning of the nightmare.
New bus driver Jessa blames herself for what happened. She couldn’t protect the kids she was supposed to deliver to daycare, just like she couldn’t protect her own daughter three years ago. But this time, everything will be different. It has to be.
Trapped in a shipping container buried twenty feet underground, Jessa and the children do their best to stay calm. The kidnappers insist that if everyone behaves, they’ll be freed when the ransom is paid. But Sage isn’t sure they’ll last that long. Neither is Jessa. It’s dark and cramped, and with every passing minute it’s getting harder to breathe.
With time—and air—running thin, Jessa and the children must find a way to outsmart their captors, or face an unthinkable fate.
Such Quiet Girls was inspired by actual events.
352 pages, Paperback
First published April 29, 2025
16470 people are currently reading
109632 people want to read
About the author
Noelle W. Ihli
9 books8,548 followersNoelle’s two great passions are murder and horses (separately, never together).
She lives in Idaho with her husband, two sons, and two cats. When she's not plotting her next thriller, she's scaring herself with true-crime documentaries or going for a trail ride in the foothills (with her trusty pepper spray).
She lives in Idaho with her husband, two sons, and two cats. When she's not plotting her next thriller, she's scaring herself with true-crime documentaries or going for a trail ride in the foothills (with her trusty pepper spray).
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 4,611 reviews
April 24, 2025
4.5* Not me SOBBING at that ending 😭😭 PHEW this was a harrowing, heart-pumping, and completely gripping story inspired by true events (that I’m absolutely about to deep-dive into and learn all about!!) Highly recommend this one. Noelle is not an author to sleep on.
May 9, 2025
i hurts me to say this, but i hated this book 😭 premise was good and i love that Noelle highlights true events in history that are often overlooked, but the execution of this was just not good. the chapters from the POV of Sage were trying too hard to be “childlike” and i haaaaated the “timid” and truly USELESS Jessa character. like girl HELP THESE KIDS?!?! frustrating and just, no 💔
May 27, 2025
3.75 Stars
₊⊹⁀➴ A bus full of kids disappears and only one mother gets a ransom. One girl kind of takes charge as the bus driver is kind of frozen. One of the kidnappers starts to have second thoughts. Will these kids get out?
I also heard it's based on a true story! I didn’t look it up to confirm though.
So lemme just say lol it’s been an extremely hectic week for me with all kinds of stress going on so it took me a little while longer than it normally would to finish this book.
I mention my stress because this story deals with hostages being held in a confined space to the point that not having oxygen is a real threat.
I’ve never really considered myself as claustrophobic (at least not on a severe level) but omg the small space in this book coupled with my own anxiety that I have going on, made for a real interesting experience. 😅
The pacing is great in this one, it moves along quickly, with multiple point of views covering a lot of ground in around 350 pages? Can’t find the pg count so that’s a guestimate.
I wasn’t a big fan of any of the characters in this one really lol not until the end at least. The end did have me tearing up.
Solid thriller- extra horrifying if you don’t like small spaces and or are a mother.
Expected Pub Date - 04/29/25
⋆✴︎˚｡⋆ Connect with me on Instagram ˗ˏˋ★‿︵‧ ˚ ₊⊹
Many thanks to NetGalley and Dynamite Books for the advanced digital copy, all thoughts are my own. 💖🌷
₊⊹⁀➴ A bus full of kids disappears and only one mother gets a ransom. One girl kind of takes charge as the bus driver is kind of frozen. One of the kidnappers starts to have second thoughts. Will these kids get out?
I also heard it's based on a true story! I didn’t look it up to confirm though.
So lemme just say lol it’s been an extremely hectic week for me with all kinds of stress going on so it took me a little while longer than it normally would to finish this book.
I mention my stress because this story deals with hostages being held in a confined space to the point that not having oxygen is a real threat.
I’ve never really considered myself as claustrophobic (at least not on a severe level) but omg the small space in this book coupled with my own anxiety that I have going on, made for a real interesting experience. 😅
The pacing is great in this one, it moves along quickly, with multiple point of views covering a lot of ground in around 350 pages? Can’t find the pg count so that’s a guestimate.
I wasn’t a big fan of any of the characters in this one really lol not until the end at least. The end did have me tearing up.
Solid thriller- extra horrifying if you don’t like small spaces and or are a mother.
Expected Pub Date - 04/29/25
⋆✴︎˚｡⋆ Connect with me on Instagram ˗ˏˋ★‿︵‧ ˚ ₊⊹
Many thanks to NetGalley and Dynamite Books for the advanced digital copy, all thoughts are my own. 💖🌷
Read
June 17, 2025Will circle back with full review soon!
May 3, 2025
⚾🎴CRACK RIGHT OUT OF THE BALLPARK⚾🎴 !!!!!!! Such Quiet Girls written by Noelle W. Ihli was one of the best thrillers I have ever read in such a long time. This novel was real, powerful, heart pounding, and gut wrenching. I have never read a book written by this author before, but I absolutely loved this one, so I will definitely read her other books in the future. Such Quiet Girls had me completely drenched in sweat, I can't even tell you how many times I had to reapply deodorant because I had full body sweats. This book was so bone chilling it even caused me to feel claustrophobic. This book was an absolute banger, I was on the edge of my seat clutching my chest the entire time because it caused so many heart pounding moments. After reading this book, I don't think I can ever trust an orange road sign telling me to take a detour because this book had me freaking the heck out. Such Quiet Girls was inspired by actual events: The Chowchilla kidnapping in 1976. This book can be very triggering for some readers, so please check the trigger warning's before picking this one up, they will also be listed in my review. I can't recommend Such Quiet Girls enough, please do yourself a favor and mark your calendars for April 29th, 2025 because you won't want to miss out on this bone chilling and heart stopping thriller. The full body chills were chilling and freezing, I had goosebumps throughout the entire book. It's so hard to explain how I was feeling because I had the best out of body experience with this book, I was sweating, I was freezing, and my heart stopped. If I don't see this book in the thriller category for the Goodreads 2025 awards, I'm going to be completely shocked because this is such a banger of a thriller.
THANK YOU TO NETGALLEY AND DYNAMITE BOOKS FOR AN ARC OF THIS BOOK IN EXCHANGE FOR AN HONEST REVIEW!!!!!!!
TRIGGER WARNING'S
~Child Endangerment~
~Kidnapping of Children~
~Domestic Abuse~
~Mentions of Sexual Abuse~
~Mentions of Physical Abuse~
"👯🌈Friends come and go, but sisters are for life👯🌈".
"💝🔦The dark can't hurt us. It's okay💝🔦".
"🕵💪Life is a struggle, and a good spy goes in there and fights🕵💪".
"💗😭Nothing mattered anymore except saving my girls💗😭".
"💐💫I accept my past, understand my present, and look forward to my future💐💫".
BUS 315 PASSENGERS
❌-Kasia and Norah were the only two students that were absent on this frightening day❌.
💌Jessa Landon aged 33💌.
💌Ava Johnson aged 7💌.
💌Bonnie Halverson aged 7💌.
💌Sage Halverson aged 12💌.
💌Crosby Neville aged 7💌.
💌Kasia Berger aged 7💌.
💌Mindy Gamel aged 7💌.
💌Charlotte Nelson aged 8💌.
💌Evelyn Marks aged 8💌.
💌Ked Bledsoe aged 8💌.
💌Norah Katz aged 8💌.
💌Rose Carlton aged 9💌.
💌Ben Whitlock aged 9💌.
Jessa Landon is a thirty three year old after school daycare bus driver that lied on her job application. Jessa recently served three years in prison for voluntary manslaughter after killing her husband because he was super abusive, following her conviction, Jessa lost custody of her daughter Sophie, so she decided to become an after school daycare bus driver so she could be around children even though she wasn't allowed. One week on the job, Bus 315 is kidnapped with all ten children on board. Students from Northridge Elementary were on their way to Bright Beginnings Childcare Center when a big orange DETOUR sign led the bus to a cherry tree orchard where everyone was kidnapped. Sage and Bonnie are siblings, Bonnie is in first grade and Sage is in sixth grade and the oldest student on Bus 315. Bonnie and Sage would always get watched by their grandpa after school. but his Alzheimer's has gotten worse therefore he can't watch the girls anymore. When Bus 315 is stopped, The Speedy Shuttle appears which is a big white van that will take the kids somewhere. The first words out of Sage's mouth: "There's a man. He has a gun". This has now turned into a ransom, the kidnappers want two hundred thousand dollars per kid. My heart broke for Sage, as the oldest child she had to remain calm for the benefit of the other children, but you could just tell she was so scared, no child should ever have to go through this kind of thing.
Ted Barrett and Andy McQuain are the two men who decided to kidnap Bus 315. If these two men get the random money they asked for, they promised no one gets hurts but until then they are going to be buried alive. Andy and Ted took the kids to a bougie community, Northside Quarry which is used a a dumping site for random junk and industrial waste. First, the children have their hands zip tied while they are led to their burial site. Bus 315 is buried alive in The Bunker which is an enormous shipping container underground, which is twenty feet long, eight feet wide, and twelve feet high, this has now turned into a civil kidnapping. The men have left the children in the bunker with peanut butter and jelly sandwiches, water, flashlights, and a built in toilet. In the beginning of their burial, Jessa never soothed the kids while they cried, but as the story goes on, she treated the children like they were her own. Jessa also pretended that Sage and Bonnie were her daughters while she sobbed all night long. Andy and Ted are known as "Functional Deadbeats", they both have pantyhose covering their heads and faces and they remind Sage of Jeepers Creepers. I just wanted to reach into my kindle and soothe all of these children, I wasn't even there and I was scared shitless, but I'm so beyond proud of these young kids working together so they could escape safely.
Andy McQuain has really bad body odor, but he has spearmint hair oil so he doesn't scare the children, he's also a dopey stoner hippie, and then there's Ted Barrett who still lives in his mommy's basement. Sheena Halverson, Bonnie and Sage's mom gets a random pizza delivery with a note one night a few hours after the children have been buried alive. The note says do not contact the police, do not contact the FBI, your every movement is being watched, the fate of the children is in SHEENA'S hands. The kidnappers want a withdrawal total of fifty thousand dollars in separate transactions from five different banks and then they want Sheena to bring the cash in a backpack to a campground ALONE. After dropping off the backpack, Sheena has to transfer the remaining bond funds of two million dollars into a Bitcoin wallet, ten thousand dollars equals five withdrawals. Such Quiet Girls is told in the point of views from Jessa, Sage, Sheena, and Ted. . This book was truly traumatizing, I can't even imagine what was going through everyone's heads at the time. As the children on Bus 315 had to fight for their survival, I was literally sitting there screaming and shaking as they tried their hardest to escape. I can't even imagine being a mom knowing my children have been kidnapped and buried alive until the kidnappers got their ransom money. For as young as they were, these children truly put their worries aside and worked together on saving each other.
THANK YOU TO NETGALLEY AND DYNAMITE BOOKS FOR AN ARC OF THIS BOOK IN EXCHANGE FOR AN HONEST REVIEW!!!!!!!
TRIGGER WARNING'S
~Child Endangerment~
~Kidnapping of Children~
~Domestic Abuse~
~Mentions of Sexual Abuse~
~Mentions of Physical Abuse~
"👯🌈Friends come and go, but sisters are for life👯🌈".
"💝🔦The dark can't hurt us. It's okay💝🔦".
"🕵💪Life is a struggle, and a good spy goes in there and fights🕵💪".
"💗😭Nothing mattered anymore except saving my girls💗😭".
"💐💫I accept my past, understand my present, and look forward to my future💐💫".
BUS 315 PASSENGERS
❌-Kasia and Norah were the only two students that were absent on this frightening day❌.
💌Jessa Landon aged 33💌.
💌Ava Johnson aged 7💌.
💌Bonnie Halverson aged 7💌.
💌Sage Halverson aged 12💌.
💌Crosby Neville aged 7💌.
💌Kasia Berger aged 7💌.
💌Mindy Gamel aged 7💌.
💌Charlotte Nelson aged 8💌.
💌Evelyn Marks aged 8💌.
💌Ked Bledsoe aged 8💌.
💌Norah Katz aged 8💌.
💌Rose Carlton aged 9💌.
💌Ben Whitlock aged 9💌.
Jessa Landon is a thirty three year old after school daycare bus driver that lied on her job application. Jessa recently served three years in prison for voluntary manslaughter after killing her husband because he was super abusive, following her conviction, Jessa lost custody of her daughter Sophie, so she decided to become an after school daycare bus driver so she could be around children even though she wasn't allowed. One week on the job, Bus 315 is kidnapped with all ten children on board. Students from Northridge Elementary were on their way to Bright Beginnings Childcare Center when a big orange DETOUR sign led the bus to a cherry tree orchard where everyone was kidnapped. Sage and Bonnie are siblings, Bonnie is in first grade and Sage is in sixth grade and the oldest student on Bus 315. Bonnie and Sage would always get watched by their grandpa after school. but his Alzheimer's has gotten worse therefore he can't watch the girls anymore. When Bus 315 is stopped, The Speedy Shuttle appears which is a big white van that will take the kids somewhere. The first words out of Sage's mouth: "There's a man. He has a gun". This has now turned into a ransom, the kidnappers want two hundred thousand dollars per kid. My heart broke for Sage, as the oldest child she had to remain calm for the benefit of the other children, but you could just tell she was so scared, no child should ever have to go through this kind of thing.
Ted Barrett and Andy McQuain are the two men who decided to kidnap Bus 315. If these two men get the random money they asked for, they promised no one gets hurts but until then they are going to be buried alive. Andy and Ted took the kids to a bougie community, Northside Quarry which is used a a dumping site for random junk and industrial waste. First, the children have their hands zip tied while they are led to their burial site. Bus 315 is buried alive in The Bunker which is an enormous shipping container underground, which is twenty feet long, eight feet wide, and twelve feet high, this has now turned into a civil kidnapping. The men have left the children in the bunker with peanut butter and jelly sandwiches, water, flashlights, and a built in toilet. In the beginning of their burial, Jessa never soothed the kids while they cried, but as the story goes on, she treated the children like they were her own. Jessa also pretended that Sage and Bonnie were her daughters while she sobbed all night long. Andy and Ted are known as "Functional Deadbeats", they both have pantyhose covering their heads and faces and they remind Sage of Jeepers Creepers. I just wanted to reach into my kindle and soothe all of these children, I wasn't even there and I was scared shitless, but I'm so beyond proud of these young kids working together so they could escape safely.
Andy McQuain has really bad body odor, but he has spearmint hair oil so he doesn't scare the children, he's also a dopey stoner hippie, and then there's Ted Barrett who still lives in his mommy's basement. Sheena Halverson, Bonnie and Sage's mom gets a random pizza delivery with a note one night a few hours after the children have been buried alive. The note says do not contact the police, do not contact the FBI, your every movement is being watched, the fate of the children is in SHEENA'S hands. The kidnappers want a withdrawal total of fifty thousand dollars in separate transactions from five different banks and then they want Sheena to bring the cash in a backpack to a campground ALONE. After dropping off the backpack, Sheena has to transfer the remaining bond funds of two million dollars into a Bitcoin wallet, ten thousand dollars equals five withdrawals. Such Quiet Girls is told in the point of views from Jessa, Sage, Sheena, and Ted. . This book was truly traumatizing, I can't even imagine what was going through everyone's heads at the time. As the children on Bus 315 had to fight for their survival, I was literally sitting there screaming and shaking as they tried their hardest to escape. I can't even imagine being a mom knowing my children have been kidnapped and buried alive until the kidnappers got their ransom money. For as young as they were, these children truly put their worries aside and worked together on saving each other.
April 4, 2025
WOWZA! This was a pulse pounding and hard to put down page turner! I loved the tension and dread that jumped from the pages as every parent's worst nightmare happens in Such Quiet Girls: A Thriller. Noelle W. Ihli blew me away with this heart wrenching and riveting book about two mothers and ten abducted children! The author captured the instantly gut gripping reaction of Sheena, one mother learning that her two children have been abducted, and the fear and sense of responsibility of Jessa, the other mother who was driving the bus and was abducted along with the children. Whew! The author put her characters and readers through the ringer and then some!
From the very first page, I was instantly invested and read most of this book in one day as I did not want to put this book down! What began as a normal day ends in a nightmare as a bus driver and the children she is carrying and kidnapped and placed in an underground bunker. Can you even imagine their fear? I had to keep reading to learn what was going to happen next! This book is told through the POV's of Sheena, Jessa, Sage (Sheena's daughter), and one of the kidnappers. I found this to be a very nice touch and helped readers not only get into their heads but feel their emotions.
What an emotional roller coaster of a ride this book became. Both mothers had me feeling for them and what they are going through and experiencing. Sheena fears for her two daughters who had been taken while trying to care for her father with Alzheimer's. Jessa is locked underground with the children trying to keep them calm while battling her own growing anxiety and discomfort. Not to mention the children who try their best to be brave in a horrifying and frightening situation.
What a tense, thrilling, gripping and frightening page turner which was inspired by true events! There were some nice twists and turns along the way which made this book even more enjoyable and riveting.
I can't wait to read what Noelle W. Ihli writes next!
Thank you to Dynamite Books and NetGalley who provided me with a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. All the thoughts and opinions are my own.
Read more of my reviews at www.openbookposts.com 📖
From the very first page, I was instantly invested and read most of this book in one day as I did not want to put this book down! What began as a normal day ends in a nightmare as a bus driver and the children she is carrying and kidnapped and placed in an underground bunker. Can you even imagine their fear? I had to keep reading to learn what was going to happen next! This book is told through the POV's of Sheena, Jessa, Sage (Sheena's daughter), and one of the kidnappers. I found this to be a very nice touch and helped readers not only get into their heads but feel their emotions.
What an emotional roller coaster of a ride this book became. Both mothers had me feeling for them and what they are going through and experiencing. Sheena fears for her two daughters who had been taken while trying to care for her father with Alzheimer's. Jessa is locked underground with the children trying to keep them calm while battling her own growing anxiety and discomfort. Not to mention the children who try their best to be brave in a horrifying and frightening situation.
What a tense, thrilling, gripping and frightening page turner which was inspired by true events! There were some nice twists and turns along the way which made this book even more enjoyable and riveting.
I can't wait to read what Noelle W. Ihli writes next!
Thank you to Dynamite Books and NetGalley who provided me with a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. All the thoughts and opinions are my own.
Read more of my reviews at www.openbookposts.com 📖
May 27, 2025
BOOK CLUB DISCUSSION (5/27 @ 8pm EST): https://www.patreon.com/AbbieKonnick?...
April 4, 2025
HEART PUMPING, EMOTIONAL, FULL OF HEART, & ABSOLUTELY PHENOMENAL - a big thank you to the author for sending me an early copy!
Review: https://www.tiktok.com/t/ZT2KtLYDj/
Review: https://www.tiktok.com/t/ZT2KtLYDj/
May 15, 2025
NOELLE HAS DONE IT AGAIN 👏🏾👏🏾👏🏾
Ten children,
Abducted in broad daylight
and buried alive.
Are you looking for a book that will have you feeling choked, adrenaline on high, suffocated and nerves on a 100 then pick this book up. My goodness this book is a parent’s worst nightmare and gave me the sweats.
Such Quiet Girls is following Jessa Landon a new school bus driver whose job is simply to deliver the 10 kids on her bus home safely. Unfortunately, on the route her bus gets hijacked by two kidnappers. Jessa and ten other children are taken off the bus and placed in a shipping container buried twenty feet underground trapped! With time and air running out for the victims can they escape or be found before it’s too late?
The book is told in 4 POVS:
➽ Jessa- The Bus Driver
➽ Sage- The oldest of the ten abducted kids
➽ Sheena- The mother of Sage and Bonnie
➽ Ted- One of the hijackers
I’m not going to lie my favourite POV was from Sage.
Sage. She is a determined and strong bright young character, and I was so taken aback by her confidence and courageous. To the point that I had to remember she was only 12 years old. I’m not saying that a typical 12-year-old wouldn’t have responded the way Sage did with her situation, but I will say it did feel a little ambitious and embellished and she read more like a 16+ year old girl than a young girl.
Jessa for much of the book PISSED me all the way off. Although I could sympathise with her past traumas/ events. Her behaviour for the first half of the book was so irritating! She could have easily been mistaken for one of the kids had I not known she was a grown adult.
Sheena. What a woman. God Forbid I ever find myself in that situation because I would have been a wreck!!! She did what she had to do, and I loved it. Realistically I don’t know if she would have been able to fully pull this off in real life, but it made great nerve wrecking reading.
Ted. Little 💩head, who receives no sympathy or redemption from me.
I knew that this book was based off a true story, but I was not aware of the case. So, I went into the book completely blinded. I didn’t know what the outcome would be although it’s obvious it can only go of two ways or so, but it didn’t stop me from being at the edge of my seat in complete panic. I could completely see this book being adapted in a Netflix limited series as it holds all the components for an addictive, fuel driven watch.
Noelle well done on such a cracking read. Anticipating your next release.
4.5 ⭐
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
⋆｡°✩pre read⋆｡°✩
OMG 😳😳😳😰😰
I finally have my copy!!!
The blurb is giving claustrophobic edge off your seat vibes!!
Noelle knows how to deliver a gritty dark thriller!
🤍💛🤍
Ten children,
Abducted in broad daylight
and buried alive.
Are you looking for a book that will have you feeling choked, adrenaline on high, suffocated and nerves on a 100 then pick this book up. My goodness this book is a parent’s worst nightmare and gave me the sweats.
Such Quiet Girls is following Jessa Landon a new school bus driver whose job is simply to deliver the 10 kids on her bus home safely. Unfortunately, on the route her bus gets hijacked by two kidnappers. Jessa and ten other children are taken off the bus and placed in a shipping container buried twenty feet underground trapped! With time and air running out for the victims can they escape or be found before it’s too late?
The book is told in 4 POVS:
➽ Jessa- The Bus Driver
➽ Sage- The oldest of the ten abducted kids
➽ Sheena- The mother of Sage and Bonnie
➽ Ted- One of the hijackers
I’m not going to lie my favourite POV was from Sage.
Sage. She is a determined and strong bright young character, and I was so taken aback by her confidence and courageous. To the point that I had to remember she was only 12 years old. I’m not saying that a typical 12-year-old wouldn’t have responded the way Sage did with her situation, but I will say it did feel a little ambitious and embellished and she read more like a 16+ year old girl than a young girl.
Jessa for much of the book PISSED me all the way off. Although I could sympathise with her past traumas/ events. Her behaviour for the first half of the book was so irritating! She could have easily been mistaken for one of the kids had I not known she was a grown adult.
Sheena. What a woman. God Forbid I ever find myself in that situation because I would have been a wreck!!! She did what she had to do, and I loved it. Realistically I don’t know if she would have been able to fully pull this off in real life, but it made great nerve wrecking reading.
Ted. Little 💩head, who receives no sympathy or redemption from me.
I knew that this book was based off a true story, but I was not aware of the case. So, I went into the book completely blinded. I didn’t know what the outcome would be although it’s obvious it can only go of two ways or so, but it didn’t stop me from being at the edge of my seat in complete panic. I could completely see this book being adapted in a Netflix limited series as it holds all the components for an addictive, fuel driven watch.
Noelle well done on such a cracking read. Anticipating your next release.
4.5 ⭐
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
⋆｡°✩pre read⋆｡°✩
OMG 😳😳😳😰😰
I finally have my copy!!!
The blurb is giving claustrophobic edge off your seat vibes!!
Noelle knows how to deliver a gritty dark thriller!
🤍💛🤍
April 12, 2025
Is anyone out there
‘Cause it’s getting harder and harder to breathe ~ performed by Maroon 5
An elaborate scheme to kidnap a school bus filled with 10 children and their bus driver.🚌 Hmmm…how to make them disappear? Dig a trench and bury them until the ransom is paid! Yikes!
After reading that premise I absolutely had to pick this one up!
Unfortunately, this book didn’t work out as well as I’d hoped. I felt a lack of connection to the characters and their plight. I expected more terror as the hours passed. Unfortunately, it just wasn’t there.🤷🏼♀️
🎧 I did enjoy the large cast of narrators, but most came off as over dramatic rather than authentic (my opinion).
I am very much on outlier island as most every reviewer absolutely loved it! Please take a look at all the brilliant five star reviews!
Thank you to libro.fm
‘Cause it’s getting harder and harder to breathe ~ performed by Maroon 5
An elaborate scheme to kidnap a school bus filled with 10 children and their bus driver.🚌 Hmmm…how to make them disappear? Dig a trench and bury them until the ransom is paid! Yikes!
After reading that premise I absolutely had to pick this one up!
Unfortunately, this book didn’t work out as well as I’d hoped. I felt a lack of connection to the characters and their plight. I expected more terror as the hours passed. Unfortunately, it just wasn’t there.🤷🏼♀️
🎧 I did enjoy the large cast of narrators, but most came off as over dramatic rather than authentic (my opinion).
I am very much on outlier island as most every reviewer absolutely loved it! Please take a look at all the brilliant five star reviews!
Thank you to libro.fm
May 8, 2025
♥ My Overall Thoughts ♥
Wow! This thriller novel was really good and had me feeling anxious the entire time! The fact that this book is based off of a true story is chilling! This was a hyped book and it definitely deserves all the hype! I found it to be suspenseful, emotional, extremely dark, tense, mysterious and hopeful. I really enjoyed the multiple points of views and the writing! I could feel the emotions that these adults and children were feeling. This is a fast paced, easy to read book! I have read other books by this author and really enjoyed them as well! It explores themes of unimaginable terror, resilience, redemption and guilt. One of the points of view is from a child and it is literally overwhelming and terrifying!
♥ Synopsis & Rating ♥
“Such Quiet Girls” centers around ten children and 1 adult that get kidnapped while they are in a bus. They end up getting buried alive and held for ransom. It is inspired by the real life Chowchilla kidnapping that happened in 1976. While it is inspired by true events, this book is completely fictional. I rate this book a 5 out of 5 stars!
♥ Content Warnings & Who I think would enjoy this book ♥
Content Warnings include child abuse, violence, fear, claustrophobia and psychological trauma. I think that people who enjoy reading psychological thrillers involving moral complexity would enjoy reading this book. It does involve child abuse, which was difficult to read. This story gave me “The Silent Patient” book and the movie “Poltergeist” vibes!
♥ Notes ♥
I purchased this book and audio - All thoughts and opinions expressed are my own. As of right now - the digital version is available with the Kindle Unlimited subscription!
♥ Quick Review ♥
🍿 Thriller / Suspense
✔️ Inspired by Real Events
🍿 Multiple POV’s
✔️ Unimaginable Terror
🍿 Redemption & Guilt
✔️ Resilience
🍿 Very Dark & Emotional
✔️ The movie “Poltergeist” Vibes
》* 。 • ˚ ˚ ˛ * 。° 。 • ˚《
❥ ୨⎯ Connie ⎯୧ ❥
ツ౨ৎ
Wow! This thriller novel was really good and had me feeling anxious the entire time! The fact that this book is based off of a true story is chilling! This was a hyped book and it definitely deserves all the hype! I found it to be suspenseful, emotional, extremely dark, tense, mysterious and hopeful. I really enjoyed the multiple points of views and the writing! I could feel the emotions that these adults and children were feeling. This is a fast paced, easy to read book! I have read other books by this author and really enjoyed them as well! It explores themes of unimaginable terror, resilience, redemption and guilt. One of the points of view is from a child and it is literally overwhelming and terrifying!
♥ Synopsis & Rating ♥
“Such Quiet Girls” centers around ten children and 1 adult that get kidnapped while they are in a bus. They end up getting buried alive and held for ransom. It is inspired by the real life Chowchilla kidnapping that happened in 1976. While it is inspired by true events, this book is completely fictional. I rate this book a 5 out of 5 stars!
♥ Content Warnings & Who I think would enjoy this book ♥
Content Warnings include child abuse, violence, fear, claustrophobia and psychological trauma. I think that people who enjoy reading psychological thrillers involving moral complexity would enjoy reading this book. It does involve child abuse, which was difficult to read. This story gave me “The Silent Patient” book and the movie “Poltergeist” vibes!
♥ Notes ♥
I purchased this book and audio - All thoughts and opinions expressed are my own. As of right now - the digital version is available with the Kindle Unlimited subscription!
♥ Quick Review ♥
🍿 Thriller / Suspense
✔️ Inspired by Real Events
🍿 Multiple POV’s
✔️ Unimaginable Terror
🍿 Redemption & Guilt
✔️ Resilience
🍿 Very Dark & Emotional
✔️ The movie “Poltergeist” Vibes
》* 。 • ˚ ˚ ˛ * 。° 。 • ˚《
❥ ୨⎯ Connie ⎯୧ ❥
ツ౨ৎ
June 18, 2025
Inspired by true events, this was a chilling story that felt very real and emotional. Well done from Ihli yet again.
May 30, 2025
4⭐️
Another banger by Noelle! This was so good. I find myself a bit hard to impress when it comes to thrillers especially since they all seem to read the same, but I really really enjoyed this one!
As we all know (those who read thrillers often), most thrillers are like 90% plot driven. So, I was pleasantly surprised to see a deeper level of substance and personality that came with these characters. In this book, we get several POVs and I think that just added to much to the story. It's always nice to read books, including thrillers, that have so many different views from characters from all sides. We got a child's POV, one of the kidnappers, the bus driver, and one of the moms. It had a great spectrum of information from all these characters that I think added more depth and tied the story together in a good way.
Once I read the synopsis of the book, I knew exactly which life event this was written about and that made me more excited to read this. I'm a huge true crime junkie so to see this written about a real event from the 1970's was both skin-crawling and mesmerizing. It's one thing to read about a fictional story --which yes this technically is-- but it's a whole new level of creepy to see it so closely written about and related to a true story. This was so fast to read; I always find Noelle's book to be perfect to binge in one sitting. The story was gripping and exciting and it was an absolute page turner. I could not put this down!
Overall, I have yet to find a Noelle Ihli book that has disappointed me. While this wasn't perfect, as I find thrillers to be hard to rate 5 stars, I thoroughly enjoyed this and had a good time. If you're looking for a fast-paced, engaging thriller with heart-racing twists and bingeable qualities, this would be perfect. So far, I would recommend almost all of this author's books!
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
𝓟𝓻𝓮-𝓡𝓮𝓪𝓭:
You truly can never go wrong with a Noelle Ihli book 🙂↕️
I've loved every single book I've read by her so I'm excited for this!
Another banger by Noelle! This was so good. I find myself a bit hard to impress when it comes to thrillers especially since they all seem to read the same, but I really really enjoyed this one!
As we all know (those who read thrillers often), most thrillers are like 90% plot driven. So, I was pleasantly surprised to see a deeper level of substance and personality that came with these characters. In this book, we get several POVs and I think that just added to much to the story. It's always nice to read books, including thrillers, that have so many different views from characters from all sides. We got a child's POV, one of the kidnappers, the bus driver, and one of the moms. It had a great spectrum of information from all these characters that I think added more depth and tied the story together in a good way.
Once I read the synopsis of the book, I knew exactly which life event this was written about and that made me more excited to read this. I'm a huge true crime junkie so to see this written about a real event from the 1970's was both skin-crawling and mesmerizing. It's one thing to read about a fictional story --which yes this technically is-- but it's a whole new level of creepy to see it so closely written about and related to a true story. This was so fast to read; I always find Noelle's book to be perfect to binge in one sitting. The story was gripping and exciting and it was an absolute page turner. I could not put this down!
Overall, I have yet to find a Noelle Ihli book that has disappointed me. While this wasn't perfect, as I find thrillers to be hard to rate 5 stars, I thoroughly enjoyed this and had a good time. If you're looking for a fast-paced, engaging thriller with heart-racing twists and bingeable qualities, this would be perfect. So far, I would recommend almost all of this author's books!
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
𝓟𝓻𝓮-𝓡𝓮𝓪𝓭:
You truly can never go wrong with a Noelle Ihli book 🙂↕️
I've loved every single book I've read by her so I'm excited for this!
May 7, 2025
Two kidnappers. Ten children. One Adult. Trapped in a shipping container. And it is a race against time before it is too late…
It is a normal day for Sage, her little sister, and Jessa, the bus driver. The children hop onto the Bus 315 and Jessa drives to their next destination with a lot on her mind about her troubled past. But nothing could prepare her or the children for the detour sign that forces them down a road that forces Jessa to have hope for the future and Sage to fight for their lives, no matter how scared she really is that the kidnappers will keep their word and kill them all.
The Plot
I love how Ihli did not waste any time with introductions or preparations for the story. You get to know who is who and what is what within the first three chapters, and by then, the story is already happening. It is super fast-paced and engaging. I was on the edge of my seat the entire time I was reading this! Gosh, I was so freaking proud of Sage and everyone else on Bus 315. 👏 This is a work of fiction, but was inspired by the Chowchilla kidnapping in 1976, which makes it all the more incredible. I love stories that are either based on real events or are inspired by them. And the ending! It was fantastic! I won’t say whether or not it is sad or happy. You are going to have to read the book for yourself to find out. 😉
The Characters
We get to see the story through three perspectives: Sage, one of the children kidnapped, Jessa, the bus driver, Sheena, mother of Sage and Bonnie, and Ted, one of the kidnappers. I thought it was interesting to have various POVs, but it worked really well. You were able to step into the shoes of each character and either root for them or internally beg them to do something. I always wonder what I would do in situations I read about, and I think it’s safe to say that Ihli made these characters so relatable and realistic with how they react to their situations and how the past affects their decisions. And the best part? There is character growth and character arcs! I mean, what more could you want in a novel?
The Writing
Wonderful. Brilliant. Easy to read. Easy to follow. Everything flowed well, and not a word was wasted. The imagery is painted into your mind and you feel everything that is happening to the characters. The plot stays engaging throughout the book, and you don’t have to worry about plot holes or unnecessary additives that ruin your experience. Noelle W. Ihli is a fantastic author, and I plan on reading more of her books in the future. ☺
Overall Thoughts
I mean, what more do I have to say? It was such a good book, and I am so glad my request was accepted to read it. I think it’s hard to get a thriller/mystery book right because–well–of many factors, but Ihli got it right. I highly recommend this book, and I hope you love it as much as I did!
Content Warnings
Mentions of murder, death, violence, swearing, domestic abuse
Thank you to Dynamite Books for the e-arc via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. All opinions and statements are my own.
#SuchQuietGirls #NetGalley
It is a normal day for Sage, her little sister, and Jessa, the bus driver. The children hop onto the Bus 315 and Jessa drives to their next destination with a lot on her mind about her troubled past. But nothing could prepare her or the children for the detour sign that forces them down a road that forces Jessa to have hope for the future and Sage to fight for their lives, no matter how scared she really is that the kidnappers will keep their word and kill them all.
The Plot
I love how Ihli did not waste any time with introductions or preparations for the story. You get to know who is who and what is what within the first three chapters, and by then, the story is already happening. It is super fast-paced and engaging. I was on the edge of my seat the entire time I was reading this! Gosh, I was so freaking proud of Sage and everyone else on Bus 315. 👏 This is a work of fiction, but was inspired by the Chowchilla kidnapping in 1976, which makes it all the more incredible. I love stories that are either based on real events or are inspired by them. And the ending! It was fantastic! I won’t say whether or not it is sad or happy. You are going to have to read the book for yourself to find out. 😉
The Characters
We get to see the story through three perspectives: Sage, one of the children kidnapped, Jessa, the bus driver, Sheena, mother of Sage and Bonnie, and Ted, one of the kidnappers. I thought it was interesting to have various POVs, but it worked really well. You were able to step into the shoes of each character and either root for them or internally beg them to do something. I always wonder what I would do in situations I read about, and I think it’s safe to say that Ihli made these characters so relatable and realistic with how they react to their situations and how the past affects their decisions. And the best part? There is character growth and character arcs! I mean, what more could you want in a novel?
The Writing
Wonderful. Brilliant. Easy to read. Easy to follow. Everything flowed well, and not a word was wasted. The imagery is painted into your mind and you feel everything that is happening to the characters. The plot stays engaging throughout the book, and you don’t have to worry about plot holes or unnecessary additives that ruin your experience. Noelle W. Ihli is a fantastic author, and I plan on reading more of her books in the future. ☺
Overall Thoughts
I mean, what more do I have to say? It was such a good book, and I am so glad my request was accepted to read it. I think it’s hard to get a thriller/mystery book right because–well–of many factors, but Ihli got it right. I highly recommend this book, and I hope you love it as much as I did!
Content Warnings
Mentions of murder, death, violence, swearing, domestic abuse
Thank you to Dynamite Books for the e-arc via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. All opinions and statements are my own.
#SuchQuietGirls #NetGalley
May 29, 2025
3 stars! ⭐️⭐️⭐️
After seeing so many glowing reviews, I decided to go ahead and request this one - my first Noelle W. Ihli book. The premise sounded really thrilling, but the execution wasn’t.
Ten kids on a bus headed to daycare get hijacked and buried in a storage crate. This is based on a true story. While it sounds terrifying, I think it was a rather tame thriller. I found myself skimming a bit towards the middle, but the last few pages were much better.
I know this author has lots of fans, so I’ll prob give her another try.
Thank you to NetGalley and Dynamite books for my advanced copy to read and review.
After seeing so many glowing reviews, I decided to go ahead and request this one - my first Noelle W. Ihli book. The premise sounded really thrilling, but the execution wasn’t.
Ten kids on a bus headed to daycare get hijacked and buried in a storage crate. This is based on a true story. While it sounds terrifying, I think it was a rather tame thriller. I found myself skimming a bit towards the middle, but the last few pages were much better.
I know this author has lots of fans, so I’ll prob give her another try.
Thank you to NetGalley and Dynamite books for my advanced copy to read and review.
April 25, 2025
Automatic 5 star read plus 1, as this one will live rent free in my head! These characters completely captured my heart from the absolute beginning & will probably still have a hold on it for near future. If it was Noelle’s sole goal to give me heart palpitations, job well done lol! The suspense, tension & sense of dread was so thick, it made me read this 345 page book in 24 hours.
Sisters Sage & Bonnie, along with their aftercare bus driver Ms. Jessa & 9 other kids are kidnapped, buried underground in a bunker & held for ransom! Their fight for survival as they try to outsmart their kidnappers exudes bravery & is extremely heart wrenching.
Based on a true story, I will for sure be reading articles & the watching the CNN documentary for this true event, The Chowchilla kidnapping in 1976. Although a fictionalized version of events, Noelle did an amazing job with this story.
Overall, this book was excellent, amazing, emotional, well written (and all the adjectives you can think of). Highly highly recommend, the kids from bus 315 will stick with me for a while! Thank you Xpresso Book Tours and NetGalley for this advanced reader copy. All opinions are my own.
Release date: 4/29/25
Sisters Sage & Bonnie, along with their aftercare bus driver Ms. Jessa & 9 other kids are kidnapped, buried underground in a bunker & held for ransom! Their fight for survival as they try to outsmart their kidnappers exudes bravery & is extremely heart wrenching.
Based on a true story, I will for sure be reading articles & the watching the CNN documentary for this true event, The Chowchilla kidnapping in 1976. Although a fictionalized version of events, Noelle did an amazing job with this story.
Overall, this book was excellent, amazing, emotional, well written (and all the adjectives you can think of). Highly highly recommend, the kids from bus 315 will stick with me for a while! Thank you Xpresso Book Tours and NetGalley for this advanced reader copy. All opinions are my own.
Release date: 4/29/25
April 14, 2025
Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for this pulse-pounding, intense thriller that had me riveted to the edge of my seat. I am grateful for the ARC, which introduced me to an author, Noelle W. Ihli, who is new to me. I definitely want to read more of her books.
Two armed masked men hijack a school bus carrying ten children and the bus driver. They plan to take them hostage for ransom. The kidnappers have prepared a shipping container in an abandoned lot with a small amount of food and water and will transfer the frightened children to the large container and bury it ten feet underground. There is a small supply of fresh air and a couple of buckets for toilets. The terrified hostages are told they must remain calm and quiet, and if they do so, they will be released unharmed when the ransom is paid. What could be more of a locked room, claustrophobic ordeal? The abandoned school bus has been hidden away in the bushes, and there is no way for searchers to locate the shipping container, which is now well-hidden underground. There is no trace of what happened to the hostages. The air is becoming putrid from the bucket toilets, and children throwing up. Fresh air, food and water are running out, and the children must sit quietly in the darkness.
The story is fast-paced, and the characters are well-developed and engaging. The story is told from the viewpoint of four people. Sage, the oldest child of twelve, tries to calm her younger sister. A kidnapper, Ted, is having second thoughts about the crime in which he has participated. Jessa, the bus driver, begins frozen in fear. She feels guilty about her failure to protect her passengers and has been separated from her own child due to a troubled past. Sheena is the mother of Sage and her other young daughter, who are both missing from the bus. Sheena is the only parent who has received a ransom demand and must make a desperate decision in the hopes of saving her children. Sheena cares for her father at home. He has Alzheimer's but is one of the more engaging characters.
One of these people becomes an unlikely hero. They manage to break free through much determination, effort, and pain.
There is a strong, action-packed finish as they rush to get help for those remaining behind before they become seriously injured or die from polluted air and thirst. A gunman is in pursuit. Will anyone survive?
This may seem like a farfetched crime story, but it is based on a similar event in 1976 California, which drew worldwide attention. Twenty-seven passengers from a school bus were buried underground in a truck trailer. I remember the crime and found many pictures online from the day the hostages escaped their imprisonment.
Two armed masked men hijack a school bus carrying ten children and the bus driver. They plan to take them hostage for ransom. The kidnappers have prepared a shipping container in an abandoned lot with a small amount of food and water and will transfer the frightened children to the large container and bury it ten feet underground. There is a small supply of fresh air and a couple of buckets for toilets. The terrified hostages are told they must remain calm and quiet, and if they do so, they will be released unharmed when the ransom is paid. What could be more of a locked room, claustrophobic ordeal? The abandoned school bus has been hidden away in the bushes, and there is no way for searchers to locate the shipping container, which is now well-hidden underground. There is no trace of what happened to the hostages. The air is becoming putrid from the bucket toilets, and children throwing up. Fresh air, food and water are running out, and the children must sit quietly in the darkness.
The story is fast-paced, and the characters are well-developed and engaging. The story is told from the viewpoint of four people. Sage, the oldest child of twelve, tries to calm her younger sister. A kidnapper, Ted, is having second thoughts about the crime in which he has participated. Jessa, the bus driver, begins frozen in fear. She feels guilty about her failure to protect her passengers and has been separated from her own child due to a troubled past. Sheena is the mother of Sage and her other young daughter, who are both missing from the bus. Sheena is the only parent who has received a ransom demand and must make a desperate decision in the hopes of saving her children. Sheena cares for her father at home. He has Alzheimer's but is one of the more engaging characters.
One of these people becomes an unlikely hero. They manage to break free through much determination, effort, and pain.
There is a strong, action-packed finish as they rush to get help for those remaining behind before they become seriously injured or die from polluted air and thirst. A gunman is in pursuit. Will anyone survive?
This may seem like a farfetched crime story, but it is based on a similar event in 1976 California, which drew worldwide attention. Twenty-seven passengers from a school bus were buried underground in a truck trailer. I remember the crime and found many pictures online from the day the hostages escaped their imprisonment.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
June 9, 2025
Anxiety ✅
Tears ✅
New fear of someone kidnapping my kids from a bus ✅✅✅✅✅✅✅✅✅✅✅
This was stressful and emotional and the fact that it was based on true events made this even more horrifying😭
3.75 stars rounded up for the audio!
pre-read:
I already know this will give me anxiety and probably make me cry 🤧
Tears ✅
New fear of someone kidnapping my kids from a bus ✅✅✅✅✅✅✅✅✅✅✅
This was stressful and emotional and the fact that it was based on true events made this even more horrifying😭
3.75 stars rounded up for the audio!
pre-read:
I already know this will give me anxiety and probably make me cry 🤧
June 20, 2025
This was a boring, but curiosity got the best of me type of thing.
I would not call this a thriller at all, it’s more of a linear narrative of what happened, and what you expect to happen. The title and cover is the only mystery.
Other than that nothing was exuding investigative vibes. The criminals were painfully pathetic and the rest of the characters had a clear like water personality. It’s not something that belongs to the suspense realms, so I was left reaction-less.
Not a semblance of: a twist, who done it, or even a small huh reaction. I used this a palate cleanser therefore I’m not real bothered. Onto the next, even thought now I must step it up for my next thriller.
I would not call this a thriller at all, it’s more of a linear narrative of what happened, and what you expect to happen. The title and cover is the only mystery.
Other than that nothing was exuding investigative vibes. The criminals were painfully pathetic and the rest of the characters had a clear like water personality. It’s not something that belongs to the suspense realms, so I was left reaction-less.
Not a semblance of: a twist, who done it, or even a small huh reaction. I used this a palate cleanser therefore I’m not real bothered. Onto the next, even thought now I must step it up for my next thriller.
April 24, 2025
Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
📅 Pub Date: April 29, 2025
Noelle W. Ihli has never let me down, and Such Quiet Girls might be her most intense yet. I was hooked from page one and completely obsessed until the end. It’s claustrophobic, fast-paced, and emotionally brutal.
I loved that we got multiple POVs: Sage (a student), Jess (the bus driver), Sheena (Sage’s mom), and even the kidnapper. I’m always a fan of multi-POV thrillers, and this one used it to full effect. Sheena’s chapters especially stood out to me. Her fear, the impossible choices she had to make, it all felt heartbreakingly real.
Knowing this story was inspired by true events added an extra layer of dread. What these characters went through might be fiction, but people have lived similar nightmares. That made it hit even harder.
If you’re into survival thrillers with high tension and emotionally complex characters, this one’s a must-read.
Thank you to NetGalley and Dynamite Books for the eARC. All opinions are my own.
📅 Pub Date: April 29, 2025
Noelle W. Ihli has never let me down, and Such Quiet Girls might be her most intense yet. I was hooked from page one and completely obsessed until the end. It’s claustrophobic, fast-paced, and emotionally brutal.
I loved that we got multiple POVs: Sage (a student), Jess (the bus driver), Sheena (Sage’s mom), and even the kidnapper. I’m always a fan of multi-POV thrillers, and this one used it to full effect. Sheena’s chapters especially stood out to me. Her fear, the impossible choices she had to make, it all felt heartbreakingly real.
Knowing this story was inspired by true events added an extra layer of dread. What these characters went through might be fiction, but people have lived similar nightmares. That made it hit even harder.
If you’re into survival thrillers with high tension and emotionally complex characters, this one’s a must-read.
Thank you to NetGalley and Dynamite Books for the eARC. All opinions are my own.
April 15, 2025
I’m thrilled to share my thoughts on Such Quiet Girls by the talented Noelle West Ihli. Huge thanks to NetGalley, the author, and Dynamite Books Publishing for providing me with an eARC in exchange for an honest review! 🙏
A Gripping Tale of Survival 🔒⏳ Imagine this: ten kids abducted in broad daylight, buried alive, and forced to fight for their survival. Sounds intense, right? That’s exactly what we dive into in Such Quiet Girls. When Sage and her sister hop on Bus 315, they think it’s just another school day. But everything changes when their new bus driver, Jessa, finds herself struggling against her own demons while trying to protect the children at all costs.
The tension ramps up as Jessa blames herself for the incident, echoing a tragic past where she couldn’t save her own daughter. Can you feel the weight of that? 😰💔 As the kids are trapped in a dark shipping container, buried underground, the claustrophobia and urgency make this read exhilarating!
Stellar Plot Execution & Writing 🌟✍️ Noelle West Ihli masterfully executes this gripping plot with precision! I was on the edge of my seat, flipping pages faster and faster as the clock ticked down. The pacing of this novel is phenomenal, showcasing her knack for building suspense with each passing moment. It’s not just thrilling; it’s downright nail-biting! Whether you're absorbed in Jessa’s desperation or Sage’s bravery, you’re going to be left breathless. 🌬️✨
Having read all of Noelle’s books, I can confidently say there’s not a single thing I would change! She is truly one of the finest thriller writers out there, and her writing just keeps getting better and better. Every new release is a delight! 🎉🌼
Captivating Cover & Inspirational Background 🎨🔍 I couldn't resist requesting this book not just for the storyline but also because of its stunning cover and the fact that it was inspired by actual events. That touch of realism added a chilling layer to the experience, making it hard to put down. Such Quiet Girls is more than just a story; it's a haunting reminder of the realities some face.
🔔 Trigger Warnings: Domestic violence, murder, and kidnapping.
If you're searching for your next heart-pounding read, I cannot recommend Such Quiet Girls enough! Grab your copy and prepare yourself for a thrilling ride that lingers long after you’ve turned the last page. 🏃♀️💨
Happy reading, everyone! 📖❤️
A Gripping Tale of Survival 🔒⏳ Imagine this: ten kids abducted in broad daylight, buried alive, and forced to fight for their survival. Sounds intense, right? That’s exactly what we dive into in Such Quiet Girls. When Sage and her sister hop on Bus 315, they think it’s just another school day. But everything changes when their new bus driver, Jessa, finds herself struggling against her own demons while trying to protect the children at all costs.
The tension ramps up as Jessa blames herself for the incident, echoing a tragic past where she couldn’t save her own daughter. Can you feel the weight of that? 😰💔 As the kids are trapped in a dark shipping container, buried underground, the claustrophobia and urgency make this read exhilarating!
Stellar Plot Execution & Writing 🌟✍️ Noelle West Ihli masterfully executes this gripping plot with precision! I was on the edge of my seat, flipping pages faster and faster as the clock ticked down. The pacing of this novel is phenomenal, showcasing her knack for building suspense with each passing moment. It’s not just thrilling; it’s downright nail-biting! Whether you're absorbed in Jessa’s desperation or Sage’s bravery, you’re going to be left breathless. 🌬️✨
Having read all of Noelle’s books, I can confidently say there’s not a single thing I would change! She is truly one of the finest thriller writers out there, and her writing just keeps getting better and better. Every new release is a delight! 🎉🌼
Captivating Cover & Inspirational Background 🎨🔍 I couldn't resist requesting this book not just for the storyline but also because of its stunning cover and the fact that it was inspired by actual events. That touch of realism added a chilling layer to the experience, making it hard to put down. Such Quiet Girls is more than just a story; it's a haunting reminder of the realities some face.
🔔 Trigger Warnings: Domestic violence, murder, and kidnapping.
If you're searching for your next heart-pounding read, I cannot recommend Such Quiet Girls enough! Grab your copy and prepare yourself for a thrilling ride that lingers long after you’ve turned the last page. 🏃♀️💨
Happy reading, everyone! 📖❤️
April 20, 2025
Wow, this one was such a wild ride. I loved how things slowly started unfolding. It was beautiful to watch Sage and Ms. Jessa's character development throughout the story. I got teary-eyed a few times in the last 30%. Plus, the few twists at the end truly surprised me! It was such a great and gripping read! Easily 5 stars!
I received this ARC from NetGalley and Dynamite Books to read/review. All of the statements above are my true opinions after fully reading this book.
I received this ARC from NetGalley and Dynamite Books to read/review. All of the statements above are my true opinions after fully reading this book.
April 30, 2025
If you enjoy a book that captivates you from the very beginning, takes you on an emotional journey, and is filled with unexpected twists and turns, then this book is highly recommended.
As a mother, I found myself deeply empathizing with the parents in this story, which only heightened the intensity of the narrative. What begins as a seemingly ordinary day quickly escalates into an unimaginable nightmare. Ten children and bus driver are abducted and confined in a shipping container buried twenty feet underground. Jessa is paralyzed by the immense responsibility of protecting the children, while a student named Sage is resolute to finding a way out. However, the choices they make may either save their lives or seal their fates. The kidnappers claim they will release them once the ransom is paid, but question remains—can they survive until then? The environment is dark, cramped, and increasingly suffocating.
Readers should be cautioned: book may provoke a profound fear of confined spaces and will have your heart pounding as you race to discover who survives this harrowing ordeal.
As a mother, I found myself deeply empathizing with the parents in this story, which only heightened the intensity of the narrative. What begins as a seemingly ordinary day quickly escalates into an unimaginable nightmare. Ten children and bus driver are abducted and confined in a shipping container buried twenty feet underground. Jessa is paralyzed by the immense responsibility of protecting the children, while a student named Sage is resolute to finding a way out. However, the choices they make may either save their lives or seal their fates. The kidnappers claim they will release them once the ransom is paid, but question remains—can they survive until then? The environment is dark, cramped, and increasingly suffocating.
Readers should be cautioned: book may provoke a profound fear of confined spaces and will have your heart pounding as you race to discover who survives this harrowing ordeal.
April 6, 2025
'A taut, gripping, all-consuming thriller'…
‘Ten children, abducted in broad daylight—and buried alive.’
Such Quiet Girls, told from several alternating POV’s, details the minutiae of a grandiose plan hatched by a couple of losers to kidnap a bus of kids and the driver for ransom.
I couldn’t wait to get my paws on this book. A highly anticipated read for me.
The story was interesting and well written. Plenty of details to keep you informed with no lingering doubts or questions.
However, and even though there were multiple POV’s, it still came across quite monotone to me. Which in turn made the experience feel less like a “gripping thriller” and more like a simple to-the-point recounting of events. I found no grip here whatsoever. Just my personal opinion of course & I appreciated the story nonetheless.
I’m very grateful to have been given the opportunity to read an advanced copy, so big thanks to NetGalley and the pub.
Release: 4.29.2025.
‘Ten children, abducted in broad daylight—and buried alive.’
Such Quiet Girls, told from several alternating POV’s, details the minutiae of a grandiose plan hatched by a couple of losers to kidnap a bus of kids and the driver for ransom.
I couldn’t wait to get my paws on this book. A highly anticipated read for me.
The story was interesting and well written. Plenty of details to keep you informed with no lingering doubts or questions.
However, and even though there were multiple POV’s, it still came across quite monotone to me. Which in turn made the experience feel less like a “gripping thriller” and more like a simple to-the-point recounting of events. I found no grip here whatsoever. Just my personal opinion of course & I appreciated the story nonetheless.
I’m very grateful to have been given the opportunity to read an advanced copy, so big thanks to NetGalley and the pub.
Release: 4.29.2025.
May 8, 2025
Based on a horrifying true story (Google the real-life 1976 Chowchilla kidnapping if you want to know more), SUCH QUIET GIRLS follows a bus driver and ten children who are kidnapped and buried alive in an underground shipping container. Told from multiple perspectives—this book is DARK, tense, emotional, and gut-wrenching. This book is all about a race to the clock, panic at all costs, and trigger warning central, but it’s a powerful story of courage, resilience, and survival. I listened to this book via @librofm and I had a blast. My first venture into Noelle W. Ihli's novels, but it won't be my last! If you like Freida McFadden fast-paced novels, you'll enjoy this one!
April 26, 2025
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for providing me with an ARC of Such Quiet Girls! This marks my second novel by Noelle Ihli, and I have to say — her storytelling just keeps getting better.
This book struck an emotional chord with me in a way few stories manage to. It takes a lot for a novel to move me to tears, but Such Quiet Girls did exactly that. Shauna’s and Jessa’s harrowing experiences as mothers made me hold my own children a little tighter and cherish those everyday moments we so easily take for granted.
The plot taps into every parent’s deepest fears — kidnapping, being buried alive — and the fact that it’s inspired by true events makes it all the more chilling and impactful.
I loved the structure of this book: short, gripping chapters, multiple points of view that kept the tension high, and even a well-executed redemption arc for the antagonist. Noelle Ihli delivered everything I could’ve asked for in a thriller, and I wouldn’t change a single thing.
A phenomenal, emotionally charged, and heart-pounding read. I absolutely loved it.
This book struck an emotional chord with me in a way few stories manage to. It takes a lot for a novel to move me to tears, but Such Quiet Girls did exactly that. Shauna’s and Jessa’s harrowing experiences as mothers made me hold my own children a little tighter and cherish those everyday moments we so easily take for granted.
The plot taps into every parent’s deepest fears — kidnapping, being buried alive — and the fact that it’s inspired by true events makes it all the more chilling and impactful.
I loved the structure of this book: short, gripping chapters, multiple points of view that kept the tension high, and even a well-executed redemption arc for the antagonist. Noelle Ihli delivered everything I could’ve asked for in a thriller, and I wouldn’t change a single thing.
A phenomenal, emotionally charged, and heart-pounding read. I absolutely loved it.
May 2, 2025
I found this one to be very boring. 🥱 Didn’t feel the thrill at all.
July 4, 2025
Noelle W Ihli is definitely an auto read author for me, I’ll read everything she publishes.
Let’s talk about “Such Quiet Girls”. If you’re familiar with the authors work you know to expect a fast paced thriller with high stakes tension throughout.
I will say that child kidnapping thrillers aren’t typically my jam, but as mentioned I’ll give anything a go by this author.
The scenes in this book are a lot more mild and tame, I assume this because of the content of this book surrounding a group of young aged children, and that was fine we don’t want to get sadistic when it comes to kids.. Doing this also left room for a more heart felt, wholesome back story around two mothers living in very different circumstances who would both do anything to protect their kids.
I enjoyed the wholesome aspects, the sisterhood themes (we all argued with our sisters to the death when we were younger but deep down that love and protectiveness always lives there). I liked Jessas opportunity for redemption and Sheena’s opportunity to be humbled in her assumptions. I also loved watching Sheenas family overcome extreme trials and become closer as a result.
Thank you for the gifted copy!
Publish date: April 29th
Let’s talk about “Such Quiet Girls”. If you’re familiar with the authors work you know to expect a fast paced thriller with high stakes tension throughout.
I will say that child kidnapping thrillers aren’t typically my jam, but as mentioned I’ll give anything a go by this author.
The scenes in this book are a lot more mild and tame, I assume this because of the content of this book surrounding a group of young aged children, and that was fine we don’t want to get sadistic when it comes to kids.. Doing this also left room for a more heart felt, wholesome back story around two mothers living in very different circumstances who would both do anything to protect their kids.
I enjoyed the wholesome aspects, the sisterhood themes (we all argued with our sisters to the death when we were younger but deep down that love and protectiveness always lives there). I liked Jessas opportunity for redemption and Sheena’s opportunity to be humbled in her assumptions. I also loved watching Sheenas family overcome extreme trials and become closer as a result.
Thank you for the gifted copy!
Publish date: April 29th
April 29, 2025
I was on the edge of my seat the whole time reading this. I refused to look up details of the actual kidnapping, because I didn’t want any spoilers (which is why I’ll refrain from mentioning anything about it now that I know).
Ihli has a way of writing thrillers that puts you right in the middle of the action. These poor children, and the bus driver! I can’t imagine the PTSD something like this causes. It would mess you up for life.
A lot of things have been changed from what actually happened, including names, locations and characters, but it is a fully gripping story on its own. This is my second of Ihli’s books, and it won’t be my last!
Thank you to NetGalley and Dynamite Books for an eARC in exchange for my honest feedback.
Ihli has a way of writing thrillers that puts you right in the middle of the action. These poor children, and the bus driver! I can’t imagine the PTSD something like this causes. It would mess you up for life.
A lot of things have been changed from what actually happened, including names, locations and characters, but it is a fully gripping story on its own. This is my second of Ihli’s books, and it won’t be my last!
Thank you to NetGalley and Dynamite Books for an eARC in exchange for my honest feedback.
April 5, 2025
Another 5 star book for Noelle W. Ihli’s newest book Such Quiet Girls. This had me totally hooked from page 1 and I could not put it down. This is based off a true story back in 1976 and my husband remembered when it happened. This is a fave for 2025. Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for this early release. I thoroughly enjoyed every single detail put into this book.
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