The Shadow House by Anna Downes

Alex is a single mother escaping an abusive relationship and decides to take refuge in the seemingly idyllic ecovillage of Pine Ridge. But upon arriving at her new home,  she finds a disturbing gift on the porch.  Along with her sullen teenage son and cranky teething baby,  they settle in to the welcoming community.  But as time goes on,  some of the villagers aren't so friendly and someone seems to be threatening her and her son. Along with rumors of the past and the witch in the woods, Alex becomes more unsettled and determined to find out the truth behind the threats. Could history be repeating itself?

Alternating between the previous flower farm owner, Renee, and Alex, the chapters uncover the truth behind the original disappearance of Renee's son Gabriel and the present threats against Ollie. The spooky woods and the abandoned farmhouse overlooking the village provide the perfect ominous backdrop for this creepy story.  I didn't see that ending coming! I thought I had it all figured out but I was left guessing until the very end. 

I received an advance reader copy of this book. The views and opinions expressed in this review are completely my own and given voluntarily.

Such a Quiet Place by Megan Miranda

This story started out slow with the return of Ruby Fletcher after she is proclaimed innocent and released from prison. Fourteen months earlier, this quiet idyllic neighborhood was rocked when the Truetts were found dead in their home. Secrets and suspicions added up, pointing to Ruby, and the only one on her side was homeowner and roommate Harper. But now that Ruby is back and threatening revenge, Harper is afraid for her life.
This was a slow build, describing the neighborhood, the closeness of the community, and the many secrets they try to hide. Everyone seems a little too involved in each other's drama. I was imagining a whole neighborhood of interfering busibodies peeping out the window blinds at each other. This book truly makes me thankful to live in a rural area!
I received a complimentary copy of this book through NetGalley. My review is given voluntarily.