From the author of It’s Always the Husband comes a riveting new suspense novel about privilege, power, and what happens when we let ambition take control. For Rose Enright, enrolling in a prestigious New England boarding school is the opportunity of a lifetime. But for Rose’s vulnerable twin sister Bel, Odell Academy is a place of temptation and danger. When Bel falls in with a crowd of wild … with a crowd of wild rich kids who pressure her into hazing Rose, the sisters’ relationship is shattered. Rose turns to her dorm mother, Sarah Donovan, for advice. But Bel turns to Sarah’s husband Heath, a charismatic and ambitious teacher. Is Heath trying to help Bel or take advantage of her? In a world of privilege, seduction, and manipulation, only one sister will live to tell the truth.
In a novel full of twists, turns, and dark secrets, Michele Campbell once again proves her skill at crafting intricately spun and completely compelling plots.
Praise for She Was the Quiet One:
“Campbell’s skillful characterization and her shocking final twist make this follow-up to It’s Always the Husband well worthwhile. Readers who enjoyed Simone St. James’ boarding-school mystery, The Broken Girls, should give this a try.” —Booklist
Praise for It’s Always the Husband:
“Twists, turns, and a puzzling mix of suspects . . . will keep readers turning the pages.” —Booklist
“An intriguing whodunit that examines the explosive potential of secrets to destroy friendships, marriages, and lives . . . a page-turner.” —Kirkus Reviews
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An enthralling read! The book operates on two time frames (before and after), and I like how she held out the victim’s identity for most of the book. An interesting peek into life at an exclusive boarding school.
Bel and Rose Enright are fraternal twins who recently lost their mother. They move in with their grandmother until she sends them to Odell Academy, a prestigious boarding school in New England. Rose is instantly enthralled as she is a studious and serious girl. Bel is not happy to be there, until she meets Heath Donovan, her advisor and dorm parent. Bel also gets in with a bad crowd, led by Darcy and Tessa. They encourage Bel to do things that are against school policy. Bel goes along, but due to her infatuation with Heath Donovan, and his reciprocity of this adoration, she gets off easily. Sarah Donovan confronts her husband Heath, but he denies any infidelity.
One of the twins turns up dead, and now the police are investigating. You are left to wonder which of the twins is dead for a good part of the novel. Once you discover who died, it is not difficult to know who killed her. But, what is surprising is the epilogue, and who was pulling some of the strings.
I thought the book could have been a bit shorter, but I really enjoyed it.
#SheWastheQuietOne #MicheleCampbell
I’ll be reading more from this author. The book kept me on the edge of my seat. Twin sister sent off to an upscale private boarding school after traumatic events in their young lives. No one would ever expect the things that went on in this school among mostly privileged children. You will read with horror the things they went through.
The author does a great job of incorporating the complexities of the relationship between sisters and the dynamics of a boarding school. There are the “cool” kids, the ones who want to be “cool,” and the ones who are there to get an education but want to have friends. This was the first book I’ve read by Michele Campbell, but I will definitely read more of her books…and will probably go back and read an earlier book, It’s Always the Husband.
This story covers a lot of aspects of the relationships that abound in a boarding school…friendships among the students, romantic relationships among the students, relationships among the faculty, and even romantic relationships between faculty and students!
Thank you to NetGalley for an ARC in exchange for my honest review.
A spine tingling thriller woven around two sisters in a world of privilege and manipulation. The hazing is relentless and the outcome one that will have the reader shaking their heads in disbelief. A novel one won’t soon forget.
It wasn’t easy to get things done. I wanted to keep reading.
She Was the Quiet One was another great suspenseful novel by Michele Campbell! I enjoyed how the events are so unexpected and escalate as the story goes on. Twins Rose and Bel are headed off to Odell Academy, a private coed boarding school. Their relationship has become more strained since their mother passed away and they started living with their wealthy grandmother. Heath and Sarah have moved into Odell’s Mooreland Hall, along with their two young children. They are excited to start their new jobs as dorm heads and advisors at the school. As the days go by, Rose and Bel become more estranged as Bel starts to hang out with some of the bigger troublemakers at the school. Heath’s presence causes quite a stir with the young girls. What could possibly go wrong? The secrets and betrayal that start to occur as the days go on and winter arrives make the book hard to put down!
Michele Campbell’s “She Was the Quiet One” features a haunting, rich setting perfect for a twisted thriller.
When twins Rose and Bel are sent to live with their wealthy grandmother after being orphaned, their lives take a turn down a twisted journey of secrets, betrayal, and deceit. Sent to a private school, their lives will take two different paths that will lead to all sorts of questions and horrifying events.
The book also follows Sarah and Heath, the new heads of the dorm at Odell Academy. The couple seems perfect from the outside–responsible, smart, kind–but they just may have secrets of their own.
I loved the setting of this story and how it really played up the events. I also really enjoyed reading from the different perspectives and trying to piece the story together. This story wasn’t super shocking with tons of twists. However, the suspense and thrill of it comes from knowing that doom is lurking and wondering if family loyalty will overpower lust, secrets, and the need for power. I really liked Rose’s character and felt for her throughout the story.
I felt that the ending was well-planned out and didn’t feel rushed like in some thrillers. As a side note, I also really like the newer cover because it captures the eerie feel of the book perfectly. This book is heavy on developed characters and relationships while having an exciting, believable plot working against a complex setting.
I really enjoyed this book and will be reading more from the author.
This is a book that is going to grab you from the the very first page and will keep you turning the pages until you get to the exciting ending. I devoured this book and loved every minute of it’s suspense and mystery.
The story is riveting and scary, with plenty of evilness—so much evil and conniving going on. At the same time you have to admire the characters who are strong when they need to be.
I’ve read one other book by this author and her stories are amazing. I highly recommend her books and I’ll definitely read her again.
This is a little all over the place. Some parts are really gripping whilst other parts feel like they have been written by someone completely different. A Frankenstein novel if you will. A little disappointing.
I thoroughly enjoyed Michele Campbell’s earlier book, IT’S ALWAYS THE HUSBAND, in the audio format, so I chose the same method to devour this one—and it didn’t disappoint. Campbell’s characters are written with such authenticity that the narration really brings them to life, particularly in the dialogue. And the tension in the plot kept me looking for excuses to listen just a little bit longer.
SHE WAS THE QUIET ONE has an unsettling current from the very first page: We know something bad is coming, and though we don’t know yet exactly how or when or why, we can already see opportunities to prevent it. Campbell kept me hooked with that delicious feeling of anticipation and dread—of wanting to reach inside the story and yell out a warning. Irresistibly readable, all the way to the breathtaking climax and the satisfying epilogue beyond.
A page-turning story of teenaged twin girls (fraternal) who have been orphaned and sent to an elite East Coast boarding school by their grandmother who does not want to raise them. The twins, Rose and Bel, have a slight “twin bond,” but once they get to the school, they become estranged. They both find trouble there, and make several questionable choices, resulting in a fatal outcome. Their story is told from several points of view in this gripping book and you will find it hard to put down or to forget.
I received a copy of this book from NetGalley. All thoughts and opinions are solely my own.
I loved this book; such a fabulous writer and I’ve read all my life. I was more than pleased with this book.
I haven’t read a ton of thrillers, but I have begun to find some authors I really enjoy. This was quite captivating and I couldn’t wait to find out what would happen next. Even when I knew the “whodunit” I still couldn’t wait to fill in all the gaps and details, and she did just that. This was my second book by this author. First I read “It’s Always the Husband,” which I surely rated Excellent as well. So I knew to come back, because hopefully she had more! I’m glad she did. My favorite character was the wife.
Twins, Rose and Bel are starting over, after the death of their mother. They were taken in by their grandmother, who it turns out has money. She sends them to a exclusive boarding school, which is where the twins differences really show up. Rose loves school, wants to learn, and make friends. Bel didn’t want to attend the school, falls in with wrong crowd, and is having a difficult time with classes.
Soon, things start to fall apart with sisters at odds with each other and who even knows the truth?
She Was the Quiet One is the second book I have read by Michele Campbell. At first I was not sure who was the “Quiet One” as this could have been said about two of the characters in the book. The story is told by the viewpoints of the orphaned twin sisters, the head of the dorm, and his wife. The girls face the hardships of attending private school, boyfriends, cliques, drama, family relationships and murder. The one thing I dislike about the book is the wife of the dorm head ignored what was going on in front of her for most of the book. Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for a copy of the book and this is my honest review.
Book Review: She Was the Quiet One by Michele Campbell.
A truly immersing and scandalous story that will thrill and chill the emotions!
(I do not write spoilers) and you’ll thank me for that when it comes to this novel and it’s content.
Two sisters (twins) find themselves uprooted and planted in a situation, and society, due to unforseen circumstances. Will they learn to adapt or will they fight against all that is traditional, sacred, and honorable. Their sheer survival as individuals and sisters depends upon those choices and situations thrown their way….some unwillingly, some not? It’s a twisty-turny, page by page ride that will push you into the dark corners of disorder and tragedy. The writing style flows and the characters; intense and believable. I thank #MicheleCampbell for this stunner of a novel!
I’d also like to thank #StMartinsPress for the Exclusive ARC.
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I LOVED THIS BOOK!
I’ll admit, I wasn’t crazy about it at first. If you’ve read the Private series by Kate Brian you’ll have a touch of deja vu, but please keep reading!
My favorite part of this book is you don’t know which twin is dead until the end
Michele does a fabulous job of giving us clues that make us think it’s Bel that is dead, then she makes us think Rose is dead.
Michele also does a good job of giving the characters enough background to make them interesting, without going overboard. They’re all intricately woven, and I was suspicious of almost everyone.
This book is truly wonderful, and I am so excited for y’all to get your hands on this one!
The end of the book is a whopper. There is a book long build up and the epilogue goes wham. If you are into suspense novels but no blood and gore, this is your book.
She Was The Quiet One is a twisty tale of sibling rivalry, manipulation and suspense! This book is a page turner!