Random Things Tours - The Girl From Widow Hills

TITLE: The Girl From Widow Hills
AUTHOR: Megan Miranda
PUBLISHER: Corvus
PUBLISHING DATE: July 2, 2020

FROM GOODREADS: 

Everyone knows the story of “the girl from Widow Hills.”

Arden Maynor was just a child when she was swept away while sleepwalking during a terrifying rainstorm and went missing for days. Strangers and friends, neighbors and rescue workers, set up search parties and held vigils, praying for her safe return. Against all odds, she was found, alive, clinging to a storm drain. The girl from Widow Hills was a living miracle. Arden’s mother wrote a book. Fame followed. Fans and fan letters, creeps, and stalkers. And every year, the anniversary. It all became too much. As soon as she was old enough, Arden changed her name and disappeared from the public eye. 

Now a young woman living hundreds of miles away, Arden goes by Olivia. She’s managed to stay off the radar for the last few years. But with the twentieth anniversary of her rescue approaching, the media will inevitably renew its interest in Arden. Where is she now? Soon Olivia feels like she’s being watched and begins sleepwalking again, like she did long ago, even waking outside her home. Until late one night she jolts awake in her yard. At her feet is the corpse of a man she knows—from her previous life, as Arden Maynor. 

And now, the girl from Widow Hills is about to become the center of the story, once again, in this propulsive page-turner from suspense master Megan Miranda.

MY THOUGHTS: I know she's quite popular but I'll be honest, this is the first time I've read anything by Megan Miranda.  I've heard some mixed things about her books but was curious to find out for myself.  I'm proud to say that I really enjoyed The Girl From Widow Hills and will definitely be reading more from Miranda in the future.

Twenty years ago Arden Maynor was sleepwalking one night when she was swept away in a flash flood in small town in Kentucky.  Miraculously, she was found alive three days later.  What should have been a happy ending for Arden resembles more of a tragedy.  Her mother capitalized on all the media which eventually led to her demise and Arden basically went into hiding, choosing to live her life as Olivia.  Now, Olivia's past is once again resurfacing when she stumbles over a dead body in her yard - quite literally.  Who is this man and what does he have to do with her previous life?

This thriller kept me on the edge of my seat and the ending really packed a punch.  In fact, the only reason I'm not giving it a full 5-paw rating is because Olivia is at times somewhat of an unreliable narrator and true to form, I had a hard time connecting with that.  That's not to say she's unlikable, but there was just something about her I couldn't put my finger on.  Also, I felt like there were a few things that didn't quite jive in my head and I wished I had more information.  However, as I mentioned, the ending was one I didn't see coming and I would definitely recommend this book to anyone who enjoys thrillers.

RATING: 4 PAWS

ABOUT THE AUTHOR: 

Megan Miranda is the author of All The Missing Girls, The Perfect Stranger, and The Last House Guest, which was the August 2019 Reese’s Book Club x Hello Sunshine pick. She grew up in New Jersey, graduated from MIT, and lives in North Carolina with her husband and two children. Follow @MeganLMiranda on Twitter and Instagram, or @AuthorMeganMiranda on Facebook.