Status
Available
Call number
Collection
Publication
Simon & Schuster (2020), 336 pages
Description
Fiction. Literature. Suspense. Thriller. HTML:From the New York Times bestselling author of The Last House Guest�??a Reese Witherspoon Book Club pick�??comes a "hauntingly atmospheric and gorgeously written page-turner" (Kimberly McCreight, New York Times bestselling author of A Good Marriage) about a young woman plagued by night terrors after a childhood trauma who wakes one evening to find a corpse at her feet. 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 help 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 up 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. The girl from Widow Hills is once again at the center of this story in this "compulsive page-turner" (Bookl… (more)
Media reviews
Readers First
4/5 stars
I really liked this book! The premise for this novel is what drew me in and I feel that the story was executed so well!
I was interested in every character that was introduced and each character felt fleshed out and well thought out.
Although at times the story felt a bit predictable, I
Show More
didn't mind that at all as the writing was so great! The pacing was excellent and I loved how atmospheric this novel felt and enjoyed the creepy undertones throughout.
The ending wasn't my favorite but I like that it wrapped up nicely.
Overall, I really loved this book and would highly recommend it. Especially if like me you're new to thrillers and want something a bit creepy but not absolutely terrifying! Show Less
User reviews
LibraryThing member EllenH
This was somewhat slow starting, but ended up to be what you what from a good suspense novel, creepy, suspicion of everyone, riveting and a good story.
LibraryThing member LoriKBoyd
Stayed up way too late just to finish this book. I thought I had it figured out at least 3 times, but no where near the truth. A quick read, lots of twists and turns. Perfect for beach (unless you’re watching the kids)...or a quiet weekend at home (order take-out and silence the phone). Once I
Thanks to Ms. Miranda, Simon & Schuster and NetGalley for this ARC. Opinion is mine alone.
Show More
committed to the book, I flew thru it. This was a new author for me and I enjoyed the writing, characters and the dual timeline, ever so slight with just enough to keep you thinking. I look forward to reading more of this author’s works. Thanks to Ms. Miranda, Simon & Schuster and NetGalley for this ARC. Opinion is mine alone.
Show Less
LibraryThing member tamidale
Megan Miranda’s books have been on my to-be-read list for some time now and I have finally read her most recent book and it was amazing. I was up late into the night finishing this book!
Arden Maynor is known as the child who surprisingly survived three nights in a storm drain during a flood. It
Once rescued, Arden had no memory of her ordeal, but she did have some lingering effects from the trauma of the event. Due to the publicity, Arden decides to change her name and moves to a new state, working in administration at a small hospital.
When Arden gets word that her mother has died, she seems to have a sudden relapse of sleepwalking. She receives a box in the mail with her mother’s things, but there was not much inside and most of the items related to her disappearance as a child.
One night when Arden is sleepwalking, she stumbles across a dead man at the edge of her property. Even though she does not recognize him, she finds out he is a man from her past.
At this point, Arden begins questioning everything she knows about herself and the people in her life.
The ending had a surprising twist that I didn’t see coming. I highly recommend this one to readers who love a good mystery/thriller. This is one that you won’t want to pass up!
Many thanks to NetGalley and Simon & Schuster for allowing me to read an advance copy and give my honest review.
Arden Maynor is known as the child who surprisingly survived three nights in a storm drain during a flood. It
Show More
was widely believed that six-year-old Arden had been sleepwalking when she left her home and became lost. Once rescued, Arden had no memory of her ordeal, but she did have some lingering effects from the trauma of the event. Due to the publicity, Arden decides to change her name and moves to a new state, working in administration at a small hospital.
When Arden gets word that her mother has died, she seems to have a sudden relapse of sleepwalking. She receives a box in the mail with her mother’s things, but there was not much inside and most of the items related to her disappearance as a child.
One night when Arden is sleepwalking, she stumbles across a dead man at the edge of her property. Even though she does not recognize him, she finds out he is a man from her past.
At this point, Arden begins questioning everything she knows about herself and the people in her life.
The ending had a surprising twist that I didn’t see coming. I highly recommend this one to readers who love a good mystery/thriller. This is one that you won’t want to pass up!
Many thanks to NetGalley and Simon & Schuster for allowing me to read an advance copy and give my honest review.
Show Less
LibraryThing member Twink
I've really enjoyed Megan Miranda's previous books. Her latest is The Girl From Widow Hills.
Arden was a child when she went missing for three days - having sleepwalked into the night. Miraculously she was found. But the aftermath ended up being too much for her single mother - and Arden herself.
Ohh, great premise! Who is the corpse? Does Olivia know him? Did he know her? And worst of all - did she have something to do with this man's death? After all, she's sleepwalking again....
I loved the uncertainty. The reader is with Oliva as she tries to piece together what's going on, rather than with the police investigation. Miranda gives us lots of suspects and questionable behaviour to muddy the waters. Including Olivia herself. We learn more about Olivia's past with newspaper articles from the past. As these inserts continued, I started to have my own suspicions.
I liked Olivia as a lead character, but worried about her naivete at points - as I was mentally yelling at her....No, they're lying!
As the final pages drew near, I thought I knew whodunit. I was right, but the ending was really well done - and tension filled!
Arden was a child when she went missing for three days - having sleepwalked into the night. Miraculously she was found. But the aftermath ended up being too much for her single mother - and Arden herself.
Show More
Arden has no recollection of thse missing days. An adult now, Arden has reinvented herself - new name (Olivia), new locale. Until the night she sleepwalks - and trips over a dead body. Ohh, great premise! Who is the corpse? Does Olivia know him? Did he know her? And worst of all - did she have something to do with this man's death? After all, she's sleepwalking again....
I loved the uncertainty. The reader is with Oliva as she tries to piece together what's going on, rather than with the police investigation. Miranda gives us lots of suspects and questionable behaviour to muddy the waters. Including Olivia herself. We learn more about Olivia's past with newspaper articles from the past. As these inserts continued, I started to have my own suspicions.
I liked Olivia as a lead character, but worried about her naivete at points - as I was mentally yelling at her....No, they're lying!
As the final pages drew near, I thought I knew whodunit. I was right, but the ending was really well done - and tension filled!
Show Less
LibraryThing member brangwinn
With the use of TV transcripts, newspaper articles and voice mails Miranda creates a path leading to the truth about what really happened to a 6-year old rescued from storm pipes. Arden, who legally changed her name to Olive to escape her past runs head-first into that past 20 years later. Its
Show More
creepy and it’s a compelling mystery with lots of red herrings and a totally unexpected conclusion. It has me rethinking about a real rescue, Baby Jessica who was rescued from a Texas well. Is she still struggling to remake her life? Show Less
LibraryThing member Bookworm842
20 years after hiding from the media, Olivia awakes one night after sleepwalking to find the body of a dead man on her doorstep. Her only neighbour is an elderly man.
Megan Miranda's new psychological thriller The Girl From Widow Hill is one not to be missed.
Although this does take a little while
Told from the first perspective, you get great judgement on who Olivia is. To add to this there are articles added to give you more clarity on her past. However, some of the characters in this book were a bit flat to begin with, but they become a lot more interesting with given time.
The Girl From Widow Hill is quite an unusual read, but that's what made it even more enjoyable to read.
Megan Miranda's new psychological thriller The Girl From Widow Hill is one not to be missed.
Although this does take a little while
Show More
to get into, it is the perfect thriller to keep you up at night and keep you guessing.Told from the first perspective, you get great judgement on who Olivia is. To add to this there are articles added to give you more clarity on her past. However, some of the characters in this book were a bit flat to begin with, but they become a lot more interesting with given time.
The Girl From Widow Hill is quite an unusual read, but that's what made it even more enjoyable to read.
Show Less
LibraryThing member Veronica.Sparrow
Taut, suspenseful read.
Arden mysteriously went missing when she was a young child and was found miraculously clinging to a storm drain. She became a reluctant celebrity for surviving the unsurvivable and decided to change her identity to finally have some privacy and peace. That peace is unraveled
I did find the book well written and enthralling. I would have liked a bit more mystery as I was able to guess what or who was the culprit in the book. Aside from that, the writing kept me reading and I really liked Olivia's/Arden's character.
Arden mysteriously went missing when she was a young child and was found miraculously clinging to a storm drain. She became a reluctant celebrity for surviving the unsurvivable and decided to change her identity to finally have some privacy and peace. That peace is unraveled
Show More
when she begins to sleep walk again and awakes to find a dead man at her feet.I did find the book well written and enthralling. I would have liked a bit more mystery as I was able to guess what or who was the culprit in the book. Aside from that, the writing kept me reading and I really liked Olivia's/Arden's character.
Show Less
LibraryThing member sennebec
Imaging you're running through a maze at dusk and there's a thunderstorm approaching. Every time lightning flashes, you flinch and go faster, but each time you think you've found a way out, an evil clown pops from a hidden doorway, yelling 'Gotcha!" That's how this felt the deeper into it I got.
Show More
There are so many twists and surprises, I felt dizzy when I finished. It's tricky, treacherous and one fine read. Show Less
LibraryThing member Susan.Macura
Arden Maynor was the story of the decade when she was six-years-old and swept away in a flash flood, only to be discovered three days later clinging to a storm drain. Twenty years later, with a new name and new life, she tries to forget about the past, something made easier because she really did
Show More
not remember it all. However, one can never truly erase the past, as Olivia, formerly Arden, discovers. Family is not always who they present themselves. It was an interesting tales of what people who love you are capable of doing. Show Less
LibraryThing member marykuhl
This book was provided by the publisher via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review. The prologue of this book drew me in and this kept my interest throughout. Olivia thought she outgrew sleepwalking as a child, but 20 years later, her neighbor finds her outside in the middle of the night. The
Show More
next night, she wakes up next to a body. Olivia has changed 20 much in the last 20 years, to protect herself - from the media, from the public. But her past is catching up to her. Olivia feels like she is being watched, she is suspicious of everyone. I liked all the characters, I could connect with them. I felt all questions were answered and I wasn't left thinking, "what happened with this?". I would definitely recommend this book. Show Less
LibraryThing member amysan
I alway's enjoy Megan Miranda's books and jumped at the chance to read this one early. This one started a little slowly, but it didn't take long for me to become invested. Fun, twisty read.
LibraryThing member carole888fort
The Girl from Widow Hills by Megan Miranda is a thriller that will stay with you, long after the end of the book. It is a story that will have you guessing and confused from the first page. Arden Maynor, a six-year-old, disappears from her home on a stormy night. It is believed that, while
Show More
sleepwalking outdoors, she was swept away by a violent rainstorm. All of Widow Hills begin the search for the child, fearing the worst. After three harrowing days, Arden is found in a storm drain and saved. The child’s life is never the same as word of her ordeal spreads. When she is older, she changes her name to Olivia and fades from the limelight to live her life in anonymity for a change. She finished college, moved to another state and got a job at a local hospital. All is well for a while till she finds out that her estranged mother has passed away and the sleepwalking returns. One night, she stumbles onto a dead body in her yard and the police begin an investigation that threatens to bring back the troubles of her past life. Olivia is no longer able to tell the friends from the foes and the police may be digging up what should be left untouched. This is a rollercoaster ride and the end of the book will shock. Highly recommended. Thank you to Simon & Schuster Canada and NetGalley for the e-ARC in exchange for an honest review. Show Less
LibraryThing member jothebookgirl
This is not how she wanted to be famous, yet, 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 horrific rainstorm and went missing for days. Strangers and friends, neighbors and rescue workers, set up
Arden, now Olivia is a young woman living hundreds of miles away, from the infamous storm drain. 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. But, where is she now? Olivia feels like she’s being watched and begins sleepwalking again, like she did long ago, even sleepwalking outside her home. Late one night she jolts awake outside in her yard. Looking down she is horrified to see at her feet the corpse of a man she knows from her previous life, as Arden Maynor.
Thus incident pushes the girl from Widow Hills back into the limelight. I didn’t predict the twists and turns this book proposed. Excellent story and high quality writing. I shall read more books by Megan Miranda.
Arden Maynor was just a child when she was swept away while sleepwalking during a horrific rainstorm and went missing for days. Strangers and friends, neighbors and rescue workers, set up
Show More
search parties and held vigils, praying for her safe return. Amazingly, she was found, alive, clinging to a storm drain. Instantly, the girl from Widow Hills became a living miracle. Arden’s mother wrote a book. Fame followed as did the fans and fan letters, creeps, and stalkers. And every year, on the anniversary of her rescue, it all started over again and became too much. As soon as she was old enough, Arden changed her name and disappeared from the public eye.Arden, now Olivia is a young woman living hundreds of miles away, from the infamous storm drain. 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. But, where is she now? Olivia feels like she’s being watched and begins sleepwalking again, like she did long ago, even sleepwalking outside her home. Late one night she jolts awake outside in her yard. Looking down she is horrified to see at her feet the corpse of a man she knows from her previous life, as Arden Maynor.
Thus incident pushes the girl from Widow Hills back into the limelight. I didn’t predict the twists and turns this book proposed. Excellent story and high quality writing. I shall read more books by Megan Miranda.
Show Less
LibraryThing member JRlibrary
Definitely didn’t come close to guessing what was going on in this tale. Very enjoyable.
Olivia was once Arden, a six-year-old girl who while sleepwalking was washed away in a storm and found three days later clinging to a storm grate. Unable to stand the media attention which persisted even a
Olivia was once Arden, a six-year-old girl who while sleepwalking was washed away in a storm and found three days later clinging to a storm grate. Unable to stand the media attention which persisted even a
Show More
decade after the event Arden changes her name to Olivia so she can have a fresh start. When the book begins something happens to Olivia to make her start wondering why her past continues to collide with her present and whether she will ever be able to stop seeing darkness and feeling trapped. Show Less
LibraryThing member Carol420
It’ a creepy, compelling story of a life forever warped and twisted by unwanted fame. It poses a well-known, and often repeated theme, in this era of internet celebrities and their fall from grace that often follows. A shivery kind of fun creeps upon the reader as we wonder along with Olivia
Show More
whether those close to her should be trusted or feared., I often wanted to urge her on as she races to unravel the past without unraveling her fragile sanity. I found it to be an above-average psychological thriller/mystery that keeps the suspense ratcheted up through most of the book. It’s wasn’t an easy solve since each passing chapter seemed to create more questions than it gave answers. Still very 4.5 star worthy. Show Less
LibraryThing member Jynell
Wow. What a spellbinding thriller. As a mother of 4.5-year-olds, this really hit me thinking about the possibility that my own child might sleepwalk and be swept away! I was relieved when she was found again, but her life would never be the same... When she wakes up, almost twenty years later after
I was easily able to read this in 1 day, I couldn't put it down.
Thank you Netgalley & Simon & Schuster for allowing me to read this and give my honest opinion.
Show More
a sleepwalking episode next to a dead body, things really pick up the pace.I was easily able to read this in 1 day, I couldn't put it down.
Thank you Netgalley & Simon & Schuster for allowing me to read this and give my honest opinion.
Show Less
LibraryThing member jenn88
Arden Maynor was only young when she was swept away while sleepwalking. She was missing for days and was eventually found alive, clinging to a storm drain. She was a living miracle, but fame took its toll and when she was old enough she changed her name and disappeared from the public eye. She's
I'll admit I had trouble getting into this one at first. The writing seemed abrupt and disjointed. But I kept plugging away and eventually I couldn't turn the pages fast enough. I'll also admit that I did not read the part about the corpse on the blurb so I was really excited when I read about that and that's where it took off for me. What happened?! Not only what happened now, but what happened all those years ago. Interesting concept. Interesting characters. The ending was a little out there for me, but overall this was a very strong, solid read.
Thank you to Netgalley and Simon & Schuster Canada for an ARC.
Show More
now known as Olivia and is living hundreds of miles away from the place she grew up. But the twentieth anniversary of her rescue is coming up and the media will no doubt have something planned. She feels like she's being watched, she begins sleepwalking again - something that hasn't happened in a long time. One night she wakes up outside her home and finds a corpse at her feet.I'll admit I had trouble getting into this one at first. The writing seemed abrupt and disjointed. But I kept plugging away and eventually I couldn't turn the pages fast enough. I'll also admit that I did not read the part about the corpse on the blurb so I was really excited when I read about that and that's where it took off for me. What happened?! Not only what happened now, but what happened all those years ago. Interesting concept. Interesting characters. The ending was a little out there for me, but overall this was a very strong, solid read.
Thank you to Netgalley and Simon & Schuster Canada for an ARC.
Show Less
LibraryThing member bereanna
Whoa! Gripping and informative. Lots of potential bad guys. Twenty years after national media attention to 6 year old found in a storm drain , a man is found murdered in the girls yard. She’d been sleepwalking. She’s changed her name so the new town and employee don’t know her story. We read
Show More
of the trams sichbattention has caused. Show Less
LibraryThing member bookczuk
Pandemic Read. Lost my thread of belief in a few places but pretty good. Glad to know there was a reason for the doubt I had.
LibraryThing member Linyarai
I received this book from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review here and on my blog Samwise Reviews. I loved this; I read most of the book in a single day. Just like The Last House Guest, Megan Miranda has put together another amazing thriller. I really enjoyed how you kept learning new facts
Show More
about both events slowly, as the character did, and it was impossible to predict the ending. The story is split between two cases, how Arden went missing while sleepwalking and the body that Olivia found now. Each chapter has a section of police report or interview dating back 20 years to Widow Hills, which I found slowed down the plot a little, but it was interesting to see what people were saying at the time and it becomes relevant later. Overall I thought the whole premise was fascinating and Arden/Olivia was a really believable character. Show Less
Awards
Iowa High School Book Award (Nominee — 2023)
Original language
English
Original publication date
2020-06-23
Physical description
9 inches
ISBN
1501165429 / 9781501165429