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Stories are often told about twins who have an extra-strong, almost supernatural connection—who share the same thoughts and feelings and ideas. But the teenage twins in Michele Campbell’s She Was the Quiet One couldn’t be more different—and their differences eventually turn deadly.
The story follows twin sisters Rose and Bel Enright as they’re forced to move from California to New England after their mother’s death. Their wealthy and distant grandmother immediately enrolls them into the Odell School, the same boarding school that their father once attended. Quiet, studious Rose is thrilled to have the opportunity to study at such a prestigious school, but troublemaker Bel would rather be back in California. Bel immediately joins the wrong crowd, causing the rift between the sisters to grow—and an ambitious teacher and his wife soon find themselves caught in the middle.
She Was the Quiet One is a captivating thriller—the story of two sisters caught up in more than just the usual teenage drama. It’s a story of sibling rivalry and bullying, but it’s also a story about blind ambition—and the lengths to which some people will go to get what they want.
The beginning of the novel reveals that whatever comes between the two girls results in the murder of one of them, setting the stage for plenty of tension and suspense. And as the school year plays out, readers will try to put the pieces together, to figure out which sister doesn’t survive the school year and what (and who) leads to her murder. There are so many twists and turns along the way—so many outbursts and confrontations, so many troubled characters—that it’s sure to keep readers guessing.
Campbell fills the novel with complex characters—as well as a few not-so-complex ones, who help to fill in the spaces in between. She explores the story from a number of different perspectives, allowing the main characters to go deeper than outward appearances and attitudes to reveal their true thoughts, feelings, and motivation. And their layers and loyalties make for fascinating characters—and a gripping tale.
If you’re looking for a light and easy-going beach read, this definitely isn’t it. She Was the Quiet One is a tense and twisted novel about siblings and spouses—and about love, ambition, and trust. It’s the kind of book that will make you stay up past your bedtime.
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