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The Quiet Ones
From award-winning suspense author Brandon Massey comes a thrilling new tale of buried secrets and stunning revelations . . . LOST Twenty-five years ago, a jealous ex-boyfriend murdered Mallory Steele's mother. With no close family to take in Mallory and her older sister, the girls became wards of the state--and were soon ripped apart, sent to live with different foster families. THEN FOUND Taken in by loving parents, Mallory went on to a successful career as an investigative reporter at an Atlanta newspaper. She hasn’t been able to find her sister despite her best efforts—until she discovers a promising connection on a genealogical website. Hoping for a reunion, Mallory sets off for the small town in rural Georgia where she believes her sister lives. BUT NOTHING WILL EVER BE THE SAME There, at Sanctuary, an old antebellum mansion deep in the murky backwoods, Mallory discovers her sister’s new a reclusive clan led by a secretive man known only as “Father.” Skeptical of Father's revelation about her sister, Mallory plunges into the most important investigation of her life . . . but to unravel the mystery of her sister's fate and the terrible secrets lurking in Sanctuary, Mallory must is finding the truth always worth the price?
262 pages, Paperback
First published March 12, 2020
515 people are currently reading
2236 people want to read
About the author
Brandon Massey
56 books913 followersHere’s a little about me, Brandon Massey. (“Massey” is not pronounced “macy,” by the way. Think of “mass” instead.)
I was born June 9, 1973, in Waukegan, Illinois. I grew up in Zion, a suburb north of Chicago.
I originally self-published Thunderland, my first novel, in 1999. After managing to sell a few thousand copies on my own, Kensington Publishing Corp. in New York offered me a two-book contract, and published a new, revised edition of Thunderland in December 2002.
Since then, I’ve published up to three books a year, ranging from thriller novels such as The Other Brother, to short story collections such as Twisted Tales, and anthologies such as Dark Dreams.
My newest suspense thriller, Covenant, was published in November 2010.
I’ve got plenty more stories in the works that I’ll publish in the coming years.
I live with my family near Atlanta, GA.
I was born June 9, 1973, in Waukegan, Illinois. I grew up in Zion, a suburb north of Chicago.
I originally self-published Thunderland, my first novel, in 1999. After managing to sell a few thousand copies on my own, Kensington Publishing Corp. in New York offered me a two-book contract, and published a new, revised edition of Thunderland in December 2002.
Since then, I’ve published up to three books a year, ranging from thriller novels such as The Other Brother, to short story collections such as Twisted Tales, and anthologies such as Dark Dreams.
My newest suspense thriller, Covenant, was published in November 2010.
I’ve got plenty more stories in the works that I’ll publish in the coming years.
I live with my family near Atlanta, GA.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 169 reviews
March 22, 2020
This was my first read by this author and it did not disappoint. I love a good suspense/mystery and this story kept me glued to the pages. It was hard to put down because I had to know how it all would play out until the end. And what an ending it was! The plot twist was one that I would’ve never figured out and that’s a big plus for me because I’m usually prone to guessing early. I loved Mallory’s character and her drive to find her sister. And I liked that she had a ride-or-die in Ben. Great, great book! I’m looking forward to reading more by Mr. Massey. I’ve already bought a few more of his books after reading this one.
October 17, 2020
I'm not 100% sure how I felt about this. For now, I'd give it a 3.5 rating. I definitely enjoyed the book, the story was engrossing, consistent eerie tone throughout, efficient writing and overall well paced. As someone with a particular interest in the topic of cults, I felt this piece was well researched and for the most part, well executed.
That said, I have two criticisms -
1) I feel the book could have benefitted from better editing. I hate to nit-pick, but there were a few of moments throughout that word choice seemed off and possibly could have done with an adjustment.
2) **Kind of spoiler** The "twist" felt a bit heavy handed/absurd for me. I see from other reviews that many people seemed to enjoy it, so it's quite possibly just not my taste. But for an otherwise well put together piece on the horrors of cults, it felt jarringly "scooby doo". Definitely didn't expect it though, so job kind of well done?
I wouldn't let these criticism's deter me from recommending this book to others however. It was truly enjoyable and engaging, and I would definitely be eager to read more from Brandon Massey in the future!
That said, I have two criticisms -
1) I feel the book could have benefitted from better editing. I hate to nit-pick, but there were a few of moments throughout that word choice seemed off and possibly could have done with an adjustment.
2) **Kind of spoiler** The "twist" felt a bit heavy handed/absurd for me. I see from other reviews that many people seemed to enjoy it, so it's quite possibly just not my taste. But for an otherwise well put together piece on the horrors of cults, it felt jarringly "scooby doo". Definitely didn't expect it though, so job kind of well done?
I wouldn't let these criticism's deter me from recommending this book to others however. It was truly enjoyable and engaging, and I would definitely be eager to read more from Brandon Massey in the future!
November 18, 2020
The Quiet Ones is . . . fine.
Room temperature tap water. Beige wallpaper. Plain oatmeal.
The maddening thing is it could have been so much better.
After the murder of their mother, Mallory and her older sister Liz are sent into the bowels of the foster care system, where they’re eventually separated. Mallory finds herself adopted by a kind family that helps her overcome her trauma, but 25 years later she still hasn’t been able to locate Liz. Until one day Mallory is contacted by someone claiming to know her sister and wanting to meet with her.
This sets in motion an intermittently suspenseful story involving an enigmatic cult leader, a bevy of mute and surgically-enhanced women, a malevolent cop, a small town whose residents seem to know more than they let on, and a genuinely creepy connection to Atlanta’s all-too-real reputation as a hub for sex trafficking.
The potential in this story is evident. Unfortunately, author Brandon Massey may know how to structure a compelling plot line, but his writing style, such as it is, is strictly utilitarian. And I HATE to say this of any writer, especially an independent one, but the prose is completely lacking in voice and kind of graceless. Overwritten passages. Clunky phrasing. Dialogue that falls flat. Thin characterization.
The book reads fast because its bones are solid. I would almost rather have seen it written as a screenplay because so much of it doesn’t work as a novel. And that includes a final plot twist that is simultaneously so bizarre and so obvious it was impossible to take seriously.
It’s actually a real bummer to write this. The Quiet Ones is a well intentioned and never boring book that I could very easily see being made better than it actually is. It makes me wonder what would happen if Massey had a more perceptive editor – a firm hand to shepherd his work around some of his less helpful impulses. I don’t know. I hate to torch any writer, because who the hell am I? But I’ve also got to be honest about my own reaction, or what good are any of these reviews I’ve written?
Room temperature tap water. Beige wallpaper. Plain oatmeal.
The maddening thing is it could have been so much better.
After the murder of their mother, Mallory and her older sister Liz are sent into the bowels of the foster care system, where they’re eventually separated. Mallory finds herself adopted by a kind family that helps her overcome her trauma, but 25 years later she still hasn’t been able to locate Liz. Until one day Mallory is contacted by someone claiming to know her sister and wanting to meet with her.
This sets in motion an intermittently suspenseful story involving an enigmatic cult leader, a bevy of mute and surgically-enhanced women, a malevolent cop, a small town whose residents seem to know more than they let on, and a genuinely creepy connection to Atlanta’s all-too-real reputation as a hub for sex trafficking.
The potential in this story is evident. Unfortunately, author Brandon Massey may know how to structure a compelling plot line, but his writing style, such as it is, is strictly utilitarian. And I HATE to say this of any writer, especially an independent one, but the prose is completely lacking in voice and kind of graceless. Overwritten passages. Clunky phrasing. Dialogue that falls flat. Thin characterization.
The book reads fast because its bones are solid. I would almost rather have seen it written as a screenplay because so much of it doesn’t work as a novel. And that includes a final plot twist that is simultaneously so bizarre and so obvious it was impossible to take seriously.
It’s actually a real bummer to write this. The Quiet Ones is a well intentioned and never boring book that I could very easily see being made better than it actually is. It makes me wonder what would happen if Massey had a more perceptive editor – a firm hand to shepherd his work around some of his less helpful impulses. I don’t know. I hate to torch any writer, because who the hell am I? But I’ve also got to be honest about my own reaction, or what good are any of these reviews I’ve written?
March 22, 2020
Another engrossing book by Mr. Massey.. Un-put-downable, seat of your pants wild ride.
December 26, 2020
Far-Fetched
I know Brandon Massey’s books are always going to give me an outlandish storyline. This book was consistent with that theme. It was bizarre and creepy. The suspense kept me committed to finishing it. The twist at the end was disappointing for me, but totally unexpected. It was a decent read, but I’ve read better books by him.
I know Brandon Massey’s books are always going to give me an outlandish storyline. This book was consistent with that theme. It was bizarre and creepy. The suspense kept me committed to finishing it. The twist at the end was disappointing for me, but totally unexpected. It was a decent read, but I’ve read better books by him.
July 5, 2022
This is a fast paced thriller for beginners who are diving into cult themes.
April 5, 2023
I forced myself to get through this one. Less than 300 pages and it felt like it took me forever to get through it. I loved the short chapters. I wanted to love more about it. I was intrigued at the beginning but it fell flat for me.
The plot twist just wasn’t believable to me.
The plot twist just wasn’t believable to me.
April 5, 2023
Have you ever watched a movie where everything went right in the first half and then the director threw a wrench in the plans and messed everything up? That’s this book. A lifetime movie, if you will, and not a really good one. Just the OK one with ridiculous shit happening to make it pop.
I am a sucker for stories about the foster system, especially when siblings get separated. It is always a question of what will happen to them now. For Mallory, she excelled, while for Liz, life was haphazard. These two found their way back to each other in one of the most unexpected ways.
To start, the cult situation had me intrigued. It was suspenseful and left me wanting more. When it came time for the big reveal, all I kept thinking was, What the hell is really going on here and why? I would’ve loved to see the author go another way with the twist at the end. It felt random and written without complete thought, almost. It immediately soured the book for me. It did not feel believable, but after further research on the author, I see this is a common theme for him. In terms of throwing shit in there just for kicks.
Although the book wasn’t for me, I think the author did a great job of keeping me engaged, and there were even supporting characters I loved. It just didn’t come together well in the end.
3.5/5⭐️
Recommended for people who love thrillers, simple mysteries, and quick reads.
Other questions I had were:
- Mallory and Ben—are they together or friends?— because the line was very thin. She didn’t seem to like him throughout most of the book, but at the end, they have sex. I recognize that she was caught up in the search for her sister, but damn.
- Are these people black? The author makes it a point to let us know that they are, but for some reason, I still don’t feel like they were.
- Could we get more background on how Liz became Father?
I am a sucker for stories about the foster system, especially when siblings get separated. It is always a question of what will happen to them now. For Mallory, she excelled, while for Liz, life was haphazard. These two found their way back to each other in one of the most unexpected ways.
To start, the cult situation had me intrigued. It was suspenseful and left me wanting more. When it came time for the big reveal, all I kept thinking was, What the hell is really going on here and why? I would’ve loved to see the author go another way with the twist at the end. It felt random and written without complete thought, almost. It immediately soured the book for me. It did not feel believable, but after further research on the author, I see this is a common theme for him. In terms of throwing shit in there just for kicks.
Although the book wasn’t for me, I think the author did a great job of keeping me engaged, and there were even supporting characters I loved. It just didn’t come together well in the end.
3.5/5⭐️
Recommended for people who love thrillers, simple mysteries, and quick reads.
Other questions I had were:
- Mallory and Ben—are they together or friends?— because the line was very thin. She didn’t seem to like him throughout most of the book, but at the end, they have sex. I recognize that she was caught up in the search for her sister, but damn.
- Are these people black? The author makes it a point to let us know that they are, but for some reason, I still don’t feel like they were.
- Could we get more background on how Liz became Father?
May 10, 2023
Fast paced cult thriller
Massey has created a fast paced cult thriller that does bring you into the story and is well written.
Two young girls witness their mother being killed and are then separated in the services system.
When Mallory now a successful reporter goes to look for her sister, she is led to a place called the sanctuary ruled by The Father.
They tell her that her sister Liz is dead. Mallory, however knows she's not.
This is worth the read, the plot was good, fast paced and an interest twist at the end.
For me, I felt the characters lacked some depth and the ending seemed rushed. Otherwise I'd have awarded five stars.
That being said I would recommend the book.
Kerry Kennedy Author
Massey has created a fast paced cult thriller that does bring you into the story and is well written.
Two young girls witness their mother being killed and are then separated in the services system.
When Mallory now a successful reporter goes to look for her sister, she is led to a place called the sanctuary ruled by The Father.
They tell her that her sister Liz is dead. Mallory, however knows she's not.
This is worth the read, the plot was good, fast paced and an interest twist at the end.
For me, I felt the characters lacked some depth and the ending seemed rushed. Otherwise I'd have awarded five stars.
That being said I would recommend the book.
Kerry Kennedy Author
May 15, 2021
the plot twist was a little hard to believe / take seriously, but def a page turner of a book
October 14, 2021
The fog shrouded those hiding amongst the trees, but she continued to walk forward, drawn in by some unseen force. As she entered the fog her vision picked up on young women dressed in white, twirling and flitting between the trees. Their gowns flowed around their ankles and their mouths opened in song, but no sound escaped their lips. A paralyzing fear gripped her as she realized what she had stepped into was horrifically sinister.
The Quiet Ones immediately hooked my attention with a murder and didn’t let me go until the final paragraph. There were a few times where things were described repetitively, but other than that… I loved this book! I had never read anything by Brandon Massey before and now I will be reading all of his books because I read this book in one afternoon. I. Could. Not. Put. It. Down!
Mallory witnessed her mother’s murder at the edge of ten. She and her twelve year old sister were separated when they entered the foster care system. Flash forward twenty-five years and Mallory is now a journalist and finally may have a lead on her sister’s whereabouts. But it doesn’t lead her to a place she ever expected.
If you love books about cults… then you NEED to get your hands on this one. It was creepy, engagingly intense, and filled with crazy scenes and the most shady small town you’ll ever enter.
TW: Murder, Sexual Assault, Sexual Harassment, Rape, Slavery, Misogyny, Physical Assault, Mental Illness, Cult Practices, Human Trafficking, Gaslighting.
The Quiet Ones immediately hooked my attention with a murder and didn’t let me go until the final paragraph. There were a few times where things were described repetitively, but other than that… I loved this book! I had never read anything by Brandon Massey before and now I will be reading all of his books because I read this book in one afternoon. I. Could. Not. Put. It. Down!
Mallory witnessed her mother’s murder at the edge of ten. She and her twelve year old sister were separated when they entered the foster care system. Flash forward twenty-five years and Mallory is now a journalist and finally may have a lead on her sister’s whereabouts. But it doesn’t lead her to a place she ever expected.
If you love books about cults… then you NEED to get your hands on this one. It was creepy, engagingly intense, and filled with crazy scenes and the most shady small town you’ll ever enter.
TW: Murder, Sexual Assault, Sexual Harassment, Rape, Slavery, Misogyny, Physical Assault, Mental Illness, Cult Practices, Human Trafficking, Gaslighting.
April 4, 2023
Short version of my review.. The first 45 or so chapters were so good had me on the edge of my seat. I literally read the first 45 chapters in one day. The plot twist however took this book from a 5 star to a 3.5 at the minimum 🙄… This book had sooooooooo much potential and the author put an unnecessary plot twist that made entirely NO SENSE…
🛑 Stop here if you don’t want to read spoilers 🚫
I have too many questions
📌How could these people not know that “Father” was not a man?
📌You really want me to believe these men listened ?
📌How was father’s voice to make this believable? Like I need answers
🛑 Stop here if you don’t want to read spoilers 🚫
I have too many questions
📌How could these people not know that “Father” was not a man?
📌You really want me to believe these men listened ?
📌How was father’s voice to make this believable? Like I need answers
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
October 13, 2025
3.5 stars
This was a quick, fast-paced read. I’m not sure if a longer story would have made it better, but the ending did feel a bit rushed.
The reasoning behind the plot seemed underdeveloped and the research behind it felt somewhat superficial, although readers less familiar with the topic might not notice it as much. It is best approached without overanalyzing the details.
The lack of involvement from the appropriate law enforcement branch was also a glaring plot hole. The characters were described as smart and resourceful, yet their actions didn’t really reflect that.
This was a quick, fast-paced read. I’m not sure if a longer story would have made it better, but the ending did feel a bit rushed.
The reasoning behind the plot seemed underdeveloped and the research behind it felt somewhat superficial, although readers less familiar with the topic might not notice it as much. It is best approached without overanalyzing the details.
The lack of involvement from the appropriate law enforcement branch was also a glaring plot hole. The characters were described as smart and resourceful, yet their actions didn’t really reflect that.
February 3, 2023
The Quiet Ones was such a great read! I tore through it because I just couldn’t put it down.
April 17, 2024
Started off decent, but by the end it left me rolling my eyes in frustration at the protagonists' poor decision-making. I was all ready to give it three stars, until one single line knocked it down to two. What was the line?
"We'll cover more ground, faster, if we split up."
I kid you not.
November 2, 2022
I found the writing style to be very basic. Interesting enough story to keep me engaged though. By the time I got to the twist of the book and all the way to the end, I was thinking wtf am I reading? It was like a bad Lifetime movie. Just wasn’t for me.
April 17, 2023
I'm really glad that I got this on KU and didn't pay for it. The only reason I didn't quit at 10%, 20% and 50% is I needed a Q book for my challenge. Meh.
August 5, 2023
Interesting idea, but poorly executed. The main character was awful too.
November 18, 2021
I have been wanting to read Brandon Massey for a while now. This is my first book by him and it did not disappoint!
The story got started very quickly and I stayed consistently intrigued throughout. Man that twist was AMAZING! I figured out the ending to The Sixth Sense at like 5 years old, but I did not see that twist coming at all. It’s so rare that I’m genuinely shocked by a book and I admire the way that reveal shocked me!
There were a couple of times where you can tell the female characters were written by a male author. And the main character, Mallory made so many stupid decisions! Every time she had information she showed her hand way too quickly and wound up losing that situation. Lots of the bad things that happened could’ve been avoided if she didn’t constantly make stupid decisions. Those were my only problems though.
I really enjoyed this book and can’t wait to read more by Brandon Massey!
The story got started very quickly and I stayed consistently intrigued throughout. Man that twist was AMAZING! I figured out the ending to The Sixth Sense at like 5 years old, but I did not see that twist coming at all. It’s so rare that I’m genuinely shocked by a book and I admire the way that reveal shocked me!
There were a couple of times where you can tell the female characters were written by a male author. And the main character, Mallory made so many stupid decisions! Every time she had information she showed her hand way too quickly and wound up losing that situation. Lots of the bad things that happened could’ve been avoided if she didn’t constantly make stupid decisions. Those were my only problems though.
I really enjoyed this book and can’t wait to read more by Brandon Massey!
June 9, 2023
I really enjoyed this book and will be reading another one from the author! I didn’t expect Liz to be Father didn’t see that plot twist at all. And i didn’t see tabathia killing herself either. And i kinda didn’t get the last sentence in the book it will always be our little secret like what’s the secret. He’s still there. Also didn’t like how all the action happened at the end. But i did enjoy how the book talked about sex trafficking
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
October 16, 2025
4.25*** I enjoyed this. I enjoyed the writing, I enjoyed the plot, I don’t know what I would say is missing. This book read like a movie for me, and I think a movie adaptation would do greattttt. I loved the concept, and themes that were brought up in this novel, and the fact that it’s based in a small town added to the creep factor hidden amongst the pages. I would recommend, and I’m intrigued to read more by the author.
February 22, 2025
This book was such a page turner! I was literally up at 4am reading it because it was just that good!
The pacing and build up was AMAZING… I was not expecting the twist nor the way this story ended.
If you enjoy small town mysteries/thrillers, creepy cults, and suspense, add this to your TBR immediately!
The pacing and build up was AMAZING… I was not expecting the twist nor the way this story ended.
If you enjoy small town mysteries/thrillers, creepy cults, and suspense, add this to your TBR immediately!
April 12, 2020
Well done! I really enjoyed this one!
October 30, 2022
This was okay was kind of predictable definitely not better than Nana but it was okay I gave it a three stars kept me interested and engaged. Still a fan though
July 10, 2023
literally so slay! i actually couldn't nail down the twist for this one which was an issue i had with a previous Brandon Massey book Nana.
July 24, 2023
Woah
The plot twist at the end of this book!! Definitely wasn’t expecting that. Definitely a must read. Brandon Massey does it again
The plot twist at the end of this book!! Definitely wasn’t expecting that. Definitely a must read. Brandon Massey does it again
June 17, 2023
If I had a nickel for every time I picked up a random thriller, and it ended up being about human trafficking, I have two nickels. Which isn’t a lot, but it’s weird that it’s happened twice.
April 13, 2023
Wow...that was a wild ride Mr. Massey. This was a great read. Action packed and if you blink too fast you might miss something. My kind of story.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 169 reviews