Quarry Girls by Jess Lourey

Available Nov. 1, 2022

Rating: 5 stars

Kids who grew up in the 1970's, 80's, and 90's were born into an era where missing children got top billing. There were eerie pictures on milk cartons and info sheets hanging in the grocery store stamped with "last seen." For some, there was a child from our own community missing. Our parents were obsessed and we were terrified. Where was the child? Who could do something like that? Where will they strike next? We constantly had our eyes pealed for disheveled strangers and white panel vans. As terrified as we were, we were just as likely to keep quiet if someone said something to us or made an inappropriate gesture. It was just too terrifying to put into words. But Jess Lourey did.

I have to admit, I had trouble sleeping the night I started reading this book. It hit a chord with me, took me back to traumatic moments in my childhood where I discovered that people could do horrible things to other people and that no one could be assured of safety. Though Heather was much more deeply connected to and impacted by what was happening than I ever was, I could relate to her experiences, her fears for her own safety and that of her younger sister, and her doubts about the very fabric of the community where her family had chosen to nest for generations.

As an avid fan of cozy mysteries featuring amateur sleuths, I really appreciated Heather's drive to find out what was happening. She didn't seem distraught over the death of her friend, nor did she seem fearful of being the next one to disappear, but she focused completely on trying to figure out what had happened and why. For that reason I would recommend this book to fellow cozy mystery fans (though I would in no way consider this book to be a cozy mystery) or to anyone who grew up in this era and enjoys suspense.

Thank you to NetGalley for providing me with an ARC.