Thrillers & Suspense
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The Quarry Girls: A Thriller
Killers hiding in plain sight. Small-town secrets. A girl who knows too much. From the Amazon Charts bestselling author of Unspeakable Things and Bloodline comes a nerve-twisting novel inspired by a shocking true crime.
Minnesota, 1977. For the teens of one close-knit community, summer means late-night swimming parties at the quarry, the county fair, and venturing into the tunnels beneath the city. But for two best friends, it's not all fun and games.
Heather and Brenda have a secret. Something they saw in the dark. Something they can't forget. They've decided to never tell a soul. But their vow is tested when their friend disappears―the second girl to vanish in a week. And yet the authorities are reluctant to investigate.
Heather is terrified that the missing girls are connected to what she and Brenda stumbled upon that night. Desperately searching for answers on her own, she learns that no one in her community is who they seem to be. Not the police, not the boys she met at the quarry, not even her parents. But she can't stop digging because she knows those girls are in danger.
She also knows she's next.
Minnesota, 1977. For the teens of one close-knit community, summer means late-night swimming parties at the quarry, the county fair, and venturing into the tunnels beneath the city. But for two best friends, it's not all fun and games.
Heather and Brenda have a secret. Something they saw in the dark. Something they can't forget. They've decided to never tell a soul. But their vow is tested when their friend disappears―the second girl to vanish in a week. And yet the authorities are reluctant to investigate.
Heather is terrified that the missing girls are connected to what she and Brenda stumbled upon that night. Desperately searching for answers on her own, she learns that no one in her community is who they seem to be. Not the police, not the boys she met at the quarry, not even her parents. But she can't stop digging because she knows those girls are in danger.
She also knows she's next.
Editorial Reviews
"[The Quarry Girls is] one of the most anticipated thrillers of the fall season…[The] novel is about innocence lost, the unwritten rules of silence in small towns, what ‘broken men' do to others, and what boys growing into men do in packs that they would never do alone. And then there's the courage of one woman who will not allow herself to be killed." ―St. Paul Pioneer Press
"Like Unspeakable Things and Bloodline, Jess Lourey's The Quarry Girls is ultimately a morality tale―almost a dark fairy tale except that the plots are rooted in reality and the danger is all too real. The sad fact is that there is no shortage of past crimes to prompt Jess Lourey's creative mind, but readers can rest easy knowing that this author will approach every idea with deep reverence for the victims and a goal of providing a healing and heartfelt journey―for both the characters and their readers―within the pages of some truly exceptional crime fiction." ―BOLO Books
"Jess Lourey's new novel The Quarry Girls is a love letter to Gen-Xers and Murderinos everywhere." ―The Big Thrill
"The Quarry Girls is true crime told as fiction and most certainly will cause readers to have some sleepless nights." ―Bookreporter
"Few authors can blend the genuine fear generated by a sordid tale of true crime with evocative, three-dimensional characters and mesmerizing prose like Jess Lourey. Her fictional stories feel rooted in a world we all know but also fear. The Quarry Girls is a story of secrets gone to seed, and Lourey gives readers her best novel yet―which is quite the accomplishment. Calling it: The Quarry Girls will be one of the best books of the year." ―Alex Segura, acclaimed author of Secret Identity, Star Wars Poe Dameron: Free Fall, and Miami Midnight
"Jess Lourey once more taps deep into her ...
"Like Unspeakable Things and Bloodline, Jess Lourey's The Quarry Girls is ultimately a morality tale―almost a dark fairy tale except that the plots are rooted in reality and the danger is all too real. The sad fact is that there is no shortage of past crimes to prompt Jess Lourey's creative mind, but readers can rest easy knowing that this author will approach every idea with deep reverence for the victims and a goal of providing a healing and heartfelt journey―for both the characters and their readers―within the pages of some truly exceptional crime fiction." ―BOLO Books
"Jess Lourey's new novel The Quarry Girls is a love letter to Gen-Xers and Murderinos everywhere." ―The Big Thrill
"The Quarry Girls is true crime told as fiction and most certainly will cause readers to have some sleepless nights." ―Bookreporter
"Few authors can blend the genuine fear generated by a sordid tale of true crime with evocative, three-dimensional characters and mesmerizing prose like Jess Lourey. Her fictional stories feel rooted in a world we all know but also fear. The Quarry Girls is a story of secrets gone to seed, and Lourey gives readers her best novel yet―which is quite the accomplishment. Calling it: The Quarry Girls will be one of the best books of the year." ―Alex Segura, acclaimed author of Secret Identity, Star Wars Poe Dameron: Free Fall, and Miami Midnight
"Jess Lourey once more taps deep into her ...
Readers Top Reviews
Natasja Peta Ki
I could not put this book down! It was a real page-turner that kept me guessing right to the end.
Colleen NoyesNata
The Quarry Girls is a high octane, thriller where young girls are missing and the secrets in the small town are severe. It seems as if everyone has something to hide, but they are all somehow connected. As the secrets begin to come out, you will find yourself raptured up in the mystery of the story. There are some dark things going on and some things can never be forgotten. The people left in this town figure out what those secrets are and what happens to the girls that are missing. What is the connection? Take a ride on this thrilling story that will keep you on the edge of your seat.
MemeringColleen N
This style was body clenching at the twists and turns it took. It had my stomach and heart racing to see which would drop and yet questioned every turn. The writer had us trying to solve from step one and in some ways you do put the pieces together before she gets to the scene but the way she unfolds them perfectly places your suspicions. Excellent read and listen.
AngieMemeringColl
This book was a rough start for me. It was confusing at first. But once I got going I couldn't put it down. The twist and turns at every corner kept me wondering, and when I thought I figured it out here would come another twist. Towards the end the pieces fall into place. Must read great book.
Karissa EckertAng
Series Info/Source: This is a stand alone book. I got a copy of this on ebook through Amazon First Reads. Thoughts: This was an interesting read. I am not generally a huge fan of serial killer/thriller types of books. I was intrigued by the Minnesota setting here and I really did end up enjoying that Minnesota setting. There is a lot of background here on the late 1970's in the St. Cloud area, particularly Pantown. I had no idea that so many awful things were happening in that time frame in St. Cloud. I also didn't know the urban myths around the Pantown tunnels. The story follows Heather as she and her two girlfriends get an amazing opportunity for their all girl band to perform at the county fair. This is overshadowed some by the fact that a girl named Beth has recently gone missing. Their first performance at the fair goes awesome and they are pumped for their next until one of their band members, Maureen, goes missing. Heather is smart and she is sure that Beth isn't a runaway and neither is Maureen, so Heather starts digging. What she finds reveals a nasty underside to their idealistic small town. This was a well done story. I enjoyed Heather as a character, although her home life was seriously messed up and got more so as the story continued. It was an interesting look back in time and really drove home how in a lot of ways a "woman's" place in society has improved. However, it also drove home how far we still have to go. It was scary how easily society accepted the disappearance of these girls and how readily trusted figures in society accepted and even participated in what was happening. This was easy to read and hard to put down. It is definitely a page-turner and the story kept me guessing. The conclusion wasn't as surprising as I had hoped, but I did enjoy how the story wrapped up. It ends on a hopeful note and I really admired how Heather and Beth handled everything. My Summary (4/5): Overall I enjoyed learning about the history of the St. Cloud area and enjoyed the mystery behind this story. This was well written, easy to read, and not too scary. Will I pick up more Lourey books in the future? Well, as I said, I am not a huge fan of this genre but if another Lourey book comes up in a Minnesota setting and it sounds intriguing I would definitely consider it. This was an interesting read and very well written.
