Description
Price: $15.95 - $8.99
(as of Mar 21, 2025 10:32:24 UTC – Details)
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.
From the Publisher
Publisher : Thomas & Mercer (November 1, 2022)
Language : English
Paperback : 335 pages
ISBN-10 : 1542034299
ISBN-13 : 978-1542034296
Item Weight : 2.31 pounds
Dimensions : 5.5 x 1 x 8.25 inches
Customers say
Customers find the story intriguing and engaging. They describe the book as an enjoyable, well-written read that keeps them hooked until the end. The characters are well-developed and relatable, making the story thought-provoking and emotional. Readers appreciate the meaningful lessons and deep emotions conveyed in the book.
AI-generated from the text of customer reviews
B. A. Chiles –
True Crime – A Little Dark and Suspenseful – Jess Lourey Does it Again
Another amazing book from favorite author Jess Lourey is hitting the shelves and this reader is excited. Take my word for it –she just keeps getting better and better.
The Quarry Girls is set in Minnesota in 1977 and is set in small town Pantown where everyone knows everyone. Once again author Lourey weaves a tale that true crime lovers will devour. The darkness of the novel is real and the intensity of the story and characters is deep. I read this in two sittings and would have read it in one if I could have. It is that good.
The story revolves around three young girls – Heather, Brenda and Maureen- who revel in quarry parties, the county fair and twisting tunnels that lie beneath the city. While it all seems innocent in the beginning as the story develops the reader realizes that something is just not right in this idyllic little town and the girls, unfortunately, are a part of what is a terrifying secret.
When one of the three girls disappears the other two begin to question everything and everyone and rightfully so. They have seen something very disturbing and they just can’t believe it. People just aren’t who they seem to be and it was a surprise to this reader to see how the story developed and who really were the dark characters. When the second girl disappears Heather knows that she is next and tries to do everything to dodge the danger.
Written in a very engaging and exciting manner this book will be one that stays on my favorite list for a very long time. This author never disappoints and this is a great book for any mystery or true crime lover.
Karissa Eckert –
Intriguing MN setting, well done mystery.
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.
diana jaycox (my friends call me DJ) –
An exhilarating, bone- chilling thriller, fiction inspired by truth- a work of art!
The Quarry Girls: A Thriller is a first read by Jess Lourey that I selected as part of a challenge! While I consider myself an eclectic reader, I sadly admit that a book based on a true crime, full of murder and mayhem would not be my usual choice of reading material. If I wanted to be full of anxiety, fear and anger, I could read US NEWS and World Reports. If not for the Kindle challenge to read a book based on true crime I would have missed experiencing the brilliant talent of Jess Lourey. I was totally unprepared for the tsunami of emotions I would feel reading Quarry Girls.
In her author notes (pg. 310), Jess Lourey thanks five authors whose words inspire her writing. Jess writes, ” [they] can put together a sentence so unexpected and delicious that I go back to taste it again and again.” Jess Lourey’s writing inspired the same feelings in me. I usually read to escape but with Jess Lourey’s Quarry Girls I found myself savoring her words. It was an experience similar to lingering over a magnificent five course meal, allowing the different flavors of the food, the wine and the companionship, to roll over your tongue and incite your mind. A book that excites and involves all 5 of my senses is a new experience for me.
As much as I was exhilarated by the suspense of the story, I was facinated by Ms. Lourey’s word craft. Quarry Girls is the most highlighted work of fiction I have on my shelves. Jess Lourey through mere words invoked a feeling of childhood nostalgia, taking me back to a time in the 70s I remember to be idellyic and simpler than today. And while I reveled in memories of swimming in the canals around my small Central California town, Jess Lourey’s creative words reminded me that I never knew what secrets, plots and political manipulations were occurring at my parents cocktail parties. I thought she might have read my diary but again the opening pages of the book clued me into the fact that miles from California, Jess Lourey shared a similar childhood. The way I instantly related to her characters added to the thrill and chills felt as the story unfolds! Of the 70s for example, Jess character Heather says, ” That summer, the summer of 77,everything had edges. The sharpness took my fiends, but it cut away the blinders, too. And once you understand the truth, there’s no living any other way.” Talk about “killing me softly with words”! Jess Lourey took my memories, my adventures, my bad choices and wove them into poetic work of art. If only I had the talent to paint a picture with words the way, Jess does in this novel.
I was mesmerized by this book. I read page after page of this novel, ignoring my messy house and myhis dogs whines for attention, and finished this book in a day. I was so enthralled, determine to figure out whodunit and how things would turn out, I didn’t realize that night had fallen! And then I was so upset that I had finished already, I almost started over again; this time determined to take my time and savor every word. Instead I purchased the audio version so I could sit back close my eyes and have the words wash over me as I rock in my favorite chair in front of the fireplace this winter.
Thanks so much to the Kindle Challenge for forcing me to choose a book out of my usual readings which led me to Jess Lourey. She will now occupy a place on my “fave author’s shelf.
Jackie Ford –
Excellent story, very well written. It captures you from the start and keeps your reading til the end. It takes you through all the emotions. Differently recommend
Natalja Warkentin –
Es hat mich sofort gepackt, von der ersten Seite an, da hab ich gewusst, Ahhh du wirst dieses Buch verschlingenâ¦und genau so war es.
Packende Story mit spanenden Plot Twists.
Authentische Charaktere mit achtziger Jahre Flair einer amerikanischen Kleinstadt, Ich konnte die Hitze beim lesen schmecken so gut wurde es beschrieben. Oder die Szenen von Beth, so gut.
Hier sieht man wieder, das böse ist ansteckend.
David and Nicola Peat –
An amazing thriller through the eyes of a teenage girl. Back to the 70s and Pantown is the most horrendous place to be. Young woman are going missing and the church, police all seem unable or reluctant to stop this. With tunnels under houses and Dead Manâs quarry not so far away – whoâll be next? A must read. Heâs write crime thrillers from a completely different POV.
Free Spirit –
Couldn’t put this one down, stunning read.
Lesley –
I enjoyed reading this book. I read it on my vacation. Itâs easy to read and it is a good story that is well told.