2024 the best horror books review

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(as of Dec 22, 2024 01:42:10 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
Reviewer: Emma
Rating: 5.0 out of 5 stars
Title: Good for Adult or Young Adult
Review: This book seems to be lossely based on the unsolved case of Susanne and Mary Reker, set in the same time and place of this real crime. This book is only slightly resembling that cold case, and does have a conclusion.It is Very well written, although it feels like a book meant for young adults, I really enjoyed this book as an adult. It is not overly scary, graphic, or triggering. So if you want a mystery/thriller that isn’t too scary or dark, this one is fantastic. The content isn’t overwhelming, and the twists and red herrings are well done! I enjoyed this book and found myself eager to keep reading! Definitely a satisfying page turner!!

Reviewer: Karissa Eckert
Rating: 4.0 out of 5 stars
Title: Intriguing MN setting, well done mystery.
Review: 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.

Reviewer: LatinaPhD.Abroad
Rating: 5.0 out of 5 stars
Title: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ Dark, Chilling, and Impossible to Put Down
Review: Jess Lourey’s “The Quarry Girls” is an intense, atmospheric thriller that captures small-town secrets and teenage fear in a way that is both gripping and unsettling. Set in the 1970s, the novel blends coming-of-age elements with a deeply disturbing mystery, making for a haunting read.The setting really adds to the story’s tension—Lourey does an excellent job of evoking the claustrophobia of a tight-knit community where everyone seems to be hiding something. The protagonist’s journey as she tries to navigate these secrets and protect her friends feels raw and real, with just the right amount of vulnerability and determination.What truly made this book stand out for me was how well it balanced the suspense with emotional depth. The fear and uncertainty that comes with adolescence are layered with the darker themes of violence and trust, making for a multifaceted read. Lourey’s pacing is spot-on, and the twists are well-executed, keeping the reader engaged without overwhelming the story.For fans of thrillers with strong characters and a dark, suspenseful atmosphere, “The Quarry Girls” is a must-read. It’s a story that lingers with you long after you’ve turned the last page.

Reviewer: Renae Wolff
Rating: 3.0 out of 5 stars
Title: Good read
Review: This is a good book. It's a quick read to consider for a short vacation. It keeps you thinking throughout.

Reviewer: Catie Bowers
Rating: 4.0 out of 5 stars
Title: Rollercoaster ride full of danger and creepiness
Review: This book is about three Pantown girls who die and their killers are in plain sight and it all starts in "the tunnels" which connect the basements under their houses.I really loved how Lourey opened up this book with a scene discussing actual serial killers in Minnesota in the 1970s. This definitely set the tone for the book.The atmosphere that is created is one of the strongest things about this book. It is creepy and mysterious and will raise the hairs on the back of your neck. I felt that this was a very character driven book which I enjoyed. It was hard seeing Heather having to grow up so face and face unthinkable truths. She doesn't know who she can trust.Some of the topics in this book are dark and difficult but I felt that Lourey did a good job with them and didn't over do it. This book is very well written and I couldn't wait to see what was going to happen. I was even shocked by one of the twists at the end.This book is a rollercoaster ride that is full of danger and creepiness. You won't want to put this book down!

Reviewer: Trube Miller
Rating: 5.0 out of 5 stars
Title: Tough content but very well written
Review: Really dark topic, but extremely well written and very developed characters.It’s sad to think this time period treated women and girls the way this book portrayed it to, but I believe it. Very well executed all the way to the end.

Reviewer: Bill
Rating: 5.0 out of 5 stars
Title: very enjoyable book
Review: I enjoyed the many twist and turns that this book presented. Very beautifully written with great description and story telling

Reviewer: JamieP
Rating: 5.0 out of 5 stars
Title:
Review: The development of the players in this tale was fantastic. I can usually guess who done it halfway through the story…not this one! I couldn’t put it down until I finished it!!

Reviewer: Natalja Warkentin
Rating: 5.0 out of 5 stars
Title:
Review: Es hat mich sofort gepackt, von der ersten Seite an, da hab ich gewusst, Ahhh du wirst dieses Buch verschlingen…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.

Reviewer: nicola scope
Rating: 5.0 out of 5 stars
Title:
Review: At last, a book which conveys the sadistic nature of some men. The rife mysogeny faced by women all over the world and the daily struggle for women. Yet this book is beautifully written with great characterisation, tension and intrigue WITHOUT THE DETAILLED GRATUITOUS VIOLENCE . I hate reading books or seeing films where the audience is exposed to The details of the violence and hatred. I don't need it. Not does anyone else. So this was a refreshing change and proves to me that the grim descriptions are just another way of violating women.

Reviewer: Steve
Rating: 4.0 out of 5 stars
Title:
Review: If there was ever a town you don’t want to live in this is it!When girls start going missing and the police think they’ve run away when there told or was out of character, are they in on it or just lazy and don’t care.Interesting read with twists along the way,

Reviewer: Lesley
Rating: 4.0 out of 5 stars
Title:
Review: I enjoyed reading this book. I read it on my vacation. It’s easy to read and it is a good story that is well told.