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57 pages 1 hour read

The Quarry Girls: A Thriller

Fiction | Novel | Adult | Published in 2022

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Book Brief

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Jess Lourey

The Quarry Girls

Fiction | Novel | Adult | Published in 2022
Book Details
Pages

335

Format

Novel • Fiction

Setting

Minnesota • 1970s

Publication Year

2022

Audience

Adult

Recommended Reading Age

18+ years

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Super Short Summary

In Jess Lourey's 2022 thriller The Quarry Girls, set in 1970s Minnesota, Heather Cash and her friends navigate the dangers of Pantown, a town filled with secrets, murderers, and underground tunnels, as they strive to stay alive and uncover the truth behind a series of mysterious disappearances and deaths. This novel discusses rape, child abuse, domestic violence, murder, kidnapping, torture, and death by suicide.

Mysterious

Dark

Suspenseful

Unnerving

Gritty

Reviews & Readership

4.2

154,510 ratings

79%

Loved it

17%

Mixed feelings

4%

Not a fan

Roundup icon

Review Roundup

Jess Lourey's The Quarry Girls captivates readers with a compelling mystery set in a small, evocative Midwest town. The novel's atmosphere and strong character development draw high praise, though some feel the pacing lags at points. A blend of tension and nostalgia, it offers an engrossing, albeit uneven, journey.

Who should read this

Who Should Read The Quarry Girls?

Fans of gritty, suspenseful mysteries will relish Jess Lourey's The Quarry Girls. Ideal for readers who enjoy strong, complex female protagonists and atmospheric storytelling akin to Gillian Flynn's Sharp Objects or Tana French's The Likeness. This book delves into small-town secrets and dark pasts, captivating mystery enthusiasts.

4.2

154,510 ratings

79%

Loved it

17%

Mixed feelings

4%

Not a fan

Character List

Heather Cash

A teenager who works at a deli counter and plays drums, Heather is devoted to her family, particularly her younger sister Junie, despite the challenges she faces at home.

A high-school senior from St. Cloud, Minnesota, who works at the North Side Diner and is planning to attend college in California, she is determined and resourceful.

One of Heather's best friends and a member of The Girls, Maureen plays bass and has a bold personality, marked by secretive actions that show her complexity.

Heather's nurturing and serene friend who plays lead guitar and sings in The Girls, Brenda is supportive and dependable in the group dynamic.

Heather's younger sister, known for her freckles and red hair, Junie looks up to her sister and friends and symbolizes youthful innocence.

Heather and Junie's mother, Constance is strikingly beautiful yet struggles with mental health challenges that influence her interactions with her family.

Maureen’s mother, who has a hoarding condition, Gloria is embittered by past events and has a history with Heather's father, Gary.

Ed is an older, manipulative presence in Pantown, known for his slicked-back hair and outsider status, whose actions cause significant challenges for others.

A young man with brown hair and hazel eyes, Ricky is notable for his troubled background and the way he uses his charm to his advantage.

A friend of Ricky's characterized by his distinctively mismatched eyes, Ant is notable for his struggle with remorse and his cooperative nature in investigations.

Claude is a tall, reliable friend and eventual love interest of Heather, distinct for his respectful nature and stable background.

Heather's father and the District Attorney, Gary is a powerful figure in St. Cloud, influential in both his personal and professional life.

The big and unmarried sheriff of Pantown, known for his abuse of power, Nillson is a significant part of the town’s legal structure.

Book Details
Pages

335

Format

Novel • Fiction

Setting

Minnesota • 1970s

Publication Year

2022

Audience

Adult

Recommended Reading Age

18+ years

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