Buried Road is exactly what I want from an investigative mystery thriller.
Bly & her mother, Gus, were an incredible leading duo. Reading the story from Bly made for a vulnerable and blunt narrative. They were strong and captivating, flawed and spunky, and easy to root for. I was hooked from the beginning and hoping with all my heart that they will find Howard. Every other character was introduced with purpose. I appreciate that as well.

While the characters were my favorite part, I could picture this small town, the campsites, the dirt roads, the beach, the vineyards, farmhouses, and the camper. I was entranced. I was hooked. I zipped through this book and highly recommend it.

Thank you NetGalley & Harper Paperbacks for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.

While I am grateful for the opportunity to read and review this book, it was ultimately not for me. The beginning had me right away and I was itching to know what happened to Howard but Gus's personality quickly started grating on me. She is a pendulum of abrasiveness and aggression quickly swinging to defeated and spineless. The mother-daughter dynamic was also uncomfortable and unlikable.

Multiple plots leaking into each other at a painstakingly slow pace made me feel uninterested and ready to move on.

Buried Road is a gripping thriller that had me hooked from the start. The story follows Gus and daughter, Bly, as they set out to uncover the truth behind Howard’s disappearance three years ago. Their journey is filled with suspense and unexpected twists. Tallo’s writing brings the characters to life, making you feel every emotion they experience. The plot is fast-paced and keeps you guessing until the very end. If thrillers are your thing, this is definitely worth a read!

First off, I loved the cover and absolutely had to request it. This was a great story with lots of twists and turns and very well written characters. However, while this is marketed as an "edge-of-your-seat thriller", this is definitely more of a slow burn.

I received an ARC from NetGalley in exchange for my honest review.

Loved this story! The characters were well fleshed and it wasn't as easy guess what would happen next.

Thanks to Netgalley, Harper Perennial and Paperback, and Katie Tallo for the ARC of Buried Road!

I really enjoyed getting to know the character of this book. The twists and turn made it one that kept me guess. With a bit of true crime essence.

I enjoyed this book. I asked to read the book by looking at the cover alone. This book follows Gus and Bly through Prince Edward County to follow the footsteps of their friend, Howard. Each character is relateable with their own weaknesses and strengths. The book kept me guess on what would happen next.

Katie Tallo's Buried Road is the third book in a series. I didn't find that out until I was midway reading because I felt like there were certain parts that I was missing out on. It wasn't completely jarring, but that was my fault for not realizing it sooner. Though it is not required to read the first two books, I highly recommend doing so. 

The story follows Bly Monet and her mother, Gus, as they try to uncover the truth behind the disappearance behind Howard that happened three years prior. It's told through thirteen year old Bly's perspective, giving you an interesting point of view of a young teenagers battle of trauma and the growth that she is forced into. 

What I truly enjoyed was getting more insight on Prince Edward Island. I am a huge fan of the podcast Canadian True Crime, and have listened to countless horrific tales from PEI, that having the chance to read a novel based in that count was great. 

The atmosphere that Katie blends into the story helps fortify the tension behind each twist and turn...that is, once you get there. The first half of the book was a struggle to get into. It was slow and took time to get to the point. I recommend pushing through because it's worth it. 

Thank you to NetGalley and HarperCollins Publishers for an advance copy of this book. (sorry it took so long to post my review).

From the perspective of a precocious child, Buried Road was a thrilling tale of a mother and daughter’s quest to find answers in the disappearance of a loved one. I loved reading this book especially from the perspective of Bly. It’s a must read for lovers of domestic, small town thrillers and mystery. I will be reading from this author again!

Thank you so much to NetGalley for a copy of this book it was really good and I would rate it 3/5 stars!

Howard, a journalist, disappears while on a camping trip with his family while also working on an article. Three years later, his camper van that he was last seen driving away in is discovered. Buried Road tells the story of Howard's significant other Gus and her daughter Bly as they attempt to get answers about Howard's disappearance. This story is told through Bly's POV. Bly is ~12-13 years old but seems much wiser and mature beyond her years. This story starts off a little slow but picks up about halfway through. I then couldn't put it down for the last 25%. This story is full of twists and turns that keep you on your toes.
Buried Road is the third book in a series but can be read as a standalone. I haven't read the previous books in the series but look forward to going back and reading the other books written by Katie Tallo.

Thank you to NetGalley and Harper Perennial and Paperbacks for the advanced copy of this book for review.

Katie Tallo’s Buried Road is a gripping thriller that pulls you in with its quiet unease and keeps you hooked with its relentless pace and unexpected turns. When Gus Monet and her daughter, Bly, discover a hidden trove of evidence connected to the disappearance of Gus’s partner, Howard, their search for answers takes them deep into Prince Edward County—and into danger. The story unravels with a mix of personal stakes, chilling revelations, and edge-of-your-seat suspense.

I’ll admit, the book starts off a bit slow, almost as if it’s feeling its way through the shadows of its central mystery. But once it gets going, it’s unstoppable. Like a runaway train, the plot picks up speed, careening through twists and turns I didn’t see coming. Tallo builds tension masterfully, laying out clues and secrets that turn a cold case into a fiery pursuit of the truth.

The relationship between Gus and Bly plays a really important a role in the novel. It’s not just a story about uncovering a crime; it’s about the bond between a mother and daughter as they navigate grief, resilience, and danger together. Bly, especially, is a standout. Her perspective is insightful and authentic, and she adds a layer of vulnerability that makes the stakes feel even higher. Gus is equally compelling—flawed, determined, and deeply human.

The Prince Edward County setting deserves its own mention. Tallo paints it with eerie beauty, creating an atmosphere that feels both haunting and alive. Every detail, from the abandoned camper to the looming sense of danger, heightens the suspense and pulls you further into the story.

And that ending? Satisfying and surprising in equal measure. It ties up loose threads while leaving you with plenty to think about. Tallo doesn’t just resolve the mystery; she makes you feel the weight of it.

It’s early in the year, but Buried Road has already set a high bar for my favorite reads of 2025. If you’re looking for a thriller that blends intricate plotting with genuine heart, this one’s a must-read.

Thanks to Harper Perennial and Paperbacks for providing me with an advance copy of this book for review.

4⭐️'s for me! This has great mystery and suspense with all the twist and turns and lies people were telling. How the mother daughter duo held on and didn't give up to find this person was great. The little hints to follow throughout the book had you thinking you could solve it before the ending came.

This was…. interesting? 🤔
The writing was unusual with quick & short sentences. Bly and her mom Gus are on a mission to find out what happened to Howard (Gus’ boyfriend). The story kind of goes all over and we are continually meeting new characters which became confusing. There was a decent twist at one point which raised my rating but overall I was left feeling confused and unsatisfied.

3.5/5!

This book is part of a series, but can be read as a standalone too. An entertaining and suspenseful story following a mother daughter duo. Well written and suspenseful from page 1! It did turn into a bit of a slow burn about halfway through, but picked back up again with lots of twists and surprises through the end.

Thanks NetGalley for this ARC in exchange for an honest review!

I would recommend reading the series in order as you do feel a little lost at points, but it was still a great book! I loved getting when a book looks at a mother/daughter.

What a wonderful, terrifying, fact paced thriller! I wish I had read the first two books first truthfully. I don't think it's exactly necessary, but it would have given me a bit more background information. That being said, i think that this can still be read by itself. I thoroughly enjoyed the writing style and the progression that this story took! It started slow but by the second half I couldn't put it down! I will definitely be coming back for more.

I wasn’t aware that this book is the third in a series but it worked well as a stand-alone, and I truly enjoyed it. Most remarkably, the whole story is told from the POV of 12-year old Bly Monet, and she has a real talent for sleuthing in her own innocent and curious way. I hadn’t expected this perspective but it was perfect. Bly and her mother Gus (short for Augusta) are looking for Howard who disappeared during a mutual camping trip to the beach three years ago. As a journalist, he was investigating a hot story at the time, left for a meeting with an informant and never returned. A yearlong search had not produced any trace. But now, three years later, the camper he drove off in, is found and once again, Gus and Bly are determined to find him and are returning to Prince Edward County to follow in his footsteps. After all, he is Augusta’s boyfriend and love of her life and Bly’s only father figure. This leads them into grave danger.
A gripping and exciting thriller that had me hooked from the beginning to the end. I loved the writing style, suspense and fast pace with lots of twists and plots. Mother and daughter had such a special bond and loving relationship. When everybody else did, they never gave up, never lost hope and just kept going driven by respect and deep affection for each other and for Howard. Both were strong females, witty, brave and lovable. The end was a total surprise.
I hope that we’ll hear more from Gus, Bly and Howard but first I can’t wait to read the first two installments of this series. Solid 4 stars ⭐️
I’d like to thank Netgally, @HarperCollins and Ms Katie Tallo for the opportunity to read the advance copy. I truly enjoyed it and the above is my honest review and own opinion.

My inner devious child peeked out this week and I got a bit jealous ! Whoa! I would love to say that is unlike me but who am I kidding. I can be a jealous brat 🤗

So, I saw “Buried Road”, literally break bookstagram and of course I didn’t want to feel left out so I requested it on Netgalley .

Cue the little magic ding ding in my inbox and I see my big ole eyes get wide as I stare at my approval ! Yay ! I’m still a cool kid !

Filled with twists and turns at every corner the amount of suspense kept me on edge the entire time ! I flippin’ loved this book!

The narration by Bly definitely had me emotional . This book is so much more than “just another thriller”

After concluding Buried Road I felt a bit lost . What was I going to do with myself? I had been all consumed with Bly and Gus that I felt like I needed a life check.

So, what did I do ? I ordered a copy of Dark August . This little firecracker of an author sure does know how to write one hell of a thriller .

Five Stars, duh ! 🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟

Check out this teaser :

When the love of her life disappeared on a camping trip, Gus Monet was devastated. Her daughter was only nine at the time, but young Bly still remembers the heartbreak vividly. Howard had been like a father to her. He was a journalist working on a story that took a dark and dangerous turn. The last time they saw him, he was going to meet a source he believed could blow the story wide open.

Three years later, shocked to see Howard’s obituary in the paper, Gus and Bly are drawn back to Prince Edward County where he was last seen and where the camper Howard was driving has been found. Sneaking into the camper, mother and daughter find what investigators missed. Hidden behind a secret panel are Howard’s notebook, cell phone, and a video message recorded right before he vanished, evidence that turns the cold case red hot. Searching for answers, Gus and Bly vow to follow the story Howard was pursuing and to expose whoever went to deadly lengths to stop him from revealing the truth.

Three years have passed since Investigator Augusta (Gus) Monet’s partner, Howard Baylis, vanished during a family camping trip in Southern Ontario. Gus and Bly, her 13-year-old daughter, have searched for him tirelessly, pursuing leads and pressuring the police. Though she’s found no clues, Gus clings to the belief that Howard is still alive.

Link to full review: https://westwordsreviews.wordpress.com/2025/01/10/buried-road-katie-tallo/