I was unsure if I was going to like this one. Sometimes books with similar themes, a mother searching for answers about her missing daughter, can really drag. Luckily, In a Quiet Time didn't have that issue at all. Tension was solid throughout, even with multiple viewpoints and flashbacks. I liked that Tatum was trying to heal her relationship with her daughter in spite of religious issues and Adrienne having a rebellious streak. I felt for Tatum as she grew frustrated that no one believed anything was wrong with Adrienne. I wasn't a fan of Adrienne as a character, she just came off as judgmental, especially about her friend Mara. And then she was pretty awful about an incident that happened when she was a teen, she seemed to blame everyone but herself for what happened. The ending was solid, one twist I hadn't expected so that was a nice surprise. There was one subplot that wasn't resolved, so that was frustrating. Overall, I did enjoy the book, writing style was nice and I look forward to reading more from the author. 3.5 stars.

Book Review:
Title: In A Quiet Town
Author: Amber Garza
Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️/3 stars

I like the whole concept of a book being written with different perspectives. Somehow, it seems easier for me to follow and keep all the details straight. 🙂 This story is told in three perspectives, Adrienne (the missing daughter), Tatum (the mother), and "the fiancé (Adrienne's).

Adrienne is desperate to live her life the way she wants to, but her overly religious and extremely controlling father has other ideas. When things come to a head, Adrienne is forced to leave the home, although her mother doesn't like it. Tatum makes plans to secretly meet her daughter behind her pastor husband's back. When she shows up to the bar for one of their weekly meetings, Adrienne is a no-show. This is unlike her, so Tatum is immediately concerned. When Adrienne's supposed fiancé shows up, she becomes even more worried that something has happened to her daughter. As they search for Adrienne, so much information comes to light, and not much of it is hopeful. Suspenseful and thrilling with lots of twists and turns!

Published: August 8th, 2023

Thank you, @netgalley and @_mira_books_, for the ARC in exchange for my honest review!

Tense and twisty from beginning to end with familial relationships that feel all too familiar if you come from a household where there is a lot of rules, a lot of religion, and very little freedom.
Tatum knows her daughter is missing- sure, Adrienne has been estranged from her parents for a good long while due to her father, a pastor's, strict legalistic beliefs and his lack of acceptance about everything about her, but when Tatum makes contact and Adrienne is receptive then vanishes she knows her daughter is in trouble.
The trick is getting anybody to believe her.

A quick, entertaining, and twisty read! This was full of action right from the first page, and delivered a compelling story with different POVs that actually works. I would def recommend this to others!! Thank you to NetGalley and Harlequin Trade Publishing, MIRA, for the free e-ARC in exchange for my honest review.

Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for this eARC.

"In a Quiet Town" by Amber Garza is a gripping psychological thriller that delves into the complexities of familial relationships and the lengths one will go to uncover the truth. The novel is set in a small California town, where the quiet life is shattered by the sudden disappearance of Adrienne, a young woman striving for independence from her conservative and religious family.

Garza masterfully weaves a tale of suspense and mystery, told through multiple perspectives that enrich the narrative with depth and intrigue. The protagonist, Tatum, is a mother haunted by the estrangement from her daughter Adrienne. When Adrienne goes missing, Tatum's world is turned upside down, and she finds herself in a desperate search for answers. The arrival of a man claiming to be Adrienne's fiancé adds to the tension, leaving readers questioning his motives and truthfulness.

The author's exploration of the mother-daughter dynamic is both poignant and raw, exposing the emotional turmoil that comes with reconciliation and loss. Garza's portrayal of Tatum's struggle is authentic and relatable, making her a compelling character whose journey is the heart of the story.

Garza's writing style is fluid and engaging, with a pace that keeps the reader hooked from the first page to the last. The small-town setting is perfectly captured, providing a backdrop that is both idyllic and eerie, reflecting the duality of the characters' lives.

"In a Quiet Town" is a thought-provoking novel that challenges readers to consider the impact of family, faith, and the secrets that can tear them apart. It's a must-read for fans of domestic dramas and psychological thrillers, offering a satisfying blend of tension, emotion, and resolution.

Amber Garza has once again proven her talent for crafting stories that are as haunting as they are enthralling.

This book wasn't as thrilling as another book I've read by her but still a decent thriller regardless. I did enjoy the mother daughter relationship and how the mother would stop at nothing to figure out where her missing daughter is. It was a little confusing to me at times but once I figured out that it was part of the twist it all made a lot more sense. I do wish it was a little more thrilling than it was even though I appreciated the heavy topic of domestic abuse and how controlling the guy was. I will have to say my favorite part of the book was during the summer camp setting which happens to by my favorite setting regardless of what genre I'm reading. The character growth from both the mother and her daughter was great especially at the end. I'm definitely going to continue reading Amber Garza's books though as she does write fast paced thrillers that hold my attention throughout.

I have enjoyed all of this author’s books, but this one was twisty! I really related to the main characters feelings on religion also.
It’s about a woman whose daughter goes missing. The police chalk it up to her daughter being wild. But she knows something is wrong and she is determined to find her.

In a Quiet town is a slow burn thriller with an incredibly pretentious father who is also a pastor. I found his controlling and condescending demeanor towards his wife and daughter to be despicable and it really took away from the experience for me. Maybe that means the author wrote the character really well, but to me it was just not something I cared to read about with a slow burn thriller.

I loved this book! It's well-written, enjoyable, and a great read. The author did a great job of writing in a way that captures the readers attention, and makes you not want to put it down until you're finished! I would highly recommend it!

A intriguing novel that will have you hooked from the beginning. I look forward to more titles by this author.

It is years since Tatum has seen her daughter Adrienne, I was worried for her during her disappearance and the mystery of whether the stranger is her fiancé or not was very well thought out. In A Quiet Town is a very twisty novel. It has great visuals too,

Thanks to Amber Garza and Harlequin Trade Publishing for an eARC in exchange for an honest and voluntary review.

4.5 stars

This was so good. I loved the story it was so fast paced and such a quick read. Amber Garza did it again

This was binge worthy and very enjoyable! This author’s books are so easy to read and I am always excited to see what she comes out with next.

A twisty, domestic suspense thriller that has a mother searching for her estranged daughter and finds herself in the bizarre position of teaming up with a stranger claiming to be her daughter's fiancee. Twisty with a refreshingly unique premise. This one kept me on the edge of my seat from start to finish. Many thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for an early digital copy in exchange for my honest review!

Even though she hasn't seen her daughter in a while, a mother knows when something isn't right. When Tatum's daughter goes missing, she is sure something sinister has happened. When her fiance shows up to help find her, there is something just not adding up. Could he have something to do with her disappearance? Will they find the daughter in time?

Thank you to the publisher for my copy - all opinions are my own.

I really enjoyed this popcorn thriller/small town mystery that truly sat on my shelf for way too long. This is one of those fantastic books that you can pick up and devour quickly, being fully entertained from start to finish.

The moving perspectives and timelines perfectly peel back the layers of the mystery building up to Tatum's daughters mysterious disappearance, peeking behind the curtain of who her mystery finance is, and what their relationship was all about behind the tightly closed door they hid behind.

I won't say too much, because this is a twisting rollercoaster you deserve to go into blind, but I will say it was incredibly fun and easy reading and I thoroughly enjoyed it.

Great for mystery lovers!

Many thanks to NetGalley and Harlequin Trade Publishing MIRA for gifting me an ARC of the latest thriller by Amber Garza - 4.5 stars!

Tatum is struggling - her husband is the pastor in town, but his controlling and disapproving ways made their daughter leave the family home. He's also very dismissive of Tatum's health issues. Slowly, Tatum starts to rebuild a relationship with Adrienne by secret visits with her at the bar where she works. But when Tatum shows up on one of her usual nights, she finds out Adrienne didn't show up for work and no one has heard from her. Despite what her husband says, she begins investigating.

This was a good mystery, complete with lots of twists and turns. But I really liked going along on this mother's journey as she begins to stand up for herself, her daughter, her health and her feelings. Told from multiple POV - The Mother, The Daughter and The Fiancé - and timelines, we get the backstories that lead up the present day happenings. Short chapters and tense writing kept me glued to the pages!

Thank you to NetGalley, Amber Garza and Harlequin Trade Publishing for the free ebook in exchange for an honest review.

A really good mystery with some twists you can see coming and the ending that is full of surprises.

Amber Garza's book Where I Left Her was about a mother and daughter, an estranged relationship, a daughter gone missing, and an unreliable narrator. In a Quiet Town is similar. Given the small cast of characters, the mystery of this book is not difficult to solve. Sadly, I do not connect with any of the characters, and this thriller does not engage me the way I expected it would.

Read my complete review at http://www.memoriesfrombooks.com/2023/12/in-quiet-town.html

Reviewed for NetGalley and a publisher’s blog tour.

The repressed wife of a controlling pastor pushes back, reconnects with their estranged daughter, and then saves her from a serial killer.