Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for providing this book in exchange for my honest review.

I wish I had checked some of the reviews before requesting this book. Unfortunately, I found this book boring and hard to follow. I definitely do not think it was a thriller book, unfortunately.

I have had this on my NetGalley shelf for far too long! I should not have waited!! Every time I read mysteries and thrillers I end up chastising myself for not reading more of them. This was no exception. I loved this! This is about a mother-daughter duo who are trying to solve the mystery surrounding the disappearance of the mother's boyfriend. It had many interesting and unsavory characters and though some parts are (a bit) predictable, there were plenty of little surprises and shocks to keep me satisfied and entertained. What I did not know going into the book was that this is actually the third novel featuring Gus Monet - so I am very excited to go back and read the author's first two books. The book is narrated by Gus's daughter, Bly, and I loved her voice - she was simultaneously old and young for her age - the saga of finding Howard and having Gus for a mom would do that to anyone! I would definitely recommend this for anyone who enjoys a good missing person thriller. Thank you so much to Katie Tallo, NetGalley and HarperCollins for the opportunity to read this. Look for this in bookstores on December 3rd!

This was an okay book and honestly at times a little boring. There was a lot of excessive description and I think I misinterpreted what this book genre was because it didnt give the mystery vibe I normally like. There were some parts that were really well done and was something I could get into but then I zoned out again.

When I requested this title, I didn't realize that it was the third of a series – luckily, I don't feel like I missed anything story related by not reading the previous ones (but I don't love that I didn't read them just because I feel like I may have had a deeper understanding of why Gus is the way she is).

Throughout the title, we follow Gus and Bly on the mission to find Howard (Gus' journalist boyfriend). While it's very obvious that Gus is a pretty irresponsible mother, I did really enjoy the mother/daughter dynamic here. Following clues Howard has left, seemingly only for Gus and Bly to understand, we uncover small town corruption and some pretty dark secrets. The story is twisty, but it all makes sense. Lose strings were all tied up at the end and overall was such an enjoyable thriller. I've definitely added her previous two titles to my TBR.

Thank you to Net Galley & Harper Perennial and Paperbacks for the opportunity to read an E-ARC of Buried Road by Katie Tallo. This review contains my honest thoughts and opinions.

“Buried Road” is Katie Tallo’s third installment in her Gus Monet series. I had read the first two books so I was excited to read this one early.

This book was slightly different than the earlier ones. In this book, the narrator is Gus’s daughter, Bly. Three years earlier, while on a camping trip, Gus’s boyfriend and Bly’s father figure disappeared. Howard was a journalist and had been working on a story that involved the area in which his parents lived and owned a winery & vineyards.

After Gus spots Howard’s obituary in the paper that was placed by his parents, she and Bly head back to Prince Edward County to investigate. Gus, in particular, remains convinced that Howard is not dead and decides to investigate further. Her search has her following in Howard’s footsteps to learn more about the story he was working on and find out what happened to him.

Overall, I enjoyed this book and hope there’s another book in the series for us to catch up with Gus and Bly. Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for my ARC.

Once I finished this book, I realized this is the 3rd book in the Gus Monet series. But that is okay! Buried Road can be read as a stand-alone! I do plan on reading the first 2 books because I really enjoyed the author’s writing style and I’m interested in reading more about Augusta (Gus) Monet!

Buried Road is a book that sucks you in right from the start! The mother-daughter duo was so well done as they navigate a high stakes situation and uncover clues to the disappearance of Howard. It is told from the young daughter’s point of view which I really enjoyed. With lots of heart pounding moments and a unexpected twist, this book is one wild ride!

I was unable to finish this book and thus will not be posting a full review. I found the story confusing and haphazard. I appreciate the chance and your consideration.

Thank you Net Galley for the ARC.

Maybe bc this is a series and I haven’t read the others I found it hard to connect with this story. I felt like it has a lot of characters and the story lines were really chaotic. It often felt like things were happening for the sake of something happening and not for the sake of the story.

Augusta "Gus" Monet and her daughter Bly don't believe that Howard Bayliss is dead. It's been three years since he went missing and Gus continued to look for him after everyone else had given up on him. When the camper van is found Gus and Bly take action in searching for Howard. They follow the leads that Howard left for them. Someone doesn't want Gus looking into Howard's disappearance and will stop at nothing to make her stop. What will Gus and Bly learn? Find out in the Buried Road.

I would like to thank HarperCollins Publisher for this ARC via Netgalley.

I had no idea this was part of a series. It definitely works as a standalone and had excellent writing. I was able to predict what happens, so it lost the surprise aspect, but overall a good book.

I did not realize this was the third in a series! What a great stand alone book, although now after reading about Gus and Bly, I will certainly be going back and reading the others. This book started out a little slow for me but I am so glad I stuck with it. It ended up completely captivating my thoughts to the point where I stayed up well into the night to finish it because I absolutely could not see the ending. A must read thriller full of twists that will keep you guessing until the very end.

Buried Road by Katie Tallo is a very highly recommended mystery/thriller which features the return of amateur investigator Gus Monet, this time joined by her daughter 12-year-old Bly (Boo).

Journalist Howard Baylis, Gus's partner and the only father Bly has ever known, disappeared when Bly was 9. They were on a camping trip when Howard went to meet a source for a story three years ago and was never seen again. They spent a year looking for him with few clues. The two have missed him every day since, so they were shocked to see his obituary in the paper and that his parents are having a memorial service in three days. The two head back to Prince Edward County, the location where he was last seen and where the memorial service will be held.

Once there, they discover the camper Howard was driving has been found and Bly secretly finds clues to Howard's movements three years ago, including his notes and phone. The two recreate their clue wall in the camper and resume their search for Howard based on the new information they have found.

Although it can be read as a standalone novel, it was exciting to read Buried Road after enjoying the previous two books featuring Gus. The first book featuring Gus is Dark August (takes place when Gus is a young adult and she investigates her mother's last case before her death when Gus was 8 years-old) which is followed by Poison Lilies (when Gus was pregnant with Bly and meets Howard).

Bly is the narrator in this compelling, well-written mystery and she helps Gus in their search for clues. I quite enjoyed Bly as the narrator as Gus can be extreme and over-the-top. Gus is a tenacious, obnoxious character, but this is tempered by Bly who is careful and thoughtful. They are both written as fully realized, realistic individuals that encounter a cast of memorable supporting characters.

The pace is even at the beginning but then picks up as more information and clues are uncovered. The trail is cold, but becomes clear that they are on to something because they also are encountering resistance and it becomes increasingly unsafe. You have to set some disbelief aside, which was easily done as the action and danger increases. The setting itself becomes an important part of the intricate plot. 4.5 rounded up.

Another great novel by Katie Tallo! Thanks to HarperCollins for providing me with an advance reader's copy via NetGalley. My review is voluntary and expresses my honest opinion.

The review will be published on Edelweiss, Barnes & Noble and Amazon.

Such a weird and twisty thriller with like three plots going on that ended up converging nicely in the end?

The perspective and writing on this really really worked for me. It felt unique and compelling. Having it all be from Bly’s point of view gave it a lot of nuance, it handed the reader just enough information but never quite enough to piece it together until it was laid out.

This was incredibly enjoyable and, while a little slow in the beginning, became a raucous ride towards the end.

I didn't realize this was the third book in a series, but it's a great stand-alone. I love the dynamic between Gus and Bly - an inseparable Mother-Daughter Duo who won't stop at anything to uncover what happened three years ago to their Howard. The whole town is against them, and everyone has their own buried secrets to uncover.

A good bit of this book was a slow burn, and I was pretty bored at times. The last 20% absolutely picked up and I loved the ending! The big twist completely caught me off guard. I am looking forward to reading the first two of this series.

I really enjoyed buried road - it was easily a 4 star read! I definitely wish I had read books 1&2- not because I felt anything was missing or they aren’t capable of being standalone books but honestly because that’s just my preference of how to read books in a series.

I enjoyed the mother/daughter angle of this story. It felt well written but I did feel at times like it was a slow burn and I got a bit bored.

That didn’t keep me from enjoying it and thinking it was worthy of 4 stars!

Thanks to NetGalley & the publisher for the opportunity to read this arc in exchange for my honest review.

Well I am proud of myself for finishing this one! I was looking forward to reading this book, but didn't realize this character was in other books by the author. I didn't love this story being told by a child, even though it was probably the point, the writing felt lackluster to me. There were too many characters in the story, it was hard to follow along.

I would give this a try if you like Mystery books, however this one was just not for me!

This is my first book from this author. I would definitely read more from her. The book kept me guessing and is full of twist.

Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for the ARC of the book.

This was a solid 3-star read. I didn't realize it was the 3rd book of a series, but it works as a standalone. Felt like there were a few too many characters to keep track of. Writing was smooth and kept my interest.

Thank you NetGalley and Harper Perennial Publishing for the arc of Buried Road by Katie Tallo.

This is in my top 5 of 2024! Buried Road is captivating and page turning to the very last chapter. Tallo’s writing had me hook by page 3.

It’s been 3 years since Howard vanished leaving Gus and Bly at their family camp site. While on a family trip Howard, a reporter, was chasing a story in his home town. Howard leaves Bly and Gus in their family’s camper van to meet a source but he never returns. Bly and Gus stay with Howard’s now affluent family awaiting a response from PPO or his return. Local law enforcement quickly deems Gus crazy and dismisses her beliefs Howard is alive.

Fast forward 3 years later when the camper is found and his parents attempt to “bury” Howard with no body. Gus and Bly start their search all over again because everything is a clue and a sign. Finding his phone and notebook they are determined to find Howard.

A novel of love, loss, trauma, and hope that is worth every page.

Pub Date: December 3, 2024
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4 stars out of 5 on this crazy thrill ride!

I thought the book started out slow but the build up was necessary. I literally stayed up until 1am finishing this because I got so hooked into it. So many twists and turns that you never expect! I loved the relationship between Gus and Bly - the way it’s explained throughout the story makes me feel like they rely on each other so much more than a normal mother/daughter relationship. I found my jaw dropping at certain parts especially the closer to the end of the book we got.

I didn’t know this was a series and feel like this can definitely be read as a stand alone. I will be going to read the first two in the series though!