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!

this is the kind of book that keeps you up reading until 2am. I couldn’t put this down, especially after the first few chapters.

First of all, I absolutely loved the mother and daughter dynamic between Gus and Bly. Was Gus an irresponsible mother? Yes, but you can tell she loved Bly so much. Their dynamic of working together to find Howard made the book fantastic.

It is a cat and mouse game throughout the book, with so many twists and turns. There were so many clues along the read, and it really made the last few chapters dynamic to see how everything came together. It was twisty, smart and compelling storytelling. I just had to know what was going to happen.

If you are looking for a fantastic mystery, this is for you. It definitely starts as a slow burn, and then it leads down a really fun read. Read this if you enjoy putting puzzle pieces together and trying to solve a mystery.

I believe this is part of a series, but can be read as a standalone.

This book comes out December 3rd. Thank you to @netgalley and @harperperennial for an advanced copy. All opinions are my own. And huge thanks to @katietallo for such engaging storytelling!

Buried Road follows a young girl and her mother as they attempt to discover what happened to Howard, the mother’s boyfriend, 3 years ago when he disappeared. It is told from the point of view of Bly, the 13 year old girl. This book hooked me right away, and I was 100% invested in finding out what happened to Howard. The character development of Bly was fantastic, and I found myself getting angry, sad, scared, etc. right along with her.

I did find that some of the more action-packed scenes felt choppy when reading, due to a lot of short sentences that talked about one detail each. I also became confused a few times with some of the supporting characters (cops) due to them not being called the same name consistently.

Overall, I truly enjoyed this book. It kept me guessing until the very end.

“Buried Road” by Katie Tallo is an atmospheric and haunting mystery that delves deep into the secrets of a small town and the lives that intersect there. Tallo crafts a slow-burn thriller that grips you with its eerie setting and carefully layered plot, pulling you into a world where the past refuses to stay buried.

The novel’s strength lies in its complex, flawed characters, particularly the protagonist, who is drawn into unraveling the truth of an old crime while grappling with her own personal demons. Tallo deftly weaves a narrative that balances the tension of a mystery with introspective moments of character development. The story explores themes of guilt, redemption, and the consequences of choices that ripple through time.

“Buried Road” is not just a typical thriller—its emotional depth and psychological tension elevate it, making it as much about the journey of self-discovery as it is about solving the mystery. The writing is evocative, with a cinematic quality that brings the desolate, almost claustrophobic landscape to life, amplifying the sense of unease.

For readers who enjoy a moody, character-driven mystery with emotional resonance, “Buried Road” is a compelling and immersive read that will leave you thinking long after the final reveal.

Many thanks to Netgalley, the publisher, and the author for providing me with an ARC and allowing me to provide my honest review

I could not put this book down! It had me on the edge of my seat, continuously turning the pages, eager to find out what happened next. I was a bit apprehensive at first when I realized it was written from the POV of 12 year old Bly, thinking that it may read more like a YA novel, but it was quite the opposite. Bly is smart, witty, and probably the coolest 12 year old in a book I've ever come across. She clearly gets her drive and determination from Gus, and it was awesome to see her character development and her increased confidence in herself. I really enjoyed this story from her perspective - I would also love to read it from Gus' perspective as well!

The best part about this book for me is that I wasn't able to predict the ending, it was a total twist that I didn't see coming! The characters that I suspected to be involved may have been, but not at all in the way I originally thought. I enjoy a book so much more when the breadcrumbs fool me - it's not as fun when you solve it in the first few chapters and have to suffer through the rest.

I didn't realize that it was part of a series, and while I will absolutely be reading the rest now, I think this book does a great job standing on it's own and tells us enough about the characters and the situation to not feel as though we're missing anything from the first couple books. This is the first book I've read by Katie Tallo, and I can't wait to read more.

Thank you NetGalley, Harper Perennial and Paperbacks, and Katie Tallo for the ARC of this book in exchange for my honest review.
(Review will also be posted on GoodReads!)

This was a really good thriller that surprised me! This is part of a series which I didn't know but this can be dead as a standalone.

Buried Road starts off with a mother and daughter heading to a funeral to try to find out the truth about what happened to the mom's boyfriend who disappeared three years ago.

While it starts off slow the place quickly picks up and the layers start to be peeled back. It kept me on my toes end I enjoyed reading it.

While I did not realize that this was part of a series until I finished and looked the author up on Amazon. I don't think that I missed out, but will check the other books out as I enjoyed this one.

When mom Gus and her daughter Bly learn that the parents of Gus' missing boyfriend have declared him dead, they decide to go to the funeral and see what they can find out. This sets off a series of wild events that they never see coming.

I thought that it started a bit slow and would be more of a family-centered, character driven type of missing persons novel, but it picked up quickly about halfway through. Once the action started, it was a quick peeling of layers upon layers of messy goodness. As I mentioned, it's a bit of a slow burn, but once the action really picks up, hold on and pay attention!

Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for an ARC in exchange for my honest review. This was an exciting and enjoyable book but I wish I had realized in advance that it was the third installment in a series.

I gave this book 3 stars, and let me tell you, it had me hooked by the end! It started out slow, but soon I couldn't put it down. The story revolves around an intriguing mother-daughter duo, Gus and Bly, who embark on a thrilling quest to find Howard, Gus's fiancé who vanished three years ago. This gripping small-town mystery keeps you on your toes, with twists and turns that will leave you guessing until the very last page.

I also didn’t realize this was the third book in the series. Definitely can be read as a stand alone.

Thank you to NetGalley and HarperCollins Publisher for this ARC in exchange for an honest review!

Thank you NetGalley and HarperCollins for this gifted e-arc in exchange for an honest review.

This story follows a 13 year old girl named Bly. Her and her mother Gus are searching for her mother’s boyfriend who was a journalist and had disappeared 3 years ago while writing an investigative story. When his parents declare him deceased, Bly and Gus go back there to attend his funeral and find themselves caught up in a huge conspiracy and have no clue who to trust.

I really liked the premise of the story-Mom and daughter working together trying to find their lost, kidnapped or dead loved one…..in the woods with so much mystery and suspense all around. But I did feel like it was really far fetched for a 13 year old to be dealing with these unrealistic things.

I thought the first half of the book was really good. But then once it got to the middle and end, I felt like so many unrealistic things were happening and I thought it was also longer than it should have been. But other than that, it was definitely a page turner and i still thought it was an good read.

I had no idea that this one was part of a series until I was done reading, but I didn’t feel lost at all which is pretty amazing to me! Well done @katietallo! I’m on my way to purchase the other two in this series now! I loved the mother/daughter dynamic in this one and the search for Howard’s truth really kept me on the edge of my seat for the entire read. I’m a reader who doesn’t mind when I can guess what’s coming next, but I love when I can’t and I honestly didn’t see a single thing coming with this one! Wonderfully written, captivating characters, and I can’t wait to see what you write next! Thank you @netgalley for my ARC and for introducing me to a new favorite author! Buried Roads will be released in December 24/January 25!

I stayed up way too late trying to finish this book. I could not put it down! This is the third book in the series. I haven't read the other two, but I have added them to my list. I feel like this could be read and enjoyed as a stand-alone, but there is definitely a background that is in the prior books. It doesn't affect the storyline, but curious minds want to know.

I love the mother/daughter dynamic. Their relationship is endearing and real. This book is suspenseful and thrilling. I enjoyed all the little clues along the way. The ending tied them all up nicely. The two MCs are what really sets this book apart from other thrillers.

Thanks to NetGalley and Harper Perennial and Paperbacks | Harper Paperbacks for a digital ARC in exchange for my honest review.

Thank you for the ARC. I didn’t realize this was a part of a series, but I didn’t feel lost or left out. I definitely will read the others now.

Howard disappeared 3 years ago on a camping trip while he was chasing a story and it left the love of his life Gus and her daughter Bly devastated.

When they see Howard's obituary they travel to his hometown to try to uncover the truth about what happened in his final days. The twists and turns of this mystery kept me guessing until ~80% of the way through the book and then the thriller aspect of the book came into play and it was very well done.

I think this book was longer than it needed to be as I did lose interest in the middle as the pace and revelations petered out. But overall it's a good thriller/suspense to read.

Thank you Harper Paperback for the ARC.

I LOVED this book! Right from the beginning I was sucked into the story. I had to keep reading to find out what was going to happen and if they were going to find out what happened. I definitely want to read more like this in the future!

Immediate thought when I started reading Buried Roads: ugh I hate named chapters. This book didn’t change that, but it did end up being a decent read.

Our narrator is a preteen girl named Bly who is being raised by her do whatever she wants, there are no rules style mother, Gus. When her mother’s partner Howard, the only father figure she has ever known, goes missing, Bly and Gus are forced to pick up the pieces of their shattered lives and start over. After 3 years of his absence, Howard’s parents are ready to accept that he’s gone, however, Gus won’t. All hell breaks loose as Gus, dragging her 12 year old daughter around, wreaks havoc around the county as she tries to unravel the mystery of what happened.

Here’s my main dilemma with Buried Roads — Gus is a very unlikable character and, in my opinion, a careless mother. I just can’t ever get behind characters who do, act, and say whatever they want for their own sake. That is very much Gus. Her feelings are the only ones that matter and she will hurt whoever she has to without much thought or care. There’s just something very narcissistic and self serving about her character. Bly is her saving grace, at least in terms of redemption.

I do feel like this story was also rather character heavy. I found myself struggling to keep straight each new supporting character and their purpose. It was confusing at times and bogged the story down for me.

The second half of this book was much more fast paced than its first half, thankfully, and I enjoyed the outcome even if it was out there and a rather unbelievable. I would recommend this book to those readers who like a character heavy story with some suspense and lots of drama.

Thank you to NetGalley and Harper Paperbacks for this ARC I received in exchange for my honest review. Buried Roads will be released on December 3, 2024.

I really enjoyed this book. This is one of those books where you can go back and re-read and find new shocks and twists that you didn't pick up on the first time around.

When I first started this book, I didn't realize that it was part of a series, but it can totally be read as a stand-alone. I will be going back and reading the other books in this series, and am looking forward to more of series.

I thought the character depvelopment, the plot and all the twists and turns were great. This book had me hooked from page one and it held my attention through the whole book. Not many books have been able to do that. This is one of those books where you can't put it down because you have to know what happens next, but then when you finish it, you are sad and left wanting more.

5/5 stars for me!

Thank you Netgalley and HarperCollinsfor this e-arc.

I didn’t realize this was a third in the series. Although I think it can be read as a standalone.

This was full of twists and turns. My first by Kate Tallo and I definitely will be circling back to this again after I read the first two.

I think this was honestly one of my favorite thriller/ mysteries I have read this year. It follows a mother/daughter duo (Gus and Bly) that is trying to find the mother’s boyfriend. The boyfriend (Howard) is a journalist and while they were on a family camping trip had gone missing. His parents decided after 3 years to have him declared dead, so when Bly and Gus came back for the celebration of life they started to uncover clues as to what may have happened to him. This book was filled with small town corruption, There was a significant portion of the book where it seemed that the disappearance was tied to a specific person/group, but the twist was actually insane. After it happened I kept thinking back to the events in the book and it just made so much sense. If you want a good thriller and a book that makes you really use your brain and play detective, read this!

The mystery/twists were interesting, but the first half of the book was so slow to get through and felt a bit repetitive. With Bly being so young and it being from her POV made it feel more YA. I wish it had an older narrator, even if it was just split POV.

I didn't realize this was part of a series either, so maybe reading the other books would have helped me. Though I didn't feel like I was missing anything.

Overall the premise was good, but I just didn't enjoy the characters and slow start.

Thank you NetGalley for the ARC!