A review by tessa_talks_books
In a Quiet Town by Amber Garza

dark mysterious tense fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Plot
• Strong character development? No
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.0

 What’s it about (in a nutshell):

In A Quiet Town by Amber Garza is a psychological thriller that explores the bond between mother and daughter and the lengths a mother will go to to protect her daughter.

My Reading Experience:

I enjoyed this thriller. It’s the type of thriller you want to curl up with on a rainy afternoon and let the time slip away. There is plenty of suspense and twists, though I don’t know that anything shocked me…well, maybe one thing - but regardless, my attention was firmly held from beginning to end without fail.

I loved the mother-daughter themes that played throughout and the look at the impact on a child with a controlling parent who can just cut ties with their child without looking back. This happens all the time, and it’s fascinating to look at it from the perspectives of the mother and the daughter. I would have liked the father’s perspective as well, but just for my own curiosity, not that the story needed it.

Of course, as with most thrillers, the less I say, the better, so I won’t tell you more than what you see in the topics below.

Characters:

The characters are developed enough for the story. The mother and daughter characters, in particular, could have had more development. I would have loved to see that, but they are developed enough for the scope of this novel.

Tatum is the mother in this story. Her husband kicked their daughter, Adrienne, out of their home. Still, Tatum recently found a way to connect with Adrienne weekly without her husband’s knowledge. This is how she notices that Adrienne goes missing, and she won’t stop until she finds out what happened to her.

Adrienne was a rebellious teen turned into a responsible adult who worked at a local bar. She only dates men new to town and passing through because she is not looking for deep connections or prolonged relationships. Yet, a man also searching for her claims to be her fiance and has pictures to support his claim.

Narration & Pacing:

The narration is done through three perspectives, and I loved the narration most of all. It was so effective for holding my attention and keeping the suspense high. The 1st- person perspectives are through: The Mother, The Daughter, and The Fiance. Naming them like that keeps the reader guessing, and that’s why I liked it.

Setting:

The setting is California. I didn’t find the location to truly have any meaning for the story. Still, the different types of areas are utilized.

Read if you’re in the mood for:

• A dark, tense, and mysterious psychological thriller
• A fast-paced thriller that’s perfect for an afternoon of escapism
• Exploring mother-daughter relationships