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katieikewilhelm 's review for:
The Quarry Girls
by Jess Lourey
adventurous
dark
emotional
mysterious
sad
tense
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
“That’s when I understood the raw truth of it: the men in charge were looking out for themselves.
We were on our own, the girls of Pantown.”
If you’re a Murderino, you probably remember exactly what hooked you into a lifestyle of true crime. For me, it was absolutely hearing about the arrest of “cereal” killer Jeffrey Dahmer, who operated in our own backyard of Milwaukee, Wisconsin, when I was six or seven years old. And while that case holds little interest for me at this point, it did more than enough to pique my interest in the psychology of those who commit unthinkable crimes - which is exactly where The Quarry Girls comes in.
In her author’s note, Jess Louery gives a really compelling theory for the driving force behind the actions of some of the most compelling serial killers of the 1970s. If you’ve watched and obsessed over Mindhunter or any documentaries about the early stages of serial killer profiling work, some of this will sound familiar. To me, this era of investigation has always been the most interesting because it predates so much of the forensic testing that expedited similar work in later years. Along with that, though, is the frustration that comes with over-reliance on simple explanations, total disregard for mental health, the blatant sexism and racism that deferred resources from cases involving women or people of color, and so on. So, I guess if you can handle the BS, you’ll be able to muddle through and appreciate the historical aspect of Quarry Girls.
I almost didn’t read this because of the seriously mixed reviews - most of which complained about the slower, plodding pace of the investigation. I could see that, but it’s also a really different type of thriller. Quarry Girls is so much more about the psychology of Pantown, its tunnels, and its residents and how a situation like this could unfold, and I think the “thriller” factor comes from that aspect of the story. In my opinion, that’s almost creepier than a story that constantly throws event after event at you to keep the plot moving. The setting is its own character, and the implications for the residents of Pantown are horrifying.
The author’s writing style wasn’t always my jam, so four stars feels right. And Heather’s astuteness and maturity about the case feels like a bit of a stretch, considering her age. But what I DID love was the doggedness of Beth and Heather and the others who fought to uncover the truth of the disappearances, and the impact of their bravery on the outcome. If you’ve ever seen video of Richard Ramirez being chased through East L.A. by an angry mob that was sick of being terrorized by his bullshit, or watched/read about the force that was Michelle McNamara determinedly tackle EARONS on her own, you will see that same fierceness in the teenage girls in this story who refused to let their friends’ deaths go quietly into the night or be attributed to anything other than the craven individuals who destroyed them. I loved that about this story.
Definitely a solid read for anyone who appreciates true crime, especially with a retro vibe, and rooting for the underdog and the people who believe them.
We were on our own, the girls of Pantown.”
If you’re a Murderino, you probably remember exactly what hooked you into a lifestyle of true crime. For me, it was absolutely hearing about the arrest of “cereal” killer Jeffrey Dahmer, who operated in our own backyard of Milwaukee, Wisconsin, when I was six or seven years old. And while that case holds little interest for me at this point, it did more than enough to pique my interest in the psychology of those who commit unthinkable crimes - which is exactly where The Quarry Girls comes in.
In her author’s note, Jess Louery gives a really compelling theory for the driving force behind the actions of some of the most compelling serial killers of the 1970s. If you’ve watched and obsessed over Mindhunter or any documentaries about the early stages of serial killer profiling work, some of this will sound familiar. To me, this era of investigation has always been the most interesting because it predates so much of the forensic testing that expedited similar work in later years. Along with that, though, is the frustration that comes with over-reliance on simple explanations, total disregard for mental health, the blatant sexism and racism that deferred resources from cases involving women or people of color, and so on. So, I guess if you can handle the BS, you’ll be able to muddle through and appreciate the historical aspect of Quarry Girls.
I almost didn’t read this because of the seriously mixed reviews - most of which complained about the slower, plodding pace of the investigation. I could see that, but it’s also a really different type of thriller. Quarry Girls is so much more about the psychology of Pantown, its tunnels, and its residents and how a situation like this could unfold, and I think the “thriller” factor comes from that aspect of the story. In my opinion, that’s almost creepier than a story that constantly throws event after event at you to keep the plot moving. The setting is its own character, and the implications for the residents of Pantown are horrifying.
The author’s writing style wasn’t always my jam, so four stars feels right. And Heather’s astuteness and maturity about the case feels like a bit of a stretch, considering her age. But what I DID love was the doggedness of Beth and Heather and the others who fought to uncover the truth of the disappearances, and the impact of their bravery on the outcome. If you’ve ever seen video of Richard Ramirez being chased through East L.A. by an angry mob that was sick of being terrorized by his bullshit, or watched/read about the force that was Michelle McNamara determinedly tackle EARONS on her own, you will see that same fierceness in the teenage girls in this story who refused to let their friends’ deaths go quietly into the night or be attributed to anything other than the craven individuals who destroyed them. I loved that about this story.
Definitely a solid read for anyone who appreciates true crime, especially with a retro vibe, and rooting for the underdog and the people who believe them.