“Buried Road” skillfully evokes deep emotional responses, intricately exploring themes of loss and grief while embarking on a quest for truth and understanding.  The narrative unfolds through the eyes of thirteen-year-old Bly Monet, who, alongside her mother, Gus, gradually unravels the complex layers of secrets, lies, and familial loyalties of a small town to seek answers regarding Howard’s disappearance. 

 

Using the perspective of a thirteen-year-old was a daring and bold choice, with the potential risk of rendering the narrative less mature; however, the result was rather the opposite! 

 

The voice of the young protagonist effectively combines insights from early trauma with the natural curiosities, imagination, and resilience of youth in a deeply authentic manner.  Bly’s observations are both perceptive and engaging, often cutting through the guarded facades of adulthood with impressive clarity.  The mother-daughter dynamic also adds an intriguing layer to the story. 

 

Overall, this story is exceptionally well-crafted, solidifying author Katie Tallo as a preferred choice for my future readings.  However, I feel the pacing was noticeably slow in the first half of the novel, which hindered its ability to achieve a 5-star rating in my opinion. 

 

I received a free advanced reader copy of this book from Harper Paperbacks and NetGalley.  I am voluntarily leaving my review; all thoughts and opinions are my own.