The Buried Girl

A Novel of Suspense

By: Richard Montanari

Narrated by: Scott Brick

“Taut, propulsive and darkly gripping, Montanari is a master of suspense.” (Chris Ewan)

A haunting, nerve-jangling psychological thriller from Sunday Times best-selling author Richard Montanari, set in a small town hiding a very dark secret.

New York psychologist Will Hardy had it all - a loving family, a flourishing career, a best-selling book. Until the night it all ended in a tempest of fire and ash, leaving only Will and his 15-year-old daughter Bernadette to stand in the ruins. Haunted and grief-stricken, Will accepts an enigmatic invitation from his family’s past to begin their lives anew in the small town of Abbeville, Ohio.

Meanwhile, Abbeville Chief of Police Ivy Holgrave is investigating the death of a local girl, convinced this may only be the latest in a long line of murders dating back decades - including her own long-missing sister.

But what place does Will's new home have in the story of the missing girls? And what links the killings to the diary of a young woman written more than a century earlier? The disappearances in Abbeville have happened before, and now, Will’s own daughter might be next....

©2019 Richard Montanari (P)2019 HarperCollins Publishers

It was very predictable and a chore to finish

I purchase this one as it was highly rated fro a new book but I dont understand why it was so highly rated. I felt no real connection to any of the characters and felt like I was just going through the motions.

A Little Confusing at First

I found the story intriguing if a bit confusing at first. A lot of times, present and past, and quite a few characters and their stories to keep track of. If you’re looking for an easy listen while you’re doing house or yard work, this might not be it. But if you’re willing to give it your attention, it’s a good mystery.

such a great story

I liked the interaction between all the characters. I stayed up late listening till the end

If you've never listened to Richard Montanari...

... then this is a good place to start. I love Montanari's Byrne and Balzano series. This book is a stand alone written by an author I would consider a master of the suspense genre.

The protagonist is Will Hardy. In the beginning he works as a forensic psychologist and professor at NYU. After taking on a new patient the man finds where he lives and murders Will's wife. Soon after Will inherits a very old B&B in Abbeville, Ohio.
Meanwhile in the same town the police are looking into the disappearance of young women and murder of others including her own sister 25 years earlier.
Will Hardy has a teenage daughter. Can you guess what happens next?

If you thought that Will's daughter goes missing...

you're correct!

It's really not quite that simple. Add in an ancient home, some historic murders, a sprinkling of some strange Amish people and the story gets even more bizarre... but there's no way to guess the ending.
Scott Brick narrates perfectly. He adds just the right amount of drama.
This book has my HIGHEST RECOMMENDATION.
If you found this review helpful please indicate so. Thank You.

What is everyone else reading?

Not sure about the other reviews. Perhaps this is not the taste for everyone. I found the story intriguing, insightful, complex, and elegantly beautiful. The grandeur of two great houses linked across the centuries by love, obsession, and murder. The story reminds me of something that could have been written by Charles Dickens, although written in the present with reminiscences of the past.

The clash of past and present over time and place gives the story a depth of surreality. I felt for the father, the daughter, and the searching soul of the police chief. I even felt a swell of pride for the dog who found her partner and her way. The voice and reading of Scott Brick brought the scenes to life, and moved me through the story with the characters.

If what I have described for you sounds lovely, or even interesting, I believe you will like this tale. Enjoy!

Montanari never fails!!!

All can say is buy it! At first I thought this is going to be slow., a lot of setup. but once it got started I was all in. Couldn't stop listening.

If it wasn’t for Scott Brick

I would never have completed this book if it wasn’t for Scott Brick. The book was poorly edited and consequently confusing and sometimes convoluted. The characters didn’t mesh, even at the end. The beginning was very slow, jumping around timelines without much coherence. I think the story was basically good but the editor dropped the ball.

LISTEN CAREFULLY BUT IS WELL WORTH THE EXTRA TIME

This was a bit hard to follow, but after I went back a couple times and paid attention (I listened while I worked) it worked out just fine. A great story without the gore you usually find in this type of novel. I really came to know the characters and their feelings. Scott Brick as always read a great story! My first-time reading Richard Montanari, not my last for sure!

Can’t believe my own patience.

Other than Scott Brick, no way I waste my time finishing the book. Convoluted doesn’t even begin to describe my thoughts.

Enjoyed with a little reservation

I thought the story was initially hard to follow, moving swiftly between times and places. I held on for the ride, though, and it all eventually began to make sense. The plot was very good, and the author's vivid description of the characters and settings made me clearly "see" what was taking place. It was mostly enjoyable, and I was so happy that Scott Brick was the narrator. He could make a bad book sound great.