The Bookwyrm's Review of To Live and Die at Shadow Ridge by Adam Testa

 

Author: Adam Testa

Length: 219 Pages

Release Date: November 19, 2020

Publisher: Self-Published

Genre: Mystery/Thriller

Rating: 4.5/5 Stars

Amazon Link

While I normally review fantasy and sci-fi, I have always enjoyed the occasional mystery or thriller, whether it be something like a Robin Cook medical thriller to an old Agatha Christie Hercule Poirot mystery. I had Shadow Ridge recommended to me and decided I could use a good mystery review. Turns out it was a good decision.

PLOT SUMMARY

What if you learned your life had been a lie?

A year after his wife’s death, former investigative reporter Derek Price wants closure. But when his homeowners association blocks the sale of his house, his protégé Sonia Torres pushes him to investigate Shadowen Real Estate.

Now, Derek must revisit his past and uncover secrets about his life and home. He’s a middle-aged conservative with an old-school mentality; she’s a college-aged progressive raised with technology.

Together, they’ll unravel a conspiracy with personal and political ramifications that puts Derek in the cross-hairs of a vengeful serial killer. Will their efforts be enough to not only survive but to pull the truth from the shadows and into the light?

CHARACTERS AND WORLD BUILDING

I'll have to admit that the characters in this book are really what hooked me to the point I read this over most of a day. Derek and Sonia are a great combo as a father figure/boss and young protégé. Their political differences are so stark that they shouldn't be able to cooperate, but instead it just leads to a lot good natured teasing that actually feels natural considering their differences in ages and cultural backgrounds. Derek is just such a sympathetic character, still dealing with the death of his wife a year earlier, struggling with the frustration of what's happening with trying to sell his house. He just reads like a real person trying to move on with his life and circumstances seem to conspire against him.

 Sonia is the same way, really feeling like a 19 year old woman who has her own struggles, such as her sick mother, to deal with, all while trying to look after Derek as well. The secondary characters are really well drawn out as well, and the peaks we get into their lives really sets their character arcs up nicely. The villain, who I did not guess until he was revealed, was definitely a great foil for Derek and the other characters they dealt with. Definitely not a mustache twirling baddie, but a person dealing with their own tragedies and responding in dangerous ways.

World building is also a strength, showing the inside story of what an HOA community is all about, and not shying away from some of the more ridiculous aspects. The backstory with his wife's company and its connection to the HOA leadership is interesting, and the secrets that are exposed throughout the course of the story actually help flesh out the world the author has created. It definitely helps to create a feeling of tension.

FINAL THOUGHTS

Like any good thriller or mysteries, you expect lots of twists, turns and swerves, and Shadow Ridge delivers. I thought I had the villain and conspiracy figured out, and then, swerve, I didn't have it. While the book has lots of strengths, one of the few weaknesses I see in the story is the backstory for the conspiracy is a little underdeveloped, in that I'd like to have learned a little more about the company Derek's wife Madeline worked at, and how it was tied in to the HOA company. Just a small thing, and I expect most people aren't that detail oriented, so won't find it an issue. For a debut novel, I was shocked how well developed the plot and characters are, and how seamlessly the action flows in the faster parts of the story. I can definitely see this story appealing to a large group of readers, from fans of Brad Thor and James Patterson thrillers to Sue Grafton mysteries.