Riddle

by Elizabeth Horton-Newton

Seven years ago Kort Eriksen went to prison for killing his girlfriend Desiree. Now he’s back in Riddle and some people think he got off easy. Others, including long time friend Norma, think he was railroaded because he’s the only Native American in town. Grace Donahue is running away from her past. Trapped in Riddle until her car is repaired she develops a friendship with Kort. Suddenly accidents are happening and people are dying. Is Kort adding to his list of victims or has someone else taken the reins? As mysteries from the past rise to the surface, more questions will be raised. The suspect file grows as victims fall. Is Desiree’s killer back for more or is someone trying to avenge her death? The riddle of Riddle will be solved, but how many bodies will it take to find the answers?

Genres: Mystery

441 pages, Kindle Edition

First published June 18, 2015

About the author

Elizabeth Horton-Newton has been called the Seductress of Suspense because she draws readers into her stories, builds the suspense, and just when the solution seems to be obvious, she pulls the rabbit out of the hat and reveals a dark truth. Her lifelong interest in the Kennedy assassination conspiracy resulted in her first novel, "View From the Sixth Floor: An Oswald Tale". With the release of her second book, "Riddle", she once again tackles a social issue; the illegal adoption of First Nations babies separated from their families. Small town prejudices against people of color and "outsiders" result in a unique friendship between two young people. Weaving a romantic thriller around the issues, she creates rich characters in all her writing, drawing the reader into their lives. With her education in Criminal Psychology, Sociology, and Media Communications she offers a unique insight into how criminals think and how society responds to their crimes. Volunteering in local Domestic Violence groups in her hometown, she likes to confront social problems in her stories. Elizabeth currently lives in a 100-year old haunted house with her husband, writer Neil Douglas Newton, and her dog, Scout (named for a character in "To Kill a Mockingbird"). Not limited to a single genre, she has written erotic romance, "Carved Wooden Heart" (with the mysterious Starla Hartless), and the suspenseful "Stolen Gypsy", as well as novelettes through Electric Eclectic Books. She is currently working on a new novel, "Blood on Murder Highway", loosely based on the murders and disappearances of indigenous women in the Pacific Northwest. Her new crime noir novella will be available winter 2019. When she isn't writing she is usually traveling or taking photographs and often both simultaneously. For more information, check out her website at bit.ly/homeEHN or read her blog, Between the Beats, at elizabethnnewton.com/

Reviews

[Mark Fine · Rating 5 out of 5]

They say judge a book by its cover. No kidding! The sumptuously designed cover for “Riddle” sucked me right in. And boy, this romantic thriller did not disappoint. In fact it had me truly committed to carve out time in my busy days in order to read it.

From the first page I found myself channeling “The Master of Suspense” himself, Sir Alfred Hitchcock. I’m convinced he would have reveled in the psychological twist and turns, portrayed by the gifted Elizabeth Horton-Newton, in her small town of Riddle she so tellingly created.
I know the fiery sanguine-haired Norma would have delighted the great director (she certainly fascinated me). He also would have appreciated the ratcheting drama of Grace, trapped in Riddle by a car that betrayed her, by breaking down at the least opportune time.

But her car’s betrayal is nothing compared to the questionable justice meted out against Kort. Mr. Erikson had been jailed for the alleged killing of his girlfriend. Or, was he a victim of crude prejudice being the only Native American in bucolic Riddle?

As I read, the layers peeled back page-by-page revealing a narrative as engrossing as anything created by Alfred Hitchcock. I really wish the late great Master of Suspense was still alive, as I would have liked to see Riddle come alive as a quality motion picture. I strongly recommend this book!

Review by Mark Fine The Zebra Affaire: An Apartheid Love Story (The Sub-Sahara Saga, #1

[kymagirl · Rating 5 out of 5]

Some truths refuse to stay buried. Some love stories are born from the wreckage.

When Grace (h) arrives in the small town of Riddle, she's not looking to be found. Haunted by her past and desperate for quiet, she keeps her head down and her heart guarded. But Riddle has its own darkness. And its favorite ghost wears the name of Kort (H), a Native man the town never forgave for a crime he swears he didn’t commit. His heritage made him an easy target, and no one cared to look deeper.

As Grace is pulled deeper into Riddle's secrets, she begins to question everything. Kort isn’t just the town’s shadow, he’s layered, scarred, and fighting to reclaim pieces of himself that were taken. Their connection builds slowly, formed in silence and pain, then deepened through shared trust. Together, they expose lies that buried the truth about Desiree’s death.

But the past doesn’t let go easily. Between a violent obsession, hidden letters, and a mother no one thought they’d ever find, Grace and Kort have to decide what they’re willing to risk for a future no one else believes they deserve.

In the end, one person will carry the real secret, buried beneath the surface of a town that still refuses to look too closely.

Grace grows from a woman running from her past into a steady, grounded one who chooses to stand by someone else’s pain without losing herself. Kort evolves from a guarded, mistrustful loner into a man who begins to face his trauma and open up to healing. Their relationship starts cautiously, built on quiet understanding, growing into a bond rooted in respect and shared survival. They become the other’s anchor, choosing trust and companionship over fear and isolation.

A dark, small town, suspenseful mystery romance, exploring love, identity, trauma, judgment, redemption, secrecy, belonging, truth, forgiveness, isolation, resilience, and choosing each other.

[Anita Kovacevic · Rating 5 out of 5]

Ah, the secrets that lie beneath the surface...

Four things drew me to this book - the fabulous title, recommendations from some friends, an amazing cover, and the teaser chapter posted on the website. It was intriguing, and the author's style seemed so easy to read through and visualize, carrying hints of picturesque bitterness and ominous gloom which confirmed Riddle was not your typical romance, but much more. If you take the time to read the foreword, which I do, out of respect for any author, you will be on the hero's side from the beginning, and I thank the author for a glimpse into social matters.

The main character is Kort, Native American uprooted and adopted, mistreated from childhood, and later convicted of murder under unclear circumstances. The fact that he returns to the town which accused him, speaks volumes by itself, but keeps you wondering if he came back for justice or vengeance. Meeting the heroine, Grace, made me like her immediately --  there is just something likeable about people who help others on gutt instinct, not calculating the odds and interests. With Norma, Tony and Agnes the story begins to spin in directions that remind me a bit of Twin Peeks, and your mind starts making assumptions, and all the what-ifs crawl in, keeping your interest.

Although the book needs slight editing and proofreading, which will certainly be dealt with soon, it truly lures you into its riddle. The scene with 2 significant letters waiting for the pizza to be finished was where you really get that fan feeling and want to shout at the characters 'Darn the pizza, what's in the envelopes?!' The physical fight between the killer and a police deputy is really striking. I did guess the killer (the analogies are a nice touch), but the author led the story skillfully to its climax and untangled it fully, with a surprise waiting in the prologue. The final pages of chasing down the culprit had me on my toes, and the unravelling of the workings of the crazy criminal mind is shockingly vivid.

When you feel like reading a book which feels like watching a good mystery, with strong hints of romance and scary thriller scenes, this is the book for you. Strong characters on both sides (if you're going to have a villain, make him/her memorable, right?) will have you rooting for and against them, happy to know there is always a happy ending. Or is there;)?

[Marcia Martins · Rating 4 out of 5]

I like romantic thriller and I got hooked from the beginning. Kort, a Native American, served seven years in prison. Out on parole, Kort went back to his home town, Riddle. As the story goes, a question hang on the air, is he innocent as he claims or had him killed his high school girlfriend? People are hostile to him, except a few friends from high school. Grace Donahue is running from her past, and is forced to stop for a while in Riddle when her car broke. Grace and Kort meet at Ollie's dinner and their relationship progress naturally. Grace believes in Kort and decide to help him to prove his innocence. She has no idea what she is getting herself into.
The characters are believable and the story has twisters and turns that keep you hooked. I would like to know more about Kort's family.

[Coco.V]

🎁 FREE on Amazon today (3/27/2020)! 🎁

[Ted Tayler · Rating 5 out of 5]

"Dictionary - a riddle is - a puzzle to be solved. 'Riddle' is a very apt title!"

I have often wondered what America was like far away from the big cities. There have been several films and many books that portray small-town America as somewhere that Trip Advisor might describe as 'best avoided'. Riddle is a small town. Everyone knows everyone else's business. There are some good folk; folk that are as honest as the day is long, they would give you the shirt off their back.Then there are others who pass by on the other side of the road and whisper, nudge and stare menacingly at anyone who dares to stop and stay for a while, uninvited. Riddle is no longer on my bucket list of places to visit.
Grace Donahue is forced to stop for a while, when her car dies on her. Grace is escaping a troubled past. Kort Eriksen is a Native American out on parole after serving seven years for the murder of a young girl he was at school with. His former schoolmates that stayed in Riddle are in both camps. The good folk and the others. We meet the cop with a grudge; the girl who still carries a flame for Kort despite his past; the mild mannered desk clerk at the motel, with an alcoholic mother. A handful of townsfolk think Kort was innocent; that it was convenient for the police to pin the murder on him because of his background.
Your past has a way of catching up with you and there are many twists and turns in this excellent thriller. The body count rises. Who is responsible? Were the townsfolk right about Kort all along? Was there another evil force at work? This story will keep you guessing until the end.

[Jackie Parry · Rating 5 out of 5]

Captivating, Thrilling, Intoxicating

Well, I could certainly drink up Kort, and Grace is so appealing too. With these two characters and other enigmatic players, Riddle will pick you up and carry you along a road of deceit, lies, cheating, love and passion – tinged with hate.... and confusion.... this has you guessing until the very end. At one point I thought they all did it!

With firm subplots that don’t meander or confuse, a small American town with all its compromises and real life drama unfolding between pages of romance, mystery and intrigue – you won’t be able to put this one down.

I’d love to know more about Kort and Grace, especially Kort and what happened after the fascinating....nope, I won’t spoil it for you.

I’ve now added Elizabeth’s first book View From the Sixth Floor and will be watching her for more.

[Wendi Wilson · Rating 4 out of 5]

Riddle is a fast-paced story full of twists and turns. The characters were well developed and believable. The suspense was intense and the mystery twisted and turned. You think you know what's going on, then it twists again. I loved Kort and Grace and thouroughly enjoyed their blossoming relationship.

I gave this book four stars instead of five due to it needing some serious editing. There were quite a few punctuation errors (missing commas, periods and spaces, formatting issues, etc), but these problems did not make me stop reading. I had to know what happened! Great job!

[Lorraine · Rating 5 out of 5]

A well-written book, with an intriguing storyline and a great cast of fleshed-out characters.
The book has believable romance and unpredictable mystery.
A true riddle with many twists and turns to keep you guessing until the end.

[Kerry Reis · Rating 4 out of 5]

After over seven years in prison for a manslaughter conviction in the death of his high school girlfriend, Kort has just been paroled back to his hometown of Riddle. Despite his adamant protestation of innocence, Kort feels that his being a Native American child raised by white parents was an underlying prejudice that the town, police, and jury against him, but upon his return to the town, he discovers that a small group of town residents who believe he was innocent, including a high school friend, Norma, who meets him at the bus station, another high school friend, Jack, who now owns the local diner, and the owner of a local construction company who provides him a job. However, Kort finds his high school nemesis, Butch, is now the Assistant Chief of Police with a personal directive to harass Kort back to prison. Meanwhile, Grace, on a personal roaming mission of self-discovery after running from her wedding due to finding her groom-to-be in bed with the maid-of-honor, finds herself stranded in Riddle when her car’s transmission dies. When she meets Kort at the diner, learning his history makes her wary, but she also begins to believe in his innocence as their relationship deepens into love. As they delve into proving Kort’s innocence, they are unaware of the danger facing them. With a strong character foundation, this was an engrossing tale of suspenseful mystery, romance, and redemption. It was very easy to find empathy with Kort and Grace, and to feel the tension and anger when danger and murder arise around them. However, the author’s use of omniscient point of view at a couple of spots made it easy for me to figure out the main villain in the story, but the full truth is well hidden until a final twist is revealed.

[S.L. Barrie · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is the second book I've read by Elizabeth Horton-Newton in so many days (which I stumbled upon purely because of their tenuous links to Eric Schweig), but I have enjoyed reading them.

Although this book is full of repetative dialogue and much of the present day mystery is centred around a black car that stalks the MC's Kort and Grace, I found the overall pace and flow of the writing enjoyable go read and was able to breeze through the book, which usually takes weeks for me to finish a book.

The mystery in the plot is a tangled web of passion, jealousy, revenge, murder, and lies, spanning several years beginning with the death of a teenage cheerlader (Kort's girlfriend) who is wrongly imprisoned for the crime.
In his quest to clear his name, aided by a newcomer to the town of Riddle (Grace), many suspects come to light, and what follows is an exciting, slow burn unravelling of secrets.

Behind Kort's dark past lies the truth of his childhood. Horton-Newton writes illuminatingly about the true, terrible history of indigenous children being forcibly taken from their parents and adopted into white families, bringing with it the stigmas and difficulties in culture and heritage erasure, and the abuses these children faced. It is not the most detailed or harrowing account I have read, but I think it is dealt with sensitively and appropriately for the genre. Any medium that raises awareness of this historic atrocity is valuable and if you are looking for a more in depth exploration there are other sources.

Overall this was an enjoyable read. Kort is a likeable character, and his relationship with Grace is sweet. I'd love a sequel that tells what happened after they drove off together.

[Carole Parkes · Rating 4 out of 5]

Engaging with the characters from the very first page, I couldn’t wait to read more and see how this story developed. ‘Riddle’ didn’t disappoint. In fact, in some ways it exceeded my expectations. The characters are realistically portrayed and believable, so much so I became quite attached to them. Also, the locations were sufficiently described for me to be there with them as the story is acted out. Just as all good books should do, it kept me interested right until the end even though I’d guessed early on how it would play out. Despite my accurate prediction, the author still managed a little surprise at the end making ‘Riddle’ an excellent read.

[Leo Mark · Rating 5 out of 5]

Riddle is a gripping small-town mystery packed with tension, secrets, and unexpected twists. Elizabeth Horton weaves a story that keeps you guessing from start to finish. Kort and Grace are deeply human characters, haunted, flawed, and impossible not to root for. The ending completely caught me off guard in the best way. Dark, emotional, and unforgettable. This is one thriller you won’t want to put down!

[Jessica Wren-Wilson · Rating 4 out of 5]

If you interview every inmate in any given prison, I would estimate that nine out of ten would tell you they were innocent, they were framed, that evidence was planted, that the defense lawyer was incompetent, and on and on. While no one believes that this many people are wrongfully convicted, it does occasionally happen. In Riddle by Elizabeth N. Newton, Kort, a twenty-ish man of Native American origin, is returning to his home town of Riddle (in an unnamed state but hinted to be Nebraska) after serving eight years for manslaughter. He had been wrongfully convicted of killing his girlfriend Desiree when they were teenagers. Having accepted his life circumstances and determined to move on, Kort immediately sets out to put the past behind him by getting a job and trying to stay out of trouble, knowing that any attempts to clear his name would be useless. When a beautiful drifter named Grace’s car breaks down in Riddle, leaving her stranded, the two immediately strike up a friendship, which quickly leads to a romance, and she encourages him to do all he can to prove his innocence. Unfortunately, neither of them can enjoy any peace due to the constant harassment and stalking by folks in town who, well, I’ll just say have their own reasons to stalk and harass. It’s only when a gruesome death occurs that Kort snaps out of his denial and realizes just how far some people in Riddle will go to get their revenge and satisfy their own agendas.

None of these reasons have to do with Kort’s heritage. In the opening scene, Kort experiences a juvenile racist taunt, and the first couple of chapters will have you believe that Kort was set up because he was the only native American in town. Indeed, Kort believes that this was one of the reasons he was accused of the murder: a close-minded, racist town wanted rid of its only Native American inhabitant (and for the record, I am Cherokee and have never experienced any anti-Native sentiments. I’m not saying or implying that prejudices don’t exist, and in her introduction, Mrs. Newton informs the reader that before Congress passed legislation outlawing it, Native American children were routinely forcibly removed from their families in an attempt to “civilize” them. I was not aware of this before. In this novel, it’s not clear why the inhabitants of Riddle are specifically prejudiced against Native Americans but no other race). However, Kort’s ethnicity is barely mentioned after this scene. He was the last person seen with Desiree before her death, he had had brushes with the law in the past, he had a very strong potential motive (which I won’t give away here), there was DNA evidence linking him to the crime scene and the struggle, and Kort himself confessed that he and Desiree had an argument right before her death. It seems pretty reasonable to me that he would be convicted of her murder and that people would be uncomfortable in his presence. However, I can understand Kort’s frustration at the injustice. For the town pariah, Kort has a lot of supporters: his new boss, Frank; his friend Jack, who runs the diner; his parole officer, Jeri; even the detective who investigated the murder who had his doubts from the beginning. He never appears to have any shortage of company.The other characters are superbly developed and you feel for them (even the bad guys). Kort’s relationship with his adoptive mother changes profoundly over the course of the novel, and these changes make a great subplot.

The best part of the book is the blooming romance between Kort and Grace, the ultimate “us against the world” couple who are determined to beat the odds, overcome their past (Grace has more baggage than an airport carousel but still manages to remain strong, independent, and self-confident. I wish I could pull her out the novel just so I can have a conversation with her), and make a new life for themselves. I would love to see a sequel to this book just to know how things for them turned out.

Riddle is not a “whodunit” murder mystery. It becomes clear fairly quickly who really should have been in prison for the murder. The real suspense comes from the inter-character drama. The novel uses a sequence of shocking scenes rather than plot twists to create its suspense. The ending, while thoroughly satisfying and has its own shocking scene, contains no major surprises. It’s like being in a movie theater, watching a slasher film, and watching someone walk into a room where you (the viewer) know a killer is hiding, It’s a little tough not to shout “don’t go in there!” Riddle is more of a drop tower than a roller coaster; you will float merrily along and then suddenly a bombshell is dropped.

Riddle does get repetitive at times. It seems that in every chapters, someone is apologizing, making sure someone is ok, or “has a bad feeling” about something. In the grand scheme of the novel, though, this is not that big of a deal. Nor is this an error per se; excessive repetition just happens to be a personal pet peeve of mine, and that’s not the author’s fault. Riddle can also benefit from a quick re-edit to fix some punctuation errors and typos, and from a reformatting. But please don’t let this discourage you from buying this treat of a book. These are things that are easily fixable and probably will be in a short time, and even if they’re not, Riddle is still an amazing read.

[Melissa · Rating 5 out of 5]

I got this book as a Christmas gift from a friend, and met the author in person. This book had my mind reeling, trying to figure out what had really happened and who the actual murderer was. The very last chapter took me by surprise, I didn’t see THAT coming! I great murder mystery with some romance, which I highly recommend!!

[Cori F · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great story!

I couldn't put this book down. It left me in suspense until the very end. Great characters. Very well written.

[Anita Kovacevic · Rating 5 out of 5]

Ah, the secrets that lie beneath...

Four things drew me to this book - the fabulous title, recommendations from some friends, an amazing cover, and the teaser chapter posted on the website. It was intriguing, and the author's style seemed so easy to read through and visualize, carrying hints of picturesque bitterness and ominous gloom which confirmed Riddle was not your typical romance, but much more. If you take the time to read the foreword, which I do, out of respect for any author, you will be on the hero's side from the beginning, and I thank the author for a glimpse into social matters.

The main character is Kort, Native American uprooted and adopted, mistreated from childhood, and later convicted of murder under unclear circumstances. The fact that he returns to the town which accused him, speaks volumes by itself, but keeps you wondering if he came back for justice or vengeance. Meeting the heroine, Grace, made me like her immediately -- there is just something likeable about people who help others on gutt instinct, not calculating the odds and interests. With Norma, Tony and Agnes the story begins to spin in directions that remind me a bit of Twin Peeks, and your mind starts making assumptions, and all the what-ifs crawl in, keeping your interest.

Although the book needs slight editing and proofreading, which will certainly be dealt with soon, it truly lures you into its riddle. The scene with 2 significant letters waiting for the pizza to be finished was where you really get that fan feeling and want to shout at the characters 'Darn the pizza, what's in the envelopes?!' The physical fight between the killer and a police deputy is really striking. I did guess the killer (the analogies are a nice touch), but the author led the story skillfully to its climax and untangled it fully, with a surprise waiting in the prologue. The final pages of chasing down the culprit had me on my toes, and the unravelling of the workings of the crazy criminal mind is shockingly vivid.

When you feel like reading a book which feels like watching a good mystery, with strong hints of romance and scary thriller scenes, this is the book for you. Strong characters on both sides (if you're going to have a villain, make him/her memorable, right?) will have you rooting for and against them, happy to know there is always a happy ending. Or is there;)?

[Claire Stibbe · Rating 5 out of 5]

Kort Eriksen returns home having served seven years of a twelve year sentence. It’s been a long stretch inside and now he’s back in Riddle, soaking up the sights, remembering how it was. This time, he’s vulnerable, the object of everyone’s scrutiny ‒ his mother, the girls across the street, Butch. The only person pleased to see him is Jack of the Sky Harbor Diner.

Horton-Newton’s writing is crisp, grabs you from the first page and doesn’t let up. With the plot picking up speed and the suspense following suit, you begin to feel an underlying tension that just won’t shift. And that’s what makes this book. It’s not that I felt sorry for Kort, far from it. He doesn’t need pity. He’s too charismatic for that. I was fascinated with him. He’s an outsider trying to re-acclimate to a hostile environment and, emotions aside, managing rather well. Newton’s ability to climb into the minds of her characters speaks for itself. We mustn’t assume Kort’s return is going to be that easy, snide remarks and narrowed eyed looks are only par for the course. They believe he’s a convicted killer and we can empathize with his dilemma, but we know there is something far more appealing about Kort than just the matter of his exceptional heritage.

Grace Donahue has car problems, seems like she’s in need of a new transmission. With a few options and fewer dollars, she checks into a hotel and takes a bite to eat at the local diner. This girl’s no lightweight, witty and determined she meets Kort, accepts a short ride in his truck, and latterly takes residence in Riddle. Trouble begins to brew when a newsflash releases footage of Kort Eriksen and the murder of Desiree Steele. It’s particularly engrossing to read about the past of a tortured hero and clearly Grace feels more captivated than deceived. As Newton points out ‘She struggled to match the boy in the reports with the man she had just met.’ This is the very essence of the story.

As Kort tries to put old ghosts to sleep and bury the what-if’s, we wonder about the driver of the small dark car and we wonder why Butch is keeping such a careful eye on him. I enjoyed the strained relationships and the complex characters - a letter, a poignant Polaroid and a dead girl’s secrets - and an ending I wasn’t expecting. Newton skillfully weaves past with present and like a roller-coaster ride, we can neither get off nor want to.

[Michelle Medhat · Rating 5 out of 5]

An intense, thrilling ride of passion, prejudice, obsession and revenge.
Riddle is an incredible book and one that should not be missed. When I started reading, it seemed like a superb dramatic romance. But the more I was swallowed into the story, the more I was aware of an undercurrent of something else. Written with sweet charm, Riddle is a story that appears to be a chocolate pudding, but dig deeper and the maggots start to crawl out. Think David Lynch and then some. Mrs Newton has created a literary sleight of hand with stunning deftness. Startling graphic imagery is juxtaposed with cupcake, little town sensibilities. The fatherly owner of the diner, the tough but kind proprietor of the local Inn and the pragmatic but caring garage mechanic, give a light feeling to this story, but don't be fooled. There's the town's bad boy Kort just out of jail for a murder he says he didn't commit. Is he lying or just misunderstood? The town's split between supporters of Kort – those who believed him innocent of the heinous crime – and those who’d like to see him six foot under. Unfortunately, his mother falls into the latter team. And amongst it all a girl named Grace arrives. Her car's broken down, so she stays in Riddle until it's fixed. Who is she? Why is she running? Does she intend to stay? Questions circle in your mind as you read, and Mrs Newton’s writing holds you captivated with intrigue demanding you read further. Each page furnishes a further titbit of insight into the lives of those players on Riddle’s stage, but no conclusions are forthcoming until the final pages. Don’t try to second guess, just sit back and enjoy the thrilling journey Mrs Newton has crafted for you.

The characters in Riddle are deep and complex. Their intricacies and foibles give way to a multitude of enthralling considerations. However, what makes the book truly stand out is Mrs Newton’s ability to address such big themes as prejudice, revenge, obsession and pride in a way that forces a reappraisal of perspective. The distrust that naturally occurs when meeting those not conforming to a stereotype of our predetermined design, and the faith to find the strength to use our intelligence to observe and interpret instead of accepting and believing the judgement of others. Riddle is a book not to be missed and one that I highly recommend.

[Ann Fields · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is the second book I’ve read by Newton and like the first (View from the Sixth Floor: An Oswald Tale), it did not disappoint. Riddle is the story of Kort, an outcast even among outcasts and Grace, a young lady running from a hurt-filled past. A chance meeting at a small town diner kicks off the fireworks of this story. The couple moves tenuously toward a friendship, then onto a romantic relationship as the plot thickens around who killed Kort’s high school sweetheart and who is now trying to kill Grace. In the end, the killer’s identity is revealed but missed clues direct the police, Kort and Grace to the wrong person. The true killer remains free, while Kort and Grace enjoy a happy, promising future together. Or do they?

Hmmmmm…sounds like a sequel is to follow, and I would be first in line to read it. Newton is adept at creating large characters in small settings. She is very thorough (and fair with the clues for those who like to figure out the identity of the killer before the end) in laying out the mystery of her books. She is especially skilled in planting details (sub-plots) designed to interest yet throw off the reader. In the case of this book, she does this by creating interesting pasts for Kort and Grace and by piling on present-day work, financial and love challenges. Newton even throws in social commentary on the issue of the forced adoption of native American Indian children. The pacing for this book was steady; the minor characters well defined; and the romance steamy. If you enjoy reading well written stories that include romance, mystery and social issues, Riddle is the ticket. Happy reading!

[Gloria Antypowich · Rating 4 out of 5]

An entertaining read!

I thoroughly enjoyed this book. I was hooked by the summary—Kort Eriksem, a young Native American man who had been adopted by white parents returning to the small town, where he had been raised, after spending seven years in prison for murdering his girlfriend. A small town where everyone knew (or thought they knew) what everyone else was doing—old hatreds, mistrust, those who supported him or always suspected that he was innocent but hadn’t had the guts to say so, and a mother who is so riddled with guilt that she doesn’t know how to act when he comes home. My heart went out to him from the first chapter.

Grace Donahue was an outsider, unbiased and free to see him through her own eyes. Kort came to have feelings for her, but would she leave town as she intended as soon as her car was fixed?

There were so many twists and turns in the plot that it kept me glued to the pages—right until the end when I thought I knew who the killer was, even though one description earlier in the book had me puzzled. Then in the very last pages I realized that no one in the story, except the killer himself, knew the truth.

A terrific story—I am giving it 4 stars, because there were editing errors that marred the composition of the book, but not so much that I didn’t enjoy it. I would recommend this book to anyone who enjoys a good thriller with a touch of romance.

[Sanna Hines · Rating 5 out of 5]

First-rate Storytelling

My only complaint with Riddle is that it kept me up until 2 a.m. Thought I’d just dip into the first few pages to get the flavor of the story, but I was hooked. I HAD to know what would happen to Native American Kort Ericksen in the all-White town of Riddle when the convicted murderer returned from prison.

Kort’s homecoming is chilly. His adoptive mother treats him like a boarder. Only high school friends Norma, who wrote to him while he was “inside”; Chad, now owner of the construction company where Kort will work; and diner-owner Jack greet him with warmth. It’s at the diner where Kort meets Grace, a drifter marooned in Riddle until she can pay for car repairs. The two strike up a tentative friendship before Grace discovers Kort’s history. Then she’s solidly on his side, urging him to join her in a hunt for the real killer of his high school girlfriend.

This is dangerous work, made more dangerous by a rash of seemingly unconnected deaths near the town. As Kort and Grace dig into the past, old secrets emerge. One unexpected side effect of their search gives Kort a tantalizing lead on his Native American roots, which he’ll have to pursue after the body count stops rising.

Riddle has minor issues with formatting and the occasional character head-hop, but none of this detracts from the first-rate storytelling. Read the book. You’re sure to enjoy it.

[Glen Barrera]

A love story within the mystery of Riddle.

The title first caught my interest, and the rest fell into place. I really liked this book. The relationship between Kort and Grace was realistic and fit perfectly with his past as a convicted killer, and her running from her past. With nowhere else to go after his release from prison, Kort returns to his hometown of Riddle, where he meets Grace, in town only because her car had broken down and is not repairable for a few days. Both are strangers in the town. Even though he grew up there, most residents have now labeled Kort, an adoptive child, an outcast. Not just for the supposed killing of his girlfriend, but for his Native American heritage.

The story between Kort and Grace builds from there. Newton does a terrific job in keeping the questions coming: is Kort really the killer of his girlfriend? Do the answers lie with an old girlfriend, one of the few who believe him innocent of the murder charge? The police chief, an old nemeses who watches every move Kort makes? A clerk at the motel with his own dark secrets? Or, does the answer lie in the dead bodies that keep showing up? This is the good stuff that swirls around the love that builds between Kort and Grace, who soon find themselves embroiled in the life or death mystery of Riddle. A definite read!

[Karen J. Mossman · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a very engrossing story with a bit of everything in it. The mystery of who killed Desiree, if it wasn't our hero Kort, who was it? Why were people quick to accept that he was the killer? And why those who had doubts hadn't spoken they spoken out? Norma was there to welcome Kort home, but did she have an agenda? Why was the Police Chief, Butch, also Desiree's boyfriend, following Kort? There are so many questions at the start of this book and that's what keeps the reader going.

Little by little, the story starts to unfold and this is where the author cleverly draws in the readers. The town of Riddle is brought to life and I built up a picture of it as the characters moved between the diner, the hotel, Kort's mum's house and The Timbers, where Kort worked and grace lived. I particularly enjoyed the relationship between Kort and his mum, how it had changed and the back story to his relationship with his mum and deceased dad. It didn't turn out the way the reader would expect and I liked it for that.

Kort meets Grace, who is stuck in Riddle while her car is being fixed. Their relationship blossoms and with the mystery, there is a love story too. There are a lot of interesting minor characters which are fully formed and make the story come alive. There were also lots of twists and turns, which kept me glued to the page to find out what would happen next.

[Ulla · Rating 4 out of 5]

Elizabeth Horton-Newton does it again!

I haven't been much for romantic novels and wasn’t sure I’d enjoy “Riddle” by Elizabeth Horton-Newton, but I really liked her book “View from the Sixth Floor” and wanted to check her new book "Riddle" out. After I started to read, it didn’t take me long to become intrigued by and involved with the main characters Kort and Grace. And soon enough, the suspense of the story gripped and held me all the way till the satisfying end. It seems I’m a fan of romantic novels after all. Even though this novel needs a bit of editing and proofreading, it’s a terrific read and I recommend it to anyone who likes a great suspense novel. I look forward to read more from this talented writer.

[Lavern Winters · Rating 4 out of 5]

I enjoyed this story. A good mystery/thriller romance. A young man released from prison on parole, a young woman from out of town both stuck in a small town. Mysterious events begin to occur as these two strangers become friends and a romantic relationship develops between them. With a town full of suspicious residents, some who hold grudges makes life difficult for the couple. The plot development was great and most of the characters were developed well enough to be believable. The main characters were easy to sympathize with as they face various trials and obstacles in their lives and relationship. The ending was quite satisfying with a revelation at the end neatly wrapping everything up.

[Mistral Dawn · Rating 5 out of 5]

Riddle is a story based in a small town and the author does an excellent job of adjusting her characters to this setting without making them stereotypical. Although there are difficult subjects such as racism that are dealt with throughout the book, this is overall not a book that is meant to deal with those topics and that are woven into the background more than the forefront of the story. This is most certainly a mystery with some romance and a few adult scenes and the twists the story takes are both enjoyable and slightly scary at the same time. A book worth a read if you're into mystery and suspense with a bit of flash.

[Teresa Derrick · Rating 4 out of 5]

Fabulous mystery and suspense

An injustice done to a Native American , going back to just after his birth, may never be set right. Or could they ? Kort served seven years for the murder of a teenage girl whom he had been linked romantically to, but he also being a teenager at the time had been the only suspect and was different from the rest of the town. When he gets patrolled he comes back to the only home he has known, back to the same prejudices and hatred towards him. He meets Grace who is down on her luck. She changes his life. They start to unravel his case and try to find the true killer.

[Latoya Wilson · Rating 5 out of 5]

Twists and turns galore!!!

Newton has done it again with the twists and turns until I had to read to the very last page of this whodunit. Riddle is a horrible place to live for an outsider that was forced to live there and never knew that he was being forced. Then he's punished for being an outsider in the most horrible way possible. I was little sad when the book ended, but at least Kort and Grace found each other in this hateful town, so the ending is alright in my book. What's next, Author Elizabeth???

[Paula Baker · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book took my breath away!

riddle is a true mystery set in a quaint little town. The minute Grace's car breaks down, things begin to happen. By the last few chapters, I found myself holdings breath, praying the good guys would come through! Great book and highly entertaining.