What do you think?
The Crooked Roads through Cedar Grove
A suspenseful, psychological thriller revolving around various characters who struggle with their own personal conflicts. The outcome of their decisions lead each one down a figurative "crooked road" into darkness and despair. But who will come out on the other side without consequence or harm? There's an unsettling anomaly dwelling in the picturesque New England town of Cedar Grove. Kathleen, a seventeen-year-old newcomer to the town, is harassed and bullied by her classmates. Alex and Bethany purchase a beautiful home for well-below its value, only to discover that the reduced price offers them more than they bargained for. Brian develops an infatuation with a girl he finds online, but she's not who he expects. There is a sinister presence silently twisting their fates together on the crooked roads through Cedar Grove.
300 pages, Paperback
First published June 2, 2015
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Displaying 1 - 8 of 8 reviews
July 26, 2015
I was given a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. This novel is a mystery thriller, which is a little out of my normal reading comfort zone, so please keep that in mind.
First off, the storytelling was amazing. I was sucked in from the first paragraph and rode the roller-coaster of the plot all the way to the end, in less than three hours. I cannot honestly say that about many books that I read, as I usually put them down and do other things for a little while before I come back to them. I could not put this book down, and I was a bit sad to see it end.
Another great thing about the story is the way the author pulled several convoluted story-lines together so that they all led to one focal point. And because the characters were so well-rounded, I was able to sympathize and empathize with all of them, so when things happened to one of them, my knowing that that character was going through something at that moment but would also be dealing with something that was also happening in the background to someone else at the same time made me love them and feel sorry for them even more.
There were a few things that took away from the five-star rating, though. The version that I received needed severe editing. There were many run-on sentences, sentence fragments, dangling participles, and more. It did not draw away from the story for me, but it did make it difficult to understand certain paragraphs until I read them through a second or third time.
Another thing that happened throughout the entire book was passive voice. So many times, a key action scene that would have had me on the edge of my seat and chewing on my lip in suspense was simply glossed over with a "narrative voice-over" as the person who was telling the current section of the story mentioned the action in passing. It pulled me out of the moment, and I really wanted to be in the moment.
Lastly, the opening chapter or two of the novel focused on the story of Bethany, Alex, and Ted. I'm not going to give away spoilers, but the gist of their story is that Bethany and Alex mysteriously disappear, and Ted is hired to find out where they went. Now, their story was horrifying and spooky, but it was just sort of swept to the back of the novel, and instead of giving the reader the nitty-gritty on what happened to them, there is just a small paragraph or two that summed up the history of the house and what had happened there, and that was all the author left us with as an explanation of what happened to this young couple.
Overall, though, because of the author's storytelling ability, this was a good novel to read. If you purchase it, I hope you enjoy it.
First off, the storytelling was amazing. I was sucked in from the first paragraph and rode the roller-coaster of the plot all the way to the end, in less than three hours. I cannot honestly say that about many books that I read, as I usually put them down and do other things for a little while before I come back to them. I could not put this book down, and I was a bit sad to see it end.
Another great thing about the story is the way the author pulled several convoluted story-lines together so that they all led to one focal point. And because the characters were so well-rounded, I was able to sympathize and empathize with all of them, so when things happened to one of them, my knowing that that character was going through something at that moment but would also be dealing with something that was also happening in the background to someone else at the same time made me love them and feel sorry for them even more.
There were a few things that took away from the five-star rating, though. The version that I received needed severe editing. There were many run-on sentences, sentence fragments, dangling participles, and more. It did not draw away from the story for me, but it did make it difficult to understand certain paragraphs until I read them through a second or third time.
Another thing that happened throughout the entire book was passive voice. So many times, a key action scene that would have had me on the edge of my seat and chewing on my lip in suspense was simply glossed over with a "narrative voice-over" as the person who was telling the current section of the story mentioned the action in passing. It pulled me out of the moment, and I really wanted to be in the moment.
Lastly, the opening chapter or two of the novel focused on the story of Bethany, Alex, and Ted. I'm not going to give away spoilers, but the gist of their story is that Bethany and Alex mysteriously disappear, and Ted is hired to find out where they went. Now, their story was horrifying and spooky, but it was just sort of swept to the back of the novel, and instead of giving the reader the nitty-gritty on what happened to them, there is just a small paragraph or two that summed up the history of the house and what had happened there, and that was all the author left us with as an explanation of what happened to this young couple.
Overall, though, because of the author's storytelling ability, this was a good novel to read. If you purchase it, I hope you enjoy it.
June 9, 2015
Rob asked me to review his book, and I was glad to do so. This is a thriller/mystery, with several distinct plots running parallel. The overall pace of the book is fast. There are a few points early on where I wasn’t certain what was going on. The three stories are independent of each other, except for the setting – Cedar Grove – and the swirl of supporting characters that inhabit the town. I wasn’t sure how he was going to tie them all together by the end. That’s part of what makes a good mystery so good – how do these all tie into each other? At the end of the book, there was only one plot line I remained unsure of how it tied into the story. However, this may be my inexperience with true mysteries talking, rather than a fault in the story itself. I might have missed a clue or five.
There’s enough going on in the story that I had to check the listing to see how the book was classified. There is a little extra repetition in the early chapters that is suitable for the younger readers, but the themes and some of the on goings that provide the darker aspects to the work may not be suitable for the younger teens. The ugliest aspects are handled with understanding (as well as can be, since they are critical points to the plot).
The character development is well done. Many times I could see acquaintances, or even friends and school age enemies in the teenage characters from the actions and descriptions provided. A few of the adults were a bit shallower, and I’m not certain why they came across that way. The main story seems to be about Kathleen, which may be the cause. None of the characters felt like cardboard cutouts, but in the plots that weren’t directly tied into the main theme the characters didn’t get as much attention.
The world building was solidly done. The story takes place in the modern U.S. though no particular state was mentioned, nor were any clearly definable landmarks – like mountains, bayous, or forests. However, it’s also mentioned this is a very small town, and having lived in a town with only a warning light, the setting for this story definitely fits the bill – everyone knows everyone and their business. There were a few customs that helped to make the setting more than just an empty backdrop for the action to occur in front of, which was nice.
Overall, there was something lacking, though it was a good tale. I hate to knock even part of a star unless I can solidly define why, yet for me this one isn’t quite up to a full five star rating. So I’ll have to go with a 4.5 out of 5 stars. If I can figure out why, I’ll update the entry. It definitely keeps you on your toes, and makes you think about how things tie together. A couple of interesting plot twists along the way that caught me flat footed (and by the time these came into play, I’ve usually managed to figure out what’s going on. May not have solved the puzzle, but at least I know all the pieces.)
There’s enough going on in the story that I had to check the listing to see how the book was classified. There is a little extra repetition in the early chapters that is suitable for the younger readers, but the themes and some of the on goings that provide the darker aspects to the work may not be suitable for the younger teens. The ugliest aspects are handled with understanding (as well as can be, since they are critical points to the plot).
The character development is well done. Many times I could see acquaintances, or even friends and school age enemies in the teenage characters from the actions and descriptions provided. A few of the adults were a bit shallower, and I’m not certain why they came across that way. The main story seems to be about Kathleen, which may be the cause. None of the characters felt like cardboard cutouts, but in the plots that weren’t directly tied into the main theme the characters didn’t get as much attention.
The world building was solidly done. The story takes place in the modern U.S. though no particular state was mentioned, nor were any clearly definable landmarks – like mountains, bayous, or forests. However, it’s also mentioned this is a very small town, and having lived in a town with only a warning light, the setting for this story definitely fits the bill – everyone knows everyone and their business. There were a few customs that helped to make the setting more than just an empty backdrop for the action to occur in front of, which was nice.
Overall, there was something lacking, though it was a good tale. I hate to knock even part of a star unless I can solidly define why, yet for me this one isn’t quite up to a full five star rating. So I’ll have to go with a 4.5 out of 5 stars. If I can figure out why, I’ll update the entry. It definitely keeps you on your toes, and makes you think about how things tie together. A couple of interesting plot twists along the way that caught me flat footed (and by the time these came into play, I’ve usually managed to figure out what’s going on. May not have solved the puzzle, but at least I know all the pieces.)
July 9, 2015
Sorry Agents for being MIA for almost a week now. Something just came up for work so I wasn't able to update you all. I'm still dealing with it but I'd manage to finish this book after almost 3 days of abandoning it. (Sorry, I guess you could also blame my unexplainable urge for anime marathon)
When the author, Rob Watts offer me a review copy of this book, I was quite excited because as you can see above, the cover is so catchy. And I'd stalk a little about this book and was quite contented on its reviews.
My first impression about this book is that I thought it's going to be all about horror. I'm not really into horror books, though I enjoy watching horror movies, hehe. But this one is different, I still can't picture out what is it though. I remember the last horror book that I've read was the Amityville Horror by Jay Anson and mind you agents, that one was a true to life story. That's why, I expected a lot from this book.
But unfortunately, it wasn't able to add fire to my burning desire to read awesome horror book. But I admit that it was a bit spooky on its first chapter. What's disappointing is that, after reading the first chapter, it tackles on many other stories. And mind you, it's not purely horror. Though it has combination of suspense and mystery, but it didn't erased my disappointment of the early deprivation of horror. I forgot the exact number of short stories this book is made of because it was really not that easy to keep track of.
There was also quite a number of characters that it took me half the book to get to familiarize with. There's a lot of unsuspecting characters too. And ofcourse , some questionable one. I don't have any favorites but I don't have any hated characters too. So I guess what I am feeling for this book is neutral. That clearly explains about my 3 stars above.
I don't want to drop a bummer, but I guess it isn't one of them, haha. What really interest me in this book is the fact that the things happened in this book were all related. Which is quite interesting in my part. This book has a bit of morbid scenes so I am going to warn you in advance.
To read more of my reviews, book news and updates:
Main Blog: Blushing Geek
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When the author, Rob Watts offer me a review copy of this book, I was quite excited because as you can see above, the cover is so catchy. And I'd stalk a little about this book and was quite contented on its reviews.
My first impression about this book is that I thought it's going to be all about horror. I'm not really into horror books, though I enjoy watching horror movies, hehe. But this one is different, I still can't picture out what is it though. I remember the last horror book that I've read was the Amityville Horror by Jay Anson and mind you agents, that one was a true to life story. That's why, I expected a lot from this book.
But unfortunately, it wasn't able to add fire to my burning desire to read awesome horror book. But I admit that it was a bit spooky on its first chapter. What's disappointing is that, after reading the first chapter, it tackles on many other stories. And mind you, it's not purely horror. Though it has combination of suspense and mystery, but it didn't erased my disappointment of the early deprivation of horror. I forgot the exact number of short stories this book is made of because it was really not that easy to keep track of.
There was also quite a number of characters that it took me half the book to get to familiarize with. There's a lot of unsuspecting characters too. And ofcourse , some questionable one. I don't have any favorites but I don't have any hated characters too. So I guess what I am feeling for this book is neutral. That clearly explains about my 3 stars above.
I don't want to drop a bummer, but I guess it isn't one of them, haha. What really interest me in this book is the fact that the things happened in this book were all related. Which is quite interesting in my part. This book has a bit of morbid scenes so I am going to warn you in advance.
To read more of my reviews, book news and updates:
Main Blog: Blushing Geek
Facebook Page
Subscribe to mailing list
July 15, 2015
An enthralling journey through ‘The Crooked Roads through Cedar Grove’
Rob last novel is bringing to the reader’s mind a spiral of thoughts, making him reflect strongly on the society, family, friendship, bonds and trust. While reading, the story made me go through tons of emotions such as, sadness, anger, fright, hope… Since the start, I've been hooked to this novel and its well developed and powerful characters. Watts has created here something like a whole universe within the small town of Cedar Grove. Surrounded by a dark and somewhat eerie feel, the town unveils as the reader is pierced by an uneasiness that grows stronger as the nightmarish tale is slowly revealed. It soon become almost impossible to put down the book and each time you think ‘Ah, I finally get it’; Watts' story is shamelessly taking a new turn, never stopping there. The unexpected turn of events toward the end made me want to read it through all over again, right after I was finished with my first read. I needed to understand more, discover more… the newly born hunger was almost unbearable. For me, the book was even more interesting to read the second time through. This is truly the time where it is allowed to shine a second time in an even brighter way, and where the reader can truly appreciate the magic of Rob’s writing as the story unfolds its dark secrets again, slowly, skillfully and effectively. The level of mistrust, and doubt between the characters and the quality of storytelling kept the tension high the whole way through, masterfully leaving the tale without a single dull moment. Rob Watts skillfully kneads together the string of fate of all his characters, leaving the reader with an unstoppable hunger for more. I would love to see and certainly hope for a continuation of the dark saga of Cedar Grove in the near future. This is one exquisitely well written book, well worth analysing, reflecting upon and reading through, even multiple times. Buy it, and enjoy your free ride in this boat without oars.
Rob last novel is bringing to the reader’s mind a spiral of thoughts, making him reflect strongly on the society, family, friendship, bonds and trust. While reading, the story made me go through tons of emotions such as, sadness, anger, fright, hope… Since the start, I've been hooked to this novel and its well developed and powerful characters. Watts has created here something like a whole universe within the small town of Cedar Grove. Surrounded by a dark and somewhat eerie feel, the town unveils as the reader is pierced by an uneasiness that grows stronger as the nightmarish tale is slowly revealed. It soon become almost impossible to put down the book and each time you think ‘Ah, I finally get it’; Watts' story is shamelessly taking a new turn, never stopping there. The unexpected turn of events toward the end made me want to read it through all over again, right after I was finished with my first read. I needed to understand more, discover more… the newly born hunger was almost unbearable. For me, the book was even more interesting to read the second time through. This is truly the time where it is allowed to shine a second time in an even brighter way, and where the reader can truly appreciate the magic of Rob’s writing as the story unfolds its dark secrets again, slowly, skillfully and effectively. The level of mistrust, and doubt between the characters and the quality of storytelling kept the tension high the whole way through, masterfully leaving the tale without a single dull moment. Rob Watts skillfully kneads together the string of fate of all his characters, leaving the reader with an unstoppable hunger for more. I would love to see and certainly hope for a continuation of the dark saga of Cedar Grove in the near future. This is one exquisitely well written book, well worth analysing, reflecting upon and reading through, even multiple times. Buy it, and enjoy your free ride in this boat without oars.
December 31, 2015
I wasn't sure how this book was going to go, especially with the first chapter. I didn't think I was going to like it judging by the first chapter but I really got into this book. It's crazy, weird and kind of creepy - all the things I look for in a good thriller.
The story revolves around a few characters, Kathleen (my favorite), Alex and Bethany, Brian, Kelly, Pulima, and Coron. There are some other characters especially around Kathleen's parts. I'm not sure why her parts were my favorite, probably because of her strength - that poor girl went through way too much. Darcy was a major bitch and sorry but in my opinion she deserved what happened to her. The rest of Darcy's gang may not have because they were under her influence but they were all terrible people to have only been seventeen. Danny and Kevin were of course at the top of the list with the terrible, crazy person status.
Alex and Bethany - eh honestly I could have done without them. I know they were important to the story but I was honestly bored with them. I hated how flirtatious Alex was with other women when his wife was home all alone. Their house situation was creepy though.
Brian, Kelly, Coron - okay this part was a little confusing to me. There was so much going on with these three and it took me a second to get my bearings with them. I liked Coron and I liked her even more at the end but her part took a twist I never saw coming. I really liked Pulima too. She was one of the only friends Kathleen had and seemed to be the only one that cared about her at times. She was an interesting character and I felt like she really added to the story.
This book took some crazy twist and turns that I don't think anyone could have seen coming. It really kept me on my toes with how thrilling it was. I spent so much time trying to piece together what happened to Kathleen and the group of hooligans though. I recommend this book to anyone that likes a good thriller.
The story revolves around a few characters, Kathleen (my favorite), Alex and Bethany, Brian, Kelly, Pulima, and Coron. There are some other characters especially around Kathleen's parts. I'm not sure why her parts were my favorite, probably because of her strength - that poor girl went through way too much. Darcy was a major bitch and sorry but in my opinion she deserved what happened to her. The rest of Darcy's gang may not have because they were under her influence but they were all terrible people to have only been seventeen. Danny and Kevin were of course at the top of the list with the terrible, crazy person status.
Alex and Bethany - eh honestly I could have done without them. I know they were important to the story but I was honestly bored with them. I hated how flirtatious Alex was with other women when his wife was home all alone. Their house situation was creepy though.
Brian, Kelly, Coron - okay this part was a little confusing to me. There was so much going on with these three and it took me a second to get my bearings with them. I liked Coron and I liked her even more at the end but her part took a twist I never saw coming. I really liked Pulima too. She was one of the only friends Kathleen had and seemed to be the only one that cared about her at times. She was an interesting character and I felt like she really added to the story.
This book took some crazy twist and turns that I don't think anyone could have seen coming. It really kept me on my toes with how thrilling it was. I spent so much time trying to piece together what happened to Kathleen and the group of hooligans though. I recommend this book to anyone that likes a good thriller.
July 16, 2015
I found this book to be well written, I can find it hard to read a book when the authors ability to tell a story is poor, however this one I was able to read and want to continue reading to the end, I had to keep reading this book as it made me need to know what has happened to Kathleen and what is going on with that house.
What I write now will probably not make much sense as I don't want to spoil anyone who wants to read this book...
While reading I was often guessing what is going to happen and then wanting to find out if my theories would prove to be right or wrong. I was able to guess that some characters would be returning in the story however they did not always return quite as I had expected them to nor did they turn out to be the person I thought they might be. I also had my suspicions of the locals involvement and was surprised to find some were just as clueless of the towns people as the reader is.
I think it was great how everything was connected each playing a piece in the puzzle to complete the final picture.
My only fault with this book was that I was left feeling somewhat disappointed with how the author ended with the creepy house and strange goings on with the lives of Alex, Bethany and Ted, I was hoping to have more of a conclusion to the occurrences within that house and whats happening to Alex, Bethany and Ted As I was hoping for something as exciting and spectacular as the rest of the book was.I feel like I'm left thinking is that really it for these people? is this really their end or is there going to be more?
What I write now will probably not make much sense as I don't want to spoil anyone who wants to read this book...
While reading I was often guessing what is going to happen and then wanting to find out if my theories would prove to be right or wrong. I was able to guess that some characters would be returning in the story however they did not always return quite as I had expected them to nor did they turn out to be the person I thought they might be. I also had my suspicions of the locals involvement and was surprised to find some were just as clueless of the towns people as the reader is.
I think it was great how everything was connected each playing a piece in the puzzle to complete the final picture.
My only fault with this book was that I was left feeling somewhat disappointed with how the author ended with the creepy house and strange goings on with the lives of Alex, Bethany and Ted, I was hoping to have more of a conclusion to the occurrences within that house and whats happening to Alex, Bethany and Ted As I was hoping for something as exciting and spectacular as the rest of the book was.I feel like I'm left thinking is that really it for these people? is this really their end or is there going to be more?
June 16, 2015
With a nod to the occult, akin to Kubrick's "Eyes Wide Shut" and set in an Amityville-esque spooky setting (in the New England town of Cedar Grove,) Rob Watts will deliciously creep out suspense readers in his latest installment of his Crooked Roads series. This novel is sure to captivate fans who enjoy nightmarish twists and sinister mayhem, like those in "I Know What You Did Last Summer" and "Pretty Little Liars." It will leave readers guessing until the end, and keep them wondering what will happen next in Cedar Grove.
October 15, 2015
Kept my interest
Different story lines, different people all tied together. Everything tied up nicely accept the missing couple and the haunted house. I am sure that I missed nothing, still a good read with a twist.
Different story lines, different people all tied together. Everything tied up nicely accept the missing couple and the haunted house. I am sure that I missed nothing, still a good read with a twist.
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