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Reef Road
When a severed hand washes ashore in the wealthy enclave of Palm Beach, Florida, the lives of two women—a lonely writer obsessed with the unsolved murder of her mother’s best friend and a panicked wife whose husband has disappeared with their children—collide as the world shutters in the pandemic lockdown of 2020.
A young woman’s life seems perfect until her family goes missing. A writer lives alone with her dog and collects arcane murder statistics. What each of them stands to lose as they sneak around the do-not-enter tape blocking Reef Road beach is exposed by the steady tightening of the cincture encircling them.
In a nod to the true crime that inspired it, Deborah Goodrich Royce’s Reef Road probes unhealed generational scars in a wrenching and original work of fiction. It is both stunning and sexy and, like a bystander surprised by a curtain left open, you won’t be able to look away.
A young woman’s life seems perfect until her family goes missing. A writer lives alone with her dog and collects arcane murder statistics. What each of them stands to lose as they sneak around the do-not-enter tape blocking Reef Road beach is exposed by the steady tightening of the cincture encircling them.
In a nod to the true crime that inspired it, Deborah Goodrich Royce’s Reef Road probes unhealed generational scars in a wrenching and original work of fiction. It is both stunning and sexy and, like a bystander surprised by a curtain left open, you won’t be able to look away.
320 pages, Hardcover
First published January 10, 2023
155 people are currently reading
29867 people want to read
About the author
Deborah Goodrich Royce
4 books614 followersDeborah Goodrich Royce’s Reef Road, a national bestseller, was named one of the best
books of 2023 by Kirkus Reviews and an Indie Next pick by the ABA. Ruby Falls won
the Zibby Award for Best Plot Twist, and Finding Mrs. Ford was hailed by Forbes, Book
Riot, and Good Morning America. Her newest, Best Boy, will be published on February
24, 2026.
Her Ocean House Author Series—in partnership with Martin House Books and WCRI—
brings world-class authors like Sarah Ferguson, Emma Straub, Chris Bohjalian, and
Katie Couric to Watch Hill. With fellow authors, Luanne Rice and Amy Scheibe, she
created the Deer Mountain Writers’ Retreat in the Catskills.
Deborah writes a book column for Providence Monthly and Hey Rhody magazines. She
began as an actress on All My Children and in multiple films, before transitioning to the
role of story editor at Miramax Films, developing Emma and early versions of Chicago
and A Wrinkle in Time.
Deborah holds a bachelor’s degree and two honorary doctorates, from both Lake
Erie College and the University of Rhode Island. With her husband, Chuck, Deborah
restored the Avon Theatre, Ocean House Hotel, Deer Mountain Inn, United Theatre,
Martin House Books, and numerous Main Street revitalization projects in Rhode Island
and the Catskills. She serves on multiple governing and advisory boards.
books of 2023 by Kirkus Reviews and an Indie Next pick by the ABA. Ruby Falls won
the Zibby Award for Best Plot Twist, and Finding Mrs. Ford was hailed by Forbes, Book
Riot, and Good Morning America. Her newest, Best Boy, will be published on February
24, 2026.
Her Ocean House Author Series—in partnership with Martin House Books and WCRI—
brings world-class authors like Sarah Ferguson, Emma Straub, Chris Bohjalian, and
Katie Couric to Watch Hill. With fellow authors, Luanne Rice and Amy Scheibe, she
created the Deer Mountain Writers’ Retreat in the Catskills.
Deborah writes a book column for Providence Monthly and Hey Rhody magazines. She
began as an actress on All My Children and in multiple films, before transitioning to the
role of story editor at Miramax Films, developing Emma and early versions of Chicago
and A Wrinkle in Time.
Deborah holds a bachelor’s degree and two honorary doctorates, from both Lake
Erie College and the University of Rhode Island. With her husband, Chuck, Deborah
restored the Avon Theatre, Ocean House Hotel, Deer Mountain Inn, United Theatre,
Martin House Books, and numerous Main Street revitalization projects in Rhode Island
and the Catskills. She serves on multiple governing and advisory boards.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 447 reviews
January 14, 2023
3.75 rounded up!
This book was very polarizing for my GR friends! A couple of two star reviews and a couple of five star reviews, and I can agree with the points made by each side!
Usually a 4 star book from me, is one that I would not hesitate to recommend to anyone! BUT, in this case, I can say that I would ONLY recommend to certain readers.
YET- the writing is INTELLIGENT and CLEVER, so I couldn’t just go with just three stars. It was better than average for the RIGHT reader.
IS THAT YOU?
The book opens with two boys finding a hand that has washed up on the Reef Road beach, and then switches to the alternating narratives of two lonely women isolated during the recent Pandemic who often walk the same beach, ignoring the “Do Not Enter” tape.
The chapters are titled “A Writer’s Thoughts” and “The Wife”.
The “Writer” is researching the unsolved murder of her mother’s childhood best friend, Noelle-an event that her mother never really moved past.
She identifies with another member of her unofficial tribe-Michelle McNamara-whose worked helped to finally tie together several cases which helped to convict “The Golden State Killer”. She cites arcane murder statistics, and writing techniques, and is obsessed with solving the decades old crime-no matter who ends up as collateral damage. HER chapters read like a TRUE CRIME novel, or expose.
She also seems fixated on the other woman, walking the beach-Linda Alonso-“The Wife”.
Linda’s chapters spend a lot of time reflecting on the deterioration of her marriage to Miguel, who it appears has taken her two young children to Argentina-a place she cannot follow them to, because of lockdown restrictions.
INITIALLY, I had a lot of sympathy for her.
For 50%, we don’t know how the two narratives are connected, so that’s A LOT of time spent with just the ruminations of the two women. Not everyone will enjoy this much introspection, and at this point, I wondered if I wanted to continue on.
Curiosity won out-I was INTRIGUED enough to want to know how their two stories would merge. Once, we find out, the novel became more compelling for me, and I eventually I lost sympathy for BOTH women. 😏
Although this ISN'T a true story, it IS inspired by one, and I could picture it being re-enacted like an episode of “UNSOLVED MYSTERIES”.
If you enjoy TRUE CRIME, and the musings of others, this might be a fit for you! I can’t say that I loved it-BUT-I DID like it and it was something different which I definitely appreciated!
Thank You to the Chandler Public library for the loan of this title! I toggled between reading and listening to the AUDIBLE, read by the talented Saskia Maarleveld.
This book was very polarizing for my GR friends! A couple of two star reviews and a couple of five star reviews, and I can agree with the points made by each side!
Usually a 4 star book from me, is one that I would not hesitate to recommend to anyone! BUT, in this case, I can say that I would ONLY recommend to certain readers.
YET- the writing is INTELLIGENT and CLEVER, so I couldn’t just go with just three stars. It was better than average for the RIGHT reader.
IS THAT YOU?
The book opens with two boys finding a hand that has washed up on the Reef Road beach, and then switches to the alternating narratives of two lonely women isolated during the recent Pandemic who often walk the same beach, ignoring the “Do Not Enter” tape.
The chapters are titled “A Writer’s Thoughts” and “The Wife”.
The “Writer” is researching the unsolved murder of her mother’s childhood best friend, Noelle-an event that her mother never really moved past.
She identifies with another member of her unofficial tribe-Michelle McNamara-whose worked helped to finally tie together several cases which helped to convict “The Golden State Killer”. She cites arcane murder statistics, and writing techniques, and is obsessed with solving the decades old crime-no matter who ends up as collateral damage. HER chapters read like a TRUE CRIME novel, or expose.
She also seems fixated on the other woman, walking the beach-Linda Alonso-“The Wife”.
Linda’s chapters spend a lot of time reflecting on the deterioration of her marriage to Miguel, who it appears has taken her two young children to Argentina-a place she cannot follow them to, because of lockdown restrictions.
INITIALLY, I had a lot of sympathy for her.
For 50%, we don’t know how the two narratives are connected, so that’s A LOT of time spent with just the ruminations of the two women. Not everyone will enjoy this much introspection, and at this point, I wondered if I wanted to continue on.
Curiosity won out-I was INTRIGUED enough to want to know how their two stories would merge. Once, we find out, the novel became more compelling for me, and I eventually I lost sympathy for BOTH women. 😏
Although this ISN'T a true story, it IS inspired by one, and I could picture it being re-enacted like an episode of “UNSOLVED MYSTERIES”.
If you enjoy TRUE CRIME, and the musings of others, this might be a fit for you! I can’t say that I loved it-BUT-I DID like it and it was something different which I definitely appreciated!
Thank You to the Chandler Public library for the loan of this title! I toggled between reading and listening to the AUDIBLE, read by the talented Saskia Maarleveld.
October 25, 2022
3.5 stars: Author Deborah Goodrich Royce drew on an event that happened to her mother. In December of 1948 her mother’s childhood best friend was murdered in Pittsburg, PA. The perpetrator was never found. This violent crime greatly impacted her mother. This incident is the fodder for her new novel, “Reef Road.” Royce has always had a fascination with true crime. She began to write this during the Covid pandemic, so she wrote the pandemic into her true crime story which provides reality to her true crime story.
Linda Alonsos is a married woman with two young children living in swanking Palm Beach, FL. The story begins early in the pandemic. The beaches are closed, yet some restless high school boys determine to surf the beach illegally. They find a male hand with a ring attached.
The story shifts to “the Writer’s” point of view. This is told in first person, and the reader discerns early that the writer seems to be a tad unhinged. The writer’s life was heavily influenced by the fact that her mother’s best friend was brutally stabbed to death when she was a young girl. The murderer was never found, but the brother was always a suspect. The writer is obsessed with her mother’s murdered friend, Noelle. As the story opens, she’s also very obsessed with Linda, the pretty wife with two perfect children and a charming life. It remains a mystery as to why the writer is preoccupied with Linda until halfway through the story.
We learn that Linda and her husband Miguel has endured a strained relationship of late. Her mother has died of cancer and her father is in assisted living suffering from dementia. We learn bits and pieces of Linda’s life in Palm Beach. What carries the story is the Writer’s strange obsession with Linda.
This all happens during lock down of the pandemic. I enjoyed how Royce showed how easy it was for crime to occur during the pandemic. She wrote the loneliness of quarantine well.
Once we learn why the writer is haunted by Linda’s life, it gets interesting. But that is halfway through the story. The first half of the story kind of slogs in the buildup. There was too much buildup and not enough pizazz in the buildup.
The second half is a page-turner. For me, the pacing was too uneven. I liked the story but felt it could be better if the first half was tightened up.
The ending??? Very strange…..
Linda Alonsos is a married woman with two young children living in swanking Palm Beach, FL. The story begins early in the pandemic. The beaches are closed, yet some restless high school boys determine to surf the beach illegally. They find a male hand with a ring attached.
The story shifts to “the Writer’s” point of view. This is told in first person, and the reader discerns early that the writer seems to be a tad unhinged. The writer’s life was heavily influenced by the fact that her mother’s best friend was brutally stabbed to death when she was a young girl. The murderer was never found, but the brother was always a suspect. The writer is obsessed with her mother’s murdered friend, Noelle. As the story opens, she’s also very obsessed with Linda, the pretty wife with two perfect children and a charming life. It remains a mystery as to why the writer is preoccupied with Linda until halfway through the story.
We learn that Linda and her husband Miguel has endured a strained relationship of late. Her mother has died of cancer and her father is in assisted living suffering from dementia. We learn bits and pieces of Linda’s life in Palm Beach. What carries the story is the Writer’s strange obsession with Linda.
This all happens during lock down of the pandemic. I enjoyed how Royce showed how easy it was for crime to occur during the pandemic. She wrote the loneliness of quarantine well.
Once we learn why the writer is haunted by Linda’s life, it gets interesting. But that is halfway through the story. The first half of the story kind of slogs in the buildup. There was too much buildup and not enough pizazz in the buildup.
The second half is a page-turner. For me, the pacing was too uneven. I liked the story but felt it could be better if the first half was tightened up.
The ending??? Very strange…..
January 9, 2023
2.5 stars
This book was a slow, slow burn. It's told from two perspectives and mostly alternates between events of 2019 and 2020. The first perspective is that of "The Writer" (we don't find out her name until later) whose mother was best friends with a girl who was murdered in 1948 and the case was never solved. The second perspective is that of "The Wife"--Linda, a married mother of two who lives in Palm Beach, FL. At the beginning of the pandemic, two boys find a human hand on the beach. This is the propelling incident that moves the story forward.
This book didn't connect with me as well as it should have. The incident in 1948 is based on the author's own mother's experience, so it seems a bit like true crime. Yet there are no characters in this book that I rooted for, none that I even warmed to or liked. Both of the main characters make awful choices and although everything is basically fully explained in the end, there aren't any real surprises.
I'm also done with pandemic set books unless there's a real reason for including it. Not enough time has passed for me to have a desire to re-live those experiences. It serves somewhat of a purpose in this story, but not enough for it to be necessary. The author could have creatively found a way to write the story without it.
I found myself often bored while reading, there's not much action and the pacing is all over the place, but mostly slow. I know many others have thoroughly loved this book, so possibly the author's writing style is just not for me.
I voluntarily reviewed a complimentary copy of this book, all opinions are my own.
This book was a slow, slow burn. It's told from two perspectives and mostly alternates between events of 2019 and 2020. The first perspective is that of "The Writer" (we don't find out her name until later) whose mother was best friends with a girl who was murdered in 1948 and the case was never solved. The second perspective is that of "The Wife"--Linda, a married mother of two who lives in Palm Beach, FL. At the beginning of the pandemic, two boys find a human hand on the beach. This is the propelling incident that moves the story forward.
This book didn't connect with me as well as it should have. The incident in 1948 is based on the author's own mother's experience, so it seems a bit like true crime. Yet there are no characters in this book that I rooted for, none that I even warmed to or liked. Both of the main characters make awful choices and although everything is basically fully explained in the end, there aren't any real surprises.
I'm also done with pandemic set books unless there's a real reason for including it. Not enough time has passed for me to have a desire to re-live those experiences. It serves somewhat of a purpose in this story, but not enough for it to be necessary. The author could have creatively found a way to write the story without it.
I found myself often bored while reading, there's not much action and the pacing is all over the place, but mostly slow. I know many others have thoroughly loved this book, so possibly the author's writing style is just not for me.
I voluntarily reviewed a complimentary copy of this book, all opinions are my own.
February 7, 2023
EXCERPT: 'Please look?'
When his brother sounded like the little kid he used to be, Colson stopped. There was a plaintive note that made him drop his board and approach the seagulls, waving his hands to disperse them.
The seagulls did not like it one bit. Whatever they had gotten hold of, they wanted to keep.
'Beat it!' Colson yelled, kicking sand at them. He watched as one gull almost took off, nearly lifting into the air with the object secured in his beak. But it proved to be too heavy for him and he dropped it.
Both Rand and Colson lunged forward. It was hard to tell who identified it first. Rand's tanned face paled and he turned his head to vomit, avoiding the item on the sand. Colson did not throw up, although he confessed to his brother that he could have.
'Fuck,' Colson said. 'It's a hand.'
ABOUT 'REEF ROAD': When a severed hand washes ashore in the wealthy enclave of Palm Beach, Florida, the lives of two women—a lonely writer obsessed with the unsolved murder of her mother’s best friend and a panicked wife whose husband has disappeared with their children—collide as the world shutters in the pandemic lockdown of 2020.
A young woman’s life seems perfect until her family goes missing. A writer lives alone with her dog and collects arcane murder statistics. What each of them stands to lose as they sneak around the do-not-enter tape blocking Reef Road beach is exposed by the steady tightening of the cincture encircling them.
MY THOUGHTS: Great beginning, but by 50% I was ready to throw in the towel. At 51% something happened that made me sit up, take notice and think that perhaps the author was going to redeem herself. It was definitely an interesting twist that showed a promise which, unfortunately, remained unfulfilled. I struggled on to the end, unimpressed.
The premise of the novel is great, but I couldn't form any sort of connection with the characters. There is a great deal of pontification and I found myself skimming large tracts of text until something caught my eye and I would resume reading. I think that I just do not like the author's style of writing.
Most people have loved this novel, so please check out other more positive reviews before deciding whether or not to read Reef Road.
⭐⭐
#ReefRoad #NetGalley
I: @deborahgoodrichroyceofficial @post_hill_press
T: @royce_deborah @PostHillPress
#contemporaryfiction #crime #familydrama #mystery
THE AUTHOR: Deborah began her career as an actress. After the birth of her daughters, she moved with her family to Paris, then New York where she oversaw readers, manuscript acquisitions, and script development. She and her husband Chuck have restored the 1939 Avon Theatre in Stamford, CT and several hotels.
DISCLOSURE: Thank you to Post Hill Press via Netgalley for providing a digital ARC of Reef Road by Deborah Goodrich Royce for review. All opinions expressed in this review are entirely my own personal opinions.
For an explanation of my rating system please refer to my Goodreads.com profile page or the about page on sandysbookaday.wordpress.com
This review is also published on Twitter, Amazon, Instagram and my webpage https://sandysbookaday.wordpress.com/...
https://www.instagram.com/p/CoWP578L9...
When his brother sounded like the little kid he used to be, Colson stopped. There was a plaintive note that made him drop his board and approach the seagulls, waving his hands to disperse them.
The seagulls did not like it one bit. Whatever they had gotten hold of, they wanted to keep.
'Beat it!' Colson yelled, kicking sand at them. He watched as one gull almost took off, nearly lifting into the air with the object secured in his beak. But it proved to be too heavy for him and he dropped it.
Both Rand and Colson lunged forward. It was hard to tell who identified it first. Rand's tanned face paled and he turned his head to vomit, avoiding the item on the sand. Colson did not throw up, although he confessed to his brother that he could have.
'Fuck,' Colson said. 'It's a hand.'
ABOUT 'REEF ROAD': When a severed hand washes ashore in the wealthy enclave of Palm Beach, Florida, the lives of two women—a lonely writer obsessed with the unsolved murder of her mother’s best friend and a panicked wife whose husband has disappeared with their children—collide as the world shutters in the pandemic lockdown of 2020.
A young woman’s life seems perfect until her family goes missing. A writer lives alone with her dog and collects arcane murder statistics. What each of them stands to lose as they sneak around the do-not-enter tape blocking Reef Road beach is exposed by the steady tightening of the cincture encircling them.
MY THOUGHTS: Great beginning, but by 50% I was ready to throw in the towel. At 51% something happened that made me sit up, take notice and think that perhaps the author was going to redeem herself. It was definitely an interesting twist that showed a promise which, unfortunately, remained unfulfilled. I struggled on to the end, unimpressed.
The premise of the novel is great, but I couldn't form any sort of connection with the characters. There is a great deal of pontification and I found myself skimming large tracts of text until something caught my eye and I would resume reading. I think that I just do not like the author's style of writing.
Most people have loved this novel, so please check out other more positive reviews before deciding whether or not to read Reef Road.
⭐⭐
#ReefRoad #NetGalley
I: @deborahgoodrichroyceofficial @post_hill_press
T: @royce_deborah @PostHillPress
#contemporaryfiction #crime #familydrama #mystery
THE AUTHOR: Deborah began her career as an actress. After the birth of her daughters, she moved with her family to Paris, then New York where she oversaw readers, manuscript acquisitions, and script development. She and her husband Chuck have restored the 1939 Avon Theatre in Stamford, CT and several hotels.
DISCLOSURE: Thank you to Post Hill Press via Netgalley for providing a digital ARC of Reef Road by Deborah Goodrich Royce for review. All opinions expressed in this review are entirely my own personal opinions.
For an explanation of my rating system please refer to my Goodreads.com profile page or the about page on sandysbookaday.wordpress.com
This review is also published on Twitter, Amazon, Instagram and my webpage https://sandysbookaday.wordpress.com/...
https://www.instagram.com/p/CoWP578L9...
January 10, 2023
HAPPY PUBLICATION DAY!
Deborah Goodrich Royce’s Reef Road masterfully depicts the heightened anxiety, the struggles of a writer, and the generational scars that bind us together in a highly original book about how childhood trauma leads to murder during the early lockdown of the Covid-19 pandemic.
In alternating chapters between “A Writer’s Thoughts” and “The Wife,” this psychological thriller is a perfect amalgamation between the True Crime and Fiction genres. The separate stories of the writer and the wife merge at the halfway point into an expertly plotted psychologically attuned mystery about revenge.
Both leading female characters are intriguing and fully fleshed and the reader is compelled to root for each of their successes individually. Along the way, many history lessons are also used to highlight the motivations and reasoning for the characters’ choices and controversial decisions.
Reef Road shines with psychological astuteness and bravery in portraying the real struggles of characters effected by the sins of the mother and the sins of the father, while manipulating the unforeseen real obstacles of the pandemic.
I highly recommend picking up Deborah Goodrich Royce’s thrillers if you are looking for a psychologically introspective read. After reading Ruby Falls in 2021, I became an instant fan of her writing. I can’t wait to see what this talented writer comes up with next!
Trigger warnings: Bulimia, rape
4.5/5 stars rounded up
Expected publication date: 1/10/23
Thank you to NetGalley and Post Hill Press for the ARC of Reef Road in exchange for an honest review.
Deborah Goodrich Royce’s Reef Road masterfully depicts the heightened anxiety, the struggles of a writer, and the generational scars that bind us together in a highly original book about how childhood trauma leads to murder during the early lockdown of the Covid-19 pandemic.
In alternating chapters between “A Writer’s Thoughts” and “The Wife,” this psychological thriller is a perfect amalgamation between the True Crime and Fiction genres. The separate stories of the writer and the wife merge at the halfway point into an expertly plotted psychologically attuned mystery about revenge.
Both leading female characters are intriguing and fully fleshed and the reader is compelled to root for each of their successes individually. Along the way, many history lessons are also used to highlight the motivations and reasoning for the characters’ choices and controversial decisions.
Reef Road shines with psychological astuteness and bravery in portraying the real struggles of characters effected by the sins of the mother and the sins of the father, while manipulating the unforeseen real obstacles of the pandemic.
I highly recommend picking up Deborah Goodrich Royce’s thrillers if you are looking for a psychologically introspective read. After reading Ruby Falls in 2021, I became an instant fan of her writing. I can’t wait to see what this talented writer comes up with next!
Trigger warnings: Bulimia, rape
4.5/5 stars rounded up
Expected publication date: 1/10/23
Thank you to NetGalley and Post Hill Press for the ARC of Reef Road in exchange for an honest review.
July 22, 2022
4 stars
In May 2020 two brothers illegally enter Reef Road beach, clutching their surfboards where they discover a severed hand washed up on the shore. They are watched but fail to notice a middle-aged woman, a lonely writer who is obsessed with the unsolved murder of her mother‘s best friend in 1948, Noelle Huber. At the the start of the pandemic the writers life collides with a mother whose husband has disappeared with their two young children. This story, told from the point of view of the writer and the wife is inspired by true crime and looks at how the impact of crime goes way beyond those that are most immediately involved.
This is a clever and exceptionally well written novel which constantly has you questioning the things you learn. It takes you on quite a journey with the psychological aspect of Noelle’s murder on both the writer and her mother being very well conveyed. These two become very isolated and lonely as one of consequences. There are some other very powerful elements too as part of the storyline has its roots in Argentina and that takes us into its murky recent history such as the children of The Disappeared.
For a long time you cannot see quite where the story is going but it’s so compelling that you read on. The pace initially isn’t fast but it certainly speeds up as the storyline progresses as there are a number of shocks in store especially in the life of the mother which takes a very dark turn. The last part demonstrates the old adage of best laid plans of mice and men which are frequently interrupted by things that cannot be controlled and that also individuals should have been able to foresee situations that may arise and thus prevent the rupture of their plans. The Pandemic, an example of the uncontrollable, is used very effectively in the background and adds to the growing tension. Worlds implode and an avenging angel descends and although the ending is very apt and realistic it maybe could’ve packed a slightly bigger punch.
There’s a lot to praise here, I love the way it’s written it’s clever and witty with some creative descriptions. There is excellent use of literature and other quotes to ram home some points more forcefully. My one little negative is sometimes the writer‘s narrative rambles on a bit and is a tad repetitive especially on the impact of Noelle Huber on her life.
However it’s a book I’d still recommend and which richly deserves a four star rating.
With thanks to NetGalley and especially to Post Hill Press for the much appreciated arc in return for an honest review.
In May 2020 two brothers illegally enter Reef Road beach, clutching their surfboards where they discover a severed hand washed up on the shore. They are watched but fail to notice a middle-aged woman, a lonely writer who is obsessed with the unsolved murder of her mother‘s best friend in 1948, Noelle Huber. At the the start of the pandemic the writers life collides with a mother whose husband has disappeared with their two young children. This story, told from the point of view of the writer and the wife is inspired by true crime and looks at how the impact of crime goes way beyond those that are most immediately involved.
This is a clever and exceptionally well written novel which constantly has you questioning the things you learn. It takes you on quite a journey with the psychological aspect of Noelle’s murder on both the writer and her mother being very well conveyed. These two become very isolated and lonely as one of consequences. There are some other very powerful elements too as part of the storyline has its roots in Argentina and that takes us into its murky recent history such as the children of The Disappeared.
For a long time you cannot see quite where the story is going but it’s so compelling that you read on. The pace initially isn’t fast but it certainly speeds up as the storyline progresses as there are a number of shocks in store especially in the life of the mother which takes a very dark turn. The last part demonstrates the old adage of best laid plans of mice and men which are frequently interrupted by things that cannot be controlled and that also individuals should have been able to foresee situations that may arise and thus prevent the rupture of their plans. The Pandemic, an example of the uncontrollable, is used very effectively in the background and adds to the growing tension. Worlds implode and an avenging angel descends and although the ending is very apt and realistic it maybe could’ve packed a slightly bigger punch.
There’s a lot to praise here, I love the way it’s written it’s clever and witty with some creative descriptions. There is excellent use of literature and other quotes to ram home some points more forcefully. My one little negative is sometimes the writer‘s narrative rambles on a bit and is a tad repetitive especially on the impact of Noelle Huber on her life.
However it’s a book I’d still recommend and which richly deserves a four star rating.
With thanks to NetGalley and especially to Post Hill Press for the much appreciated arc in return for an honest review.
January 18, 2023
Thank you to the author Deborah Goodrich Royce, publisher Post Hill Press, and as always NetGalley, for an advance digital copy of REEF ROAD in exchange for my honest opinion.
I loved this book. The ending is well done. Royce developes her character just right to fill their roles in the story and serve up surprise after surprise in the last 50 pages.
Royce also gets huge credit for doing appropriate research (or maybe she has experience, I assume nothing) into the mental illness community she depicts in the fascinating character, The Writer, who becomes identified later in the story. Her depiction of this character and her disability is both mindful and informative.
This book is a bit of a slow burn, but it really picks up closer to the halfway point. Also, while it's hard to win me over with alternating timelines and POVs (especially both!), I wound up agreeing with this stylistic choice as well. It really is an entertaining read!
Rating: 👨👩👧👦👨👩👧👦👨👩👧👦👨👩👧👦.5 / 5 families with secrets
Recommend? Definitely!
Finished: January 14 2023
Read this if you like:
👤 Mental health rep
👨👩👧👦 Family drama
🗣 Great narrators
👥️ Alternating POVs
🕰 Alternating timelines
🔪 Murder
I loved this book. The ending is well done. Royce developes her character just right to fill their roles in the story and serve up surprise after surprise in the last 50 pages.
Royce also gets huge credit for doing appropriate research (or maybe she has experience, I assume nothing) into the mental illness community she depicts in the fascinating character, The Writer, who becomes identified later in the story. Her depiction of this character and her disability is both mindful and informative.
This book is a bit of a slow burn, but it really picks up closer to the halfway point. Also, while it's hard to win me over with alternating timelines and POVs (especially both!), I wound up agreeing with this stylistic choice as well. It really is an entertaining read!
Rating: 👨👩👧👦👨👩👧👦👨👩👧👦👨👩👧👦.5 / 5 families with secrets
Recommend? Definitely!
Finished: January 14 2023
Read this if you like:
👤 Mental health rep
👨👩👧👦 Family drama
🗣 Great narrators
👥️ Alternating POVs
🕰 Alternating timelines
🔪 Murder
January 7, 2023
Two young Palm Beach brothers head out to surf in the early days of the pandemic, ignoring instructions to stay home. They happen on a severed hand, complete with gold band, which has washed ashore. They place it in a bag and take with them. Unbeknownst to them, an older woman sits on the same beach, watching them. They never saw her or even looked in passing in her direction. Over on Reef Road, a young woman who seemingly had a perfect life is frantic over the disappearance of her husband and two children. An older woman, a writer named Noelle after the murdered childhood best friend of her mother, lives alone with her dog. She is obsessed with the murder, and has been thoroughly researching it from every angle. The women meet at the local grocery store and became friends, though afterwards, Noelle’s behavior begins to make her seem like a bit of a stalker. Both women have secrets, and Noelle offers to help Linda, but wants something in return. As the pressure builds, more of the secrets are exposed.
“Reef Road” by Deborah Goodrich-Royce is loosely based on a true story, though the novel itself is fictional. The book is written from the narrator’s (Noelle’s) point of view, divided into chapters labeled “The Writer” and “The Wife,” as though Noelle is writing her memoir or a “tell-all” about the chain of events which take place. It’s a story of trauma inflicted by an outside source that, when unaddressed, turns into generational trauma, as broken parents raise broken children. (Shakespeare wrote about the phenomenon of generational trauma often throughout his work. To quote “The Merchant of Venice,” “The sins of the father are to be laid upon the children”). It’s a lesson about the pain humans both hand down to and inflict upon each other, as well as the ugliness of revenge and passing judgement, and it’s wrapped in an exciting and original premise. The pressures and unique challenges of living through the Pandemic lock-down and its mounting frustrating are addressed beautifully. The writing is impeccable, and there are red herrings and plenty of twists to keep the reader questioning their own conclusions. I have the other two novels by Ms. Goodrich-Royce in my unread book stack, and now that I’ve finished Reef Road, I’m chomping at the bit to crack them open. I loved “Reef Road,” and if you like a good thrill ride, I believe you will, too! (Trigger warnings: marital rape and domestic abuse)
I’d like to thank NetGalley, Deborah Goodrich-Royce, and Post Hill Press for the ability to read and review this ARC.
“Reef Road” by Deborah Goodrich-Royce is loosely based on a true story, though the novel itself is fictional. The book is written from the narrator’s (Noelle’s) point of view, divided into chapters labeled “The Writer” and “The Wife,” as though Noelle is writing her memoir or a “tell-all” about the chain of events which take place. It’s a story of trauma inflicted by an outside source that, when unaddressed, turns into generational trauma, as broken parents raise broken children. (Shakespeare wrote about the phenomenon of generational trauma often throughout his work. To quote “The Merchant of Venice,” “The sins of the father are to be laid upon the children”). It’s a lesson about the pain humans both hand down to and inflict upon each other, as well as the ugliness of revenge and passing judgement, and it’s wrapped in an exciting and original premise. The pressures and unique challenges of living through the Pandemic lock-down and its mounting frustrating are addressed beautifully. The writing is impeccable, and there are red herrings and plenty of twists to keep the reader questioning their own conclusions. I have the other two novels by Ms. Goodrich-Royce in my unread book stack, and now that I’ve finished Reef Road, I’m chomping at the bit to crack them open. I loved “Reef Road,” and if you like a good thrill ride, I believe you will, too! (Trigger warnings: marital rape and domestic abuse)
I’d like to thank NetGalley, Deborah Goodrich-Royce, and Post Hill Press for the ability to read and review this ARC.
September 16, 2022
The lives of two women are set to a collision course, one that has started about 4 decades earlier. The story is being told by "The Wife" or Linda. She seems to have it all: a beautiful house on Reef Road on Palm Beach, a successful husband and two wonderful children. Her life is in stark contrast with "The Writer", who shares a secluded life with her old dog writing about crime, trying unsuccessfully to evade a dark inheritance. Her mother was the best friend of a 12 year old girl that was brutally murdered in her own home. The unsolved mystery has marked not only her mother, but has had a ripple effect on the next generations, that last up till today without ever losing force.
Even though this is a character study of the two woman, at its core it is cleverly showing the magnitude a violent act can have through multiple generations. Apart from the victim, there are so many more people whose lives are tragically affected, certainly when such a heinous act remains a mystery and the perpetrator remains unknown and thus unpunished.
The first half of the book is rather slow as one would expect when thoroughly detailing the human nature and the history of the two protagonists. And quite unexpectedly, halfway through the writer drops a bombshell and the story takes a completely different turn. Just when Covid hits and lockdowns starts, this is also when the action takes place and it is very cleverly done. Both womens' actions are being done covertly, under the hushed tones of confinement and it gives this Floridian noir a very oppressive atmosphere.
It is cleverly written and I will certainly look for the previous books of this author as I do like her writing style very much. A sincere thanks to NetGalley, Post Hill Press and the author for an advanced copy in exchange for an honest review.
Even though this is a character study of the two woman, at its core it is cleverly showing the magnitude a violent act can have through multiple generations. Apart from the victim, there are so many more people whose lives are tragically affected, certainly when such a heinous act remains a mystery and the perpetrator remains unknown and thus unpunished.
The first half of the book is rather slow as one would expect when thoroughly detailing the human nature and the history of the two protagonists. And quite unexpectedly, halfway through the writer drops a bombshell and the story takes a completely different turn. Just when Covid hits and lockdowns starts, this is also when the action takes place and it is very cleverly done. Both womens' actions are being done covertly, under the hushed tones of confinement and it gives this Floridian noir a very oppressive atmosphere.
It is cleverly written and I will certainly look for the previous books of this author as I do like her writing style very much. A sincere thanks to NetGalley, Post Hill Press and the author for an advanced copy in exchange for an honest review.
September 23, 2023
A Facebook Readers Coffeehouse giveaway win from the author!
This novel was actually written during the pandemic and is based on the real-life cold case of the author’s childhood best friend, Carol Kensinger, who was murdered in Pittsburg on December 10, 1948 at age 12.
In an interview, Royce shared that “the whole book actually started with research.”
The novel follows the interweaving lives of 2 women deeply scarred by generational trauma. The chapters are each narrated by The Wife or A Writer’s Thoughts.
One woman, most likely the lonely writer – (a writer’s thoughts) – is obsessed with the unsolved murder of her mother’s best friend, decides to connect with the other woman (the wife) who has reported her husband and children missing, only to find he has taken them to his home country of Argentina during the Covid-19 lockdown.
Also…
Readers can’t forget that during the prologue a hand with a ring was discovered on a beach off Reef Road.
Whose body did this hand belong to?
It should be noted, that many of the facts about the fictitious murder that consumes the character (a writer’s thoughts) in the story are based on the real-life cold-case.
This was also a pandemic book. And in many ways the pandemic was its own character.
The pandemic also placed obstacles before the characters. As an example, when the wife’s husband disappears with her children, they are captured on security cameras at the airport boarding a plane to Argentina while wearing their face masks. As well as, travel was limited, because of the pandemic shutdown. So, it created problems for the wife.
But…
Despite all of this…
Readers are left wondering, how are these two women’s lives connected?
And…
What will it take for us to find out…
What really happened on Reef Road?
This was a slow-burn novel, intriguing in ways, confusing in others, i.e., the actions of the characters sometimes didn’t always make sense. Were they suffering mental breakdowns, or was it something else…
What do you think?
This novel was actually written during the pandemic and is based on the real-life cold case of the author’s childhood best friend, Carol Kensinger, who was murdered in Pittsburg on December 10, 1948 at age 12.
In an interview, Royce shared that “the whole book actually started with research.”
The novel follows the interweaving lives of 2 women deeply scarred by generational trauma. The chapters are each narrated by The Wife or A Writer’s Thoughts.
One woman, most likely the lonely writer – (a writer’s thoughts) – is obsessed with the unsolved murder of her mother’s best friend, decides to connect with the other woman (the wife) who has reported her husband and children missing, only to find he has taken them to his home country of Argentina during the Covid-19 lockdown.
Also…
Readers can’t forget that during the prologue a hand with a ring was discovered on a beach off Reef Road.
Whose body did this hand belong to?
It should be noted, that many of the facts about the fictitious murder that consumes the character (a writer’s thoughts) in the story are based on the real-life cold-case.
This was also a pandemic book. And in many ways the pandemic was its own character.
The pandemic also placed obstacles before the characters. As an example, when the wife’s husband disappears with her children, they are captured on security cameras at the airport boarding a plane to Argentina while wearing their face masks. As well as, travel was limited, because of the pandemic shutdown. So, it created problems for the wife.
But…
Despite all of this…
Readers are left wondering, how are these two women’s lives connected?
And…
What will it take for us to find out…
What really happened on Reef Road?
This was a slow-burn novel, intriguing in ways, confusing in others, i.e., the actions of the characters sometimes didn’t always make sense. Were they suffering mental breakdowns, or was it something else…
What do you think?
January 16, 2023
This was AWESOME! So unique and interesting. I loved how it was a mix of fiction and true crime. Truly genre bending and what a ride. A great, great book. Highly recommend!
Pub Date: 01/10/2023
Review Date: 01/15/2023
Pub Date: 01/10/2023
Review Date: 01/15/2023
January 15, 2023
A severed hand washes ashore along Palm Beach on May 9, 2020. Its presence, found at the start of Covid when no one should have been on the beach, is established at the start of this multi-layered book but the significance of this gruesome discovery remains unclear for a while. When 12-year-old Noelle Huber was murdered in Pittsburgh in 1948, her death not only impacted her young friend Liz but also became an obsession of Liz's grown daughter, a writer of mystery books. Referred to as "The Writer," until we eventually learn her name, she lives a solitary life in Palm Beach and is clearly a troubled woman deeply affected by the murder. While it remains an unsolved case, Noelle's older brother had long been the prime suspect even though he was never formally charged with the crime. Also living in Palm Beach is Linda Alonso, a mother with two young children. Her life is shattered when husband Miguel and their children disappear with indications that they have left the country for his native Argentina. As an American citizen Linda is unable to travel to find them given new travel restrictions imposed during the pandemic. The lives of the "writer" and the "wife" cleverly come together in this intelligent mystery which grapples with generational trauma, truth and lies, the observations of a writer, and life during the pandemic.
As well-written and engaging as Deborah Goodrich Royce’s Reef Road is, I'd file this murder mystery under "Not for Everyone." The book takes its time to come together and the characters, overall, are not appealing. You need to sort through the plot-driven narrative of "The Wife" and the often time ramblings of "The Writer" and it is often at a slow pace. You're either going to like and appreciate the writer's style or you won't. I enjoyed it overall - especially when the action, the tension and unexpected twists picked up. I live a short drive south of Palm Beach, so I especially enjoyed the local references. I also appreciated Royce's mentions of those she refers to as "citizen detectives" such as the late, talented Michelle McNamara. It's worth checking out.
As well-written and engaging as Deborah Goodrich Royce’s Reef Road is, I'd file this murder mystery under "Not for Everyone." The book takes its time to come together and the characters, overall, are not appealing. You need to sort through the plot-driven narrative of "The Wife" and the often time ramblings of "The Writer" and it is often at a slow pace. You're either going to like and appreciate the writer's style or you won't. I enjoyed it overall - especially when the action, the tension and unexpected twists picked up. I live a short drive south of Palm Beach, so I especially enjoyed the local references. I also appreciated Royce's mentions of those she refers to as "citizen detectives" such as the late, talented Michelle McNamara. It's worth checking out.
October 18, 2022
TWO WORDS: SHORT CHAPTERS!!!
But also, the book was great! It was a quick read and had me hooked from the beginning. I genuinely had no idea how the author was trying to tie in the 2 different POVs, but it alllll made sense in the end. I don’t wanna give away any more in case of spoilers, but I would recommend.
P.S. Noelle, you are definitely a monster 😂 and I wanna read your book, The Wife.
Thank you Simon & Schuster for the ARC!
But also, the book was great! It was a quick read and had me hooked from the beginning. I genuinely had no idea how the author was trying to tie in the 2 different POVs, but it alllll made sense in the end. I don’t wanna give away any more in case of spoilers, but I would recommend.
P.S. Noelle, you are definitely a monster 😂 and I wanna read your book, The Wife.
Thank you Simon & Schuster for the ARC!
July 6, 2022
There is a piece of my history and a lot of my heart in this novel—an exploration of the lasting scars a single act of violence can have on those who are not the victim. I hope it touches you as much as it has me.
August 10, 2022
Here’s a secret—I’m not much of a thriller reader. I skipped Gone Girl, The Girl on The Train, and all the others because I got too spooked to continue. But when I received an early copy of Deborah Goodrich Royce’s stunning novel, REEF ROAD, I made an exception. And holy smokes, am I glad I did! Not only is Royce’s novel full of heart-stopping twists, it is so original, so smart, and so full of clever literary references that I absolutely could not put it down. If Edith Wharton wrote a thriller, I think it would feel like this book. Deborah is a beautiful writer and a brilliant, original storyteller. My whole literary world has been turned upside down and I am so grateful!
February 8, 2023
This reads just like a real-life true crime, and you can't out it down. It pulls you in and won't let you go. You just have to know.
In true fashion Royce really pours it all into her books. This is my third book by Royce, and I can't wait for the next one.
I gave this book 4 stars. I recommend it.
In true fashion Royce really pours it all into her books. This is my third book by Royce, and I can't wait for the next one.
I gave this book 4 stars. I recommend it.
August 29, 2022
A super cool novel that reads like a true crime story and is actually inspired by true events!
In Palm Beach Florida, a hand washes ashore. It's the middle of an international pandemic and a lone wolf writer becomes obsessed and a woman who claimed that her husband has disappeared becomes incredibly anxious. What does this hand mean to them both?
This unique novel switches between the 2020 pandemic and the past loss of novelist's mothers friend. You become deeply involved in both stories and turn the pages quickly to find out what really transpired. Although, like you, I am tired of the pandemic, the mentions of covid protocol just made the story more real, rather than detract.
If you fancy yourself a crime solver, or just want a truly unique mystery thriller, Reef Road is a fantastic ride and definitely for you! #ReefRoad #DeborahGoodrichRoyce #Posthillpress #Simon&Schuster #netGalley
In Palm Beach Florida, a hand washes ashore. It's the middle of an international pandemic and a lone wolf writer becomes obsessed and a woman who claimed that her husband has disappeared becomes incredibly anxious. What does this hand mean to them both?
This unique novel switches between the 2020 pandemic and the past loss of novelist's mothers friend. You become deeply involved in both stories and turn the pages quickly to find out what really transpired. Although, like you, I am tired of the pandemic, the mentions of covid protocol just made the story more real, rather than detract.
If you fancy yourself a crime solver, or just want a truly unique mystery thriller, Reef Road is a fantastic ride and definitely for you! #ReefRoad #DeborahGoodrichRoyce #Posthillpress #Simon&Schuster #netGalley
August 7, 2024
An intelligent, fast-paced, intricately plotted mystery/thriller. It asks more questions than it solves.
August 4, 2022
Vivid settings, high stakes crime, and a cast of characters of questionable integrity make for a tale of suspense that is disturbing in the best possible way. Consumed and obsessed, readers will devour REEF ROAD and be haunted by its characters long after the book is finished.
January 11, 2023
Deborah Goodrich Royce is a hidden gem. She really needs more attention on bookstagram because her books are amazing. This is the second book I have read by her, Ruby Falls being the first, and they both wowed me.
Reef Road is told by two women. A writer who is digging up an old murder of her mother's childhood friend and a wife, whose family goes missing at the start of the pandemic.
What starts off as 2 completely different stories comes together at the halfway point in the most shocking way. From that point, you just need to grab some popcorn and hang on for the ride. I flew through this book. I appreciate and admire Deborah's creative story telling. At times this reads a bit like true crime. Although part of the story was inspired by an event in the author's life, the work is fiction, yet it was written in a way that seemed absolutely true to life.
Reef Road is told by two women. A writer who is digging up an old murder of her mother's childhood friend and a wife, whose family goes missing at the start of the pandemic.
What starts off as 2 completely different stories comes together at the halfway point in the most shocking way. From that point, you just need to grab some popcorn and hang on for the ride. I flew through this book. I appreciate and admire Deborah's creative story telling. At times this reads a bit like true crime. Although part of the story was inspired by an event in the author's life, the work is fiction, yet it was written in a way that seemed absolutely true to life.
September 13, 2022
The last book I read was Mystic River and I couldn’t have picked a better follow‑up to it than Reef Road if I’d tried. Like Mystic River, this is a dark psychological thriller that explores the far‑reaching trauma of violence; in fact, it refers to that book in several places. But it’s got a few twists of its own I don’t think even Dennis Lehane could have seen coming and it’s so up to date its plotline fits in with the events of the covid‑19 pandemic. I'll be surprised if this doesn't make a big splash when it comes out in January. 4 1/2 stars.
My thanks to the publisher and Goodreads giveaways for an advance copy to review.
January 10, 2023
I saw the tropical cover, investigated further and saw it takes place in Florida, and it was based on a true crime, what more could I ask for?
The book starts out slow and I am wondering how the two storylines will come together.
Author Deborah Goodrich Royce mother’s best friend was murdered. In Reef Road, we have a writer whose mother’s best friend was murdered and she never recovered from it. Her life was wrapped around her mother’s inability to move on. We, also, have a woman whose husband and two children disappear. These two points of view come together takes place during the pandemic lockdown. How convenient.
Two boys, on a beach where they aren’t supposed to be, don’t even notice the woman sitting alone, when they find a hand.
“What the fuck are we supposed to do with this?”
Isn’t that what you would expect coming out of their mouth? And, the mystery begins.
Not only do we have the pandemic, murder, a missing husband and kids, we also have 9.11. There is so much going on and the flip flopping back and forth, made it seem like I was reading two books at once, was confusing for me. It does come together in a weird way in the second half of the book and that is what saves it for me. By then, I was devouring the pages. I had to know how Deborah Goodrich Royce would wrap up Reef Road.
I enjoyed the story and would read more of Deborah Goodrich Royce’s work.
I voluntarily reviewed a free copy of Reef Road by Deborah Goodrich Royce.
The book starts out slow and I am wondering how the two storylines will come together.
Author Deborah Goodrich Royce mother’s best friend was murdered. In Reef Road, we have a writer whose mother’s best friend was murdered and she never recovered from it. Her life was wrapped around her mother’s inability to move on. We, also, have a woman whose husband and two children disappear. These two points of view come together takes place during the pandemic lockdown. How convenient.
Two boys, on a beach where they aren’t supposed to be, don’t even notice the woman sitting alone, when they find a hand.
“What the fuck are we supposed to do with this?”
Isn’t that what you would expect coming out of their mouth? And, the mystery begins.
Not only do we have the pandemic, murder, a missing husband and kids, we also have 9.11. There is so much going on and the flip flopping back and forth, made it seem like I was reading two books at once, was confusing for me. It does come together in a weird way in the second half of the book and that is what saves it for me. By then, I was devouring the pages. I had to know how Deborah Goodrich Royce would wrap up Reef Road.
I enjoyed the story and would read more of Deborah Goodrich Royce’s work.
I voluntarily reviewed a free copy of Reef Road by Deborah Goodrich Royce.
February 2, 2024
This well-written murder mystery was so unique, and it just made me want to keep turning the pages. While I am usually put off by the COVID theme, this one was so well done and just had me hooked. I love the dual POV and eventually collided and come together perfectly. Told in the POVs of “The Writer” who is on the trail of figuring out an old murder of her family’s past and “The Wife” whose family has mysteriously disappeared. This is full of family drama, coverups, deceit, which is very much like an onion that is slowly peeled back, and any mystery lover will likely enjoy it.
****Many thanks for Suzy Approved Book Tours and Deborah Goodrich Royce for beautiful gifted copy in turn for an honest review and my spot on the tour.
****Many thanks for Suzy Approved Book Tours and Deborah Goodrich Royce for beautiful gifted copy in turn for an honest review and my spot on the tour.
January 12, 2023
4.5
Such a clever, unique thriller. I loved the alternating main characters points of view and how each teased a little more of the story. The bits of real life true crime mixed in made this one even more captivating. And she always manages to surprise me, which I find rare in thrillers anymore. I also loved learning what inspired this creepy read that I devoured.
Such a clever, unique thriller. I loved the alternating main characters points of view and how each teased a little more of the story. The bits of real life true crime mixed in made this one even more captivating. And she always manages to surprise me, which I find rare in thrillers anymore. I also loved learning what inspired this creepy read that I devoured.
January 1, 2023
Oh! I so immensely enjoyed this one-- the dual POV between "The Wife" and "The Writer" was expertly done; slowly weaving their seemingly unrelated stories together. Both female characters are compelling, evoke sympathy, consistently had me rooting for them separately, even when the situation got a bit hairy. Reef Road is plotted excellently and paced fantastically, wavering between the past and the present and then piecing together the full story.
Sins are a factor that is explored extensively and in such a unique way; the idea that the sins of your parents, even if you are innocent in the act, are due punishment and suffering... agh, such a poignant description of how generational scars can infect a whole family.
In short, I loved this and highly highly recommend!
Sins are a factor that is explored extensively and in such a unique way; the idea that the sins of your parents, even if you are innocent in the act, are due punishment and suffering... agh, such a poignant description of how generational scars can infect a whole family.
In short, I loved this and highly highly recommend!
July 13, 2022
Thank you NetGalley and Post Hill Press for the ARC of this novel in exchange for an honest review.
I have just finished this book and my thoughts are still swirling...which is always the sign of a great read! This is a great story based upon true crime and an intriguing mystery / thriller that I could not put down.
There are 2 main characters that also are our narrators: the Wife and the Writer. Both narrators are telling 2 seemingly different stories until they intersect with a clash in such a clever and masterful way. Honestly, I spent the first half of the book trying to figure out how, when and where the 2 narrator stories would intersect. Once the stories combined into one, I could barely keep up!
The Wife is dealing with a missing husband and her 2 children. The writer is living a dysfunctional life filled with bulimia, loneliness and growing up in the persistent shadow of a real life 1948 murder. The book explores eating disorders, Covid, the effect trauma can have on its victims, adultery, domestic abuse, familial secrecy, Argentina's historical unrest, and motherhood. How the author combines and weaves the two stories together is masterful.
Loved this! Looking forward to publication day!!!
I have just finished this book and my thoughts are still swirling...which is always the sign of a great read! This is a great story based upon true crime and an intriguing mystery / thriller that I could not put down.
There are 2 main characters that also are our narrators: the Wife and the Writer. Both narrators are telling 2 seemingly different stories until they intersect with a clash in such a clever and masterful way. Honestly, I spent the first half of the book trying to figure out how, when and where the 2 narrator stories would intersect. Once the stories combined into one, I could barely keep up!
The Wife is dealing with a missing husband and her 2 children. The writer is living a dysfunctional life filled with bulimia, loneliness and growing up in the persistent shadow of a real life 1948 murder. The book explores eating disorders, Covid, the effect trauma can have on its victims, adultery, domestic abuse, familial secrecy, Argentina's historical unrest, and motherhood. How the author combines and weaves the two stories together is masterful.
Loved this! Looking forward to publication day!!!
Read
January 30, 2023Looking on my Goodreads feed this seems to be a book that either really clicks for a reader or not so much at all.
I'm sorry to say I'm in the second camp and didn't love it quite as much as I hoped. For me, the writing style was a little flowery and overdone. I didn't mind the pandemic setting, as I thought iw was used effectively. The true crime elements were interesting but I felt that there was a lot going on in the story, and not all of it tied together in a way that satisfied me. I prefer a more streamlined narrative and a more straightforward writing style.
You might absolutely love this, as many of my fellow readers did, but overall Reef Road was just okay for me.
Read more of my reviews on JenRyland.com! Let's be friends on Bookstagram!
Thanks to the publisher for providing an advance copy for review!
I'm sorry to say I'm in the second camp and didn't love it quite as much as I hoped. For me, the writing style was a little flowery and overdone. I didn't mind the pandemic setting, as I thought iw was used effectively. The true crime elements were interesting but I felt that there was a lot going on in the story, and not all of it tied together in a way that satisfied me. I prefer a more streamlined narrative and a more straightforward writing style.
You might absolutely love this, as many of my fellow readers did, but overall Reef Road was just okay for me.
Read more of my reviews on JenRyland.com! Let's be friends on Bookstagram!
Thanks to the publisher for providing an advance copy for review!
December 5, 2022
This one had true crime vibes but in a more storytelling, fictional way. Usually, true crime writing feels choppy to me but this one was smooth and seamless. One of my favorite things about this book was the authors note at the beginning telling us about how the book was inspired by true crime while still being a work of fiction. This one was captivating, clever, and held my attention for the length of the novel. The reveals were spectacular and well thought out. I also enjoyed the alternating points of views. I enjoyed how the reveal of how the two points of views intersection.
Thank you to @netgalley and the publisher, Post Hill Press, for my advanced e-arc in exchange for this honest review. I recommend you check this one out January 10th!
Thank you to @netgalley and the publisher, Post Hill Press, for my advanced e-arc in exchange for this honest review. I recommend you check this one out January 10th!
January 15, 2023
4.5-5 stars….. a slower burn, the author has to do a bit of set-up in the beginning, but it all came together so nicely & was so different than anything I had read! I flew through this and couldn’t put it down towards the end.
June 20, 2023
This is the second book I have read by this author.
And I will say her books are different.
This one was slow going, but once I got to a certain point.. Wow, I couldn't put it down.. I got this book from the library on Friday... I had half read by saturday. I didn't read on Sunday and I finished it on Monday.. Absolutely fabulous read..
This book has so much going on deceit. Lies affairs things that you could never imagine.. I loved the parts from the writer thoughts. Those chapters are absolutely thrilling... This book was absolutely amazing...
This story is absolutely amazing how it twists. Intertwines with more than one family it's an absolute must-read..
This author writes amazing books.
And now I plan on reading her second book ruby falls soon..
All I can say is I love book the stories fabulous..
And I will say her books are different.
This one was slow going, but once I got to a certain point.. Wow, I couldn't put it down.. I got this book from the library on Friday... I had half read by saturday. I didn't read on Sunday and I finished it on Monday.. Absolutely fabulous read..
This book has so much going on deceit. Lies affairs things that you could never imagine.. I loved the parts from the writer thoughts. Those chapters are absolutely thrilling... This book was absolutely amazing...
This story is absolutely amazing how it twists. Intertwines with more than one family it's an absolute must-read..
This author writes amazing books.
And now I plan on reading her second book ruby falls soon..
All I can say is I love book the stories fabulous..
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