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Critic's Corner
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The Ridge My first reading experience with Michael Koryta was with his fascinating “So Cold the River.” Once you read Koryta, you will want more. His time spent as a private investigator and newspaper reporter serves him well when it comes to details and descriptions. “The Ridge” is his eighth novel and once again he proves himself a master in the Thriller genre. “In an isolated stretch of eastern Kentucky, on a hilltop known as Blade Ridge, stands a lighthouse that illuminates nothing but the surrounding woods. For years the lighthouse has been considered no more than an eccentric local landmark—until its builder and keeper is found dead at the top of the light, and his belongings reveal a troubling local history.” Koryta introduces a cast of characters that will entertain and intrigue you. Kevin Kimble, Chief Deputy Sheriff in charge of criminal investigations for Sawyer County is in charge of looking into the lighthouse keeper’s death. Is it suicide or murder? Kimble knows Wyatt French due to his having been arrested more than once as a public drunk. French himself asked Kimble, via a phone call, before his death how he investigated a suicide to determine if it was done willingly or coerced? Kimble told him that he looked for the truth in the evidence. This answer pleased French. Now, Kimble is wondering why the question was asked. Jacqueline Mathis, slim, elegant, with a kind of beauty that endures even after five years in prison, becomes a person of extreme interest to Kimble. He visits her once each month without telling anyone. This is strange because Kimble is the one who arrested her for killing her husband, and for shooting him in the back. It seems Jacqueline knows a secret about the strange things happening out on Blade Ridge. What it is, is anyone’s guess. Roy Darmus comes into the picture to add further depth to the story. He’s made a career as a reporter at the Sawyer County Sentinel. Wyatt French also called Darmus before he killed himself. French asks the reporter to keep the lighthouse on at night after he is dead. Darmus realizes the man may be talking about killing himself and races out to French’s house in the woods. Sure enough, French is dead by his own hand. His cottage reveals many eerie photographs that make little sense to Darmus. Something is wrong, and the reporter determines to find out what it is. When French told Darmus, “You tell them Roy, Wyatt French did what he could – for them, for everyone.” He also warns the reporter that the new wild life preserve built on Blade Ridge road will bring more people to the area and that is not a good thing. Over the years many unexplained deaths have occurred near the lighthouse. Accidents without reason, deaths due to strange illnesses …. Both Kimble and Darmus begin looking into French’s so-called suicide and what they find is a tale filled with suspense, horror, and a paranormal situation beyond explanation. It seems Wyatt French’s fears are as real as daylight and as deadly as night fall on Blade Ridge. You will be asking yourself, “When is suicide not suicide but murder?” Now I know why Dean Koontz, king of the horror genre, says, “Michael Koryta is now on my must read list.” Michael Connelly names Koryta, “One of the best of the best.” Read “The Ridge” if you dare, but if you do, make sure you read it in the light of day. Buy The Ridge Patricia Ann Jones is a published writer and has recently retired from her position of 18 years as a reviewer for the Tulsa World newspaper. To comment on this review you may email pattij777@aol.com. |
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from Amazon.com
