Amber West

Review: The Ruth Valley Missing by Amber West. 02/22/2017

This book was captivating from the first page to the last page. It’s a great story with a challenging mystery in a small town called, Ruth Valley. The story is well written, the characters were mysteriously developed with real life conflicts and the story flowed smoothly. It was a cozy mystery and the plot had twist and turns to keep me intrigued.

The main character Jameson Quinn who they call James in the book, just got out of a relationship in New York was now planning to start a new life in a small community of Ruth Valley. It was a complete change for Jameson moving from a large non-stop city to a small quaint town where everyone knew everyone. However, the friendly town is not exactly what she thought it would be. The story started off with a mysterious priest, creepy nuns and a landlord who was too perfect. This is where the mystery becomes a lot of fun and a challenge.

When she moved into her new place it wasn’t long before the town’s people became a mystery to her. There were very few men in this town and one was the sheriff, who was also her landlord and good looking. Another was a local elderly doctor who drank too much and a couple of younger males who soon moved away. Jameson took time to get to know the citizens but kept being warned by the Father Mike how she must join in with the town’s activities. He also was pressing her to go to church every Sunday and confession weekly. She thought he was off his rocker…

Events started to become weird and Jameson knew there was something wrong in Ruth Valley. She had also started dating her landlord Jack which made the nuns shun her, especially Sister Marjorie, who was also definitely untrustworthy. Plus, one of the young men was abnormally injured, in the forest and Jameson stitches him up because the doctor once again was too drunk. The next day she finds out he suddenly leaves town and also hears he wasn’t the first male that just disappeared…. Jameson began her own investigation within the town but every movement she made either Jack or Father Mike was showing up right beside her as if they were stalking her.

The story was so enjoyable the way Amber West weaved a story with charming eccentric characters, evil achievers, and angels in chilling clothing. The story was supposed to have some humor but I thought it was more creepy then funny and I thought it was a face pace weird good story.… (más)

If you are a mystery fan (I'm not, really) you will probably enjoy this a lot. A real page turner that moves fast and repeatedly puts the heroine in danger.

Jameson is a very likable character - loved her voice - but there was not enough background given as to WHY she would basically throw a dart at the map and end up in Ruth Valley. Did she have a history of impulse relocations? I was not sure given her close relationship with the doctor at the hospital if she was really a volunteer, or a mental patient. Her family background could/should have given her more impetus, and while her father gets dragged into it, then he simply isn't a factor any longer. That's a loose end that should have been tied up.

Father Mike was the best kind of creepy priest, and kudos for leaving me hanging till the last minute discovering who (some) of the bad guys were. Some of it seemed obvious, and I figured out why we didn't want any of the barbecue early on.

I'm still not sold on the mystery genre, but I enjoyed this anyway.

… (más)