Kimi Cunningham Grant's debut novel is centered on the destruction of mountain land by fracking. The characters of the story play out their secrets, pain, and past in a time when small towns are losing their ability to sustain a life they knew in farming.

The lone sheriff, Red, gets a call that Transom Schultz has disappeared. His girlfriend, Teresa, is in a panic because his disappearance this time has been longer than usual. Transom is a creep and always has been, since his schooldays. HIs best friend, Chase, knows this but has to depend on him at a time when he is about to lose the farm, one that has been in the family for generations. He loves the land and will do anything to keep it. Transom offers him a deal that looks as if he may be able to stay on his beloved farm. As with anything Transom does, the deal is too good to be true.

Two other characters play important roles in this tragic story, Laney and Possum. Chase is falling in love with Laney but has a secret that could destroy that possibility and Possum hates Transom more than anything or anyone in his life.

Once you have all the characters lined up, enjoy reading this novel of love, hate, and greed. KCG has a hit on her hand with her first novel.

I received an advanced copy of this novel from the publisher through NetGalley.

I wouldn‘t change a single page because it is a beautifully written story with amazing characters and in my eyes truly perfect. The atmosphere is rather dark unlike the prevailing heat in the story. I loved getting to know the characters und the place because it felt like walking through Fallen Mountains.
The story itself is slow but that worked for me and the ending still got quite exciting because I was never sure what really happend to Transom. I cared about all the characters and wasn‘t ready to find out the truth.

Fallen Mountains by Kimi Cunningham Grant
BLURB~
“When Transom Shultz goes missing shortly after returning to his tightly knit hometown of Fallen Mountains, Pennsylvania, his secrets are not the only ones that threaten to emerge. 
 
Something terrible happened seventeen years ago. Red, the sheriff, is haunted by it. Possum, the victim of that crime, wants revenge. Chase, a former friend of Transom’s, is devastated by his treacherous land dealings. And Laney worries her one thoughtless mistake with Transom could shatter everything she’s built.
 
As the search for Transom heats up and the inhabitants’ dark and tangled histories unfold, each must decide whether to live under the brutal weight of the past or try to move beyond it. In Fallen Mountains, even loyalty, love, trust, and family can trap you on a path of tragedy.”
REVIEW~
I live in a town called Cowpens. No joke. So I know small towns and Grant has done a superb job at giving readers a pretty good idea what life is like living in one. The story is told in parts of BEFORE and AFTER Transom’s disappearance. It was an easy to follow and not confusing at all. The quality of her writing is amazing. I would venture to say flawless. Grant spins a tale so realistically, I was blown away. She has a gripping style of drawing you into the story, the characters, and the secrets.
Perfectly paced, she gradually introduces the characters with an approach that connects you to them and each individual arc. You get to know these characters and their backstories in such a way that you feel attached to them. They are flawed, with both favorable and erroneous characteristics, that are realistically portrayed.
Perplexing at times, because there are so many suspects, the plot is one of mystery, suspense, and intrigue. You are kept suspense until the very satisfying end. I read this book and if life hadn’t have gotten in the way I would’ve read it one sitting. It is utterly fascinating. Grant has masterfully developed a novel that will keep the reader wondering and guessing until the conclusion. 5/5 ⭐️
I was given this book by the publisher via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
This review, or portions thereof, will be posted (when able) on Amazon, B&N, Goodreads, Kobo, IG, FB, Pinterest, Litsy, and my own blog.
Unfortunately, I am unable to provide links to all sites as I am using my phone.
On various sites I am:
Pinterest~ Pinterest.com/katskraps
Barnes & Noble~ Karyl-Ahn-white_7
Litsy~ Karylahn or Karyl White

Fallen Mountains is a book that held my interest throughout the novel. It's about the lives of four young adults and a sheriff in a small town, and how old choices can have unexpected consequences for years to come. I found most of the characters in this book to be sympathetic and I cared about what happened to them. Kimi Cunningham Grant does a really nice job of describing them thoroughly and making them seem like "real people".
I especially enjoyed the changes in perspective from one character to the next, allowing the reader to see events through different eyes. There are a few back and forth time jumps in the book, which I was fine with, but some readers may not like. That said, I found the ending to be just a bit abrupt. I won't give any spoilers, but if left me wondering about what happened to the rest of them after the story ended. I wish there'd been a little more wrap-up or even an epilogue to clear things up a bit. I'd read more from Ms. Grant and hope she continues writing. I was provided a copy of this book by netgalley.com in exchange for my review.

I received this from netgalley.com in exchange for a review.

The sleepy town of Fallen Mountains, Pennsylvania is home to many secrets, some are even deadly. The chapters alternate from Before and After the crime. Quick and easy read.

3.25☆

Wow! This is a very stunning novel! The author very successfully captures the essence of small-town life: how everyone knows you, how secrets can be buried. It’s about
family histories and friendships, regrets, conflict, loyalty, shame, secrets and memories of some things best forgotten. I was impressed with the vivid detail in this book. The characters were so well developed that I felt I knew each one intimately. I was pretty much sucked into this mystery from the very beginning. It was a gripping story with just enough suspense to keep you guessing. Awesome book. Highly recommended. Advance reader copy was provided by the publisher via Netgalley in exchange for my honest review.

Thank you NetGalley and Amberjack Publishing for this arc.

A very compelling and atmospheric read for me. Great characters, fully developed, some likeable some not so much, but all of them wholly human and understandable. The story starts off with loss and grief and all the repercussions thereof but morphs into a human study of people just trying to cope the best they can in a world they don't fully understand. It bobbles into three different time periods with the characters' histories and the development of the story... 17 years previous, about 6 months previous and current time. While not exactly seamless, it fully explains everyone's motivations and actions. While I wouldn't term this a "feel good" read by any means, the ending was beautifully done leaving a sense of peace with a wisp or two of hope.

I'm definitely hoping for more from the author!
4.5 stars rounded up.

First thing that needs to be said is that I absolutely despised Transom Shultz. Unfortunately, I loved just about every other character in this story. This filled me with an awful dread. I did not want anyone to be caught for "doing Transom in." Sometimes a person just needs a good old fashioned killing....I'd have happily helped this man on his way. I could go on and on about all these people, and their decisions that kept me groaning at their stupid decisions, but I won't. The sheriff? Argh! Possum? Loved him! Oblivious Chase? Dummy. It's a great story, and one I'd recommend.

First off, I have to say that I think my temperature actually rose while I read this book (and I was stuck in my house during a snowstorm when I read it)! The descriptions of the summer heat were very realistic to the point it was almost tangible!

This is a dark, atmospheric, slow-burn, character-driven mystery that takes place in a small town. The characters felt like real people - people you probably would have known if you grew up in a small town.
The story is told in two timelines – before Transom’s disappearance and after. The before part of the story clearly defines who Transom was and exposed all the reasons the other main characters in the story would have either hated him or feared him. Everyone had a reason for wanting Transom out of their lives, but does that mean any of them were responsible for his disappearance? The after part of the story focuses on the sheriff, Red, who is looking for Transom and has his own secrets that are haunting him.

Transom was not a likeable character. Everyone had a reason to dislike or fear him. He is easily the “villain” in this story; however, Transom’s backstory provides a reason, although not an excuse, for some of the things he has done in this life and the way he has treated others. But people tend to remember the bad over any good, and memories are long… particularly in small towns.

You will not know what happened to Transom until the end and it was a very satisfying ending to the story.

This book took me a little longer to read than usual. It really is slow – more narrative than action. But I don’t think this is a bad thing. The story flows like syrup – slow, steady, and even a little sticky, but if you are patient the reward is sweet.

This is an impressive debut novel by the author. I enjoyed it and I would recommend it to anyone that likes stories about small towns, secrets, grudges, and regrets.

Thank you Netgalley and Amberjack Publishing for a free electronic ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review.

Fallen Mountains by Kimi Cunningham Grant is a novel based in the mountains of Pennsylvania during modern times and one commonly referred to as "country" or "rural" noir.

The story is told in alternating chapters titled as "Before" and "After" and seeks to tell the tale of the disintegrating friendship of Transom Shultz and Chase Hardy. The two have grown up together, with Transom coming from an unstable home of plenty and Chase a poorer family of quality. The two are more like brothers than friends.

When Transom is reported missing by his fiance to Red, the sheriff, the story goes from there. As Red tries to determine if Transom voluntarily left the small town or is the victim of foul play, the story slowly reveals past secrets haunting each of those involved. Of the main characters, each carries past burdens which could cast suspicions on each one if it is determined Transom has befallen under suspicious circumstances.

Grant's writing is so visually descriptive, with her characters richly developed and slowly flushed out to the reader. Like other successful writers of this genre, Grant also creates characters where their human nature, or lack thereof, is more villainous than that of the wildly exaggerated cartoon-like characters found in too many other novels.

Unfortunately, there is a major plot hole that really needed to be dealt with and one that easily could have been handled. In reading other reviews, it is also surprising this has not been mentioned.

Still, even so, Fallen Mountains is remarkable and highly recommended, especially to readers that enjoy novels by writers such as David Joy, Daniel Woodrell, Brian Panowich, William Gay and Tom Franklin.

"The past was never dead; it was never past. But it didn't have to own you, either. It didn't have to be all you were."

What an impressive debut novel! Alternating between "before" and "after" chapters regarding Transom's disappearance, secrets get unfolded in a dark and moody atmosphere, keeping the suspense until the end. The essence of small town life was captured so well. The writing is simple but sophisticated, it's not really action packed but the mystery tale is unraveled in such an intriguing and gripping way. Smooth pace and flow, very interesting and well written characters. The ending wasn't very climatic (which is why I can't give it the full score) but pleasant and thought-provoking. Transom might have been a total arse but considering Possum's final thoughts, I think he can be sort of forgiven. Sort of.

And can we discuss the cover? Because I love the simple approach, the grudgy and haunting vibe it gives off and the choice of typography? Beautiful!

Fallen Mountains is a small town in Pennsylvania. Here, a man goes missing. The story is told from present working the case and past with crime committed then. There are many motives for the missing man to be missing. The characters all have secrets. The setting is refreshingly different from others books I've read lately. I enjoyed the mystery and intrigue of this story. I recommend if you like mystery with motive. Thanks to NetGalley for an arc in exchange for an honest review.

Synopsis/blurb.....

"An intense and engaging portrait of characters driven by—and bound by—the secrets of their pasts . . . an absorbing mystery as well as a gracefully layered story of death and loss in a small town.” —Allen Eskens, USA Today bestselling author of The Life We Bury

When Transom Shultz goes missing shortly after returning to his tightly knit hometown of Fallen Mountains, Pennsylvania, his secrets are not the only ones that threaten to emerge.

Something terrible happened seventeen years ago. Red, the sheriff, is haunted by it. Possum, the victim of that crime, wants revenge. Chase, a former friend of Transom’s, is devastated by his treacherous land dealings. And Laney worries her one thoughtless mistake with Transom could shatter everything she’s built.

As the search for Transom heats up and the inhabitants’ dark and tangled histories unfold, each must decide whether to live under the brutal weight of the past or try to move beyond it. In Fallen Mountains, even loyalty, love, trust, and family can trap you on a path of tragedy.
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My take...

Wow!

I was pretty much sucked into this small town mystery from the get-go. Gripping, intriguing, compelling and at the climax supremely satisfying. I was half-tempted to start reading it again immediately after.

A small cast of characters, each carrying their own secrets, each effected by events of the past, all of them good-hearted people, with maybe one exception - though even he has some admirable traits.

Regret, guilt, loyalty, family, history, conflict, secrets, disappointment, shame, embarrassment, anger, selfishness, love, grief, resentment and more in rural Pennsylvania.

I loved the characters, I loved the setting, I loved how the author made me care about the outcome and what would happen to all those involved. I enjoyed her writing and the past-present flip-flopping of the narrative added to my reading pleasure, more so than if the narrative had been more linear.

All in all a fantastic read and one I'd highly recommend to anyone. I've deliberately refrained from mentioning any events or detail of the characters. Read this book and discover them for yourself. My semi-coherent thoughts do not do this book justice!

5 from 5

Fallen Mountains is Kimi Cunningham Grant's fictional debut. She has an earlier book to her name, a family memoir - Silver Like Dust - which tells the tale of her Japanese-American grandparents interned in the aftermath of Pearl Harbour.

Read in January, 2019
Published - 2019 (out on the 5th March)
Page count - 196
Source - Net Galley
Format - ePub file read on laptop.

https://col2910.blogspot.com/2019/01/kimi-cunningham-grant-fallen-mountains.html

Thank you Netgalley for the chance to read this book in exchange for an honest review.

I found it difficult to initially get into this book but I am very glad I persevered because it ended up being a very enjoyable read. It was a gripping story with just enough twists and turns to keep you guessing. I particularly liked the chance to ‘visit’ this part of America and discover how different life is in small and isolated towns such as Fallen Mountains. The characters were almost all endearing and I found myself hoping my favourites weren’t the culprit.

I look forward to the next book by Kimi Cunningham Grant.

This was an unusual choice for me. I can't say that I liked the book but then I can't say I disliked it either - narcissistic people and their extreme selfishness are a total turn off. If you fund them fascinating, then you'll probably find this book interesting.

I decided to read this book based on the description alone; I found it interesting. However, as I continued to read the story, I found myself having a hard time connecting with the characters. While the plot was interesting & the storyline well developed, I found the characters lacking & difficult to form a connection to. This book wasn't for me, but I'm sure there are others who would enjoy it.

Fallen Mountains, Pennsylvania is a small town holding secrets and regrets, memories and things best forgotten. It is made up of family histories and friendships false and true. It’s a small town like any other, and when one of its members goes missing, questions and suspicions are laid bare like the neighboring forests that are being systematically mowed down by outsiders.

Possum, Transom, Chase and sheriff Red all have their family histories and secrets, some of them overlapping. When Transom disappears, Red, ready for retirement, reluctantly must face some of those secrets to get to the bottom of his absence. He must question motives from Transom’s childhood friend, Chase, and his childhood adversary, Possum.

The novel is a character study of how past events and discoveries shaped the viewpoints of these men, and what they did as a result. The writing is excellent; I felt as if I understood where each character was coming from, whether I agreed with him or not. There is suspense throughout the book, and the ending was just as it should have been – painful and perfect.

It’s a pleasure to have started the new year with a book as thoughtfully written as Fallen Mountains. Thanks to NetGalley and Amberjack Publishing for an ARC in exchange for my honest review. 5 stars.

A nicely layered novel set in rural small town USA. Engaging cast of characters, all with a lifetime of shared history.
For me, it was more a question of "how", than "who". The missing person was such a jerk. It honestly could have been anyone.

I received an ARC from Netgalley and Amberjack Publishing in exchange for my honest opinion.

In Fallen Mountains a sheriff takes on his final case and attempts to solve a missing persons report prior to retirement. Grant alternates chapters between present time as the sheriff works the case and looks back to the events leading up to the circumstances surrounding the disappearance. I found this to be a unique way of writing suspense in comparison with other novels I've read recently. What was disappointing to me is that I found the characters to be rather flat and that the storytelling heavily relied upon vivid descriptions of setting rather than development of the plot. The ending was somewhat unexpected which I appreciated, but overall I found the book somewhat dull.

"The summer's heat arrived in Fallen Mountains like a winged thing, swift and startling: the pansies drooped, the lettuce bolted, the trees shook off their buds. As Red walked back to the police station from the diner, crabapple blossoms, pink and white and wet, dropped from the trees that lined Main Street and stuck to his shoes"

Fallen Mountains is the story of a small town in lumberjack country, USA. It's a story of the Sheriff, Red, and the interconnected lives of the families that live there and a current day mystery that stirs up memories of a crime that was committed 17 years before.

The novel is written in alternating chapters of "before" and "after" Transom's disappearance.
By the end though, I didn't really mind if they found him or not, it was more about closure of the story. And frankly, guy was a jerk.

The chapters spiral towards the end, closer and closer until before and after converge
Hopefully your favourite characters are absolved
Hopefully they find Transom
Hopefully Red can finally hand in his resignation

Trigger warning... author is obsessed with guns. It's a gun happy town.