Unforgettable and Wonderful Tale............
Trail of destruction by Tracy Buchanan is a wonderful, fast and page -turner story set in Forest Grove. The plot is so gripping that you would not be able to take your eyes off. The characters may not seem perfect which makes the story more interesting. With each page the plot takes a new turn. The book has everything, Romance, Thrill and Suspense. Trail of Destruction is worth adding in your TBR. Also, to add the climax is mind boggling. I would surely give the book 5 stars. Thanks to Netgalley for giving me an opportunity to review the book.

Facebook is controversial. How do you feel about chat rooms? Small towns using it to gossip about neighbors? People reading each other's comments and taking it personally? When a village surrounded by a beloved forested area becomes embroiled in drama, newcomers to the chat moderation realize there's a connection to similar events from over forty years ago. What is Trail of Destruction by Tracy Buchanan really about? You'll have to read more to decide for yourself.

I enjoyed this novel a lot. In the beginning, I wasn't feeling much suspense or a big story. Some narrative, lots of chat posts. Over 20 names to keep track of, some related in weird ways. But soon, when connections begin to leap from social media to reality, things get intense. A vigilante is seeking justice, but for what reason? Buchanan drew me in with Ellie's drama... and when we learned the identify of the 1st vigilante, it was surprising. But when someone else takes over, and even the original vigilante doesn't know who it is, we have a suspenseful book to dive into!

Overall, this was a good story, but you can't give up on it too soon. There is a lot of groundwork to lay, and by 50% thru, the characters and plot are pretty solid. There are the snowflakes and the hardcore justice warriors. There are rude people, and there are kind souls who shouldn't go online. So much of this could be political, but Buchanan does a lot to make this not about liberal and conservative as much as it is about people's views on privacy and vengeance. Two topics that can really come to a boiling point, as they do when fires begin to take control of the village.

Some of the tone/style was hard to follow because of so many characters, but if you focus on the primary 4 or 5, it's a lot clearer. That said, there were moments where I couldn't stop flipping the pages. I read one book by the author 4+ years ago and liked it but for some reason didn't pick up her latest 2. When this one was released, I gave it a try. Now I'll go back to the others and catch up.

"Trail of Destruction," by Tracy Buchanan, is a story set in Forest Grove, apparently the third book set in this town, though this book is a stand-alone read. The main character is Ellie, who becomes the moderator for a town based Facebook group. There’s a bit more than just that, of course! We slowly discover that although Forest Grove seems like this little pleasant town, there’s a dark side (or maybe just continual small town gossip!). I found the first part a really good read - it was interesting, fast paced, and enjoyable, with a mystery/thriller element. The second part dragged a little bit for me, though it did pick up toward the end, where I flew through the story. Ms. Buchanan did a good job building suspense, throwing a few red herrings, and eventually unmasking the person who started the fire mentioned in the opening chapter. In an amusing way, this book reminded me why I’m not part of my community web groups - I don’t want to deal with the drama or know the gossip; I like being in the dark, thank you very much! This was a very fast (I finished it in about twelve hours) and enjoyable read. I’d be likely to read another book by this author.

I have been so excited to read this book, another set in Forest Grove, an idyllic village where everyone knows each other and no one’s secrets are safe as gossip is rife. Once again we follow the drama as it unravels in the village and is shared on social media by the gossips
I love the way Tracy sets the scene and gives a great character insight. Her characters are so well written, you feel like you know them personally. Reading this book makes you feel like you’re living amongst the drama. It grabs you from the start and compels you to just read one more chapter, oh and then just another before you can put it down
Another great read and I wasn’t disappointed
Thanks to Netgalley for the opportunity to read this title

Gossip Girls.

And Guys.

Who doesn’t like a little scintillating neighborhood conversation? Divorce, grousing, and those with too much time on their hands create an amusing combination here.

When Ellie accepts the reins of the Forest Grove Facebook group, she presumes that she’d be overseeing petty tiffs about trash pick up and dog poo. Par for the course - until it wasn’t.

Escalating acts of property damage place the residents on edge. Is it retaliation or is anyone in danger?

Comprising both sly and overt humor, this resided closer to the cosy catagory and was a welcome respite from recent somber books. I had fun with this and recommend it for those desiring a less cumbersome read these fall and winter months. Did I mention that there was also a little G rated romance?

Thank you to Amazon Publishing, Tracy Buchanan, and NetGalley for my reader’s copy set to publish on October 5, 2021.

Gossipy neighbor drama? YES! Family mystery? Also YES! A sprinkle of romance?Again, YES! This book kept me guessing up until the reveal. Every single chapter had me second-guessing myself.

And there are MORE books set in Forest Grove?? I will be making some purchases and returning to this little village for more drama.

I'm sure a lot of mystery lovers will be a fan of this story, but it just wasn't for me. I couldn't connect with any of the characters and the start of the book felt too slow, and it just didn't hold my attention. I hope it's a better fit for other readers.

Social media is a great time pass but what if it gives rise to vigilantism?
Ellie Mileham, recently divorced, mom of two kids and puzzle/riddle creator lives in the eco-village Forest Grove. She has been living there since the village was opened for its inhabitants. Ages have passed but Forest Grove remains the same gossipy, bitchy place since she was a kid. Poison pen letters were rampant all those years ago which led to the nervous breakdown of her mother.
In current times she is also a moderator of the village’s Facebook group and that's when the games start! Pranks that seem harmless are unleashed upon some of the rude and whiny residents, but they soon twist to more harmful ones and cases of arson are reported in many areas. The same kinds of poison pen letters are now targeted at Ellie. She becomes a person of interest in the arson cases and the villagers keep playing the blame game. Ellie needs to find out who is behind all of it so she can live a drama-free life with her children and also bring peace to her mother. Many in the village think the vigilant is a hero. But if the residents deserve what they get, can it be justified if someone ends up being dangerously hurt or even dead?
Fast paced writing makes the story very engaging. There are two parts to the novel, which brings out a twist in the middle but the ending shocked me even more!
Great cast of side characters, specially the detectives and Ellie’s best friend Vanessa.
Ellie’s arc transitions in a mind-boggling way!

Trail of Destruction by Tracy Buchanan is a mystery about Ellie, the town of Forest Grove, and the town's Facebook group. Ellie somehow ends up the new moderator of the Forest Grove Facebook group, where most of the townspeople go to complain and gossip. Someone in the group is tired of the complaints, though, and starts pranking anyone who complains. The pranks get more and more dangerous, and Ellie starts researching the history of Forest Grove. She uncovers some very sad secrets. I really enjoyed this book; the setting and the townspeople really came to life. And the reveal of who was committing the pranks was outstanding. Thanks to NetGalley for the free digital review copy. All opinions are my own.

Thank you NetGalley and Tracy Buchanan! This is an awesome book with a full cast of characters who I love and hate. Whatever emotion they evoke, they certainly sell the story.

In my mind this is a classic case of the cowardly, mean-spirited and even outright harmful things some people, like the residents of Forest Grove, will do when behind their computer keyboard, pen/paper and on the telephone. These flimsy tools give a level of guts to people who otherwise wouldn’t confront. They feel not only strong, but vindicated by group sentiment without a thought to how their targets might be harmed.

Think the community Facebook page. Without any evidence, they carried right on “blaming” anyone who they had the slightest beef with. There’s an entertaining string of this late in the book where the FB group members mention guilt because of a “falling out”, being a “bit odd”, or “that hair of her’s is very odd”. All said of three different people.

You must also take into account the small-town community where everyone knows your business. To say nothing of the far too close relationships that are formed and move in destructive directions. The jealousy and pettiness among spouses, exes, and neighbors is nearly a living being.

This is the third book set in this town. I definitely want to read the other two.

I have mixed feelings about this book. It’s well written which made it a quick, easy read. The suspense and twists were decent. At the same time, I didn’t like the characters and many times found the dialogue between them annoying. Overall, it was just ok in my opinion. I’ve seen that this author has two other books set in the community of Forest Grove. I think those who have enjoyed those will like this one.

"Trail of Destruction" gives the reader a peek into the dynamics of life in a small town where the residents are all involved in each other's business, for better or for worse. When Ellie takes over as moderator of the town's official Facebook group, a vandal starts targeting the townspeople who make particularly rude or judgmental posts. Things soon take a disturbing turn, however, as the incidents begin to escalate into a string of arson attacks. Ellie and the local police officer race to figure out who could be responsible for the string of increasingly violent acts threatens to overtake the town.

Overall, this was an enjoyable and relatively quick read, but there was nothing that really stood out about the story to me. I tend to prefer books that have strong character development and backstory, or suspenseful plots that have a lot of depth and complexity, and this book did not have either of those things. The plot advances at a fairly quick pace but is a bit simplistic, so I wouldn't describe it as a page-turning novel. Instead, it is more of a cozy version of suspense - the incidents are restricted to minor vandalism, theft, and property damage. There is a bit of mystery and intrigue as we follow along with Ellie and try to figure out who is responsible for the attacks, but the level of drama is befitting of the small town setting.

I would recommend this book for a reader who is looking for a little bit of drama and suspense, but would prefer a lighter read with a storyline that is easy to follow. Readers looking for a lot of character development or very complex plot lines probably would not like this book.

Amazon Publishing UK y'all rock and I love you!

Trail of Destruction by Tracy Buchanan is an absolute amazing story! And how the heck I have never read a book from her on KU is beyond me.... But that changes today! Thank goodness for Kindle Unlimited!

The story is really well told and there are many faucets to it, it’s exciting, quick moving and horrifying yet keeps you hanging onto every word!
I felt like I had it all figured out very early on but the story became more suspenseful with every chapter and later on in the book I was second guessing myself and enjoying every little revelation because for the most part I didn’t see them coming.
This book was so good, really well written, great plot and interesting twists!

Thank you again for this amazing book!
I will post to my platforms closer to pub date!

Trail of destruction is amazing! It's a compelling thriller, who know Facebook groups could be so deadly? This mystery is really enthralling but the twists and turns make it really interesting.

The third of Tracy Buchanan’s books set in Forest Grove, Trail of Destruction is a standalone thriller. Beginning with a raging forest fire, the story then moves backwards a month in time to recount the reasons for this inferno. Ellie Nash’s marriage ended three months ago, as she struggles with her new life in the idyllic paradise of Forest Grove. Taking on the local social group’s facilitator role, Ellie has to monitor the petty complaints and divergent views of her small local community. As things escalate and the divisions and tensions rise, the darkness underlying the town become visible. Just like the vitriolic letters of the past, a vigilante is again targeting people as the danger of increasing violence looms. Can Ellie identify who is behind it all in time to prevent catastrophe? An enjoyable enough portrayal of the gossip and hypocrisy underpinning communities and the length some will go to right perceived wrongs. So, a three-star rating and no previous knowledge of Forest Grove necessary. With many thanks to Amazon Publishing UK and the author, for an uncorrected proof copy for review purposes.

This is the third book in the Forest Grove Series and before I had reached the end of the first chapter I was drawn into the world of Ellie Mileham and her family.

Someone in Forest Grove is targeting residents who are complaining via Facebook about the bins, dog poo, loud music etc and before too long a prankster is at work. However, things take a sinister turn when Ellie receives a threatening letter and someone in the village is putting residents’ lives at risk.

Ellie is trying hard to keep on top of everything after her husband has walked out and started a new life in the next village. She will do anything protect her family. A wonderful strong and likeable character with a bit of the devil running through her.

The Forest Grove novels show a true picture of neighbourhood spats, jealousies and friendship. However, beware, because there is a very dark and sinister undertone to this village which is what makes this book a heart stopping read.

Tracy Buchanan’s perception of how the tone of a Facebook thread can change in an instant is awesome.

An interesting chain of events occur precipitated by backstabbing on social media between the residents of a small town, Forest Grove.  Everyone is in each other’s business, their lives constantly cross and nothing goes unnoticed.
   But these petty gripes that are played out on Facebook take on a more destructive bent: first in vandalism against the whiners but it goes up a notch with several major fires.
   Finding out the originator of the damage reveals a not uncommon reason but a very unlikely suspect.
   Makes you want to think twice about  small town life!

Trail of Destruction is the third book to be set in the seemingly idyllic village of Forest Grove, but it can easily be read as a standalone. It follows Ellie Mileham as she takes over the admin of her village’s Facebook community group, however, something which starts out as a pleasant pastime and a welcome reprieve and distraction from her impending divorce, after her husband left her for his first love, quickly takes a sinister turn. She throws herself into caring for her two children, her job and moderating the ridiculously petty squabbles that frequently take up space on the group’s wall. The locals tended to use the group as a place to air their grievances and post complaints about other residents and issues pertaining to the village.

There's everything from complaints about dog walkers not cleaning up after their pets to the sound of gunshots ricocheting around the area and irritation at cyclists riding their bikes on paths instead of the road. Unfortunately, someone has decided they have had enough of people whining about what they deem to be somewhat trivial problems, and they begin targeting those who have publicly voiced their opinions with an act that is a slight variation on their original complaint. These include dog faeces shoved through a person’s letterbox, playing loud music, rubbish bins moved from their usual resting place and stealing an individual's guns.

The prankster who becomes known as the Facebook Vigilante trolls the uptight group members, but the delight it has brought normal members of the community of Forest Grove seeing these whinging busybodies getting their comeuppance disintegrates when fires are set and it becomes dangerous. Taking heed of the advice of the police, Ellie archives the group, but this does little to settle the terror being unleashed. The incidents continue to escalate, and as Ellie remembers the poison pen letters that had been delivered around the village a few years prior, she decides to take matters into her own hands, which takes her down a very dark path, forcing her to confront her own childhood and secrets she thought were long buried.

This is a compelling and enthralling mystery surrounding a race to catch the prankster whose acts are spiralling out of control, but it's also a tale of dark village history, devious secrets, family skeletons in the closet and two-faced, backstabbing neighbours in a tight-knit, gossip riddled community. You can feel the claustrophobic small-town atmosphere emanating from the pages, and the few twists and turns throughout catch you off guard. The key to the book's compulsive nature lies in the gripping writing with its claustrophobic small-town backdrop and utterly compelling characters. It makes for a heartbreakingly real family drama that you engage with from the very first page. An incredibly beautiful, picture-perfect location with a sinister backstory always makes for brilliant reading. Highly recommended.

Very entertaining! Makes you think about all the actions each character played in this twisty page-turning book. If you are ever on Facebook - a neighborhood group, in particular, you will understand and be familiar of what goes on in this story. Very relatable in a way. Loved it!

Eager for distraction in the aftermath of her messy divorce, Ellie Mileham dives into moderating the petty squabbles on her local Facebook group. When a prankster starts trolling uptight members, it’s a welcome diversion at first. But then the war of words moves onto the streets of Forest Grove, with threatening letters escalating into violent destruction. It’s suddenly clear there’s something much more dangerous at play. With lives at risk, Ellie delves into the history of Forest Grove and realises the so-called rural paradise has a dark and sinister heart. As she pieces together the puzzle of her own troubled childhood on the edge of the forest, Ellie learns this is not the first time the villagers have been targeted by an anonymous vigilante with an axe to grind. Could the two cases be connected? Ellie is determined to find out. But with everybody watching and nobody quite what they seem, can she uncover the truth before online threats become nightmarish reality?

This book sees us return to Forest Grove and I just adore Forest Grove and what it brings to a book! Once again, Buchanan has this incredibly beautiful location and a setting that should be an idyllic place to live, if you have read any of the other books you will know this is far from the truth. What we actually have is a very tight-knit, clicky, claustrophobic way of life. There are plenty of different personalities in this who all clash and have their differences. What we are left with is the perfect recipe for disaster.

From the beginning, we know there is going to be a devastating fire, Buchanan then takes us back so we can discover what happens to lead to the fire. It was so enjoyable to read about this community again, it seems they will never run out of secrets!

The characters in this are excellent as well. We get to meet recurring characters which is always great and this read focuses on Ellie as our central character. As I have touched on, the characters are all very different and bring something different to the plot, not to mention all the lies and secrecy as well! Following these characters is always entertaining and definitely makes for gripping reading.

'Trail of Destruction' is another exciting read from Buchanan and one that had me hooked. Forest Grove is one of my favourite fictional settings and I love seeing what antics everyone gets up to.

Thank you to NetGalley and Amazon Publishing UK for an advance copy.