So I liked this story…the twists about the twin brothers and the woman was interesting…but disliked the politics. And hated the ending because I liked Cillian and thought it was dumb not saintlike what he did.

A suspenseful and atmospheric novel filled with family secrets, political intrigue, and betrayal. A read that will keep you guessing til the end.
Many thanks to Level Best Books and to Netgalley for providing me with a galley in exchange for my honest opinion.

Blue Ridge is both a family drama centred on warring twins, and a political thriller centred on a powerful anti-democratic conspiracy. Unfortunately, neither of these intertwined plot lines drew me in. I found it very hard to empathise with any of the main characters or even to care about what happened to them. It is an easy read but not an engaging one.

I requested this book expecting something entirely different from what I read. I was disappointed in the language and graphic scenes. This was such a distraction that I couldn't even focus on what the plot of the book was supposed to be. I normally would not leave a review of this type, but was extremely disappointed.

A copy was provided for my review, but all opinions are my own.

This is a captivating family drama/political thriller that draws you in immediately. It's a quick read and I enjoyed the identical twin aspect of the turmoil and mystery. The descriptions of the Blue Ridge Mountains are beautiful and the author's writing style flows through the multiple viewpoints. An engaging read that you won't want to put down.

Author Peter Malone Elliott does a masterful job with this haunting story of the complex relationship between twin brothers. Through a dual point-of-view approach, he skillfully takes us into the minds of both men, unveiling their secrets until we realize that neither is exactly what we imagined.

This psychological thriller is part political, part family, with two flawed characters who do all the wrong things, for many of the right reasons. Set against the beauty of the Blue Ridge Mountains, this mystery will keep you turning the pages until the final scene.

This is not your typical tale of “good twin versus evil twin.”

It was a little too dark for me. I gave it 4.5 stars.

Amazing plot line, well-written. I was reading it and AMAZING. A page turner and I think the author did a great job.

Both brothers loved the same woman and had lots of issues. Cillian Clarke is going to murder his brother but someone beats him to the punch. The book takes place in the mountains and the scenery sounds amazing. This book is a political thriller that will have you hooked from the beginning. A very fast and easy read.

Blue Ridge is the story of twins that hate each other. One is a rising star headed for the Govern's mansion and the other is a former Olympic contender. Cillian Clarke is framed for the murder of his identical twin Christopher; the shocker is Cillian was on his way to kill his brother, but someone beat him to it. Someone from Christopher’s past emerges and offers Cillian the chance to clear his name. But will the truth that binds the brothers together be revealed and take them both down.

I was looking forward to this after reading the description, however I was put off from the first page buy the vulgar language and the hatred they both shared for one another. None of the characters are likeable at all. The descriptions of Virginia were the best part of the book for me.

Thank you to the author Peter Malone Elliott, publishers Level Best Books, and Get Red Book Tours, for an advance paperback copy of BLUE RIDGE. Thank you also to NetGalley for an accomanying widget. All views are mine.

My feelings on this book are lukewarm. I loved the concept and storyline; I'm a sucker for both domestic thrillers and warring twins. But the book needed fleshed out; another 50 pages of description would have done this one some good!

Three (or more) things I loved:

1. The descriptions of Virginia are lovely. Tinged with shades of blue, purple, and green, I always say the majestic, rolling landscape of the Blue Ridge is nature's equivalent to the music of Patsy Cline-- an inexplicably perfect cocktail of sumptuous beauty, haunting melancholy, and dark-edged mystery.... Loc.49

2. Like many thrillers with clarity issues, this book has an excellent premise. Part political thriller, part domestic thriller, BLUE RIDGE abounds with tension and intrigue. I wish only that it had not been such a difficult read.

Three (or less) things I didn't love:

This section isn't only for criticisms. It's merely for items that I felt something for other than "love" or some interpretation thereof.

1. This book has grammar and syntax problems. This is an editing issue, not a writing one. Most of what I've noticed ought to have been caught in edit.

2. ...like one of those face and voice changing masks from the Mission Impossible movies.... loc.100. References are already a heavy-handed writing technique. I don't think it's a good choice to make them so ham-fisted on top of that.

3. The metaphors are over-the-top. I looked down at my hands. My palms were lathered with sweat like a horse after an all-out gallop, slipping and sliding all over the steering wheel. Loc.101. This one really struck me because, if he was holding his steering wheel, he could not see lather on his hands. Also, human skin does not lather like horses' do. These heavy handed descriptions occur throughout the book.

4. The action scenes read more like summary: brief, condensed, and vague. Weak transitions. Really hard to get a sense for what's happening. Loc.425

5. The ending is too convoluted for me to follow. Some new characters are introduced at about the 70% mark and I never get a feel for their relevance to the mmc or the plot/stories. I really had to work for this book and the payoff was not great.

Rating: 🐎🐎 referential horses
Recommend? Not really
Finished: Dec 19 '23
Format: Digital copy, Kindle, NetGalley, Paperback arc, Get Red
Read this book if you like:
🏇 horse talk
👨‍👩‍👧‍👦 family stories, family drama
👬🏻 brother stories
🔪 murder mysteries
🚔 crime thrillers

This book has an interesting plot, and I like the language and the small anecdotes, but the disposition of the story is hopeless. Jumping between two different person's POV, and then jumping back in time for a large part in the middle of the book is confusing and no good.

“…the majestic, rolling landscape of the Blue Ridge is nature’s equivalent to the music of Patsy Cline…”

First, it’s obvious by the author’s writing style that this is going to be unique. A good ole boy, Cillian, his musings—confiding his plot to kill his brother. The bane of his existence.

Interesting to get his side—then flip—and get his brother Christopher’s POV. The immediate impression is one of a narcissist. Christopher is popular; climbed the political ladder now viewing a possible run for governor. Is that even possible?

Cillian and Christopher share a secret, however, one so terrible, so horrendous there can be no reconciliation. Ever.

The author carefully builds his characters; their history. Love. Hate. And Audrey, Christopher’s carefully crafted plot to secure Cillian’s beloved for his own gone irrevocably tragic.

But the death of Christopher happens before Cillian can do it himself. Who? Why? Cillian is so easily framed for his murder. A dupe.

A well-plotted and fast-paced narrative, this storyline just keeps adding intrigue, suspicions, twists and turns. Can there be escape here? Redemption? Any solution?

I held out hope to the end.

I’m looking forward to what this author comes up with in a sophomore novel. 4.5 stars

I could not put this down. Its so well written with amazingly well developed characters. It wad impossible not to become invested in the journey and there were so many well written twists and turns that I never saw coming. It's through provoking and engaging and just so so cleverly written! This is perfect for those who want more than the bubblegum thriller you've read a dozen times before. This is the kind of thriller you really get stuck into and can't stop until the end

I flew through this book rather quickly and was entertained from start to finish. The characters drew you in and you felt for their troubles and rooted for their successes. I especially enjoyed reading about all the locations in the Blue Ridge Mountains of Virginia as I’m local to that area. All in all, a very good book.

This was a gripping and thought-provoking thriller that deserves a strong 4.5 star rating. This book takes readers on a suspenseful journey filled with intrigue, family secrets, and the consequences of choices made in the past.

Cillian is framed for the murder of his twin brother, who is a rising star in the political world. This was definitely enough to pique my interest and keep me engaged throughout.

One of the things that stood out most to me is the complex and and well-developed character development. Cillian is a compelling protagonist, a burn-out horse trainer who is forced to become a fugitive. His journey from despair and confusion to resilience and determination is a central focus of the story. The intricate dynamics between the brothers, their shared history, and the woman they both loved add depth to the plot.

The plot itself is filled with unexpected twists and turns and as the layers of the conspiracy unravel, readers are kept guessing about who can be trusted. The story delves into themes of family, betrayal, and the consequences of past actions. The pacing is expertly handled, and the narrative is structured in a way that keeps you hooked from beginning to end.

The writing style is engaging and evocative, immersing the reader in the lush and atmospheric setting of the Blue Ridge Mountains. The author's attention to detail and vivid descriptions create a vivid backdrop for the unfolding drama. At times the character motivations were not entirely clear but other than that there wasn't a issue.

This is a suspenseful tale of family, secrets, and the pursuit of truth that is sure to leave a lasting impression. If you're a fan of complex mysteries with well-drawn characters and a richly atmospheric setting, this is a must-read that will keep you eagerly turning the pages.