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Savage Ridge: A darkly atmospheric dual timeline crime thriller
Small town justice comes with a price.
'Full of tension and suspense, I couldn't put this down. The twists and turns kept me on the edge of my seat. Brilliant!' Simon McCleave
'Dark, gut-punching and satisfying all at once. Expert handling of characters and pace, and a glorious evisceration of moral duty!' Rachel Lynch
Ten years ago, in the pine-shaded town of Savage Ridge, Nick, Emmy, and Pete murder their high school classmate, Sammy Saint John.
His body is never found, and no arrests are made. The three friends make a pact to leave Savage Ridge and never return...
Now, each is drawn home, seemingly by chance or fate. But it's Private Investigator Sloane Yo has brought them back to finally answer for their crime.
The noose begins to tighten. But with each stone turned over in pursuit of justice, the long-buried secrets of Savage Ridge, and Sloane's employers – the ruthless Saint John family – start to come to light.
What aren't they telling Sloane? Is Sammy Saint John the only victim? And when the truth is finally revealed, whose side will she choose?
For fans of Chris Whitaker's We Begin at the End, Savage Ridge is a shattering, propulsive why-dunnit crime thriller set deep in the pines of the American Pacific Northwest.
'Full of tension and suspense, I couldn't put this down. The twists and turns kept me on the edge of my seat. Brilliant!' Simon McCleave
'Dark, gut-punching and satisfying all at once. Expert handling of characters and pace, and a glorious evisceration of moral duty!' Rachel Lynch
Ten years ago, in the pine-shaded town of Savage Ridge, Nick, Emmy, and Pete murder their high school classmate, Sammy Saint John.
His body is never found, and no arrests are made. The three friends make a pact to leave Savage Ridge and never return...
Now, each is drawn home, seemingly by chance or fate. But it's Private Investigator Sloane Yo has brought them back to finally answer for their crime.
The noose begins to tighten. But with each stone turned over in pursuit of justice, the long-buried secrets of Savage Ridge, and Sloane's employers – the ruthless Saint John family – start to come to light.
What aren't they telling Sloane? Is Sammy Saint John the only victim? And when the truth is finally revealed, whose side will she choose?
For fans of Chris Whitaker's We Begin at the End, Savage Ridge is a shattering, propulsive why-dunnit crime thriller set deep in the pines of the American Pacific Northwest.
368 pages, Paperback
First published March 21, 2024
68 people are currently reading
2362 people want to read
About the author
Morgan Greene
37 books333 followersMorgan Greene grew up in Wales, and works a copywriter, editor, and author. Morgan studied Creative Writing and English Literature at Swansea University with a focus on narrative structure and theory, and published the first crime novel in the Jamie Johansson series in 2020. Since its release, the series has gone on to reach bestseller status, with Detective Jamie Johansson quickly becoming a reader favourite.
The series blends classic Scandi-noir elements with modern and cinematic thriller writing to create a unique style that adds to the emerging Brit-noir genre. Jamie has many novels ahead of her, but Morgan is also working on a variety of other projects across crime, thriller, and mystery and plans to publish plenty more in 2022 and beyond.
The series blends classic Scandi-noir elements with modern and cinematic thriller writing to create a unique style that adds to the emerging Brit-noir genre. Jamie has many novels ahead of her, but Morgan is also working on a variety of other projects across crime, thriller, and mystery and plans to publish plenty more in 2022 and beyond.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 125 reviews
November 29, 2024
Release Date: 21st March 2024
Savage Ridge is a small town in American Pacific Northwest, in which Nick, Emmy, and Pete murder their high school classmate, Sammy Saint John, but no arrests were made and there's no body. The three flee Savage Ridge separately, to never return.
Nick, Emmy, and Pete are all drawn back to Savage Ridge and meet up for the first time in ten years, at first they think it's a coincidence, but later find out that is Private Investigator Sloane Yo behind their return, luring them back, to get to the bottom of Sammy Saint John's disappearance for the Saint John Family.
This book is a clever, dark and gritty why-dunnit, because we know who, just not the reasoning behind it, which is a refreshing change, and leads to an interesting reading experience, as you're not spending the book trying to figure out who it was and can really get into the story of what it's like to live in a small town, with no real police resources or hospitals near by and explore what happens when a town is left to fend for itself, against the rich and greedy.
I listened to this as an audiobook, which at first took me a couple of chapters to get into, especially with the different narrators, but once I settled into that rhythm I soon got hooked on the story and wanted to hear more.
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Savage Ridge is a small town in American Pacific Northwest, in which Nick, Emmy, and Pete murder their high school classmate, Sammy Saint John, but no arrests were made and there's no body. The three flee Savage Ridge separately, to never return.
Nick, Emmy, and Pete are all drawn back to Savage Ridge and meet up for the first time in ten years, at first they think it's a coincidence, but later find out that is Private Investigator Sloane Yo behind their return, luring them back, to get to the bottom of Sammy Saint John's disappearance for the Saint John Family.
This book is a clever, dark and gritty why-dunnit, because we know who, just not the reasoning behind it, which is a refreshing change, and leads to an interesting reading experience, as you're not spending the book trying to figure out who it was and can really get into the story of what it's like to live in a small town, with no real police resources or hospitals near by and explore what happens when a town is left to fend for itself, against the rich and greedy.
I listened to this as an audiobook, which at first took me a couple of chapters to get into, especially with the different narrators, but once I settled into that rhythm I soon got hooked on the story and wanted to hear more.
Reviews also published on:
Instagram || Threads || BSky || Coffee and Kindle Blog || The StoryGraph || Amazon || Bookmarks
Happy to make friends on all socials
May 5, 2024
Always eager to get my hands on the work of Morgan Greene, I gladly reached for this book. While I have read all of Greene’s Jaime Johansson series, his standalone work is just as strong. A mystery ten years percolating, the reader is taken on a great journey where truth is a rarity and lies shield the story behind what three teenagers did. Greene at his best in this piece!
The small community fo Savage Ridge has a secret. A decade ago, three teens murdered their classmate. Now, Nick, Emmy, and Pete must try to keep their composure about the night Sammy Saint John disappeared. While the police could not find Sammy, they suspected these three might know something, though their alibis were rock solid. That did not stop Thomas Stain John, Sammy’s father, from accusing them and demanding that action be taken.
After making a pact never to speak of the murder, the three scattered across the country. When something pulls them back in ten years later, Nick, Emmy, and Pete will have to renew their pledge to stay quiet. A new investigator has been hired by Sammy’s brother, Ellison, and she want answers. Sloane Yo is determined to help her client find the truth, though she is using her time away from home to bury secrets of her own. She hopes to lure all three of them out into the open and ask about that night, seeking to trip them up.
As Sloane pushes onwards, she learns a little more about that night, as well as the pent-up animosity many had at time. The truth is sure to come out, though no one is entirely sure what it is or who will suffer. Greene does a masterful job at keeping the reader completely hooked.
Morgan Greene has a great way of telling a story and getting the reader in the middle of the mix. His ability to use the narrative effectively and to push things along helps shape the story for the attentive reader. There is a great deal of momentum in this piece, though it takes some time to get going. I quite enjoyed the different characters and how their perspectives played into the narrative, forcing the reader to see things from all sides.
The plot of the book is quite straightforward though also murky to keep up the mystery. The story explores this murder and how three teens got away with things, but also seeks to delve deeper to discover why and how they were never caught. Tossing in a new face, Sloane, into the mix, all three teens who have aged into adults, seek to cover their tracks anew in various ways. Morgan Greene weaves the story together well and keeps the surprises coming until the very end, when things come together, yet there i still a question or two out there.
Kudos Mr. Greene, for this awkward piece of historical fiction.
Love/hate the review? An ever-growing collection of others appears at:
http://pecheyponderings.wordpress.com/
The small community fo Savage Ridge has a secret. A decade ago, three teens murdered their classmate. Now, Nick, Emmy, and Pete must try to keep their composure about the night Sammy Saint John disappeared. While the police could not find Sammy, they suspected these three might know something, though their alibis were rock solid. That did not stop Thomas Stain John, Sammy’s father, from accusing them and demanding that action be taken.
After making a pact never to speak of the murder, the three scattered across the country. When something pulls them back in ten years later, Nick, Emmy, and Pete will have to renew their pledge to stay quiet. A new investigator has been hired by Sammy’s brother, Ellison, and she want answers. Sloane Yo is determined to help her client find the truth, though she is using her time away from home to bury secrets of her own. She hopes to lure all three of them out into the open and ask about that night, seeking to trip them up.
As Sloane pushes onwards, she learns a little more about that night, as well as the pent-up animosity many had at time. The truth is sure to come out, though no one is entirely sure what it is or who will suffer. Greene does a masterful job at keeping the reader completely hooked.
Morgan Greene has a great way of telling a story and getting the reader in the middle of the mix. His ability to use the narrative effectively and to push things along helps shape the story for the attentive reader. There is a great deal of momentum in this piece, though it takes some time to get going. I quite enjoyed the different characters and how their perspectives played into the narrative, forcing the reader to see things from all sides.
The plot of the book is quite straightforward though also murky to keep up the mystery. The story explores this murder and how three teens got away with things, but also seeks to delve deeper to discover why and how they were never caught. Tossing in a new face, Sloane, into the mix, all three teens who have aged into adults, seek to cover their tracks anew in various ways. Morgan Greene weaves the story together well and keeps the surprises coming until the very end, when things come together, yet there i still a question or two out there.
Kudos Mr. Greene, for this awkward piece of historical fiction.
Love/hate the review? An ever-growing collection of others appears at:
http://pecheyponderings.wordpress.com/
February 16, 2024
This story has an interesting concept in that we know who the killers are, but the central mystery is why they killed. Unfortunately, the writing just didn’t live up to expectations. If you’re going to set a story in the U.S., make sure you have the temperature in Fahrenheit. How everyone missed that, I can’t understand. Not a big deal, but an example of the level of editing applied. So, the central characters are Nick, Emmy, and Pete, close friends in the town of Savage Ridge accused of murdering a classmate but never convicted. Said classmate is Sammy Saint John, an entitled wealthy jerk who apparently deserved it, but we don’t know why. Besides the fact that the Saint John family runs the small Pacific Northwest town to an exaggerated degree. The story is set partially in the past and partially now, ten years later, when they’re manipulated into returning by the most cliché PI ever.
Another example of bad writing – not only is she the typical female badass (shaved hair, tattoos, dresses in black, etc.) but any decent PI would NEVER draw attention to themselves by looking like that. EVER. And it’s exactly her looks that get her recognized by Emmy as the woman who piqued her interest in returning home. Any plain woman who blends in would never have been recognized and not have blown her cover as the same PI chasing them down now. It’s just ridiculous. So anyway, she’s working for the Saint Johns trying to get the three of them to admit to the murder. The story is mainly about her following them and them trying to hold it together and not break down from guilt, confessing their crime. And the reader is thinking just get to the end already and tell us what happened.
And therein lies another issue. I can’t spoil it, but a huge part of the murder isn’t introduced until like 82% into the story. What?? You can’t do that to readers, just throwing in a major plot point that late! Ugh. But anyway, had more of that been revealed earlier, I’d say it was a satisfying conclusion that had parts you won’t see coming. Because I did like the climax, but it ended too abruptly after that. An epilogue would have been nice and filled out the resolution more.
Anyway, if the aforementioned issues were tweaked a bit, it would improve the book immensely. I unfortunately just can’t recommend it otherwise.
Another example of bad writing – not only is she the typical female badass (shaved hair, tattoos, dresses in black, etc.) but any decent PI would NEVER draw attention to themselves by looking like that. EVER. And it’s exactly her looks that get her recognized by Emmy as the woman who piqued her interest in returning home. Any plain woman who blends in would never have been recognized and not have blown her cover as the same PI chasing them down now. It’s just ridiculous. So anyway, she’s working for the Saint Johns trying to get the three of them to admit to the murder. The story is mainly about her following them and them trying to hold it together and not break down from guilt, confessing their crime. And the reader is thinking just get to the end already and tell us what happened.
And therein lies another issue. I can’t spoil it, but a huge part of the murder isn’t introduced until like 82% into the story. What?? You can’t do that to readers, just throwing in a major plot point that late! Ugh. But anyway, had more of that been revealed earlier, I’d say it was a satisfying conclusion that had parts you won’t see coming. Because I did like the climax, but it ended too abruptly after that. An epilogue would have been nice and filled out the resolution more.
Anyway, if the aforementioned issues were tweaked a bit, it would improve the book immensely. I unfortunately just can’t recommend it otherwise.
March 22, 2024
I am so glad to be part of this tour, being a Crime/Thriller Gal. This was right up my street! This is my first book by this author, and it did not disappoint! We start with opening scenes where we know when it happened and who our killers are, which is not common within crime/thriller books.
Throughout this book, we are treated to multiple points of view. We get to see multiple timelines for then and for now for our 3 main characters. It had a slow build and had good character development - we were able.to understand why they did what they did and as we were nearing the end, we were gifted with a twist that I know I didn't expect!
Although it was a slow build, I did find it had a good pace to it, I was so invested in the storyline that I didn't want to put it down! So, for all you crime/thriller fans , put this on your TBR list. You won't be disappointed
Throughout this book, we are treated to multiple points of view. We get to see multiple timelines for then and for now for our 3 main characters. It had a slow build and had good character development - we were able.to understand why they did what they did and as we were nearing the end, we were gifted with a twist that I know I didn't expect!
Although it was a slow build, I did find it had a good pace to it, I was so invested in the storyline that I didn't want to put it down! So, for all you crime/thriller fans , put this on your TBR list. You won't be disappointed
March 29, 2024
This was an incredibly intriguing storyline , to have 3 high school children having killed their class mate, 10years later they get drawn as if by fate back to the Savage Ridge it is time for the truth to come out!
Knowing who the killer/killers are at the beginning is a very unique way to set our the thriller. It was fascinating seeing events through each person's point of view , not knowing what the full truth is.
A brilliantly written story, characters that build throughout the story and lots to keep you hooked into reading it!
Knowing who the killer/killers are at the beginning is a very unique way to set our the thriller. It was fascinating seeing events through each person's point of view , not knowing what the full truth is.
A brilliantly written story, characters that build throughout the story and lots to keep you hooked into reading it!
December 9, 2024
So I once called Freida McFadden books popcorn thrillers, but let me reiterate, her books are fucking terrible compared to this author. These are similar as far as suspense and a bit OTT stories but they're done so well.
Side note, I already know I'm an a$$hole, I don't like Freida. 😂
September 27, 2024
Excellent read! Definitely did not expect that ending!
May 11, 2025
What caught my attention to read Savage Ridge was the hook on the cover. Why did they kill Sammy Saint John? I learned quickly who the killers were, and that shocked me. I’m used to reading whodunit stories and not whydunit. I was unaware of another subcategory of mystery/thriller called whydunit and even howdunit. But after doing a little research on those definitions, I would consider Savage Ridge to be a mixture of whydunit and howdunit. This is a nice twist in the mystery/thriller genre. I enjoyed it a lot. It was refreshing to me!
The beginning of Savage Ridge was slow for me. However, once character names were revealed, recognized, and familiarized, the body of the story began to appear, and things started to get interesting.
The book follows different POV characters, such as Nicholas Pips, Ellison Saint John, Sloane Yo, and Lillian Dempsey from the past or present. Morgan Greene did well in balancing all that. The transitions were smooth, and I had no trouble following the story. Additionally, Morgan Greene did well in creating tension and suspense for the killers in Savage Ridge.
Another positive from the author is the atmospheric writing. The description of Savage Ridge, the environment, looked beautiful. With that in mind, I was fully immersed in the story.
Finally, the ending of Savage Ridge was unexpected and left me surprised. One of the best books I've read so far this year.
At the end of this review, there’s a small list of things I loved about Savage Ridge.
Things I loved in Savage Ridge:
-Small town
-Atmospheric writing
-Well-written characters
-Great tension and suspense
-Mixture of whydunit and howdunit
The beginning of Savage Ridge was slow for me. However, once character names were revealed, recognized, and familiarized, the body of the story began to appear, and things started to get interesting.
The book follows different POV characters, such as Nicholas Pips, Ellison Saint John, Sloane Yo, and Lillian Dempsey from the past or present. Morgan Greene did well in balancing all that. The transitions were smooth, and I had no trouble following the story. Additionally, Morgan Greene did well in creating tension and suspense for the killers in Savage Ridge.
Another positive from the author is the atmospheric writing. The description of Savage Ridge, the environment, looked beautiful. With that in mind, I was fully immersed in the story.
Finally, the ending of Savage Ridge was unexpected and left me surprised. One of the best books I've read so far this year.
At the end of this review, there’s a small list of things I loved about Savage Ridge.
Things I loved in Savage Ridge:
-Small town
-Atmospheric writing
-Well-written characters
-Great tension and suspense
-Mixture of whydunit and howdunit
March 28, 2024
What a great book this was! My first read by this author and wont be my last. It kept me gripped from the first page to the last. It's a whydunnit instead of a whodunnit . You know who's died and who the killers are. You learn the why as you read along. But don't think things are that simple; they're plenty of twists and turns in this book. They're lies and plenty of back-stabbing and the big reveal at the end will knock your socks off. An edge of your seat thriller that will keep the reader enthralled. Highly recommended. Thanks to the author Morgan Greene for the ARC for an honest review.
March 19, 2024
A really interesting take on a crime novel
I received an Advance reader copy for an honest review
Morgan Greene takes us to a small town in the Pacific Northwest of the US with this novel.
Rather than a who dunnit it this is why dunnit and how it effects those affected by it.
Moving between the time of the murder and now, ten years later, each chapter is written from one of about 5 different characters to give different perspectives of the story. It explores why the murder occurred and how it affected both the murderers and those left behind and led to their subsequent actions and lives.
This is a different crime puzzle which is well a read.
I received an Advance reader copy for an honest review
Morgan Greene takes us to a small town in the Pacific Northwest of the US with this novel.
Rather than a who dunnit it this is why dunnit and how it effects those affected by it.
Moving between the time of the murder and now, ten years later, each chapter is written from one of about 5 different characters to give different perspectives of the story. It explores why the murder occurred and how it affected both the murderers and those left behind and led to their subsequent actions and lives.
This is a different crime puzzle which is well a read.
October 15, 2024
Man this was WEAK. The characters were really empty and shallow. The story was pretty simplistic. And I didn't like the twist. It wasn't like there was a big grand reveal where the puzzle pieces were put together, it was just a bit of information that was withheld and not shown until the end. I felt like it dragged. I felt like the backstory of the PI was a waste of time that didn't go anywhere.
I shouldn't have finished this one when I felt it dragging.
I shouldn't have finished this one when I felt it dragging.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
March 23, 2024
Firstly I love a Then and Now timeline as I think it’s a great way to tell a story without characters always having to talk about the past. Also it’s told from multiple points of view which I also really like as you get a different perspective of what’s going on. We also know from the outset whodunnit but we don’t know the how or why, or how they managed to get away with it 10yrs ago.
Sammy Saint John has vanished, suspected dead by his family and they are after blood. There’s a huge police investigation but the “main suspects” have a water tight alibi so the case soon runs cold. PIs have been hired by the very wealthy Saint John family to find out who killed Sammy. It’s a small town so someone must know something but digging too deep will reveal secrets someone doesn’t want shared.
I really enjoyed the pace of this story and the style it was told in. Knowing ahead of time who was responsible only added to the tension and suspense of the story. Just when you think you know what’s going on your hit with a shocker of a twist. Absolutely loved this and will definitely be looking to read more books from this author.
Sammy Saint John has vanished, suspected dead by his family and they are after blood. There’s a huge police investigation but the “main suspects” have a water tight alibi so the case soon runs cold. PIs have been hired by the very wealthy Saint John family to find out who killed Sammy. It’s a small town so someone must know something but digging too deep will reveal secrets someone doesn’t want shared.
I really enjoyed the pace of this story and the style it was told in. Knowing ahead of time who was responsible only added to the tension and suspense of the story. Just when you think you know what’s going on your hit with a shocker of a twist. Absolutely loved this and will definitely be looking to read more books from this author.
March 22, 2024
Absolutely loved reading this book, it starts with three teens who have just killed a classmate in the sleepy American logging town - Savage Ridge. The book then moves forward 10 years as the three friends all come back to Savage Ridge. Each chapter moves between a few different characters and then back and forth between the then and now as the story unfolds as to why they killed Sammy John Saint.
The book really had me feeling like I was watching a Netflix crime documentary - only with the satisfaction of actually finding out all the answers at the end! There was few twists that I did not see coming and it had me thinking I had one of the characters all wrong.
Overall a great read and had me invested in wanting to know why they killed whilst also rooting for them not to get caught the whole time.
The book really had me feeling like I was watching a Netflix crime documentary - only with the satisfaction of actually finding out all the answers at the end! There was few twists that I did not see coming and it had me thinking I had one of the characters all wrong.
Overall a great read and had me invested in wanting to know why they killed whilst also rooting for them not to get caught the whole time.
March 24, 2024
I went into this book completely blind and loved every minute of it. I had no idea where the story was heading and didn't find out until the very end. It was a wild ride!
March 13, 2024
Savage Ridge by Morgan Greene
This is a different book altogether compared to the major works of detective Johansson, which is Scandi Noir series and also Welsh based novels with the same main character.
This story is set in a small town in the USA, with characters swapping backwards and forwards between the present, and the past , it is not until the very end that you actually understand the full extent of the story, so it’s great the way it unfolds. The characters are intertwined and realistic and I enjoyed the change of scenery.
Definitely an enjoyable read and you definitely want to get to the end to find out what happens! Well worth the read!
This is a different book altogether compared to the major works of detective Johansson, which is Scandi Noir series and also Welsh based novels with the same main character.
This story is set in a small town in the USA, with characters swapping backwards and forwards between the present, and the past , it is not until the very end that you actually understand the full extent of the story, so it’s great the way it unfolds. The characters are intertwined and realistic and I enjoyed the change of scenery.
Definitely an enjoyable read and you definitely want to get to the end to find out what happens! Well worth the read!
February 18, 2024
Ten years ago, high school classmates Nick, Emmy and Pete get away with murder. They vow never to return to their hometown. After a decade away, they’re lured back to Savage Ridge by a Private Investigator hired to prove their involvement.
I really wanted to love this book. I was intrigued by the premise that readers know whodunit from page one. Unfortunately, I just couldn’t get into it. While we know who murdered Sammy Saint John, we don’t know why until very late (way too late) in the book. I would have been okay with that if the characters were more dynamic and interesting instead of….flat and boring. I wanted to know more about who Nick, Emmy and Pete were as humans – their backgrounds, childhoods, personalities, relationship with each other…anything! Though the book takes place in the US, the author used British spellings and referenced Celsius over Fahrenheit. While it was a very minor annoyance, it left me feeling that much more disconnected from the story.
All that said, I was satisfied with the ending once I finally got there. I definitely didn’t predict the twist at the end. Special thanks to NetGalley for the ARC. I’ll be curious to see how this book is received when it’s published March 21.
I really wanted to love this book. I was intrigued by the premise that readers know whodunit from page one. Unfortunately, I just couldn’t get into it. While we know who murdered Sammy Saint John, we don’t know why until very late (way too late) in the book. I would have been okay with that if the characters were more dynamic and interesting instead of….flat and boring. I wanted to know more about who Nick, Emmy and Pete were as humans – their backgrounds, childhoods, personalities, relationship with each other…anything! Though the book takes place in the US, the author used British spellings and referenced Celsius over Fahrenheit. While it was a very minor annoyance, it left me feeling that much more disconnected from the story.
All that said, I was satisfied with the ending once I finally got there. I definitely didn’t predict the twist at the end. Special thanks to NetGalley for the ARC. I’ll be curious to see how this book is received when it’s published March 21.
March 12, 2024
This was so good! Brilliant plot, keeping up the tension, the fear, sweat and heat of Savage Ridge. I did not see the last twist come .... All characters were convincing as to their own concept of justice. I read the book in only two goes as I could not put it down! Maybe the best novel by the author! Highly recommended!
Thank you Dan, for sending me a digital copy of your new novel.
Thank you Dan, for sending me a digital copy of your new novel.
February 14, 2024
ARC for review. To be published March 21, 2024.
The Saint John family is notorious is Savage Ridge, Washington and ten years ago one of its members met a tragic end when teenage Sammy Saint John was killed by his high school classmates Nick Pips, Emmy Nailer and Pete Sachs. His body was never found and they got away clean, swearing never to come back. But, naturally, like idiots, they do, maneuvered into it by private investigator Sloane Yo who wants them to answer for their crime. Why did they kill Sammy? Will they be caught?
They book is told in then and now sections, and although the book in set in the U.S. there are some British spellings and the Celsius scale is used to describe the temperature. There has to be a little suspension of disbelief with regard to part of what’s going on, but there was also a nice twist. Overall enjoyable.
The Saint John family is notorious is Savage Ridge, Washington and ten years ago one of its members met a tragic end when teenage Sammy Saint John was killed by his high school classmates Nick Pips, Emmy Nailer and Pete Sachs. His body was never found and they got away clean, swearing never to come back. But, naturally, like idiots, they do, maneuvered into it by private investigator Sloane Yo who wants them to answer for their crime. Why did they kill Sammy? Will they be caught?
They book is told in then and now sections, and although the book in set in the U.S. there are some British spellings and the Celsius scale is used to describe the temperature. There has to be a little suspension of disbelief with regard to part of what’s going on, but there was also a nice twist. Overall enjoyable.
May 8, 2024
Not even in the grey area - the moral choice here is way on the decidedly unlawful side, and it is a straightforward homicide. It is true that the book is very atmospheric - small valley town, pines, trucks, even the ever-waitress is named Darlene. Very sparse on the gory details, explicit on the darkness in some of us. Bottom line - be as evil as you want, someone will eventually catch up with you. And there will be a lot of collateral damage.
Against all reason I hope that Sloane comes back, probably with vengeance.
Only one issue I'd like to be straightened out eventually (in the *cough* sequel maybe) - where did Mrs. Saint John disappear to and if she returns, is she going to be part of the solution or not.
Against all reason I hope that Sloane comes back, probably with vengeance.
Only one issue I'd like to be straightened out eventually (in the *cough* sequel maybe) - where did Mrs. Saint John disappear to and if she returns, is she going to be part of the solution or not.
April 24, 2024
Thank you to NetGalley, the author and publisher for this copy in return for my honest review.
A gripping psychological thriller which didn’t disappoint! This is my first book from this author and I throughly enjoyed. Great writing style and keeps you gripped throughout.
A gripping psychological thriller which didn’t disappoint! This is my first book from this author and I throughly enjoyed. Great writing style and keeps you gripped throughout.
March 20, 2024
I received a complimentary copy of this book. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.
Well written with a great cast of intelligent main characters (unlike the usual gullible, clueless ones commonly portrayed by other authors).
Gripping plot right from the beginning and the ending is excellent…multiple shocking twists! Just WOW!!
Well written with a great cast of intelligent main characters (unlike the usual gullible, clueless ones commonly portrayed by other authors).
Gripping plot right from the beginning and the ending is excellent…multiple shocking twists! Just WOW!!
May 14, 2024
Great suspense thriller! Honestly wasn’t expecting it to be this good! Was kept guessing till the very end. Will be reading more from this author.
July 7, 2024
A haunting story full of pain, revenge and suspense. Not an easy read but certainly an intriguing one.
I won this book in a Goodreads giveaway for this honest review.
I won this book in a Goodreads giveaway for this honest review.
February 18, 2025
Couldn't put it down! Devoured it in 2 days.
December 23, 2024
This book was good from the beginning to the end. Wow, I loved the ending!
May 5, 2025
Holy crap for $7 from BJ’s this book was solid. I didn’t see that ending at all to be honest. Kept me very engaged the entire book. Would recommend.
April 8, 2024
What a plot twist
I have to say...I never saw that end coming at all...I could see a sequel here with Sloane surviving...maybe...great read!
I have to say...I never saw that end coming at all...I could see a sequel here with Sloane surviving...maybe...great read!
March 27, 2024
This was my first read from this author so I wasn't sure what to expect but Savage Ridge was 100% my kind of book, right from the beginning it's not your typical thriller with the reader knowing who the killers are from the very start, it instantly reminded me of the TV series The Sinner which I loved.
I loved the plot with the author slowly unravelling why the murder took place through multiple POV's and a then & now timeline, each character has their view & reason for the events and it was like reading a crime puzzle slotting it all together piece by piece. This was a well written book with well developed characters and although I'm generally not a fan of a slow build it absolutely worked perfectly with this plotline and as for that twist at the end.....did not see that coming, a great end to brilliant book I would highly recommend.
I loved the plot with the author slowly unravelling why the murder took place through multiple POV's and a then & now timeline, each character has their view & reason for the events and it was like reading a crime puzzle slotting it all together piece by piece. This was a well written book with well developed characters and although I'm generally not a fan of a slow build it absolutely worked perfectly with this plotline and as for that twist at the end.....did not see that coming, a great end to brilliant book I would highly recommend.
March 10, 2024
I absolutely loved this book, I am a huge fan of Morgan Greene books and was honoured to obtain an ARC of this. Totally different from the Jamie Johansson books and I really enjoyed the direction this one took and the twists, no spoilers but there are some surprises. Loved the characters, although in my head I couldn’t help but compare one to Donald Trump, but maybe that’s just me. Definitely recommend this one.
March 7, 2024
I've been reading Morgan Greene books for a while. I read Savage Ridge in two goes because I couldn't put it down.
There are so many unexpected twists that take you through a roller-coaster of topics and emotions that get all the characters under your skin. Some that make you want to hug them and others that make you want to hit them.
What a ride with and ending that I, for one did not expect.
There are so many unexpected twists that take you through a roller-coaster of topics and emotions that get all the characters under your skin. Some that make you want to hug them and others that make you want to hit them.
What a ride with and ending that I, for one did not expect.
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