Autumn of '82 (The GLOE Program: Book 1): A Sci-Fi Mystery Thriller

by Elena Rex

September 24th, 1982. The worst day ever for a small town called Lavender.

Months before that, their access to the mainland had been cut off by a terrifying bombing of their bridge. Perpetrator is still unknown and no one saw it happen as a towering dam surrounds the entire island town.

All the locals get is reassurance and empty promises from their mayor that their town will be opened back up soon.

What has been frustration and a mounting unease slowly becomes full blown fear after a Friday night on September 24th, 1982, when the mayor’s teenage son disappears.

Is this the same person that cut them off from the rest of the world? What do they want? What are the people in charge not telling everyone?

Told from different first person perspectives, ranging from teenagers to a cynical detective, can anyone figure out the truth lurking in what has always seemed to be a quiet, peaceful town?

Autumn of '82 is a slow burn mystery thriller with science fiction elements, taking place in a time before the internet took over. A time where if you got lost in the woods, you better hope you could find your way out, because you couldn't call anyone to come help you...

451 pages, Kindle Edition

Published October 30, 2024

About the author

Elena Rex's goal as an author is to write vivid stories in the mystery/thriller genre with characters that people can relate to, while also adding some sci-fi and fantasy elements to her style where she often mixes the past with the present. You can find her on Instagram: @writer.elenarex or sign up for her newsletter by clicking on the link to her website above.

Reviews

[Tammy · Rating 4 out of 5]

📚Autumn of 82
✍🏻Elena Res
Blurb:
It's the fall of 1982... And a complete disaster for a small town built on an island. What was once considered a vacation spot, is now a prison for its locals. Until the town's police force can solve the case that has been going on for months, no one's going anywhere. But when a new case arises after what starts out as another typical Friday, things only get worse.

Told from the first-person perspectives of a few different locals, the truth of an otherwise normal town is gradually found out. Things are seen from different eyes, ranging from teenagers, one unlike the next, to a detective. Can anyone get to the bottom of what's really going on? Or is it better that the truth remains unknown?

Meet The
It starts with James Kraus, a 17-year-old quiet guy who prefers to stand on the sidelines at school, stay out of the jocks' way, and just finish high school. He has a little group of friends, and each of the guys are different, but that's what keeps it interesting. James has been hosting movie nights at his house every other Friday night for his friends for a while, but something about this Friday night ends up being different... and not in a good way.
Then there's Lonnie Garcia. He's 16, comes from Brooklyn, and hangs out with James and the rest of his friends when he feels like it. Except, these days, at the start of the new school year, Lonnie seems to be keeping to himself. His older brother, Tony, captain of the football team, is the only jock that hangs out with James and his friends on a regular basis. Even he doesn't understand why Lonnie is acting distant this year.
Carson Bell, the 17-year-old captain of the cheerleading squad, could be considered any guy's dream. Except she knew James long before she ever got that title. They were good friends for years, growing up on the same street. Then Tony Garcia moved to town during junior year. She met him through James, and they dated for an entire year. Things went sour, and it changed everything, including her friendship with James.
Detective Briar De Luca is 32 years old, and he's been the one handling the case that's been going on for five months. The case affects everyone on the island, letting no one in or out until it's solved. He seemed like the best fit for it, considering his experience of almost ten years as a cop in New York. Needless to say, he's frustrated that he can't solve it. But when the new case arises on Friday night, he's expected to set the first one aside because of the new one's importance.
My Thoughts:
This story pulls you right into 1982, blending nostalgia with suspense as a simple night spirals into something unforgettable. Autumn of ’82 is a gripping sci-fi mystery set in a small town cut off from the world. What starts as a regular Friday night for a group of teenage boys quickly spirals into something much darker and more mysterious.readers slowly piece together what happened in that fateful night. The pacing of the narrative starts a bit slowly but then it builds tension throughout as the story and naturally unfolds and the mixture of both nostalgia and sci-fi elements effectively helps in the build up of a quite intriguing and chilling atmosphere that feels a bit reminiscent of the classic 80s thrillers. I liked it, it's quite an interesting read.
Thanks NetGalley, Independently published and Author Elena Rex for the complimentary copy of 'Autumn of 82" I am leaving my voluntary review in appreciation.
#NetGalley
#Autumnof82
#ElenaRes
#IndependentlyPublished
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

[Brigitte · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book sounded very interesting and I thought I would give it a try. The cover of the book is beautifully done (love the colors) and the storyline interesting.

As I started reading the book it began with a very YA feel with the setting in a high school. I felt there were a lot of characters introduced very quickly in the beginning of the book within a very short timeframe but as the story unfolds, you get a better grasp of who the characters are. As additional characters are introduced into the story it is easy to become confused if you aren’t tabbing or keeping track somehow.

I did like the twists at the end as the story began to unfold with the detective as he put the pieces together and the wild ride that he goes through in the process. The book ends on a complete cliff hanger. It appears part II comes out later this year.

[Zoe Lipman · Rating 3 out of 5]

I was craving more Stranger Things vibes, so I decided to give this a go.

I definitely wanted more from it. I did struggle to really connect with this story and its characters.

I'm not exactly sure what age demographic this was made for or categorized as, but it read as rather YA to me. Not necessarily in a bad way, that's just who it felt like it was for. Just an observation. (If that sort of thing matters to you.)

I did find this story to be a bit confusing to follow at times. The blurb made it seem super interesting and intense, but I just felt a bit lost at times, waiting for that interest to occur. But, at least confusing means I couldn't predict the ending!

Thanks to NetGalley for the e-ARC of this book in exchange for my honest review!

[Catherine · Rating 3 out of 5]

The story itself was catching and kept me involved. It wasn't easy to figure out what or who was creating the mayhem, but the writing was mundane at best. I have never read a book that used the words "brow" and "gulp" so prolifically. Every description of character interaction included the "raising, furrowing or pinching of brows," and every time a character learned something new, there was a "gulp." It was distracting and felt lazy.

[Nev Corey]

I personally couldn’t get into this book. It kind of felt cliche in some spots. I’m sure a lot of people love this but I’m just not sure it’s for me!!