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Crestwood Heights
Crestwood Heights appears to be a clean, orderly, pleasant town, but underneath the surface is a deadly conspiracy where researchers practice horrible population control methods
328 pages, Paperback
First published February 1, 1988
About the author
Christopher Hyde
38 books44 followersChristopher Hyde has worked as a researcher, editor, TV interviewer specialising in stories of technology, intelligence and the environment.
He also writes using the pseudonyms
A.J. Holt.
Paul Christopher.
He also writes using the pseudonyms
A.J. Holt.
Paul Christopher.
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Displaying 1 - 8 of 8 reviews
May 16, 2023
Hyde gives us a techno medical thriller/horror novel here that, while not aging very well (few techno thrillers do), still creates a sense of foreboding and unease about technology and the Deep State. Our main protagonist, Kelly Rhine, is an aging ex-hippie artist who recently quit her job in NYC at an advertising firm and relocated to lovely Crestwood Heights, a small town in North Carolina. Her somewhat distant uncle died and left her, his only surviving relative, his estate, which came with a house in Crestwood and an aging movie theater in the old downtown.
Crestwood Heights is basically a planned 'city' and has several research labs from major corporations there, all integrated via a master plan that connects them all. The master planner, one Max Alexanian, designed a system of underground tunnels connecting all the research facilities so unsightly trucks never make their appearance in town; they just drop off the freight at a warehouse outside of town and it goes underground to where it needs to go. Hyde gives us all kinds of tech here and when this was first published in 1988 must have been pretty cutting edge. Hyde waxes eloquently about all kinds of computer systems and such, but obviously, that is also the most dated part.
It quickly becomes apparent that Crestwood Heights serves as a 'test bed' for new consumer products as statistically, it represents a perfect sampling of the USA population. You can order food and such 'online' and have it delivered to your house; needless to say, a computer keeps track of what you buy so it can 'suggest' future purchases. Sound familiar? Hyde hit a home run with this prediction for sure.
It also quickly becomes apparent that something fishy is going on in town, and perhaps Kelly's uncle was a victim of some cover up. I will not go into the plot to avoid spoilers, but yeah, this is a medical thriller so expect some nastiness in that regard; it makes Cook's Coma seem like a walk in the park. Hyde can write and paces this well; if you can get by the rather dated tech, this is good stuff. 3 stars!
Crestwood Heights is basically a planned 'city' and has several research labs from major corporations there, all integrated via a master plan that connects them all. The master planner, one Max Alexanian, designed a system of underground tunnels connecting all the research facilities so unsightly trucks never make their appearance in town; they just drop off the freight at a warehouse outside of town and it goes underground to where it needs to go. Hyde gives us all kinds of tech here and when this was first published in 1988 must have been pretty cutting edge. Hyde waxes eloquently about all kinds of computer systems and such, but obviously, that is also the most dated part.
It quickly becomes apparent that Crestwood Heights serves as a 'test bed' for new consumer products as statistically, it represents a perfect sampling of the USA population. You can order food and such 'online' and have it delivered to your house; needless to say, a computer keeps track of what you buy so it can 'suggest' future purchases. Sound familiar? Hyde hit a home run with this prediction for sure.
It also quickly becomes apparent that something fishy is going on in town, and perhaps Kelly's uncle was a victim of some cover up. I will not go into the plot to avoid spoilers, but yeah, this is a medical thriller so expect some nastiness in that regard; it makes Cook's Coma seem like a walk in the park. Hyde can write and paces this well; if you can get by the rather dated tech, this is good stuff. 3 stars!
December 6, 2017
Crestwood Heights (CH) is the third book I've read by Christopher Hyde, and I am still astounded by the details and realism that comes standard through his storytelling. Although this is my least favorite by him so far, CH is still leaps and bounds ahead of almost every other writing style I've had the pleasure to experience.
A brief synopsis: Kelly Rhine is the beneficiary of some property in the small (fictional) town of Crestwood Heights, being the last surviving member of her family. She packs up her modest life in NYC and moves there but has a bit of culture shock, and then things really get strange as the town isn't all what it seems, and is shockingly advanced for the late 1980s.
It's not my favorite by Hyde because I felt it took too long for the plot to become the main focus, and the payoff didn't really match the massive buildup. There were sprinkles of the plot throughout the first half or so, but because of all the world-building details the pacing suffered greatly. The story was fantastic, and the vast touches of reality kept my interest piqued, but it took a long time to get to edge of your seat suspense. Also, and this may be the first time I've ever said this, I didn't really like the main character. You definitely get to know her quite well throughout the story but ultimately I could only sympathize with her instead of empathize.
If you like a good mystery/thriller than I would absolutely recommend this book. Christopher Hyde is an incredibly underrated author who has impressed this admittedly picky and cynical reader every time. Some of his books may be a couple decades old but the amount of research that goes into them it's very hard to differentiate between fact and fiction sometimes.
A brief synopsis: Kelly Rhine is the beneficiary of some property in the small (fictional) town of Crestwood Heights, being the last surviving member of her family. She packs up her modest life in NYC and moves there but has a bit of culture shock, and then things really get strange as the town isn't all what it seems, and is shockingly advanced for the late 1980s.
It's not my favorite by Hyde because I felt it took too long for the plot to become the main focus, and the payoff didn't really match the massive buildup. There were sprinkles of the plot throughout the first half or so, but because of all the world-building details the pacing suffered greatly. The story was fantastic, and the vast touches of reality kept my interest piqued, but it took a long time to get to edge of your seat suspense. Also, and this may be the first time I've ever said this, I didn't really like the main character. You definitely get to know her quite well throughout the story but ultimately I could only sympathize with her instead of empathize.
If you like a good mystery/thriller than I would absolutely recommend this book. Christopher Hyde is an incredibly underrated author who has impressed this admittedly picky and cynical reader every time. Some of his books may be a couple decades old but the amount of research that goes into them it's very hard to differentiate between fact and fiction sometimes.
October 29, 2019
Crestwood Heights by Christopher Hyde is thriller set in a purpose-built town in 70’s America which is presided over by various corporate interests. It’s a self-styled techno-thriller which has rather suffered from technology moving in different directions to what Mr Hyde Could have ever guessed.
It’s also part Stepford Wives as the perfect suburban town clearly has a dark underbelly and the protagonist doesn’t know who to trust.
In the end, it’s not that great a story that hasn’t stood up well over time.
It’s also part Stepford Wives as the perfect suburban town clearly has a dark underbelly and the protagonist doesn’t know who to trust.
In the end, it’s not that great a story that hasn’t stood up well over time.
June 22, 2026
I felt this could've been so much better. The storyline had the perfect makings for a gripping, immersive, small-town conspiracy thriller/horror. The new town.. the inherited old theatre.. the many secrets.. But nothing really happened! So many lost opportunities. It took about ¾ of the book for anything remotely exciting to occur, and by then it had started to feel like such a slog, I didn't care. But I pushed through. I don't mind a techno-thriller, but without much character-attachment, or thrills, this one just felt flat.
One thing achieved: an author for me to avoid. Lol
One thing achieved: an author for me to avoid. Lol
October 23, 2018
Read this a good few years ago and loved it. Another one by the author that had me hooked from the start.
February 27, 2019
Definitely a page turner. Intriguing. Got me hooked. Things are not always what they seem.
November 30, 2021
I really liked this book.
(Sub)Urban Planning horror/sci-fi/suspense.
The horror elements were well written and the science was well researched.
(Sub)Urban Planning horror/sci-fi/suspense.
The horror elements were well written and the science was well researched.
August 2, 2011
An all too real look at our "brave new world".
Displaying 1 - 8 of 8 reviews