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Nine-Mile Bridge
Inspired by the Missouri paranormal urban legend. Holli has no memory of the accident that killed her boyfriend. Now she's haunted by strange dreams and the people around town seem to treat her differently. When rumors of ghost activity at a decrepit, and supposedly haunted old bridge begin to swirl again, Holli sees a connection between those stories and her dreams. But while she begins to question what is real, a mysterious and supernatural force moves forward with sinister plans. Plans that can change everything Holli thinks she knows about herself, and the world around her.
339 pages, Kindle Edition
Published April 5, 2018
2 people are currently reading
20 people want to read
About the author
Jason A. Meuschke
10 books40 followersThriller author and host of The Sample Chapter Podcast.
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Displaying 1 - 7 of 7 reviews
January 21, 2022
Nine-Mile Bridge is the debut novel of author Jason Meuschke. I would classify it as a supernatural thriller based on an urban legend of a bridge in the middle of nowhere Missouri where if you dangle your feet over the bridge, the souls of children killed by being thrown over the bridge will reach for your feet. Later, child handprints appear on your car on the bridge, and the car becomes immobile. There is also a hellhound who will kill you. If you’re lucky to escape the hellhound, but had the misfortune of looking it in the eyes, you will die three days later. It had all of the elements of what makes a great urban legend: one character heard something; another character heard something else. Rumors of the urban legend swirl but the story is never the same.
In this novel, the main protagonist is a high school girl named Holli, whose father had an encounter on the bridge in his youth and a clash with the cultists who were performing a ritual. Given that her father barely survived the incident, one might think that Holli would strongly discourage her friends from going to the bridge and sure as hell wouldn’t go there herself, but alas, the young and foolish often make costly mistakes.
The writing in this novel was strong for a debut author. The story was compelling. The characters were well sketched out. There was a buildup to the novel, which led to a fiery conclusion. All in all, there was a lot to like about it. My one complaint was that the book can use a good copy editor since there were some grammatical and spelling type mistakes that would be easily correctable by someone with an eye for such things. This is a novel worth reading.
Carl Alves - author of The Invocation
In this novel, the main protagonist is a high school girl named Holli, whose father had an encounter on the bridge in his youth and a clash with the cultists who were performing a ritual. Given that her father barely survived the incident, one might think that Holli would strongly discourage her friends from going to the bridge and sure as hell wouldn’t go there herself, but alas, the young and foolish often make costly mistakes.
The writing in this novel was strong for a debut author. The story was compelling. The characters were well sketched out. There was a buildup to the novel, which led to a fiery conclusion. All in all, there was a lot to like about it. My one complaint was that the book can use a good copy editor since there were some grammatical and spelling type mistakes that would be easily correctable by someone with an eye for such things. This is a novel worth reading.
Carl Alves - author of The Invocation
December 9, 2018
I met Jason at a book signing and liked the premise of the 9-mile bridge. The fact it was based on a local urban legend interested me even more. It is the kind of story told by teens around a bond fire or dared to test the validity of when accused of being a coward in the locker room. And yet it is unique in many aspects. I like that I can visit this location and see the story unfolded in the pages of novel. And true or not Jason’s blending of the many stories surrounding the bridge is well done keeping the reader fascinated in the bridge and drives the story forward making it a page turner.
July 23, 2020
A book about a haunted bridge (or really any horror book) isn't something I normally go for. But Jason hosts the great Sample Chapter Podcast which I've really taken to listening, and he's been such a supportive guy through that podcast and over social media that I just had to check his novel out.
And wowzers, what a book. I thought I was going to get a pretty straight horror novel about said haunted bridge, but it turns way bloodier than I ever imagined and relatively...cosmic, I suppose. His characters and his lore-building are the two stars of the book, keeping me reading.
And wowzers, what a book. I thought I was going to get a pretty straight horror novel about said haunted bridge, but it turns way bloodier than I ever imagined and relatively...cosmic, I suppose. His characters and his lore-building are the two stars of the book, keeping me reading.
January 29, 2019
Mysterious gaps in memory and an urban legend lead to a frightening reality in this thriller.
Author Jason A Meuschke, builds the urban legend of Mexico, Missouri’s Nine-Mile Bridge into a fast paced thriller with both crime and paranormal storylines. I found this book hard to put down and the plot twists difficult to predict. I agree with others who’ve noted that they like happier endings, but I was impressed with the shock of it.
Author Jason A Meuschke, builds the urban legend of Mexico, Missouri’s Nine-Mile Bridge into a fast paced thriller with both crime and paranormal storylines. I found this book hard to put down and the plot twists difficult to predict. I agree with others who’ve noted that they like happier endings, but I was impressed with the shock of it.
December 28, 2020
Nine-Mile Bridge
This book will keep you guessing all throughout the book - trying to figure out what’s going on and what’s going to happen next. There are many suspenseful plot twists to keep the reader enthralled to the very end!!!!!
This book will keep you guessing all throughout the book - trying to figure out what’s going on and what’s going to happen next. There are many suspenseful plot twists to keep the reader enthralled to the very end!!!!!
February 20, 2019
Jason Meuschke’s debut novel, Nine-Mile Bridge, is a great ride! From the opening chapter he easily pulls you into the late 80’s with a group of teenage boys exploring an old urban legend in the heart of Missouri. Meuschke takes his time developing each character and weaving a plot that is engaging and believable. As you turn each page the reader only becomes more engrossed in the deeper mystery of Nine-Mile Bridge. The climax is shocking, heart-breaking, engaging, and full of twists and turns that keeps the reader guessing on each page. By the end of the story you will feel as exhausted as the characters.
There were so many aspects of Meuschke’s debut novel that I enjoyed it is hard to list them all. But he pulled out the stops with his attention to detail and characterization. I was impressed by his ability to hide connections to various characters without giving away the plot of the story. The part I enjoyed the most was when he started to weave together the urban legend of Nine-Mile Bridge with the Native American lore surrounding that part of Missouri.
Almost all urban legends are based on a thread of truth. Meuschke has sparked my interest, I want to visit Nine-Mile Bridge!
There were so many aspects of Meuschke’s debut novel that I enjoyed it is hard to list them all. But he pulled out the stops with his attention to detail and characterization. I was impressed by his ability to hide connections to various characters without giving away the plot of the story. The part I enjoyed the most was when he started to weave together the urban legend of Nine-Mile Bridge with the Native American lore surrounding that part of Missouri.
Almost all urban legends are based on a thread of truth. Meuschke has sparked my interest, I want to visit Nine-Mile Bridge!
November 17, 2021
I enjoyed this story of a haunted bridge from my home state of Missouri, which is filled of haunted tales. Meuschke does a good job developing the main character, Holli, and the supporting cast is varied and interesting. The story takes numerous frightening ideas and conjoins them in an enjoyable and horror-filled tale. There is a great deal of resonance, especially among of US readers, insofar that the characters are easily relatable, the scary story is familiar yet new and strange, and it captures our time well. While there are some technical issues throughout the novel, they will in no way detract from your reading pleasure.
I highly recommend this first book by Mr. Meuschke. I look forward to reading his other novels!
I highly recommend this first book by Mr. Meuschke. I look forward to reading his other novels!
Displaying 1 - 7 of 7 reviews