Paradise, WV

by Rob Rufus, Coleen Marlo (Narrator)

Listening Length 7 hours and 41 minutes

In a poor West Virginia town decimated by the opioid epidemic, teenagers Jane and Henry have it even worse than most; their father is Hollis Lusher, a convicted serial killer known as “the Blind Spot Slasher.” Despite being bullied at school, the siblings still believe in their father’s innocence. And now a popular true crime podcast is coming to town and stirring things up.

Meanwhile, an eager young officer, Lieutenant Elena Garcia, is put on the case of a missing girl. Digging deeper, Garcia realizes there may be other recent abductions of young women buried in the flood of opioid related-crimes. With many deaths quickly being labeled as overdoses, or “No Human Involved.” She fears the drug epidemic created the perfect storm for a copycat of the Blind Spot Slasher to thrive.

A private investigator is also on the case, Henry’s new friend, Otis. A home-schooled genius with his own family problems, Otis has made it his mission to help Henry and Jane find the real killer. Otis discovers a possible connection between the killings and a doomsday, snake-handling cult―propelling them all down the dark backroads of Appalachia to find justice for Hollis, and themselves.

Filled with strange and fascinating characters, Paradise, WV delivers a thrilling tale, while creating compassion for those often overlooked in our true-crime obsessed culture―the ones often left to pick up the pieces when the system falls apart.

Genres: Fiction, Mystery, Thriller, Mystery Thriller, Horror, Cults, Audiobook

8 pages, Audiobook

First published July 20, 2021

Reviews

[Chelsea Humphrey · Rating 4 out of 5]

This story is a must read if you like:

✔️ Gritty suspense novels
✔️ Serial killers and podcasts
✔️ Mysteries featuring snake handling cults
✔️ Hilarious Mammaws
✔️ Touching moments of familial perseverance


*Many thanks to the publisher for providing my review copy.

[Jennifer ~ TarHeelReader · Rating 4 out of 5]

Paradise, WV is set in a town that’s been shattered by the opioid epidemic. Jane and Henry are teenagers living in town, and you should know their father is a serial killer. They don’t think so, however, and solidly back him up.

A true crime podcast has arrived in town, bringing even more attention to the “Blind Spot Slasher” crimes. At the same time, detective Elena Garcia is looking for a missing girl. She finds a possible relationship to the opioid crisis and several crimes. Were some of these not really overdoses, but murders instead?

Henry’s friend, Otis, becomes an amateur detective and believes Henry and Jane’s father is innocent, too. What they all uncover is a doomsday cult, and those snakes on the cover serve a purpose with this group. 😱

I’m also looking for new characters to love, and Mammaw (and Gravy, her dog!) was that for me in this book! I loved the twists that kept me guessing. The podcast elements were fantastic. The pacing was exceptional; just how I like my thrillers. Overall, I thought this was an enjoyable and excitingly fresh thriller!

I received a gifted copy from the publisher.

Many of my reviews can also be found on my blog: www.jennifertarheelreader.com and instagram: www.instagram.com/tarheelreader

[Ellen Gail · Rating 2 out of 5]

This cover.

This synopsis.

Talk about a book made for me!



Paradise, WV could have been such a slam dunk. But it missed the mark for me in some crucial ways.

Let's start with what I did like.

Plot wise, this was right up my alley. The two children of a convicted serial killer are set up for a fresh round of trauma when a true crime podcast comes to town, ready to dig into the case and reopen old wounds. Add in a police lieutenant eager to solve a missing person case, no matter what treacherous roads it may lead her down, a home-schooled kid desperate for friendship, and a CULT!?

That's an ingredient list I can get behind!

I thought it was really well paced and there weren't any bits that lagged or slowed the story down. I think Jane's issues with trauma and anxiety were handled sensitively. And there was a small bit about a podcast ad for pillows that was truly funny.

I also LOVED Mammaw (and of course, Gravy, her chunky lil dog.) I mean, what's not to love about a badass grandma?



Unfortunately, I had substantial issues with the execution of the plot, the realism of the characters, and the overall believability of the story.

To start with, I don't think the occasional killer POV sections added much to the story. They weren't bad, but they weren't essential either. I also wish the podcast aspect had been further developed - it feels like there's so much more that could have been done with it. Instead of fully using it to the story's advantage, it feels like it's just there as window dressing.

One of the bigger problems I had was with Otis, the 15 year old home-schooled genius with a love of true crime. I get that he's incredibly smart but I have to question his almost instantaneous drop into the role of amateur private investigator and the unquestioning acceptance of this by EVERYONE, cops included. It feels jarring, having a serious story along side such a Hardy Boys beat.

Veronica Mars, Otis is not.



I also had some pretty big issues with the characterization of his father Fred Perkins, a recovering opiate addict with chronic pain following a mugging. I like how the story made an effort to contextualize the plot against the opioid epidemic and the devastating effects it has on families and communities. But Fred's story is sadly underdeveloped. When I compare it to something like Long Bright River, where addiction and its systemic effects work in synthesis with the larger cop drama at play, this story feels like it's just layered onto the existing plot instead of being fully integrated.

And as much as liked teenager Jane and her portrayal of anxiety, she makes some truly baffling decisions. I don't want to spoil everything, but towards the end of the story she does bizarre, illogical things. Just as one example, she literally thinks to herself, "Once you get in the car, you're as good as dead."

Can you guess what she does next?



And speaking of spoilers, I don't want to spoil any of the big reveals, but one that was supposed to be shocking felt shamefully obvious to me. At a character introduction in the first fifth of the book, I immediately thought, "Oh, this character is not who they say they are." Sorry to be vague, but I truly don't want to spoil it. A lot of people surely will be surprised by it! I just found it clumsily obvious and that dampened my enjoyment.

I also don't understand the decision to set the story in 2011.



It's not bad per se, but considering that true crime and its cultural relevance - podcasts, novels, YouTube vids, Reddit threads - plays such a huge part in the story, choosing to rewind the narrative by ten years doesn't make sense. It feels disjointed to set a story before the modern true crime boom, particularly the post-Serial podcast expansion, but still have the narrative benefit from the cultural impact of it.

If it seems like I'm being hard on this book, well, I am. But that's because this book could have been very good! If I don't care about a book, even if it's technically better than this, I'm not going to passionately write a fucking essay on it like I did here. But truthfully, Paradise, WV had a ton of potential. I'm going to be harder on something that had potential to amaze, rather than something that was a pile of trash from the outset.

I imagine Paradise, WV will draw in a lot of readers. I mean, snake cult - come on! How could you not be interested? Despite the fact that the story as a whole failed to win me over, I can still appreciate that it went for originality and took some risks.

Here's hoping those risks pay off for other readers.

Thanks to Edelweiss and Keylight Books for the drc.

[Laura Peden · Rating 5 out of 5]

What an incredible story! I love literary thrillers with great characters ♥️

𝐒𝐲𝐧𝐨𝐩𝐬𝐢𝐬: In a poor West Virginia town decimated by the opioid epidemic, teenagers Jane and Henry have it even worse than most: Their father is Hollis Lusher, a convicted serial killer known as “the Blind Spot Slasher”. However, despite being bullied at school, the siblings still believe in their father’s innocence. And now a popular true-crime podcast is coming to town and stirring things up.

Someone in the area is killing young women and making it look like overdoses; the drug epidemic created the perfect storm for a copycat of the Blind Spot Slasher to thrive. I don’t want to say any more about the plot because of twists, but in the book you will find: a true crime podcast, a snake handling cult, murder and Mammaw, my favorite character. I highly recommend picking this one up on July 20th!

Many thanks to Rob Rufus, Dreamscape Media and NetGalley for the advanced listeners copy!

[Sarah Vetrano · Rating 5 out of 5]

Have you ever fallen down that rabbit hole when you started a tv show, or a podcast, or a book, and you were instantly hooked? You binged 10 episodes in the blink of an eye and looked up to see it was dawn and the leafblowers were the culprit to your paranoia of someone scratching at your bedroom door, not the bogeyman in your new favorite true crime obsession? That's Paradise, WV.

These irresistible characters clutched their claws into me immediately and didn't let go. Rufus builds layer upon later of each until they come to life and remind you of someone you once knew. I can smell the Virginia Slims and Bath & Body Works Warm Vanilla Sugar body spray wafting off of Lt. Garcia. I can hear Mammaw bustling in the kitchen with her plastic-soled slippers slapping beneath her, hear the crackled linoleum floors as she moves from sink to stove, hear the thunk of her 1980s glass ashtray hitting the breakfast table as she settles in to smoke her joint. And I can perfectly see Otis and Henry in their baggy band tshirts and excitement-flushed cheeks, hunched over a pile of tape cassettes on the bedroom floor carpeted in something just below a shag and is worn in the spots where Otis hunkers down to read his tattered paperbacks.

If character development wasn't enough, the story itself has all the twists and turns needed to keep you guessing until you flip to the last page and solve the whodunit because you just can't help yourself and you just. need. to. know. who. dun. it. Spoiler alert: the answer is not on the last page. Tricked ya.

Paradise transports the reader straight to small town West Virginia, and it's a helluva trip. It leaves you wanting so, so much more, and I can only hope that so many unanswered questions were left to dangle purposely; to set the stage for the next adventure that awaits these badass, crime-sleuthing teens. Perhaps a couch fire in Morgantown gone awry, or a dead coed in Durham... wherever Rufus takes us, I hope Mammaw and Gravy make the trip.

[Ivy Alexandra · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5 rounded down

Honestly this book was pretty decent and fast paced. It had a lot of interesting things and the plot twist was cool there’s just one plot hole that is really bothering me and I think it’s going to taint my experience that there is a red herring that happens but it is is just not explained at all it’s just like ah yes it is not this person who is the killer they’re just suspcious w no explanation. Very frustrating.

Would still recommend this to people who like thrillers n mysterious as it is very suspenseful and dark, and also engaging w a unique plot twist!

[Alan · Rating 3 out of 5]

The needle tears a hole
That old familiar sting
Try to kill it all away
But I remember everything
—from "Hurt," originally by Nine Inch Nails, although the Man in Black now owns this song

Paradise doesn't exist. At least, not in West Virginia—notwithstanding my home state's unofficial motto, very little of what we see in Rob Rufus' novel Paradise, WV is anywhere near heavenly. I've been close to Paradise, though—and not long ago, at that. In October 2021, my son and I visited Logan, Charleston and Milton, traveling back and forth on I-64 and U.S. Route 119. We must have driven along the very same Interstate overpass under which the methheads and opioid addicts of Paradise conduct their business... but the WV we saw was bustling and active. (I can especially recommend the spacious and friendly restaurant-and-bar called The Broken Axle, just south of Logan in Lyburn, WV—their "B.L.A.T." (bacon, lettuce, avocado and tomato) sandwich was a treat. Tell Amanda we said hello, if you go.)

The title of Paradise, WV instantly caught my eye (and I almost checked out Paradise, Nevada at the same time, just because of the coincidence). Rob Rufus' novel has so much local color, too, so many recognizable referents for me—from the ubiquitous Tudor's Biscuit World franchises to the luxurious houses up on Huntington's Fifth Street Hill. The only gaffe I saw (and this might have been due to some lawyerly caution, rather than an error) was a reference to the "G&O" railroad that any Huntingtonian would be able to correct.

Paradise, WV wins few points for style, I must admit—it's written in flat and straightforward prose throughout. But that laconic delivery (like Jack Webb's "just the facts, ma'am") does suit the story. And the viewpoint characters are almost all young, which I think is a plus—Paradise, WV reads almost like a YA book, in fact, save for its subject matter and often salty language.

The bottom line, though: Rob Rufus' novel Paradise, WV is a fast-paced thriller, with a rip-roaring denouement and a plot based on realities that you'll recognize if you've ever read Death in Mud Lick, or if you're from West Virginia—or, as in my case, both.

I've never personally seen the Paradise that Rufus portrays... but I'm sure it exists, right under those overpasses, just off the ramp.

[Cynthia · Rating 4 out of 5]

I feel like I shouldn’t say I had a really good time listening to an audiobook about a convicted serial killer’s kids, who are determined to prove his innocence, and a copycat slayer terrorizing the people of Paradise, WV, but if I didn’t say that, I’d be lying. This was a fun story. 🤷‍♀️

Paradise, WV captivated me from start to finish. There is a great mystery in all of this and despite the serious subject matter, the author didn’t seem to take it all too seriously. There’s a bit of a campy feel to the book, and while the story is pretty surface level and there is a mountain of stereotypes and cliches, it all seemed very intentional. This won’t work in every story, but it was executed well here.

I would have loved to have seen a bit more depth here, especially in the character building, but that’s really the only thing that bugged me. Despite what wasn’t accomplished with these characters, I did like most of them, especially Otis.

The best part for me was that I never figured out the twist! The author successfully distracted me from that shocking reveal again and again and I felt quite satisfied as the truth played out.

Engaging with fun thrillers can be such a struggle for me, so finding one like this that really keeps me invested without delivering the meaningfulness I tend to crave makes me really happy. This was just… well… a good time. If that’s all you’re in the mood for, you might want to pick Paradise, WV up!

Side note: I do want to reiterate that this is a thriller and in all thriller and horror books, it’s important to go in expecting dark, disturbing content. I don’t know what might be too much for any one person, but I don’t want anyone mad at me for calling this fun (because that’s happened!). It still has aspects that have the potential to trigger. Please keep that in mind.

I am immensely grateful to Keylight Books for my audio review copy through NetGalley. All opinions are my own.

Paradise, WV will be out on July 20, 2021!

[Amanda (spooky.octopus.reads) Turner · Rating 4 out of 5]

Someone in Paradise, WV is killing young women. Paradise is already a community ravaged by the opioid epidemic, which creates a perfect atmosphere for these killings which are sometimes mistaken/disguised as overdoses.

Henry and Jane are living in Paradise with their Mawmaw as their father is in jail after being convicted of being the Blind Spot Killer, a serial killer who has preyed on young girls in rural WV. A popular serial killer podcast comes to town for a live event centered around the Blind Spot Killer and his reign of terror. The podcast show threatens to open old wounds but also reignites fire in the siblings, and their friend Otis, to unmask the true killer and prove their father's innocence. Then we go down quite the rabbit hole full of addiction, a snake handling cult, and all kinds of craziness.

I loved the portrayal of the desolation of the southern part of WV. If you've ever been there, you know what I mean. What a beautiful state that has been ravaged by drugs and a system that happily sells the state out to the highest bidders. I found Rufus's writing style to be engaging, and the storyline to be original and relevant. The whole story has an early 90s vibe with a hints of a coming of age type of story, and who wouldn’t show up for that? The family and friendship dynamics were genuine and real. I never really pinpointed where this story was going, and I enjoyed trying to figure it all out right along with the characters. As far as thriller reads go, I'd totally recommend picking this one up!

[Danielle · Rating 3 out of 5]

Welcome to Paradise, Wv! Although it’s nothing compared to actual paradise. It’s a small rural town being ripped apart by the opioid epidemic. It is also the home of Henry and Jane, a sibling duo living with their grandmother due to their father being in prison after having been convicted of being a serial killer. Henry and Jane believe in their father’s innocence, along with their new friend Otis. A new investigator has arrived in town to sort out why more girls are being murdered with the same technique as Henry and Jane’s father. If he is in prison, then who is committing these murders? Is it a copycat? An accomplice? The wrong person all along?

This was full of twists and turns. I enjoyed the fast paced movement of the story. The characters really do come to life. The author did a great job of describing the characters and the setting of this small town. The things I didn’t enjoy were the cluster of viewpoints, it just didn’t work well for me. It didn’t feel cohesive and was all over the place. I also didn’t care for the narrator, the accents seemed forced not realistic.

This is definitely for fans of true crime!

Trigger Warnings:
•Assault
•Attempted murder
•Cults
•Demons
•Drugs
•Kidnappings
•Prostitution
•Suicide

Thank you NetGalley and Dreamscape Media for the advanced copy of this book. All opinions are my own.

[Aimee · Rating 3 out of 5]

**Thank you Netgalley and Dreamscape Media for early access to this audiobook in exchange for my honest review**

This was a solid mystery about two kids trying to clear the name of their father, who they believe is wrongly convicted of being a serial killer. Told from several perspectives, you follow the breadcrumbs with the characters as they start to piece together clues pointing to his innocence and it leads you down an unexpected path. With a few twists and more than one red herring the ending was unexpected and satisfying. I would recommend this book to anyone who enjoys a good mystery. The narrator, while able to create different voices, did so a little too over the top. Some of the character voices were a bit campy or cliche. Subtlety would have been better for this kind of story so as not to distract from the plot.

[ᒪᗴᗩᕼ · Rating 3 out of 5]

❐ Overall Rating 3⭐ | Narration 😀 = Good
❐ Narrated by Coleen Marlo
❐ Listening Length: 7H 41M
❐ I received an ALC via Netgalley
❐ Grit-Lit
❐ Snake-charming, the opioid crisis, and serial killers

While I usually love a good Grit-Lit novel...I sadly couldn’t fully engage in this story, and I seriously tried. Nor did the characters speak to me, yet I really thought that they would have.

But, that’s not to say that they couldn’t for someone else because it may have had potential that I missed out on by listening through the NetGalley’s inferior player. Although, I’m not sure if it was the actual writing or the player.

I haven’t listened to a book through Netgalley for quite some time because I was hoping they would work the kinks out of it. Unfortunately, they have quite a ways to go to get it up to par. It is improved some, though. Essentially, the audio quality is better than it was but still struggling and the player itself has had improvements but still is lacking. I’m not sure how Netgalley thinks we can give a book a fair shot if what we’re listening to it on is a sub-par player.

I will say that Coleen Marlo was excellent with different voices and I wouldn’t hesitate to listen to a book narrated by her in the future.


🅒🅐🅦🅟🅘🅛🅔 5.57/❿
🅒haracters ￫ 5.5
🅐tmosphere ￫ 5.5
🅦riting ￫ 5.5
🅟lot ￫ 6
🅘ntrigue ￫ 5
🅛ogic ￫ 6.5
🅔njoyment ￫ 5

[Donna · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.5 stars rounded up because of how much I enjoyed the character of Otis.
This is a story of the teenage children of a convicted serial killer who want to somehow prove their father is innocent.
I wish there would have been more of Otis and the friendship between the 3 teens. I thoroughly enjoyed the story, especially Otis' character and only wish there would have been a bit more character development.

[Di · Rating 5 out of 5]

I didn't want to put this one down, even during the beginning when it was slow starting. It was slow and intriguing at the same time. This was a whodunit where I didn't expect the true culprit at all. I appreciate the rec from my friend Res and I kick myself that I didn't pick it up sooner.

[Chelsea Frye · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5 stars! It definitely kept my attention and was a page turner, the cult plot is just not my vibe. Excited to discuss in book club though!

[Chris · Rating 4 out of 5]

I was interested in this book mainly because it takes place in West Virginia. From the description, it seemed like the book would be a generic mystery/thriller with a dash of horror, but the latter portion of the book really twisted my expectations into something much more unique. The writing is very simple and easy to read, but I found some of the dialogue to be a little substandard. However, there is much more to like about this book than there is to dislike, and I'm very glad to have read it.

[Elizabeth · Rating 5 out of 5]

"In a poor West Virginia town decimated by the opioid epidemic, teenagers Henry and Jane have it worse than most. Their father is Harlan Lusher, a convicted serial killer known as 'the Blind Spot Slasher.'"

HELLO! In what universe am I not going to snatch up that book to read immediately? Especially when I read further into the back-cover blurb and find the phrases "true crime podcast" and "doomsday, snake-handling cult." Why does this book have everything I love?!

Seeing as my expectations were basically sky-high going in, it would have been REAL EASY for this book to fall short, but it did the opposite. It was even better than I expected. This small-town Appalachian serial murder mystery rocks and rolls from beginning to end, culminating in a heart-pounding conclusion that had me yelling from disbelief. Twists and turns abound! Secrets and lies pave the streets of Paradise, WV! And have I mentioned that I would DIE FOR HENRY, JANE, AND THEIR NEW PAL OTIS?

Speaking of them, I love the 80s "kids on bikes" vibe, but it's much harder to pull it off in a 21st century story. Rob Rufus totally makes it happen here. Much like Adam Cesare's CLOWN IN A CORNFIELD is a successful modern take on the classic slasher story, PARADISE, WV does the same for the Goonies/Monster Squad/Stranger Things ragtag group of small town kids, but updated for these times. The themes of the current true crime wave, the popularity of podcasting, the opioid epidemic, and the myriad woes strangling rural America rebuild this seemingly familiar story into something poignantly contemporary.

But back to our heroes: Henry, his sister Jane, and his new best friend Otis are precious angel babies who made me laugh and tugged at my heartstrings constantly. Henry is a misfit metalhead, isolated because of a health condition and his lack of internet access. Jane is a rising-star soccer player with a bright future, but held back because of anxiety due to the trauma of watching her father tried and convicted as a serial murderer. Otis is a home-schooled genius with a penchant for speed-reading who becomes accidental friends with Henry and offers to help the siblings clear their father's name. Henry and Jane's grandmother, Mammaw, is a tough, loving old hippie with an adorable little dog named Gravy. Lt. Elena Garcia is the determined, badass officer who won't quit until she's figured out who's really behind a new (or maybe not-so-new) string of murders in town. This cast of characters are so lovable and authentic, they really make this story special.

This is a 5-star read for me, no question. Great pace, great mystery, great characters, great overall vibe. Do yourself a favor and pick this one up. It'll thrill you, chill you, and warm your heart all at once.

[Sarah · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book definitely deserves to have more readers. A very interesting thriller that tackled a lot of heavy topics such as addiction, poverty, and the true crime phenomenon. There were a lot of characters to follow and at times it felt like it was slipping away into a different sort of book, but overall it was a good read and one I couldn't put down. The reveal with the killer was pretty wild and unexpected, to me, though a tiiiiny bit unrealistic, I thought! But still pretty well done.

[C.L. Walters · Rating 5 out of 5]

This thriller was an atmospheric ride that started quick, had me holding on for dear life through the twists and turns, and swept me up to a stunning and surprising end.

I’ve read a lot of thrillers in my day, and I usually pin down the mysterious perp pretty early on, but Rob Rufus’s Paradise, WV kept me guessing all the way up the stunning conclusion. The story was a rush, right from the beginning to the final word on the page. Wonderful characters, twisted plot, and excellent narrative style.

Fans of stories like Summers’s Sadie will enjoy this book as will fans of "true crime" stories.

[Alecia · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wow I really liked this book! The narration was really great, and I loved the characters. And I did not see it coming! Everytime I was sure I had it right, I was totally off. The ending was great and crazy! 5/5

[Melanie · Rating 5 out of 5]

I LOVED this book. One of my favorite reads of the year so far

[Karleigh · Rating 5 out of 5]

A cult and a murder mystery that unfolded beautifully! I thoroughly enjoyed this book. I received an advance copy from my local bookstore.

[Deedra Lapray · Rating 4 out of 5]

I knew it had been a long time when I got the pop up message from Goodreads, "New phone. Who dis?" I can seriously kiss my reading goal for 2021 goodbye.

This one was pretty good. Plot twist at the end that I was totally not expecting. Gotta love that. This one had some triggers for me, and I almost didn't finish it, but I'm glad I did.

Thanks, libro.fm for another great listen!

[Erica S · Rating 5 out of 5]

I'm going to be honest here- I haven't read a book in about 10 years, maybe longer, and as someone who grew up using books as a form of escapism, consuming word after word, book after book, on a regular weekly basis for as long as I can remember- this is a bit of an embarrassment for me to admit. I loved reading- I mean, I still do LOVE reading, but somehow my passion for the written word got swept aside in the new digital age of instant gratification, candy crushing and notification pings... But 'Paradise, WV' changed all that... I absolutely devoured this book. From the moment I cracked it open, I was hooked. The steadily increasing suspense of the plot, the undaunting length of the chapters, the poetic interludes and unique imagery of Rufus's words made this a fun and easy read for me. The perfect book to rekindle my flame for reading and to jumpstart my brain back into gear. Since finishing this book I just want to read another and another and another till I simply cannot read anymore. To be able to tell a story to someone, which you have no part in, but that makes you WANT to be a part of, is truly a gift. I found myself wanting to dive headfirst into the soft underbelly of West Virginia to scour the streets lined with broken faces for clues. I laughed out loud and chuckled to myself at the jokes and quips exchanged between the young characters Jane, Henry and Otis, wanting to interject my own bits of savvy humor and a few elbow nugdes myself. They felt like friends, or at least friends I had when I was about their age, and it was nice to experience that careless, young freedom again- even if vicariously. I also appreciated the musical references scattered throughout the book- ones that only those who are *truly cool* will understand 😉

I also do want to say that I don't agree with the other reviewer who felt that the murder podcast should've been more elaborate. I felt that it was such a small part in the grand scheme of things, but that it was a clever, modern way to kickstart the plot. I also don't agree with what they said about the perspective of the killer being unnecessary. To me, seeing from the eyes of the killer- what they thought and HOW they thought was not only intriguing, but essential to the storyline. After all, the book is told from the perspective of each individual character, so why not then the perspective of the one person the book revolves around? I only wish that I had connected the dots sooner!

I'm not going to recap the book or give a rundown of the synopsis, you can read that in the other reviews or on the back of the book- but what I will say is that I'm not usually one for mysteries or thrillers, and though this book is categorically a "mystery-thriller" it doesn't read like a classic one (ie: boring and dragging at some points, snowballing into plot twists in others, and solely focused on the element of suspense). It certainly does have it's elements of suspense, but also a lot more. I'm not usually one to write reviews, I hardly ever do- unless something is really, really good or really, really bad- and I'm telling you, this book is really, really good.

So, with that, I'm just gonna end this long review with one thing: LENNY IS GOD

[Victoria · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a fast listen - I definitely found myself listening at every opportunity! Set in the titular small West Virginian town, it's anything but paradise for the four main characters that the story follows. Henry and Jane are siblings and reviled teenagers around town since the arrest of their father for being the serial killer dubbed the "Blind Spot Slasher." Another teen, Otis, recently moved to town and begins investigating Henry and Jane's father, wanting to help them uncover the truth. Another newcomer to town, Detective Garcia, investigates the missing women around town and isn't quite sure what exactly the town is hiding.

Fast-paced and well-performed, I did enjoy listening to this one quite a bit! The characters - as well as the rather grim setting - all really comes to life. I sort of wish that the audio had more than one performer though because that usually adds to the fun, but I did appreciate the way this narrator handled the accents. The book does leave a few things dangling in the end - which bothered me a bit, but overall I really liked this one and would definitely read or listen to more. from Rufus in the future!

[Jolissa Skow · Rating 5 out of 5]

Find my full review here: https://literaryquicksand.com/2021/08...

Paradise, WV was very outside of my normal genre, but I was feeling brave 😂. I had very mixed feelings at some points, but when I was done, I had to rate it highly because of how it stuck with me.

This book gave me some Stranger Things vibes with the kid protagonists. I think the whole narrated by kids thing tricked me into thinking this suspense would be not too slasher-y (even though the killer has “slasher” in the name…duh Joli), but I was somewhat wrong.

So I really liked the kid characters. They were funny, they had deep feelings and problems and their lives, and they were just really compelling. I especially enjoyed Otis, because he’s kind of comic relief.

Things do get pretty tense as you get toward the end of the book, but man, I was guessing up until the end and had a hard time putting the book down as things started to build. I will say that things got a little bit overly horror-ish for me near the end, but I can’t take any stars off for just the reason of me being a sensitive person 😂.

Did I mention there’s a nutso cult? Cults are always creepy, and this one is definitely no exception. It was a big part of the storyline and mystery.

[Cecil · Rating 1 out of 5]

Plucky kids in tough circumstances? Check.
Plucky female law enforcement officer fighting against old-boy network? Check.
Corrupt small-town officials? Check.
Drug addicts? Check.
Serial killers? Check.
Creepy red herrings? Check.
Religious fanatics? Check.
Pop culture references? Check.
Rural setting? Check.
A complete mishmash of a plot trying to cram too many ideas in too few pages? Check.
Three hours of my life that I will never get back? Check.

[bee · Rating 4 out of 5]

Paradise, WV: a small, rural town rocked by the opiate epidemic and a serial killer's impact... For siblings Henry and Jane Lusher, Paradise is their home and their hell.

These two are the children of the convicted serial murderer, Hollis Lusher, known by his moniker, "the Blind Spot Slasher." Since their father's arrest, the siblings have maintained his innocence, despite their peers bullying and casting them out because of it. The news of a popular true-crime podcast's visit to Paradise sets the town abuzz and reignites interest in the Blind Spot Slasher's case and Henry and Jane's persistent belief in their father's innocence.

Lieutenant Garcia is a young police officer, new to the force and eager to prove her place. When placed on the case of a missing girl, Garcia is sucked into the world of opiates and their associated impact. Her investigation opens the door for her to question if the massive amounts of deaths can be attributed to opiates or if there is a copycat Blind Spot Slasher for the police force to contend with. She doesn't even want to acknowledge the unsaid question... What if they arrested the wrong suspect?

Henry's new friend, Otis (a homeschooled kid who also happens to be a genius), makes it his mission to help the sibling duo prove Hollis Lusher's innocence. As the three explore the evidence of the killings, they discover a viable connection with a local, snake-loving cult. (Yes... an actual cult) This connection sends them to the darkest parts of Appalachia where they work their hardest to find justice for Hollis... for all of their sakes.

For the most part, I really really enjoyed this book. I enjoy Rob Rufus's writing style and his commitment to creating an engrossing world. Some characters were absolute stunners, people that could basically walk off the page and fit right in. Other characters, unfortunately, fell a little flat or in some cases, created potentially harmful representations (looking at you, Otis's father). I also think that there could be a case to eradicate most of the killer's interludes, just because they distracted me from what I really wanted ... answers. Given the more recent cultural popularity of true crime, it was interesting that this book took place in 2011. I think the idea of a podcaster coming to a town specifically as a stop on a tour didn't really track. I think it would have been interesting if the podcast was in Paradise to dig up the truth à la Payne Lindsey with Up and Vanished. I think that this book has more positives than negatives. If you're in the mood for a thriller or police procedural-esque novel that also raises awareness for the harm that drugs can have on a community, if you're into cults, or if you're really passionate about Appalachia in the media (like my fiancé is), then this may be the book for you.

Trigger Warnings for Paradise, WV: assault, attempted murder, suicide, cults, drug use, kidnapping, and more.

Overall rating: 4/5

Paradise, WV will be available for purchase on July 20th. Be sure to add it to your Goodreads shelf and see where it's available to buy. Also, be sure to check out Rob Rufus’s website!
I was lucky enough to be able to read this Advanced Reader's Copy through my partnership with NetGalley. All opinions are my own.

[Seth · Rating 3 out of 5]

In short: it was an entertaining young adult murder mystery that reads easy, but falls flat on background research, usage of tropes. It doesn’t doesn’t rely on the “opioid Appalachia” backdrop as much as initially implied by other reviews.

In long:

Other reviews will give you a good synopsis, so my review won’t be one of those.

I did enjoy this read. I don’t get much time to read anymore, but thankfully with the help of my partner, I was able to read this is 24hrs.
I only say that to point out that, despite the rest of this review, I cannot say it wasn’t entertaining.

However, as a native West Virginian, one of the biggest disappointments I had was that it seemed the author started to research WV, but only at a surface level.

The setting is, of course, the titular location. Paradise is located via ~40 min from Charleston, WV. The book implies, and even states once, they are 2 hours away. The kids go to “Shady Spring High School,” a real WV school located 1.5-2hrs south of Charleston (I went to school at SSHS). When characters need to go to “the city,” it’s implied they went to Huntington, WV. Which would be further than Charleston. He calls Tudor’s Biscuit World “Tudor’s Cafe.” There are a few other issues like this that disconnected me from the story.

While this sounds kind of petty as I write it out (after all, it is just a book), the author did choose to name real locations. It seems he just kind of googled “WV places,” just for a nod. If these things were all fictional places, this wouldn’t be such an issue, but by doing this, it calls into question how much he researched into other aspects of this novel.

And while I did enjoy the characters, this most definitely should be seen as a Young Adult mystery novel. Nothing particularly wrong with that but my bookstore seemingly called it thriller/horror/mystery. While many themes were adult natured, the boom really focuses around a group of teenagers solving crime. The adult characters were a bit trope-filled.
The twist wasn’t super predictable, but you can tell the writer was trying to throw curve balls several times. I found that the more shocking parts of the story were not necessarily discovering “the answer,” but instead how far the criminal was going to push it.

This story didn’t need to be in Appalachia at all. The opioid and small town stuff could be in any rural area. Which again brings up why WV was chosen if research wasn’t going to be thoroughly completed.

[Debra Gaynor · Rating 5 out of 5]

Paradise, WV
Rob Rufus
The setting is a small town in West Virginia. Several years previously a serial killer known as “the Blind Spot Slasher” terrorized the town. Hollis Lusher was convicted of the crime. His children, Henry and Jane are still paying the price of his notoriety. Despite they way they are treated they still proclaim their father is innocent. A podcast with the focus on true crime arrives in town to broadcast about “the Blind Spot Slasher.” As if Jane and Henry do not have enough problems, the podcast brings more attention on them.
The small town is plagued with drug abuse. Many deaths are blamed on drugs when it could be the work of a serial killer. Officer, Lieutenant Elena Garcia is assigned the case of a missing girl. The more she delves into the case the more she suspects there is more to it than a runaway. Could there be a copycat killer or could the wrong man have been convicted.
Otis is Henry’s new friend. He is very intelligent and begins to play private detective in an attempt to prove Hollis Lusher was wrongly convicted of murder. He discovers a possible connection between the murders and a local cult.
The main characters in this book are, Henry, Otis, Jane and Elena. Elena is a police Lieutenant hoping for advancement. Her husband and daughter haven’t moved to Paradise yet; he is remodeling the house and preparing to put it on the market. Henry and Jane have had a rough time; they live with their Mammaw and dog, Gravy. Otis is a fun character. He has problems at home; his father is a former drug addict (how former remains to be seen.) Mammaw is a favorite character. The characters have depth and all work well together. The cult was rather interesting. I have never been able to understand people that get involved in cults especially this cult. The “head of the cult’ is pure evil.
This tale has enough twists and turns to keep this reader intently listening. It took me a while to figure out “whodunit.” This tale leaves the possibility of a sequel. I would love to see a whole series of books featuring Jane, Henry and Otis.