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Trail of Destruction
In this chilling tale from the bestselling author of Wall of Silence , a spark of malice ignites into an inferno of violence. Can one woman uncover the truth before it all goes up in flames? Eager for distraction in the aftermath of her messy divorce, Ellie Mileham dives into moderating the petty squabbles on her local Facebook group. When a prankster starts trolling uptight members, it’s a welcome diversion at first. But then the war of words moves onto the streets of Forest Grove, with threatening letters escalating into violent destruction. It’s suddenly clear there’s something much more dangerous at play. With lives at risk, Ellie delves into the history of Forest Grove and realises the so-called rural paradise has a dark and sinister heart. As she pieces together the puzzle of her own troubled childhood on the edge of the forest, Ellie learns this is not the first time the villagers have been targeted by an anonymous vigilante with an axe to grind… Could the two cases be connected? Ellie is determined to find out. But with everybody watching and nobody quite what they seem, can she uncover the truth before online threats become nightmarish reality?
331 pages, Paperback
First published September 21, 2021
328 people are currently reading
2531 people want to read
About the author
Tracy Buchanan
22 books597 followersHello! Fab to see you here. I live in Buckinghamshire, UK with my husband, my little girl and our (very naughty) puppy, Bronte.
I travelled extensively while working as a travel magazine editor, and have always been drawn to the sea after spending my childhood holidays on the south coast visiting family – a fascination that inspires my writing.
I now dedicate my time to writing and procrastinating on Facebook.
I'd love to hear from you so please come say hi on one of the following platforms... plus if you join The Reading Snug I've set up with fellow authors, Kelly Rimmer and Kerry Fisher, you might even bag yourself some freebies including an early copy of my latest novel, The Lost Sister!
https://www.facebook.com/TracyBuchana...
https://www.facebook.com/groups/TheRe...
https://www.instagram.com/TracyBuchan...
https://twitter.com/TracyBuchanan
https://www.tracy-buchanan.com
I travelled extensively while working as a travel magazine editor, and have always been drawn to the sea after spending my childhood holidays on the south coast visiting family – a fascination that inspires my writing.
I now dedicate my time to writing and procrastinating on Facebook.
I'd love to hear from you so please come say hi on one of the following platforms... plus if you join The Reading Snug I've set up with fellow authors, Kelly Rimmer and Kerry Fisher, you might even bag yourself some freebies including an early copy of my latest novel, The Lost Sister!
https://www.facebook.com/TracyBuchana...
https://www.facebook.com/groups/TheRe...
https://www.instagram.com/TracyBuchan...
https://twitter.com/TracyBuchanan
https://www.tracy-buchanan.com
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 82 reviews
October 3, 2021
Gossip Girls.
And Guys.
Who doesn’t like a little scintillating neighborhood conversation? Divorce, grousing, and those with too much time on their hands create an amusing combination here.
When Ellie accepts the reins of the Forest Grove Facebook group, she presumes that she’d be overseeing petty tiffs about trash pick up and dog poo. Par for the course - until it wasn’t.
Escalating acts of property damage place the residents on edge. Is it retaliation or is anyone in danger?
Comprising both sly and overt humor, this resided closer to the cosy catagory and was a welcome respite from recent somber books. I had fun with this and recommend it for those desiring a less cumbersome read these fall and winter months. Did I mention that there was also a little G rated romance?
Thank you to Amazon Publishing, Tracy Buchanan, and NetGalley for my reader’s copy set to publish on October 5, 2021.
And Guys.
Who doesn’t like a little scintillating neighborhood conversation? Divorce, grousing, and those with too much time on their hands create an amusing combination here.
When Ellie accepts the reins of the Forest Grove Facebook group, she presumes that she’d be overseeing petty tiffs about trash pick up and dog poo. Par for the course - until it wasn’t.
Escalating acts of property damage place the residents on edge. Is it retaliation or is anyone in danger?
Comprising both sly and overt humor, this resided closer to the cosy catagory and was a welcome respite from recent somber books. I had fun with this and recommend it for those desiring a less cumbersome read these fall and winter months. Did I mention that there was also a little G rated romance?
Thank you to Amazon Publishing, Tracy Buchanan, and NetGalley for my reader’s copy set to publish on October 5, 2021.
October 14, 2021
Facebook is controversial. How do you feel about chat rooms? Small towns using it to gossip about neighbors? People reading each other's comments and taking it personally? When a village surrounded by a beloved forested area becomes embroiled in drama, newcomers to the chat moderation realize there's a connection to similar events from over forty years ago. What is Trail of Destruction by Tracy Buchanan really about? You'll have to read more to decide for yourself.
I enjoyed this novel a lot. In the beginning, I wasn't feeling much suspense or a big story. Some narrative, lots of chat posts. Over 20 names to keep track of, some related in weird ways. But soon, when connections begin to leap from social media to reality, things get intense. A vigilante is seeking justice, but for what reason? Buchanan drew me in with Ellie's drama... and when we learned the identify of the 1st vigilante, it was surprising. But when someone else takes over, and even the original vigilante doesn't know who it is, we have a suspenseful book to dive into!
Overall, this was a good story, but you can't give up on it too soon. There is a lot of groundwork to lay, and by 50% thru, the characters and plot are pretty solid. There are the snowflakes and the hardcore justice warriors. There are rude people, and there are kind souls who shouldn't go online. So much of this could be political, but Buchanan does a lot to make this not about liberal and conservative as much as it is about people's views on privacy and vengeance. Two topics that can really come to a boiling point, as they do when fires begin to take control of the village.
Some of the tone/style was hard to follow because of so many characters, but if you focus on the primary 4 or 5, it's a lot clearer. That said, there were moments where I couldn't stop flipping the pages. I read one book by the author 4+ years ago and liked it but for some reason didn't pick up her latest 2. When this one was released, I gave it a try. Now I'll go back to the others and catch up.
I enjoyed this novel a lot. In the beginning, I wasn't feeling much suspense or a big story. Some narrative, lots of chat posts. Over 20 names to keep track of, some related in weird ways. But soon, when connections begin to leap from social media to reality, things get intense. A vigilante is seeking justice, but for what reason? Buchanan drew me in with Ellie's drama... and when we learned the identify of the 1st vigilante, it was surprising. But when someone else takes over, and even the original vigilante doesn't know who it is, we have a suspenseful book to dive into!
Overall, this was a good story, but you can't give up on it too soon. There is a lot of groundwork to lay, and by 50% thru, the characters and plot are pretty solid. There are the snowflakes and the hardcore justice warriors. There are rude people, and there are kind souls who shouldn't go online. So much of this could be political, but Buchanan does a lot to make this not about liberal and conservative as much as it is about people's views on privacy and vengeance. Two topics that can really come to a boiling point, as they do when fires begin to take control of the village.
Some of the tone/style was hard to follow because of so many characters, but if you focus on the primary 4 or 5, it's a lot clearer. That said, there were moments where I couldn't stop flipping the pages. I read one book by the author 4+ years ago and liked it but for some reason didn't pick up her latest 2. When this one was released, I gave it a try. Now I'll go back to the others and catch up.
November 13, 2021
Trail of Destruction is the third book about a fictional English village set in an idyllic forest, but it's not a series as such, and I had no problem reading it as a stand-alone. It's by an author who is new to me, is more of a character study than a crime novel, and features a large cast of universally awful middle-class twats. You could either enjoy loving to hate them, or end up feeling slightly grubby, but if you have spent any time in Facebook groups you will recognise the personality types portrayed.
Ellie has lived in Forest Grove since her teens, and was happy with her life, until her arrogant husband left her for his mistress. An argument in the local Facebook group ends up with her taking over as moderator, but soon afterwards the most vocal members are the target of a series of pranks. Initially they are deemed harmless, but when the attacks start to escalate and threaten lives, Ellie finds links to a malignant presence that plagued the village decades ago. Can Ellie and the handsome local policeman find the culprit before someone gets killed?
Ah Facebook, the indispensable tool of the overprivileged middle-aged, (and l include myself amongst them), which weaponises gossip and creates infernos out of innocent comments. Everyone has an agenda, and anyone can start a controversy. I personally have a particular loathing, clearly shared by the author, for those who use the term snowflake as an insult, but did have some sympathy for some of the complainants. The author accurately conveys the malice and cowardice of her characters - even the heroine is a caricature, well meaning but selfish, and her love interest isn’t much better.
The mystery of who is behind it all was well done - I did guess who but not why, and the resolution was happy enough - with this many players you can’t have an ending for everyone. I’m not sure how many of them feature in the earlier books, and whether more are planned - I’d be up for reading more from this author and about Forest Grove, even if it’s to see some of them get their just deserts!
Thanks to NetGalley and Amazon UK for the post-publication review copy. I am posting this honest review voluntarily.
Ellie has lived in Forest Grove since her teens, and was happy with her life, until her arrogant husband left her for his mistress. An argument in the local Facebook group ends up with her taking over as moderator, but soon afterwards the most vocal members are the target of a series of pranks. Initially they are deemed harmless, but when the attacks start to escalate and threaten lives, Ellie finds links to a malignant presence that plagued the village decades ago. Can Ellie and the handsome local policeman find the culprit before someone gets killed?
Ah Facebook, the indispensable tool of the overprivileged middle-aged, (and l include myself amongst them), which weaponises gossip and creates infernos out of innocent comments. Everyone has an agenda, and anyone can start a controversy. I personally have a particular loathing, clearly shared by the author, for those who use the term snowflake as an insult, but did have some sympathy for some of the complainants. The author accurately conveys the malice and cowardice of her characters - even the heroine is a caricature, well meaning but selfish, and her love interest isn’t much better.
The mystery of who is behind it all was well done - I did guess who but not why, and the resolution was happy enough - with this many players you can’t have an ending for everyone. I’m not sure how many of them feature in the earlier books, and whether more are planned - I’d be up for reading more from this author and about Forest Grove, even if it’s to see some of them get their just deserts!
Thanks to NetGalley and Amazon UK for the post-publication review copy. I am posting this honest review voluntarily.
September 21, 2021
Trail of Destruction is the third book to be set in the seemingly idyllic village of Forest Grove, but it can easily be read as a standalone. It follows Ellie Mileham as she takes over the admin of her village’s Facebook community group, however, something which starts out as a pleasant pastime and a welcome reprieve and distraction from her impending divorce, after her husband left her for his first love, quickly takes a sinister turn. She throws herself into caring for her two children, her job and moderating the ridiculously petty squabbles that frequently take up space on the group’s wall. The locals tended to use the group as a place to air their grievances and post complaints about other residents and issues pertaining to the village.
There's everything from complaints about dog walkers not cleaning up after their pets to the sound of gunshots ricocheting around the area and irritation at cyclists riding their bikes on paths instead of the road. Unfortunately, someone has decided they have had enough of people whining about what they deem to be somewhat trivial problems, and they begin targeting those who have publicly voiced their opinions with an act that is a slight variation on their original complaint. These include dog faeces shoved through a person’s letterbox, playing loud music, rubbish bins moved from their usual resting place and stealing an individual's guns.
The prankster who becomes known as the Facebook Vigilante trolls the uptight group members, but the delight it has brought normal members of the community of Forest Grove seeing these whinging busybodies getting their comeuppance disintegrates when fires are set and it becomes dangerous. Taking heed of the advice of the police, Ellie archives the group, but this does little to settle the terror being unleashed. The incidents continue to escalate, and as Ellie remembers the poison pen letters that had been delivered around the village a few years prior, she decides to take matters into her own hands, which takes her down a very dark path, forcing her to confront her own childhood and secrets she thought were long buried.
This is a compelling and enthralling mystery surrounding a race to catch the prankster whose acts are spiralling out of control, but it's also a tale of dark village history, devious secrets, family skeletons in the closet and two-faced, backstabbing neighbours in a tight-knit, gossip riddled community. You can feel the claustrophobic small-town atmosphere emanating from the pages, and the few twists and turns throughout catch you off guard. The key to the book's compulsive nature lies in the gripping writing with its claustrophobic small-town backdrop and utterly compelling characters. It makes for a heartbreakingly real family drama that you engage with from the very first page. An incredibly beautiful, picture-perfect location with a sinister backstory always makes for brilliant reading. Highly recommended.
There's everything from complaints about dog walkers not cleaning up after their pets to the sound of gunshots ricocheting around the area and irritation at cyclists riding their bikes on paths instead of the road. Unfortunately, someone has decided they have had enough of people whining about what they deem to be somewhat trivial problems, and they begin targeting those who have publicly voiced their opinions with an act that is a slight variation on their original complaint. These include dog faeces shoved through a person’s letterbox, playing loud music, rubbish bins moved from their usual resting place and stealing an individual's guns.
The prankster who becomes known as the Facebook Vigilante trolls the uptight group members, but the delight it has brought normal members of the community of Forest Grove seeing these whinging busybodies getting their comeuppance disintegrates when fires are set and it becomes dangerous. Taking heed of the advice of the police, Ellie archives the group, but this does little to settle the terror being unleashed. The incidents continue to escalate, and as Ellie remembers the poison pen letters that had been delivered around the village a few years prior, she decides to take matters into her own hands, which takes her down a very dark path, forcing her to confront her own childhood and secrets she thought were long buried.
This is a compelling and enthralling mystery surrounding a race to catch the prankster whose acts are spiralling out of control, but it's also a tale of dark village history, devious secrets, family skeletons in the closet and two-faced, backstabbing neighbours in a tight-knit, gossip riddled community. You can feel the claustrophobic small-town atmosphere emanating from the pages, and the few twists and turns throughout catch you off guard. The key to the book's compulsive nature lies in the gripping writing with its claustrophobic small-town backdrop and utterly compelling characters. It makes for a heartbreakingly real family drama that you engage with from the very first page. An incredibly beautiful, picture-perfect location with a sinister backstory always makes for brilliant reading. Highly recommended.
January 4, 2026
Thank you NetGalley and the publisher for allowing me to read an ARC of Trail of Destruction in exchange for my honest review.
This is the second book that I have read by Tracy Buchanan and I was very excited when I was approved to read it! I found it a bit slow at the beginning, but once the book got to the second part it really took off. I had an idea about who the person might be who was playing all the ‘pranks’, but like the last book I read, I was wrong lol.
This is a great read and I look forward to reading more by this author!
This is the second book that I have read by Tracy Buchanan and I was very excited when I was approved to read it! I found it a bit slow at the beginning, but once the book got to the second part it really took off. I had an idea about who the person might be who was playing all the ‘pranks’, but like the last book I read, I was wrong lol.
This is a great read and I look forward to reading more by this author!
June 7, 2022
LOVED IT!
Such twist and turns the author writes! Every time you think you have it figured out BAM your wrong. For the pranks to arson you can't put his book down
Such twist and turns the author writes! Every time you think you have it figured out BAM your wrong. For the pranks to arson you can't put his book down
September 7, 2021
I have been on a Tracy Buchanan kick for quite some time now. If anyone knows the history of her books you will agree with me that they are nothing short of addicting. Trail of Destruction, does not disappoint and follows the villagers of Forest Grove.
Everyone knows the drama that lives among a small community and Forest Grove, is no different. When a few of the townspeople start to voice their opinion on Facebook for a specific individual, it begins to ruffle some feathers BUT a new presence has come to town in a "Facebook Vigilante" kind of way.
This was a really cool story, theatrical at times, comical and of course the juicy gossip. I thoroughly enjoy reading about Forest Grove. Tracy Buchanan, does an excellent job of setting the scene and making you feel as though you are right in the center of all the drama. The story is well narrated and easily has you hooked from page one.
I would highly recommend Trail of Destruction .
Everyone knows the drama that lives among a small community and Forest Grove, is no different. When a few of the townspeople start to voice their opinion on Facebook for a specific individual, it begins to ruffle some feathers BUT a new presence has come to town in a "Facebook Vigilante" kind of way.
This was a really cool story, theatrical at times, comical and of course the juicy gossip. I thoroughly enjoy reading about Forest Grove. Tracy Buchanan, does an excellent job of setting the scene and making you feel as though you are right in the center of all the drama. The story is well narrated and easily has you hooked from page one.
I would highly recommend Trail of Destruction .
September 4, 2021
If you've been involved in a Facebook or other social media group, no doubt you'll be familiar with the behaviour that plays out. Entertaining page turner that I recommend! I hadn't read the other books, but this didn't impact on my enjoyment. Thanks to NetGalley for a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
August 28, 2021
Wonderful book!!! I was so into it I really didn’t want to put it down. The story is just twisty enough to keep you fully engaged in the plot. Loved it!! Definitely one to check out.
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August 27, 2021I received a copy of this novel on NetGalley.
Tracey Buchanan is yet one more author I found on NetGalley. Her books are so suspenseful and filled with so many twist and turns. "Trail of Destruction" does not disappoint. It is an easy, yet great read.
Tracey Buchanan is yet one more author I found on NetGalley. Her books are so suspenseful and filled with so many twist and turns. "Trail of Destruction" does not disappoint. It is an easy, yet great read.
January 31, 2025
4.25 Stars
This was twisty and had reveals all of the way until the end.
This has a slow start and an almost cozy mystery feel.
I was thoroughly engaged.
This was twisty and had reveals all of the way until the end.
This has a slow start and an almost cozy mystery feel.
I was thoroughly engaged.
September 20, 2021
I have read every book of Tracy Buchanan’s and have come to the conclusion that’s her earlier books that I have enjoyed more.
In her latest novel, it’s the third set in the town/neighbourhood of Forest Grove. Each is a stand alone, in fact I couldn’t tell you if I have come across any other the characters in the other books, so that shouldn’t impact anyone trying this. For me I feel I just didn’t like any of the characters and the pettiness of the Facebook comments. Yes, the setting of the town is claustrophobic, yes the storyline did keep moving but I just missed the connection to the characters.
Will I read another book about Forest Grove if it is written? I’m not really sure…..
Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for a copy to read.
In her latest novel, it’s the third set in the town/neighbourhood of Forest Grove. Each is a stand alone, in fact I couldn’t tell you if I have come across any other the characters in the other books, so that shouldn’t impact anyone trying this. For me I feel I just didn’t like any of the characters and the pettiness of the Facebook comments. Yes, the setting of the town is claustrophobic, yes the storyline did keep moving but I just missed the connection to the characters.
Will I read another book about Forest Grove if it is written? I’m not really sure…..
Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for a copy to read.
August 27, 2021
This is yet another exhilarating tale set in the close knit and gossipy village of Forest Grove. Several member of the local Facebook group have been voicing their opinions a little too strongly for someone. Each person who has a particular bone to pick (dog poop not cleaned up, guns shooting off, etc.) gets targeted with a prank in the same vein (dog poop shoved through a door, guns stolen, etc.). Of course this riles up the stodgy complainers, but everyone else silently cheers on the 'Facebook Vigilante.' Ellie is the new moderator for this Facebook group and she couldn't have taken over at a worse time - she's newly separated from her husband and trying to move on with her life. As the pranks continue, she follows the advice of the resident police officer and archives the Facebook group. But more incidents occur, and they are escalating in scale. Will anyone be able to identify this troublemaker before it's too late?
If you're a reader of the previous books in this series, you're familiar with the behavior of these villagers. They are a small enclosed community where everyone knows each other and talks about them behind their backs. For some reason, no one sees Ellie's ex, Peter, for how he is, except her and her best friend, Vanessa. Even though Vanessa is his sister! He's a very obnoxious character and we're given no clue as to why someone like Ellie would have fallen for him, except that he was a 'challenge' to figure out. She creates puzzles as a career, by the way, very cool but that metaphor is overused throughout the story. So sure, we can see why Ellie might have pursued him, but to stay with him for 25 years and put up with the things he did? Too unbelievable. At least their kids see through him - too many stories show children blinded by their parents' love to recognize their faults. That's not the case in this story, and I love that!
Anyway, you know how this goes, everyone accuses everyone else, the older members of the community stand together against the younger generation (the term 'snowflakes' plays a starring role) and instead of working together, no one trusts anyone. But unfortunately, this is how circumstances would play out in current times. If readers take anything from this book, it should be to unite as a community, ignoring the petty squabbles and building strength through cooperation and acceptance. Society would do good to remember that, as well.
If you're a reader of the previous books in this series, you're familiar with the behavior of these villagers. They are a small enclosed community where everyone knows each other and talks about them behind their backs. For some reason, no one sees Ellie's ex, Peter, for how he is, except her and her best friend, Vanessa. Even though Vanessa is his sister! He's a very obnoxious character and we're given no clue as to why someone like Ellie would have fallen for him, except that he was a 'challenge' to figure out. She creates puzzles as a career, by the way, very cool but that metaphor is overused throughout the story. So sure, we can see why Ellie might have pursued him, but to stay with him for 25 years and put up with the things he did? Too unbelievable. At least their kids see through him - too many stories show children blinded by their parents' love to recognize their faults. That's not the case in this story, and I love that!
Anyway, you know how this goes, everyone accuses everyone else, the older members of the community stand together against the younger generation (the term 'snowflakes' plays a starring role) and instead of working together, no one trusts anyone. But unfortunately, this is how circumstances would play out in current times. If readers take anything from this book, it should be to unite as a community, ignoring the petty squabbles and building strength through cooperation and acceptance. Society would do good to remember that, as well.
August 28, 2021
I was so excited to read Tracy Buchanan’s novel and venture back to Forest Grove! Don’t miss the importance of that gorgeous cover; terror igniting a peaceful background. The close-knit residents here live in a perfect village on the edge of a thick forest. It’s an idyllic community. Yet, Buchanan writes to peel back some branches and reveal that underneath the façade, they are really just a snobbish and judgmental group of neighbours who hide behind their closed Facebook chat group. The online posts are full of back-stabbing taunts between residents and escalate as unease and suspicion unfolds. It’s here that battle lines are drawn and villagers turn on each other. Families are torn apart as wild accusations run rampant.
As in her previous two novels set in Forest Grove, the forest itself is really a character. Buchanan’s use of a seemingly peaceful backdrop to highlight the sense of peril is fantastic. She has created a rich sense of place and atmosphere. Forests are a place of serenity and rejuvenation. The juxtaposition of this with the encroaching village full of suspicious residents keen on destroying each other showcases their humanity better than any other location could ever hope to achieve. Just as there are layers of foliage in the dense forest, Buchanan has layered her tale and as the atmospheric and foreboding narrative unfolds, we are slowly exposed to the evil within.
Brimming with twists, secrets, and resentment, this novel focuses on what happens when hurts and misunderstandings are allowed to fester. Buchanan kept me in the dark. I had no idea who was behind the malicious behaviour in Forest Grove, nor did I suspect why they were driven to such madness.
You’ll love Buchanan’s writing style; it runs like a movie reel in your mind! She is a master at creating a sense of place and examining interpersonal relationships. Her novels have the perfect mix of drama and suspense. This five-star domestic noir meets psychological thriller needs to top your TBR list this Fall.
Publishes September 21, 2021.
I was gifted this advance copy by Tracy Buchanan, Amazon Publishing UK, and NetGalley and was under no obligation to provide a review.
As in her previous two novels set in Forest Grove, the forest itself is really a character. Buchanan’s use of a seemingly peaceful backdrop to highlight the sense of peril is fantastic. She has created a rich sense of place and atmosphere. Forests are a place of serenity and rejuvenation. The juxtaposition of this with the encroaching village full of suspicious residents keen on destroying each other showcases their humanity better than any other location could ever hope to achieve. Just as there are layers of foliage in the dense forest, Buchanan has layered her tale and as the atmospheric and foreboding narrative unfolds, we are slowly exposed to the evil within.
Brimming with twists, secrets, and resentment, this novel focuses on what happens when hurts and misunderstandings are allowed to fester. Buchanan kept me in the dark. I had no idea who was behind the malicious behaviour in Forest Grove, nor did I suspect why they were driven to such madness.
You’ll love Buchanan’s writing style; it runs like a movie reel in your mind! She is a master at creating a sense of place and examining interpersonal relationships. Her novels have the perfect mix of drama and suspense. This five-star domestic noir meets psychological thriller needs to top your TBR list this Fall.
Publishes September 21, 2021.
I was gifted this advance copy by Tracy Buchanan, Amazon Publishing UK, and NetGalley and was under no obligation to provide a review.
September 6, 2021
Another mixed review.,
The writing was excellent - I could picture this claustrophobic village and the people in it.
I am am admin for our neighborhood Facebook group, so I could TOTALLY relate to the things people were saying and posting.. This would make a really cool movie.
So why is my review mixed? Because I actually FELT claustaphobic while reading it. And I actually didn't like any of the characters. While it was an excellently told story I didnt like it.
I do want to thank the author, the publisher and #netgalley for the ARC which did not impact my review.
The writing was excellent - I could picture this claustrophobic village and the people in it.
I am am admin for our neighborhood Facebook group, so I could TOTALLY relate to the things people were saying and posting.. This would make a really cool movie.
So why is my review mixed? Because I actually FELT claustaphobic while reading it. And I actually didn't like any of the characters. While it was an excellently told story I didnt like it.
I do want to thank the author, the publisher and #netgalley for the ARC which did not impact my review.
September 7, 2021
This was a good mystery. The community of Forest Grove have their own Facebook group. The forum has been known to be used as a complaint board by various people and things can get downright nasty. Someone in the group starts retaliating against the complainers, things escalate and people start to get hurt. Quite the whodunit with lots of twists. After I read this book, I found out it was the third of three books written and set in Forest Grove. This book was very good on its own but I will go back for the other two books. Thank you to NetGalley for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.
September 13, 2021
Welcome to Forest Grove – a beautiful and isolated woodsy paradise full of gossipy and back-stabbing villagers. What initially seem to be petty disagreements in the local Facebook group start to take an ominous turn after Ellie becomes the group’s moderator. The “Facebook Vigilante” seems to be targeting the group members with pranks that seem to be escalating in nastiness and danger. Can Ellie get to the bottom of these sinister happenings?
“Trail of Destruction” is a quick and enjoyable read, almost a cozy mystery. The suspense isn’t overly dark and there is some light romance. Ellie is a likeable character, and you’ll root for her despite her flaws. The cattiness and infighting amongst the villagers will be all-too-familiar to anyone who follows their own local Facebook or Next Door group. Tracy Buchanan has written two previous books about Forest Grove but you don’t need to read them to enjoy this one – I didn’t read them but I’ll be adding them to my to-read list now!
Many thanks to NetGalley and Amazon Publishing UK for providing me an advance copy of this book.
“Trail of Destruction” is a quick and enjoyable read, almost a cozy mystery. The suspense isn’t overly dark and there is some light romance. Ellie is a likeable character, and you’ll root for her despite her flaws. The cattiness and infighting amongst the villagers will be all-too-familiar to anyone who follows their own local Facebook or Next Door group. Tracy Buchanan has written two previous books about Forest Grove but you don’t need to read them to enjoy this one – I didn’t read them but I’ll be adding them to my to-read list now!
Many thanks to NetGalley and Amazon Publishing UK for providing me an advance copy of this book.
August 30, 2021
Trail of Destruction by Tracy Buchanan is not billed as a cozy mystery, but that is what it is. If you like cozy mysteries, you will probably love this book. Unfortunately, I do not care for cozy mysteries. I do like psychological suspense and other suspense novels.
That said, I did enjoy the light romance in the story. I also did finally become engaged with the story but not until I was most of the way through it. I believe the characters fit the genre and were interesting for this type of story. There were some twists and turns that would appeal to the mystery lover.
I gave Trail of Destruction a four star rating because I believe that mystery lovers will enjoy the story. I appreciated the detail and insight into a different culture than I'm used to. That was nice. So, if you like mysteries, try this book.
I received an advance copy through Net Galley. All opinions are my own. #netgalley #trailofdestruction
That said, I did enjoy the light romance in the story. I also did finally become engaged with the story but not until I was most of the way through it. I believe the characters fit the genre and were interesting for this type of story. There were some twists and turns that would appeal to the mystery lover.
I gave Trail of Destruction a four star rating because I believe that mystery lovers will enjoy the story. I appreciated the detail and insight into a different culture than I'm used to. That was nice. So, if you like mysteries, try this book.
I received an advance copy through Net Galley. All opinions are my own. #netgalley #trailofdestruction
September 2, 2021
Cosy average thriller of backbiting and gossip in a village .
Fun characters and enjoyed reading it
Not a blockbuster or ground breaking but is an easy quick read with a few twists which are ok and I did guess who did it but doesn’t really matter .
Ty to netgalley and publishers for this read now addition
.
Fun characters and enjoyed reading it
Not a blockbuster or ground breaking but is an easy quick read with a few twists which are ok and I did guess who did it but doesn’t really matter .
Ty to netgalley and publishers for this read now addition
.
August 28, 2021
I received an ARC of this novel through Netgalley. I really enjoyed Trail of Destruction, the third book set in Forest Grove, by Tracy Buchanan. The main character, Ellie, was a very likeable character, and one that I think a lot of people could relate to. I found the fist 50 pages to be a bit slow as the author was setting up the scene, but after that the book really caught my attention and I finished the whole thing in one sitting. There were some unexpected twists which I enjoyed, and I found it to be really fun trying to guess who the culprit was throughout. Overall, I think that this is a good novel to snuggle up with and enjoy as it has enough spark to keep the reader's intrigue, but it's not too scary or suspenseful as to turn some people off.
August 27, 2021
The 3rd in a series. I have not read the first two but that did not stop me being caught up in the intrigue. As a Facebook group moderator, I could see that the same constant moans and judgments must have reached Tracy Buchanan's ears too. Funny as we also live in the same county. I really enjoyed the book. A few gasps flew from my mouth when things happened that I didn't expect. A very entertaining read and even more so due to the Facebook connection. Doesn't Facebook have a lot to answer for?
Thanks to Netgalley and Amazon Publishing for the ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review.
Thanks to Netgalley and Amazon Publishing for the ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review.
September 30, 2021
Social media is a great time pass but what if it gives rise to vigilantism?
Ellie Mileham, recently divorced, mom of two kids and puzzle/riddle creator lives in the eco-village Forest Grove. She has been living there since the village was opened for its inhabitants. Ages have passed but Forest Grove remains the same gossipy, bitchy place since she was a kid. Poison pen letters were rampant all those years ago which led to the nervous breakdown of her mother.
In current times she is also a moderator of the village’s Facebook group and that's when the games start! Pranks that seem harmless are unleashed upon some of the rude and whiny residents, but they soon twist to more harmful ones and cases of arson are reported in many areas. The same kinds of poison pen letters are now targeted at Ellie. She becomes a person of interest in the arson cases and the villagers keep playing the blame game. Ellie needs to find out who is behind all of it so she can live a drama-free life with her children and also bring peace to her mother. Many in the village think the vigilant is a hero. But if the residents deserve what they get, can it be justified if someone ends up being dangerously hurt or even dead?
Fast paced writing makes the story very engaging. There are two parts to the novel, which brings out a twist in the middle but the ending shocked me even more!
Great cast of side characters, specially the detectives and Ellie’s best friend Vanessa.
Ellie’s arc transitions in a mind-boggling way!
Ellie Mileham, recently divorced, mom of two kids and puzzle/riddle creator lives in the eco-village Forest Grove. She has been living there since the village was opened for its inhabitants. Ages have passed but Forest Grove remains the same gossipy, bitchy place since she was a kid. Poison pen letters were rampant all those years ago which led to the nervous breakdown of her mother.
In current times she is also a moderator of the village’s Facebook group and that's when the games start! Pranks that seem harmless are unleashed upon some of the rude and whiny residents, but they soon twist to more harmful ones and cases of arson are reported in many areas. The same kinds of poison pen letters are now targeted at Ellie. She becomes a person of interest in the arson cases and the villagers keep playing the blame game. Ellie needs to find out who is behind all of it so she can live a drama-free life with her children and also bring peace to her mother. Many in the village think the vigilant is a hero. But if the residents deserve what they get, can it be justified if someone ends up being dangerously hurt or even dead?
Fast paced writing makes the story very engaging. There are two parts to the novel, which brings out a twist in the middle but the ending shocked me even more!
Great cast of side characters, specially the detectives and Ellie’s best friend Vanessa.
Ellie’s arc transitions in a mind-boggling way!
September 28, 2021
Thank you NetGalley and Tracy Buchanan! This is an awesome book with a full cast of characters who I love and hate. Whatever emotion they evoke, they certainly sell the story.
In my mind this is a classic case of the cowardly, mean-spirited and even outright harmful things some people, like the residents of Forest Grove, will do when behind their computer keyboard, pen/paper and on the telephone. These flimsy tools give a level of guts to people who otherwise wouldn’t confront. They feel not only strong, but vindicated by group sentiment without a thought to how their targets might be harmed.
Think the community Facebook page. Without any evidence, they carried right on “blaming” anyone who they had the slightest beef with. There’s an entertaining string of this late in the book where the FB group members mention guilt because of a “falling out”, being a “bit odd”, or “that hair of her’s is very odd”. All said of three different people.
You must also take into account the small-town community where everyone knows your business. To say nothing of the far too close relationships that are formed and move in destructive directions. The jealousy and pettiness among spouses, exes, and neighbors is nearly a living being.
This is the third book set in this town. I definitely want to read the other two.
In my mind this is a classic case of the cowardly, mean-spirited and even outright harmful things some people, like the residents of Forest Grove, will do when behind their computer keyboard, pen/paper and on the telephone. These flimsy tools give a level of guts to people who otherwise wouldn’t confront. They feel not only strong, but vindicated by group sentiment without a thought to how their targets might be harmed.
Think the community Facebook page. Without any evidence, they carried right on “blaming” anyone who they had the slightest beef with. There’s an entertaining string of this late in the book where the FB group members mention guilt because of a “falling out”, being a “bit odd”, or “that hair of her’s is very odd”. All said of three different people.
You must also take into account the small-town community where everyone knows your business. To say nothing of the far too close relationships that are formed and move in destructive directions. The jealousy and pettiness among spouses, exes, and neighbors is nearly a living being.
This is the third book set in this town. I definitely want to read the other two.
November 13, 2021
Thanks to Netgalley for a copy of this book for an honest review.
Well that was unexpected! Small town pettiness leading to what the...moments. Was better than I thought it was going to be.
Well that was unexpected! Small town pettiness leading to what the...moments. Was better than I thought it was going to be.
December 30, 2025
A good quick read to get in before the end of the year. Had this one sitting on the book shelf from a store up north, one of those mystery book purchases, pleasantly surprised! 🙂
September 29, 2021
Trail of Destruction by Tracy Buchanan is a mystery about Ellie, the town of Forest Grove, and the town's Facebook group. Ellie somehow ends up the new moderator of the Forest Grove Facebook group, where most of the townspeople go to complain and gossip. Someone in the group is tired of the complaints, though, and starts pranking anyone who complains. The pranks get more and more dangerous, and Ellie starts researching the history of Forest Grove. She uncovers some very sad secrets. I really enjoyed this book; the setting and the townspeople really came to life. And the reveal of who was committing the pranks was outstanding. Thanks to NetGalley for the free digital review copy. All opinions are my own.
October 2, 2021
Gossipy neighbor drama? YES! Family mystery? Also YES! A sprinkle of romance?Again, YES! This book kept me guessing up until the reveal. Every single chapter had me second-guessing myself.
And there are MORE books set in Forest Grove?? I will be making some purchases and returning to this little village for more drama.
And there are MORE books set in Forest Grove?? I will be making some purchases and returning to this little village for more drama.
October 2, 2021
Gossipy neighbor drama? YES! Family mystery? Also YES! A sprinkle of romance?Again, YES! This book kept me guessing up until the reveal. Every single chapter had me second-guessing myself.
And there are MORE books set in Forest Grove?? I will be making some purchases and returning to this little village for more drama.
And there are MORE books set in Forest Grove?? I will be making some purchases and returning to this little village for more drama.
November 13, 2021
I need more of this little neighborhood!! Love these books!
October 13, 2021
Unforgettable and Wonderful Tale..............
Trail of destruction by Tracy Buchanan is a wonderful, fast and page -turner story set in Forest Grove. The plot is so gripping that you would not be able to take your eyes off. The characters may not seem perfect which makes the story more interesting. With each page the plot takes a new turn. The book has everything, Romance, Thrill and Suspense. Trail of Destruction is worth adding in your TBR. Also, to add the climax is mind boggling. I would surely give the book 5 stars. Thanks to Netgalley for giving me an opportunity to review the book.
Read more on bibliophileverse.blogspot.com
Trail of destruction by Tracy Buchanan is a wonderful, fast and page -turner story set in Forest Grove. The plot is so gripping that you would not be able to take your eyes off. The characters may not seem perfect which makes the story more interesting. With each page the plot takes a new turn. The book has everything, Romance, Thrill and Suspense. Trail of Destruction is worth adding in your TBR. Also, to add the climax is mind boggling. I would surely give the book 5 stars. Thanks to Netgalley for giving me an opportunity to review the book.
Read more on bibliophileverse.blogspot.com
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