Blue Mountain

Calaveras Crime #1

by Lisa Michelle

It’s been the year from hell for Jessica Williams. Her cheating husband not only bankrupted them—he’s been indicted. Now the rat bastard has disappeared. Thank God for Nana. Jess couldn’t survive without the old woman’s wisdom and brutal honesty. But when her beloved Nana is arrested and held responsible for the largest mass murder in Calaveras County history Jess suspects her husband may be one of Nana’s latest victims.As the oldest inmate at the cramped county jail, Nana also holds the honor of being the only suspected serial killer ever housed there. With her life hanging by a thread, Nana is granted deathbed visitation and Jess demands the truth. But as shocking confessions unfold, Jess is forced into a relentless pursuit for justice. Armed with Nana’s fragmented and sinister past, Jess could unearth secrets so dark and twisted they will destroy her.

Genres: Audiobook, Thriller, Mystery, Fiction

280 pages, Kindle Edition

First published September 26, 2021

About the author

Award-winning screenwriter, filmmaker, and bestselling author Lisa Michelle traded rodeo spurs for hiking boots three decades ago. Her debut thriller Calaveras became an Amazon instant bestseller, launching the successful Blue Mountain and the Calaveras Crime Series. After being snowbound without electricity during winter 2023, she penned The Lonesome Dark. Her recently released and only work of nonfiction, True Nature: Hidden in the High Sierra, earned a PenCraft Best Book Award. This former rodeo cowgirl and mother of two feeds her creative fuel with long wilderness hikes, raging snowstorms, and fly fishing.

Reviews

[Brianca · Rating 4 out of 5]

Old lady serial killers… sign me up 😂

[Lisa]

Nope, not for me.

[The Girl with the Sagittarius Tattoo · Rating 1 out of 5]

Not grabbing me at all. DNF @ 27%.

[Darlene Avery · Rating 5 out of 5]

outstanding

Great book! So thankful I stumbled upon this author. She keeps you on the edge of your seat. Can not wait to read the next book in the series and will be recommending to all my friends and family.

“Once in a great while the world points you in the right direction, and when it does you’d best look.”

[Morgan Pedersen · Rating 3 out of 5]

I was ready to rate it 4/5 but the ending fell flat for me😢

[Kayla · Rating 5 out of 5]

I really liked the main character in this book-- she is tough, courageous, and does whatever she needs to do to get the truth. From a writing standpoint, Blue Mountain was at a pace that kept me hooked all the way through. Lisa Michelle implemented smart storylines and plot twists that were probable and well-executed. I can't wait to read the rest in the series :)

[Natalie Petley · Rating 2 out of 5]

This book started off so good. The first 70% were great, but then went down hill after that. Really disappointed with the ending.

[Whitney · Rating 3 out of 5]

Some parts were excellent and some parts were terrible.

[Brandi Dornon · Rating 4 out of 5]

This one was good! I kinda wanted it to be a little more unhinged though 🤣🤦🏽‍♀️

[Bethany Hughes · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5 ⭐️

The end was pretty anticlimactic for me.

[Cathy · Rating 4 out of 5]

I found this a bit hard going at first but once it picked up I was interested to find out what was happening with Nana and the bodies. It all went a bit crazy when Jessica was running from Police and skipping off to Canada with a stowaway. I was happy how it ended but it was a strange journey.

[Holanda · Rating 2 out of 5]

It started really good, couldn’t put it down. Then grandma died and so did the book.

[Andrea · Rating 5 out of 5]

What an amazing book!! I loved the story line and description in this book so much. The character development is fantastic and I love how it’s an old and new story woven together. One of the best ending I’ve read.

[Lori Gallant · Rating 5 out of 5]

Outstanding!

Not too many books hook me from the get go. This one did that! I highly recommend you check this one out. I loved Jessica and Nana. Nana is a feisty little thing. Reminded me of myself. (I'm a female. The account is under my husbands name.)

[lex · Rating 1 out of 5]

wtf did I just read? And I mean that in the worst way. The author had a plan, then decided to had more plot points, change the trajectory from “grandpa arrested for being a serial killer but actually kinda was but died before trial but 1/3 of the book is granny’s backstory” to “main character has identity crisis and decides to go find her husband who apparently is obsessed with Bigfoot in Canada” to “finding her husband to kill him but also has a teenager break into her trailer who nearly dies of an overdose so she rescues him and if becomes another random plot” to “set husband up to get caught but seduces him in the most cringe way you almost stopped the book entirely”

This book was potentially but jc did the author piss it down the drain. Don’t recommend and take it off your tbr if it’s on there.

[Trisha · Rating 3 out of 5]

I would not call this a “thriller”, it was definitely more of a drama. I was so excited to read about a serial-killing Nana, and HER story did not disappoint. However, when I passed the halfway point, the whole story seemed to shift. Instead of the Nana’s backstory, it changed to her granddaughter and her husband. Seriously?? I wanted more of Nana! When the story focused on her granddaughter instead, it was….ok. I kept hoping that it would go back to the diaries and backstory, but it seemed like we were just done with that, and sadly, Nana had become more of a side-story rather than the premise. It was an ok ending, but I wish that it would have followed the Nana’s story more rather than shifting in a different direction.

[Sea Caummisar · Rating 4 out of 5]

Well wasnt that a fun read....
My fave was Winnie's childhood, living with her grandmother (and her being a mini trouble maker lol).
Nana telling her story from her deathbed was neat, to say the least. This book was full of wit (eg Mr. Truman ; Mr. Not a True Man lol).
Nana's confessions were the best part of the book. When it switched to Jess's story, for some reason, I just didn't care for it as much as Nana's story. I recommend this book to people who like unraveling mystery and a bit of thrill

[Cattie Whaley · Rating 4 out of 5]

What a whirlwind!

When I first started this book, I wasn't sure about it. Jess was a bit of a lacking character starting out. Too much whoa-is-me. But as the story progressed, her character grew and became a great main character. I really had no idea where the book was going to take me and I liked that about the storyline. Everything worked well and when the ending came, I wanted more. I really enjoyed this book. Highly recommend

[Marlene Waldron · Rating 4 out of 5]

Excellent read!

Is Nana a serial killer and did she use her hogs to destroy the evidence? Well, see that's a tagline that should suck anyone into this story. Lots of flashbacks, but its all so intense that you look down and wonder how you'd read 100 pages. Nana isn't who she seems to be, never had been, but is she a killer? You should definitely read it and find out because the answer isn't as black and white as the reader fist thinks.

[Lisa Schawe · Rating 3 out of 5]

Such promise!

I had such high hopes for this book—right up until the last chapter. I loved the way the author made Jess real and made her a flawed Christian, because that’s the only kind there is! But for some reason, the ending—which I won’t spoil—seemed unsatisfying. Then again, it’s making me question my own faith and what I would’ve done in Jessica’s situation, so maybe that was the author’s intent.

Either way, I want to read Book two!

[Melissa L · Rating 1 out of 5]

I actually didn’t finish this. Like many other comments, the story was sooo good! Until it wasn’t. Suddenly we are in Canada, chasing the husband who killed people & horses, because he was hunting big foot. Oh. And now there’s a random stowaway who is going through withdrawal from heroine? It should have wrapped up when nana died. I became completely disinterested at 85% so I abandoned it. Such a shame!

[Shanda Lasure · Rating 1 out of 5]

This is what I get for finding a random book available on hoopla when all the good ones are on hold. This could have been a good story, Nana’s character was flawed and lovable. Instead it starts out with her in the hospital dying AND she’s suspected of being a serial character? I’m fascinated that it’s a series, had so much potential to immediately start with some clarity and finish some plots and leave you wanting a second book, but sadly it wasn’t that.

[Tylynn Kuralt · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.75 Stars:
I picked this book up because I thought the cover looked cool. I liked the characters and the pacing of this story, and the atmosphere felt immersive. This book would probably make a good movie.

After reading the author bio: "Award-winning screenwriter, filmmaker, and bestselling author Lisa Michelle traded rodeo spurs for hiking boots three decades ago" my last thought makes a ton of sense!

[Becky Patterson · Rating 4 out of 5]

My measure of a "good" book is one that takes me into it and allows me to see and feel the written words. Blue Mountain certainly did that. Michelle's descriptive prose had me slogging through mud, pushing back bushes and driving through a treacherous whiteout. The pace was perfect, the characters incredibly vivid. And, the ending ..............oh, yeah. That ending !

[Kathleen Bohle · Rating 5 out of 5]

totally enjoyable

I wasn’t sure what to expect, so I was happy to read an entertaining, well written story. I love reading about women who find out that they are stronger than they thought they were. I’m happy that Jess found her strength and a family. Thank you Lisa Michelle, this a very well written story and I look forward to reading more from you.

[Sebastian Camacho Gutierrez · Rating 2 out of 5]

I am sorry. I met the writer of this book and she is super nice! But this book almosy gave me a readers block. I took so long to finish it and it’s not a long book. Best parts were nana’s stories and the rest seemed so confusing sometimes and other times unnecessary.
The ending felt so rushed? I was somewhat disappointed. Glad i finished it.

[Brittany · Rating 2 out of 5]

Ummmm wtf????

While I LOVED the first 50% of this book. The last 50% was dumb.
Spoiler below
















Big foot hunting? Her husband killed horses and disposed of bodies for the cartel so he could go big foot hunting? This was the stupidest twist I have ever read in a book. Makes me regret ever picking it up. And it was shaping up to be so good!

[Heather Botero · Rating 4 out of 5]

I just stumbled upon this book on hoopla and don’t know why I never heard about it! Loved it? Nanas story was sad but her vengeance was always so creative. I cannot believe what she did for the first one, it’s something I have never heard of and I don’t know where the author came up with it but mind blown 🤯. The ending did feel a bit rushed.

[Sheila · Rating 4 out of 5]

I was really wrapped up in this book or story with Nana/jane/effie whatever you want to call her.
Did Nana kill those people?
I really enjoyed Nana’s story I just wish we could have finished with Nana telling it.
I do like Jess or Nana’s grand daughter however I felt the end fell a little flat for me although it wasn’t bad and a very good story.

[lisa henry · Rating 5 out of 5]

What a ride!

Loved Nana and how she rubbed off on Jessica, her granddaughter. Two of the best and most unique murder scenes I've ever read. Appreciate the fast pace and The ending was perfect.