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1 Ragged Ridge Road
Estranged from her husband, Carol Robbins and her young son transform a mansion into the Christmas Inn bed and breakfast, before learning of the bizarre, unsolved double murder of the mansion's former owners
- GenresMystery
352 pages, Hardcover
First published May 1, 1997
22 people are currently reading
293 people want to read
About the author
Leonard Foglia
5 books10 followersLEONARD FOGLIA is co-author, with David Richards of the mystery novels 1 RAGGED RIDGE ROAD, FACE DOWN IN THE PARK. As well as the thriller series THE SUDARIUM TRILOGY: THE SURROGATE, THE SON AND THE SAVIOR which have been published in Spain, Mexico, Brazil, Poland and Russian and will be available in the US in the fall of 2011.
Mr. Foglia is also a theater and opera director as well as librettist. His work has been seen on Broadway, across the country as well as internationally.
His theater credits include the original Broadway productions of MASTER CLASS (with Zoe Caldwell, Patti LuPone, Dixie Carter and Faye Dunaway), THURGOOD (with Laurence Fishburne) and THE PEOPLE IN THE PICTURE (with Donna Murphy) as well as the revivals of WAIT UNTIL DARK (with Quentin Tarantino and Marisa Tomei) and ON GOLDEN POND (with James Earl Jones and Leslie Uggams). Off Broadway (and on national tour) he directed Anna Deavere Smith’s LET ME DOWN EASY.
His opera credits include the premiers of three operas by Jake Heggie – MOBY DICK, THREE DECEMBERS and THE END OF THE AFFAIR. His production of Heggie’s DEAD MAN WALKING has been seen across the country.
As a librettist his opera CRUZAR LA CARA DE LA LUNA (To Cross the Face of the Moon) had it’s premier at Houston Grand Opera in 2010 and was performed at the Théâtre du Châtelet in Paris in the fall of 2011.
Mr. Foglia is also a theater and opera director as well as librettist. His work has been seen on Broadway, across the country as well as internationally.
His theater credits include the original Broadway productions of MASTER CLASS (with Zoe Caldwell, Patti LuPone, Dixie Carter and Faye Dunaway), THURGOOD (with Laurence Fishburne) and THE PEOPLE IN THE PICTURE (with Donna Murphy) as well as the revivals of WAIT UNTIL DARK (with Quentin Tarantino and Marisa Tomei) and ON GOLDEN POND (with James Earl Jones and Leslie Uggams). Off Broadway (and on national tour) he directed Anna Deavere Smith’s LET ME DOWN EASY.
His opera credits include the premiers of three operas by Jake Heggie – MOBY DICK, THREE DECEMBERS and THE END OF THE AFFAIR. His production of Heggie’s DEAD MAN WALKING has been seen across the country.
As a librettist his opera CRUZAR LA CARA DE LA LUNA (To Cross the Face of the Moon) had it’s premier at Houston Grand Opera in 2010 and was performed at the Théâtre du Châtelet in Paris in the fall of 2011.
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Displaying 1 - 23 of 23 reviews
July 9, 2022
I don't often give one star ratings, I came very close to not giving any stars at all! What a boring uninteresting book! I will admit that when I purchased it from Amazon, I thought it was a ghost story, boy was I unpleasantly surprised to find out it was just a mystery, and not a very good one at that. Even the main mystery at the heart of the story was not very exciting. It starts in 1920 something when a rich socialite is murdered in her own bedroom and a very expensive necklace goes missing. Her husband is found dead from an apparent suicide. 70-years later, this family buys the house. The husband conveniently disappears from the story and the wife decides to restore the house and turn it into a B&B. And that my friends is the jist of the story. So, so boring.
September 30, 2019
So many suspects!
This book was a five 🌟 for sure! It was what I would call a complete murder mystery - from beginning to end. The facts and clues were presented chapter after chapter. In the, the Ragged Ridge Road murders were solved, even if it was 70 years after the fact.
Carol, the main character, was a strong person and an outstanding mother. She was a loyal friend and longed for the truth. Her work ethic was to be admired.
One of the characters who was supposedly a good guy, turned out to be a bad guy. What a surprise!!
This book gives the reader a feeling of satisfaction, from my perspective.
This book was a five 🌟 for sure! It was what I would call a complete murder mystery - from beginning to end. The facts and clues were presented chapter after chapter. In the, the Ragged Ridge Road murders were solved, even if it was 70 years after the fact.
Carol, the main character, was a strong person and an outstanding mother. She was a loyal friend and longed for the truth. Her work ethic was to be admired.
One of the characters who was supposedly a good guy, turned out to be a bad guy. What a surprise!!
This book gives the reader a feeling of satisfaction, from my perspective.
October 29, 2019
Seventy years is a long te to wait....
Whether it be the answer about a missng necklace or the idenitiy of murderer! Kennedy Mansion seems to be a perfect way for Carol Roblns to occupy her time as she and her son wait for her husband to return from a military postng n Germany. It has everything needed to make a great B&B, well, everything except a lot of hard work. A great mystery with a touch of ronmance. Heartly recommended.
Whether it be the answer about a missng necklace or the idenitiy of murderer! Kennedy Mansion seems to be a perfect way for Carol Roblns to occupy her time as she and her son wait for her husband to return from a military postng n Germany. It has everything needed to make a great B&B, well, everything except a lot of hard work. A great mystery with a touch of ronmance. Heartly recommended.
April 23, 2013
This is a 2.5 rating for me. More than "ok" but can't quite say I "liked it". The plot was a good one, but the writing wasn't that great. And the editing or transition to an ebook or whatever caused the atrocious grammar, spelling, typos, etc. It was absolutely distracting, especially in the second half of the book. Quite a few "nre"s that were really "me"s, "l"s that were really "t"s, "be" instead of "he", periods instead of commas, capital letters instead of lowercase. Sometimes I couldn't even figure out what the word was supposed to be, and it took away from just being able to read the story.
POSSIBLE SPOILERS (but not really):
A couple other things: What man in his 30s uses the work "Jeepers"?! And what woman can fit a CAN OF SPRAY paint in her pocket (she wasn't wearing a coat)?!
Also, Clem is freaked about about Carol poking around behind or in his fireplace or something like that, and it was never brought up again. Even when they renovated the room, they didn't mention checking to see what Clem was worried they would find.
I kept reading hoping it would get better, but it didn't. The marriage wasn't explored enough, the characters not developed enough and again, the awful editing didn't help.
I didn't hate it but I didn't like it, either. One of only two ebooks I've actually paid for and I'm a little disappointed in this choice.
POSSIBLE SPOILERS (but not really):
A couple other things: What man in his 30s uses the work "Jeepers"?! And what woman can fit a CAN OF SPRAY paint in her pocket (she wasn't wearing a coat)?!
Also, Clem is freaked about about Carol poking around behind or in his fireplace or something like that, and it was never brought up again. Even when they renovated the room, they didn't mention checking to see what Clem was worried they would find.
I kept reading hoping it would get better, but it didn't. The marriage wasn't explored enough, the characters not developed enough and again, the awful editing didn't help.
I didn't hate it but I didn't like it, either. One of only two ebooks I've actually paid for and I'm a little disappointed in this choice.
September 6, 2013
I thought this was one of the most suspenseful books I've read in a while.
When a couple buys a large Victorian house known as the Kennedy Mansion, she is determined to renovate it into a bed and breakfast when he receives orders to go to Germany with the Army. As Carol gets into the renovations, she becomes curious about the original owners, Charles and Veronica Kennedy. Veronica was murdered in her bedroom and a diamond necklace was stolen. Charles became distraught over her murder and threw himself in front of a train. At least, this is what everyone thought until Carol started her investigations which really stirred up the town. She receives threatening phone calls as well as letters advising her to leave things alone. She goes to the local historian to uncover information about the house and the woman is very hostile to her. Carol doesn't understand why everyone is so against the renovation but is determined to solve the old mystery.
When a couple buys a large Victorian house known as the Kennedy Mansion, she is determined to renovate it into a bed and breakfast when he receives orders to go to Germany with the Army. As Carol gets into the renovations, she becomes curious about the original owners, Charles and Veronica Kennedy. Veronica was murdered in her bedroom and a diamond necklace was stolen. Charles became distraught over her murder and threw himself in front of a train. At least, this is what everyone thought until Carol started her investigations which really stirred up the town. She receives threatening phone calls as well as letters advising her to leave things alone. She goes to the local historian to uncover information about the house and the woman is very hostile to her. Carol doesn't understand why everyone is so against the renovation but is determined to solve the old mystery.
September 19, 2010
This was a fun mystery to read - it tells two stories. The first, set in present day Pennsylvania, is about a woman named Carol Robbins, who finds the mansion on 1 Ragged Ridge Road and wants to restore it to its original glory and make it into a bed and breakfast. As she does so, she learns that the original owners were killed in a bizarre double murder that was never solved. The story of this murder is woven throughout the book and becomes the second story in the book. As Carol begins to uncover evidence that points to who did the murder, she ends up putting her life and that of her son in terrible jeopardy.
July 1, 2020
A dream mansion... or a nightmare?
A very well written story about a young wife, Carol Roblins, and her military husband, who buy an old dilapidated mansion in which, decades ago, a horrible crime was committed.
When her husband goes to Germany on a mission, she decides to restore the old mansion and little by little, she discovers the history of the family that built her.
With a healthy dose of mistery and suspense, the authors guide us through memories of the murderer woven into Carol's day-to-day life as she restores the house and turns it into an inn, while discovering the events that ended the life of the former owners of the mansion.
A very well written story about a young wife, Carol Roblins, and her military husband, who buy an old dilapidated mansion in which, decades ago, a horrible crime was committed.
When her husband goes to Germany on a mission, she decides to restore the old mansion and little by little, she discovers the history of the family that built her.
With a healthy dose of mistery and suspense, the authors guide us through memories of the murderer woven into Carol's day-to-day life as she restores the house and turns it into an inn, while discovering the events that ended the life of the former owners of the mansion.
February 4, 2016
Heaven only knows how long this book has sat on my bookshelf just waiting to be read. Looks like my paperback was printed in 1998--so 14 years??? I'm sure that when I bought it I thought it was going to be a spooky ghost story and it was not. It was really a mystery about a murder that happened many years previous--the parallels, the repercussions and the eventual solving. All in all it was a decent book.
February 11, 2017
After her husband leaves to work abroad for a year, Carol and her son Sammy, move into an old mansion. Carol decides to renovate it to be a bed-and-breakfast, little realising what she will uncover in the process. This was a fairly good mystery-who-dunnit with several suspects, suspicious behaviour, and several chapters which take place in the past. It just slightly overstayed its welcome and could have been a couple of chapters shorter. Rating: 3 stars.
May 9, 2013
This is a great book. The setting is close to where I live so I'm right there in Ragged Ridge Inn. The plot, mystery, characters are awesome. I've read this book several times. Have the in hard copy and was thrilled to discover it's on Kindle. If you enjoy twists and turns, this is a great read any time of the year.
June 1, 2014
Murder and intrigue in the life of Carol Robbins as grows from being fearful and alone to self-sufficient and likeable. Her ignorance about Walker's feelings was a little unbelievable. She had signals flying all over the place. I was surprised at her final choice for an affair. But, overall the book held my attention.
February 24, 2014
Good book with two interwoven stories. One is set in the present about a woman who wants 2 turn her home into a B&B. The second concerns a double murder that took place in the house and the woman's determination 2 solve the murder. The novel has some interesting turns and a surprise (2 me) ending.
July 1, 2015
Merry Christmas
A heart warming tale. Filled with murder, intrigue, laughter and tears. Foraging new friendships and family separations. Mean spirited people wrecking havoc in the lives of others. And best of all bridging old hurts. Enjoy a greAt story.
A heart warming tale. Filled with murder, intrigue, laughter and tears. Foraging new friendships and family separations. Mean spirited people wrecking havoc in the lives of others. And best of all bridging old hurts. Enjoy a greAt story.
March 20, 2013
Pretty good, not really big on mysteries but this one was pretty good.
June 11, 2013
I enjoyed the story, but the many typos in the Kindle edition were very distracting.
books-i-ve-won-but-havent-read-yet
April 24, 2013I received this book from the Goodreads giveaway. I just started reading it and it seems really interesting. I will update this review and rate the book when I am finished reading it.
December 30, 2014
I did not like this book to much, It was too predictable and corny.
September 3, 2014
Suspenseful
From the moment I began reading this book,I couldn't put it down. Very well-written. Full of twist and turns. Keeps you guessing to the very end.
From the moment I began reading this book,I couldn't put it down. Very well-written. Full of twist and turns. Keeps you guessing to the very end.
September 23, 2014
Light reading
Good for a light reading. Not a lot of thinking required to read it. Okay for passing the time.
Have fun.
Good for a light reading. Not a lot of thinking required to read it. Okay for passing the time.
Have fun.
May 26, 2015
Kept my attention
Thanks to a day off of work I was able to read this in one sitting. It kept me guessing up to the end... my favorite kind of book.
Thanks to a day off of work I was able to read this in one sitting. It kept me guessing up to the end... my favorite kind of book.
June 9, 2016
This book is definitely not for me. It is in the gothic genre. I could not get into it at all.
April 13, 2017
When I started this book I didn't think it was for me! But the more I read, it intrigued me to continue. It goes from 70 years ago, then changes to today, back and forth when Carol Roblins and her husband Blake buy the old Kennedy Mansion in rural Pennsylvania. Blake is in the Army and goes on assignment to Germany while Carol starts to renovate the old mansion getting more and more into the mystery of the original owners deaths.
Read
March 12, 2019Loved it, excellent book. Need to find more from them.
Displaying 1 - 23 of 23 reviews