Arcadia Falls by Carol Goodman
Summary: Meg Rosenthal is driving toward the next chapter in her life. Winding along a wooded roadway, her car moves through a dense forest setting not unlike one in the bedtime stories Meg used to read to her daughter, Sally. But the girl riding beside Meg is a teenager now, and has exchanged the land of make-believe for an iPod and some personal space. Too much space, it seems, as the chasm between them has grown since the sudden, unexpected death of Meg’s husband.
Dire financial straits and a desire for a fresh start take Meg and Sally from a comfortable life on Long Island to a tucked-away hamlet in upstate New York: Arcadia Falls, where Meg has accepted a teaching position at a boarding school. The creaky, neglected cottage Meg and Sally are to call home feels like an ill portent of things to come, but Meg is determined to make the best of it—and to make a good impression on the school’s dean, the diminutive, elegant Ivy St. Clare.
St. Claire, however, is distracted by a shocking crisis: During Arcadia’s First Night bonfire, one of Meg’s folklore students plunges to her death in a campus gorge. Sheriff Callum Reade finds the death suspicious, but then, he is a man with secrets and a dark past himself.
Meg is unnerved by Reade’s interest in the girl’s death, and as long-buried secrets emerge, she must face down her own demons and the danger threatening to envelop Sally. As the past clings tight to the present, the shadows, as if in a terrifying fairy tale, grow longer and deadlier.
My Thoughts: This was an excellent book full of surprising plot twists and amazing descriptive passages, making it easy for one to visualize the area in which the story takes place. This was yet another book on which I took a chance, and I am so glad that I did. I thought it sounded interesting, and that’s just half the story! Not only do we follow Meg’s story, but we also learn the truth behind the birth of the school, which is quite the intriguing story in and of itself. The characters are well-rounded, although I would have liked to have known more about Chloe. Overall, this was a fabulous story that I would definitely dub flashlight-worthy!
My Rating: 5 of 5 stars
Source: Received through Crazy Book Tours for review.
Read It: Get your own copy HERE.
FTC Disclosure: All items reviewed were either obtained by me for my own enjoyment or sent (from the author, publisher, publicist, via tour sites, etc.) in exchange for an honest review. I receive no monetary compensation for my posts. All opinions expressed are my own.
Post Footer automatically generated by Add Post Footer Plugin for wordpress.
Namine (169)
Freda (69)
Marce (49)
PK Reeves (43)
Krystal Larson (37)
Alexis @ Reflecti... (30)
Joy @ Edgy Inspir... (23)
Kah Woei (23)
Denise Z (22)
I do like the sound of this story — I’ve seen this around, but haven’t had a chance to track a copy down. Off to Paperbackswap.com I go!
Twitter: clutterboxblog
sounds intriguing!!
Ooh! Sounds good. Just added it to my TBR list. ;D
I just read and reviewed this one too. My first Goodman book, but not my last.
It was my first Goodman book, too. I definitely will be reading more of her books, too.
Going to mark this one down for Wish List.
Love the cover, set in motion with the feeling of urgency in the woods. Hmmm will run to get this one too!
Hmmm can you talk to my husband.. he doesn’t understand that books buying should be included in our budget….
LOL I wouldn’t be much help. My hubby doesn’t get it, either!