Book Blurb:
A heartbroken teacher in need of a change gets more than she bargained for in this page-turner thriller.
Never make a major life decision in the wake of emotional turmoil. Cassie Romano learned this the hard way, leaving sunny San Diego for a teaching position at a private school in the Catskill Mountains in upstate New York after a painful break-up left her heartbroken and in need of a change.
It all seemed so perfect in June when she came to interview. But now it’s December, and she’s stranded on top of a mountain surrounded by snow, ice, and acres of wilderness, lonelier than ever and bored out of her mind.
When a fellow teacher turns up dead and Cassie receives an unsettling letter from her a few days later, it’s clear to Cassie that something twisted is going on at Falcon Ridge Academy. Everyone seems to be writing the death off as a tragic accident, but she’s not so sure.
Cassie has secrets of her own, though, so she’s initially reluctant to get involved. Torn between the urge to protect herself and the desire to investigate further, she decides on the latter.
And the consequences could be deadly.
His Review:
Kimi is excited to have a new position at a prestigious finishing school in the mountains of central New York. She is a little uneasy about the competition for the coveted position of Headmaster but feels she has an open path to the position. An assisted fall down a steep staircase shatters that dream and takes her life.
Teaching summer classes is always a pain. The students are less than motivated and some of them are here from foreign countries learning English as a second language. The passing of Kimi puts everyone on edge including the entire staff of the school. Such a tragedy, a young life dying in such a tragic accident. The question on everyone’s mind, “Was it an accident”?
Compensation is good for this position and housing and food are supplied to the educators. A year or two in the position and there will be enough saved to buy a house back in California. Cassie hates the winters in upstate New York and cannot wait to get back to the beaches of southern California. She will leave as soon as the winter break at the school commences but being one of the newer teachers she is stuck with staying and teaching the students who cannot go home for break.
Madeline wants to be the head of the school’s administration. She has worked towards this goal and will let nothing stand in her way! Kimi seemed to have an inside track to the position but Madeline feels better qualified and worthy of the title. Why should an upstart get this plumb when Madeline has worked so hard?
This tale embraces the politics of a small teaching institution that caters to the very rich and foreign students. The characters are well developed and the plot simple but tragic. Avarice is a terrible taskmaster. Mix that with a mental condition and you have the ingredients for an interesting and heartrending tale. 4 stars – CE Williams
Many thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for providing me with the opportunity to read and review this book.
Rosepoint Publishing: Four Stars 
Book Details:
Genre: Domestic thrillers, Psychological Fiction
Publisher: Pathways Publishing
ASIN: B0CGQ2QCMN
Print Length: 253 pages
Publication Date: September 23, 2023
Source: Publisher and NetGalley
Title Link(s):
The Author: Bonnie Traymore is the award-winning author of suspenseful, page-turner, domestic and psychological thrillers that hit close to home. Her books consistently hit the hot new release page on Amazon. Her thrillers have been described as entertaining page-turners. They aren’t overly graphic and sometimes include occasional touches of romance and humor, but all in service of a fast-paced thriller read. The plots touch on disturbing topics such as sexual assault, revenge, murder, psychological disorders, and the complexities of human behavior, so they aren’t exactly cozy either. She aims to entertain and engage readers, and maybe freak them out a bit, but not give them nightmares. FYI, she likes to include multiple points of view in her books. If you like that, her books might be for you.
Originally from the New York City area, she lives in Honolulu with her family but frequents Hudson Valley, New York City, and the Bay Area. She has been reading mystery and thriller novels her entire life, and she’s been writing short stories and non-fiction for decades. She is also an award-winning non-fiction writer, historian, and educator. She’s taught at top independent schools in Honolulu, Silicon Valley, and New York City, and she’s taught history courses at Columbia University and the University of Hawaii.
Mystery Writers of America, Active Member
International Thriller Writers, Active Member
©2023 – CE Williams – V Williams
Rosepoint Publishing 