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THE
SUMMERLAND
T. L. Schaefer
Atlantic Bridge Publishing
ISBN: 0-9706913-0-0
December 2000
Romantic Suspense
THE SUMMERLAND is the first book by
T. L. Schaefer, and it's a doozy! First published as an ebook in
December 2000, and recently released in trade paperback, THE
SUMMERLAND is a nailbiter of a thriller with a depth and
complexity surprising for a debut author.
After exploring the bright lights of Los Angeles, Sheriff Bill
Ashton is content with his life in quiet little Mariposa,
California. His tranquility is shattered with the discovery of
five bodies in the foothills of Yosemite. As his investigation
team realizes that the five women are actually ritual
sacrifices, yet another young woman goes missing, leaving behind
a flashy red sportscar and a bag full of money.
Arden Jones is an Air Force officer used to the turmoil her
sister inflicts on her life, but this latest stunt is extreme,
even for Samantha, for it is Arden's car that Samantha was
driving when she disappeared. When Arden arrives in Mariposa to
help search for her sister, she never expects to be drawn to the
town sheriff. Bill and Arden's mutual attraction muddles the
investigation.
T. L. Schaefer has produced a thriller that is the total
package. Her characters are complex and believable, with clear
motivation and realistic reactions to the extraordinary
circumstances in which they find themselves. The depth of Ms.
Schaefer's research into the religion of Wicca adds a creepy
twist to the standard abduction plot, showing what evil can
ensue when otherwise admirable tenets are bent to suit the
believer's needs. Ms. Schaefer does a nice job hiding the
identity of the killer, although readers will most likely figure
it out well ahead of the Mariposa crime team. Supporting
characters are no less convincing, including the comically named
FBI officer, Frank Drebin, and Josie Galloway, the Wiccan
priestess who assists in the investigation.
THE SUMMERLAND is a terrific book, but some readers may be put
off by the number of editing oversights, particularly the
unrelenting misuse of it's as a possessive pronoun. Ms.
Schaefer's writing, however, is so compelling that it transcends
such mundane irritations. Many Atlantic Bridge releases have
very appealing covers that invite potential readers to pick the
books up and explore them. The cover of THE SUMMERLAND is not
one of AB's best--the blue on black is hard to see, and while
readers familiar with Wicca may have some understanding of the
cover art, more mainstream readers may think it's just a
simplistic, generic graphic. Having read the book, readers may
also question the cover phrase, which gives a misleading idea of
what the book is about and what The Summerland actually is.
None of this criticism can be directed at the author, who takes
her readers on an imaginative journey full of hairpin turns and
surprising developments. The good news is that the cover of THE
BROTHERHOOD is much nicer, with its elegantly straightforward
depiction of a man's ring. THE BROTHERHOOD, a January 2004
release, is a return visit to Mariposa, this time focusing on
Josie Galloway and Doug Brewster, Bill Ashton's deputy. T. L.
Schaefer has built a thoroughly satisfying body of work in the
short time since THE SUMMERLAND was originally released. Fans of
romantic suspense and thrillers will be well rewarded for
treating themselves to Ms. Schaefer's work. |
Reviewed by Mellanie
Crowther
Rating:
 
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