Road to Nowhere

Paul Robertson’s second novel, Road to Nowhere, is, get this, about a road. Yes, you read that right. And yes, it is a novel and not a commentary on pork barrel politics, though politics get fair play in the storyline. Not only that, it’s a novel about a road–and murder, suspense, and intrigue–that is at turns funny, engaging, and thoroughly engrossing. It’s a novel about a road that I could not put down until I had completely devoured it!

From the publisher:

There’s no trouble like a road…

In all the years Joe Esterhouse has served on the board of supervisors for Wardsville, North Carolina, never has a single piece of paper caused so much trouble. But after he reads it aloud at a meeting, this quiet little community will nearly be torn apart.

It’s a simple invitation to complete the long-delayed Gold River Highway project but behind it are the reek of corruption and the shadow of something even more dangerous. With millions at stake in land and development deals—and millions to be lost for those in the road’s way—everyone has something at stake.

As neighbor turns on neighbor, the weight of the decision falls on the members of the Wardsville board. Their vote will determine the fate of the project and the future of the town. But when someone may have gone as far as cold-blooded murder, is anyone safe?

Robertson weaves his tale through the use of varying points of view which at first is a little confusing for the reader. After something of a slow start, Robertson hits his stride, and the reader begins to both recognize and enjoy the various personality quirks of each character. Though it is a novel about a road, it is really a novel about truth and consequences and the lengths humans will go in order to preserve their own self interest. The good and the evil are not so clear cut and neither is the ending. I hate it when I can figure out how the book ends long before I get there! No such danger in this book. Robertson kept me hanging right up to the last page–the very best kind of suspense!

I also liked this book for personal reasons. I am a small town girl and Robertson’s description of small town relationships was spot on. Plus, one of the heroes in the story is a civil engineer who even gets to use his measure wheel to save the town! I am admittedly partial to civil engineers with a measure wheel in the back of their truck, having married one, you see.

I read Robertson’s first novel, The Heir, last year (see my thoughts here) and enjoyed his clever writing and smart wit so I was excited about reading this his second novel. Road to Nowhere did not disappoint.

Interested? Read an excerpt here.

Wife and mother, Bible teacher and blogger, Lisa loves Jesus, coffee, dark chocolate and, of course, books. Read more of her reflections at Lisa writes….