Review of Jeffery Deaver's "Roadside Crosses"

I just finished Roadside Crosses tonight by Jeffery Deaver and it was excellent, as expected. He writes thriller, suspense type novels that have a bit of mystery as well. This book was very exciting and fast-paced; it definitely kept me guessing, intrigued, and engrossed.

I'll try my best to give a brief summary, despite the story's complexities. It opens up with a roadside cross being discovered on a highway in California. In case you have been living under a rock, roadside crosses are usually put up in commemoration of people who were killed in auto accidents near the location of the death. People also place flowers and other small gifts, sometimes adorning the cross with names, dates, and decorations. The roadside cross that was spotted by a police officer was made of tree branches, and had a bouquet of red roses at the bottom of it. In the center was a date to signify the death... however, the date was for tomorrow. Hmm...

As the story evolves, it is discovered that someone is placing roadside crosses as a warning or sign of a murder they will be committing on the date written on the cross, usually today's date or the following day. The primary suspect is a high school boy, Travis, who has been viciously attacked on a very popular and widely read local blog, The Chilton Report. The blog reported a story in which Travis was blamed for an auto accident, killing two girls. Many of his fellow high school classmates left feedback on the blog, saying horrible things about him. Now that Agent Kathryn Dance, the lead investigator on the case, has suspected him, he has seemed to vanish, but the crosses keep appearing, and people who commented on the blog about Travis continue to be attacked.

I won't say more about the summary, but this has barely skimmed the surface. There is so much to this story, including many "twists and turns" and surprises. There are many subplots as well that make up a good portion of the story too, including an investigation into Agent Dance's mother, Edie, a nurse at the local hospital, being accused of committing a mercy killing on a patient.

I love Jeffery Deaver's novels, and this book was not a disappointment. The only thing I found negative about the book is that there is a lot going on and it can be a bit confusing at times. However, it all comes together at the end, just pay close attention! His books are very exciting and realistic crime stories. He knows his stuff too, as he used to be a lawyer. His books are quick paced and a ton of fun to read. As a supplement to the book, Deaver even created a Chilton Report blog, which is pretty neat. I would highly recommend this book. I was never really into the thriller/suspense genre until I started reading his books. I would also recommend his bestseller, The Bodies Left Behind, which I read a few months ago and also really enjoyed.

Currently Reading: Moments With Baxter by Melissa Joseph. This is a book of photos and short essays about an 18 year old therapy dog named Baxter. He "volunteers" at a hospice spending time with patients who are very ill or close to death to provide them comfort and joy. I heard about him through this video I saw. It's incredibly sad, because Baxter is old and has many ailments of his own including the inability to walk. However, I also think it is wonderful that he provides joy to many people when they need it the most. I am also starting Jessica's Guide to Dating on the Dark Side by Beth Fantaskey, a young adult novel that was recommended and loaned to me by my good friend, Stephanie.