Review of Beyond the Higher Ground

[havillah108]

[Following is a volunteer review of "Beyond the Higher Ground" by Thomas A. Brigger.]

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4 out of 4 stars

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Beyond the Higher Ground by Thomas A. Brigger is a page-turner that follows the life of Tucker Mason, a loner architect who struggles to move on after his wife's death. Mason is also from a broken home. Since he was a child, Tucker has been consumed by guilt over his younger brother's death. Tucker's father simply vanished after Randy's death, leaving Tucker in the care of his struggling mother.

When Mason is transferred to Bright's Mountain in Low Creek for a prison construction job, tragedy strikes, leaving him wondering who wants him dead and why. Tucker believes a local native wants to prevent him from building the prison. However when things become personal, he dismisses this notion.

Everyone on Bright's Mountain is surprised to learn that Cletus has rented out old Ansel's home to a stranger, Tucker, especially after the shocking news of Ansel's murder in his own home. Tucker is also upset about not knowing what is going on on the mountain and why someone is spray-painting warnings on his shop building and lighting a fire in his yard at night. The police are at a standstill, and Tucker is determined to solve the mystery, whether the house is haunted or not.

I appreciate that the book was written by a skilled builder who is also knowledgeable about the different facets of American culture. This improves your understanding of the narrative and makes it more captivating. I also admired Tucker's bravery in the novel; I was horrified by his choice to stay on Bright's Mountain in spite of the risk he faced and his lack of training in firearms and combat. The sluggish buildup of suspense at the beginning of the novel was the only aspect of it that I didn't enjoy.

Nonetheless, I give the author's writing four out of four stars because it is so flawless. I read the book without running into any errors. The characters' unadulterated emotions in the book were also simple for me to feel. Despite the book's length, I couldn't put it down when the story ended because it was so captivating.

If you like mystery and thriller whodunit books, you'll like this one. However, sensitive readers may find some parts of this book upsetting. It's also a great read for anyone struggling with loneliness or self-guilt. I recommend this entertaining read to both a young adult and an adult audience. It is not appropriate for children because it contains profanity.

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Beyond the Higher Ground
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