Reviewed by Craig Sisterson
In an isolated stretch of eastern Kentucky, on a hilltop known as Blade Ridge, stands a lighthouse that illuminates nothing but the surrounding woods. For years the lighthouse has been considered no more than an eccentric local landmark -- until its builder is found dead at the top of the light, and his belongings reveal a troubling local history.
For deputy sheriff Kevin Kimble, the lighthouse-keeper's death is disturbing and personal. Years ago, Kimble was shot while on duty. Somehow the death suggests a connection between the lighthouse and the most terrifying moment of his life.
Audrey Clark is in the midst of moving her large-cat sanctuary onto land adjacent to the lighthouse. Sixty-seven tigers, lions, leopards, and one legendary black panther are about to have a new home there. Her husband, the sanctuary's founder, died scouting the new property, and Audrey is determined to see his vision through.
As strange occurrences multiply at the Ridge, the animals grow ever more restless, and Kimble and Audrey try to understand what evil forces are moving through this ancient landscape, just past the divide between dark and light.
Back in 2009 in my early days of reviewing for magazines and newspapers I read and really enjoyed THE SILENT HOUR, the fourth novel in the Lincoln Perry private eye series from a new-for-me young author, Michael Koryta. I'd seen authors I really loved, like Michael Connelly, praise Koryta's books and he'd picked up a few awards/nominations too, so I gave him a go, and came away impressed.
As I wrote for the Nelson Mail almost twelve years ago now, "Koryta makes you want to turn the page, for the characters and the story, and when you get to the end, you want to go out and immediately find another of his books." As it turned out, that was to the final (so far?) book in Koryta's first series, but I did go on to read and really love several of his other books, as he took his writing in new directions.
Koryta's subsequent novels such as SO COLD THE RIVER (which a decade after its publication was last year being filmed for an upcoming movie, release date not yet announced) and THE CYPRESS HOUSE meshed horror with mystery/thrills.
In THE RIDGE, Koryta continued to explore the eerie end of the thriller spectrum with a captivating tale centred on a mysterious lighthouse in the Kentucky woods.
Lighthouses are common around rocky shorelines, but who would build one in the middle of a Kentucky forest, to light up the woods? When the builder of the eccentric local landmark is found dead, then strange occurrences continue to occur near the lighthouse, deputy sheriff Kevin Kimble wonders whether it may be linked to when he got shot by a woman who he still feels strongly connected to.
Meanwhile Audrey Clark is moving her big cat sanctuary to land near the lighthouse: sixty seven tigers, lions, leopards, and one legendary black panther. But the cats don't seem happy about their new home, and begin to grow increasingly restless. Is it the lighthouse, or something else in the woods?
Koryta delivers a novels that's pacy, exciting, mysterious, and atmospheric. He crafts memorable characters and scenarios, has a great narrative style, and keeps you guessing to the end.
The supernatural elements are finely balanced, adding to the tension of the story rather than overwhelming it, and those who have enjoyed Koryta's private eye and other 'straighter' crime novels should still find plenty to enjoy here. I was drawn in by the depth of the characters, and the atmospheric setting and symbolism that permeates the tale. Koryta vividly brings us into the lives of Deputy Kevin Kimble, Audrey Clark, and others. Interestingly, it's not just the human characters who have strong personalities. The big cats of Clark's sanctuary offer further layers of interest for readers.
In a tale about a weird lighthouse in the woods, this is a compelling story about light and dark from a very superb writer. Koryta's prose flows and sings. There's plenty of subtext and symbolism, little touches that aren't immediately apparent but add to the underlying themes and ideas of the book.
Overall, THE RIDGE is a masterful novel from a very fine storyteller who was really finding his groove after breaking through so young. Powerful storytelling.
Craig Sisterson is a lawyer turned features writer from New Zealand, now living in London. In recent years he’s interviewed hundreds of crime writers and talked about the genre on national radio, top podcasts, and onstage at books festivals on three continents. He has been a judge of the Ned Kelly Awards and the McIlvanney Prize, and is founder of the Ngaio Marsh Awards. You can heckle him on Twitter.
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