Title: Terror in Six Mile Canyon
Author: Patricia Redican
Publisher: Urlink Print and Media, LLC
ISBN: 978-1684865864
Pages: 294
Genre: Thriller & Suspense
Reviewed by: Lily Amanda
Pacific Book Review
Terror in Six Mile Canyon is the second book in a diptych series penned by Patricia Redican and can be read as a standalone. Here, the author writes an unnerving story with affecting characterization set in the old mining town of Virginia City, Nevada. When Rebecca’s dad finds gold on a property he had purchased in Six Mile Canyon, it dawns on his family that he has gained some enemies who are keen on getting the gold. Tim, one of the men who was terrorizing Rebecca’s family and the one behind the threats, was now behind bars.
However, Rebecca soon learns their troubles are not over. Joe, one of those working for Tim and who had later turned himself in, had turned up on Rebecca’s friend, Vicky’s living room floor carpet badly beaten up. Was this a subtle message being delivered to Rebecca? Vicky, on the other hand, experienced troubles of her own. Having purchased an old Victorian house on mortgage, she needed a housemate to help out with the payment of the house. Her suspicions are raised when she meets Amy, her new housemate who seemed to hide more with her smile than she was letting on. When Rebecca and Vicky later vanish without a trace, Steven, Rebecca’s brother, and Tom, Vicky’s brother and the local sheriff, are determined to find them, soon realizing that it will be no easy task. And why is Lorelei, a one-hundred-year-old ghost that had appeared to Rebecca three months ago on the apparition, so determined to help her?
Patricia offers an atmospheric backdrop of nature making her work come alive before our eyes. The glistening of the snow into a million tiny crystals in the winter sun, the cold temperatures, the hills overlooking the valleys, and the warmth of the sunshine on Christmas day are among the descriptions of the unique environment that further develops the plot. Part suspense and part romance, the author infuses historical details of this pleasantly old-fashioned town and a touch of the paranormal in her work, the result being a literary feat which transcends many genres. Great characterization, too, impacted my reading, making me feel these fictional figures were like my next-door neighbors, and I felt I was right there taking part.
Terror in Six Mile Canyon by Patricia Redican is a well-plotted mystery with a neatly done cover page and well-thought-out title that gives readers an idea of what to expect inside. The prose is lyrical and contributes positively to the reading experience. Its satisfactory conclusion is also an added advantage to the reader. Outdoor enthusiasts who also enjoy mystery thrillers will find another successful story in Patricia’s work.
