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Cedardale Court (The First Road) [Kindle Edition]

Nathan Lee Christensen
4.2 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (58 customer reviews)

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Book Description

Full of daring fools, haunting old flames, and brimming with panicked villainy, the Oregon countryside was meant to solve Canner Connelly’s problems, not make them worse. But, after their well-intentioned move to Cedardale Court, the safety and peace of mind he’s longed for since the passing of his wife, for him and his daughter, Chloe, might be farther away than ever.
Almost as soon as the sun comes up, the promising start at Uncle Henry’s falls rather short when the ever inept inhabitants of Cedardale Court start their days. One domestic dispute, a little reckless driving, and a broken fire hydrant later, what normally might have been an enjoyable Sunday morning quickly turns into a slightly darker affair when a human hand turns up in the bushes.
From then on, things only get messier and more frightfully uncertain as, one by one, the secrets that have been so carefully kept, for so very long, unravel for everyone.
*A neo-gothic fabulation, bordered on the lines of hysterical realism, wrapped up in a quirky little murder mystery*


Product Details

  • File Size: 599 KB
  • Print Length: 253 pages
  • Simultaneous Device Usage: Unlimited
  • Sold by: Amazon Digital Services, Inc.
  • Language: English
  • ASIN: B005THDM5E
  • Text-to-Speech: Enabled
  • X-Ray: Enabled
  • Lending: Enabled
  • Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #334,867 Paid in Kindle Store (See Top 100 Paid in Kindle Store)
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Customer Reviews

It really hooked me and pulled me in to the book. Tiffany A. Harkleroad  |  8 reviewers made a similar statement
I am looking forward to Nathan's next release! Judy  |  8 reviewers made a similar statement
Most Helpful Customer Reviews
38 of 38 people found the following review helpful
5.0 out of 5 stars I love the dark humor in this thriller November 9, 2011
Format:Kindle Edition
Canner has taken his daughter, Chloe, to live with Uncle Henry, in the hopes that a nice quiet life will help them forget their loss. But life on Cedardale Court turns out to be, well, not so quiet. When an accident reveals the death of a local teacher, everyone is stumped as to why she was killed, and who did it. Turns out, pretty much everyone on Cedardale Court has a secret.

I am a huge fan of dark humor, of thrillers that make me snigger and snort. So, this book? Right up my alley. While the main intention of the story is a murder mystery/thriller, the writing is done in such a witty, droll manner that one cannot help but laugh at parts. Some of the villains in the story are so unlikely, bumbling and tripping their way through their nefarious deeds. Not since watching "The Trouble with Harry" have I giggled so much over a dead body. I just loved it.

Each character has their own unique story to tell, which flows nicely in the overall plot. It is almost like individual strands being woven together into a sinister tapestry. Everyone really does have a secret, and I love that slowly, all the secrets are revealed in the story. By learning each character's story or secret, the reader feels connected to them, slowly, without realizing it is even happening. It really hooked me and pulled me in to the book.

I think that fans of thrillers and murder mysteries will like the book, but I truly hope the readers will enjoy the wry humor of the writing as well, because to me that is what makes the book so memorable.
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25 of 25 people found the following review helpful
5.0 out of 5 stars Wierdly wonderful January 14, 2012
Format:Kindle Edition
Just finished this quirky brillant novel. Totally uxpected...a mystery...character study...many prettily turned phrases...with odd twists n turns and awell crafted coming full circle ending that I loved. Very well written & an exceptional way to spend a winter day. Please PLEASE do write your second novel so I can have it w/ me in Egypt this summer!
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24 of 24 people found the following review helpful
4.0 out of 5 stars Cedardale Court January 4, 2012
Format:Kindle Edition
I was contacted by the author himself to give the book a chance then to post my thoughts, whether I loved or hated it. I have to admit it has taken a while to get around to reading it due to the influx of books I had received, this week being a 'work free week' gave me time to sit and read some books and try to make my way through the ever growing pile. From the moment I started Cedardale Court I had one thought, why didn't I start this sooner??

Cedardale Court introduces us to Canner and his daughter Chloe as they are moving from their previous home, to go to move in with Uncle Henry. Their first day there is full of surprise, when a car crashing into a water hydrant results in bones and body part being unearthed. The police are quickly involved and we get to follow different characters as they tell their own stories that all meet up in the final chapters to conclude with a great ending. Occasionally Cedardale Court goes back to 30 years prior, to Jane and her husband, and we get to watch their story unfold and find out what happened to him.

I really liked getting to see into the lives of other people and not just Canner, Chloe and Henry, and seeing how their story started and how it links and intertwines with others stories. I enjoyed seeing the plot slowly unravel, with false hints and clues thrown in to distract me from finding out who did it and I was kept guessing right to the end about who it was and was surprised by the result.

Throughout Cedardale Court you get to see new bonds formed between relatives that end up being strong and secure, and tentative bonds formed as a last resort between neighbours. We get to see the relationship between Canner and Chloe develop more and I feel like although moving wasn't the best thing for them to begin with, by the end of the book I felt they were much closer and understood each other more.

I really enjoyed reading Cedardale Court and look forward to reading more of Nathan's work.
My favourite quote had to be this, I actually laughed out loud reading it.

"I'm starting to see how life isn't so much about success as it is about sucking just a little less than everyone else."
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Most Recent Customer Reviews
5.0 out of 5 stars And a murdering fun road it was!
I really enjoyed this book. The author keeps it humorous and adds suspense and murder in very nicely. Can't wait for the second road.
Published 8 days ago by Tina S. Kerr
4.0 out of 5 stars Weird
A very strange mystery story. Be warned, there are many gruesome parts in this story, a surprise ending, romance, but no sex. But, very strange.
Published 1 month ago by swp
3.0 out of 5 stars A likable murder story
The problem with this book is that it is a bit long-winded, but done in a funny philosphical way. I read it to the end, which lended a surprise.
Published 2 months ago by Geraldine Mcentegart
5.0 out of 5 stars Quirky is an apt word for this book
I was wondering why several reviews described this book as quirky, and after reading the book I think that it is a perfect one word description of the book. Read more
Published 2 months ago by Katy D07
4.0 out of 5 stars Great book
Great writing! Loved the story and the characters. Light reading but time well spent. Can't wait to read another one.
Published 3 months ago by Charee Godwin-Smith
2.0 out of 5 stars Cedardale Court
It was one of those books that I was glad when it was over. I almost stopped before I finished it.
Published 3 months ago by Anna Masters Garza
3.0 out of 5 stars A Decent Read
A decent read. Moves along fairly well although the story does bog down a couple of times. I had a problem with some of the mystical elements, such as a bird leading a character... Read more
Published 4 months ago by Review from Al
5.0 out of 5 stars Quirky and entertaining.
Since getting my Kindle I've had the pleasure of running across really good books that I might have otherwise missed and this is one of them. Read more
Published 5 months ago by Sara
3.0 out of 5 stars Too Slow
I'm about a quarter of the way through Cedardale Court and while I WILL finish the book, it's a slow slog. Read more
Published 5 months ago by S. Toyofuku
5.0 out of 5 stars Cedardale Court
Mysterious, and yet wildly funny in a dark, cynical way. Cedardale court is a delightful twist on the typical murder mystery. Read more
Published 6 months ago by Collette Cameron
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