Devil's Bridge [Paperback]

Greg Lilly (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: January 26, 2007

Two friends, Myra and Topher, deal with their twisting lives. Her husband beats her, his lover ignores him, and their friendship must bend with changes of its own.

Dealing with their own problems, Myra's increasingly violent husband and Topher's unrequited love for his partner Alex, they don't realize how much their lives parallel each other.

Myra's husband Gil controls her actions with his violence. Doubts finally creep into Myra's reluctant mind. Her dream of a happy family is slipping out of her reach. Although Topher helps her build self-esteem and is the stable influence in her life, he is in a crisis over where he fits in the gay community -- too old for the club life, but not in a stable committed relationship. He allows Alex to manipulate him with the future possibility of love.

Finding strength to leave their relationships, Myra and Topher decide to escape from their life and start over - together. But, Myra's husband craves revenge. At a place called DEVIL'S BRIDGE, vengeance is redeemed.

Editorial Reviews

Review

"Lilly writes one scene that builds upon the scene before it with elegant timing and exquisite architecture." -- Rochelle Brener -- Kudos Entertainment Weekly

About the Author

Growing up in Bristol, Virginia and then living in Charlotte, North Carolina, Greg Lilly was pulled into writing by the rich storytelling tradition of the South.

He first turned to writing short stories after plot lines and characters emerged from the technical manuals he wrote for a large family-owned corporation. With the assistance of a hearty critique group of writers in Charlotte, he has published several short stories, numerous articles, and completed three novels.

After writing Devil's Bridge, the plot bloomed in his life and he decided to break free of the corporate world and simplify his life.

Today, Greg lives in Sedona, Arizona and is working on his next novel.

Product Details

• Paperback: 204 pages
• Publisher: Regal Crest Enterprises, LLC (January 26, 2007)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1932300783
• ISBN-13: 978-1932300789
• Product Dimensions: 8.4 x 5.9 x 0.7 inches
• Shipping Weight: 9.6 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.5 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (11 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #581,081 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
  • #9 in Books > Literature & Fiction > Women's Fiction > Friendship

More About the Author

Growing up in Bristol, Virginia and then living in Charlotte, North Carolina, the rich storytelling tradition of the South pulled Greg Lilly into writing.

He first turned to writing short stories after plot lines and characters emerged from the technical manuals he wrote for a large family-owned corporation.

Greg Lilly is the author of the Derek Mason Mysteries: FINGERING THE FAMILY JEWELS and SCALPING THE RED ROCKS, plus the novels DEVIL'S BRIDGE and UNDER A COPPER MOON. He is a short story writer, novelist, freelance writer, and magazine editor. He writes and lives in the tidewater area of Virginia.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

5 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Up all night., July 24, 2007

By 

Len "A reader & writer" (Virginia) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Devil's Bridge (Paperback)

Devil's Bridge kept me reading all night. Topher and Myra seem so real that I wanted to talk to them, see how they're doing now. I know that sounds silly, but I hated to end my time with them.

This is a well-structured story that keeps moving with precision and grace. Lilly touches on several current issues and handles them with skill, no lecturing by the characters, but shows how things like abuse (physical and emotional), hate crimes, misplaced affection, and a desire to begin anew affect the characters.

I recommend this book.

6 of 7 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Devil's Bridge bridges the gap between suspense and women's fiction, April 29, 2007

By 

Rick R. Reed "Author of IM and Orientation" (Seattle, WA) - See all my reviews
(VINE VOICE)    (REAL NAME)   

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Devil's Bridge (Paperback)

I had read--and been delighted with--Lilly's first effort, FINGERING THE FAMILY JEWELS, a deceptively cozy mystery that had a biting southern gothic undercurrent. I was surprised--and likewise delighted--with DEVIL'S BRIDGE, which, on the surface, seems like a solidly constructed Lifetime TV movie: a woman on the run from an abusive husband, and the friend who helps her...with secrets and man problems of his own. Lilly imbues his characters with such detail and humanity that one can't help but be pulled into the story. You really care about Topher and Myra and feel as though you're with them as they flee Myra's abusive husband and Topher's bad relationship choices. Lilly keeps the suspense factor high...and this is one book that's hard not to read from start to finish in one sitting. Highly recommended.

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A Page-Turner, August 29, 2008

By 

Bethann Korsmit, author of "Darkness Desc... (Pennsylvania) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Devil's Bridge (Paperback)

Devil's Bridge is an intricately woven tale of suspense that will keep the reader wanting to read more. It is a story of two thirty-something people who have been friends since high school. Myra and Topher became friends in high school - she being the slightly unattractive girl, and he being the ostracized gay boy. Their friendship grew deeper and finally into a deeply platonic love which saved them from themselves and the bad choices they made in their romantic partners.

In the span of a few months, they both come to the conclusion that they need a new start. Topher is running from an indifferent lover who wouldn't reciprocate Topher's love, and Myra is fleeing from her abusive, and possibly murderous, husband Gil. They decide to run away and start a new life together, but Myra's husband is not willing to let her go so easily. Vengeance is found at a place called Devil's Bridge.

This is truly a wonderful book. It is a page-turner that builds to a suspenseful climax, with the reader encouraging and cheering on the battered woman and her best friend (who would do anything to keep her safe.) The plot is tight, the characters believable, and the dialogue is modern. I honestly couldn't put this book down, and therefore I give it my highest recommendation. You won't be disappointed with Devil's Bridge.