A crumbling old resort. A dead brother. A phantom boat in the mist. Nightmares. And then, a body. In this modern-day gothic novel set on the scenic Columbia River Gorge, Sage Blackthorn revisits demons from her past and confronts a multitude of new ones when she returns to her childhood home to solve the mystery of her brother’s death. Sage left the Pacific Northwest ten years ago and has worked her way into a cushy travel editor’s job at one of the big five women’s magazines based in New York City. Recently, however, her life has taken an ugly turn. Her leave of absence from the magazine has as much to do with her own disastrous lifestyle as it does her dead brother.Once at Blackthorn, the family’s decrepit resort, Sage is confronted with a flood of problems. Her grandmother, who raised her and her brother Ross, is in steep decline; the hotel is closed, and the baths don’t bring in enough to keep the lights on; and she soon realizes that her brother’s death was no accident. Sinister activities in the boathouse disturb her sleep and raise suspicions, even as she must admit she is an unreliable witness. What is going on, and who can she trust? In Blackthorn, Judy Nedry's gift for description immerses you in the moody, atmospheric world of a rundown resort in the Columbia Gorge. Nedry's take on the classic rural gothic novel will keep you up late flipping the pages as Sage Blackthorn uncovers her brother's killer--and confronts her own demons. --Angela M. Sanders, author of the Joanna Hayworth vintage clothing mysteries Critic's Report from BookLife Prize (at Publisher's Weekly)Title: Blackthorn Author: Judy Nedry Genre: Fiction/Mystery/Thriller Audience: Adult Word Count: 90,000 Assessment: Plot: The plot is evenly paced throughout the book. There are ebbs and flows to the action, but there is never a dull moment to be experienced. Prose/Style: The imagery utilized by the author in describing the landscape is vivid and engaging. The same sentiments hold for the characters' actions as well. Originality: The story serves as a spin on the prodigal son/daughter genre, but with interesting twists and turns. The book never feels like a rehash of old stories. Character Development: The protagonist of the story, Sage, is an excellent mix of brave and scared, sarcastic and melancholy. Sage instantly garners the readers' interest and loyalty. The supporting cast of characters is eclectic, memorable and worth studying. Blurb: "Blackthorn" is the story of a young woman who is forced to face her inner demons when the death of her brother causes her to return home. Sage Blackthorn must reckon with her past as she becomes the head of the Blackthorn Resort. The mysteries unearthed as she digs into things might change her life forever. Score: Plot/Idea: 9 out of 10 - Originality: 8 out of 10 - Prose: 9 out of 10 - Character/Execution: 10 out of 10 - Overall: 9.00 out of 10 From a dusty rodeo arena in Oregon to the busy streets of New York City to an aging resort on the banks of the Columbia River, Judy Nedry's gothic thriller, Blackthorn, will have you on the edge of your seat as her heroine deals with murder, drug running, small town minds, and her love affair with alcohol.--Toni Morgan, author of Queenie's Place, Harvest the Wind, and Patrimony [Following is an official OnlineBookClub.org review of "Blackthorn" by Judy Nedry.] 3 out of 4 starsShare This Review The night is dark, the moon glistening off the quiet river, but Ross Blackthorn is restless and unable to sleep. His drunken state and increasing paranoia are not helping his situation. Still, the screams he hears outside his window do not bode well. Was that a body loaded into the gently-idling boat anchored at the Blackthorn dock? A familiar face emerges from the shadows. Ross sighs with relief: everything is ok, he can relax and sleep at last. The facts surrounding the death of Sage Blackthorn's brother, Ross, do not add up. Sage wants resolution, but providing round-the-clock care for her grandmother and nursing an injured ankle hinder her investigation. Her homecoming was meant to help her find reprieve from the unfortunate results of her alcohol addiction, but now she wants answers. Can she stay sober long enough to put together the pieces of her brother's case--let alone those of her own broken life? Blackthorn , by Judy Nedry, is a gothic thriller that takes the reader to a crumbling family resort that is struggling to survive. This setting was used to create an air of nostalgia and mystery as Sage returns to her former life in the Columbia Gorge of Washington from her current life in New York. I loved the descriptions of the old family hotel and bathhouse as Sage searched the property for explanations and answers after years of absence. The familiar place brought up memories and hid many secrets that Sage was forced to dig through as she took care of her dementia-addled grandmother. At first, I found Sage rather difficult to like as the main char