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Readers` Reviews
★ ★ ★ ★ ☆
arni fannar
Grist Mill Road by Christopher J. Yate is a fascinating and devastating story. The crime and its perpetrator are never in doubt, but the motivations for it and the tragic path it sends its three young characters on are the meat of the story.
The story begins in 1982 as young Hannah is tied to a tree by Matthew who proceeds to shoot her 37 times with a BB gun, the last one through her eye. Matthews best friend Patrick “Patch” watches in horror, frozen and unable or unwilling to act. Leaving her for dead, the friends head back home when Patch has a change of heart and rushes back to Hannah. Hannah lives, Matthew confesses and goes to jail, and Patrick lives with his own guilt.
Twenty-six years later, we find Patch and Hannah married after running into each other a few years earlier in New York. Hannah is a successful crime reporter who still suffers night terrors. Patch discovers that Hannah is unaware of his witnessing of and inaction during the shooting. He has lost his job at the bank and spends his time writing a food blog and dreaming of opening a restaurant. When Matthew unexpectedly reappears in their lives, events begin to spiral until they lead to an ending that makes you wonder if it was avoidable or inevitable.
The narrative bounces back and forth both between 1982 and 2008 as well as between narrators. Although the main events are known, the perspective each main character brings to them shines more light on the motivation and the personal tragedies of each character. Patrick is tortured by his inaction and the secret that lies over his marriage. Hannah is good at her job, but has agreed to write a book about her own tragedy which is proving more difficult than she expected. Matthew has tried to create a new life for himself, but he cannot forget the past even as he mitigates his own role in events in his own mind.
Yates does a fantastic job of shifting between perspectives, each time changing the way you perceive events. The “what” is never the question, but the “why” will torture you almost as much as it does the characters. Hannah is the most sympathetic character, but Patch and Matthew each have complicated motivations which make it impossible to fully sympathize with them, but also allows you to see events through their eyes. The three characters move towards a conclusion that will fill you both with anticipation and dread. The conclusion is part melancholy and part cathartic. This is a book that will stay with you for a long time. Wonderfully written. Highly recommended.
The audiobook is narrated by Dan Bittner, Saskia Maarleveld, Graham Halstead and Will Damron as the three main characters and narrator. They each do an outstanding job bringing to life the characters with great inflection and pacing. They help to convey not only the action but the mental state of the characters.
I was provided a copy of this audiobook by the publisher.
The story begins in 1982 as young Hannah is tied to a tree by Matthew who proceeds to shoot her 37 times with a BB gun, the last one through her eye. Matthews best friend Patrick “Patch” watches in horror, frozen and unable or unwilling to act. Leaving her for dead, the friends head back home when Patch has a change of heart and rushes back to Hannah. Hannah lives, Matthew confesses and goes to jail, and Patrick lives with his own guilt.
Twenty-six years later, we find Patch and Hannah married after running into each other a few years earlier in New York. Hannah is a successful crime reporter who still suffers night terrors. Patch discovers that Hannah is unaware of his witnessing of and inaction during the shooting. He has lost his job at the bank and spends his time writing a food blog and dreaming of opening a restaurant. When Matthew unexpectedly reappears in their lives, events begin to spiral until they lead to an ending that makes you wonder if it was avoidable or inevitable.
The narrative bounces back and forth both between 1982 and 2008 as well as between narrators. Although the main events are known, the perspective each main character brings to them shines more light on the motivation and the personal tragedies of each character. Patrick is tortured by his inaction and the secret that lies over his marriage. Hannah is good at her job, but has agreed to write a book about her own tragedy which is proving more difficult than she expected. Matthew has tried to create a new life for himself, but he cannot forget the past even as he mitigates his own role in events in his own mind.
Yates does a fantastic job of shifting between perspectives, each time changing the way you perceive events. The “what” is never the question, but the “why” will torture you almost as much as it does the characters. Hannah is the most sympathetic character, but Patch and Matthew each have complicated motivations which make it impossible to fully sympathize with them, but also allows you to see events through their eyes. The three characters move towards a conclusion that will fill you both with anticipation and dread. The conclusion is part melancholy and part cathartic. This is a book that will stay with you for a long time. Wonderfully written. Highly recommended.
The audiobook is narrated by Dan Bittner, Saskia Maarleveld, Graham Halstead and Will Damron as the three main characters and narrator. They each do an outstanding job bringing to life the characters with great inflection and pacing. They help to convey not only the action but the mental state of the characters.
I was provided a copy of this audiobook by the publisher.
★ ★ ★ ☆ ☆
todd norris
Although I found this book to be an engaging read, especially for the first 75%, it had issues which kept me from enjoying it completely, and the ending felt rushed, confusing, and extremely anti-climactic.
The author includes details in the sections which were supposed to happen in 1982 which were chronologically impossible -- two that stand out are a reference to Ewoks (Return of the Jedi came out in 1983) and taping a TV show on a VCR. I was born in 1974 and do not remember a VCR in my home until 1984, much less one that could record shows. Maybe this was technically available, but it was certainly not commonplace and most of the characters were not portrayed as wealthy.
I also felt like the author spent lots of time describing Matthew from Patrick's perspective, but in Matthew's memories, Patrick is barely a shadow. I would have been interested in exploring Matthew's perception of Patrick more deeply, and comparing the two perspectives.
The ending left so much to be desired that it's hard to know where to begin. All the potential that built up through the first part of the book just flopped on the floor like a dead jellyfish.
Do I regret spending time on this book? No, but I checked it out from the library so I didn't have to pay anything for it. Had I paid, I think I'd be irritated.
The author includes details in the sections which were supposed to happen in 1982 which were chronologically impossible -- two that stand out are a reference to Ewoks (Return of the Jedi came out in 1983) and taping a TV show on a VCR. I was born in 1974 and do not remember a VCR in my home until 1984, much less one that could record shows. Maybe this was technically available, but it was certainly not commonplace and most of the characters were not portrayed as wealthy.
I also felt like the author spent lots of time describing Matthew from Patrick's perspective, but in Matthew's memories, Patrick is barely a shadow. I would have been interested in exploring Matthew's perception of Patrick more deeply, and comparing the two perspectives.
The ending left so much to be desired that it's hard to know where to begin. All the potential that built up through the first part of the book just flopped on the floor like a dead jellyfish.
Do I regret spending time on this book? No, but I checked it out from the library so I didn't have to pay anything for it. Had I paid, I think I'd be irritated.
My Life in the Navy SEAL Sniper Corps and How I Trained America's Deadliest Marksmen :: Tindr: Book Five of The Circle of Ceridwen Saga :: Circle Series 4-in-1 (The Circle Series) :: Closed Circles (Sandhamn Murders Book 2) :: Everything Here Is Beautiful
★ ★ ★ ★ ☆
barri bryan
After hearing such great things about his debut, Black Chalk, I couldn't resist the opportunity to read the second novel by Christopher Yates, Grist Mill Road. The story begins powerfully, and the first paragraph is an attention-grabber.
"I remember the gunshots made a wet sort of sound, phssh phssh phssh, and each time he hit her she screamed. Do the math and the whole thing probably went on for as long as ten minutes. I just stood there and watched."
In a wooded area north of New York City, teenage friends Hannah, Matthew and Patrick become irrevocably connected through their participation in a crime in 1982; Hannah is a victim of this crime, and as the novel progresses to present day, the affects of her experiences become apparent in her daily adult life.
What an imaginative, captivating story line! In addition, while alternating narrators can often be tricky and troublesome, Yates masterfully kept me on the edge of my seat, wondering where this narrative would lead and desperate for the conclusion.
"So that’s where I began, writing the opening lines a few weeks before Christmas 2007, obviously unable to see the story for what it was truly, the seed of a tragedy far greater than mine alone, the beginning of everything that’s happened since the day when I first sat down and typed out the words, I grew up ninety miles north and half a decade away from New York City. Because just as with my favorite book, In Cold Blood, this story you’re reading once started out as a perfectly ordinary, everyday tale. Until, very suddenly, it wasn’t."
There were a couple of things about this novel that I did not enjoy, but I feel certain that many will not be bothered in the slightest. The first is that Yates uses no quotation marks which made it a little tough, at times, for me to stay engaged.
The second is that a story is only going to keep me "on the hook" for so long; once I realized that the story would meander for a bit before it advanced, I found myself less and less interested. I also had some issues with the narrative of one particular character, toward the end of the book, but I don't want to spoil anything!
Overall, I liked Grist Mill Road l and will certainly recommend it to others because of the unique story and flawed, broken characters; it has received excellent reviews from many other readers and I'll be adding this to my Best Books to Read on Spring Break List!
"I remember the gunshots made a wet sort of sound, phssh phssh phssh, and each time he hit her she screamed. Do the math and the whole thing probably went on for as long as ten minutes. I just stood there and watched."
In a wooded area north of New York City, teenage friends Hannah, Matthew and Patrick become irrevocably connected through their participation in a crime in 1982; Hannah is a victim of this crime, and as the novel progresses to present day, the affects of her experiences become apparent in her daily adult life.
What an imaginative, captivating story line! In addition, while alternating narrators can often be tricky and troublesome, Yates masterfully kept me on the edge of my seat, wondering where this narrative would lead and desperate for the conclusion.
"So that’s where I began, writing the opening lines a few weeks before Christmas 2007, obviously unable to see the story for what it was truly, the seed of a tragedy far greater than mine alone, the beginning of everything that’s happened since the day when I first sat down and typed out the words, I grew up ninety miles north and half a decade away from New York City. Because just as with my favorite book, In Cold Blood, this story you’re reading once started out as a perfectly ordinary, everyday tale. Until, very suddenly, it wasn’t."
There were a couple of things about this novel that I did not enjoy, but I feel certain that many will not be bothered in the slightest. The first is that Yates uses no quotation marks which made it a little tough, at times, for me to stay engaged.
The second is that a story is only going to keep me "on the hook" for so long; once I realized that the story would meander for a bit before it advanced, I found myself less and less interested. I also had some issues with the narrative of one particular character, toward the end of the book, but I don't want to spoil anything!
Overall, I liked Grist Mill Road l and will certainly recommend it to others because of the unique story and flawed, broken characters; it has received excellent reviews from many other readers and I'll be adding this to my Best Books to Read on Spring Break List!
★ ★ ☆ ☆ ☆
leighann paige
In 1982, Matthew, Patrick, and Hannah are linked together through a terrible crime. Twenty-six years later, they reconnect.
A dark story told with two timelines, 1982 and 2008. Each chapter was about a main character (Matthew, Patrick, or Hannah), though some were told in first person point of view and others were third person. The back and forth between timelines, characters, and points of view slowed the pace of the story.
The first chapter in the book tells the tragic crime that occurred in their youth, and the following chapters fill in the blanks of what led to that event. There seemed to be a lot of filler in the book, like food blogging, geology, the history of cement, and even explanations of political aspirations of a character's father. While some of this information may have been interesting, it bogged down the story and didn't provide much insight into the characters. I never felt connected to anyone in the story, and didn't much care what happened to any of them. For me, the ending left too many unanswered questions.
I received a copy of this book from Picador and Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.
A dark story told with two timelines, 1982 and 2008. Each chapter was about a main character (Matthew, Patrick, or Hannah), though some were told in first person point of view and others were third person. The back and forth between timelines, characters, and points of view slowed the pace of the story.
The first chapter in the book tells the tragic crime that occurred in their youth, and the following chapters fill in the blanks of what led to that event. There seemed to be a lot of filler in the book, like food blogging, geology, the history of cement, and even explanations of political aspirations of a character's father. While some of this information may have been interesting, it bogged down the story and didn't provide much insight into the characters. I never felt connected to anyone in the story, and didn't much care what happened to any of them. For me, the ending left too many unanswered questions.
I received a copy of this book from Picador and Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.
★ ★ ★ ★ ☆
sean
Grist Mill Road is my favorite kind of suspense. Gritty, raw, honest. No fluff. No muss. Just dark musty suspense.
The book begins with Patrick and Matthew, two best friends growing up near state parks and wilderness, living a life filled with freedom and adventure. But circumstance and hormones happen, and Hannah enters their world. A senseless crime binds the three together while also tearing them apart.
Flash forward 26 years later. Unpredictably, Hannah and Patrick are married and living a seemingly decent life. But there are secrets both harbor from that fateful day, and secrets have a tendency to surface at the worst times.
Yates does a fantastic job of creating real characters full of depth and raw emotions. The plot is intricate and tricky, full of twists and turns and sudden drops. My only issue came in the last quarter of the book, when the story and the characters started to meander a bit. Yates does bring them all back, and the story ends the way it began — raw, gritty, and real.
Yates’s story reminds readers that the past we believe is true is only true to us. Knowing what is real is only true for each individual involved. When all the parts are put together, no one is fully blameless or totally at fault. And, in the end, redemption can only be granted, in cannot be earned.
Gripping, intricate, unsettling, and compelling. Grist Mill Road is a wonderful read.
The book begins with Patrick and Matthew, two best friends growing up near state parks and wilderness, living a life filled with freedom and adventure. But circumstance and hormones happen, and Hannah enters their world. A senseless crime binds the three together while also tearing them apart.
Flash forward 26 years later. Unpredictably, Hannah and Patrick are married and living a seemingly decent life. But there are secrets both harbor from that fateful day, and secrets have a tendency to surface at the worst times.
Yates does a fantastic job of creating real characters full of depth and raw emotions. The plot is intricate and tricky, full of twists and turns and sudden drops. My only issue came in the last quarter of the book, when the story and the characters started to meander a bit. Yates does bring them all back, and the story ends the way it began — raw, gritty, and real.
Yates’s story reminds readers that the past we believe is true is only true to us. Knowing what is real is only true for each individual involved. When all the parts are put together, no one is fully blameless or totally at fault. And, in the end, redemption can only be granted, in cannot be earned.
Gripping, intricate, unsettling, and compelling. Grist Mill Road is a wonderful read.
★ ★ ★ ★ ☆
mohadeseh soofali
The story starts in 1982 where three friends Matthew, Patrick (who has 2 nicknames, Patch & Tricky), and Hannah are in the woods where an extremely violent crime occurs between them. And then in 2008, we have the re-telling of the event from all three adult perspectives, whose lives are forever defined by this tragic moment (It’s amazing as adults how we perceive things differently). You also have the build-up to when their paths will cross again, and it’s defiantly anxiety inducing. The story is character driven; it exposes the coming of age feelings of jealousy, resentments, sexual longings and confusion.
Honestly, I am having mixed emotions about this book. “Grist Mill Road” started off with a really gruesome bang and I was just soaking up every word and page, with complete excitement, but then something happened and it lost its momentum. I felt like it became bogged down at times with information that was just not relevant to the story. But then it would pick back up, so it was a lot of back and forth for me. There is also the absence of quotation marks which was a little confusing for me at first, until I got in the hang of it. The ending was defiantly a, Huh? What. The. Heck! Overall, Yates spins a well-written, riveting tale that is incredibly gloomy at times with some really dark themes.
And just a side note; I loved Matthew so much. At the beginning you think there is no way you can have empathy for any character but Matthew definitely stands out for me, and my heart broke for him so much.
Thank you to Netgalley, Picador and Christopher Yates for an advanced copy.
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the store
Honestly, I am having mixed emotions about this book. “Grist Mill Road” started off with a really gruesome bang and I was just soaking up every word and page, with complete excitement, but then something happened and it lost its momentum. I felt like it became bogged down at times with information that was just not relevant to the story. But then it would pick back up, so it was a lot of back and forth for me. There is also the absence of quotation marks which was a little confusing for me at first, until I got in the hang of it. The ending was defiantly a, Huh? What. The. Heck! Overall, Yates spins a well-written, riveting tale that is incredibly gloomy at times with some really dark themes.
And just a side note; I loved Matthew so much. At the beginning you think there is no way you can have empathy for any character but Matthew definitely stands out for me, and my heart broke for him so much.
Thank you to Netgalley, Picador and Christopher Yates for an advanced copy.
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★ ★ ★ ★ ★
lillestern
Readers who enjoy intricate plots will love the novel by Christopher Yates titled, Grist Mill Road. Yates offers the perspective of a trio of characters, Matthew, Patrick and Hannah, about events in 1982 and in 2008. As Matthew says on p.184, "Truth is seldom a lens, truth is a kaleidoscope, and I have my truth also." The construct Yates creates draws readers into one perspective of the truth, and then shifts views on the puzzle in this story to lead us to question what is true. The ties that bind these characters include the ropes that appear on the book jacket. Does that make you curious?
Rating: Five-star (I love it)
Rating: Five-star (I love it)
★ ★ ★ ★ ★
tara dewane
In Upstate New York in 1982, a horrifying incident changes the lives of young teenagers Matthew, Patrick, and Hannah. Now, in New York City in 2008, the three are still grappling with the events that led up to that life-altering day twenty-six years ago. What was going on in each of their young lives that made them go to the woods that day? What do they THINK happened, and what actually DID happen? Now that they are pushing forty, what are their lives like - and are they still friends?
Christopher J. Yates has written a sublime, intelligent, raw suspense story of perception versus reality. Grist Mill Road will suck you in so fully that once you start you will not be able to stop. Carve out time, cause nothin's gonna get done. You'll wanna know what happened - you'll NEED to know what happened - and in the end you will never see it coming.
Christopher J. Yates has written a sublime, intelligent, raw suspense story of perception versus reality. Grist Mill Road will suck you in so fully that once you start you will not be able to stop. Carve out time, cause nothin's gonna get done. You'll wanna know what happened - you'll NEED to know what happened - and in the end you will never see it coming.
★ ★ ★ ☆ ☆
magnus
'Grist Mill Road' by Christopher J. Yates is a story surrounding a brutal torture that took place 26 years ago leaving then 13 year old Hannah with only one eye and mental scars which haunt her nightmares for years to follow. The question is, was the attack on Hannah unprovoked or is she not as innocent as she seems?
This story is told in 3 parts by the 3 children who were present that fateful day. Hannah, Patrick and Matthew. You will be left guessing until you have read the full accounts of all 3, who are now adults and ready to tell the truth about what happened that day.
I really enjoyed the structure of 'Grist Mill Road' especially how it was told in 3 parts by 3 different POV. I enjoyed the pace and the twists and turns that followed. What makes it a 3 star read for me is that one of the biggest revelations in the book isn't a big deal for me. I think the actions expected of a 12 year old and how they could/should of acted are unjustified/ unrealistic/ dangerous and harsh. It's called fight or flight for a reason and for this reason I can only rate 3 stars. It did have the potential to be a 5 star read so I would still recommend it to people who enjoy thrillers just maybe not people like myself who are qualified in childcare and feel protective of children and their actions/decisions.
Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for a free ARC in return for an honest review.
This story is told in 3 parts by the 3 children who were present that fateful day. Hannah, Patrick and Matthew. You will be left guessing until you have read the full accounts of all 3, who are now adults and ready to tell the truth about what happened that day.
I really enjoyed the structure of 'Grist Mill Road' especially how it was told in 3 parts by 3 different POV. I enjoyed the pace and the twists and turns that followed. What makes it a 3 star read for me is that one of the biggest revelations in the book isn't a big deal for me. I think the actions expected of a 12 year old and how they could/should of acted are unjustified/ unrealistic/ dangerous and harsh. It's called fight or flight for a reason and for this reason I can only rate 3 stars. It did have the potential to be a 5 star read so I would still recommend it to people who enjoy thrillers just maybe not people like myself who are qualified in childcare and feel protective of children and their actions/decisions.
Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for a free ARC in return for an honest review.
★ ★ ★ ★ ☆
jerzy drozd
This book was a very unsettling rollercoaster of a story. At about (2) pages in, I was repulsed ( the opening scene establishes the horrific crime that drives the story, and the details are grotesque indeed ). Although tempted to give up right then, I stayed with it for a chapter and began to get pulled into the story. This rollercoaster started with a sharp descent, turned around and went uphill almost to the end, then plummeted to an unsatisfying finish. In spite of this, I found that I was looking forward to reading / listening to this twisted story, so a 3 1/2-4 rating. The three primary characters are not without fault for what happens; each bears responsibily for the outcome. ( There is a lot of switching perspective between characters; I listened to the audio version which uses several narrators and made those shifts easier to follow). Ultimately, this is a tragic story of misunderstanding and obsession.
★ ★ ★ ★ ☆
naomi hernandez
I really enjoyed this story! It had me gripped from the first few pages and the suspense created was brilliant!
I loved the plot and the layout of the story, the characters are very well developed and their interaction really helps carry the plot forward. There was just enough detail in the book to keep me fully engaged.
The writing style was very good, I enjoyed the pace of the book and was able to read it in a few hours, I started reading this one at bedtime and before I knew it I was over 75% through so carried on and finished it in the early hours of the morning, as by that time I really needed to see how it ended!
4 stars from me for this one, highly recommended!!
I loved the plot and the layout of the story, the characters are very well developed and their interaction really helps carry the plot forward. There was just enough detail in the book to keep me fully engaged.
The writing style was very good, I enjoyed the pace of the book and was able to read it in a few hours, I started reading this one at bedtime and before I knew it I was over 75% through so carried on and finished it in the early hours of the morning, as by that time I really needed to see how it ended!
4 stars from me for this one, highly recommended!!
★ ★ ★ ☆ ☆
matias
I thought the writing was creative and engrossing. This book was hard to put down and other than the ending,I really enjoyed this book. However one part of the novel really bugged me. The 50 year old man grooming the 14 year old boy was portrayed as a beautiful relatiobship. If this was an older man with a young teen girl, readers would be outraged. Have we gone so far trying to be politically correct that we can’t see when something is just plain wrong? And to suggest that because the young girl called the main character a gay slur she deserved to be shot forty times and be blinded in one eye for life is totally ridiculous. I think if the author would just use his gift for writing to create a great book instead of trying to promote a political agenda he’d have gotten five stars from this reader.
★ ★ ★ ★ ☆
lanie
I received an uncorrected proof copy in exchange for a fair and honest review.
I *really, really* enjoyed this book. The opening grabbed my attention, and it kept it throughout the book. I would have finished this book within a week, except I mislaid my copy and just found it again.
The characters seem like real people- they are flawed; they each have their own truth, and they each have an agenda. The story was believable, if horrific. While I was reading, there was nothing that jarred me back to reality.
I don't want to give away anything but I can say that there are several twists - and the end, while not what I hoped for, was the only real way it could have ended.
I don't know that I've ever read another book that I can say 'if you like XYZ, you'll like this book". Take a chance on it- I think you'll be glad you did.
I *really, really* enjoyed this book. The opening grabbed my attention, and it kept it throughout the book. I would have finished this book within a week, except I mislaid my copy and just found it again.
The characters seem like real people- they are flawed; they each have their own truth, and they each have an agenda. The story was believable, if horrific. While I was reading, there was nothing that jarred me back to reality.
I don't want to give away anything but I can say that there are several twists - and the end, while not what I hoped for, was the only real way it could have ended.
I don't know that I've ever read another book that I can say 'if you like XYZ, you'll like this book". Take a chance on it- I think you'll be glad you did.
★ ★ ★ ★ ☆
len goodman
One of my favorite January reads.
While I love psychological thrillers with multiple points of view, not all of those are created equal. This one takes place in New York State not too far from NYC and involves three young teens who are (directly and indirectly) involved in an act of cruelty that has lasting effects and taints all of their lives forever.
The novel is divided into three parts, each giving a voice to one of the main characters - Patch, Hannah, and Matthew in turn. Each section alternates between the past and the present and in this way details of the crime and its aftermath are revealed layer by layer, each adding depth to the story. The characters are well realized, particularly Matthew and as is generally the case with multi focal stories, the truth is not what it initially appears to be. Not entirely, anyway.
I thought Mr Yates was able to masterfully handle both story and characters and was able to deliver a thriller that is original and memorable. Seven months later, I am still able to recall details and remember the plot in its entirety. I have already purchased the book for a gift as well as his debut novel Black Chalk, which I plan to read while I wait in anticipation of his next book. My library and local bookstore have also purchased both books.
While I love psychological thrillers with multiple points of view, not all of those are created equal. This one takes place in New York State not too far from NYC and involves three young teens who are (directly and indirectly) involved in an act of cruelty that has lasting effects and taints all of their lives forever.
The novel is divided into three parts, each giving a voice to one of the main characters - Patch, Hannah, and Matthew in turn. Each section alternates between the past and the present and in this way details of the crime and its aftermath are revealed layer by layer, each adding depth to the story. The characters are well realized, particularly Matthew and as is generally the case with multi focal stories, the truth is not what it initially appears to be. Not entirely, anyway.
I thought Mr Yates was able to masterfully handle both story and characters and was able to deliver a thriller that is original and memorable. Seven months later, I am still able to recall details and remember the plot in its entirety. I have already purchased the book for a gift as well as his debut novel Black Chalk, which I plan to read while I wait in anticipation of his next book. My library and local bookstore have also purchased both books.
★ ★ ★ ★ ★
legna
What an incredible reading experience. I started this on Friday and if it wasn't for basketball practices, two basketball games, a social studies project, and all the last-minute Christmas to do's, I would have finished this in one sitting. I didn't want to tear my eyes away from the pages.
This book begins in 1982 where we find three friends Matthew, Patch, and Hannah in the woods where an incredibly violent crime occurs between them.
Now, in 2008, we find that their paths are yet to cross again and from here through past and present narration we are spun a tale that is as riveting as it is heartbreaking. Considering the things that occur in this novel I figured I'd dislike all of them. Not true, I empathized with every one. Not an easy feat but Yates makes you care. The characters are so fully fleshed out you almost feel as if you know them personally.
This book is incredibly dark at times and the initial violent incident in the woods may not be to everyone's reading pleasure but if you typically like books with dark themes then this is a winner, no doubt.
Needless to say I will devour anything this man writes. All the stars!!!
Thank you to NetGalley for providing me with a digital ARC in exchange for my honest review.
This book begins in 1982 where we find three friends Matthew, Patch, and Hannah in the woods where an incredibly violent crime occurs between them.
Now, in 2008, we find that their paths are yet to cross again and from here through past and present narration we are spun a tale that is as riveting as it is heartbreaking. Considering the things that occur in this novel I figured I'd dislike all of them. Not true, I empathized with every one. Not an easy feat but Yates makes you care. The characters are so fully fleshed out you almost feel as if you know them personally.
This book is incredibly dark at times and the initial violent incident in the woods may not be to everyone's reading pleasure but if you typically like books with dark themes then this is a winner, no doubt.
Needless to say I will devour anything this man writes. All the stars!!!
Thank you to NetGalley for providing me with a digital ARC in exchange for my honest review.
★ ★ ★ ★ ☆
louise knoverek
My first audiobook of the year was Grist Mill Road by Christopher Yates, read by Dan Bittner, Will Damron, Graham Halstead, & Saskia Maarleveld.
.
I actually got through this book a lot quicker than I usually do for audiobooks. I found the readers’ voices captivating & fitting for the characters they read.
.
The storyline starts off with a horrible act involving 3 teenagers. I was initially shocked & appalled, but throughout the book we learn more about what happened before, and what happens after, and suddenly I wasn’t sure what to feel. ? It was an odd plot with strange characters, but after reflection I think that uniqueness bumped it up a half star for me. ⭐️⭐️⭐️?
.
I actually got through this book a lot quicker than I usually do for audiobooks. I found the readers’ voices captivating & fitting for the characters they read.
.
The storyline starts off with a horrible act involving 3 teenagers. I was initially shocked & appalled, but throughout the book we learn more about what happened before, and what happens after, and suddenly I wasn’t sure what to feel. ? It was an odd plot with strange characters, but after reflection I think that uniqueness bumped it up a half star for me. ⭐️⭐️⭐️?
★ ★ ★ ★ ☆
mike may
I stayed up way past my bedtime last night because I had to finish reading Grist Mill Road by Christopher J. Yates! A big thank you to @picador for the free book! All opinions are mine.
This book came out last week and I think it needs a lot more attention than it’s getting. This intense and suspenseful story may not be for everyone (def some trigger warnings!), but I loved it! Gripping, dark, and clever. Just when I thought I knew where it was going, it veered off in a way I couldn’t have predicted, and I enjoyed the ride. The author Christopher J. Yates knows how to tell a story that will keep you turning the pages (and sometimes covering your eyes...or eye). ;)
This book came out last week and I think it needs a lot more attention than it’s getting. This intense and suspenseful story may not be for everyone (def some trigger warnings!), but I loved it! Gripping, dark, and clever. Just when I thought I knew where it was going, it veered off in a way I couldn’t have predicted, and I enjoyed the ride. The author Christopher J. Yates knows how to tell a story that will keep you turning the pages (and sometimes covering your eyes...or eye). ;)
★ ★ ★ ★ ★
jim smith
I can not praise this book enough. Christopher Yates has written a wonderful book with twists that explain the trauma that occurs in the early chapters. The three main characters Patrick, Matthew and Hannah's lives were changed forever by a horrific incident during their childhoods for which Matthew was sent away, Patrick felt guilty for and Hannah was permanently disabled. Twenty six years later Patrick and Hannah are married and Matthew tries to re-enter their lives bringing back the painful memories of the past and revealing long kept secrets. A truly wonderful story, expertly told. Brilliant.
★ ☆ ☆ ☆ ☆
victoria williamson
I received an advanced copy of this book from Netgalley. I thought it sounded good and was looking forward to reading it. I finished it a week ago and have been pondering my review since then. I rarely give a book a bad review perhaps because I don't finish books that I don't like. Since a review was expected I pushed on to finish it, and I did not like it. The story starts out with a gruesome crime committed 20 years earlier involving 3 friends, Matthew, Patrick, and Hannah. The reason for the crime is revealed, slowly I thought, from the perspectives of these characters. The story moves back and forth from the time of the crime to the present, with more time spent in the past. I spent the entire book wondering what on earth this young teenager could have done to provoke such a crime, and when it was revealed I did not think young Matthew's extreme actions were warranted. As a youth he seemed evil and I had a hard time relating to the successful man we see twenty years later. Patrick seemed like a wimpy youth who didn't have many friends and bowed to peer pressure with Matthew. Hannah is a successful adult but she is not fleshed out much in the future years. This book felt dark and depressing and reading it in a dark gloomy January did not help things. I am sorry I finished it.
★ ★ ★ ★ ☆
sabreen
Grist Mill Road is a book about cowards, bullies, revenge, and childhood.
This is a book split into two timelines. It opens with a gristly act that no one will forget, for their various reasons, and then meets back up 26 years later when the main characters have met back up shockingly enough.
There is a twist you won't see coming
This is a book split into two timelines. It opens with a gristly act that no one will forget, for their various reasons, and then meets back up 26 years later when the main characters have met back up shockingly enough.
There is a twist you won't see coming
★ ★ ★ ☆ ☆
shora
I really enjoyed Yates' first novel Black Chalk and I was looking forward to this book after reading a good review. Mr Yates' writing style makes for an interesting read and and this book started out with great promise but I lost interest midway through. I felt that a lot of character development got shortcut and skipped over which left me a little bored and annoyed. This book could have been so much better had the second half been given the same attention to exposition and character as the first half.
★ ★ ★ ★ ☆
barb lewis
{My Thoughts}
What Worked For Me
A Harrowing Crime – Grist Mill Road begins with a bang, literally. In the first few pages, 12-year old Patrick (Patch) watches as his best friend Matthew fires 49 BB’s into Hannah, helplessly tied to a tree. This scene is so graphically written that your only response will be horror. Christopher J. Yates knows how to grab your attention!
Vivid Storytelling – Grist Mill Road starts out being narrated by Patch as he tells the events of that brutal August day back in 1982.
“And yet I watched.
What does it mean to watch? When a crime takes place in front of you, what is watching? Is it a failure to act or simply keeping your eyes open?
I was twelve. I was twelve years old.”
The past is alternated with the characters’ lives 26 years later where Patch and Hannah are somehow married. Patch’s self-deprecating narration really works and is a pleasure to read. The same is true of Hannah, who begins adding to their story in the second part of the book. Her style is a little tongue-in-cheek, even a bit flippant. She keeps the story lively.
A Different Sort of Mystery – There is no mystery surrounding the crime in this story. Instead, the mystery forms around what happened after and more importantly what will happen next. That, coupled with getting the whole story from multiple sources, caused confusion, in a good way. With each page, the need to know grew.
What Didn’t
Matthew – I had issues with almost everything about Matthew’s part of the story:
His storytelling in the form of a letter.
Matthew’s distaste for label words such as girlfriend and boyfriend.
The forays into natural history lessons.
His childhood relationships.
Who he became as an adult.
I know I wasn’t meant to like Matthew, so maybe this was what Yates wanted. Perhaps Matthew is actually part of what worked for me?
Slow Middle and an Odd End – I felt like Grist Mill Road really stalled a bit in the middle, losing steam from the first half. This was roughly the point in which all three began narrating. The very end, I just have to ask, “Why?” I have no idea what I was meant to take away from the book’s last scene.
{The Final Assessment}
I’m a huge fan of Christopher J. Yates’s debut, Black Chalk, so was eager to read his sophomore effort. With all second novels, I’ve come to fear the “sophomore slump,” but I would not put Grist Mill Road in that category. For me it didn’t quite deliver the raw, breathless impact of Black Chalk, but none-the-less I was always engaged and eager to get back to reading. I’ll definitely be at the front of the line for all future books written by Yates. Grade: B
Note: I received a copy of this book from the publisher (via NetGalley) in exchange for my honest review.
What Worked For Me
A Harrowing Crime – Grist Mill Road begins with a bang, literally. In the first few pages, 12-year old Patrick (Patch) watches as his best friend Matthew fires 49 BB’s into Hannah, helplessly tied to a tree. This scene is so graphically written that your only response will be horror. Christopher J. Yates knows how to grab your attention!
Vivid Storytelling – Grist Mill Road starts out being narrated by Patch as he tells the events of that brutal August day back in 1982.
“And yet I watched.
What does it mean to watch? When a crime takes place in front of you, what is watching? Is it a failure to act or simply keeping your eyes open?
I was twelve. I was twelve years old.”
The past is alternated with the characters’ lives 26 years later where Patch and Hannah are somehow married. Patch’s self-deprecating narration really works and is a pleasure to read. The same is true of Hannah, who begins adding to their story in the second part of the book. Her style is a little tongue-in-cheek, even a bit flippant. She keeps the story lively.
A Different Sort of Mystery – There is no mystery surrounding the crime in this story. Instead, the mystery forms around what happened after and more importantly what will happen next. That, coupled with getting the whole story from multiple sources, caused confusion, in a good way. With each page, the need to know grew.
What Didn’t
Matthew – I had issues with almost everything about Matthew’s part of the story:
His storytelling in the form of a letter.
Matthew’s distaste for label words such as girlfriend and boyfriend.
The forays into natural history lessons.
His childhood relationships.
Who he became as an adult.
I know I wasn’t meant to like Matthew, so maybe this was what Yates wanted. Perhaps Matthew is actually part of what worked for me?
Slow Middle and an Odd End – I felt like Grist Mill Road really stalled a bit in the middle, losing steam from the first half. This was roughly the point in which all three began narrating. The very end, I just have to ask, “Why?” I have no idea what I was meant to take away from the book’s last scene.
{The Final Assessment}
I’m a huge fan of Christopher J. Yates’s debut, Black Chalk, so was eager to read his sophomore effort. With all second novels, I’ve come to fear the “sophomore slump,” but I would not put Grist Mill Road in that category. For me it didn’t quite deliver the raw, breathless impact of Black Chalk, but none-the-less I was always engaged and eager to get back to reading. I’ll definitely be at the front of the line for all future books written by Yates. Grade: B
Note: I received a copy of this book from the publisher (via NetGalley) in exchange for my honest review.
★ ★ ★ ★ ☆
michelle salmon
So, this one takes it time, concentrating on telling the story at its own pace instead of thrills and spills, and all the better for it.
The story concentrates around three characters, Patrick and Matthew who are best friends as early teenagers, and also their friend Hannah.
It begins in 1982 in the Swangum mountains where we find the three of them. A very disturbing and violent crime takes place that will change their lives forever, leaving one without an eye and one in prison.
We then move forward in time to 2008 in NYC where all three cross paths again. Patrick(Patch) is now married to Hannah, vowing never to speak of that fateful day back in 1982. Hannah is a crime reporter and Patch after recently losing his job spends time food blogging and cooking at home to restaurant standards.
The story is told mostly from Patchs narrative(although not exclusively) and jumps between 2008(present day) and that summer in 1982 when all three were changed forever and perhaps their future paths forged then.
As some of the secrets of that day begin to reveal themselves, can the marriage of Hannah and Patch last and where does Matthew fit into all this? Do they all remember the events exactly as they happened or are there buried memories that will yet resurface revealing the whole truth of that horrible day?
I have to say, after being somewhat unsure of this one, I really enjoyed this read. Something different. Something that takes its time, molds the characters as more and more about them is revealed. Although not really a cliff hanger you do more or less wait until the very end to find out the whole story as the layers of secrets and events are peeled away throughout the book. The characterization and writing here is fantastic. As I said a slow and steady pace but that isnt criticism here. it gives the characters time to breath and time for you to get inside their heads as you figure them out and at times they figure themselves out.
This is quite a dark read. There are many dark subjects touched upon here but all handled quite delicately and respectfully. I cant really think of another book like it. Of course the vehicle of present and past narratives is very commonplace in modern fiction but the pacing and storytelling is what sets this apart. Very intelligent and satisfying writing. Id highly recommend marking this one as one to read. A very intelligent and enjoyable book.
Many thanks to NetGalley for the ARC
The story concentrates around three characters, Patrick and Matthew who are best friends as early teenagers, and also their friend Hannah.
It begins in 1982 in the Swangum mountains where we find the three of them. A very disturbing and violent crime takes place that will change their lives forever, leaving one without an eye and one in prison.
We then move forward in time to 2008 in NYC where all three cross paths again. Patrick(Patch) is now married to Hannah, vowing never to speak of that fateful day back in 1982. Hannah is a crime reporter and Patch after recently losing his job spends time food blogging and cooking at home to restaurant standards.
The story is told mostly from Patchs narrative(although not exclusively) and jumps between 2008(present day) and that summer in 1982 when all three were changed forever and perhaps their future paths forged then.
As some of the secrets of that day begin to reveal themselves, can the marriage of Hannah and Patch last and where does Matthew fit into all this? Do they all remember the events exactly as they happened or are there buried memories that will yet resurface revealing the whole truth of that horrible day?
I have to say, after being somewhat unsure of this one, I really enjoyed this read. Something different. Something that takes its time, molds the characters as more and more about them is revealed. Although not really a cliff hanger you do more or less wait until the very end to find out the whole story as the layers of secrets and events are peeled away throughout the book. The characterization and writing here is fantastic. As I said a slow and steady pace but that isnt criticism here. it gives the characters time to breath and time for you to get inside their heads as you figure them out and at times they figure themselves out.
This is quite a dark read. There are many dark subjects touched upon here but all handled quite delicately and respectfully. I cant really think of another book like it. Of course the vehicle of present and past narratives is very commonplace in modern fiction but the pacing and storytelling is what sets this apart. Very intelligent and satisfying writing. Id highly recommend marking this one as one to read. A very intelligent and enjoyable book.
Many thanks to NetGalley for the ARC
★ ★ ★ ★ ★
samantha starsick
Absolutely devoured this book over a weekend.
Full of satisfying twists and turns you won't see coming, it keeps you thinking and guessing right up until the last pages. Yates writes with great empathy and humor, and he can break your heart with his characters' interior monologues of doubt —about themselves and the people who should be closest to them. The relationships between friends, spouses, siblings and parents and children are richly drawn, making "Grist Mill Road" much more than your average thriller.
Clever, cinematic (Reese Witherspoon should turn this one into a movie!), shocking and emotional.
I also highly recommend Yates' first book, "Black Chalk," which is a fantastic thriller set at Oxford.
Full of satisfying twists and turns you won't see coming, it keeps you thinking and guessing right up until the last pages. Yates writes with great empathy and humor, and he can break your heart with his characters' interior monologues of doubt —about themselves and the people who should be closest to them. The relationships between friends, spouses, siblings and parents and children are richly drawn, making "Grist Mill Road" much more than your average thriller.
Clever, cinematic (Reese Witherspoon should turn this one into a movie!), shocking and emotional.
I also highly recommend Yates' first book, "Black Chalk," which is a fantastic thriller set at Oxford.
★ ★ ★ ★ ☆
alexander fedorov
Every story has three sides.
This novel was like Girl on a Train-type suspense meets a little bit of grit lit. I always enjoy the unreliable narrator mystery that fills in as you go, using various character's points of view.
I do wish there had been a better sense of closure to the story, however. I felt like there was so much built up and then the last page just kind of ended with no real resolution.
This novel was like Girl on a Train-type suspense meets a little bit of grit lit. I always enjoy the unreliable narrator mystery that fills in as you go, using various character's points of view.
I do wish there had been a better sense of closure to the story, however. I felt like there was so much built up and then the last page just kind of ended with no real resolution.
★ ★ ★ ★ ★
andy hoekenga
Wow. Just finished this extraordinary book in one day. What a book. The writing was great and the author's style in this book was really good, alternating from one character to another, from one point in time to another, it all just works. Cannot wait to read his first book.
★ ★ ☆ ☆ ☆
hillary noyes
Started out as an interesting read but faded out. I finished reluctantly but could tell where the story was going. Was fast paced at the beginning but really dragged at the end. I was disappointed..
★ ★ ★ ★ ★
kim badger yerkes
I loved this book largely because of its focus on a tough New York City crime reporter who spends her days darting in and out of the yellow police tape to chronicle some of the city's most heinous crimes. Yet the one-eyed Hannah is herself the victim of at terrible crime, and I was on the edge of my seat as I followed the narrative back through time to reconstruct a painful event from childhood that left her permanently scared. This is a multilayered, complex coming-of-age story that is reminiscent of Lord of the Flies and Donna Tartt's The Secret History. It's a great read.
★ ☆ ☆ ☆ ☆
therese fowler
DID I MISS SOMETHING??? MATTHEW SHOT BY PATRICK. PATRICK SHOT BY, I ASSUME, THE COP. NEXT SCENE IN A RESTAURANT WITH HANNAH. NO EXPLANATION OF PROSECUTION OF PATRICK FOR MURDER? PLEASE SOMEONE EXPLAIN THIS ENDING FOR ME! I THOUGHT I MUST HAVE MISSED AN ENTIRE CHAPTER, BUT NO.
★ ★ ★ ★ ★
tonya morris
Memorized from the get go; the way the stories intertwined rocked.
Moving from past to present to past....it was great. Could not put it down when I got it. It was a love story on so many different levels as well as an event that totally shaped their lives.
You won't be disappointed.
Moving from past to present to past....it was great. Could not put it down when I got it. It was a love story on so many different levels as well as an event that totally shaped their lives.
You won't be disappointed.
★ ★ ★ ★ ☆
dawn schlauderaff
Simple review: Loved how the book started, loved all the details. Loved everything in between. The section around cement was a little too long for me, but still enjoyable. Just not sure about the ending. Maybe someone can explain it to me.
★ ★ ★ ☆ ☆
hami
'Grist Mill Road' by Christopher J. Yates is a story surrounding a brutal torture that took place 26 years ago leaving then 13 year old Hannah with only one eye and mental scars which haunt her nightmares for years to follow. The question is, was the attack on Hannah unprovoked or is she not as innocent as she seems?
This story is told in 3 parts by the 3 children who were present that fateful day. Hannah, Patrick and Matthew. You will be left guessing until you have read the full accounts of all 3, who are now adults and ready to tell the truth about what happened that day.
I really enjoyed the structure of 'Grist Mill Road' especially how it was told in 3 parts by 3 different POV. I enjoyed the pace and the twists and turns that followed. What makes it a 3 star read for me is that one of the biggest revelations in the book isn't a big deal for me. I think the actions expected of a 12 year old and how they could/should of acted are unjustified/ unrealistic/ dangerous and harsh. It's called fight or flight for a reason and for this reason I can only rate 3 stars. It did have the potential to be a 5 star read so I would still recommend it to people who enjoy thrillers just maybe not people like myself who are qualified in childcare and feel protective of children and their actions/decisions.
Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for a free ARC in return for an honest review.
This story is told in 3 parts by the 3 children who were present that fateful day. Hannah, Patrick and Matthew. You will be left guessing until you have read the full accounts of all 3, who are now adults and ready to tell the truth about what happened that day.
I really enjoyed the structure of 'Grist Mill Road' especially how it was told in 3 parts by 3 different POV. I enjoyed the pace and the twists and turns that followed. What makes it a 3 star read for me is that one of the biggest revelations in the book isn't a big deal for me. I think the actions expected of a 12 year old and how they could/should of acted are unjustified/ unrealistic/ dangerous and harsh. It's called fight or flight for a reason and for this reason I can only rate 3 stars. It did have the potential to be a 5 star read so I would still recommend it to people who enjoy thrillers just maybe not people like myself who are qualified in childcare and feel protective of children and their actions/decisions.
Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for a free ARC in return for an honest review.
★ ★ ★ ★ ☆
kristen miles
I really enjoyed this story! It had me gripped from the first few pages and the suspense created was brilliant!
I loved the plot and the layout of the story, the characters are very well developed and their interaction really helps carry the plot forward. There was just enough detail in the book to keep me fully engaged.
The writing style was very good, I enjoyed the pace of the book and was able to read it in a few hours, I started reading this one at bedtime and before I knew it I was over 75% through so carried on and finished it in the early hours of the morning, as by that time I really needed to see how it ended!
4 stars from me for this one, highly recommended!!
I loved the plot and the layout of the story, the characters are very well developed and their interaction really helps carry the plot forward. There was just enough detail in the book to keep me fully engaged.
The writing style was very good, I enjoyed the pace of the book and was able to read it in a few hours, I started reading this one at bedtime and before I knew it I was over 75% through so carried on and finished it in the early hours of the morning, as by that time I really needed to see how it ended!
4 stars from me for this one, highly recommended!!
★ ★ ★ ★ ★
nevertell anyone
I can not praise this book enough. Christopher Yates has written a wonderful book with twists that explain the trauma that occurs in the early chapters. The three main characters Patrick, Matthew and Hannah's lives were changed forever by a horrific incident during their childhoods for which Matthew was sent away, Patrick felt guilty for and Hannah was permanently disabled. Twenty six years later Patrick and Hannah are married and Matthew tries to re-enter their lives bringing back the painful memories of the past and revealing long kept secrets. A truly wonderful story, expertly told. Brilliant.
★ ★ ★ ★ ☆
debby stephens
This story was told from multiple points of view and at times, I had to go back and reread sections to make sure I was understanding and keeping the story straight, but that may have just been because I was so caught up in reading and finding out what was happening.
★ ★ ★ ★ ★
ashley westra
If you enjoy psychological who done its and more importantly WHY done it, this books for you. The writing was flawless and easy to read. Narrative told a great story from several perspectives without becoming confusing... loved it!
★ ★ ★ ★ ★
sarah ewald
I bought this book after reading Dennis Drabelle's review in the Washington Post. From the ominous artwork to the final page, I was entirely consumed. If you're looking for a well written, page turning thriller this will definitely grab you! A great Christmas gift suggestion too.
★ ★ ★ ★ ★
jedidiah
GMR was a suspenseful read that kept my mind racing about how a single, horrific generated different levels of truths and realities for the characters involved. Expect to lose some sleep as you burn through this thriller!
★ ★ ★ ★ ★
janko
I picked this book up after reading a thoughtful and enthusiastic review from the New York Times. It totally delivered, and I'm now flying through the author's first work, "Black Chalk". Both spectacular reads!
★ ★ ★ ★ ★
ronnie craft
This novel was so sharply written, it made me ponder which actors would play which characters in the film. (I hope there will be a film, anyway.) Yates has a gift for delving into the minds of not only his characters -- but also those of his readers.
Please RateGrist Mill Road: A Novel
As a teen, Hannah refused to sleep with a boy she had liked because she had some reason to believe he was gay. She used a homophobic word to convey that. Am I in love with that? No. But she didn't deserve to be traumatized and maimed for name calling, and she certainly wasn't required to have sex just because she and Matthew had enjoyed long, soulful talks. The book wants us to at least consider that she got what she deserved. Even McGruff the Crime dog who follows Hannah around like a lost puppy (seriously, what's up with the detective character?) indicates maybe Hannah should hear out her attacker. Well, he did offer pancakes...
I'm guessing the ending was Occurrence at Owl Creek Bridge-y. If so it wasn't done all that well, which is why so many commenters are confused as to what happens at the end. Matthew's character is written with a lot more love and attention from the author. I don't feel like he really "got" Hannah and Patrick and therefore neither did I. Hannah, in particular, is written as a woman who goes from one male protector to another, despite us being told she has a gritty profession and can handle herself. But she cannot even handle re-ordering her own prosthetic device. And our first introduction to Hannah is so bad I assumed she was severely brain damaged from the attack. I was confused later when I found out she had a job as a journalist.
Triggers: bullying, child abuse, grooming, murder, lack of quotation marks & overuse of exposition