On Parson's Creek


Young Adult - Mystery
247 Pages
Reviewed on 09/02/2015
Buy on Amazon

This author participates in the Readers' Favorite Free Book Program, which is open to all readers and is completely free. The author will provide you with a free copy of their book in exchange for an honest review. You and the author will discuss what sites you will post your review to and what kind of copy of the book you would like to receive (eBook, PDF, Word, paperback, etc.). To begin, click the purple email icon to send this author a private email.

This author participates in the Readers' Favorite Book Review Exchange Program, which is open to all authors and is completely free. Simply put, you agree to provide an honest review an author's book in exchange for the author doing the same for you. What sites your reviews are posted on (B&N, Amazon, etc.) and whether you send digital (eBook, PDF, Word, etc.) or hard copies of your books to each other for review is up to you. To begin, click the purple email icon to send this author a private email, and be sure to describe your book or include a link to your Readers' Favorite review page or Amazon page.

This author participates in the Readers' Favorite Book Donation Program, which was created to help nonprofit and charitable organizations (schools, libraries, convalescent homes, soldier donation programs, etc.) by providing them with free books and to help authors garner more exposure for their work. This author is willing to donate free copies of their book in exchange for reviews (if circumstances allow) and the knowledge that their book is being read and enjoyed. To begin, click the purple email icon to send this author a private email. Be sure to tell the author who you are, what organization you are with, how many books you need, how they will be used, and the number of reviews, if any, you would be able to provide.

    Book Review

Reviewed by J. Aislynn d'Merricksson for Readers' Favorite

On Parson's Creek by Richard Sutton is a story of mystery and intrigue, of myth and legend come to life, and of one boy's quest for the truth. Jack and his family have moved to a small town nestled in the forest at the feet of the Cascades. Being a curious young man, Jack goes exploring in the forest around his home and stumbles upon a long abandoned mining site. Intrigued by the history, Jack seeks to learn more, but what he finds doesn't at all match the 'official' story gleaned from old newspapers, interviews with townsfolk, and his own knowledge of steam engines. Determined to discover what really happened, Jack digs deeper and deeper. What he finds is something that defies rational explanation, at least as we know it.

Jack is new to the area, a close-knit, rural community. Sutton did a wonderful job of portraying a young man trying to fit into a new school and make friends when he's seen as an outsider. This doesn't get easier when he starts snooping in things the locals don't like talking about. Jack doesn't find quite all the answers he's looking for, but then, that's how life really works, isn't it? And we, as the reader, are left with a bit of mystery and wonder for we've brushed against something that is perhaps better left in shadow and the dancing eddies of time.

Sutton's On Parson's Creek pulled me in right from the beginning. I couldn't put it down. I felt as if I were right there with Jack as he went about his adventures. Great descriptions helped flesh the scenes out, making it easy to 'live the story.' I enjoyed it so much that I've added this delightful read to my class reading lists so my students have the option of choosing it for an assignment.