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Alexander Rigby
Author
Point Roberts

Adult; Mystery/Thriller; (Create)

Five strangers forge an unlikely alliance to uncover the identity of the infamous Point Roberts Slayer. On a peculiar peninsula in Washington State, the small town of Point Roberts exists in the shadow of the fifteen people who were murdered here. Surrounded by water and a giant wall that spans its border with Canada, Point Roberts has been cut off from the rest of the world every February for the past twenty-seven years in an attempt to stop a brutal serial killer from striking again. Because the murders took place exclusively during February three years in a row, closing down the town seemed like the only way to stop the slayings. And so far . . . it has worked. Except the decades-old cold case remains unsolved, and the residents of Point Roberts are beginning to question if there’s an ulterior motive behind the mayor’s enforced lockdowns. After a brazen seventeen-year-old orphan named Liza moves to town, a new February begins. At first, she knows nothing of the murders, but that quickly changes when she finds a mysterious book titled The Fifteen—a book that shares shocking details on the killings. Determined to discover the identity of the Point Roberts Slayer, Liza teams up with four other misfits who all hold secrets and have personal connections to the victims. These five strangers will have to work together to uncover the truth, if only they can stay out of the murderer’s destructive path so they don’t become victims themselves. Point Roberts is a love letter to the moody Pacific Northwest, an intricate portrait of complex characters building walls to protect their fragile hearts, and, at its core, a profound story of embracing chosen family and walking with them into the foggy unknown.
Plot/Idea: 8 out of 10
Originality: 8 out of 10
Prose: 8 out of 10
Character/Execution: 8 out of 10
Overall: 8.00 out of 10

Assessment:

Plot: Rigby’s novel is well plotted and fast-paced - until the killer’s final reveal of their motives. In the book, Rigby writes that the murderer's narrative takes several hours and that even the characters being held hostage think the reveal is too long. The novel would benefit from a tightening of pacing. 

Prose/Style: Rigby’s prose is clear, direct, and advances the story well. Each character has a distinct and believable voice, especially Theodore Price.

Originality: Readers will enjoy this cold case murder mystery that unfolds in a unique and distinctive setting. Rigby’s use of multiple civilian sleuths to solve the decades-old crimes makes the work feel original and organic.

Character/Execution: The characters of Point Roberts are diverse and memorable. The five sleuths who solve the crime are well drawn and likable. The villains however, particularly the Mayor, feel more like caricatures and would benefit from more development and growth.

Date Submitted: August 25, 2020

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