Title: Southern Slope

Author: Phil Bayly

Genre: Mystery

 

The transfer of George Samuels was supposed to be routine, yet deputies found themselves exasperated as the notorious burglar extricated himself from his handcuffs and escaped while his prison transport was stuck in traffic. Authorities soon discovered that Samuels’s escape was aided by an accomplice who lives in Asheville, NC. When Colorado TV newsman JC learns of this, he believes the timing is fortuitous, as his girlfriend Robin Smith is currently in Asheville visiting her ailing father. JC and his cameraman Bip travel to Asheville in pursuit of Samuels and his accomplice while using their free time to hit the slopes of Western North Carolina. Meanwhile, Robin’s brother, Prospect, is facing the consequences of a fixed basketball game that didn’t deliver the promised results. George Samuels’ story is about to take a back seat to something more deadly.

Southern Slope begins as an intriguing story about a brazen escape but soon transitions into a transfixing multi-plot narrative involving gambling, point shaving, and murder. Author Phil Bayly delivers a story that packs a solid combination of mystery, drama, and suspense, featuring a fair share of humor and displaying an affinity for skiing and craft beer. The appeal of the plot lies in the author’s ability to throw more than a surprising twist or two into the action that throws the reader for a loop while making the next chapter that much more appealing.

The beginning of the story unfolds in an exciting, almost fun way with the getaway of George Samuels in Colorado. There is an amusing Catch Me If You Can vibe in the media and law enforcement pursuit of the wanted fugitive, particularly as Samuels proves elusive to his trackers. While JC and Bip are covering a relatively significant and serious story, the lack of progress in the dragnet allows them to unwind by skiing or imbibing a beer or two at a microbrewery in the “Craft Beer Capital of the East.” However, Phil Bayly is willing to take his tale to dark places, as shown in the aftermath of the bungled point-shaving attempt at a college basketball game. The futile effort of Prospect Smith to limit the damage after the conspiracy didn’t plan out is both poignant and tragic.

A story with conflicting elements of the light-hearted and complex, Southern Slope also sensitively delves into the intricacies of family relationships. Robin’s character arc begins with her visiting her unwell father, whom she had been estranged from for some time. While his heart troubles have brought a reconciliation, their truce threatens to come undone in the wake of a tragedy and the possibility of unwelcome revelations about her brother Prospect. The raw emotions exhibited in these fraught moments by Robin and her father are written in a genuine and heartfelt way.

There are both action-packed moments and a fair number of laughs combined in this dramatic mystery. While the escape of George Samuels marks the inception of the novel, Samuels is soon relegated to a side character, and while it doesn’t blunt the impact of the story, his gentleman bandit presence was missed.

Southern Slope is a multi-layered mystery novel that is eminently enjoyable from start to finish. Author Phil Bayly displays a storytelling talent that even surpasses his knowledge of skiing and gastropubs.

 

 

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