Reviewed by Dan
TITLE: The House on the Cliff
AUTHOR: Jade Astor
PUBLISHER: Dreamspinner Press
LENGTH: 174 Pages
BLURB:
A small-engine repair degree can only get you so far in a seaside tourist town—just ask Noah Camden. But his luck takes a turn when he stops to help a man change a tire. Obviously wealthy, the man offers Noah a job at the imposing manor, Cliff House. Noah is to care for the man’s vehicles and chauffeur the man’s son, Tristan Peterson, for the summer. Tristan is afraid to drive because of a mysterious accident–and no one will tell Noah the details.
Though the young men come from vastly different social backgrounds, Tristan and Noah slowly bond. One day Tristan confesses the truth: his first love, Martin Praxley, an estate handyman, was killed in the accident. Tristan believes Martin’s ghost is haunting him, bent on revenge. Noah vows to figure out what really happened, how it’s possible Martin is back from the dead to torment Tristan, and how they can find peace and happiness together with the secrets of Cliff House looming over them.
REVIEW:
Noah Camden is a young man from the coast of Maine. He grew up in a small tourist town overshadowed by the houses of the wealthy which line a cliff above the town. I know it makes me a geek, but I’m instantly thinking of Collinsport, Maine and Collinwood and thinking Barnabas is up there somewhere in his coffin! 😉 Back to reality…just for the record, there are no vampires in this book!
When Noah graduated from high school, he attended a local Vocational/Technical school and got a degree in mechanics and small engine repair. But there are only so many mechanic jobs in his town, and none currently available. He has been dropping off his resume to the beach front tourist traps, but none of them have given him a second glance. Who wants to hire a mechanic as a cashier?
As luck would have it, on his way home Noah stops for a car broken down on the side of the road. The man driving the car is obviously from one of the houses on the cliff, and has no clue how to change his own tire. Noah does it for him, but when the man tries to pay him, Noah declines the money and tells him he doesn’t need to be paid for doing a good deed. The man is impressed, and before he leaves he offers Noah a job as a driver, gives him his card and asks him to come to his estate the following day.
When Noah arrives at the estate, he gets more details. The job will include driving the man’s son and helping him learn to drive again. Noah is thinking it is a teenager, but when a handsome man his own age walks in and he learns that this is the son, he is intrigued.
What follows is a tale of mystery and suspense. Why has Tristan been confined to an asylum for a long period of time? What is up with the accident that took the life of Tristan’s former lover, Martin? Is Martin really haunting Cliff House? And finally who is out to frame, or even kill, Noah?
I really liked this book. It kind of reminded me of a Hardy Boys type mystery, except with grownups and gay characters. And so no one takes that the wrong way, I LOVED the Hardy Boys books. I credit them for making me the avid reader I am today!
It was a great afternoon’s comfort read. There is no explicit sex but sex is mentioned with a very few details. There is nothing really dark in the book. It would be a good read for both young adults and adults. I recommend the book if you’re in the mood for a fairly fast, fun read! It is very well written and well edited, and oh…did I mention? Great cover.
RATING: 
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The actually was a Hardy Boy Mystery called the House on the Cliff. I loved them too.
Thanks Colette. I did know that, but thought the reference was subtle enough that only people who knew the Hardy Boys would get it!