Peace River Village

By: Christopher Amato

Narrated by: Stephen Bartholow

Four retired detectives are living out their golden years on the same cul-de-sac in an idyllic planned community called Peace River Village in Sunland, Florida.

When the neighbor's seventeen-year-old granddaughter goes missing, the local police conclude she's a runaway and dead file the case. Dissatisfied with the official police response, the girl's grandmother is desperate to find her and seeks counsel from her detective friends.

Upon hearing of her plight, the cadre of retirees reach a different conclusion and decide to launch their own investigation. But they could never imagine the evil they would encounter or the danger they would confront.

Will the retirees' combined experience be enough to solve the mystery before the teen is sold into the lurid underground sex trafficking world?

Christopher Amato, who spent a career as a federal agent, is back with his latest thriller in Peace River Village. It's time to buckle up your seat belt and get ready for a wild ride that careens from tension to hilarity to horror!

©2024 Black Rose Writing (P)2026 Black Rose Writing

Critic reviews

"A small coterie of retired cops jumps at the chance to solve the mystery of the neighbor’s missing granddaughter. A thoroughly engaging and clever read where the senior sleuths encounter a network of dastardly characters involved in drugs and human trafficking. Two thumbs up!” –Sherry Hobbs, author of Bird of Passage and Mac—The Wind Beneath My Wings

Casual Crime-Solving Fun

The premise is interesting, and the ex-cops bring a fun mix of banter, wit, and experience to the case. It felt more character-driven than plot-driven, which worked in parts, but I was hoping for a bit more suspense and intensity. Still, an enjoyable listen overall.

predictability

I did like that they did NOT develop an actual sexual assault! I would have stopped listening at that point

Liked the characters

The story is ok and the dialogue between the two old cops could be funny, but I’m disappointed with the reader. Lines are rushed through and it sounded more like he was reading than becoming the characters. I would have enjoyed it more reading it myself

Retired Guys Win

I liked best the playful interaction between the two main characters, and how the retired 4 cops came together to help a neighbor when her granddaughter went missing.
I enjoyed the entertainment value of this novel and that it kept up never getting preachy or apparently carrying and sappy message.
I didn't like the abuse of the kidnapped girl or the deliberate drugging but in the end, she is saved and all is well.
After all, fairytale are supposed to have happy endings.

Terrible

I kept waiting for this book to get better but it never did. The story was predictable and there was a lot of filler detail that was used to make the book longer. The narration was HORRIBLE! Many times the narrator sounded like a school kid reading and more than once there was background noise. Not worth spending a credit.