![\"Cover](\"https:\/\/www.monsterlibrarian.com\/TheCirculationDesk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/06\/The_Eris_RIdge_Trail_HInkle.jpg\")
<\/a><\/p>\nThe Eris Ridge Trail, <\/em>by Larry Hinkle<\/p>\n Four Winds Bar Publishing, 2025<\/p>\n ISBN: 9798992454215<\/p>\n Available: Paperback, Kindle edition<\/p>\n Buy:\u00a0Bookshop.org<\/a> |\u00a0Amazon.com<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n <\/p>\n The trail in The Eris Ridge Trail<\/em> is not a friendly one for thru-hikers!\u00a0 Instead of the serenity of nature, the four unfortunates who end up on the trail find themselves in a confusing alternate dimension with frequent landscape shifts.\u00a0 The setting shifts frequently, with little explanation for the hazards encountered by the characters.\u00a0 Does it work for this story?\u00a0 Yes.\u00a0 Readers who want entertainment and aren\u2019t concerned with a story where all ends are tied up neatly will find this quite enjoyable.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n The book wastes no time getting down to business, as Wayne, Shelley, Craig, and Erik each get a quick chapter that tosses them right into the other dimension.\u00a0 This is also the only part of the book that feels like it could have used a bit more fleshing out, to lead into the main story.\u00a0 Two of the characters simply give a quick recounting of their arrival to their companions later in the book, while the other two protagonists get a very quick narration chapter.\u00a0 It would have been nice to make all the lead-in to the main plot part of the third person narrative, as it sounded very intriguing.\u00a0 There\u2019s a car ride with a very odd individual, and a tunnel crawl through the basement of the Stanley Hotel (yes, THAT Stanley Hotel) but little detail is given.\u00a0 That might have helped build up some anticipation for the main story, which only Shelley\u2019s opening chapter did.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n That minor quibble aside, the story takes off at a run, as the four of them (and two lovable dogs) find that their new home almost is like an LSD-laced dream.\u00a0 One minute they can be in a desert, take five steps and PRESTO!, they\u2019re in a desert.\u00a0 A bit further, and SHAZAM!, it\u2019s a prairie.\u00a0 It could be confusing, but the author writes well enough that the transitions don\u2019t seem jarring or random:: they flow with the story and are believable.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Although this is an adventure story, the real core of the story is the character interactions.\u00a0 Craig, Shelley, Erik, and Wayne are four strangers tossed into a reality that makes no sense, but they have to survive and maybe find a way out.\u00a0 That requires teamwork and trust, which develops over the course of the story, and is done very well.\u00a0 The author clearly has a flair for writing characters, and he does an excellent job having them overcome their foibles and gel together into a cohesive unit.\u00a0 Their new reality throws all sorts of fun stuff at them: weird skittering sort-of humans, six-legged freak squirrels called Squixells, and DINOSAURS!\u00a0 (can\u2019t go wrong with those!)\u00a0 It\u2019s all well-imagined and written in a style that keeps the reader turning pages quickly.\u00a0 Sure, there is little to no explanation given for why or how these things happen, but who cares?\u00a0 Much like the classic novel Picnic at Hanging Rock, The Eris Ridge Trail <\/em>works better leaving explanations to the reader\u2019s imagination.\u00a0 The ending is excellent.\u00a0 It doesn\u2019t resolve things, but does wrap the story up perfectly.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Bottom line: take a hike along the unique Eris Ridge Trail<\/em>, it\u2019s a brain-tweaking journey.\u00a0 Recommended.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Reviewed by Murray Samuelson<\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" The Eris Ridge Trail, by Larry Hinkle Four Winds Bar Publishing, 2025 ISBN: 9798992454215 Available: Paperback, Kindle edition Buy:\u00a0Bookshop.org |\u00a0Amazon.com The trail in The Eris Ridge Trail is not a friendly one for thru-hikers!\u00a0 Instead of the serenity of nature, the four unfortunates who end up on the trail find themselves in<\/p>\n