Paradise, WV: a small, rural town rocked by the opiate epidemic and a serial killer's impact... For siblings Henry and Jane Lusher, Paradise is their home and their hell.

These two are the children of the convicted serial murderer, Hollis Lusher, known by his moniker, "the Blind Spot Slasher." Since their father's arrest, the siblings have maintained his innocence, despite their peers bullying and casting them out because of it. The news of a popular true-crime podcast's visit to Paradise sets the town abuzz and reignites interest in the Blind Spot Slasher's case and Henry and Jane's persistent belief in their father's innocence.

Lieutenant Garcia is a young police officer, new to the force and eager to prove her place. When placed on the case of a missing girl, Garcia is sucked into the world of opiates and their associated impact. Her investigation opens the door for her to question if the massive amounts of deaths can be attributed to opiates or if there is a copycat Blind Spot Slasher for the police force to contend with. She doesn't even want to acknowledge the unsaid question... What if they arrested the wrong suspect?

Henry's new friend, Otis (a homeschooled kid who also happens to be a genius), makes it his mission to help the sibling duo prove Hollis Lusher's innocence. As the three explore the evidence of the killings, they discover a viable connection with a local, snake-loving cult. (Yes... an actual cult) This connection sends them to the darkest parts of Appalachia where they work their hardest to find justice for Hollis... for all of their sakes.

For the most part, I really really enjoyed this book. I enjoy Rob Rufus's writing style and his commitment to creating an engrossing world. Some characters were absolute stunners, people that could basically walk off the page and fit right in. Other characters, unfortunately, fell a little flat or in some cases, created potentially harmful representations (looking at you, Otis's father). I also think that there could be a case to eradicate most of the killer's interludes, just because they distracted me from what I really wanted ... answers. Given the more recent cultural popularity of true crime, it was interesting that this book took place in 2011. I think the idea of a podcaster coming to a town specifically as a stop on a tour didn't really track. I think it would have been interesting if the podcast was in Paradise to dig up the truth à la Payne Lindsey with Up and Vanished. I think that this book has more positives than negatives. If you're in the mood for a thriller or police procedural-esque novel that also raises awareness for the harm that drugs can have on a community, if you're into cults, or if you're really passionate about Appalachia in the media (like my fiancé is), then this may be the book for you.

Trigger Warnings for Paradise, WV: assault, attempted murder, suicide, cults, drug use, kidnapping, and more.

Overall rating: 4/5

Paradise, WV will be available for purchase on July 20th. Be sure to add it to your Goodreads shelf and see where it's available to buy. Also, be sure to check out Rob Rufus’s website!
I was lucky enough to be able to read this Advanced Reader's Copy through my partnership with NetGalley. All opinions are my own ( )