In 1999 in Santa Cruz, California, 19-year-old Johnny Bartooth is unexpectedly visited by Heron, an ageing hippy, his father's old friend. Heron has come to give Johnny a journal which the boy's father, Bartooth, wrote many years before. In 1978 Bartooth went to China, and one night made the fateful mistake of going for a walk by himself through dark streets in Guangzhou. He was attacked, stabbed and clubbed by a gang of bandits. He found himself a few days later in a hospital bed, coming out of a coma. In front of him was a beautiful Chinese doctor, Mei, who had been born in San Francisco and could speak English. There was an immediate strong attraction between Bartooth and Mei, who was married to, but separated from, her husband in North-eastern China. They talked whenever they could, and soon fell in love. They became lovers but Bartooth had to return to Hong Kong. He promised Mei that he would arrange for her to go to the USA, where they could marry. In Hong Kong Bartooth learned that Mei was pregnant. Passionate to keep his promise and to establish a family, he devised a plan to smuggle Mei and the newborn baby out of China. Part of the plan went well, but Mei never turned up in Hong Kong. After waiting in distress for weeks, Bartooth brought baby Johnny to his sister Belle, in Santa Cruz, and in desperation returned to China to search for Mei and bring her back to the U.S. No one heard from him or Mei after that. So when Heron arrives, Johnny has been living with his Aunt Belle in Santa Cruz for 19 years. Receiving his father's journal opens up a deep curiosity in Johnny about his father and mother. Johnny feels he has no choice: his number one priority is to try to find some trace of his parents. He goes to China and, with very little to go on, tries to track down his mother and father.
Editorial Reviews
"A
riveting read. There are small eloquent details in every sentence, which color
each scene and make the book come alive. What the book has most is authenticity
- there are fascinating details throughout about Chinese culture and
history. Bright Moon Ridge is a breezy, colorful read with an
absorbing mystery at its core, as Johnny tries to uncover the past." Henry
Baum, Self-Publishing Review
Rabia Tanveer for Readers'Favorite 5
stars "This novel was really wonderful
and very well constructed. Truly tremendous!"
Tracy Slowiak for Readers' Favorite 4 stars
"In an interesting and intriguing new read by debut author Linus Treefoot,
Bright Moon Ridge is a story that will keep readers engaged from the very first
words all the way through the very last.... Author Linus Treefoot has done a
great job in recounting the tale of Johnny Bartooth and his father, and is able
to draw his characters very vividly. The story ends leaving the reader wanting
more."
Joel R. Dennstedt for Readers' Favorite 5 stars
"This tale consistently retains the pulse-straining urgency found in
contemporary whodunits. Dammit, the anxious reader wants some answers now! When
those answers do arrive, believe it or not, the story gets even better, and the
details we all crave to know are filled in like the finest brush strokes on a
perfect piece of art. This is, after all, a great love story."
Viga Boland for Readers' Favorite 5 stars
"Bright Moon Ridge is a darned good read, not just because of the
beautiful love story, but because of what it reveals about life in China under
communist rule back in the '80s.... All this political ugliness, along with the
mystery surrounding the disappearance of Mei and Bartooth at John's birth, with
nicely injected humor and sensitive love scenes, make Blue Moon Ridge well
worth reading. Enjoy!"
Chris Fischer for Readers' Favorite 4
stars
"Author Linus Treefoot has done a good job in creating characters that his
readers will truly come to care about.... Readers who enjoy historical fiction
or a good read of fiction in general should definitely pick up this book."