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J.G. Macdonald writes mysteries with a sharp wit, a splash of humor, and a love of quirky small-town secrets. Under the name Janice Garden Macdonald, she is also the bestselling author of several children’s books, known for their playful spirit and unforgettable characters.
A former bookseller and publishing rep, she brings a keen eye for detail and a deep appreciation for storytelling to everything she writes. Atomic Sunset, her debut adult mystery, combines desert noir with roadside Americana, conspiracies, and a few unlikely heroes — including a donkey with a camera. When not writing, Macdonald can be found chasing plot twists or exploring forgotten highways with a notebook in hand.
Reviewed by Gabriel Santos for Readers' Favorite
Jane Dougherty is in for the detour of a lifetime as her car suddenly dies out in the middle of nowhere, forcing her to make a stop at the small town of Radio Springs. Filled with strange sights and even stranger people, Radio Springs welcomes Jane with a heavy sense of unreality, combined with almost total isolation from the outside world, thanks to a problem with the communications systems. The fact that a body shows up as Jane waits for her car to get fixed might be the most normal thing that has happened since she arrived. J. G. Macdonald's Atomic Sunset delves into the mysteries hidden in this peculiar community, where no explanation is too far-fetched, whether it involves aliens, shapeshifters, secret agents, or something else entirely.
The author sets the tone from the start, creating a surreal, dreamlike atmosphere through the sounds and sights of the desert, UFO paraphernalia, and dialogue that tiptoes along the line between unnerving and comical. J. G. Macdonald excels at writing quirky but interesting characters that entertain and intrigue, making you feel like there's more to them than meets the eye. Jane is a great protagonist whose snark and down-to-earth disposition contrast with the absurdities of Radio Springs; however, she also carries some emotional baggage and unspoken, perhaps unconscious desires. She acts as a reader surrogate, trying to maintain a grasp on reality and figure out what's going on just like us, but she's also a compelling character on her own. I recommend Atomic Sunset to anyone who enjoys small-town mysteries, stories dealing with conspiracy theories, and offbeat humor.
