Rangers at Roadsend

by Jane Fletcher

Book Overview

Sergeant Chip Coppelli escaped the manipulative plots of her powerful family by becoming a soldier. After 9 years in the elite Rangers, dealing with thugs and wild predators, she has learned to spot trouble coming, and that is exactly what she sees in the mystery surrounding her new recruit, Katryn Nagata. But even so, Chip was not expecting murder.

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 1933110287
• ISBN13: 9781933110288
• Release Date: August 2005
• Publisher: Bold Strokes Books
• Length: 272 Pages
• Weight: 0.75 lbs.
• Dimensions: 0.8" x 5.6" x 8.5"

Customer Reviews

A truly wonderful story!

The two main characters, Katryn and Chip, are immensely likable. So very human and yet exemplifying all the best qualities you would want in your self or your children. I would love to see these two as main characters in future novels. The scene with Chip and her sister Prudence was really well done and very emotionally moving. For all the dark elements this story felt joyous to me. I really liked Katryn, she had heart. She rolled with the punches, never feeling sorry for herself, she had pride in herself and I found that very appealing. Chip is just terrific, fair and honest - confident in her abilities and caring for those around her - always wanting to do the right thing and see the right thing done. The romance and the passion shared by Katryn and Chip is simply lovely. The last chapter is the book was absolutely fascinating and causes me to reflect long after finishing the book. Don't spoil it for yourself by reading it first. I would not have expected to find a terrific murder mystery in the middle of a speculative fiction story but the sleuthing was the equal of any mystery I have ever read. I said in an earlier review of The Temple at Landfall that I mainly enjoy romances so this took me by surprise. It is the story that you become enthralled with. I liked it so much I devoured the other three books in the series in one week. It really doesn't matter which order you read the novels in (I read Temple at Landfall first). Don't miss any of the books in the Celaeno World Series by Jane Fletcher The Rangers at Roadsend The Temple at Landfall The Walls of Westernfort Dynasty of Rogues From the publisher's web site - Sergeant Chip Coppelli escaped the manipulative plots of her powerful family by becoming a soldier. After 9 years in the elite Rangers, dealing with thugs and wild predators, she has learned to spot trouble coming--and that is exactly what she sees in the mystery surrounding her new recruit, Katryn Nagata. But even so, Chip was not expecting murder. (Previous limited release as The Wrong Trail Knife).

Fascinating!

The other reviews have done justice to this wonderful book. However the overwhelmed feelings prompt me share my two cents about this book. Despite that this story is set in an imaginary world, it itself can be counted as a mystery that can happen in any kind of situation during any period of time. The story is well-plotted and intriguing. It starts with the transfer of Katryn into 'Chip' Coppelli's patrol. While the readers learn about how Chip became a ranger, it also opens up many questions regarding Katryn's past, as Chip gradually draws into Katryn's mystery that is connected to a murder. Even though the story doesn't emphasize on romance, the undercurrent of the feelings that Chip and Katry have for each other have kept up with reader's urge in reading as well. It is well-balanced with the main theme. I am not into the speculative genre very much, so I was hesitated when picking up this book. When I started reading, I found I couldn't stop. I agree with the previous reviewer that this book is as good as, or even better than some of, the conventional fantasy/mystery/speculative fictions. I'm glad to find out this.

Speculative Fiction at its best! Review by Cheri Rosenberg

"Rangers at Roadsend," a murder mystery reminiscent of Agatha Christie, has crossed many genres including speculative fiction, fantasy, romance, and adventure. The story is an incredible whodunit that has something for everyone. Jane Fletcher, winner of the Golden Crown Literary Award 2005 for "Walls at Westernfort," has created an intelligent and compelling story where the reader easily gets drawn into the fascinating world of Celaeno, becomes totally absorbed in the well-designed plot, and finds herself completely enamored with the multi-faceted characters. Sergeant Chip Coppelli, of C Patrol, a Ranger at Fort Krowe, is the heroine in a land where women roam and rule the earth. A truly admirable character, Chip is a fearless leader who strives to keep the inhabitants of Celaeno safe from lawbreakers and wild beasts. When rumors abound about Chip's new recruit, Private Katryn Nagata, Chip will stop at nothing to discover the truth concerning these allegations. She intends to find out why Katryn, a militia sergeant of Woodside, was transferred to her squadron in Landfall as a private, especially since she is older than the average new recruit and proves to be an accomplished markswoman with a bow and arrow, indicative of a person of higher rank. It doesn't help that the attractive woman immediately captures Chip's attention and affection. Against the advice of her best friend, Sergeant Kim Ramon of B Patrol, Chip falls in love with Katryn despite the suspicions that surround her. Added to the mystery of Katryn's past actions, Chip has a few secrets of her own, further complicating the plot. Besides the rich prose, a distinction that sets Fletcher above the norm, is the clever interweaving of clues -- the reader has fun trying to solve the murder of the unpopular, hated Sergeant Ellis. Fletcher takes special care so that the reader doesn't discover the killer too soon. Even with meticulously laid out clues, there are no plot holes to contradict the explanation of how the murder took place. All the bases are covered leaving no other person a viable candidate. "Rangers at Roadsend" will captivate and delight readers of all tastes, even those who say they are not fond of speculative fiction, including fantasy. Fletcher writes an engaging and believable tale with humor, metaphors, and honesty. It's not just the story that is compelling, but the way the author writes it that grabs the reader's attention. Fletcher is able to convey volumes of emotion in a single sentence, for instance, p. 92, "Katryn's company was the most enjoyable torment she [Chip] had ever known." Her descriptions are vivid yet succinct as on p. 78, "As ever, the market was crowded. Sounds, smells and gaudy colors fought in a riot for the senses." Her humor is evident as on p. 79, "I'm trying to work out what `Chip' is short for." "It's not short for anything. It's a small fried piece of potato." Fletcher uses excellent metaphors throughout the text including how Chip feels abo

Another exciting Celaeno adventure

With Jane Fletcher's mesmerizing stories, The Walls of Westernfort (winner of the 2005 Golden Crown Literary Awards- Sci-Fi/Fantasy) and Rangers at Roadsend, the first two books in her Celaeno Series, she has converted this reader into a sci fi lover. Each book takes us into a magical world fraught with danger and full of moral dilemmas. Rangers at Roadsend is another absorbing tale of intrigue, murder and romance. We are drawn into this story by the secrets of Sgt. Chip Coppelli and Private Katryn Nagata. Katryn is transferred to Chip's squadron under mysterious circumstances and together the two must track down rogue criminals. They learn that the crimes are part of a deeper conspiracy that involves the so-called good citizens of Landfall, Chip's former home where there are unpleasant memories for her. To succeed in this mission as Rangers, they must trust each other, but both have too many secrets. In the course of unraveling the conspiracy plot, Chip develops an emotional attachment to Katryn, but knows that as her superior, it must remain as unrequited love. In Rangers at Roadsend, Fletcher skillfully cultivates a back story in the middle of their journey to expand on the past and secrets of Katryn. As Katryn's history is told through this back story, we discover a hero rather than a dishonest loathsome Ranger. We learn of Katryn's struggles and how valiantly she faced them against all odds and with no believers. When Fletcher seamlessly moves us back to the main plot, Chip becomes her champion, and a romantic subplot flows naturally from this. These two characters are expertly crafted into unlikely heroes that we, as the reader, must root for. Fletcher not only gives us powerful characters, but she surprises us with an unexpected ending to the murder conspiracy plot, pushing the story in one direction only to have that direction reversed more than once. This is one thrill ride the reader will not want to get off. In The Walls of Westernfort young Guard Natasha Ionadis accepts a dangerous undercover mission, knowing that its success may depend upon her dying. Natasha aka Jess and her two "mothers", Cal and Rohanna, must travel as spies to Westernfort to assassinate three leaders, Gina, Kimberly and Lynn, of a rebel heretic movement. Their movement must cease as it is evil and against all that Celaeno stands for. Along the journey to Westernfort and while living there, Natasha gets to know one of these "heretics", her guide Dani, to whom she is attracted. She begins to question everything she has learned and is left with some very difficult choices because someone will die no matter what she decides to do. The ethical dilemma that Natasha must face is what makes The Walls of Westernfort so captivating. Every teaching she has learned until this journey is now in question. Natasha is discovering that when she gets to think for herself, there is not one right answer. These women are not evil because they do not possess the same beliefs