Synopsis:
Castle Gap: A Chase Haven Thriller
In Horsehead Crossing, Texas, Chase Haven was finally feeling at home—until his girlfriend, Tacy Vernon, vanished under a wide, uncaring sky. She dared to defy the town’s bombastic mayor and scheming city manager, exposing a legacy of corruption that’s bled the land dry for generations. Now, Chase leads a desperate fight for her truth in a place that reeks of diesel, decay, and buried secrets.
A sabotaged radio tower crackles with static, whispering tales of betrayal. A body rots in a sewer pump station, too far gone to identify. Every dusty road Chase treads leads him deeper into a web of greed, where desperate men will stop at nothing to protect their power. Fists crack, shots ring out, and the air hums with unspoken lies. In a town hellbent on silence, Chase will risk everything to uncover what happened to Tacy.
Forged by Andy Ivey, a fifth-generation Texan and former KCLW 900 AM host, Castle Gap draws from the wild lore of rural Texas airwaves he knows by heart. This fast-paced rural thriller, perfect for fans of C.J. Box, is a tale of a man who is dragged beyond his moral lines in a land that keeps score.
Favorite Lines:
“You know the people of our town are too stupid to understand the airport!”
“That man is what you call the south end of a northbound horse.”
“Work to live, not live to work.”
My Opinion:
I received a copy of this book from the author in exchange for my honest opinion.
In Castle Gap, Andy Ivey crafts a compelling narrative set in the fictional West Texas town of Horsehead Crossing. The story follows Chase Haven, a newcomer who becomes entangled in local politics when he refuses to co-sign a questionable loan. This decision sets off a chain of events involving his girlfriend, Tacy Vernon, an economic development officer who is abruptly fired after challenging the town’s power structures. As Chase and Tacy delve deeper, they uncover corruption tied to a proposed airport expansion and the influential Baxter Whitey. The novel explores themes of civic responsibility, moral courage, and the complexities of small-town dynamics.
What makes Castle Gap so gripping is how deftly Andy Ivey blends humor, political intrigue, and emotional nuance into a story that feels both contemporary and timeless. The small-town backdrop is rich in personality and dysfunction, giving the novel the feel of a modern-day western wrapped in a government procedural. Ivey’s writing captures the unspoken rules and alliances of rural communities, where everyone knows everyone—and pretends not to.
Chase is a likable anchor for the story: quiet, decent, and skeptical of authority. But it’s Tacy who steals the spotlight. Her transformation from small-town bureaucrat to outspoken advocate is both believable and empowering. I appreciated how Ivey gives her space to be frustrated and afraid while still showing up to fight. Her radio interview scene was one of the most satisfying, especially when she refuses to back down from naming names.
The novel also smartly avoids falling into cliché. The villains aren’t cartoonishly evil—they’re polished, polite, and embedded in the system, which makes them far more dangerous. Ivey doesn’t write in absolutes. Instead, he lets the characters wrestle with difficult choices and ethical gray areas. The conflict over the airport loan, while local, mirrors broader issues of power, transparency, and how public resources get manipulated for private gain.
If you’re someone who loves character-driven political drama with a Texas twang and a slow burn of tension, Castle Gap will absolutely deliver. It’s equal parts cozy and confrontational, with sharp dialogue and an ending that satisfies without tying things too neatly. I’m hoping this isn’t the last we see of Chase Haven—because Horsehead Crossing feels like it still has secrets to give.
Summary:
Overall, Castle Gap is a thought-provoking and engaging novel that delves into the challenges of standing up against entrenched systems. Andy Ivey delivers a narrative that is both entertaining and reflective, making it a worthwhile read for those interested in stories about moral courage and community dynamics. Happy reading!
Check out Castle Gap here!