Arroyo by Chip Jacobs

Release: October 15th, 2019
Format: Paperback
Publisher: Rare Bird Books
Source: Suzyapproved Book Tours
Find it at: Goodreads, Amazon, Kindle, Audible, B&N

Set against two distinct epochs in the history of Pasadena, California, Arroyo tells the parallel stories of a young inventor and his clairvoyant dog in 1913 and 1993. Both lives revolve around the landmark Colorado Street Bridge. It is also known as “Suicide Bridge,” by locals. The bridge suffered a lethal collapse during construction but still opened to fanfare in the early twentieth century automobile age. When the refurbished structure celebrates its 80th birthday, one of the planet’s best known small towns is virtually unrecognizable from its past.

With warmth and wit, Jacobs’ debut novel digs into Pasadena’s most mysterious structure and the city itself. In their exploits around what was then America’s highest, longest roadway, Nick Chance and his impish mutt interact with some of the big personalities from the Progressive Age. They include Teddy Roosevelt, Upton Sinclair, Charles Fletcher Lummis. Also included are Lilly and Adolphus Busch, whose gardens were once tabbed the “eighth wonder of the world.” They dance around at Cawston Ostrich Farm, the Mount Lowe Railway, the Hotel Green and even the Doo Dah Parade. But it’s the secrets and turmoil around the concrete arches over the Arroyo Seco, and Nick’s destiny, that propels this story of fable versus fact.

The truth about the Colorado Street Bridge, in all its eye-catching grandeur and unavoidable darkness i well focused, But the characters of Arroyo paint a vivid picture of how the home of the Rose Bowl got its dramatic start.

About the Author:

Chip Jacobs is an award-winning author and journalist. His books include the biography Strange As It Seems ,the Impossible Life of Gordon Zahler ,the environmental social histories The People’s Republic of Chemicals and the international bestselling Smogtown, the Lung-Burning History of Pollution in Los Angeles , the dark-humor true crime caper The Ascension of Jerry, and the stories collection The Vicodin Thieves. He also has contributed pieces to anthologies, most recently for Los Angeles in the 1970s. “Weird Scenes Inside the Goldmine” about the attack on an idealist lawyer by a depraved cult. His reporting has appeared in the Los Angeles Times, L.A. Daily News, CNN, The New York Times, Bloomberg, and LA Weekly, among others.

His passions include Trojan football, life as a Beatles/Led Zeppelin/Squeeze-maniac, electric guitar, forgotten literature, running and super-sugary breakfast cereals. He lives in Southern California. https://chipjacobs.com/

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Arroyo Review:

“Arroyo” is a riveting historical fiction novel that dwells into parallel timelines surrounding Pasadena’s famous bridge, and I enjoyed reading it.

What I enjoy about Chip Jacob’s books is his eccentric style of writing. Having read “The Darkest Glare,” I knew what was in store for me. He has a unique style of writing that takes a while to get used to but entertaining once you adapt to it. Initially, when I started reading Arroyo, I thought many random things were happening to Nick. But once you immerse yourself in the story and the character, you begin to see the author’s intricate details to tell the tale realistically. Moreover, reading this book made me add the Colorado Street Bridge to the list of places I want to visit in the future. I had no idea about the history behind the bridge until I read this book, particularly called “The Suicide Bridge.”

Similarly, the story is also interesting as we follow the highs and lows of Nick and his dog Royo. I loved how their stories interconnected between two timelines, one in 1913 and one in 1993. The author adds excitement, humor, and a few thrills to the story. It was interesting to see how Nick’s career takes off during the bridge’s construction, where he interacts with memorable characters like Chester and Darby. Some moments are exciting as Nick searches for Royo or when Nick comes across the malfunctioning transformer. On a side note, I also liked Nick’s chemistry with Jules and thought it sparked the tale.

Overall, I found “Arroyo” a fascinating historical piece of fiction that inspired me to visit Pasadena someday.