Blue Ridge to Bolivia

COMING SOON: October 6, 2025

Three teens remove a stop sign as a prank, causing Suzanne to lose her husband and parents in a horrific accident in Virginia’s Blue Ridge Mountains. The tragedy brings to light the surprising facts that she was adopted and that her parents went to astonishing lengths to hide it.

She enlists two women friends, a fellow lawyer and a stand-up comic, to accompany her to Bolivia is search of her roots. There, they find that old secrets have burrowed deeply and memories have been erased by the passage of the years. The three friends must race against time to uncover the truth before it disappears forever into the fog.

“Helms finds the right balance in her writing. The story is clear and easy to follow without ignoring the hard parts.”

RECOMMENDED by the US Review

"Then, as reality came into focus, I cursed the slumber that had tricked me into thinking I was still alive."

When a car accident kills Suzanne Summerfield's husband and parents, she wakes from a coma to find her world empty. Along with the heavy weight of survivor's guilt comes the discovery that her life may not be what she thought it was. While struggling with loss, Suzanne finds something that changes everything. Cleaning out her parents' attic, she discovers adoption papers and medical records from Bolivia. Many are covered up. Most are in Spanish. With Marilee's determination and the help of their friend Polly, the search for answers begins. It starts with dusty boxes and old family memories, then stretches across continents as Suzanne travels to Bolivia to uncover the truth.

The people in Suzanne's life are more than background characters. Marilee gives tough love and steady support, pushing Suzanne to keep going when she wants to stop. Polly brings warmth, humor, and quick thinking. Together, they show that healing is rarely done alone. Helms avoids filling the pages with endless inner sadness. Instead, the truth comes out in real, believable talks. Some are gentle while others are blunt. All feel real. Suzanne's talks with her friend Marilee and the people who step in to help have the closeness of private moments. They are the kind that make one lean in to hear more.

Helms finds the right balance in her writing. The story is clear and easy to follow without ignoring the hard parts. Grief is shown honestly. It is messy, uneven, and often stuck. Yet under the sadness, there is a steady thread of strength. As the mystery grows, it becomes as much about living with the truth as it is about finding it.

— The U.S. Review of Books

“A drama-filled, culturally interesting novel filled with memorable characters. Highly recommend!”

Star Rating: 5

I very much enjoyed this Bolivia-set drama from the pen of talented author, Judith Fournie Helms. She did a wonderful job, offering readers a complex mystery, interesting characters to follow and to root for, and a wonderful setting to explore.

It's the story of Suzanne who is involved in a car accident resulting in the death of her husband and parents. Although she recovers, she is soon presented with a mystery - she gets documents from a Bolivian hospital suggesting she was born there and, in fact, her parents weren't her parents - she was adopted. Determined to discover who she is and where she's from, she sets off (with a little help) to find out the truth. What follows is a well-written, smartly plotted drama that will impact the protagonist's life forever.

There were a number of elements to this novel I particularly enjoyed. Firstly, the MC, Suzanne, is a wonderful character, the author arming her with everything she needs to find the answers she's looking for. I think most readers will like her, relate to her, and will be rooting for her. Secondly, the dialogue is excellent, the author successfully using it to not only develop her cast of colorful characters, but also to develop her suspense-filled plot. And thirdly, I've never been to Bolivia - it sounds amazing!

So, if you happen to enjoy a good drama set in a culturally rich country, this novel is for you.

— A ‘Wishing Shelf’ Book Review

“A winding story of grief, identity, and kinship that shows how life can change in an instant.”

In Helms' novel, a lawyer, after surviving an accident that kills her parents and husband, uncovers not only the mysterious circumstances of that incident, but also secrets about her own birth. 

When Suzanne Summerfield wakes up nine weeks after a tragic car crash, she's overcome with grief. Despite her friend Marilee's encouragement, she hesitates to sue the people who hit her car, but after a few weeks of recovery, Suzanne relents. However, as she begins to sift through her parents' medical paperwork in preparation to file the lawsuit, she finds something strange: documents from Bolivia, written in Spanish. These papers list out the details about a young woman who gave birth in that country on Suzanne's birthday, and in that moment, everything changes in her life. She and her friends reach out to anyone who may have known her parents' secret, but they quickly reach a dead end. Seemingly out of options, Suzanne puts her legal dealings on hold and travels abroad to gather more information. In Bolivia, she meets someone who makes it possible for her to uncover the exact information she's been looking for. Helms' novel interweaves elements of intrigue and tenderness in a story of discovery and personal growth. The themes of kinship, companionship, and grief invite readers to relate to this unusual tale. It's driven by lively dialogue and realistic, natural characters; for example, when Suzanne and her friends volley possibilities regarding the origins of the medical papers, they laughingly walk through a few, including one in which Suzanne's parents were actually "devout Russian spies" in disguise. Overall, this novel is perfect for readers who may be looking for a mystery with real emotional weight. 

A winding story of grief, identity, and kinship that shows how life can change in an instant. 

— Kirkus Reviews