Carrie Brinkley cannot come to grips with the fact that she has lost her job and boyfriend all in the same day. Her boss Norman Sloan, the CEO of Pilgrim Burgers LLC, claims he fired her to cushion the company from the financial constraints caused by the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic. Carrie finds this interesting since her boss has received huge sums of money in federal aid and the company seems financially stable. Shortly after her exit, her friend and CFO of the company Teresa Dill is fired too. Things get even shadier when Teresa mysteriously disappears. Teresa had previously reached out to Carrie expressing her suspicions about Norman’s intentions with the millions in federal aid money. She had sent Carrie files that proved Norman was up to no good with the funds. However, now on a cross-country bicycle trip meant to help relieve her stress, Carrie had somehow not gone through the files. Unknown to her, Norman and his girlfriend Silky Brown have come up with a plan for the money and are ready to remove anything that stands in their way. Get yourself E.A. Coe’s Pedaling West to know more.

E. A. Coe’s Pedaling West is just what you should be looking for if you love mystery novels laced with a gripping tale of deceit, love, betrayal, crime, murder, money, suspense, adventure, and much more. Coe hatches an intriguing plot, featuring ingenious plot twists. He packs the storyline with background details on the cast and the plot but just enough not to bog down the pace of the story. The vivid depictions bring the scenes and characters to life. One moment I was in Norman’s bedroom listening to his weird conversations with his girlfriend Silky. The next moment I was watching in horror as Damien, Silky’s brother, ruthlessly went about his sister’s errands. Then came the scenic views as I joined Carrie cycling on the road. I found the complex traits of the well-crafted cast exciting, enthralling, and authentic. This, coupled with his use of introspection, made it easy for me to connect with them. I loved Pedaling West and I’m looking forward to reading more of Coe’s work.

Pedaling West by E.A. Coe is about Carrie Brinkley’s biking journey across America after losing her job. Carrie was laid off due to downsizing during the pandemic. As if that wasn't enough, her boyfriend was waiting for her when she got home, only to break up with her. Carrie’s co-worker Teresa is also fired unexpectedly. Teresa sends sensitive files to her email as proof that her employer is involved in corruption with government funds. This sets the scene for murder, and Carrie's life is in danger. Carrie is involved in an accident during her trip and meets someone who may be more than a friend in the future. The bike shop owners repair Carrie’s bike and will also cover the rest of her travel expenses.

E.A. Coe is an excellent writer and had my attention from the start. Pedaling West exceeded my expectations and I was in for a rollercoaster ride with many twists and turns. I never knew what to expect next. It was full of action, and I just kept turning the pages. No way was I going to put the book down before I had finished. The characters were authentic and could be anyone I knew. Carrie could never make a speech previously but is now comfortable with this. During her journey, she became much stronger and more confident. The friendliness of small communities and their care for each other are excellently portrayed. I could feel it just by reading the story. The conclusion to the story was fantastic and, for me, it couldn't have ended better.

Pedaling West by E. A. Coe is a masterpiece of literary suspense. The COVID-19 pandemic has hit, and Carrie has lost her job due to downsizing. When her boyfriend also leaves her, she decides it’s time to reset her life. Rather than moving to a new city or getting a new job, Carrie decides on something more dramatic and challenging, a solo bicycle ride. She plans to ride cross-country from Virginia Beach to Mendocino, California, which will take her two months. Carrie isn’t prepared for the dangers she will face on her journey. It’s not the weather, the wildlife, or the roads she has to worry about, although she faces her share of those. This time, it’s something all too human. Will Carrie make it to her destination?

Pedaling West by E. A. Coe is an amazing story that feels almost like a true story. It’s steady but full of suspense with a unique plot filled with action. There are plenty of twists and turns and a few surprises along the way in a tale of courage, fear, and new beginnings. Maybe we should all take a leaf out of Carrie’s book when things go wrong by forging new paths in our lives despite the dangers on the path. The characters are well-developed, especially the main one, and she meets several well-rounded individuals along her journey, each with their own stories to tell, and each likable in their own way. This is a well-written story, which is thoroughly researched and engaging. Highly recommended for anyone who likes a good story of suspense and intrigue.

Pedaling West by E.A. Coe is an impressive and skilled narration of one woman’s pedaling adventure from Virginia Beach to Mendocino, California. The story opens when Carrie Brinkley, an internet technology manager, gets fired from her job and she’s not happy that her boss, Norman Sloan, is trying to lessen the impact of the news by delivering it in sweet words. It isn’t fair for Carrie, as she has become instrumental in the company’s success through the first months of the pandemic that has something to do with Payroll Protection Loans. To rub more salt in her wounds, her boyfriend, Trey, a professional baseball player, decides to break up with her. With no job and no boyfriend to worry about, she decides to bike across America. As she goes on her cycling adventure, the dangers along the road are nothing compared to the premeditated murder attempt on her life as she presents a threat to a strategy involving financial fraud.

Pedaling West is a murder mystery tale with a strong cycling background that produces a strong adrenaline rush. Carrie is a deeply-drawn character because her tour on wheels makes her a strong focus of the narrative so you get to know her up close and personal. E.A. Coe provides a solid reason why his protagonist goes cycling across America. Carrie not only does it for the natural high but also to clear her head from the misfortunes that suddenly befell her. And yes, cycling is therapeutic, as any person who rides a bike will tell you. The unfolding of events gives the story depth and makes Coe’s story an expert and spellbinding adventure. It has a strong action and mystery formula that is brought to life by its imaginative twist. It’s a must-read.

Reviewed by Elizabeth H. Cottrell, author of HEARTSPOKEN: How to Write Notes that Connect, Comfort, Encourage, and Inspire.

Pedaling West is the author’s best book yet, and as one of his devoted fans, I have enjoyed watching his storytelling skills shine and mature over the last few years as his writing experience, credentials and literary recognition have been on an upward trajectory.

In this book, he’s nailed all the elements I love in a good read: plausible scenario set in an all-too-recognizable post-COVID world, gripping drama, tantalizing romance, suspenseful danger, and rich characters that were well-developed and elicited emotional engagement from me as a reader.

This book had a bonus in the form of the protagonist Carrie’s cross-country bicycle ride on real roads through real places. The author’s research (from an intentional road trip with his wife) resulted in making me feel as though I was seeing the scenery go by right along with Carrie. I was fascinated to learn about the critical preparation a cross-country biker must make just for the predictable dangers and mishaps (serious bike riders will be envious of the hi-tech features of her very cool bike). But what will keep you turning the pages is the totally unsuspected danger the reader knows about but of which Carrie is completely unaware until it’s almost too late.

Was sorry when it was over. Write more books!

This book was so beautifully crafted and had me gripped by the close of Chapter One. The cross-country historical back story gave context and was fascinating. In the characters, I found qualities of courage, wisdom and savvy that made them so likable and admirable. It was one of those quality reads that ends too soon and begs for a sequel.

A must -read; action-packed, with twists and turns, kept me reading on the edge of my seat till the end.

E. A. Coe's best book yet. The characters are well fleshed out and believable. I feel as if I know them personally. E. A. addresses contemporary times and challenges in a low-key yet effective manner.

On the surface, Pedaling West is about young Carrie Brinkley embarking on a cross-country trek on her bicycle after losing her job to the COVID pandemic and then losing her boyfriend, then discovering the dangers she has to face are much more extreme than she could have anticipated. But if you've read other books by this author, you already know there's much more to this book than a story about fraud and the lengths to which some will go to cover their tracks.
The excursion the main character undertakes provides her with experiences and opportunities she couldn't otherwise have encountered that test her compassion, strength, intellect, determination, and ability to appreciate life. Of course, E.A. Coe pens novels with strong, inspiring female characters, and this one is no exception. Carrie is not only physically able to conquer the terrain across the center of the United States, but she's able to dig deep and discover she does, indeed, have the mental fortitude to do so as well - even as she's pursued by someone with malicious intent. As a reader, you discover along with Carrie the beauty of our country - both the physical beauty of the terrain as well as the beauty of the human soul as she realizes that with our myriad differences we are all bound by one significant commonality: our humanity. We are able to learn from mistakes and to look past disagreements in order to do the right thing and show compassion, even in a world where evil exists and hardships abound.
This book will keep you invested with its high-stakes story, descriptions of majestic vistas and interesting tidbits of history, and peeks into the inner workings of the human heart, leaving you wishing you knew each of the distinctive, well-rounded characters personally, that you had time for a cross-country trip, and with a desire to embark on your own journey of self-discovery.

Stories with a heart, indeed. E.A. Coe’s latest novel is both a mystery and a love letter to America. It celebrates smart law enforcement, family ties, new friends, and the beauty of this Country. With a cast of characters - some appearing from Coe’s previous work - who are hard-working, clever, earnest and loyal, our fearless and resourceful protagonist Carrie comes to the shocking realization that her former work colleagues are masking some real evil.
Pedaling West is written in a voice reminiscent of the best of the 1950s radio shows. Current technologies notwithstanding, Coe’s latest took me back in time. It’s a journey I recommend for readers who, like me, want to close a book and say, “Well, that was fun!”

It was entertaining, fascinating, had suspense & was just entirely the type of book I love to read.

Carrie Brinkley was not having a good day—from getting fired from her job to being broken up with by her boyfriend, all it took was one look at her neighbors pedaling outside for her to want to do the same and get away from it all. Instead of dreading her losses, she takes the opportunity to think of it as a chance for a positive experience to bike across America and find herself. Little does she know, however, that she’s being tracked down in the process, all thanks to some important files she has that her old company wants gone.
Pedaling West by E.A. Coe is a unique crime thriller where readers follow the intriguing main character, Carrie Brinkley, through her sudden journey pedaling across America as she unknowingly gets chased by people with the intent to kill. The narrative provides a multi-dimensional perspective, which is refreshing, and I think the change in point-of-view was seamlessly executed. I enjoyed the straightforward writing style, which keeps things focused and makes it easy for readers to follow what’s happening in the story. The addition of a map near the beginning of the story was helpful and fun, so much so that I wish it had been updated as the story progressed.
I think the idea behind this novel is great. There is a lot of information that is given to the reader. If you are someone who likes exposition, then there is plenty to enjoy in this travel thriller. In the first chapter, and then continuing throughout the story, a lot of the pandemic (and previous pandemics) is talked about, which makes it relevant to contemporary audiences. This is central to the story, and once we get over the factual information, we are then thrust into the fictional elements. Readers are introduced to a lot of interesting characters throughout the story, and a lot of them have backgrounds that are expounded upon and give each one of them great depth.
Upon delving into the pages of Pedaling West, one cannot help but be captivated by its intriguing premise and the charismatic protagonist who leads the way. I highly recommend Pedaling West to anyone seeking a compelling and enlightening tale of self-discovery.

E.A. Coe has done it again! In "Pedaling West" he narrates the captivating odyssey by a determined but untried young woman. Spurred by setbacks in both her love life and employment, Carrie Brinkley seeks to find her future direction and herself on a solo coast-to-coast bike trek. Unbeknownst to her, unscrupulous characters from Carrie's past want to hunt her down, thinking to silence her for what they think she knows of their crimes.

Not only a thrilling hero's journey but a detailed law enforcement procedural, Coe's novel is well-researched and balanced in this portrayal of American life during our time of pandemic.

Set during the Covid-19 pandemic, this book is part murder mystery, part adventure story and part personal transformation. The story follows Carrie, a recently laid off IT manager on her cross-country bike trip, pursued by those who want her dead. The plot and character development kept me engaged and for those who have read this author's other book "The Other Side of Good," you'll enjoy some character crossover. A compelling read!

So… the question at hand is, who will make it unscathed on this cross-country bicycle journey, Carrie Brinkley or the reader? E. A. Coe has written yet another “page turner” that has more twists and turns than a sourdough pretzel.
Carrie Brinkley begins her journey on the Virginia shoreline and has her sights set on reaching the Pacific Coast. Her story is one of self-actualization and resilience as she overcomes unanticipated obstacles that block her path.
She encounters several interesting characters along her journey, some who are of great assistance and provide her solace when she is in dire need of help, and others whose devious plans threaten her safety and block the completion of her dream. She begins to see herself in a far different light than prior to her journey, as she assumes the role of “helper”, rather than the one needing help. Unknowingly, she has been drawn into a cesspool of unimagined evil, that is following her on her intended coast to coast trek.
The book is difficult to put down. You won’t want to take a break from the action. You’ll “need” to find out what lies ahead. You may find some familiar characters appear from Coe’s previous works, and I surmise that a few new characters may end up on the pages of his future works.
Pedaling West is a story complete with all of the elements; deceit, anger, revenge, determination, love, gratitude and success. It is a most enjoyable read.

You know you have a great story on your hands when you resist putting the book down, when you say, “Just one more chapter . . .” three or four times per sitting. Pedaling West is such a book. Author Coe Sherrard has weaved a wonderful and authentic tale of crime and personal growth into this suspense-filled novel that features Carrie Brinkley, a down-on-her-luck, naive young adult whose solo bike adventure across the country transforms her into a strong, mature individual who surprises everyone, including herself. As Carrie is unknowingly caught up in a financial fraud-turned-murder crime spree, she jumps on her tricked-out bike and heads on a solo trek from Virginia to California to "find herself." The trip is filled with danger, and as her parents fret over her safety, Carrie discovers and uncovers truths—both personal and corporate—that will lead to places she never expected. After all, fear affects everyone. There are characters you’ll root for and others you’ll root against as you race to the end of Pedaling West. Front to back, east to west, readers will relish this one-of-a-kind story.

How many young women would have the courage and stamina to take a bike trip alone to the next town much less a trip from coast to coast?
As usual, E.A. Coe has sub-plots that weave beautifully together in a believable manner that add complexity to the novel. Carrie an aspiring young woman on the re-bound from a broken relationship, Norm a greedy business owner who plans to cheat the government, Silky a conniving manipulator who will do anything to steal from her boss, and Doug an excellent FBI agent on the mend from an alcohol problem all become involved with each other during Carrie’s trek across the United States.
Throw in murder and romance and you have a compelling story that earns a 5 Star rating

“Life is like riding a bicycle, to keep your balance, you must keep moving” ~ Albert Einstein
A.E.Coe the author exemplifies this famous quote with each descriptive page ! Engaging you the reader feeling as if you’re Carrie pedaling your bike on a cross country journey to keep her own balance after being fired from her job, getting a traffic ticket and having her boyfriend break up with her all in the same overwhelming day! As she travels from Virginia Beach to the west coast Mendocino traversing roads not as often traveled I so enjoyed the details of each town she traverses with very unique scenarios , unexpected situations and with a determination to rise above not just the mountains and adversities but with a new discovery of self, and key lessons /daily takeaways from adventure packed unforeseen problems lurking just below the surface on her roads! The author allows you to gain new perspectives uncovered from a darker side with very realistic characters during the post pandemic Covid-19 unprecedented curves thrown in! Educating from well researched actual details with a spin of fiction genre that offers your eyes and mind to entertain how businesses can and do operate by not complying with laws and other various twists to the plot! The fight or flight reactions from Carrie’s support network of caring family, friends, and colleagues that disappear unexpectedly, along with new acquaintances she meets along the way during various problems she and any of us can and do encounter in life ! I read this book at a fast page gripping pace similar to grabbing the handlebars of my own bike coming down hill with excitement, drama, thrills and suspense wanting to complete and pedal home safely before sunset ! This book is so descriptive it definitely reads like a movie unfolding scene by scene leaving me wanting more because it made me think, reflect , and smile ! As life isn’t easy and there’s not always a smooth ride, A.E.Coe offers climbing those winding roads on Carrie’s bike with challenges not just for some beautiful views, but discovering balance and a new state of mind! I highly recommend this book I couldn’t put down and will anxiously await this author’s next traveling adventure as well as read a few prior books because he writes so descriptively well I felt like I needed to put my kickstand down after each ride! I’ve already preordered as a gift for another bike riding friend that’s loves suspenseful books and this will be a gift well received and given with excitement for his discoveries after he completes reading it! Exceptional! ⭐️

Pedaling West, by E. A. Coe, is an engaging story of woman’s bicycle trip across the heart of America with a conscienceless counterpoint of criminal activity constantly threatening to derail her innocent effort of self-discovery. Keeping the tension boiling as we interact with what is great about America, E. A. Coe breaks us out of our comfortable shell of complacency with Carrie, the rider, finding friends and support in unexpected places and challenges. By unselfishly lending a helping hand during crises, she discovers that her trip, like life, is most successful as we engage others. She serendipitously builds a life-saving support network and realizes the real joy of her journey is heightened when others are involved. Like Carrie’s ride, Pedaling West is a wonderful story to be experienced as well as shared. I whole-heartedly recommend it.

Brandon Currence, author,
The Maine Consecration

It’s no exaggeration that life can change in the blink of an eye, and no one knows that better than Carrie Brinkley. IT Manager of Pilgrim Burgers, LLC, Carrie, is shocked to find her position is being eliminated. Doubtful as to her boss’s real intentions, she heads home only to receive a citation for an expired inspection sticker on her way. But, unfortunately, her string of bad luck doesn’t end there. Her boyfriend Trey is waiting in her driveway to announce that he is leaving town to return to Alabama and consequently breaking up with her. All Carrie wants at this point is to run away from it all, and when her bike calls, she answers.

Pedaling West, by E.A. Coe, follows the journey of one woman impacted in multiple ways by the 2020 pandemic. The face of the world, as Carrie Brinkley knows it, has changed, and she wants more than anything to run away from it all. So she concocts a plan to bike across the country, and even her parents’ words of wisdom can’t stop her from setting out to cover the nation from coast to coast between June and October.

Carrie’s story is unique in many ways yet typical of far too many others since 2020. Coe does a fantastic job of covering the mania that ensued when COVID-19 hit the United States. From misused funds to the countless ways our day-to-day lives changed at the drop of a hat, Coe covers it all in a short amount of time.

Carrie is a true force. She represents strength and determination on an entirely different level. Coe’s depiction of a woman on a mission is one to behold. As Carrie encounters one roadblock after another on her journey west, she meets each head-on and with renewed confidence. Her character development is unmatched. Though Coe’s story is fiction, I can easily picture this as a true story and one that would definitely inspire much-need confidence during the pandemic.

There exists within Coe’s writing an ideal amount of intrigue and mystery. It is difficult to peg Pedaling West as part of any one genre–it contains all the best parts of several. I enjoyed the blend of current events, action sequences, and the focus on Carrie’s character development throughout the book.

We won’t soon tire of reading about the many ways COVID has impacted our world, and E.A. Coe has gifted readers with a fantastic version of events in one neat package. I highly recommend Coe’s work to any mystery fan who appreciates a novel grounded in current events and is driven by a strong female main character.

Carrie is a young woman who has had most things going her way. When she suddenly loses her job and her boyfriend, she decides to bike across the country. With strong support from her parents, she takes off, unaware that there is a someone who thinks Carrie know more than she does. She meets trouble and also good people who help her.
The characters are well developed and relatable. I am hoping to meet least 2 of them in future books.

I can’t remember the last time I rode a bike, and you do not have to be a bike rider to enjoy this book! Pedaling West deserves a chance to be the next book that you can’t put down! E. A. Coe does a great job at weaving different genres together into his writing to keep things interesting/unique, and makes you feel like you can envision the story unfolding in front of you. The different story lines were easy to follow (not jumpy), fit together well, and added a layer at each turn. The story is loaded with interesting historical facts and beautiful landscape descriptions. I really enjoyed the strong female lead character as well as other confident women supporting characters. While there were malicious plot lines, they were juxtaposed by the overall good of humanity. It was also interesting to read a book that takes place during the pandemic as it brings to light some of the problems that occurred during that time. I highly recommend this book!

Carrie Brinkley pedals West into our hearts as a well-crafted character written by E. A. Coe. I cheered for Carrie as she began her journey, worried for her as she encountered some harrowing experiences, appreciated her growth as she learned more about herself and found the determination she needed to finish her course. I shed a tear as she neared her finish line. Coe has a knack for writing characters in from his other works, not quite creating a series, but tying these works together so that they may extend for several volumes which I anticipate will advance his interest in human trafficking, righting wrongs, and my interest in continuing to read his books.

Carrie Brinkley’s titular cross-country bike trek in E. A. Coe’s “Pedaling West” is a multi-layered metaphor for the journey we all face, regardless of age, heritage, or gender, when life blindsides us, sideswipes us, redirects us in often terrifying ways, or just plain disappoints us. As we vicariously follow our heroine’s journey through some of the most inspiring (and vividly described) scenery on earth, Carrie’s spirit melds itself with our own, and we find ourselves considering personal growth odysseys that would never otherwise cross our minds – we surprise ourselves, even as Carrie is making surprising discoveries about her own life and strengths.

In our increasingly complex world, simply surviving becomes more challenging every day, and so is the task of writing anything that is truly universal. E. A. Coe has excelled himself in this regard with “Pedaling West.” This wonderful book has it all – good guys; bad guys; road hazards; ups and downs; loving relationships (and the possibility of a few new ones); solid family values; real wisdom; intrigue; plot twists; a surprise ending; and, perhaps most surprisingly, one of the most detailed and breathtaking armchair tours of America ever to have existed in print. You will experience every mile of Carrie’s odyssey with the same sense of wonder and awe as Carrie herself, all against a backdrop of quick-moving events and indelible characters. What’s not to love? “Pedaling West” is the masterful work of a writer at the top of his game, and still growing.

Pedaling West by E.A.Coe is a gripping story, full of interest and excitement, keeping the reader engaged until the very end. This is exactly the kind of book where the characters became real and the journey fascinating: soon I did not want to put the book down.

For me, the test of my engagement with the main characters in a story is whether, some time after I have put the book down, I find myself still thinking about them in their fictional lives. I read the preview of this book several months ago, and then reread major parts of the novel recently. Once again, I could not put the book down, and even after I did, I found myself living with the characters after I closed the pages.

The main character, Carrie, is beautifully described; she cycles off the printed page, so that I could live alongside her, sharing the beauty and fears of her long journey on wheels. The surrounding characters come alive. The problems and challenges embedded in the story provides the “gripping” quality of the entire book.

The setting of this story is in the well-described fraud generated by generous government handouts to businesses supposedly suffering in the grips of the Covid epidemic. This is not a circumstance I would have been aware of, let alone have been exercised about. Nevertheless, this author is a skilled researcher, and made this “unreal��� world real, and compelling. I grew to I care about this large scale corruption as well as the immediately dangerous world in which Carrie finds herself.

A really good book becomes a conversation between author and reader; a great book enables the reader to be well educated by the author. This is such a book, and I am one grateful reader that he wrote it!

Yin and yang—the two complementary forces that make up all aspects of Pedaling West and the phenomena of Carrie's life, her decisions, others characters' decisions, and her trip from East to West. Pedaling West encompasses the actual process of the universe and all that is in it and how the universe deals with Good vs Evil. Who will come out alive? Who will make it to the end? Who will fall in love?

I am so in awe of someone that can create an exquisite multi-layer story with multi-dimensional characters with nothing but words, albeit the exact right words, letting our imagination paint the scenes as everything unfolds! That someone is E.A. Coe! We can all relate to at least one of the strong characters in the book.

Pedaling West is a fast moving story with many different enjoyable facets: history, travel, high tech gadgets, educational components, happiness, fear, hate, suspense, compassion, mishaps, drama, twists and turns, crime, environmental dangers, love, romance, friendship, inspirational growth and an unexpected ending... I give Pedaling West 5 Diamonds...polished diamonds and I highly recommend! Yin and yang!