"The Roaring Ridleys"

K.M. Colley writes thrillers, contemporary mysteries, and cinematic stories that explore legacy and ambition. Her work often centers around powerful families, glamorous settings, and complex characters. Born in Mobile, Alabama, she’s currently based in Tampa and Philadelphia. When not writing or reading, Colley enjoys traveling, learning new languages, and building a creative legacy. She’s also passionate about raising her autistic daughter, who dreams of creating her own comic book one day.

Colley applied the Page 69 Test to her new novel, The Roaring Ridleys, and shared the following:

Okay, I need to know what kind of sorcery this test is. Because, wow, oddly enough, it shows exactly the catalyst of it all. The man who is the reason their secrets could be exposed is remembered in the same gossip column that has brought them down. I absolutely love that the test fits perfectly for my debut! Page 69 is the first page in chapter 9, which follows the aftermath of the return of their annual summer party and the death of a famous gossip columnist.

Chapter 9

KAVITA RIDLEY

The Manhattan Herald
July 11, 1927
FAREWELL TO DALE CAIMEN

It is with our saddest regrets that we announce our beloved Dale Caimen passed away suddenly Saturday night. Dale has worked for The Manhattan Herald since he was in high school. He started as an intern, assisting anyone in need of help. It wasn't until he began his column, Metropolitan Musings, that he surprised New York City. People finally learned about social events and got a glimpse of life through the eyes of New York's elite. He had the wit to boot, along with charm and class, as he reported on goings-on from the city we all clambered to read first thing in the morning, before our first cup of coffee. Dale Caimen was adopted by the late Donald and Phoebe Caimen, leaving behind his legacy in his voice at the column.

His passing has shaken the Ridley family, as his unexpected death happened at Saturday's gala.

Readers will get a fantastic first impression of the book. If anything, they get the fast track pass straight into the juiciness of this story. It also gives Dale humanity, even though he is the source of pain for the Ridley siblings. I love how, on this page, the reader sees how eerily similar his background is to being adopted, just like them.

The Roaring Ridleys follows seven siblings who are adopted from around the world. They are thrust into the luxurious life of one of the wealthiest and most famous families in 1920s New York. Life isn't just filled with the privilege they are born into, but a world filled with secrets and danger that one of them feels is worth killing for.

Visit K.M. Colley’s website.

My Book, The Movie: The Roaring Ridleys.

Q&A with K.M. Colley.

--Marshal Zeringue