Step into the seemingly ordinary world of the Rayburn family on Linwood Avenue, where something extraordinary lurks just beneath the surface. In this serialized reading of "Countryside: The Book of the Wise," JT Cope brings to life the first chapter, "First Encounter," introducing us to a family that appears unremarkable at first glance.

Meet the Rayburns—seven people crammed into less than 1,500 square feet in a Houston townhome. Mr. Rayburn is a military veteran, Mrs. Rayburn manages the household with superhuman efficiency, and their five children each possess unique personalities and traits inherited from both parents. But our story centers on ten-year-old Luke, the eldest child who's never quite felt like he belonged.

Luke's growing sense of unease manifests in troubling ways. The school bully seems to have developed an uncanny ability to locate him no matter where he hides. His only friend Rafi has mysteriously disappeared, with strangers now occupying his family's home. New neighborhood boys have made Luke their target practice. Most disturbing of all, his beloved grandparents haven't visited in nearly a year despite their regular correspondence, and his father grimaces whenever their letters arrive.

Through masterful storytelling, JT Cope weaves subtle hints of mystery into what appears to be an ordinary middle-schooler's life. As the chapter closes with a tantalizing hint that Luke will soon visit his grandparents' mysterious home, listeners are left wondering what secrets await this young protagonist. What lies behind the veil of normalcy in Luke's world? And what adventures will unfold once that veil is lifted?

Grab your copy of "Countryside: The Book of the Wise" from Barnes & Noble or your preferred bookseller, available in both print and digital formats. If you enjoy this journey into Countryside, please consider leaving a review to help other readers discover this captivating story.

https://www.amazon.com/Countryside-Book-J-T-Cope-IV-ebook/dp/B00MPIXOB2