4.8 stars from readers on Amazon
She went out to walk the dog.She came home a witness.Then the neighbors stepped in.
A Walk Down Rushvillea novel by Barbara Burton
Skyler rebuilt her quiet life alone, until one late walk down Rushville Street made her the only witness to a crime. Her story is for anyone who has had to build a family of their own.
Read the first chapter freeOrder a signed copy
Paperback, ebook, and audiobook, read by Barbara herself. Signed copies ship from La Jolla.
- 4.8 stars from Amazon readers
- Top 50 Amazon bestseller, Women's Adventure Fiction
- Audiobook read by the author
- Adapted for the screen, now in producer talks
- Inspired a real nonprofit: Neighbors as Family
Psychological suspense. Women's fiction. One story.
A story about the family we are given, and the family we choose
A Walk Down Rushville explores the meaning of family, the family of origin and the adopted or created family. It follows one woman's journey to free herself from the pain of an abusive birth family and embrace the love and support of her neighbors.
Separation from family is a quiet epidemic. On the west coast alone, only half of adults live near their extended families, and the loneliness that follows takes a real toll on health. Set in California, North Carolina, and Italy, the novel follows forty-nine-year-old Skyler as she faces loneliness, loss, and the work of building a support system rooted in love.
It is a book about the power of saying yes. Yes to courage you did not know you had, yes to the people who can and do love you, yes to a life of joy that may be right in front of you.
In paperback and Kindle, and free to read on Kindle Unlimited.
Where the story travels
Southern California
Edenton, North Carolina
Ischia, Italy
“With vivid descriptions, distinctive characters, and sudden plot twists, Burton mixes the heart-pounding pace of crime fiction with a character-driven journey of the heart to create an unforgettable story.”
Tom Sanger, author of Without Warning
Read the first chapter free
Skyler and Mousse's shoreline walk, from the novel trailer, filmed on the La Jolla coast that inspired the cover.
Meet Skyler
One late-night walk changes everything
Skyler is a reclusive, grieving widow in a small home in southern California. She walks her black lab at night to find peace and to escape thoughts of her family and the death of her husband. One night, on her regular walk down Rushville Street, she witnesses a murder, and looks straight into the eyes of the man responsible.
Then a call comes from Edenton, North Carolina. Her mother is dying, and the family that never supported her needs her now. What follows is a story of courage, from depression, fear, and grief toward self-discovery, and toward a whole new family she can call her own.
What readers are saying
A page turner, with heart
More than one reader has compared Skyler's journey to Eat, Pray, Love. Here is what they say in their own words.
This novel is a visual delight. I was amazed how she captured the beauty, simplicity and warmth of the people and places along Skyler Rossi Bennett's journey. Skyler's transformation is the heart of this moving story. It's an enchanting, positive summer read full of twists and turns. This is just what we all need.
This is a great read! With all of the twists and turns, I simply could not put the book down. I was hooked from page one. I hope she writes another one soon!
A fast-paced, inspiring read that is jump-started by what appears to be a murder. A shy widow, Skyler is forced to move from self-isolation in order to regain the balance she lost when her beloved husband died. Along the way she befriends, and is befriended by, a group of neighbors whose care and concern shore up her confidence and spur her sense of adventure.
This story really opened my eyes to the value of neighbors helping neighbors, and reminded me that sometimes the biggest supporter in our lives might be living right next door.
I loved the detail of the surroundings and the characters. The author creates intrigue as a result of a crime, and the reader is enticed to keep reading to find out the outcome. The settings take place in beautiful places, from the Southern coast of California to a quaint village in scenic Italy. My husband and I both enjoyed the book.
If you're looking for a book with suspense, beautiful descriptive writing, and excellent character development, this is the book for you! A wild ride from Southern CA to Edenton, NC, and beautiful Ischia, Italy.
Reviews help a debut novel get found. If the book stayed with you, a few words on Amazon go a long way.
Signed and personalized
The copy Amazon can't sell you
Order direct and Barbara signs your copy to whoever you name, then mails it from La Jolla herself. It is the version readers give to mothers, neighbors, and the friend who is family in everything but name.
- Personalized inscription, signed to the name you choose
- Mailed from La Jolla by Barbara
- Club pricing below Amazon for ten or more copies
For book clubs
Reading it together? Barbara would love to join you
Book clubs, in person and virtual, have been choosing A Walk Down Rushville, including Barbara's own. She wrote discussion questions to get you started, and she joins meetings by video, or in person around Southern California.
- 01Virtual book clubsA signed print copy shipped directly to each member. Simple to organize when your club meets online. Available only by ordering direct from Barbara.$25
- 02In-person book clubsFor orders of ten or more in a single order, shipped to the club leader to hand out at your next meeting. That is below the Amazon price, and every copy is signed. Direct from Barbara only.$17.50
- 03Local clubs, in personIf your club is near me in Southern California, I would love to join you, deliver the books in person, and sign each one while I'm there. Email me to talk options and club discounts.Let's talk
My publishing journey
From a dream to a launch party
Barbara wrote and published her first novel with a full publishing team behind her: positioning, developmental, and structural coaches, a marketing specialist, three editors, and a cover artist and layout editor. The audiobook followed in 2025, read by Barbara herself.
The story is now a completed screenplay, adapted by screenwriter Jessica Vill and in conversations with director-producers in Los Angeles and Atlanta.
The official launch was held on Sunday, April 14, 2024 at the L&G Projects contemporary art gallery in La Jolla, with supporters there in person and online.
Insightful videos
Inside the writing, one topic at a time
From process to character development, short videos on how the book came together, and encouragement for anyone thinking of writing their own.
Barbara's publishing-journey videos are being added here. In the meantime, watch the novel trailer or follow along for the latest.
- My process
- The genre
- Themes and plot
- The settings
- Dialogue
- Emotion: show vs. tell
- Character development
- Interview with Buck, part 1
- Interview with Buck, part 2
- Interview with Buck, part 3
“I believe when the heart starts to open and says yes, again and again, the door to life opens.”
Barbara Burton, from the author's note
Order a signed copy
A real nonprofit, born from fiction
Neighbors as Family
In the novel, Skyler dreams up an organization that helps people without family connect with the neighbors around them. Barbara decided to make it real.
“The idea came to her that an organization could encourage those without a family to connect with neighbors. Then I made a decision to make it real.”Visit Neighbors as Family
About the author
Barbara Burton
Barbara is a former Capitol Hill reporter and registered nurse. For the past twenty-five years she has worked in management consulting, helping companies with strategic vision, culture, and communication. She is also the author of two illustrated, sing-along children's books, and a soft-jazz vocalist who has recorded two CDs.
She was inspired to write about how people create a family when they have none, having felt that loss in her own life. She lives in La Jolla with her husband and two Springer Spaniels.
Stay connected
Say hello
Questions about the book, a book-club visit, or Neighbors as Family? Send a note, or email Barbara directly at barbaraburtonauthor at gmail dot com.