‘May He Reston Peace’ turns Reston into a mystery novel

By Kaydence Smith, Staff Writer

T.A. Ledinh wrote a "comedy mystery" set in Reston

For T.A. Ledinh, Reston was not love at first sight. After growing up in Vietnam and Paris, the author moved to the United States and lived in several cities, including Reston, where he spent 10 years. When he first arrived, he didn’t immediately see the appeal. Over time, however, his view changed, and he developed an affection for the planned community. That experience inspired his novel, “May He Reston Peace.”

Published in December 2025, the novel was written on and off over the past 20 years. It follows Tommy Chase, a suburban developer determined to avoid becoming an adult for as long as possible. When Tommy moves to Reston, his life takes an unexpected turn after he discovers a dead body and a mysterious flash drive, drawing him into a crime he can’t escape.

Reston serves as more than a backdrop. Its carefully planned neighborhoods, walking paths and distinctive character provide a contrast to the crime unfolding around Tommy. Ledinh suggests that beneath the community’s orderly, peaceful exterior, more may be happening than residents realize.

Ledinh’s own evolution from being unimpressed with Reston to developing an affection for the community gives the novel a perspective that goes beyond simply using the town as a setting. Readers will recognize references to local roads, including Sunrise Valley Drive and South Lakes Drive, as well as landmarks such as Reston Town Center and Reston National Golf Course.

“May He Reston Peace” is a fast-moving mystery with a distinctly local setting. For readers familiar with Reston, part of the appeal is seeing recognizable streets and surroundings transformed into the stage for a murder mystery. For those unfamiliar with the community, the novel offers a suspenseful introduction to a planned community that, at least in Ledinh’s fictional world, may not be as peaceful as it appears.

Ledinh plans to make the novel the first in a series centered on Reston and the mysteries it could conceal. For local readers, the series promises another way to view familiar surroundings—and wonder what secrets might be hiding beneath the community’s peaceful exterior.