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DOWN RIVER
by John Hart
John Murray, November 2007
336 pages
11.99 GBP
ISBN: 0719521513


Buy in the UK | Buy in Canada

Some books are meant to be read slowly so you can savor the words and the feel of the story. DOWN RIVER by John Hart is exactly that type of book.

The author brings the readers into the life of Adam Chase, who at a young age, watched as his mother took a gun and killed herself. Adam's father remarried a woman named Janice who already had twins from a previous marriage, Jamie and Miriam. Eventually Adam considered himself to be their older brother.

Years later, a young male friend of his stepsister Miriam was murdered on the family land. Adam was arrested for the crime and the main witness against him was his stepmother, Janice. Adam was acquitted but left his home in Rowan County, Salisbury, North Carolina and ended up in New York City.

After five years, he receives a phone call from his best friend, Danny Faith. Danny begs Adam to come home saying that he needs help. At first Adam refuses but he also misses his family so within three weeks he finds himself back in Rowan.

Rowan County is dying but a huge organization wants to buy the land, and this would make the inhabitants very wealthy. The town is split between two groups, those who need the money and want to sell their land and those, like Adams's father, who refuses to give up their homes. The part of the town that wants to sell is threatening Adam's father because he is the leader of the group who wants the town to remain as it is.

This is the situation that Adam returns to and to make matters worse most of the town still considers him a murderer – including his stepmother.

When asking around about his friend Danny, he discovers that Danny had left Salisbury three weeks earlier to go to Florida. This doesn't sound right to Adam since Danny had called him just when Danny was supposed to have left. Things take a tragic turn when Danny's body is found on the Chase land, the second murder in five years that took place on the family's land. All eyes turn to Adam, accusing him of being Danny's murderer. Once again Adam has to try to prove his innocence and find the guilty party – even if the truth destroys his family.

DOWN RIVER is an extraordinary book. Author John Hart reminds me of other gifted Southern writers like Anne Rivers Siddons and Pat Conroy. He takes his time writing, choosing the exact words to describe his ideas and emotions.

You can feel the town's seething anger and jealousy towards the Chases and the sadness that Adam's father feels because he loves Adam and wants to get close to him again. You also understand the love he has for his wife, Janice, who doesn't want Adam anywhere near her family.

The ending is incredible and even though you might figure out who the murderer is you will be amazed how Hart pieces everything together to create an extremely complicated and beautiful novel.

Do not read DOWN RIVER quickly. Savor the writing. The author has created a marvelous mystery that pulls you into the pages and will not let you go.

Reviewed by Sharon Katz, November 2007

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Contact: Yvonne Klein (ymk@reviewingtheevidence.com)


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