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Jul 07, 2011DeltaQueen50 rated this title 4 out of 5 stars
If you are looking for a strong, plot-driven mystery with lush descriptive phrases set in a moody southern atmosphere, chock full of family secrets, revenge, and loyalty, then Down River by John Hart could be the book for you. Adam Chase returns to his Northern Carolina home some five years after being acquitted of murder and tossed from his family. His stepmother was the prosecution’s star witness. His step-brother and step-sister don’t seem all that thrilled to see him, and his father appears to want everyone to just forget what happened in the past. He returns to help a friend, but also he longs to put things right with his family again. Almost from the first minute of his return things start to go wrong, and when Adam discovers a corpse, he comes to the realization that things will never be right again until all the family secrets are revealed. John Hart combines good story-telling with excellent character development. Each character has his own distinct identity, and the story flows smoothly. I really liked that this book didn’t end with everything wrapped up neatly. As in real life, there were some ragged ends, hurt feelings, and family obstacles to overcome. The author took his time with this story, slowly putting each piece in place, until the end, which came quickly and kept me glued to the page. All in all, a very good story.