Down River by John Hart is the winner of Edgar Award USA. for 2008.
Janet Maslin in New York times, says about the book Down River, Tears roll, fears explode, tremors wrack, slaps sting and flames rage. Though Mr. Hart occasionally works in mysterious ways (“something unknowable moved through her”), he is much happier to traffic in obvious yet hyperbolic emotions.
By the end of “Down River,” the evil secrets abound. Virtually everyone in the book has something to hide. And Mr. Hart’s vigorous plotting sustains its fever pitch, though this would have been a better book with even one calm, reasonable figure in its midst. Or one who sounded less dated. Grace is the so-called kid in the book, and yet even she speaks like a 1940s B-movie denizen. “I’ve loved you my whole life,” she tells Adam. “All I needed was the courage to tell you. Well, I’m not scared anymore. I’m not scared of anything.” That’s stale even by Rowan County standards.
however, I would like to give this author 7 stars out of 5. The murder mystery kept me sleepless throughout with many suspects and many more motives. The plot is unpredictable and every chapter is open ended. Down River is quite enjoyable. This is a story about relationships, retribution and revenge, once started you will be reluctant to put it down and if by chance you have put it down, you will be very anxious to return to it. Hart has drawn his characters brilliantly. You will be reading it in one sitting so be prepared with your favorite drink.Winner of Edgar Award 2008, Down River by John Hart.
