Book Review – Long Bright River

This was a December BOTM pick and one that has very high reviews on GoodReads. I picked it up when I just couldn’t get into another book I was reading. This one drew me in right from the start and I finished it in one day!

Summary: The story revolves around two sisters who live in a town ravaged by the opioid crisis. One sister, Mickey decided to become a cop and works hard to protect the people she loves. The other sister, Kacey took the opposite road as a drug addict who will do whatever it takes for her next fix. The two sisters do not speak as adults, but Mickey is determined to look out for her sister as she patrols the town they live in. But then Kacey goes missing and girls are being found murdered all over the town. Mickey, worried that her sister may become the next victim sets out on a mission to find Kacey before it’s too late.

Genre: Thriller

My Review:

What I Liked: This was a super quick read for me even though it is almost 500 pages. I don’t really know what I was expecting from this book, but once I started reading, I couldn’t stop. The book is told in the present day and in flashbacks to the sisters’ childhood. I thought the flashbacks were well timed and well done and really gave you a glimpse on what life was like growing up in that town. I was pleasantly surprised at the twists in this book as I was expecting a pretty straight forward police procedural as Mickey looked for Kacey. The author does a great job at slowly revealing these surprises and even leads you on different paths before arriving at the actual culprit in the murder of the young girls. I was anxiously awaiting the moment that Kacey was found and hoping for a happy ending for the sisters.

What I didn’t like: I did found myself questioning Mickey’s actions several times throughout the book. She put herself and others in jeopardy numerous times. But it also shows how desperate she was to find her sister. I would have liked a flash forward into the future at the end of the book, so readers could find out how everyone was doing after the events that transpired. There was some foul language, but it was not overly excessive throughout the whole novel in my opinion.

Disclaimer: PG-13/maybe R only for the language and the themes. The opioid crisis is talked about in detail including the various illegal ways that some people choose to pay for the drugs. However, it wasn’t super graphic when discussing those activities.

Do You Read Me?: Yes! Overall, a great read! I really felt for the characters in the book and the town that they lived in. Both sisters were trying to escape a rough childhood in their own ways. I think the author did a good job of making the reader see the opioid crisis from different viewpoints and also the desperation that comes with it for those addicted and those who love them. I highly recommend!