A River of Crows by Shanessa Gluhm – Review by Jennifer Gordon

A River of CrowsA River of Crows by Shanessa Gluhm
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

A gripping mystery, thriller which kept me hooked throughout. The fast paced storyline and plot twists kept me guessing and turning the pages desperate to find out what would happen next! The story is told through a dual timeline, it starts off set in 1988, when Sloan Hadfield’s brother Ridge goes fishing with their father at Crow’s Nest Creek, and never returns home. Sloan’s Vietnam veteran father, who although mostly good natured, was also prone to violent outbursts was arrested and charged with the murder, although Ridge’s body was never found. Sloan’s ornithologist mother never excepted that her son was dead and insisted he was still alive, and went slowly mad. The story picks up twenty years later and Sloan who is in the middle of a bitter divorce, is once again in her hometown, to collect her mother who’s been discharged from a mental health facility.
Being back is overwhelming for Sloan, who has so many unanswered questions, and so returns to Crow’s Nest Creek, the last place her brother was seen. Sloan is shocked by the sound of a crow muttering the same syllable over and over, which sounds like ‘Ridge’. Then the body of another boy is found, making Sloan question what really happened to her brother all those years ago, and was her father guilty. It’s not just Sloan and her family who are shocked by what she discovers, the whole community will be as well. This tale of family secrets, deception, and revenge is a real page turner. The descriptive narrative really brings the aerie and atmospheric Crow’s Nest Creek vividly to life, making me feel immersed in the story, along with the wonderfully defined characters. An enjoyable and engaging read, which I definitely recommend, and I’ve discovered a new author.

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