Down River by John Hart

The novel Down River proves that genre writingthe strong theme of the prodigal son, powerful
can also be literary. Its protagonist Adam Chase isyet somewhat eccentric characters--each with
a wrongly accused young man who, with ortheir own secrets and vices--and a splendid
without meaning to, clashes with almost everyonebackdrop of countryside. The story, told in first
around him and has to peel himself out of troubleperson, weaves skillfully along several plotlines,
constantly. The first chapter opens aptly with thekeeping the reader guessing the answer to the
description of the river in Rowan County, Northwho-done-it question. The language of the book is
Carolina, Adam's family home and the Red Waterrich, evocative, at times sentimental and poetic,
Farm, and a mention of his childhood trauma.and at times direct and harsh, reflecting the
Adam has returned home to find his old friendpsychological complexity of its characters. The
Danny Faith, after five years of staying awaywriter's exemplary use of the language and
from everyone including his girlfriend Robin who isunderstanding of the regional elements and his
a cop. Five years ago, Adam was tried forcharacters raise the quality of this mystery to a
murder and acquitted, but the townspeople stillhigh literary level. Adam Chase narrates: I
see him as the murderer. Adam is bitter becausewondered if it (the town) had the taste of me
his family especially his father did not believe in hiseven now, so many years after it had spit me
innocence. Instead of going home, Adam goes toout. I drove past the renovated train station and
Danny Faith's father's hotel to rent a room, wherethe old mansions stuffed with money, turned my
he is beaten up badly. As he leaves the hospital,face away from men on familiar benches and
Robin meets him and takes him to her apartment.women in bright clothes.
Later on, Adam goes to meet his father,Down River is 336 pages with ISBN-10:
stepmother, his two step-siblings, the caretaker0312359314 and ISBN-13: 978-0312359317.
and his granddaughter Grace. Then, as much asThe author of Down River, John Hart, --according
he searches, Adam cannot find Danny. There is,to the bio given at the inside cover-- was born
yet, another twist to the story as the possibilityand raised in North Carolina and earned degrees in
of a nuclear plant. The developers want to buyFrench, Accounting, and Law. After careers in law
the Red Water Farm and other farmland aroundand in asset management, Hart turned to writing
it, despite Adam's father's resolve to not sell thenovels full time. He lives in North Carolina with his
farm. In the meantime, other murders spring upfamily. His first book was The King of Lies (2006).
around Adam, making the authorities suspect himHis second, Down River (2007) has won the
again. With all the pressure around him, AdamEdgar Award. His third book, The Last Child will be
wants to prove his innocence and to see if he canpublished in May 2009.
return to the only place he calls home. The storyI picked Down River from a bookstand in an
continues with everyone being suspected of thingairport and found it to be my best pick in a long
or another until the end when the puzzle is solvedtime. The mastery of the author in all aspects of
and Adam is cleared once and for all.storytelling makes this book a captivating thriller
Down River is Southern Gothic at its best withas well as an excellent example of literary fiction.