In this dark, gripping mystery, a brutal murder unearths old secrets that should have stayed buried.

A body just turned up in the small town of Portland, Pennsylvania. The crime is eerily similar to a twenty-year-old cold case: another victim, brutally murdered, found in the Delaware River. Lead detective Parker Reed is intent on connecting the two murders, but the locals are on lockdown, revealing nothing.
The past meets the present when Becca Kingsley, who returns to Portland to be with her estranged but dying father, runs into Parker, her childhood love. As the daughter of the former police chief, Becca’s quickly drawn into the case. Coming home has brought something ominous to the surface—memories long buried, secrets best kept hidden. Becca starts questioning all her past relationships, including one with a man who’s watched over her for years. For the first time, she wonders if he’s more predator than protector.

This story shifts from a present day murder to one that happened 20 years ago. I was worried that I wouldn't be able to keep the past and present straight but with this being such a fast read, I didn't have to worry about trying to remember what happened when. I loved how vivid the author describes the settings too.

Thanks to #NetGalley for the ARC of #RiverBodies
Pub Date: 01 Nov 2018

I normally am not a fan of books that plop you down in a situation where the characters are talking cryptically about the past of which you have no knowledge. Thats’s how this starts so I wasn’t expecting to enjoy it. It suffers from many instances of vital information almost, but not quite, getting conveyed to the right people. I’m pretty sure at least one of the main “why done its” was not revealed. Or at least I couldn’t tell you what the reason was. But I ended up really liking many of the characters and was invested in knowing how the story ended. It was a pleasant way to spend a flight.

I read this book in just a few nights, but when I wasn't reading it it was haunting me. I tend not to go for books that leaving me feeling creeped out, but I just had to see what would happen next in this creepy thriller. The big takeaway from this book is not to trust anyone.

Thank you NetGalley, Karen Katchur and Thomas & Mercer for the free e-book in exchange for an honest review.

A body turns up on the in a small town in Pennsylvania and it is eerily similar to come that occurred twenty years ago. Parker Reed is on the case and trying to tie together the two murders, but the small town won’t point fingers at anyone. Becca returns home to the same small town to spend some time with her dying father and runs into Parker, who just happens to be her first love. Becca’s father used to be the chief of police, so she gets dragged into the case and she begins to question all of her relationships throughout the years in this town.

This novel was shockingly easy to fall into and get caught up in! I loved reading this book from the different characters perspectives, but I mostly loved reading Becca’s perspective and her place in the town. I loved Becca and Parker’s character and right from the beginning wished they were a couple. I was cheering for these two characters and for finding out who was committing these grisly murders. I also had a soft spot for John and his character and his place in the gang around the town. I loved that this novel unrolled slowly and allowed this novel to be more character driven and less police procedural.

I really liked all the little moments between all the characters and how heartfelt some parts of this novel are. This novel is quite descriptive, but in the best way, I could picture the small town and forest around it, which made it easier for me to imagine the crimes taking place. This book is as much an emotional journey as it is a thriller, I really felt for her and my heart broke for her more than once. I felt that this book has a little piece for everyone and it definitely worth a try! I will be anxiously awaiting the next novel in this series!

Murders and secrets in a small town. Told from multiple perspectives, this is really about Becca coming home and questioning what she has always believed about her town and her family. Her childhood friend Parker is the lead detective on a murder that connects across time. There are some bits of this which strain credulity but all in all, it's a good, fast paced read. Thanks to Netgalley for the ARC.

I enjoyed reading this book. It had a good story to it. I liked the variety of characters in it. It is my first book by this author. I hope to read more books by this author.

River Bodies by author Karen Katchur is a gripping crime thriller that does not disappoint! The entire book is thrilling and will have you up finishing it until wee hours.
Thank you Netgalley and the publisher for a copy of River Bodies in exchange for an honest review.

River Bodies has that appeal to inner crime thriller fan in me, and I have been looking forward to it. What I didn't expect was to have such mixed feelings about River Bodies in the end... I'll try to explain why, although partly I still can't exactly put my finger on the why. First of all I have to point out my feelings had nothing to do with the writing style, which was engaging and easy to read. It was rather the pace of the story that was a tad slow for me, and made it harder to stay invested in the story. That and the fact I wasn't expecting to have so much focus on the characters and their relationships instead of a more developed investigation of past and present crimes. And I definitely didn't sign up for the love triangle, or the having to deal with multiple cheating main characters, something I absolutely loathe. I guess this was part of the reason the story went south for me. There were also some plot holes and inconsistencies I couldn't help wondering about. How come that if Becca is literally living on the other side of the river and only fifteen minutes away, nobody recognizes her in the place she grew up? Nobody ever crossed the bridge and saw her on the other side she lived now, especially since she's a vet and all? Not really credible. Also, her not having seen her best friend Parker during all that time, him being a cop and surely moving around while on duty, is not credible at all either. The murder mysteries themselves are interesting and I didn't mind the flashbacks, but I would have liked to see those elements related to the murders more developed instead of having to deal with relationship troubles. River Bodies is more of a mix between contemporary romance and a character-driven mystery than the proper crime thriller I was expecting, and unfortunately that mix didn't hit the mark for me. I'm sure the right person would enjoy River Bodies a lot better than I did though.

The title, River Bodies, has a double meaning to me. The first, two bodies wash up on a riverbank a decade apart, with the exact same injuries, and hometown detective and former star football player, Parker, must rush to solve the latest crime. Secondly, a young veterinarian, Becca, returns to her hometown to say goodbye to her father, Clint, dying of cancer, and deal with the issues of her past that caused her to leave the river in her last year of high school. Becca and Parker were childhood best friends, but Becca always wanted more with Parker. Becca realizes she knows details about the crimes from memories she repressed, and that she must confess to Parker, but that involves breaking promises to her father.

River Bodies is a quick, page-turning, suspense with vivid imagery. The plot is full of twist and turns that unfold at the perfect pace. The ending wasn't a shock to me, as I believe it is foretold throughout the book, but was well written and enjoyable.

When Becca Kingsley is called home to her ailing estranged father she stumbles into a murder with echoes to a similar cold case 20 years earlier. This time, as the grown daughter of former Police Chief she has a better perspective and memories long buried come flooding back. Katchur does a great job developing the characters in this story and also providing a thriller that you must read to the end. I received an ARC of this book, all opinions are my own.

Fantastic book! I loved the suspense, and the twist at the very end. The characters are all amazing, especially John. His character really spoke to me. I really enjoyed this book, and will definitely read more by this author in the feature.

Karen Katchur, Author of “River Bodies” has written a suspenseful, captivating, intriguing, intense, riveting, and thrilling story. The Genres for this novel are Fiction, Mystery, Suspense and Thriller. The author describes her interesting characters as complex and complicated. Karen Katchur had me sitting at the edge of my seat. There are twists and turns, betrayals , danger, secrets and murder. The timelines of the story is set both in the past and the present. The common denominator seems to be the Delaware River.

Becca Kingsley , is a veterinarian that loves to run by the river with her dog. She often feels that she is being watched and realizes that her step-brother is watching her from the other side of the river. The step-brother seems strange, quirky, and dangerous and is now the head of one of the gangs in his town. Becca is called home to the other side of the river when she gets news that her father is dying of cancer.

Becca and her father were on terrible terms, and this might be the last time to make things right. Becca also sees that her former love, Parker Reed, a detective is involved in a case where a body was found by the river. This reminds all the townspeople of a similar case 20 years ago, where another body was found by the same river. The local people stay very quiet and don’t want to talk. The town consists of the regular people and the gang.

Becca realizes that she has memories of the past that are so frightening, she has locked them away. I would highly recommend this novel for those readers who enjoy a great mystery full of suspense and surprises. I received an ARC from NetGalley for my honest review.

Sometimes it’s nice to mix things up within a genre, so many times I’m craving a fast paced and exciting thriller with twists and turns galore and then other times I’m in the mood for a really well written slow burn, and River Bodies fits the bill perfectly. It’s funny because the pacing itself wasn’t even slow at all, but the writing style and the way the story unfolded was more subdued so it was almost a mix between the two. Either way it worked well for me and was an intriguing read.
This was character driven and really focused on the relationship between Becca and her estranged father, but also between Becca and her longtime boyfriend as well. Besides Becca you also hear from Parker giving it a subtle police procedural vibe and then John, a local outlaw who is part of a biker gang. All three were complicated and interesting and I just saw on Goodreads that this is the first book in a new series with the next installment set to be released next summer!
I’m a sucker for old cases and new ones colliding and there was plenty of that here. Throw in some fantastic and evocative writing and a tricky mystery and I was all in. Recommended for those looking for a rich, character driven story with a great setting and a few surprises along the way.
River Bodies in three words: Subtle, Layered and Engrossing.
Overall rating: 4/5

An emotionally resonant tale of fury, tragedy, guilt, and redemption.

The first in this exciting new series: Northampton County —A page-turning, psychologically rich, both "character and plot-driven," a gritty multi-generational, complex suspense thriller of two brutal crimes twenty-years-apart.

The past and present connect when a murder investigation with the same MO reconnects old childhood acquaintances and estranged parents, while dark family secrets threaten to destroy present lives.

Talented suspense novelist, Karen Katchur returns following The Sisters of Blue Mountain and The Secrets of Lake Road with her latest novel RIVER BODIES — Taut prose, flawed characters, and a dark side that weaves through the lives of the small towns of Northampton County, with the introduction of this new bold series. The author creates a strong sense of place positioning itself ideally for the setting of this intriguing new series leaving readers anxiously awaiting the next addition.

An edgy, intense, deep and darkly compelling psychological suspense “whydunit” thriller with plenty of attention to detail. Katchur skillfully explores the frightening and gut-wrenching mental state of each character. The journey from past to present, the traumas and fears bringing them to the present nightmare as they confront their monsters.

Setting:
Set in the small rural town of Portland, Pennsylvania in the autumn season, alongside the Delaware River banks with small connecting towns in Northampton County: Pennsylvania and the Jersey side.

Characters:
Becca Kingsley was born here, the daughter of the controlling and demanding police chief, Clint. Her childhood does not hold fond memories. Becca now is a grown woman, age thirty, single and living with Matt, a patent attorney who is cheating on her. She is a runner, a veterinarian, and the owner of Romy, her faithful and much-loved German Shepherd. Her practice is in Columbia, NJ not far from her hometown.

She has always loved animals. They were of comfort to her during her turbulent childhood. A demanding father, a womanizer, and never faithful to her mom which he drove away. Years ago, a scared child, she stumbled upon something that frightened her. She happened to be at the wrong place at the wrong time. She tried to tell her dad, but he instructed her never to speak of this again She carried this secret and buried it deep in her mind.

Did her father send her away to protect her from harm? She did not know why. She never understood. Her mom and dad separated. Now her dad is dying. They are estranged. Her mom thinks she should visit him before he passes.

Could her dad hold the secret to the murder long ago and the one in the present?

John Jackson (very complicated) was older than her by fifteen years. He had been a part of her childhood. John’s dad Russell was a stepbrother to her dad, Clint. John had a troubled youth as well. He is a hunter.

His dad was part of a motorcycle club (gang) called the Scions. His dad had no patience for mistakes and no tolerance for the cowardly. John had no children and his late wife, Beth died of cancer three years earlier. Two stepbrothers on different sides of the law.

John had taken an oath to the club, twenty years ago and if there was one rule he lived by, the rule his old man, Russell had drilled into him ever since he was a small boy. It was that he put the club before himself, always, even if it meant giving his life. Now John answers to his father’s buddy Hap. John is a product of his environment.

Could he have been a different person without his father’s influence?

Detective Parker Reed is a State Police homicide investigator who works cases throughout Northampton County. He is from Portland, and he and Becca were childhood sweethearts. Now in charge of the current case, and recalls the twenty-year-old case from previous years when he was a child.

Will he be able to solve the crime before there is more collateral damage?

The Crime
Twenty years ago there was an unsolved murder of a man. When the man’s body is pulled from the Delaware River, he had been shot, gutted, and field dressed as a deer. Now there is a similar murder. Could it possibly the same murderer? A copycat? What is the motive?

Becca, John, Parker, and Clint are connected to the murder. How? The past refuses to remain buried.

The Present
Becca has been summoned to her hometown. Her dad is dying. He has a lady friend, Jackie. Becca swore she would never return. She had never understood her father’s reasons for doing the things he had done. Her father did not like John nor did he get along with John’s father Russell, his stepbrother.

Filled with dread and fear, when she returns, she happens to once again be a part of the new crime. Will the new crime bring back the memories she has kept hidden for years and reopen old wounds? Could she be in danger? Does she know too much?

Why was this brutal murder so violent? What would make a person skin a human as an animal? Do humans repeat learned behavior?

Metaphors
There is much to love here! Karen takes us below the surface of the human psyche. Good versus evil. With literary prose, there is the constant pull between fear, danger, protection, and love. Water, the river, the woods, and nature can be beautiful, but at the same time, it can be dangerous, as with animals and humans (we find here).

Topics and Themes
A twisty, unsettling, yet captivating thriller explores the relationships between fathers and daughters, and fathers and sons. Highly charged topics: psychological, repressed memories, secrets, fear, parents’ effect on a child’s behavior, as well and marital relationships, infidelity, narcissism, violence, forgiveness, fear, control, protection, old loves, love of animals, betrayal, friendship, love, loss, cancer, and grief plus more.

Whydunit versus Whodunit
As with all her books, the author skillfully explores powerful, complex and high-charged topics and emotions. The intricacies of parent-child relationships and family dynamics. I enjoy the intriguing tie in with animals, nature, and the rich settings in her books as well as the "whydunit," versus the "whodunit."

A type of detective story in which the focus is not on who committed the crime, but what were their motives for committing it. I love her book covers and her keen sense of place with her bold and alluring settings which draw you in.

Fans of
For those fans of true-crime, families are torn apart by secrets of the past. Why? This is the ongoing question and the focus of RIVER BODIES. The author delivers a complex and gripping standout thriller! Written from different points of view and time periods, readers will be glued to the pages —anxiously awaiting the next in this riveting series.

Perfect for crime fans of Lisa Gardner, Karin Slaughter, Harlan Coben, Gilly MacMillan, and Lisa Unger with a mix of emotional domestic suspense/literary of Heather Gudenkauf, Mary Kubica, Randall Silvis, Diane Chamberlain, and T. Greenwood.

RIVER BODIES is prime for the big or small screen! (fingers crossed). Engrossing, unsettling, and atmospheric.

Highly Recommend!
Katchur has outdone herself, and River Bodies is her best yet! The author knows how to write gripping suspense while also delving deep into her characters’ minds and the darker parts of the human psyche, drawing on her background in criminal justice. A dark and twisted well-researched multi-generational tale with a meticulously-woven plot, multi-layered complex characters, with psychological depth. A “must-read” new series. An ideal selection for book clubs and further discussions. 5 Stars + Top Books of 2018 list.

Inspiration
One of my favorite interviews. Join me Nov 1:
• A Q&A with Karen Katchur: The inspiration behind the novel
• Ten Facts about RIVER BODIES
• An Elevator Ride with Fun Facts about the Author.
A quick teaser from the author (much more to come)

“When I was a young girl, I remember hearing about a man’s body that was pulled from the river. He was gutted like one would field dress a deer. I wanted to know why. Why this type of crime? Why this specific injury? My inspiration for the story came from a mix of curiosity and fear.”

What's Next:
Readers, you are in for a treat, Cold Bones #2 Northampton County is coming 2019 with more from Detective Parker Reed and his new partner Geena Brassard. Looking forward to learning about his past. Cannot wait!

If you have not read Karen's previous books, highly recommend! Read my reviews here:

THE SISTERS OF BLUE MOUNTAIN (2017)
THE SECRETS OF LAKE ROAD (2015)

JDCMustReadBooks

Highly recommend the hardcover. The jacket is beautiful!

I quickly found myself caught up in this fast paced mystery and very much enjoyed the ride to uncovering the past with Becca and Parker.

The story takes the reader back in time to Becca’s childhood and then to her present and a reconnection with her town, old friends, and her dying father. There was a lot of emotion here and I enjoyed watching as Becca came to terms with all of it.

I recommend this book to lovers of mysteries and thrillers. This was a good one and I enjoyed my time spent in it.

I received an advanced readers copy of this book. All opinions are my own.

River Bodies is a book that captured my attention from the very first page and not letting it go until I reached the end. Compelling and dark, this story took me on a journey filled with suspense and secrets. This was also an emotional journey of regret and distrust. The setting of the story is so well-detailed I felt as if I were on that river with its decaying leaves and soil....it was a setting that created an atmosphere that lent itself to the story. A gripping page-turner that you won’t want to miss.

River Bodies is a fast paced thrilling book going from past to present. Filled with family secrets that could destroy instead of pulling families together. I really enjoyed getting to know these characters and hoping that a book #2 is in the works!

It took me a little while to slip into River Bodies with its multiple povs and flashbacks, but it ended up being a very addictive murder-mystery. A full review will post at Caffeinated Reviewer on November 1st.

Fans of murder-mysteries and thriller will find themselves caught up in River Bodies. By the 30% mark I was all in and I am quite happy I stayed with it. The twists and climatic ending delivered. This is the first in a series, and I am curious to see how Becca will be involved if at all.

This story was a slow burn, moving back and forth from twenty years in the past to the present of Becca's life. It's the story of two murders twenty years apart. It's not so much a whodunnit, because you are told that. It's more of a how does it affect others, instead. The current murder brings up long hidden memories from Becca's past as her father, the former police chief, lies dying. As the story plays out, Becca's life changes drastically. This book is labeled Northampton County #1, so perhaps in #2 we will learn more about Becca and her life.
I received an Advance Review Copy of this book. All opinions are my own.

I received River Bodies, a new novel written by Karen Katchur coming out in fall 2018, through NetGalley. Besides having a gorgeous cover and an interesting title, the premise was intriguing enough for me to say yes when the publisher offered it. I'm glad I did as it had a wonderful balance of mystery and good old-fashioned storytelling.

The book is told from the perspective of several different characters across a county on the Pennsylvania and New Jersey border. Bodies have been found over several years in the river. It's widely known that Scion 'gang' are responsible, but it's not always what it seems. Two different chiefs of police, daughters of various members, step-families, affairs, and mysterious connections lurk in the background. It's quite a puzzle, and you're never sure who is protecting whom.

The writing style is strong. It is very descriptive but never too much. I feel like I know the area well (I also lived not too far from it and understand many references, e.g. shootings in Easton). It's the type of book where I enjoyed the read but didn't care for the characters. They were well-written, but as people none were appealing given how they talked or what they believed in. At the same time, it's a very real part of society and deserves a spotlight. It showcases how different experiences and areas to live in shape who we are. Surviving is tough when you have less support from those around you. Katchur brilliantly shows these aspects and helps you connect with someone you might not normally be around. It sounds odd to say it in this way, but it's the best way to describe how I felt while reading the book. Example: sworn oaths to protect and kill for the sake of the group, an eye for an eye, revenge even if you get caught... it happens in reality!

Kudos to the author and thanks to the publisher for sending the book to me. I'd definitely read more from Katchur and would recommend this book to others.