The River Is Dark: A Thriller

The River Is Dark by Joe Hart - A Must Read Heartbreaking Thriller You Should Read
The best book I've read in awhile, this is an excellent thriller. The writing is crisp and authentic. The prologue begins with the scene of a murder where and we are instantly thrown into the story. A confused young boy is traumatized by his witness to the murder of his parents. Then in chapter one, we meet the protagonist, the haunted Liam Dempsey, who travels to Tallston to find out about his brother's murder only to discover there have been other murders in the small city. The mystic of the story mounts as we are introduced to an array of interesting characters, all with difficult situations, and some sad circumstances. This well-paced story will keep show more you turning pages. The more we learn about Liam, his problems and shortcomings, the more we appreciate his strengths. The most revered is his ability to love even after being rejected, perhaps that's why he is able to accept others around him who are far from perfect. This is not only a conspiracy thriller, it also is a heartbreaker. You'll jump in your seat and grab the tissues. After reading this story you may reconsider the definitions of normal and beauty. You may discover the meaning of true unconditional love. I highly recommend this book. show less

Heartbreaking Thriller You Should Read
The best book I've read in awhile, this is an excellent thriller. The writing is crisp and authentic. The prologue begins with the scene of a murder where and we are instantly thrown into the story. A confused young boy is traumatized by his witness to the murder of his parents. Then in chapter one, we meet the protagonist, the haunted Liam Dempsey, who travels to Tallston to find out about his brother's murder only to discover there have been other murders in the small city. The mystic of the story mounts as we are introduced to an array of interesting characters, all with difficult situations, and some sad circumstances. This well-paced story will keep you turning pages. The more we learn about show more Liam, his problems and shortcomings, the more we appreciate his strengths. The most revered is his ability to love even after being rejected, perhaps that's why he is able to accept others around him who are far from perfect. This is not only a conspiracy thriller, it also is a heartbreaker. You'll jump in your seat and grab the tissues. After reading this story you may reconsider the definitions of normal and beauty. You may discover the meaning of true unconditional love. I highly recommend this book. show less

Received this ARC from NetGalley

A little Hills Have Eyes meet small town murder mystery with a touch of romance and corporate scandal. A pretty fun read. Some parts were a little slow and over-descriptive, but overall a pretty good book!

The River Is Dark by Joe Hart is a highly recommended, fast paced thriller that will hold your attention right to the end.

The opening scene is of a frightened young boy trying to escape from a murderer. Then the action focuses on Liam Dempsey. Liam has just learned that his brother, Allen, and sister-in-law, Suzie, have been brutally murdered in the small town of Tollston, Minnesota where his physician brother had his medical practice. What he doesn't know until he arrives in Tollston is that another couple, who just happened to be best friends of his brother, was murdered that same week. A young boy has survived, but is in a coma.

The homeless man called Nut told Liam, “Wasn’t two weeks ago Jerry and Karen Shevlin were found the show more same way as the ones last night. Their boy was luckier, but not by much. Lost an arm from the elbow down and hasn’t woke up yet. Poor little bugger, he can’t be more’n ten or eleven.”
Liam set his cup down and turned to fully face the man. “You’re telling me there was a double murder here last week?”

While law enforcement won't specifically say that the two murders are related, clearly they are - but there doesn't seem to be a sinister connection between the two couples that would give anyone a reason to murder them. Liam was previously a homicide detective for the Minneapolis police department, so he inserts himself into the investigation after he is questioned as a suspect. Liam also renews his acquaintance with Dani, a friend of his sister-in-law. Dani and Liam begin to work together, with some assistance from the local sheriff. From their investigation, Liam has good reasons to believe that more people might be in danger.

The River Is Dark sets a furious pace and leaps along to the end. It is well written and a perfect choice for anyone looking for that fast-paced thriller with gory details and a plot that moves at break-neck speed to the end. While there aren't many rabbit trails and false leads to spread the action out, the conclusion is nicely done. Most readers will connect with Liam as a character and want him to succeed.

This is a re-release of a previously published edition.


Disclosure: My Kindle edition was courtesy of Thomas & Mercer for review purposes. show less

Had some great moments, and descriptive sections. I wanted to hear more about the antagonist, he deserved a bigger role, it could have made the story creepier.

A special thank you to Amazon Publishing, Thomas and Mercer, and NetGalley for an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

The River Is Dark by Joe Hart, is a thriller of revenge, a dark ruthless twisted murderer, mixed with chilling horror and intense suspense; a lovable former haunted homicide detective Liam Dempsey, returns to a small town along the banks of the Mississippi River, for a page turner mystery, you will not be able to put down!

Liam Dempsey, has issues of his own in Minnesota, and receives a call of his estranged brother and sister-in-law’s brutal murder in Tallston. Upon arrival, he finds a double murder in the same week; and the other couple murdered, was his physician brother’s best friend and the godfather of the show more boy, who escaped the monster’s grasp by losing his arm and is currently in a coma— the lone survivor of the killings. The police’s only lead is the boy’s terrified description of the assailant, a “monster.”

Liam sets out to find the connection, and learns of a powerful company, Colton, Inc. (the town, future home of Colton, Inc. where industry meets nature, LIES) with a web of local politics, greed, and conspiracy, with hidden mysterious secrets of the victims, yet to uncover.

In the meantime, a woman (Dani, a friend of his sister-in-law), he has not seen since his brother’s wedding, is back in town as the two work closely to find the identity of the killer. Who and what lies on the other side of the river? Motive?

More people on the city council are targets, and the murders are somehow related to the upcoming vote of the river property. All the while, the evil murderer, continues to raise the body count. As the troubled ex-cop tries to pull justice from the town’s emotional wreckage, he realizes that his could be the next life lost to the killer’s ruthless, twisted plan for revenge.

Wow, my first book by Hart, and cannot wait to read more! An intriguing gripping fast-paced thriller, pulling you in from the front cover to the dynamic ending!

I fell in love with character, Liam Dempsey—reminding me a little of favorites: J. Carson Black’s (Cyril Landry), Michael Connelly’s (Mickey Haller), Greg Iles' (Penn Cage), and Karin Slaughter’s (Will Trent). Each of them with a haunting past, always on the edge of life and death-good and evil; however, you find yourself rooting for each of them, as beneath the rough exterior, a heart of gold.

Fans of suspense and horror thrillers with devour—just in time for Halloween! Would love a sequel based on Liam Dempsey, as he is too good to end. I am sure there are more secrets in this family’s past which are yet to be uncovered (Allen, the dad, Susie, Dani, Eric, possibly Nut) for more thrills to come!

Judith D. Collins Must Read Books show less

Liam is a former detective that finds out that his brother and sister-in-law have been murdered. He begins to investigate their murder and finds out that the small town where they lived has some secrets. I have never read Joe Hart, but this reminds me a bit of a Dean Koontz type book - a little bit of mystery and a little bit of horror. Not a bad book but not one I will remember two months from now either.
Received this ARC from NetGalley