River
Bodies by
Karen Katchur is part mystery and part police procedural.
It is not a “who done it,” but a “why done
it” as the characters must come to grips with two brutal
murders that occurred two decades apart. There are no solid
lines, with a blurring between the good and evil side of each
character. But the author successfully weaves in relationships,
family dynamics, and loyalty that only enhance the story.
The book examines how loyal should someone be and whether
the choices people make are to protect others. Each character
looks inward reflecting on what they did to survive. The heroine
is Becca Kingsley, a veterinarian, who lives across the river
from the Portland, Pennsylvania town she grew up in. She decides
to return to spend time with her dying father, who was once
Portland’s police chief. Because of his infidelity to
her mom she became estranged from him. Now she wants to make
amends and to get answers to the memories and long buried
secrets. Everything seems to be coming to the surface after
the discovery of a man brutally murdered that is tied into
a previous murder.The author explores with flashbacks Becca’s
teen years that include her relationship with her parents,
their separation, and her friendship with Parker Reed, now
the present State Homicide Investigative Detective handling
the case of the murdered victim found in the river. She realizes
the two murders are connected and that she is somehow involved.
Becca starts questioning all her past relationships: the man
she is living with has infidelities, her father who sent her
away to boarding school, Parker whom she wants to renew her
romantic feelings with, and a man who’s watched over
her for years, that could be more predator than protector.
Becca realizes that there are times when her brain and heart
compete. The author noted, “Her head told her what he
did was absolutely wrong, but in her heart, she had an emotional
kinship with him and saw him as her protector. Regarding her
current boyfriend Matt, her Her head told her what he did
was absolutely wrong, but in her heart, she had an emotional
kinship with him and saw him as her protector.”
Becca’s dog Romy steals the scenes she is in. “I
based her on my good friend’s dog who is so cool. She
and I run with her dog. I would describe her as a German Shepherd
that is a guard dog who is not aggressive, but protective.
I also have a dog, but since she is a retriever, she is very
submissive. I always grew up with pets so animals are a part
of my life. Becca gets solace from Romy. I think when someone
has a bad day pets are there to cuddle and hug. This is why
I put the book quote, “Romy pushed her warm body against
Becca’s leg. She bent down, buried her face in Romy’s
face, having turned to animals for comfort ever since that
day John had given her that scruffy old barn cat.” Even
though my dog is 75 pounds she is still a lap dog.”
Readers will experience a wild ride with the river’s
currents, both metaphorically and physically. This is a tension-filled,
fast-paced novel that effectively blends together a horrific
murder, a mysterious backstory, and vivid characters.
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