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Down River | 
 enlarge | Author: John Hart
Publisher: John Murray
Category: Book
List Price: £7.99
Buy New: £3.86
You Save: £4.13 (52%)
Media: Paperback
Pages: 384
Shipping Weight (lbs): 0.6
Dimensions (in): 7.7 x 5 x 1.1
ISBN: 1848540957
EAN: 9781848540958
ASIN: 1848540957
Publication Date: June 16, 2008
Shipping: Eligible for Super Saver Shipping
Availability: Usually dispatched within 24 hours
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| Customer Reviews: Read 5 more reviews...
 Unimpressive and tedious August 12, 2008
0 out of 1 found this review helpful
Often I read reviews on Amazon, where people have generally liked a novel, and there is one where the reviewer writes 'I must be missing something', or words to that effect. Well in the case of this novel, I must be that person, because I don't understand all the hype about it at all.
I just about forced myself to finish it as I was (just) interested enough to read the end, but only just. I kept thinking there must be some amazing twists in the plot to come, but they never arrived, and I had already realised what some of the outcomes were going to be earlier on in the book. This isn't a problem if the writing itself is stylish and the tale enthralling enough to keep one reading whether you have worked out the plot in advance or not, but in this case I don't think it is.
The main character, Adam Chase, finally returns to his home town to face the demons of his past, which saw him wrongly accused but fortunately acquitted of the murder of a local young man. The action centres around his family and a small circle of other inhabitants, and gradually unravels how their pasts have actually crossed and reveals hidden secrets that lead to the revelation of the real murderer, but not before a further murder and an assault have occured. Chase rekindles a romance with a local detective on his return and proceeds to antagonise her and the other detectives by going behind their backs to conduct his own investigations.
The relationships could have been built more believably, which would have evoked more empathy with the characters, or at least an understanding. It all just seems a bit sketchy.
If you want a very easy, undemanding read, which admittedly many readers do in the summertime, then maybe give this a try. Evidently many others have enjoyed it more. But I think there are other thrillers out there just as enjoyable but with more style to the writing and more depth to the characters than this one, with more pace and excitement. For me, it simply isn't in the same league as the brilliant 'A Quiet Belief in Angels' by R.J.Ellory, for example. I think I just like my tales a bit more meaty and substantial really.
 perfect summer read!! August 7, 2008
1 out of 1 found this review helpful
This book is the perfect book to have on holiday with you, the only problem is that you seriously risk to spend the first couple of days with your eyes stuck on the written words of Mr Hart!!, I don't advice to read it on the train unless you do want miss your stop, or if want read it sitting comfortable in your sofa, get a good pot of coffee ready because you will not want go to bed before the last page of this book.
I really enjoyed this book the plot is good, the characters are very real.
Recommended.
 A good, thick, full thriller... July 9, 2008
3 out of 3 found this review helpful
I think in order to write a fantastic thriller, it's not just about a complex multi-layered plot, though obviously this is important; I think the characterisation has to be spot on and the ending clever. And for the most part 'Down River' hit the nail on the head.
The central characters - Adam Chase and his (wonderfully dysfunctional) family - are diverse and interesting and there's a couple of sub-plots thrown in should you become in any way bored with what's going on. It all makes for pretty good reading.
My only criticism is I guessed quite early on 'whodunnit' but then I suppose you could argue that reading about Adam getting there was just as much fun...
 Some clever twists July 6, 2008
16 out of 17 found this review helpful
There isn't much product information available on Amazon so to give you an idea what it's about, Adam Chase lives in New York having left his home town five years following an acquital from a murder charge - all this is revealed within first and second chapter so it isn't a plot spoiler - but his friend from home calls him and he has to go back. When he gets home people start turning up dead and unfortunately Adam looks like number one suspect with only him being able to clear his name.
The writing style took me a little while to settle into. The sentences are disjointed in places and there is no descriptive narrative as such. The only thing I can compare it to is Gordon Ramsey when he does his recipes and he simply says the bog standard ingredient and method. Hopefully you know what I mean if you've ever watched his most recent shows. Because of this, I couldn't get into a flow and my reading initially wasn't enjoyable. However I soon got used to it and eventually the plot became more of a focus than the writing style.
All of the characters are interesting. Some of the relationships will leave you a bit puzzled, mainly for me that was the relationship between Grace and Adam. Eventually all the links between the characters becomes clear and you can start putting two and two together; yet I don't think you'll ever completely work everything out. John Hart has been clever and there are some amazing aspects of the plot that come in the last quarter of the novel.
I don't feel like it's a fast paced thriller but it is definitely atmospheric and exciting; leaving the reader to question the betrayals that have happened and whether they would do the same in Adam's situation. Even when explanations have occured you are still left with an unsettled feeling of whether people should've done what they did. As for other novels like it, the blurb talks about John Grisham, Scott Turow and Raymond Chandler; I haven't read any of those but they are ones I'll hunt out in the future based on this novel. Whilst I've only given it a 4 star review and not a 5, it is only the writing style that let it down as the plot was great.
This book is part of the Richard & Judy Summer 2008 Reads and I can see why. It has huge appeal for a range of audiences, this is my seventh read from the summer reads and it is third to 'No Time for Goodbye' and 'East of the Sun'.
highly enjoyable read July 6, 2008
1 out of 2 found this review helpful
I really enjoyed this book. It was very easy to read but also very well written. The real killer came as a surprise. My only problem was that Adam was just a bit too cool. Some people have compared it unfavourably to A Quiet Belief in Angels. I much prefer the style of writing in this and the plot was much better too, in my opinion. Recommended.
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