The River Below
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- $8.99
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- $8.99
Publisher Description
"A tortuous tale of murder and madness . . . a psychological thriller offering insight into love, friendship, and mental illness."—Kirkus Reviews
When a mangled car is pulled from the river, containing bloodstains and a gun, the sense of safety is shattered in Tessa's Californian hometown. Tessa, who works at the river conservancy, thinks she saw a girl out on the riverbank—but Tessa's memory is failing and could this be the start of something more serious?
Tessa's friend and co-worker, Claire Barrett, is worried—about the car and the gun, but also about Tessa. With Tessa's attorney husband preoccupied with a big case and in denial about his wife's memory issues, Claire knows that it'll be up to her to work out what's going on. When a body turns up and she discovers the identity of the gun's owner—someone disturbingly close to home—Claire is determined to uncover the truth . . . whatever it takes.
"This poignant standalone from Hill (Last Words) is as much a story about friendship and loss as it is a mystery . . . A link between Tessa and the murder mystery gradually emerges as this emotionally involving novel builds to a surprising, heart-wrenching climax. Hill's balanced treatment of environmental issues will resonate with many readers."—Publishers Weekly
"A haunting psychological thriller."—Booklist
PUBLISHERS WEEKLY
Set in central California, this poignant standalone from Hill (Last Words) is as much a story about friendship and loss as it is a mystery. Claire Barrett, an environmental scientist working on a San Joaquin River restoration project, is shaken when an antique pistol is found in the mangled wreckage of a car pulled from the river and a badly decomposed body is discovered nearby. Claire, who recognizes the gun, sets off looking for answers, a journey that leads her to question her past life and relationships. Meanwhile, she becomes increasingly aware that her best friend, Tessa McCall, a volunteer on the river restoration project, has early-onset dementia. In the touching chapters told from Tessa's point-of-view, she tries desperately to hang on to her fading memories, feeling fear, paranoia, sadness, and even momentary pleasure as she relives events of long ago. A link between Tessa and the murder mystery gradually emerges as this emotionally involving novel builds to a surprising, heart-wrenching climax. Hill's balanced treatment of environmental issues will resonate with many readers.
