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Down River | 
 enlarge | Author: John Hart
Publisher: John Murray
Category: Book
List Price: £7.99
Buy Used: £0.16
You Save: £7.83 (98%)
New (38) Used (50) from £0.16
Rating:  12 reviews
Sales Rank: 820
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
Availability: Usually dispatched within 1-2 business days
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| Customer Reviews: Read 7 more reviews...
 Good and Gripping September 15, 2008
M. J. Saxton (Dewsbury, West Yorkshire United Kingdom)
This is one of the those books that creates a world that you keep wanting to return to; you think about it during your working day and can't wait to get back into it.
It is not just the quality of the thriller that does this, but also the complex interplay of the characters and their relationships. There's always some new insight waiting for you every few pages.
Adam Chase makes an interesting hero. His anger and resentment keep surfacing and you understand how his impetuousness leads him into trouble, but comprehend why he does what he does.
The rest of his family is well-drawn, especially the step-brother Jamie and his sister Miriam. The character of Robin is slightly weaker, though not disappointingly so. She is a mature woman who has had to make hurtful decisions and live with the consequences.
The slow build of the story is not tedious, as is often the case with action thrillers. The denouement is not an obvious one, and does the reader's intelligence justice in its motivation and playing out.
There is something very filmic about this novel; it works like a classic American movie, and would make for a good evening at the cinema. This is perhaps what draws you so far into the story.
A great summer read September 14, 2008
S. Eastwood
A great read. This is a fast paced drama with unique characters and a plot full of twists to keep you guessing. This book isnt as fast paced as something like the Da Vinci code, and not as meaningful or intelligent as many other books. But if you want a fast paced, atmospheric and clever mystery. I highly recommend this book.
 Unimpressive and tedious August 12, 2008
L. H. Healy (Hertfordshire, UK)
7 out of 8 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
alex (italy)
2 out of 3 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
LittleReader (Leeds, UK)
4 out of 4 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...
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