The River Murders, James O. Born

The River Murders is a collection of three thrilling, pulse-pounding stories about a private investigator in a small town on the Hudson River in upstate New York

Sometimes figuring out the truth means going to the point of no return. For Mitchum, returning isn’t something he concerns himself with.

Hidden opening line:

My moody mongrel, Bart Simpson, kept watch from the warm backseat.

Rejected by the Navy SEALs, Mitchum is content to be his small town’s unofficial private eye, until his beloved 14-year-old cousin is abducted. Now he’ll call on every lethal skill to track her down – but nothing is what it seems…

Malicious opening line:

I had raced through my paper route this morning, chucking papers into the frozen front yards of Marlboro.

Mitchum’s brother has been charged with murder. Nathaniel swears he didn’t kill anyone, but word on the street is that he was involved with the victim’s wife. Now, Navy SEAL dropout Mitchum will break every rule to expose the truth – even if it destroys the people he loves.

Malevolent opening line:

Mitchum has never been more desperate. One by one his loved ones have become victims of carefully staged attacks. There’s only one way to stop the ruthless mastermind intent on destroying everyone around him – to go on the most dangerous hunt of his life.

My blurb:

Mitchum has washed out of the Navy Seal programme because he cannot swim! He never thought of that aspect and it was so obvious he should have. So he returns home to Marlboro and finds a job delivering newspapers. And acting as the town’s informal private investigator. He finds missing husbands who are actually at the pub and generally helps people out. But then he has to apply all he has learnt to save those closest to him.

My verdict of The River Murders:

The three books could easily have been written in one cohesive whole. All three were enjoyable but I would have preferred to have the story fleshed out a little bit. If read apart as short stories, this is not necessary.

Publishing information:

Disclosure: I was sent the book to review by Penguin Random House South Africa. I was not required to write a positive review. This post is in line with my blogging policy.

Today is my dad’s birthday. I am sending him virtual hugs as we do not live in the same city.

Inspiration published on Lavender and Lime April 26:

• • 2019 – Tea Cakes
  • 2017 – The Cookie Jar

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