The Drowning River

by Kim Byrne

"I thought you were dead." Those were the last words Elise Moloney expected to hear when she came to Wickman College as a graduate student. Nestled along the windswept dunes and seacoast of Cape Cod,... This description may be from another edition of this product.

• Format: Hardcover
• Language: English
• ISBN: 1594147698
• ISBN13: 9781594147692
• Release Date: January 2009
• Publisher: Five Star (ME)
• Length: 257 Pages
• Weight: 1.00 lbs.
• Dimensions: 1.0" x 5.8" x 8.5"

Customer Reviews

Courtesy of Teens Read Too

"...I thought you were dead," are words most people don't expect to hear, least of all Elise Moloney on her first day of grad school at Wickman College on Cape Cod. Since Elise's parents never kept adoption a secret, she's shocked to discover the existence of an identical twin sister, Hannah McPhee - a sister who died in a tragic accident on the Drowning River pier the day before their last birthday. At the urging of her fellow dorm hall resident, Parker Reilly, Elise delves into her sister's life and the mysterious circumstances surrounding her death. But the deeper she digs, the more Elise suspects foul play, and the further she places her own life in danger. Kim Byrne makes a strong debut with THE DROWNING RIVER by taking the cliché of identical twins separated at birth and giving readers a plausible mystery. Centered on a strong protagonist, Ms. Byrne keeps the narrative focused and moving at a brisk pace while deftly juggling multiple suspects. While there are a few moments of clunky prose, awkward transitions, and a somewhat overwrought climax, these are minor flaws that will no doubt smooth over with time and experience. THE DROWNING RIVER is a solid, satisfying "whodunit" from a promising new author. I look forward to watching Ms. Byrne's skills and talent continue to develop in the future. Reviewed by: Cat

Perfect Summer Read!

This is a perfect, faced paced, light summer read. I plowed through it in two days. The story, and the likable characters drew me in right away, and the plot twists kept me hooked until the end. I also enjoyed the "little throwbacks" to the 80s and 90s in the characters reminiscing about their youths, etc. Pick this one up before you head to the beach or a weekend away.

fun amateur sleuth cozy

Elise Moloney attends graduate school as an English major at Whitman on the Cape on a full scholarship. A student in her first class stares at her and afterward introduces himself as Parker Reilly before blurting out he thought she was dead. Later he shows her a picture from last year's undergraduate yearbook of a deceased student Hannah McPhee who looks like Elise's twin. She learns Hannah died when she fell off a bridge while drunk into the Drowning River Accompanied by her sex is everything roommate Kat Herrerra, Elise returns home to nearby Hingham to ask her parents if she had a sister that they failed to adopt like they did her. They are stunned saying no, but her mom says if they knew they would have wanted both siblings. Elise investigates what happened to her sibling as Parker's roomie Robbie DeLuca insists Heather was pushed. Meanwhile her attraction to Parker grows even as she knows she owes her former fiancé Nick Carrano more than just the letter she sent him ending their relationship. As she digs deeper, someone warns Elise that if she does not back off her parents will die. Being a coward, she wants to quit but even the cowardly lion finds courage to continue the trek. Although a bit slow at first, this is a fun amateur sleuth cozy starring a likable heroine who is in shell shock for most of the tale as she leaves her comfort zone to investigate her dead twin, her biological background, and love. While the cast is solid, Elise is fabulous as she accepts she is a coward yet does what she feels she must do. She reacts perfectly to revelations about a previously unknown twin and her avaricious biological mom. Although the killer will be quite a shocker, the culprit makes sense providing complete closure to the story line. Fans will enjoy this entertaining Massachusetts cozy. Harriet Klausner