Long Bright River

by Liz Moore

Riverhead Books

Publication Date : January 7, 2020

Pages : 496

Synopsis From Publisher :

In a Philadelphia neighborhood rocked by the opioid crisis, two once-inseparable sisters find themselves at odds. One, Kacey, lives on the streets in the vise of addiction. The other, Mickey, walks those same blocks on her police beat. They don't speak anymore, but Mickey never stops worrying about her sibling. 

Then Kacey disappears, suddenly, at the same time that a mysterious string of murders begins in Mickey's district, and Mickey becomes dangerously obsessed with finding the culprit--and her sister--before it's too late.

Alternating its present-day mystery with the story of the sisters' childhood and adolescence, Long Bright River is at once heart-pounding and heart-wrenching: a gripping suspense novel that is also a moving story of sisters, addiction, and the formidable ties that persist between place, family, and fate.

I know you should never judge a book by its cover but full disclosure, what drew me to Long Bright River was the cover. The misty rain spattered picture obscuring the view just enough so you know something is there but you cannot make it out. The cover created a mystery before I opened the book. However I can promise you there is so much more to Long Bright River than just a beautiful cover. Long Bright River is a dark yet beautiful story of two sisters who’s paths led them apart, but they remained linked through secrets, betrayals, and love. 

There was a time when sisters Kacey and Mickey were very close.  Born just two years apart, they are bonded by the death of their mother and their absentee father. However their extremely different personalities eventually drive them apart. Mickey is an introvert with above average intelligence, Kacey is an extrovert more concerned with maintaining her social life. Now as adults Kacey is trapped in the horrible cycle of addiction and Mickey has joined the Philadelphia police department. Their lives are on completely opposite ends of the spectrum; the sisters have not spoken in years. 

When young women from the Kensington neighborhood begin to die in suspicious circumstances; Mickey realizes she has not seen Kacey for some time. She begins to look into the deaths hoping her sister is not among the victims. As more victims are discovered, the police are unable to identify a suspect, Kacey’s and Mickey’s lives now merge. Mickey must face her demons and her sister in order to solve the murders. 

Mickey’s job as a police officer puts her at odds with Kacey and most of her family. Invitations to family events are extended to Mickey but no one is sad if she does not attend. Mickey’s work schedule leaves her very little time to make friends or to have a social life, leaving her feeling lonely and excluded. There is a strong feeling of loneliness and solitude linked to Mickey. She has not had an easy life and it has left her hard and distant. Mickey has been let down by most of the people in her life. While I felt sympathy for Mickey she also frustrated me at times. I wanted her to be more open but I understood why she could not be open. She has to protect herself, but she eventually realizes that shutting people out is also locking herself in. When she was finally able to trust someone, I thought my heart would explode. It has been sometime since a book had made me feel such a surge of emotions. 

Long Bright River is not only entertaining it is also an eye opener. I have always had certain opinions of the social issues discussed within Long Bright River. After reading Long Bright River, my thoughts have changed. This is the absolute beauty of Long Bright River and what makes the book so special. Whenever I walk away from a book feeling like I know more than when I started, I consider the book an absolute treasure.   

Long Bright River is a hefty book, just under 500 pages. However readers need not be intimated or turned off. With short chapters (some just one page) and alternating timelines, I found myself forty to fifty pages in with just an hour of reading time. Long Bright River is the Book Of The Month pick for January 2020 as well as the monthly pick for the Good Morning America book club. I can assure you Long Bright River lives up to the hype.

Murder and Moore Rating :

5 out of 5 Stars