Long Bright River: A Novel

thenextgoodbook.com
Long Bright River by Liz Moore
480 pages

What’s it about?
Mickey and Kacey are sisters who grew up in a working class Philadelphia neighborhood. Although they were once close, they now no longer speak. Kacey is an addict living on the streets of the old neighborhood, and Mickey is a patrol officer in that same neighborhood. Then a string of murders hit the neighborhood and Kacey goes missing.....

What did it make me think about?
The title of the book refers to the long bright river of departed souls from the opioid crisis. This book made me think about addiction, gentrifying neighborhoods, the way we police those neighborhoods, and of course- family.

Should I read it?
This was a great book! One of my favorites so far this year. This was a family drama wrapped up in a mystery. It also gave me a glimpse into a world I do not live in.

Quote-
"In a moment of clarity, once, Kacey told me that time spent in addiction feels looped. Each morning brings with it the possibility of change, each evening the shame of failure."

If you liked this try-
The Long and Faraway Gone by Lou Berney
My Sunshine Away by M.O. Walsh
The Child Finder by Rene Denfeld
Crooked Letter, Crooked Letter by Tom Franklin

Rich story telling by Moore in a tough backdrop. Compassionately told and also a thrilling tale.

This was better than I thought it’d be. I don’t think I’ll remember it in a year, but it was more than a typical cop novel.

A little long but I liked the exchange between then and now. A few twists that were predictable but others that weren't. Overall good.

An interesting study in siblings, each struggling to overcome the trauma of their upbringing and painful childhood and navigate adulthood, burdened with a lack of options or support. It switches back and forth from the past to the present to provide back story for the primary characters. It is done well and not confusing. But I did think the main character, Mickey, could have been better developed so she did not seem so uninteresting. Two of the supporting characters, Truman and Mrs. Mann, were my favorites. I didn’t care for either of the sisters, which I attribute to the writing, not to their lifestyles or choices. The book seems like it was intended to be uplifting. The book ended so abruptly that the reader is left having to wonder about the fate and future of all,of the characters. I listened to the audiobook, narrated by Allyson Ryan. The narrator’s delivery was not enjoyable.