June 5, 2025
I read a book that isn’t typically in my usual genre, but I reviewed it nonetheless. I will first summarize the book, followed by my mostly negative comments, reflecting my bias towards this genre.
“Long Bright River” by Liz Moore is a captivating blend of biography, thriller, and social commentary. Published in 2022, it became a New York Times bestseller. Set in Philadelphia’s Kensington neighborhood, the story centers on two sisters raised by their grandmother after their mother’s drug overdose causes their guilt-ridden father to abandon them.
Kacey, the social and outgoing sister, succumbs to addiction, while her introverted and intelligent sister, Michaela, becomes a police officer. Michaela’s life experiences and thoughts about her neighborhood, sister, and colleagues are woven into the narrative, which includes a biographical element and her self-analysis and introspection.
Michaela narrates the story in the first person. As their grandmother struggles to raise them, Kacey ends up living on the streets. Meanwhile, Michaela patrols the neighborhood where her sister now lives. Despite having shared a bed and a close bond during their childhood, the sisters are now separated by their very different lifestyles. When Kacey disappears, Michaela searches for her but finds that Kacey is avoiding her, partly due to feelings of shame about her situation.
Interwoven with the story of the two sisters is the troubling issue of the murders of four women living on the streets. Michaela fears Kacey may become the next victim. A significant twist occurs when Kacey gives birth to a boy fathered by Michaela’s boyfriend; Michaela then adopts the child. As a single mother, Michaela faces many challenges, including securing housing, finding babysitters, and balancing these responsibilities with her work as a police officer.
The plot builds to a crescendo as Michaela searches for her sister, while the police work to uncover the identity of the killer. During her investigation, Michaela discovers her father in Delaware after finding information in her grandmother’s files. As the story unfolds, a new theme of reconciliation between Michaela and Kacey emerges. The grand finale takes place in an abandoned church, where Michaela confronts her sister, her sister’s boyfriend, and the killer. In the end, the father and the sisters reunite, leading to a happy conclusion.
Having enjoyed works by Clive Cussler, Ken Follett, John Grisham, and others, I found this book to be lacking in sophistication in terms of plot, excitement, and context. It explores themes of a dysfunctional family and police work, including rogue cops—topics that are quite prevalent today.
Almost 500 pages, I found the first half of the book boring, as it delves into excessive detail about the sisters’ upbringing. The author could have described the girls and their environment more concisely.
The book’s structure is gimmicky, employing a non-linear format that alternates between the past and present, jumping back and forth. This structure feels tiresome and artificial. Why couldn’t the author have told the story chronologically? I don’t believe it would have diminished the narrative.
Another structural choice the author makes is to speed up the events towards the end, building up to a crescendo that is far more exciting than the first half of the book. Many thrillers I’ve read are thrilling and eventful from start to finish, making them true page-turners.
This book uses common tropes found in the police/detective thriller genre. For instance, every writing course I’ve taken recommends starting with a hook to capture the reader’s attention, such as a murder, which indeed occurs right at the beginning of this book. Thrillers often involve identifying multiple suspects through mistaken accusations before revealing the real criminal. This story follows a familiar pattern, presenting three false leads before unveiling the actual perpetrator. The author’s tried-and-true storyline was a winning formula—the formula I have seen before.
One major issue with this book is that the identification of the murderer lacks a proper investigation. There is no detailed explanation proving the suspect’s guilt; the police simply name the guilty party, providing no evidence. In most other books I’ve read, there is a thorough investigation that uncovers evidence supporting the conclusion of guilt. This book deviates from the usual pattern of these types of stories, which typically involve a more comprehensive investigation.
I also find it interesting that a New York Times bestseller addresses a wide range of arguably unpleasant social and economic issues, such as prostitution, fentanyl, corrupt police officers, dysfunctional family structures, out-of-wedlock childbirth, abandoned houses, decaying neighborhoods, and addiction. Do all these social problems need to be included to create a “bestseller”? Or would one or two of these topics be sufficient to form the foundation for a successful book?
I’m not saying this isn’t a good book; many people have enjoyed it, which is why it became a bestseller. The writing flows well and captures the interest of some readers. Although I wouldn’t personally buy this book since it’s not my preferred genre, I can understand how it might appeal to others seeking entertainment. It’s the kind of book one would read on a long airplane ride, which is precisely what I did when I flew from Ottawa to Vancouver and back.
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