John Hart, Down River

Down River

John Hart

Dunne, Oct 2007, $24.95

ISBN: 9780312359317

After five years in New York City estranged from his father, Adam Chase returns to his hometown in Rowan County, North Carolina, a place with bad memories since his mom committed suicide and he was on trial for first degree murder. No one, including his stepmom who testified against him in the homicide case in which the court acquitted him, but the public hung him, or his dad still not talking to him, his police detective former girlfriend Robin, or his friends and enemies know why he came back. Especially since everyone believes he got away with a murder.

Meanwhile the townsfolk are totally divided on whether to sell their farms to the power company. Nobody is divided when it comes to Adam. Within a few hours of his arrival a graffiti artist paints Killer on his car. That is followed up immediately by an assault that leaves him unconscious, loose teeth and bruised ribs. When a corpse is found on the Chase spread, everyone with few exceptions, Robin being the only vocal disbeliever, once again believes the town pariah Adam killed the victim

This is a fabulous rural noir tale starring a beleaguered protagonist whose attitude adds to the town's impression of a wealthy spoiled punk buying his way out of trouble. The story line is fast-paced while running along two subplots; that of the overall town schism that is turning violent and the personal plight of Adam, who is presumed guilty regardless of his alibi as his stepmom makes it lucid to anyone who listens that he is the evil KING OF LIES.

Harriet Klausner