Long Bright River

Long Bright River

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  • Create Date:2020-12-06 04:19:07
  • Update Date:2025-09-06
  • Status:finish
  • Author:Liz Moore
  • ISBN:9780525540687
  • Environment:PC/Android/iPhone/iPad/Kindle

Editor Reviews

A SKIMM READS PICK

"An instant sensation and the January pick for Good Morning America’s book club。" 
Entertainment Weekly
 
"Navigates assuredly between the plot twists and big reveals。 。 。 。 Long Bright River is equal parts literary and thrilling。" 
O, The Oprah Magazine
 
"Tough, tense and twisty - but tender, human and deeply affecting, too 。。。 I don't have a sister, but when I finished the book I called my brother, just to hear his voice。"
—Lee Child
 
"Satisfyingly, the characters’ interior lives are as important as the mysteries that propel the action。" 
NYT Editor’s Choice
 
"Long Bright River— a book that has garnered much ­pre-publication buzz — nervously twists, turns and subverts readers’ expectations till its very last pages。 Simultaneously, it also manages to grow into something else: a sweeping, elegiac novel about a blighted city。”
The Washington Post
 
"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。” 
Good Morning America

"Truly, this is a great literary novel about a city in the age of opioids and two sisters navigating their past。 And in the tradition of many great literary thrillers, I promise you, you will not see the end coming。"
NPR

"Powerful。" 
The Wall Street Journal

"Moore’s observations are informed and compassionate… One of loveliest things about Long Bright River is that it’s not a literary glorification of addiction。"
The Guardian

"Thoughtfully explores the power of nature versus nurture, the pull of addiction, and, and the lengths we go to for family。" 
Marie Claire 

"An exquisite novel that dug its fingers into my heart and has refused to let go…I finished this novel shaken, both by its sheer emotional resonance and also because of how clear and familiar so much of what Moore describes feels to me。
Medium。com

"Pulsating with breathtaking suspense and boundless compassion, Long Bright River is the kind of genre-defying novel that, once the final chapters close, you instantly implore people to read。 Topical yet timeless, its page-turning narrative wrestles with the fissures and wreckage that addiction can inflict on a family—and a city。 Liz Moore is a force, and Long Bright River should be on top of everyone's to-read list come January。”
Forbes

"A propulsive thriller and a poignant family saga。”
Time Magazine


"Deftly plotted with strong, vivid characters, Liz Moore's outstanding Long Bright River works as solid crime fiction and an intense family thriller。" 
—Associated Press 

"Liz Moore’s Long Bright River is the perfect literary page-turner。 It’s a brilliantly plotted crime novel, yes, but it’s also a story about the complicated push and pull of family, and how much of our childhood traumas we carry forward through our lives。 Anyone with a mother, a father, a brother, or a sister – anyone with a heart, for that matter – will love this book, as I did。" 
Mary Beth Keane, New York Times bestselling author of Ask Again, Yes

"Liz Moore’s Long Bright River is a riveting portrait of so many things—of grief, of sisterhood, of a neighborhood in despair。 Moore makes you care about the people that society too often abandons and, in doing so, pulls off a hat trick of epic storytelling that is stigma-busting, love-rendering, and page-turning to the last word。"
— Beth Macy, New York Times-bestselling author of Dopesick: Dealers, Doctors, and the Drug Company That Addicted America

"A superlative crime novel。 Set against the backdrop of Philadelphia’s opioid crisis, this is not just a gripping mystery but a thoughtful, powerful novel by a writer who displays enormous compassion for her characters。 Long Bright River is an outstanding crime novel, bringing to mind the best of Dennis Lehane or David Simon。 I found myself eking out the final pages because I didn’t want it to end。 I absolutely loved it。"
—Paula Hawkins, #1 New York Times-bestselling author of The Girl on the Train

"Long Bright River is a remarkable, profoundly moving novel about the ties that bind and the irrevocable wounds of childhood。 It’s also a riveting mystery, perfectly paced。 I loved every page of it。"
—Dennis Lehane, New York Times-bestselling author of Since We Fell
 
"Both sweeping and unbearably intimate, a riveting crime novel and a character-rich study of a city and its battered heart。 And, in the way that Dennis Lehane anatomizes and explores his Boston, or Tana French her Dublin, Moore brings Philadelphia to vivid, wrenching life。 Not to be missed。"
—Megan Abbott, author of You Will Know Me

"It was excellent。" 
Jami Attenberg, author of All This Could be Yours 

"Impossible to put down, impossible to forget。" 
—Library Journal (*starred review)

"One of the pleasures of this deeply moving, absolutely page-turning novel is the way Moore, in both the present and in flashbacks to Mickey and Kacey’s childhood and teen years, slowly peels back layer after layer, revealing the old-boy’s network in the Philadelphia police force, the depths of Mickey’s loneliness, and the way the city of Philadelphia, particularly Kensington, is woven into this story, for good or ill。 Give this to readers who like character-driven crime novels with a strong sense of place。"
—Booklist (* starred review)


"Smartly crafted。 。 。Filled with strong characters and a layered plot, this will please fans of both genre and literary fiction。" 
—Publishers Weekly

From the Publisher

Reviews

Stitchy’s Book Club

I was completely enthralled with this story。 It’s a slow burn and a chunky book but it’s worth your time。 My heart is broken and so full all at once。 This is listed as a thriller and it has it’s moments but I’d say it’s more of a family drama。 This book gives an inside look at the opioid crisis, bad cops, and all the people stuck in their webs。

Noel

A great book club selection!! ✨ Such a great read with many different topics and plot points to discuss。 By the end it reminded me of Where the Crawdads Sing by the real life storyline that pulls at your heart。 Liz Moore has a different writing style so if Crawdads wasnt your favorite, dont let the comparison turn you away!! It also reminded me of a non-fiction I read many years ago called The Other Wes Moore in how two people can grow up in the same neighborhood but have completely different A great book club selection!! ✨ Such a great read with many different topics and plot points to discuss。 By the end it reminded me of “Where the Crawdads Sing” by the real life storyline that pulls at your heart。 Liz Moore has a different writing style so if Crawdads wasn’t your favorite, don’t let the comparison turn you away!! It also reminded me of a non-fiction I read many years ago called “The Other Wes Moore” in how two people can grow up in the same neighborhood but have completely different life paths。 📚 “Long Bright River” is about two sisters that grow up in a home and neighborhood where addiction runs rapid。 Though they take different courses in life their bond holds them together no matter what。 It’s a powerful story about sisters, addiction, misuse of power, and so much more。 Read this book!! 。。。more

Joy

I tried to listen to this on audio。 I lasted about 3 discs, and then just had no interest in continuing。 The narration was terrible and would have been better suited to read an encyclopedia。 I think thats why I just didnt care tons about the characters or the plot。 I tried to listen to this on audio。 I lasted about 3 discs, and then just had no interest in continuing。 The narration was terrible and would have been better suited to read an encyclopedia。 I think that’s why I just didn’t care tons about the characters or the plot。 。。。more

Emma

3。75

Jenean Couch

This book does offer twist and turns in the story。 I have difficulty staying with a story that is sad and dreary and, early on I almost stopped reading this book。 However, as the story progressed, I stayed up too late on two evenings because I had to know what happened next。

Nicole Roberts

It was good but it wasnt great。 It was good but it wasn’t great。 。。。more

Emily

3。5 stars

Debbie Fallon

This is a compelling page-turner, getting more interesting with each chapter。 The only complaint I have is to the Editor and to All Editors that permit dialogue to be written without quotation marks or clear division between what is said and what the character felt。 Please use quotation marks!I was often confused about what was being said and who said it。 Using hyphens to delineate each speaker doesn't help if inside the hyphenated paragraph is commentary about the setting or motivation of the This is a compelling page-turner, getting more interesting with each chapter。 The only complaint I have is to the Editor and to All Editors that permit dialogue to be written without quotation marks or clear division between what is said and what the character felt。 Please use quotation marks!I was often confused about what was being said and who said it。 Using hyphens to delineate each speaker doesn't help if inside the hyphenated paragraph is commentary about the setting or motivation of the speaker。 Otherwise, this novel is very satisfying and eye-opening。 。。。more

Hugh Carter

Loved this from the first page。 Mystic River/I Know This Much is True vibes。 I will definitely seek out more by Liz Moore。

Suzi McGhie

A sad, yet hopeful, tale of two sisters growing up in a Philadelphia neighborhood amidst an opioid crisis。 One becomes a cop and the other one a drug addicted street prostitute。 The story started out slow and depressing for me, and I only kept reading because it was my book club selection for the month。 However, the sisters problems, dilemmas, and relationship grabbed me at about the half way point。 I find myself still thinking and worrying about them after having finished the book。 Should prove A sad, yet hopeful, tale of two sisters growing up in a Philadelphia neighborhood amidst an opioid crisis。 One becomes a cop and the other one a drug addicted street prostitute。 The story started out slow and depressing for me, and I only kept reading because it was my book club selection for the month。 However, the sisters’ problems, dilemmas, and relationship grabbed me at about the half way point。 I find myself still thinking and worrying about them after having finished the book。 Should prove to be a good book club discussion。 。。。more

Lisa

4 Stars!!!!After reading this book, I had to go back again and see what the genre wasIt says, mystery, thriller, suspense。 I guess it was a little bit mystery, because the main character (a cop) is trying to find out who keeps killing women addicts in a Philadelphia neighborhood。 I believe that I am getting ahead of myself。Meet Mickey, a 30 something cop who came from a dysfunctional family。 After the death of her mother at a young age, Mickey and her sister, Kacey, live with her grandmother Gee 4 Stars!!!!After reading this book, I had to go back again and see what the genre was…It says, mystery, thriller, suspense。 I guess it was a little bit mystery, because the main character (a cop) is trying to find out who keeps killing women addicts in a Philadelphia neighborhood。 I believe that I am getting ahead of myself…。Meet Mickey, a 30 something cop who came from a dysfunctional family。 After the death of her mother at a young age, Mickey and her sister, Kacey, live with her grandmother ‘Gee’ in a poor run down neighborhood in Philadelphia。 Kacey grows up to be an addict and Mickey grows up to be a police officer。 Mickey and Kacey haven’t spoken for quite sometime, but that doesn’t mean that Mickey doesn’t still worry about her little sister。 When addicted women become a target of a serial killer, Mickey realizes that she hasn’t seen Kacey in a while and becomes a bit obsessed with finding her sister and solving the mystery of who the killer is。 The story jumps between present day and past, delving into the lives of the sisters and how they came into their current lifestyles。 So when I say I wasn’t sure what the genre was…to me it was more of a family drama, with a mystery thrown in the background。It was a plot building, edge of your seat kind of read。 At times, I will admit, I was somewhat scared (for lack of a better word)。 Opioid addiction and the people who use make me uneasy。 I believe that some can become violent and disturbed so while reading this book I was quite nervous!I have been in a funk with mysteries lately, but this one did not disappoint! There were many twists that were quite surprising! Happy to recommend this one! 。。。more

Candice Cameron

Okay

Reba Love

This book is not for the。faint hearted。 Two sisters who could not be more different。 One is an addict living on the streets。 One。is a cop patrolling the streets

Beth LaBossiere

A female Philly Cop is a single mother looking for her younger sister who works the streets。 Themes are corrupt cops and drug use

Marika P。 Elliott

I just finished reading Liz Moore's "Long Bright River" and currently reading "The Unseen World" 。 I had no idea it was so highly rated。 Entertainment Weekly calls it an "instant sensation, a January pick for Good Morning America's Book Club。" New York Times Book Review calls it a "careful balance of the hard-bitten with the heart-felt。" I learned this after the fact。 It is the story of two sisters growing up poor, one on the wild side, the other old before her time, always trying to do the I just finished reading Liz Moore's "Long Bright River" and currently reading "The Unseen World" 。 I had no idea it was so highly rated。 Entertainment Weekly calls it an "instant sensation, a January pick for Good Morning America's Book Club。" New York Times Book Review calls it a "careful balance of the hard-bitten with the heart-felt。" I learned this after the fact。 It is the story of two sisters growing up poor, one on the wild side, the other old before her time, always trying to do the right thing, and ending up in law enforcement, which gave her opportunity, to watch and care for her wayward addicted adult sister。 The author's compassion for her characters, both those who are loving and kind, and those who live outside the law including dirty cops, attracted me。 It was suspenseful and a page-turner。 I finished the book in less than eight hours。 The heroine discovered the duplicity of a small number of cops skimming profits from drug dealers who in turn got their money from addicts selling themselves for a fix。 I would like to say she got a pat on the back and a promotion but I am a dreamer and this book hands you no dreams。 The problem of drug addiction is increasingly prevalent and knows no boundaries。 The book will appeal to anyone having dealt with such familial issues。 It isn't a manual of police procedures or one for addiction recovery but a heart-warming story without a happy or sad ending。 The author eloquently put into words what I feel but have never been able to voice about love and the deep wound of addiction and how relapse is just a bump in the road on the way to recovery。 。。。more

Beckie

This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers。 To view it, click here。 I am already looking forward to reading another book my Liz Moore! Mickey & her sister kacey & their relationship was the premise of the story, but the twists & how the whole investigation played out was truly suspenseful。 Mysterious & edge of your seat read - I really enjoyed it!!

Caitlin Gray

I literally had no idea what this one was about, it was yet again another thriller that Ive seen raved about constantly so I had to try it。 It definitely lived up to my expectations and I would go as far as to say its one of my favourite thrillers Ive read this year。 There was some really fantastic twists that I never saw coming, and in the last quarter they just kept coming。 Could it have been a little shorter? Probably, and the pacing was a lot faster near the end。 But the story was so I literally had no idea what this one was about, it was yet again another thriller that I’ve seen raved about constantly so I had to try it。 It definitely lived up to my expectations and I would go as far as to say it’s one of my favourite thrillers I’ve read this year。 There was some really fantastic twists that I never saw coming, and in the last quarter they just kept coming。 Could it have been a little shorter? Probably, and the pacing was a lot faster near the end。 But the story was so fantastic and I was so invested in the characters that I was hooked even when there wasn’t much going on。 Little things would keep happening that kept me really wanting to know what had happened。I really liked the main character, Mickey。 I thought she was really relatable in the way that I didn’t agree with all of her decisions, but I was with her all the way and wanting her to be okay and have a happy ending。 I also really liked Truman’s character- an underrated one I feel in reviews。 I was invested in characters that we didn’t really meet or know much about, and I think that’s fantastic story-writing。 Although I did prefer the present tense aspect, I also thoroughly enjoyed the back story of the sisters。 I thought a lot of it was heartbreaking and I enjoy family dynamics more than all- so I devoured this。 Was a lot of this quite depressing and miserable? Yes, 100%。 But not in the way that I felt down reading it。 I was entertained and invested。 This was such a well written thriller that tackled some really hard subjects (abuse, addiction, rape among others) really well and not only had a really strong plot, but really deep and fantastic characters。 I really enjoyed this and would thoroughly recommend it。 。。。more

Mary Lou

I kept reading, and reading, and reading, waiting for something to happen。。。。 and it really didnt until about the last 100 pages of the book - yawn! I kept reading, and reading, and reading, waiting for something to happen。。。。 and it really didn’t until about the last 100 pages of the book - yawn! 。。。more

Alison Jacques

Loved it。 This book is as much about a neighbourhood, and class, as it is about drug addiction and murder。 Very thoughtful, fresh, powerful。

Tara Myers

Loved it。 Most mysteries, while entertaining as far as plot can sometimes lack in style。 This novel has both; it is eloquent and suspenseful。 The author is from Philly, and does an excellent job of placing the reader right in the middle of her city。

Beth Roberts

This absolutely loved up to the hype。 Exceptional character studies。 A new author to hold up the best of Tana French and Mo Hayder。 Outstanding and heartbreaking。

Brittany Hollis

I started this book with the intention of reading a crime novel, and what I got was a wholly bittersweet tale of corruption and addiction。 This may be the best book Ive read in the dumpster fire that is 2020。 I started this book with the intention of reading a crime novel, and what I got was a wholly bittersweet tale of corruption and addiction。 This may be the best book I’ve read in the dumpster fire that is 2020。 。。。more

Matt

The writing! The characters! The story! 10s 10s 10s (or 5s) across the board!

Courtenay

Grim。

Michele

This book was a page turning mystery with a beautifully written message about addiction。

ak

While I really enjoyed the themes tackled in this one, it had the usual crime thriller twist I hate。 And I called it so early on this time。 It made sense in a lot of ways, but I still hate this。I liked how female driven it felt and that the point of view wasnt a detective, but a female street cop。 One twist felt a bit unnecessary and weird for a first person narrated story。 The family dynamics were so much more interesting than the murder mystery。 It almost feels like there was some potential While I really enjoyed the themes tackled in this one, it had the usual crime thriller twist I hate。 And I called it so early on this time。 It made sense in a lot of ways, but I still hate this。I liked how female driven it felt and that the point of view wasn‘t a detective, but a female street cop。 One twist felt a bit unnecessary and weird for a first person narrated story。 The family dynamics were so much more interesting than the murder mystery。 It almost feels like there was some potential wasted by making this more into a typical crime thriller。 。。。more

Laura

What a pleasant surprise! Most mystery novels have a great beginning, great hook and they let me down at the end。 It was not the case here。 The beginning was good, the second chapter was even better, and then the ending was just。。。perfect。Now, it's hard for me to call this 100% mystery, because we spend a good part of the book in social commentary territory。 Not in a condescending way though。 The novel follows veteran patrol officer Michaela (Miky) Fitzpatrick after she discovers an OD-ed woman What a pleasant surprise! Most mystery novels have a great beginning, great hook and they let me down at the end。 It was not the case here。 The beginning was good, the second chapter was even better, and then the ending was just。。。perfect。Now, it's hard for me to call this 100% mystery, because we spend a good part of the book in social commentary territory。 Not in a condescending way though。 The novel follows veteran patrol officer Michaela (Miky) Fitzpatrick after she discovers an OD-ed woman who she suspects has also been strangled。 The investigation barely moves however, despite the fact that more bodies, women killed following similar MOs surface。 Michaela thus begins to investigate herself - because of a good personal reason: her sister, a drug addict and sex worker hasn't been seen in over a month。 Michaela worries her sister may fall pray to the same perpetrator。 Problems abound however: Michaela is barely in touch with any family member, her babysitter is unreliable and the father of her child (another cop) may be looking for her to cause trouble - or is it someone else who's been inquiring about her at her new address?I was fairly convinced I got the perpetrator right, and ended up being wrong。 The author also throws us another curve ball, which with one exception, was actually a valid alternative explanation I had never considered (view spoiler)[ (Micky's son is actually her sister's and her former lover's son, hence the reason for the fallout between the sisters) (hide spoiler)]。 The novel was rather critical on the police: the disinterest of investigators for the vulnerable, the inertia in investigating their own, the coverups。 And while I appreciate the novel went there, it still stayed at a relatively safe distance。 But I hope this opens a trend to challenge the 'ruff but ultimately good cop' stereotype which has been clogging the genre。 I want to see more crisis of consciousness in the officers and detectives。 The book is not without its faults: it didn't spend enough time with the addicts to clarify for some less experienced readers how they're being abused and betrayed by our current social and political system, the pacing was a bit slow and - Of Dear Lord - so many unnecessary dialogue tags (I did get annoyed at that, they were so frequently used when only 2 characters where discussing it took me out of the story)。 But I did like its courage, I did like that the author made every detail relevant to the advancement of the story, I did like that Michaela ends the book by abandoning the false second family of co-workers and redirecting her loyalty to her blood family。 And I loved the final image: that of a child, born to an addicted mother, turning its head to drink its fix。 Those last few sentences hit me hard。 The societal rejection。 The failure of our 'systems'。 The risk of descent。 The slim chances of recovery。Highly recommend it。 。。。more

Margerywieder

Maybe the writing isn't as exceptional as it's been in a few of the books I've read lately, but it's very solid, and the story drew me in from page one。 I love that it was about the Philly I had an inkling of but barely knew when we lived there, and I loved spending time with the narrator, Mickey, whose life situation was very different from mine but whose sensibilities I could recognize。 Moore's writing--subject and style--reminds me of Andre Dubus III's。

Jodi

I really enjoyed this book。 I felt a small connection with the main character - the near constant worry that accompanies knowing people that struggle with addictions。 The tense moments when tough decisions were made, the unexpected turns, and the hope that prevailed。 A good read。

Milo Adkison

Great writing。 You think its a police mystery with a typical plot, just a bit better-written then average。 Then the completely non-trite ending happens。 Great writing。 You think it’s a police mystery with a typical plot, just a bit better-written then average。 Then the completely non-trite ending happens。 。。。more

Diane

I loved this book。 Well developed characters and setting。 A mystery, family relationships in trouble, affects of drugs on families, police。 A page turner, I couldnt put it down。 I loved this book。 Well developed characters and setting。 A mystery, family relationships in trouble, affects of drugs on families, police。 A page turner, I couldn’t put it down。 。。。more