Down River.

Hart, John (author).

King of Lies (2006), Hart’s debut, was gripping and stylishly written, but it pales in comparison to this complex, emotionally charged novel. Adam Chase returns home to small-town North Carolina after five years living in New York City. He left his hometown—or, in fact, was run out of town—after he was acquitted of murder. He has returned home because his family is there and because everyone he has ever loved is there. But when his oldest friend goes missing, and Adam is beaten to a pulp by his friend’s father’s stooges, he begins to regret his decision. As he tries to reconnect with family and friends, Adam learns that some people he’s known all his life are hiding dark secrets—and that the truth surrounding the murder he was accused of five years ago is more frightening and closer to home than he could have imagined. Down River is a beautifully constructed story of personal redemption, family secrets, and murder—a small-town epic, if there is such a thing. Hart dexterously juggles a large cast of characters and several intricate plotlines, and when he starts to tie together the threads of the various stories—well, that’s when the real magic begins. A truly splendid novel with a deep emotional core.