Sanibel
I went into Long Bright River expecting a gripping mystery, largely due to the hype surrounding it. What I got instead was a heavy-handed commentary on the opioid crisis, police, power dynamics, and violence against women. While these are undeniably important issues, the book’s approach felt more like a lecture than a nuanced exploration, making it difficult to stay engaged.
On top of that, the story leaned far more into family drama than mystery. The protagonist’s strained relationships, childhood trauma, and personal struggles took center stage, while the actual mystery—the reason I picked up the book—felt secondary. If I had known what kind of book this really was, I probably wouldn’t have read it, or at least I would have gone in with different expectations.
Finishing Long Bright River took effort. More than once, I considered not finishing it at all. If you’re looking for a deep, emotional family saga with a social justice angle, this might be for you. But if you’re in the mood for a compelling mystery, I’d look elsewhere.
I went into Long Bright River expecting a gripping mystery, largely due to the hype surrounding it. What I got instead was a heavy-handed commentary on the opioid crisis, police, power dynamics, and violence against women. While these are undeniably important issues, the book’s approach felt more like a lecture than a nuanced exploration, making it difficult to stay engaged.
On top of that, the story leaned far more into family drama than mystery. The protagonist’s strained relationships, childhood trauma, and personal struggles took center stage, while the actual mystery—the reason I picked up the book—felt secondary. If I had known what kind of book this really was, I probably wouldn’t have read it, or at least I would have gone in with different expectations.
Finishing Long Bright River took effort. More than once, I considered not finishing it at all. If you’re looking for a deep, emotional family saga with a social justice angle, this might be for you. But if you’re in the mood for a compelling mystery, I’d look elsewhere.