In a small town along the Mississippi River, separate but nearly identical attacks have left two married couples brutally murdered in their homes. A young boy—the lone survivor of the killings—now lies comatose in the hospital. And the police’s only lead is the boy’s terrified description of the assailant: a “monster.”

Enter former homicide detective Liam Dempsey, whose estranged brother fell victim to the killer. Dragged into the investigation as a suspect, Dempsey vows to solve the case and clear his name. But two things stand between him and the truth: a web of local politics, and the grim secrets the victims held close. All the while, a murderer with boundless hatred continues to raise the body count.

As the troubled ex-cop tries to pull justice from the town’s emotional wreckage, he realizes that his could be the next life lost to the killer’s ruthless, twisted plan for revenge.

Listening Length

7 hours and 12 minutes
Author

Joe Hart
Narrator

Eric G. Dove
Audible release date

October 14, 2014
Language

English
Publisher

Brilliance Audio
ASIN

B00ODBIM0W
Version

Unabridged
Program Type

Audiobook
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Product details

Listening Length	7 hours and 12 minutes
Author	Joe Hart
Narrator	Eric G. Dove
Whispersync for Voice	Ready
Audible.com Release Date	October 14, 2014
Publisher	Brilliance Audio
Program Type	Audiobook
Version	Unabridged
Language	English
ASIN	B00ODBIM0W
Best Sellers Rank	#152,150 in Audible Books & Originals (See Top 100 in Audible Books & Originals) #2,828 in Psychological Thrillers (Audible Books & Originals) #4,378 in Horror Fiction #9,828 in Psychological Thrillers (Books)

Customer reviews

4.2 out of 5

2,964 global ratings

5 star		50%
4 star		32%
3 star		13%
2 star		3%
1 star		2%

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Top reviews from the United States

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My second Joe Hart book

Reviewed in the United States 🇺🇸 on October 29, 2022

Verified Purchase

After reading a previous Hart authored book offered in Amazon Kindle first reads I went looking for more by this author. I was not disappointed. I enjoyed this book even though the author made the reader wait to get full details on the main character's past until well into the storyline. I think this made the storyline more intriguing.

The main character, Liam, arrives in town after learning that his estranged older brother has been killed. He hears that an other possibly related murder occurred shortly before his brother's. As a detective he goes looking for answers despite being warned by local police to stay out of the way.

Liam reconnects with his sister in law's cousin who joins him in the quest to solve the murders eventually putting both of them in harm's way.

If you like a fast paced detective story, this is a good one!

Helpful

Thais I Brockhagen

Edge of your seat

Reviewed in the United States 🇺🇸 on January 7, 2023

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I really liked this book. It grabbed me almost from the beginning and did not let go until the end. The cast wss great. I would tell everyone to read this book because it was truly enjoyable. I could not rate this high enough. Read it, you will love it.

Helpful

jeese

Monster in all of us

Reviewed in the United States 🇺🇸 on July 7, 2022

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Don't we all have a monster of some sort?. Some are real, some imagined. some good, some bad. The best ones are the funny ones. Ones we remember from childhood. Those that woke us up terrified, and the comfort and love we got from parents or grandparents. The puppy we put in the bed to protect us, e ven though we knew we weren't supposed to. The odd thing is, I don't think my Mama ever let on that she knew.. We ventured into. Places that kids today wouldn't dare go. Not without a cell phone, or some connection with someone. We went anyway, and came out screaming some times, but oh, the fun!! This story wasn't funny.. It did have ignorance of diseases and bodies not whole as our society. One off my favorite photo s is of my son who lost part of an arm in an accident walking with his back to me and his little girl holding onto his prosthetic hand, just as happy as she could be. She was just learning to walk, and never thought of it being any kind of "monster". There are monsters of the mind and of the body. This book has both..

One person found this helpful

Helpful

Steve Weidert

A true whodunit

Reviewed in the United States 🇺🇸 on November 9, 2022

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I liked the way the ex-officer ot drawn in after his brother died. But what came later was totally unexpected. Good to the end.

Helpful

Kindle Customer

I read a while ago

Reviewed in the United States 🇺🇸 on October 2, 2022

Verified Purchase

I read this a while ago and forgot to submit a review. I am sorry. This was a good read.

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Reggie

now THIS is a gripping thriller!!

Reviewed in the United States 🇺🇸 on April 19, 2022

Verified Purchase

Former Minnesota homicide detective, Liam Dempsey, is given the tragic news of the gruesome deaths if his brother and sister-in-law. Although there was no love lost between the brothers, Liam is determined to find justice…if only for his sweet SIL. As Dempsey and his SIL’s cousin, Dani, start their own investigation, they discover another similar murder…and the body count rises. The police believe that they have the killer in custody but Dempsey disagrees and continues his investigation. Now if only he can survive, he may have to admit that Dani is more than a friend. Well written story at just the right pace…no lagging at times!! Looking forward to the next book!

Helpful

Baldgolfer

Recovery

Reviewed in the United States 🇺🇸 on August 21, 2022

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Liam Dempsey, retired detective, is summoned to tend to the untimely death of his brother and sister in-law. The detective training kicks in and Liam is compelled to solve the murder of his family.

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Maria QH

Super entertaining while also quite unsettling

Reviewed in the United States 🇺🇸 on November 8, 2022

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A bit gruesome but the author doesn’t invest too much time or energy into those parts so they are tolerable. Other than that, the action flies and it takes you right with it. A very fast read! Definitely want to read more about Liam.

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Top reviews from other countries

Ms. J. Carpenter

Brilliant!

Reviewed in the United Kingdom 🇬🇧 on April 12, 2022

Verified Purchase

Another cracking book from Joe Hart. This one is the best I’ve read so far. His writing is intelligent and really exciting. My vocabulary is huge, but he manages to put words in that I have never heard of. I have to check out what they mean, which is strange for me. This book is truly frightening, I can’t go into why, but you will find out when you read it, and do read it yourself.

Happy Wife

Great Story, Murder, Mystery and Twists.

Reviewed in the United Kingdom 🇬🇧 on July 6, 2021

Verified Purchase

Why did I choose this rating..... Because I really enjoyed the book. Quite gruesome from the start, sad. I don't like giving reviews, because this book might not be a lot of people's taste, as some books are not mine. But I will say if I like it dislike a book. Well this one I couldn't put down, and read it in one go, until the early hours of the morning.
Anyway try it for yourself.

Feistyb

Very good indeed.

Reviewed in the United Kingdom 🇬🇧 on February 28, 2015

Verified Purchase

You know what, I really liked this one! You have amazing descriptions of the landscape along the Mississippi River, a tormented cop called Liam Dempsey who is not only trying to find out who had committed gruesome murders but who is also trying to forget a tragedy in his past (you find out what this is in good time). I found this a nicely-paced thriller, with some good twists and although you do have to suspend your belief a bit (!) it was enough to keep me immersed to the end. I don't do plot spoilers but this reads a little differently from your normal tormented cop/murder mystery novel - you do get a great sense of loss and grief not only from the tragedy in Liam's former life as a cop but also the little boy who loses his parents. I recommend this one.

One person found this helpful

Elaine Tomasso

Fast paced

Reviewed in the United Kingdom 🇬🇧 on February 7, 2015

Verified Purchase

The River Is Dark is a fast paced, tense read and despite other reviewers guessing whodunit I was too caught up in what was happening and wondering what was coming next to have a chance to think about it! I thought the plot was quite slim (it is quite a short read) - various townspeople hacked to death for initially unknown reasons but it didn't take Liam or the reader long to work it out - and there are no red herrings, just straightforward investigation. I thought the characters were quite stereotypical - damaged ex cop, plucky love interest and narrow minded cops etc. and even the baddy is deformed. In the end, however, my criticisms/observations don't really matter because the writing is excellent and I recommend you go along for the ride.

One person found this helpful

Mary Bronte

A Gothic Tale!

Reviewed in the United Kingdom 🇬🇧 on July 22, 2015

Verified Purchase

This caught my attention as I am going to be visiting near the Mississippi this summer and thought I might get a flavour of it in this book. It is a fast action thriller, horrific murders, romance, and mystery, a Gothic tale really. Very scary, but then unfortunately becomes more and more unlikely and unbelievable, for this reader anyway. Is it really possible for people in this region to go privately exhuming graves in the night? It all got a bit farfetched, but I did keep going to the end.

One person found this helpful

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