For me, River of Secrets was at times annoying, at times tedious, but mostly enjoyable. I thought we spent too much time in Wallace Hartman's head.. The storyline was impressive in that a former segregationist politician would plan to run for governor with an unusually forward campaign platform. The forces that he formerly led were set against this and determined to stop him. His murder is the focus of the story, but racist politics in Baton Rouge, Louisiana, are also brought to the fore. This ugly period was not yet done, and the book interests the reader in watching it play out.
Thanks, NetGalley, for the ARC.

A well written procedural with an appealing detective in Wallace Hartman. Hartman finds herself in the middle of corruption and greed when she investigates the murder of Herbert Marioneaux, a politician who is also a flashpoint on a number of social issues. While some believe that Eddie Pitkin did it, Wallace does not, partly because she knows more about Pitkin than those who have pointed the finger at him. Digging into the case leads her into a mess in the Baton Rouge Police Department. Thanks to Netgalley for the ARC. The plot is nicely done and Wallace is a good character. I did not read the first book but now I'm going to look for the third.

I thoroughly enjoy reading River of Secrets by Roger Johns. I found myself identifying with Wallace in her search for the person who killed Marioneaux. The crime occurs at the beginning of the book and the rest of the book is centered around Wallace who is the lead detective on the case. She is determined to find the villian and puts herself in danger many times but always comes out ahead. I was not prepared for the surprise ending but felt it made the story even better.

Herbert Marioneaux, a Louisiana politician, has been murdered. Baton Rouge homicide detective Wallace Hartman gets the case and needs to find the killer quickly. DNA incidence suggests that Eddie Pitkin, a black social justice activist, may be guilty. However, the DNA evidence seems a little too convenient and my have been planted to frame Eddie. Tempers among the public are rising as the crime becomes a race issue. Supporters of Eddie believe in his innocence, while everyone else is positive he’s guilty. To make matters worse, Wallace thinks there may be a leak in the police department, and no longer knows who she can trust. The race is on to find the killer, or killers, before the city explodes in violence.

If you enjoy a good ‘whodunit’, you will love this book. The author presents a number of characters who may be be guilty, but nothing fits quite right, and as the plot unfolds, the reader is kept wondering who the guilty party is, and if Wallace will figure it out before someone manages to kill her. The story finishes with a nice twist at the end. I highly recommend this book.

A River Of Secrets By Roger Johns

Wallace Hartman, a tough female Baton Rouge police detective is called to solve a murder of a influential Louisiana politician.

A engaging storyline and characters, this page turner is full of criminal intrigue to the very last page.

I graciously received this ARC through Netgalley from St. Martin Press for a honest review.
4 Stars