Liz Moore’s “Long Bright River” is set in Kensington, a part of Philadelphia heavily populated by addicts in search of heroin or other substances, once a respectable neighborhood. The author has done neighborhood work there and her familiarity with the people living in this part of town makes this novel and the characters in it so very authentic.
“Long Bright River „is a sometimes dark and heart wrenching novel, part crime fiction but mostly a story of two siblings, Kacey and Mickey Fitzpatrick, who grew up in rough circumstance with little love apart from the intimacy and bond they had between each other. To toughen them up for the unfairness of life was the prime goal of their grandmother Gee, leaving little room for affection in her household where they grew up after their mother died, their father disappeared and where money was always tight. The two sisters could not be more different in character: Mickey, shy, very smart , responsible, always protecting Kacey, eventually choosing a career as a police officer and raising a child as a single mother; Kacey a dare devil, outspoken, with a track record of bad man ending up on skid row as a heroin addict and prostitute. The sisters haven’t spoken to each other for years but Mickey keeps track of her whereabouts on her patrol. When Kacey disappears after the murder of a heroin addicted young prostitute and someone Mickey knows from their childhood is also found murdered, she goes in search of her sister as the killer clearly has it in for addicted prostitutes. I will not be a spoil sport, but the solving of the murder actually plays a minor part in the novel, the history of the Fitzpatrick family and the unravelling of family secrets makes this such an intense and often almost painful, realistic read. I like Liz Moore’s clean, clear cut prose which fits with the plot.

I started this book thinking it would be a Police procedural murder story but it is actually more about families, opiate addiction and dilemmas. I can’t say I enjoyed it and it certainly isn’t a page turner, edge of your seat type of book but I do appreciate the research that must have gone into it to make it so authentic. I struggled to finish it, not because it was terrible but more because I didn’t feel engaged with the characters. However I eventually finished it and felt a little disappointed with the ending being so uncharacteristically wrapped up neatly, particularly because the strength of the story was about human frailties and not necessarily neat and sugarcoated lives.

I began this book expecting a standard mystery/police procedural, a genre I love, but what makes this book so powerful is that this book is so much more than that. In fact, that aspect is in many ways only a small part - this is as much a story about drug addiction,the effect it has on families and how it can tear them apart. It is narrated by Mickey, a police officer, whose younger sister, Kacey, has taken a very different path in line and is a drug addict. What the book does very well is paint a picture of an area devastated by drug addiction, as well as strong character development. The plot had plenty of twists and kept me enthralled - whilst not always an easily read, it is beautifully written and one that I will be wholeheartedly recommending to everyone.

Thank you to Netgalley and Penguin Random House for an advance copy in exchange for an honest review.

Ah yes
Such a GOOD OLD THRILLER
It has such an amazing plotline, soul-shaking and nerve-wracking with that touch of coldness only the Nordic thrillers possess. Absolutely amazing.

Long Bright River was not a novel I could devour in one sitting ... and is all the better for it. There is great depth to the characters in this book and thought has gone into their interactions. The story is told from the perspective of Mickey who is a female police officer bringing up her son on her own, while trying to keep an eye out for her sister, who lives on the streets and appears to have gone missing in a time when young street walkers are being killed. The book goes back and forward from their childhood to the present day explaining how they each got to where they are.
Mickey comes across as a flawed character but one who is trying to do the best in the situation she has been put. There are a number of twists in the book that I honestly did not see coming and made sense of how people were behaving.
This is the first Liz Moore book I have read but it definitely will not be the last. A great read.

This is an emotional and tough but really well written novel that grabbed me from the very first pages. Liz Moore has definitely got a talent to tell such a complex and multilayered story in the way that will move your heart.

When Kensington neighbourhood of Philadelphia is struck by the series of murders on sex workers and drug addicts a police patrol officer Mickey struggles to find her missing sister. As the story continues we learn about the sisters’ childhood and troubled family life, their bad choices and wrong decisions leading to critical consequences.

The authors creates an unforgettable picture of district wrecked by the drug addiction, prostitution, poverty and corruption among the police. I also enjoyed the complexity and depth of characters especially Mickey and her determination to always do the right things.

Though the subject matter mainly focus on a family drama it is also a good police procedural thriller with some unsuspected twists however I wish this plot was explored a little bit more.

Long Bright River is a powerful, compelling and at times heart breaking novel with a very believable plot. Without a doubt it is a sad story that will break your heart but nonetheless worth reading. I definitely enjoyed it.

This was a good read, a hard read at times with the perils of addiction faced and the effect it has on family, old and new.

Going into this book, I truly did not know what to expect. I knew the author thoroughly researched Philadelphia drug scene and that it was a topic close to her heart. What I was faced with, was an extremely well written book, that discusses difficult topics of opioids addiction in a sensitive but not over the top manner. ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀

However, Long Bright River is more than a mystery/ thriller book. It’s a story of family relations and its effects on adult life, expectations, values and standards we carry with us. With now and then perspective and an amazing character development, it’s an absolutely compelling, well thought out and tense read, even though not the most fast paced. The layers are uncovered slowly and thoughtfully. I just kept turning pages to find out more! I urge every one of you to read this book.

This is the first time I've read Liz Moore's work but it certainly won't be the last. "Long Bright River" is a tale of deprivation, addiction, love, loss and family. The writing is eloquent and some passages strike you in the heart. I devoured it and lost sleep reading well into the small hours. Moore provides an excellent and considered exploration of what makes us who we are.

I haven’t read another book like this. Focusing on the family and community around addiction, Long Bright River is immersive, suspenseful, moving and smart. Well written and well plotted. Mickey is a compelling narrator – I related to her, rooted for her and believed her mistakes (well, there was one bit at the end that had my eyes rolling, but… it was fairly minor in the relation to the whole).
I was invested from the outset and had a hard time putting this one down and more so with each impressive twist as they appeared.
My thanks to the author, publisher, and NetGalley for the arc to review.

An excellent story about two sisters very different lives that share a dangerous element that will bring their lives together in conflict. The story is set in a suburb of Philadelphia renowned for drug addicts and people living rough. A murderer has started to target homeless drug addicts and Mickey who works for Philadelphia PD is worried that her sister Kacey will be targeted. An interesting story which proved a most enjoyable read.

A challenging read with characters that are both flawed and interesting. Mickey appears to have risen from her difficult childhood but does not feel as though she has used the potential that her high school teacher saw in her. Her job as a police officer and her addicted sister bring her into contact with the people of Kensington in Philadelphia. Grandmother Gee is so weeklong written and her character is revealed throughout the novel. All is not as it seems. Liz Moore has written a book that is both detective. Story and family saga with a sharp look at how society affects people's live and the inequalities that make it so difficult for people to even survive.

At first I wasn't too sure about this but very quickly I became as hooked as the addicts featured in the story, desperate for my next fix.Two sisters, same tough, impoverished upbringing with a grandmother reeling from her daughter's death by overdose and emotionally compassionate as a rock, two very different paths chosen.
Mickey, goes one way, into the Philadelphia Police Department patrolling the run down, drug addled area known as Kensington.
The other sister, Kaycee, goes in the opposite direction into a life of addiction, crime and prostitution.
Mickey doesn't see her or speak to her but she always thinks of her and keeps a watchful eye. Which is why when a series of murders takes place, all victims with similar lifestyles to her sister's, Mickey is terrified it will be Kaycee who is next.
This is a harrowing story of love and how love can be seriously threatened and corrupted through drug taking. It is heart breaking to read how damaging addiction is and how hard it is to stand by and watch someone you love slowly die again and again.
I found the storyline tense, believable and full of suspicion. There are a few characters whose behaviour is worrying. Could the murderer be Simon, Mickey's ex? Could it be Kaycee's one time boyfriend and dealer/user Dock? Or could there be corruption with the police department that means the murderer is one of their own?
Kept me guessing, kept me reading, kept me appalled at how some people have to live and then after wringing me dry emotionally gave me some respite with a hopeful ending.
Well worth picking up and reading.

I’m sorry to say that this book was not a good choice for me personally. It is too gritty and depressing, set in the deprived areas of Philadelphia, and dealing with an opioid crisis.
The particular style of narration does not work for me, it just does not bring the story to life.
Altogether this proved too be too challenging a novel for me, though I’m sure it will appeal to many readers, as it is well written, and I recognise the hard work that the author has put into it. Unfortunately I was unable to finish the book.
My thanks to the publisher and Netgalley for my advance copy of this title.

Mickey Fitzpatrick ist Polizistin in Philadelphias zwielichtigem Bezirk Kensington, während ihre Schwester in der gleichen Gegend ein Leben zwischen Drogen und Prostitution fristet. Schon lange Zeit hatten sie keinen direkten Kontakt mehr, dabei waren sie als Mädchen quasi unzertrennlich. Sie wurden mehr schlecht als recht von der Großmutter in ärmlichen lieblosen Verhältnissen großgezogen, nachdem ihre, der Drogensucht verfallene Mutter, sie verlassen hat. In rückblickenden Kapiteln erfährt man, wie sich die Geschwister so unterschiedlich entwickeln konnten. Zum Anfang des Buches ist man emotional schnell in der Situation drin, wird sofort in die Ereignisse geworfen.

Immer wenn ein Einsatz rein kommt fürchtet Mickey doch eines Tages ihre Schwester als Opfer an der Einsatzstelle vorzufinden. So ist sie wieder mal besonders beunruhigt, als sie mit ihrem neuen Partner zu einer weiblichen Leiche gerufen wird. Doch es handelt sich um eine unbekannte Frau, deren Todesursache zunächst auch ungeklärt bleibt. Als einfache Streifenpolizistin ist Mickey trotz ihres großen persönlichen Interesses sowieso aus den meisten Informationen und den weiteren Ermittlungen ausgeschlossen. Doch dann werden zwei weitere Leichen von erwürgten Frauen gefunden, die vermutlich auch Prostituierte waren. Mickey wird immer besorgter um ihre Schwester. Und so nimmt sie selbst, obwohl sie kein Detective ist, Ermittlungen nach ihrem Verbleib auf. Mit dem Vergehen der Zeit wird die Suche nach ihr immer dringlicher. Sie riskiert zu viel bei der Recherche nach Kacey, die wahrscheinlich nicht mal gefunden werden will. Sie setzt ihre Arbeit, ihr Leben und die Sicherheit ihres 5-jährigen Sohnes Thomas aufs Spiel. Plötzlich geht es dann sogar um weit mehr. Sie gerät immer tiefer in den Schlamassel.

Es folgen unerwartete Enthüllungen und Entwicklungen. Ein unglaublicher Verdacht entsteht und die Spannung steigert sich weiter bis zum Ende hin. Zum Schluss wird alles aufgeklärt. Das Buch hat mich mit seinem letzten Absatz nachdenklich zurückgelassen.

Aus eigener Anschauung gibt die Autorin einen harten realistischen und bestürzenden Einblick in die Welt der Drogen, der regionalen Polizei und der Prostitution. Sie zeigt auf wie schnell man über unüberlegt verschriebene Medikamente in die Abhängigkeit geraten kann, selbst als gut gebildeter und gut situierter Mensch. Ein großartiger Thriller und intensives Familiendrama voller überraschender Wendungen und überzeugenden Charakteren.

A very current crime / police novel that looks at the opioid epidemic in Philadelphia, from the point of view of Mickey, the ‘sensible‘ sister. Mickey is a cop and her sister is one of the addicted, on the streets. When women start getting murdered Mickey is determined to find out who is responsible.

I didn‘t predict the twist in the middle (no spoilers here, but not the whodunit one!) and I‘d like to see more of Mickey.... always a good sign!

3.5 stars

I am a HUGE fan of this author having devoured Heft and The Unseen World with high praise

There's a lot going on in this story and at first glance it might appear that this is just your average, run-of-the-mill mystery. However, I think the strength of this novel is the relationship between the sisters and how addiction tore them apart.

The sense of place was also done exceptionally well and I absolutely recommend reading it, especially the last 25%, but it didn’t quite reach the 4-star phase for me. Perhaps it’s because I have read quite a few police procedurals lately and just was not in the right mind for another one.

Liz Moore is a solid 4-star author for me, and I love the fact that she has no formula when writing. Each of the three books I’ve read, are original and very different from each other, except for the fact that they are all well-written, intelligent and filled with flawed but intriguing and nuanced characters.

In the foreword Liz Moore shares with us her relationship with Kensington and it’s community. This connection to and empathy for people dealing with addiction is evident throughout the novel. Although Long Bright River very much fits into the suspense genre, for me this focus on the people and the place is what made the book stand out from the crowd.

The plot and twists are very well done, and I didn’t see any of them coming, BUT they were all realistic and formed a functional part of the storyline.

One of the strongest elements is the relationship between the two sisters. The difficulty in letting go and accepting that a younger sibling must make their own choices, if you’ve always been their protector is something that I’m familiar with, and I though the author did an excellent job describing this.

This is an ode to a long bright river of departed souls.

Recommended if you’re looking for a literary family drama or a police procedural.

The Story: Set in the opioid-soused Irish and Polish ghettos of Philadelphia, in which Mickey, a single cop, is looking for her missing sister, Kacey. When women start to turn up murdered, Mickey’s dormant familial instincts are roused.

★★★✰✰ 3.5 stars

“These girls, he says. He looks at me and puts one finger to his right temple, taps it twice. Stupid, is what he means. No sense.”

Set against the opioid crisis in Philadelphia Liz Moore's thought-provoking novel portrays the long-lasting and devastating effects of addiction. Focusing on the fraught relationship between two sisters, Moore shows the circumstances that can lead to addiction, parental negligence, and crime. Sadly, what had the potential of being a captivating tale is let down by an uneven structure and an undeveloped murder storyline.

The Good
The setting of this novel is strikingly rendered. Moore has done an amazing job in depicting both Philadelphia. The neighbourhood of Kensington, the area in which much of the story's action takes place, comes alive on Moore's pages. Kensington is reputed has having the highest rates of heroin use in the United States. On its streets there is crime, addiction, and prostitution. While Moore does capture its desperation, she also introduces us to some of its compassionate inhabitants. Readers get a nuanced yet unflinching look at this neighbourhood. There are entire families that fall into drugs. One's parents, one's uncles and aunts, and one's cousin. We understand how difficult it is to break this cycle. Nature and nurture are both to blame for the way in which many children follow the same pattern as their parents and lead a life of crime and addiction. Rather than just presenting us with a Hollywood version of an addict or a prostitute, Moore digs deeper. The people who Mickey encounters on her patrol come across as real people. So much so that readers are bound to feel a mixture of heartbreak and horror over them. Unsurprisingly Dennis Lehane has praised this novel. In many ways Moore's strong sense of place reminded me of his novels.
Another refreshing thing about Long Bright River is that it subverts the 'good sister/bad sister0 trope that has been oh-so-popular in recent years. The dynamic between Mickey and Kacey was complex and painfully believable. I certainly felt invested in their relationship and its outcome. The choices they make aren't always easy to understand but we are fully aware of the circumstances that have shaped them in such a way. Through flashbacks we see the way in which they slowly yet irrevocably drift apart and their past closeness becomes a thing of the past. Yet, in spite of their painful history, the two are bound to each other.
Having a family in Long Bright River is not an easy thing. Mickey's career path in the police department has made her into a persona non grata to most of her blood relatives. But, as readers soon will realise, this familial uneasiness runs both ways. Connections can be formed with unexpected people, such as Mickey does with her elderly neighbour (who was perhaps my favourite character in the entire novel).
I liked the ambivalence of Moore's story. There are no easy answers or solutions. People capable of violence or malice can also be capable of kindness.

The Not So Good Things
Mickey's staccato narration takes some getting used to. While I do understand that if her internal monologue or descriptions occasionally sounded robotic it was because she is a somewhat aloof and logical individual, I wish her narrative hadn't been so wooden. The 'then' sections—aka the flashbacks—would have had a much more emotional impact if they'd been narrated by Kacey. Mickey's perspective has its limitation. The story would benefitted from having her as the narrator as it would have allowed a more balanced portrayal of their relationship. Kacey was a much more interesting and compelling character, and I do think that having her as a narrator would have made me care more for her.
The pacing isn't great. There are many instances in which the plot loose itself and doesn't really advance Mickey's investigation. Mickey herself makes a lot of dumb decisions, and some of them do seem a bit outlandish. For me, the murder investigation was the novel's weakest point. While it does show the way in which vulnerable people are used or disregarded by the system that is supposed to help them, it also resorts to cheap, and occasionally predictable, 'twists'. At times this murder-storyline seems forgotten, only to be later picked up at a too convenient moment.

Overall
Long Bright River is a mournful novel as Mickey's search for her sister is not an easy one. The story shows the in interplay between addiction, poverty, and crime in a stark manner without resorting to pulpy stereotypes. It presents with the devastating reality of the opioid crisis, the way in which can destroy entire families and neighbourhoods, by focusing on the individual rather than the statistics.
Although it has its flaws (the pacing, structure, and protagonist had their weaknesses) I would still recommend it as I could see how much work Moore has put into it.

Long Bright River is told from the POV of thirty-something Mikey, a single mother who juggles life as a patrol officer. She patrols the streets of Philadelphia, also searching for her heroin-addicted younger sister, Kacey. Her search for her sister becomes frenzied when she discovers heroin-addicted prostitutes are being strangled. Can Mickey find her sister before she becomes the next victim?...
With flashbacks to their childhood this is a heart-breaking story about the broken relationship of sisters. This also touches upon the themes of police corruption, drug addiction, juggling being a mother and a job, as well as trans-generational trauma. I was particularly moved by the character of Thomas, her son, and the fragile mother-son relationship filled with guilt and a simultaneous fierce desire to protect. I was highly moved by this assuredly written debut. The streets of Kensington, Philadelphia, are vividly drawn. There’s plenty of reveals and twists in this gritty read. My only gripe is that I felt the reveal of the killer wasn’t explored enough. I was confused about the killer’s motivations and wished the person was more fleshed out. Other than that this is a stellar read. 4/5.