In 1988, Sloan Hadfield’s brother Ridge went fishing with their father and never came home. Their father, a good-natured Vietnam veteran prone to violent outbursts, was arrested and charged with murder. Ridge’s body was never recovered, and Sloan’s mother— a brilliant ornithologist— slowly descended into madness, insisting her son was still alive.
Now twenty years later, Sloan’s life is unraveling. In the middle of a bitter divorce, she’s forced to return to her rural Texas hometown when her mother is discharged from a mental health facility.
Overwhelmed by memories and unanswered questions, Sloan returns to the last place her brother was seen all those years ago: Crow’s Nest Creek. There, she is shocked to hear a crow murmuring the same syllable over and over: Ridge, Ridge, Ridge.
When the body of another boy is found, Sloan begins to question what really happened to her brother all those years ago. What she discovers will shock her small community and turn her family upside down.
“Did you know crows never forget a face?” Caroline asked quietly.
Wow! Just wow! There are books that become always memorable in your lifetime. The stories you will never forget even with the passage of time. They are books you do not need to re-read to remember. Then there are also stories that literally become unputdownable after you have gotten halfway through them.
Without a doubt, A River of Crows is this entire synopsis and so much more.
Author Shanessa Gluhm crafted a book that literally swept me away much like the river in her book. This twisting story weaves between the past and present with perfection. One chapter totally took me by surprise.
A River of Crows is rippled with revenge yet at its core is a story of love. This is a story unlike I have ever read. It is hard to believe revenge could run so cold and at the same time have the pages jumping out at you with love.
The story centers around Sloan who loses her brother Ridge early on in her life. Her father is accused of killing her brother. Sloan is left to pick the pieces when she moves back home to care for her mom. Then the story quickly progresses with its mind-blowing storyline that captivated me deeply that putting this book down was not an option until I finished it.
Well-written and equal parts enthralling and ingenious, Gluhm’s story is literally a first-rate suspense novel. If you want a book that takes you by surprise – then A River of Crows needs to be the next book you read. The great narrative and unforgettable characters will take you on a ride you will never forget.
A huge shoutout and fist bumps to Gluhm for referencing anting correctly!
Shanessa Gluhm works as a librarian at an elementary school in New Mexico where she lives with her husband and children. It was during her own elementary days when a teacher encouraged Shanessa to share a story she wrote with the class. She hasn’t stopped writing since.
Her debut novel, Enemies of Doves was an IAN Book of the Year Finalist in the category of first novel, an NIEA Finalist for cross-genre fiction, and first place winner in the Chanticleer Clue Awards for mystery, suspense, and thriller fiction.
When Shanessa is not writing she enjoys birdwatching, reading, and watching true crime documentaries.
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04/18/23 |
Book Trailer |
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04/18/23 |
BONUS Promo |
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04/19/23 |
Review |
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04/19/23 |
BONUS Promo |
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04/20/23 |
Playlist |
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04/21/23 |
Review |
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04/22/23 |
Review |
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04/23/23 |
Guest Post |
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04/24/23 |
Review |
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04/25/23 |
Author Interview |
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04/26/23 |
Review |
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04/27/23 |
Review |
Forgotten Winds 
This is by far the best review I’ve ever recieved. I’m so honored. Thank you SO much for reading and sharing your thoughts so eloquently
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You’re welcome.
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This is one of the best reviews I’ve read of this book. Thanks so much for the comprehensive evaluation of the story elements, Christena. Not sure how I missed getting on the tour for this book, but I wish I had.
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Oh, my many thanks Maryann.
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You’re welcome, Christena.
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Christena, your review of this book is enough to send me scrambling for it! And the book trailer is so well done! Congratulations to this author, and thank you for sharing!
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I hope you’re not disappointed, Jan. You’re welcome.
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Wow to the book, and wow to your review, too! I cannot wait to read this one (hoping for an audiobook version) and get hooked. (Anting! Author is a librarian, so she knows how to get her facts right!) Thanks for sharing your thoughts about the book.
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An audiobook would be fab for this book. You’re welcome.
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