Introducing Down by the River by Karen J. Mossman
Where did the idea for the story come from?
From the song Hazard by Richard Marx. The haunting music and words told a story that really captured my imagination, When I saw the video on YouTube, the idea came quickly, and two characters emerged to complete the story.
Give a quote from the books, one that says little but speaks volumes.
“I’m the law around here now, girl. You gotta tell me if you have any information.”
Give a short summary of what the book is about.
Shelby premonitions have haunted her all her life. In order to escape them she leaves the small town she grew up in. But when her best friend disappears she knows she has to return and face the past that had haunted them both,
What genre is it?
Crime Thriller
How many pages is it?
50
Why do you think the readers will want to read it?
Because it’s a book you can read over a weekend. It’s complete with intrigue, mystery and horror,
Where are you located?
Anglesey
Description
When Shelby reads a worrying letter from her best friend, Mary-Jo, she feels a sense of unease and makes her way back home. Soon, the discovery of a body in the river sends shockwaves through their peaceful community.
Her lifelong visions are now plagued by blurriness and seemed to conceal a hidden truth. Who is the shadowy figure that never reveals themselves? What is preventing her from witnessing the events of that fateful day?
Mary-Jo’s boyfriend, Ricky, is the prime suspect in a murder case. Despite the accusations, she remains unconvinced by his guilt, citing the deep love and joy shared between Mary-Jo and him.
Shelby’s childhood nemesis, now the sheriff, is a constant reminder of the painful memories and torment she and Mary-Jo endured in the past. His strong aversion towards Ricky means he will search for any reason to press charges against him, but is the sheriff concealing something?
In the crumbling house she grew up in, Shelby must confront her drunken pa. Much to her surprise, he is sober, and they engage in a meaningful conversation before he eventually relapses into his old ways.
The weight of guilt for leaving her best friend hangs heavily on Shelby as she confronts her enemy. Will the truth finally break the chains of her past and set her free?
‘A dark and foreboding tale to enthral you.’
Excerpt
Shelby and Rawden Hughes went back a long way. He’d not changed much. His sandy-colored hair was now sprinkled with gray streaks. His belly had expanded and now stuck out farther than his chest. He lacked physical appeal, but his self-assured demeanor made him believe otherwise.
She owed him, and he never let her forget. Shelby caught sight of his badge: Sheriff. It twinkled on his broad chest.
“That’s right,” he replied. “I’m the one in charge now. Maybe you know where Mary-Jo is?”
Her stomach rolled as memories of him surfaced. It made her feel sickly. “If I did, I wouldn’t tell you.”
Rawden’s face darkened, and his bushy eyebrows knitted together. “I’m the law ’round here now, girl. You tell me if you have any information.”
“I just got here; I know nothing about anything.” Her skin crawled in his presence.
“And if you know what’s good for you, you’ll leave again.” He walked over to the car and spoke to Ricky.
They both looked in her direction. The wind carried away their words and within a moment, they drove away without a backward glance.
A shiver ran up her spine as she watched them go. Shelby closed the door to Ricky’s trailer and began the twenty-minute walk to where her father lived.
World of Stories 