What the River Buries

by Rocky Hirajeta

THIS SECTION OF WOODS CLOSED TO THE PUBLIC FOR HABITAT RESTORATION. STAY TO THE PATH.

"You went back to the Acres, didn't you?"

It's a reasonable question, and I know Marisa's asking it out of concern."Yeah, I went there. To sketch."

She sighs. "It's just ... I know it's nice to be alone and whatever, but ... at night? That's dangerous. And besides, that's probably not the best place for you to hang out, is it? Mentally?"

I give the most convincing smile I can muster. "It's fine."

Seventeen-year-old Natalie feels like a stranger to herself. Since her dad's death, she's withdrawn from her mom, and her best friend Marisa hardly recognizes her. She loses her job. She's failing half her classes. But Nat doesn't ask for help, doesn't want to burden anyone. Instead, she retreats to an off-limits riverside forest—known as the Acres—where she snaps photos and makes sketches, seeking peace. But one night, this peace is shattered by the nightmare of a lifetime.

A young woman is shrouded in a tarp. Dead. A man in black is disposing of the body, and when Natalie photographs the tattoo on his neck, it's only by a hair's breadth that she escapes. Marisa begs her to go to the cops, but Nat's stubbornness holds her back.

Then the killer delivers her sketchbook. To her door. Unseen.

Inside is a note. Going to the police, he says, would be "a grave error." Leave it alone, he promises, and he'll leave her alone, too.

But Natalie can't leave it alone. Deep into the tangled web of clues she runs, and the closer she gets to her foe, the more protected he seems. As she chases an elusive justice, her life, and the lives close to her, will be changed forever.

If they don't end first.

Genres: Thriller

308 pages, Paperback

First published March 21, 2023

Reviews

[Maxine · Rating 4 out of 5]

What the River Buries is a YA thriller and the debut novel of Rocky Hirajeta. Natalie, 17, goes into the woods at night on a photography assignment but she stumbles onto a scene that she shouldn’t have. The plot, itself, was just okay for me but that’s fair since I’m not the target audience. It is fast-paced but it stretched my willing suspension of disbelief just too far as I found Natalie’s actions just too hard to accept.

So, you may ask, why the four-star rating? Well, despite my reservations about the main protagonist, I read the book in one sitting because the prose, especially when discussing the woods, is beautiful even, at time, lyrical. Hirajeta has some serious writing skills and I would definitely look for more by him in the future.

I received an arc of this book from Netgalley and the publishers in exchange for an honest review

[Shauni · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a fast-paced and intriguing ya thriller. Natalie has a favorite spot in the woods. One day she goes to her spot to sketch, only to discover that she isn't alone. Deep in the woods is a dark figure, who happens to be burying a dead body.

Natalie finds herself the only witness to a horrible crime. Now threatened and taunted by the mysterious killer, she alone must learn who he is. Before it's too late.

This book reminded me a lot of Good Girl's Guide to Murder. While it was a little predictable, I enjoyed watching the plot unfold. The conclusion was very satisfying.

[Ivanka Fear · Rating 5 out of 5]

A suspense filled ride, one you won’t be able to put down. On the edge of 18, dealing with teenage drama, still grieving the loss of a parent. And now witnessing what appears to be the disposal of a body in the woods. How much can a girl handle?

From the first chapter, I was drawn into the mystery of what Natalie, a high school senior, witnessed at the river one autumn night. This fast paced thriller had me racing through to the end to unravel the puzzle, yet rereading to savor the vivid descriptions of the river and woods in the small town of Marton.

Greenkettle River has a pulse of its own in this atmospheric novel, flowing alongside trees and leading to an off-limits wooded area called the Acres. Signs warning people to stay out of the area don’t deter Natalie, who finds peace in its solitude, sketching nature and capturing photos. Her art and the river provide a temporary escape from life – poor grades, losing her job, a strained relationship with her mother, and the anniversary of her father’s death. But, after the night Natalie stumbles onto something she wasn’t meant to see, her problems take a second seat and she focuses on escaping with her life.

Warned to ignore what she saw in the woods, Natalie decides to investigate further, but pushes away her mother and her best friend, Marisa, choosing to handle the situation alone, in the same way she has been dealing with the circumstances of her father’s passing years ago. What the River Buries is a coming-of-age tale as well as a story of crime and corruption. When those she loves are threatened, will Natalie find the courage to ask for help?

Ripe with imagery, the novel’s setting draws a parallel between the course of the river and the main character’s journey through life. As she digs into what happened that night, Nat discovers not only what lies buried in the river, she brings her own internal struggles to the surface where she can better cope with them. Faced with various paths to follow, Natalie seeks to unmask a killer, not always opting for the best course of action. Filled with twists as she turns up dirt on prominent citizens, the book follows Natalie as she risks her life to do what’s right.

An excellent debut for author Rocky Hirajeta, What the River Buries will keep you on the edge of your seat as small town secrets are unburied.

[Barbara Powell · Rating 4 out of 5]

Natalie is a teenage girl who is dealing with the loss of her father. I’m her free time, she likes to sketch and is trying her hand at photography as well. One night she takes her bike up to an are of the local park known as The Acres that is off limits to pedestrians. She just wants to get away from everyone and everything and sketch in peace and quiet. Instead, she sees a man in a black coverup with a tattoo on his neck wrapping up a body in plastic. As she runs home she loses her sketch book only to have it returned to her by the person she saw in the woods with a note telling her that it’s for her own good to forget what she saw and he will forget that he saw her there too. Of course, that causes Natalie to go in depth to figure out who it was and who was the body in the plastic. Soon she realizes it’s more than she can handle on her own and gets her best friend involved in the investigation which leads them to all kinds of corruption in the local police department. Small town secrets never stay hidden.
Filled with great imagery, this a coming of age story with lots of thrills and suspense mixed in. I will definitely be reading more from this author in the future.
Thanks to Blackstone Publishing and NetGalley for this eArc in exchange for my review.

[Margie Shaw · Rating 5 out of 5]

What the River Buries is a great read! It’s about Natalie, a young teenage girl whose hobbies include sketching and a feeble attempt at photography. One night she rides her bike up to the local park where she ventures out into the woods known as The Acres which are off limits to pedestrians. She goes there to sketch because it makes her feel closer to her Dad who was also an artist but has passed away. It’s there that she sees a crime take place, what she believes to be a murder. There’s a man all dressed in black with a tattoo on his neck wrapping a body in plastic. Natalie becomes a vigilante of sorts and wants to solve the mystery of the crime. After a while she realizes she can’t handle this all on her own, so she lets her best friend in on it and they both end up working together. I thought this was a very exciting read and it really held my interest. It’s a story filled with action and it had me feeling tense and nervous at times. When you’re dealing with a corrupt chief of police it can get a little tricky! I’d like to thank NetGalley for the arc that I obtained off the Read Now section. I thoroughly enjoyed reading this and would recommend it to all mystery/suspense/thriller readers. It was my first time reading this author and I’m not sure if this is a debut novel but it was really good and I’m giving it a 5 star rating! I look forward to reading more by Rocky Hirajeta in the future.

[Trisha · Rating 3 out of 5]

A girl alone in a forest sketching, someone dumping a body. She shouldn't be there to see, but she does. And the killer - he knows it.

This was a story I expected to hook me. The mystery was interesting but it pretty quickly went off the rails a bit. I didn't find it believable and struggled to get behind some of the decisions by both the guilty parties and the parents around the kids in danger. I also found Natalie a bit frustrating at time.

But I did love the writing and the descriptions of getting lost in nature, the sketching, and the photography. I found it interesting that they still have darkrooms (do they really, in high schools?) and the beauty in developing your own work. The audio was also great, I really enjoyed the narrator, and I bumped this from a 2 1/2 to a 3⭐!

A huge thank you to the author and publisher for providing an e-ARC via Netgalley. This does not affect my opinion regarding the book.

[Emily Doggwiler · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really enjoyed this book, if you liked the A Good Girls Guide to Murder series you will definitely enjoy this a lot! I loved the character development of Natalie (the MC) through the events from ferociously independent, and a little bit difficult, to a much more mature and well rounded person.

Natalie sees something she shouldn’t in ‘the Acres’ some private woodland in her small town. After that she makes it her mission to see what she can uncover by herself, before realising she doesn’t need to go it alone and enlists the help of her friends to solve the mystery.

Dealing with her fathers death was a heartbreaking subplot that was dealt with really nicely too. And seeing how that affected Natalie and her decisions was a really moving touch!

I would definitely recommend this book if you enjoy fast paced and twisty thrillers, especially with a ‘coming-of-age’ theme and small town setting!

Thank you to NetGalley for providing the eARC in exchange for this review.

[Ellie Hawley]

This book was okay. I enjoyed the pacing and the writing style overall, but I didn't enjoy how off the wall the story was. It made it hard to stay interested in the story despite wanting to root for the heroine. There's a lot of detail and the novel is very descriptive. The author also does a fantastic job of creating suspense throughout the story, however implausible it may be. Many of the character's reactions are inauthentic and almost seem laughable in certain points of the story. I think that the main character may have just been too young for this story. I think it would have been more realistic if she were in college/in her mid 20s.

[Destiny · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really enjoyed Rocky Hirajeta's debut novel. It was a fast paced suspenseful mystery, I was able to read it all in one session. Sometimes you just have to know what happened.

The author's writing style was very depictive and had a nice flow, I felt like I could picture the events of the story as they happened.

Natalie the MC was handed more than any 17 year old girl should have to deal with, I admired her spunk and determination.

I would definitely recommend giving this book a read!


Thank You Net Galley for allowing me to read a copy of this book!

[Kookie9200 · Rating 3 out of 5]

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for allowing me to review this book.

Natalie is a 17 yr old girl that feels rudderless. One night as she visits in an abandoned area called The Acres, she stumbles upon a man discarding a body. it propels her into the middle of a mystery to figure out who the dead woman was, and who killed her.

Let me say that I didn't hate this book. I thought that the writing style was good and the pacing was okay. What I didn't like was how implausible the whole story was. It didn't feel authentic or natural. Knowing how implausible it all was, I couldn't keep my head in the story. I didn't think the parents would just jauntily agree to let their children investigate this murder. I didn't think the villain of the book would be so easy to find and just be so open about being the bad guy. There were too many things that kept me going "yeah, that would never happen" for me to enjoy this book fully, and that was my biggest problem with it.

[Annemarie DeClark · Rating 5 out of 5]

This debut novel from Rocky Hirajeta has all the components of a well-written mystery. The plot is intriguing, the characters are well-developed, the setting immersed me into the story, and the pacing included heart-pounding moments that had me on the edge of my seat. I loved seventeen-year-old Natalie’s tenacity. No matter what life threw at her, that girl did not give up. I read this book in one day because I could not put it down. Five stars. Highly recommended.

[Britney · Rating 3 out of 5]

Maybe more like a 3.5

The pacing at the beginning was slow for me, but I liked the last third of the book. The one thing I really appreciated was Natalie's agency through the story. She took action and tried to figure things out and come up with solutions.

[Can Dragons Read? · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thank you to the publisher for allowing me to read this eARC.

This was such an intense and mesmerizing story, I flew through this book! A young girl goes into the woods and sees something she shouldn't and we get this tale of crime and corruption and scandal. This was so well written and fleshed out, I could visualize everything and the story felt real.

[Melissa Ruth Rotert · Rating 4 out of 5]

Though this is not a genre I read regularly, I must admit I did have a bit of struggle suspending my disbelief for some of what happens in this book. However, the author creates great tension and suspense mixed with easy descriptive language. He does a great job developing his complex main character, even if I did want to shake her by the shoulders several times. The resolution really ties in her motivations.

[Joshua Donellan · Rating 5 out of 5]

Hirajeta's debut novel is a captivating YA mystery that flips from poignant to thrilling and back again. The story was compelling and had me flipping pages, eyes wide and eager, but the lovingly crafted characters were what really made this memorable. Natalie, Marisa, and their companions are richly drawn, complex characters who felt as real as flesh and blood.

The prose was gorgeous and poetic at times, breakneck fast and thrilling at others.

I absolutely loved this book and can't wait to see what Hirajeta does next.

[Angie · Rating 5 out of 5]

I love when a book pulls me in from the start and makes me so desperate to know what happens that I stay up past my bedtime! This was well-written and suspenseful, without being gratuitously violent.
It had a YA teen sleuthing vibe which made for an easy read. Loved it!

Thank you to NetGalley and the author for copy to read and review.

[Poppy · Rating 3 out of 5]

'What the River Buries' by Rocky Hirajeta has a promising premise but ultimately did not deliver the adrenaline fuelled story I was hoping for. Seventeen year old Natalie is mourning the death of her father and seeking to connect with him by going to 'The Acres', a spot they used to go together. On one such trip, which she repeatedly takes to take against the advice of her family and at the expense of her school work, she witnesses a figure disposing of a body in the woods, catching a glimpse of his distinctive neck tattoo. Panicking, she leaves behind her sketchbook which means she is easily identified and now in danger from this person who is clearly a murderer. So far, interesting stakes.

Following this point, I found I had to hugely suspend my disbelief as Natalie relentlessly ignores reason and follows the trail of clues to find out who the person in the woods may be. She continually puts herself in danger and commits a range of crimes herself, eventually also drawing her best friend into this dangerous pursuit. There are some fun moments of the novel which are more edge of the seat, like a certain break in, but I felt we found out who the neck tattoo belongs to far too early and there aren't any real twists or surprises.

A fine read but not really gripping enough to hold my attention beyond vague interest. 3 stars.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher who provided an ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review.

[The Sassy Bookworm · Rating 3 out of 5]

⭐⭐⭐

What the River Buries by Rocky Hirajeta is a captivating debut novel that takes readers on a suspenseful journey through the life of seventeen-year-old Natalie. Since her father’s passing, Natalie has become a stranger to herself, withdrawing from her mother and struggling to maintain relationships with those around her. When she stumbles upon a horrifying crime scene one night in the off-limits Acres forest, her life takes an unexpected turn.

This author has done a commendable job of building suspense throughout the story. The initial encounter with the killer sets the stage for an intense and gripping plot that keeps readers hooked until the very end. The pacing is well-balanced, ensuring that there are enough thrilling moments to keep readers engaged without overwhelming them.

One aspect of this book that stands out is its atmospheric setting. Through vivid descriptions and rich details, Hirajeta brings the Acres forest to life, allowing readers to immerse themselves in its beauty and mystery. The author’s ability to paint scenes with words adds depth and authenticity to the story.

However, while What the River Buries is a solid read overall, it has some noticeable flaws. The major issue lies in many of the characters’ behaviors and reactions, which often come across as unbelievable or even laughable at times. Natalie’s assertiveness and authority over adult men may seem unrealistic for a seventeen-year-old girl, leading to moments that strain credibility.

Despite these shortcomings, it is important to acknowledge that this is Hirajeta’s first book. As such, it shows promise and potential for growth as an author. The writing style is strong and engaging, indicating that there is room for improvement as he progresses in his writing career.

Overall, What the River Buries offers an engaging plot filled with suspenseful moments. The atmospheric setting and well-paced narrative contribute to an enjoyable reading experience. While some character behaviors may feel unrealistic, especially given the protagonist’s age, this debut novel showcases the author’s talent and leaves readers curious about what he will produce in the future.

**ARC Via NetGalley**

[Tracey · Rating 4 out of 5]

Book Review
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️/5 stars

What The River Buries
By Rocky Hirajeta
Pub date: 3/21/2023
Level Best Books

This debut novel is fast paced, descriptive with twists, turns, and deep relationships. I liked it a lot. There were a few niggles in some parts but nothing that was major.

Seventeen year old Natalie struggles with coming to terms with the death of her father, high school grades, and recently losing her job.

One night Natalie goes to her place of comfort to de stress. It’s an off-limits section of woods near the river. She goes there to sketch and unwind. This night is different because she stumbles upon a black masked tattooed man wrapping up a body in a tarp. She has her camera and snaps a photo alerting the man with the sound of the shutter. Natalie escapes to safety at her home. She realizes her sketchbook is missing from her back pack. But, mysteriously it is left on her doorstep with a threatening note to not get the police involved.
Natalie’s friend, Marisa, helps her try to get evidence but things get dicey as the girls uncover more details.
They must involve not only their parents, but the police to solve the crime.

Thanks to Netgalley and Level Best Books for this eARC to read for an honest review.

@netgalley @rockyhirajeta #netgalley #rockyhirajeta
#ya #thriller #suspense #bookstagram #bookreview

[Enchanted Fox · Rating 4 out of 5]

"What the River Buries" by Rocky Hirajeta is a gripping and suspenseful novel that keeps you on the edge of their seats from start to finish. Seventeen-year-old Natalie is struggling with her father's death. She retreats to the off-limits Acres, a woodland where she finds solace in photography and sketching. But one night, her peaceful refuge is shattered when she witnesses something she can't ignore. As a high school teacher this also would be a great novel for some of my older students who love a thriller. Hirajeta's writing is fast paced and suspenseful, with well-crafted plot twists. The setting of the novel is atmospheric and evocative, with an eerie and foreboding backdrop to the story.

Thanks to Netgalley and Rocky Hirajeta for a copy of this ARC in exchange for an honest review.

[J Kromrie · Rating 4 out of 5]

What the River Buries - Rocky Hirajeta

Thanks y Netgalley and the publisher for this eARC.

A well-wtitten, captivating, thriller. This story puts a mourning teenager, Natalie, directly in the path of a vicious murderer one evening, when she is out taking pictures for her photography class.

Natalie is threatened to maintain her silence and a lively game begins as Natalie attempts to discover more about the biggest threat she has ever encountered in her young life.

An enjoyable rollercoaster of a story, What the River Buries will have you reading (and biting your nails) long into the evening.

[Sarahpants · Rating 3 out of 5]

I’m giving this 3.5 stars. I didn’t hate this book. It was a fast paced read and it was well written. I think the only thing that kept me from really falling into the story was how unlikely so much of it is. Not the story itself or what happens or who it involves, but more so the actions of individual characters throughout the book. It often felt like people (especially the parents) were consistently making decisions that people wouldn’t realistically.
Overall it was a good read and would probably be great for an in flight read since it’s a quick Inez

[Maggie Crawford · Rating 3 out of 5]

I received a free copy of this book from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
I didn't like Natalie for the majority of this book. I felt like she just kept making one dumb decision after another, to the point where I wanted to reach into the pages and shake some sense into her. The first 2/3 of the book were kind of tough for me to get through for that reason.
But then when it picked up, it REALLY picked up! I flew threw the last third, totally engaged, because I had to know how everything was going to play out. The ending was extremely satisfying.
2.5 stars, rounded up.

[Rachel · Rating 5 out of 5]

Rich story, atmospheric setting, and a troubled teen embroiled in solving a mystery. So many details in this book threw me straight back to high school, but in addition to dealing with teachers, jobs, and friends, Natalie is also dealing with the death of her father *and* trying to make sense of what she saw in the woods one night. Full of twists and turns, What the River Buries is a fantastic read for those looking for YA filled with suspense!

[Ash Clifton · Rating 5 out of 5]

Two mysteries lie at the heart of Rocky Hirajeta’s fine novel. The first regards the identity of a killer, whom the protagonist, high school senior Natalie, witnesses disposing of a body in the river. But there is a deeper one, too, concerning the emotional and spiritual rut in which Natalie finds herself stuck after the death of her father. Not only is Hirajeta’s book beautifully written, it also captures the sense of desperation and longing that many YA novels miss.

[HEATHER · Rating 5 out of 5]

What the River Buries is the debut novel of Rocky Hirajeta. This was a fast-paced and intriguing ya thriller. There are so many twists and turns, and it kept me guessing till the end. Excellent character portrayal and I thoroughly enjoyed reading this and would recommend it to all mystery/suspense/thriller readers.


Thank you NetGalley and Level Best Books, Independent Book Publishers Association (IBPA), Members' Titles for allowing me to read this ARC for my honest opinion.

[Jody Reads Smut · Rating 5 out of 5]

The first novel by Rocky Hirajeta holds all the qualities of suspense the reader is looking for. The plot holds the readers' attention, and the characters are well-developed. Because of the mystery and the suspense, you'll want to keep turning the pages. Highly recommend!

Thank you to NetGalley and the author for copy to read and review.

[John Mccormick · Rating 5 out of 5]

My thanks to the Author publisher's and NetGalley for providing me with a Kindle version of this book to read and honestly review.
A superb debut quality characters and writing throughout. A totally absorbing believable mystery engaging from first to last page, with a number of heart in your mouth scenes that had me holding my breath with the tension.
Totally recommended.

[Nikki Williams · Rating 5 out of 5]

I listened to this as an audiobook in one 8 hour work shift. That's how invested it kept me I didn't want to stop listening. Wasn't expecting the perptuater to be who it was. I like how it wasn't the usual or normal suspect type most mysteries have. It shows not all the "supposedly good guys" are what they appear to be.

[Kim Herdman Shapiro · Rating 4 out of 5]

What the River Buries is a well written, suspenseful YA novel that was enjoyable for me -as an adult - to read. We follow the journey of 17 yr old Natalie as she tries to first solve a murder, and then face the bigger problem of what is happening in her own life. Excellent descriptions and imagery.