The River Snakes

by Adam Darby

Seth witnesses a murder while working in the middle of a cornfield—tries to hide but is caught by the killer—then quickly abandons his dead-end job, his mother and everything else he's ever known for a life of crime with the strangest, most dangerous man he's ever met.

They drive from Missouri to Montana where they load two canoes with homemade anti-depressants—Seth tasked with leading a group of misfits down the Missouri River for two months—selling narcotics along the way as they dodge thunderstorms and angry landowners—drug addicts, thieves and police.

Seth, however, quickly starts to doubt they'll ever make it—his hands blistered and his skin sunburned—his eyes focusing on Isabel too much when danger lurks around every bend in the river. But the biggest danger lurking is what'll happen to them if something goes wrong—if the man doesn't get his cash in Kansas City.

Genres: Mystery, Fiction

324 pages, Paperback

Published July 20, 2023

Reviews

[Richard Dominguez]

The River Snakes by Adam Darby is an action adventure story that kept me glued to the book. The story revolves around Seth who witnesses a murder, is then kidnapped and forced to collect money and sell drugs up and down the Missouri River.
A riveting story with a great cast of rather disturbing characters, who all deal with Seth on different levels. The characters are well developed and fleshed out nicely as the story progresses. The characters all felt real, including "The Man" (drug boss). For me they were the reason why I couldn't stop turning pages with characters that you can easily love and hate.
The story is written excellently, the easy reading contributing to a fast paced run that will surprise you when you get to the end of the book. I found it hard to put the book down and as far as my reading habits go it was quite original.
The River Snakes has lots of points that make it a seriously good psychological thriller that will keep the reader engaged as well as invested in the outcome. The ending is great and comes as a surprise that is totally not expected.
This is the second book by Mr Darby I have read and once again he has not failed to entertain me and I'm eager to see what comes next.

[Visionary Impart]

The River Snakes is a raw, pulse-pounding descent into the dark underbelly of America’s heartland an unforgettable mix of grit, violence, and moral reckoning. Adam Darby’s prose is both lyrical and unflinching, capturing the stark beauty of the Midwest while peeling back its darker corners. Seth’s journey from innocence to corruption feels achingly real, a study in survival, loyalty, and the blurred line between victim and villain. Every page hums with tension, every scene breathes authenticity. Fans of Cormac McCarthy and Taylor Sheridan will find themselves completely enthralled by this powerful, cinematic debut.

[Mel]

This story is fast paced from the get go. Seth is in the wrong place at the wrong time and his whole life is turned upside down. He is forced to do things against his will in order to survive. The group of individuals he winds up with must depend on each other to survive. Some do, some don't. The puppet master of them all is a sick, twisted individual who manipulates them all. What would you do in order to live? Seth learns about himself and in the end....well......maybe a sequel is coming because it was left with a very big question....looking forward to seeing what happens next. This is the third book from Adam I have read. All three have been fantastic and keep you engaged wanting more. Different stories all well written with characters that you love, hate and relate to.

[Lorraine]

A very interesting read

This is a story about a young man,, who gets kidnapped and made to go with three others around his age and deliver drugs and pick up the payment. They are made to take 2 canoes and travel by water to make the deliveries. Of course, the main boy, is required to carry a cell phone, so the man in charge can check on their progress. Issues abound on their travels. An epic ending!!

[Marbea Logan]

This was really one wild and crazy ride of a read!!! I'm not going to lie, I couldn't believe some of the things these characters got through. All I can wanted to say was, "Seth you're in danger boy!" It was like I'm reading the modern day pied piper. I felt this dude needs to stop collecting lost souls for therapy sessions lol! These poor little river snakes never had a chance. SMDH

[George A Gusick Sr]

Great story

Thank you Mr. Darby for an excellent story, wonderful characters that were easy to get lost in and identify with as they took their trek. Look forward to more of your books.

[thomas rutherford]

An Interesting Book

I enjoyed this nicely woven plot of adventure along the river. The ending was appropriately fitting. The characters were realistic.

[David Pospisil]

sometimes confusing but interesting story.
The lead characters were likeable...the evil man was unpredictable and frightening.

[Roxann]

An interesting story. Good characters that were likeable except for the evil man.

I won this book in goodreads giveaway.

[mzbeastle]

I'm unsure how to classify this book.

The story was riveting, the concept original, and I couldn't put it down. It was quite different from most books I read.

Strange story, with spikes of "OMG" moments, and certainly memorable. Worth a read.