The Body in the River: A Novel

by Connor Sullivan

A body in the river. A husband under suspicion. And a summer happy place where everyone has something to hide. Who killed Margot Hamilton—and why?

Nothing ever happens in Heapsville, Illinois—a quiet stretch of cabins along the Mississippi River where summer is for fishing at dawn, drinking and floating on pontoons all afternoon, and roasting hot dogs by the fire in the evening. But when Margot Hamilton’s body turns up in the river, everyone’s summer happy place becomes anything but.

A newcomer to the tight-knit community, Margot had barely settled into the only cabin across the river before her life was violently cut short. Suspicion immediately falls on her husband, Fletcher—after all, it’s always the husband. But as the investigation deepens, secrets long buried beneath the surface begin to rise.

Everyone has something to hide. And in a place where trust is as murky as the river itself, the truth might be more dangerous than anyone ever imagined.

The Body in the River is a thrilling tale of domestic suspense that looks at the ripples a mysterious death has in a small, rural community––with a twist (or two) at the end. Perfect for fans of Shari Lapena, Freida McFadden, and Kiersten Modglin!

339 pages, Kindle Edition

Published July 12, 2025

Reviews

[Sandy (Sandy.Reads) · Rating 5 out of 5]

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️.75

An Unputdownable Small Town Murder Mystery

What an incredible debut! The Body in the River is a masterclass in small town suspense, packed with red herrings, drama, and a cast of suspects that will keep you guessing until the very last page. One morning, a girl is found murdered, and suddenly everyone on the river becomes a suspect. This book had me side eyeing every single character and changing my theory every few chapters.

Here’s what really made it stand out for me. There are over 15 POVs yes, fifteen. Normally, that would make me nervous, but Connor Sullivan pulls it off brilliantly. At the very start, the author includes a character list with a short blurb about each person (spoiler free!), which made it so easy to keep track of everyone. Instead of feeling overwhelming, the multiple perspectives painted a richer, more layered picture of the town and its tangled relationships.

As someone from a small town, I can confirm: the vibe was spot on. Everyone knows everyone’s business, and secrets don’t stay buried for long… or at least, not without consequences. And that ending? WTF. I did not see the killer coming. The epilogue was the perfect final twist, the cherry on top of an already phenomenal read.

This is one of the most impressive debut mysteries I have read in a long time, and I cannot wait to see what Connor Sullivan writes next. If you love small town drama, jaw dropping reveals, and clever plotting, this one’s a must read.

[Connor Sullivan · Rating 5 out of 5]

I wrote this book, so I might be biased here… but I really do believe in this little summer murder mystery of mine. 🥹

I also have read this like 450 times, so, by law, can I get away with having it count toward my yearly goal more than once????? Or is that cheating?!? 😈

[Sharol · Rating 5 out of 5]

OH MY GOSH !!! This book! I’m so glad I’m ending summer reading with this book ! This is the best murder mystery book I’ve read in a long time !
If your Swiftie ( adult) I suggest reading this book .
The ending 🙌🏻👏 if I could give this book more stars I would!
Also had the pleasure of meeting Conner and getting a signed copy we love our small town Taylor Swift 🫶 lol
Im going to need a book on Fletcher and also more about Kyle and Riley hopefully I’m not asking for much lol
I CANT WAIT FOR THE NEXT BOOK!!!! Again this book is chefs kiss !

[Lindsay Douglas · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was really a good story! The nostalgia of knowing it was written by a local author made it really compelling. I definitely wanted to figure out the mystery.

[Addisyn · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book was amazing!! I really appreciate the characters in the book, even if 90% of the time I wanted to bang my head against a wall at how insufferable they were (in a good way!) So many times while reading I genuinely had to put my phone down and take deep breaths because I was genuinely distraught at the actions of the characters. I had such a wonderful time making my way through this book and I appreciate heavily how intriguing every POV was. Usually in books like these, there is always a character that I seem to not care about and I struggle to get through their sections, but I didn’t experience that in this book which I’m grateful for. I also appreciate your writing style and how you focus on shorter sentences rather than long drawn out paragraphs about things that don’t matter. 10/10 can’t wait for whatever you write next.

[Rhonda Huston · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a must read! I was hooked from the first chapter. The twists and turns kept me on the edge of my seat and I didn’t want to put this book down. I felt like I was watching a movie as it was so descriptive. I usually read more of a romance genre but this book has me thinking I like a murder mystery as well. The ending…totally shocked! Did not see that coming.

[Liz Ussery · Rating 5 out of 5]

Unable to put this down, this twisty thriller had me anxious for the next page on every page and questioning EVERYONE!

I devoured The Body in the River in a single day! Once I started, there was no going back. The quiet, atmospheric setting of the small IL River town was perfectly set. It became the perfect backdrop for unraveling secrets, suspicion, and a murder that shakes a seemingly tight knit community to its core.
The twists come fast and hard, each one making you re-evaluate everything you think you know. And just when I THOUGHT I had it figured out? Another layer. BOOM. This book will have you side-eyeing everyone. A must read!

[Debbie Thompson · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book grabbed me from the first page and I couldn’t put it down. I loved the suspense and all of the twists. I really enjoy a book that I can’t guess the ending and this was one for sure. I loved all the characters and would love seeing them again in future books😬. This may be his first novel but I’m looking forward to many more to come.

[Maya · Rating 4 out of 5]

8/10 - This book was fanTASTIC! From the striking narration style to the impressively well-developed multitude of characters, I was drawn in from page one! I was incredibly invested in finding out the truth alongside Charlie, Becky, and Detective Stone - and did NOT see that ending coming! It’s a great read I really cannot recommend enough!

[Kim Smith · Rating 5 out of 5]

Loved every minute. The way the characters and the community on the river are described, will weave intrigue that will not allow you to leave the story, or forget. It’s not my preferred genre but by far my favorite summer read!

[Leah · Rating 5 out of 5]

The perfect summer read! Loved the development of each character and their individual struggles. Kept me invested the whole time and the ending was perfect. Looking forward to the next book by Connor Sullivan!

[Shepherd Coventon · Rating 5 out of 5]

Such an amazing book!! Great character development and keeps you on your toes guessing throughout 🤩

[Ann L. Thompson · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved it! I couldn’t put it down.

[Shelley Bainter · Rating 5 out of 5]

One of the things I enjoyed about this book is how genuinely the characters were portrayed. As I read, I thought about people in my life who are remarkably similar to the residents of Heapville.

In one chapter, characters were described as people who fix things that are broken, and I also find that to be so true of people in small, rural communities. It made me recall once watching a friend repair a VCR in a similar river town – I felt like I could know these people.

There were times when the lives of the characters that the author created brought me back to memories of my own life. So not only did the fast-paced story keep me engaged, but at times it felt nearly personal. It was a great read.

[Paula · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved this book! Couldn't but it down. The characters were so complex and they all had their own issues they were dealing with that couldn't have made them the person who did it, but with all the twists and turns, it made you think. I thought I had it all figured out and then boom.........right out of left field! I loved it. I know when I cross the river into Illinois I'll never look at the Heapville road the same again! Great book.

[Sarah Ward · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.5 ⭐️ Really loved this one! I really enjoyed the flow of the story and all of the different characters. Ending was well done, it’s so easy to lose momentum towards the end of a book but this one kept me hooked through the last page!

[McKinzie Parlier · Rating 5 out of 5]

Just finished reading this book. Multiple interesting characters, good plot twist and kept my interst throughout. Good book. Highly recommend.

[Amanda Roman · Rating 5 out of 5]

I don’t usually read mysteries, but this kept my attention with plot twists until the very end. I enjoyed the different POV from the various characters. Great book!

[Stephanie · Rating 3 out of 5]

A body is found...in the river (SHOCK*AWE*) and the story is about finding out what happened and whodunnit. This book really needed an editor. I think it was self published. Take that into consideration while reading it. I think it was a very good first attempt at a book. With an editor and some help, this could be a really solid suspense/domestic thriller story.

If you like to support self publishing authors or those who are just starting out, definitely read this book. Otherwise, it's a take it or leave it.

[Jenni Little · Rating 5 out of 5]

My son’s HS English teacher wrote this amazing mystery set in a local Mississippi River town and an homage to his grandparents cabin there. A first novel
of many I hope! Another already in the works!