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Gatineau Hills Mystery Series #3
The River Bride: a quebec summer mystery
Marlee Bremer claims her husband is a murderer. Trey Bremer insists it was only a game.
Seven years ago, the family's au pair was found slain in an abandoned trailer. Tried and convicted for the girl's murder, Trey has always asserted his innocence. The truth of what happened to Teresa Musgrave that day begins to unravel when an anonymous note arrives at The Stollerton Record. On the hunt for the big story that could save her career, Alvina Moon is caught up in a disturbing crime and the victim's beautiful, troubled artist husband.
Set against the backdrop of a raging forest fire, THE RIVER BRIDE hurtles to a stunning conclusion that asks how far will a woman go for love.
Seven years ago, the family's au pair was found slain in an abandoned trailer. Tried and convicted for the girl's murder, Trey has always asserted his innocence. The truth of what happened to Teresa Musgrave that day begins to unravel when an anonymous note arrives at The Stollerton Record. On the hunt for the big story that could save her career, Alvina Moon is caught up in a disturbing crime and the victim's beautiful, troubled artist husband.
Set against the backdrop of a raging forest fire, THE RIVER BRIDE hurtles to a stunning conclusion that asks how far will a woman go for love.
- GenresMystery
Audible Audio
First published July 18, 2014
332 people want to read
About the author
Nadine Doolittle
30 books31 followersNadine Doolittle is a Theatre Arts graduate from Studio 58 in Vancouver. She was a casting associate, then a reporter and now writes full time from her home in Quebec.
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I'm shut out from Facebook. They think I made up my last name. However, you can:
Visit my website
http://www.nadinedoolittlebooks.ca
Subscribe to The Butler Didn't Do It to find out what I'm up to and receive a free short mystery for your trouble.
https://dl.bookfunnel.com/9v9u59fq4a
---
I'm shut out from Facebook. They think I made up my last name. However, you can:
Visit my website
http://www.nadinedoolittlebooks.ca
Subscribe to The Butler Didn't Do It to find out what I'm up to and receive a free short mystery for your trouble.
https://dl.bookfunnel.com/9v9u59fq4a
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Displaying 1 - 9 of 9 reviews
December 27, 2017
I wanted to enjoy this novel much more than I did, seeing as how I quite enjoyed Iced Under. The River Bride seemed very disjointed to me, and forced, like Doolittle was trying really hard to create a good mystery. I started out enjoying the main character, Amina I think, a young journalist in a small Quebec town. But when she started mouthing off to a 12 year old, my opinion changed, then even more so when she started falling for someone who she thought killed her friend. I mean, really? The setting was fun, a rural area in the Gatineau hills, but the editing was TERRIBLE! So many omitted words that it was distracting. Puts me in no hurry to read another of her novels.
September 12, 2017
Maybe 3.5 stars. Great setting and good characters. The main character could have used a bit more fleshing out. Some of the relationships seemed a little forced but the story moved well. A good mystery.
November 27, 2014
A good location is like another character. An author that successfully brings that location to life, with the nuances and layers they would afford the human players in their story, can hook you in before you realize it.
Set in the village of Stollerton, in the forested Gatineau Hills area of rural Quebec, Canada, The River Bride, by Nadine Doolittle, offers such a setting. A river runs through town, providing a livelihood for residents. Locals travel it on boat as often as they take the roads, restaurants open on the river, fishing is plentiful, and tourists come and go, taking countryside tours and guided camping excursions. A hot summer arrives with a forest fire that smothers the area in smoke, even as firefighters are finally getting a handle on it. And in a remote, almost hidden campsite near the river, a young woman, Alvina Moon, working on her early career as a journalist for the local paper, comes across an old, abandoned trailer hiding bloody sheets inside.
Beyond just being an interesting setting, readers will find that, as they navigate the twists and turns of the story, the setting will play its part. It’s not just a colorful backdrop to create atmosphere. Events will take place on the river, and because of the river. Bad things will happen because of the high heat. Character choices will be influenced by history and the geography of the place. It’s not the conflict of man versus nature, though. The setting is ingrained into the characters, and that’s what makes it effective.
But there’s a lot of personal drama, too. This story is a psychological thriller, as much about unraveling relationships and desperate people as it is about revisiting an old mystery.
Small towns, out of the way from major civilization, are always ripe with possibilities for tragedy and intrigue. Everyone knows everyone else, everyone keeps secrets, and everyone suspects everyone else of keeping secrets. The author’s own website says of her mystery series, “No serial killers. No psychopaths. It's the one you thought you knew.” The River Bride mines every last vein of drama and mystery in just such a fashion. Suspense hangs constantly in the air as the author peels back the masks each character wears.
Most of these character revelations are seen through the eyes of Alvina Moon. But she has her own demons to struggle with. The paper is closing thanks to the internet age finally catching up with the rural village and she has no idea where to go from there. Her roommate doesn’t like her much, her estranged parents never actually seem interested in her life, relationship prospects are nil, and when someone worthwhile finally comes into her life, he looks to be the entirely wrong person. No, it never seems to work out for Alvina Moon. She’s determined to make something work this time, and therein lies the crux of the story, the point from which everything will unfold.
With all of these psychological character complexities, there were a few times when I thought the author pulled back and I wanted her to go all out. The story revolves around betrayals and a brutal killing, the details of which directly affect the mindset of several characters. I appreciated that the author wasn't graphic about it, but I do think the point could have been driven home even harder. The same is true with the main character, Alvina. Her choices make sense, even as I hoped she wouldn't make them. But I thought the author could have dug further down into her thinking, to explain more fully what she hoped to gain by doing what she does.
That’s just me, though, others might not feel the same way. And anyway, it didn't detract at all from my enjoyment of this well-written novel.
Good read.
Set in the village of Stollerton, in the forested Gatineau Hills area of rural Quebec, Canada, The River Bride, by Nadine Doolittle, offers such a setting. A river runs through town, providing a livelihood for residents. Locals travel it on boat as often as they take the roads, restaurants open on the river, fishing is plentiful, and tourists come and go, taking countryside tours and guided camping excursions. A hot summer arrives with a forest fire that smothers the area in smoke, even as firefighters are finally getting a handle on it. And in a remote, almost hidden campsite near the river, a young woman, Alvina Moon, working on her early career as a journalist for the local paper, comes across an old, abandoned trailer hiding bloody sheets inside.
Beyond just being an interesting setting, readers will find that, as they navigate the twists and turns of the story, the setting will play its part. It’s not just a colorful backdrop to create atmosphere. Events will take place on the river, and because of the river. Bad things will happen because of the high heat. Character choices will be influenced by history and the geography of the place. It’s not the conflict of man versus nature, though. The setting is ingrained into the characters, and that’s what makes it effective.
But there’s a lot of personal drama, too. This story is a psychological thriller, as much about unraveling relationships and desperate people as it is about revisiting an old mystery.
Small towns, out of the way from major civilization, are always ripe with possibilities for tragedy and intrigue. Everyone knows everyone else, everyone keeps secrets, and everyone suspects everyone else of keeping secrets. The author’s own website says of her mystery series, “No serial killers. No psychopaths. It's the one you thought you knew.” The River Bride mines every last vein of drama and mystery in just such a fashion. Suspense hangs constantly in the air as the author peels back the masks each character wears.
Most of these character revelations are seen through the eyes of Alvina Moon. But she has her own demons to struggle with. The paper is closing thanks to the internet age finally catching up with the rural village and she has no idea where to go from there. Her roommate doesn’t like her much, her estranged parents never actually seem interested in her life, relationship prospects are nil, and when someone worthwhile finally comes into her life, he looks to be the entirely wrong person. No, it never seems to work out for Alvina Moon. She’s determined to make something work this time, and therein lies the crux of the story, the point from which everything will unfold.
With all of these psychological character complexities, there were a few times when I thought the author pulled back and I wanted her to go all out. The story revolves around betrayals and a brutal killing, the details of which directly affect the mindset of several characters. I appreciated that the author wasn't graphic about it, but I do think the point could have been driven home even harder. The same is true with the main character, Alvina. Her choices make sense, even as I hoped she wouldn't make them. But I thought the author could have dug further down into her thinking, to explain more fully what she hoped to gain by doing what she does.
That’s just me, though, others might not feel the same way. And anyway, it didn't detract at all from my enjoyment of this well-written novel.
Good read.
August 10, 2015
Source: Views She Writes - WordPress Reviews
Once in a while you come across a murder mystery so twisted to make your head spin in all directions. And that is when it hits you again why you love murder mystery so much. River Bride is really an amazing book. It truly brings out the essence of whodunnit it a refreshed way.
Alvina Moon gets entangled in a controversial murder investigation when she falls for Del Musgrave the loner artist. Melissa with her stern belief that her husband deserves to be behind bars and Violet with a photographic memory makes Alvina realize that there is something strange in the air. However, further she goes into the mystery, the body count increases and the accused starts appearing less and less guilty. So who killed the au pair girl?
The suspense is sure to leave you spell bound. The character development is good and the story is engaging. The climax is sure to touch your heart. The plot slacks at times and the pace could have been faster. Overall a 4 star thriller
December 25, 2019
The River Bride by Nadine Doolittle The River Bride by Nadine Doolittle is an engaging story. I gave it four stars.
I received a complimentary copy of The River Bride by Nadine Doolittle in a goodreads promotion. That did not influence my opinion of this book for this review.
"The truth of what happened to Teresa Musgrave that day begins to unravel when an anonymous note arrives at The Stollerton Record. On the hunt for the big story that could save her career, Alvina Moon is caught up in a disturbing crime and the victim's beautiful, troubled artist husband."
Link to purchase: http://www.amazon.com/River-Bride-Mur...
I received a complimentary copy of The River Bride by Nadine Doolittle in a goodreads promotion. That did not influence my opinion of this book for this review.
"The truth of what happened to Teresa Musgrave that day begins to unravel when an anonymous note arrives at The Stollerton Record. On the hunt for the big story that could save her career, Alvina Moon is caught up in a disturbing crime and the victim's beautiful, troubled artist husband."
Link to purchase: http://www.amazon.com/River-Bride-Mur...
January 27, 2015
Alvina Moon (reporter, Stollerton Record Ryerson, journalism) was off to Stollerton (village, Gatineau Hills, Québec) to get the scoop on her next story. Things didn’t go as planned when she got there.
The village was quite abandoned. She went inside a trailer house (Oasis) there was a maggot infested dead squirrel.
Alvina spoke to a man who was outside by the river & he said she had not gone far enough Martingale was down the road further.
Del Musgrave (guide, Martingale Hunt & Fishing Camp, artist) watched her drive off.
Alvina contacted the MRC des Collines P/D (Stollerton). Detective Sergeant Edouard Rompré took her statement.
Rompre told Alvina (23) what had happened several yrs. ago.
Dave Gomer (owner, publisher, Stollerton Record) confirmed the same story Alvina had already heard. Ray Milligan is the Chief Editor & Dave’s A.A. sponsor.
1 story down the Stollerton Arts & Letters Festival 1 to go; the river raft.
Dagmar Weibe (artist) is the host for the event. Alvina meets Del (artist) there & he offers to take her to her next newspaper article in Martingale.
Fast forward 7/25/2014 Alvina meets & interviews Marlee Bremer (CEO, Bremer Family Motors) & the other family members: Violet Bremer (12, Evangelicals), Harry Bremer (brother), & Stanley Bremer (brother).
Top story in the Stollerton Record.
Del lived in Paugan Falls. Alvina & he became quite intimate.
MetMedia bought out Stollerton Record. In August Alvina would be out of a job.
Alvina meets & interviews Marlee again at the Café Trémolos.
A metal flashlight what is all of that about?
Dave Gomer is a recovering alcoholic. He is no longer the owner of the Stollerton Record.
He packs his personal belongings & mementos but leaves several things behind.
Constable Lemen came to see Alvina.
Ray got a call.
Dorothy Dot Gomer (Dave ex-wife, dental clinic) got a call & Alvina goes to see her.
CSI MRC des Collines P/D & Constable Martine Fournier (f) were doing their own investigation.
Alvina was piecing her own crime puzzle together.
Could the wrong person be in the Montreal’s Bordeaux Prison for the murder?
Gerry Dunn owner of Martingale Hunt & Fish Camp (1920, paper mills) was giving Alvina a tour, 1 last historical story for the Monday edition of the Stollerton Record.
Detective Sergeant Edouard Rompré & Constable Martine Fournier were still doing some investigation on the Teresa Musgrave (Bremer babysitter) & Dave Gomer cases.
“python?”
A good ? is do narcissist PPL know right from wrong. Sure they do they have no conscious & just don’t care. Psychiatrists will OK them to stand trial. Sexual fetishes tons of PPL have those.
Sigmund Freud (dream analysis) would love this book.
No one ever/ever told me this “Violence in the family often results in gaps in education...” Thank you!
Another book at the top of my list for 2015.
I did not receive any type of compensation for reading & reviewing this book. While I receive free books from publishers & authors, I am under no obligation to write a positive review. Only an honest one.
A very awesome book cover, great font & writing style. Wow, a very well written psychological thriller murder mystery crime book. It was very easy for me to read/follow from start/finish & never a dull moment. There were no grammar/typo errors, nor any repetitive or out of line sequence sentences. Lots of exciting scenarios, with several twists/turns & a great set of unique characters to keep track of. 1 you’re not going to believe! This could also make another great murder mystery movie, or mini TV series. There is no doubt in my mind this is a very easy rating of 5 stars.
Thank you for the free (Goodreads; PDF) book
Tony Parsons MSW (Washburn)
The village was quite abandoned. She went inside a trailer house (Oasis) there was a maggot infested dead squirrel.
Alvina spoke to a man who was outside by the river & he said she had not gone far enough Martingale was down the road further.
Del Musgrave (guide, Martingale Hunt & Fishing Camp, artist) watched her drive off.
Alvina contacted the MRC des Collines P/D (Stollerton). Detective Sergeant Edouard Rompré took her statement.
Rompre told Alvina (23) what had happened several yrs. ago.
Dave Gomer (owner, publisher, Stollerton Record) confirmed the same story Alvina had already heard. Ray Milligan is the Chief Editor & Dave’s A.A. sponsor.
1 story down the Stollerton Arts & Letters Festival 1 to go; the river raft.
Dagmar Weibe (artist) is the host for the event. Alvina meets Del (artist) there & he offers to take her to her next newspaper article in Martingale.
Fast forward 7/25/2014 Alvina meets & interviews Marlee Bremer (CEO, Bremer Family Motors) & the other family members: Violet Bremer (12, Evangelicals), Harry Bremer (brother), & Stanley Bremer (brother).
Top story in the Stollerton Record.
Del lived in Paugan Falls. Alvina & he became quite intimate.
MetMedia bought out Stollerton Record. In August Alvina would be out of a job.
Alvina meets & interviews Marlee again at the Café Trémolos.
A metal flashlight what is all of that about?
Dave Gomer is a recovering alcoholic. He is no longer the owner of the Stollerton Record.
He packs his personal belongings & mementos but leaves several things behind.
Constable Lemen came to see Alvina.
Ray got a call.
Dorothy Dot Gomer (Dave ex-wife, dental clinic) got a call & Alvina goes to see her.
CSI MRC des Collines P/D & Constable Martine Fournier (f) were doing their own investigation.
Alvina was piecing her own crime puzzle together.
Could the wrong person be in the Montreal’s Bordeaux Prison for the murder?
Gerry Dunn owner of Martingale Hunt & Fish Camp (1920, paper mills) was giving Alvina a tour, 1 last historical story for the Monday edition of the Stollerton Record.
Detective Sergeant Edouard Rompré & Constable Martine Fournier were still doing some investigation on the Teresa Musgrave (Bremer babysitter) & Dave Gomer cases.
“python?”
A good ? is do narcissist PPL know right from wrong. Sure they do they have no conscious & just don’t care. Psychiatrists will OK them to stand trial. Sexual fetishes tons of PPL have those.
Sigmund Freud (dream analysis) would love this book.
No one ever/ever told me this “Violence in the family often results in gaps in education...” Thank you!
Another book at the top of my list for 2015.
I did not receive any type of compensation for reading & reviewing this book. While I receive free books from publishers & authors, I am under no obligation to write a positive review. Only an honest one.
A very awesome book cover, great font & writing style. Wow, a very well written psychological thriller murder mystery crime book. It was very easy for me to read/follow from start/finish & never a dull moment. There were no grammar/typo errors, nor any repetitive or out of line sequence sentences. Lots of exciting scenarios, with several twists/turns & a great set of unique characters to keep track of. 1 you’re not going to believe! This could also make another great murder mystery movie, or mini TV series. There is no doubt in my mind this is a very easy rating of 5 stars.
Thank you for the free (Goodreads; PDF) book
Tony Parsons MSW (Washburn)
September 13, 2015
When Alvina Moon, a reporter for a small time loc newspaper takes a wrong turn and discovers an old crime scene, she also meets the highly enigmatic Mal Musgrave. With a little investigating and the blanks filled in by her boss, Alvina learns that Teresa Musgrave was raped and murdered and local businessman Trey Bremer was convicted for the crime and has been in prison for seven years. However, her running into Musgrave sets a series of events in motion which not only lead to another murder but questions about Teresa's murder to arise.
A very well executed psychological thriller, which was very easy to read. Set in a small town near Quebec, this mystery is totally gripping and keeps you guessing right until the very end. With a number of suspicious characters and a well-developed but flawed protagonist in Alvina Moon, I thoroughly enjoyed this double whodunit.
A very well executed psychological thriller, which was very easy to read. Set in a small town near Quebec, this mystery is totally gripping and keeps you guessing right until the very end. With a number of suspicious characters and a well-developed but flawed protagonist in Alvina Moon, I thoroughly enjoyed this double whodunit.
October 4, 2015
A haunting story of psychological suspense set in a small town near Ottawa, in the Gatineau Hills, Quebec. It is told from the point of view of a young female reporter for the local weekly newspaper. The catalyst for the story is her discovery of the scene of a murder seven years before, for which one of the townspeople is serving a life sentence. A second murder follows, and it is never clear until the very end who is the perpetrator.
November 25, 2015
Best of the three
This book was well thought out and beautifully written. The author's best yet. I did figure out who dunit but not until close to the end. Well done. I look forward to her next offering.
This book was well thought out and beautifully written. The author's best yet. I did figure out who dunit but not until close to the end. Well done. I look forward to her next offering.
Displaying 1 - 9 of 9 reviews