The River Runs Black

North Country #2

by Tessa Wegert

A small town on the water where things aren’t as perfect as they look . . .

After the recent death of a teenager by overdose, a record drug seizure along the Canadian border is a game changer for New York State’s criminal investigation team. The detectives are relieved that the haul will never make it to the idyllic small-town streets of Alexandria Bay.

But drugs are still circulating, and the lab results confirm it: the cocaine that killed the teenager and the cocaine from the bust are not the same.

Investigator Tim Wellington and his team seem to be chasing a network of ghosts who use the North Country as their criminal playground.

How long will it be until another Thousand Islands youth becomes not just a victim, but a target? Because the dangerous players won’t shy away from violence when protecting their valuable goods―even if it means gambling with innocent lives . . .

This twisty mystery coupled with heart-pounding suspense will appeal to fans of the Chief Inspector Gamache Mysteries and the Alex Cross thrillers, as well as books by Meg Gardiner, Ann Cleeves, and Ruth Ware.

288 pages, Hardcover

Expected publication October 6, 2026

About the author

Tessa Wegert is the critically acclaimed author of the Shana Merchant mysteries, as well as the North Country series. Her books have received numerous starred reviews and have been featured on PBS and NPR Radio. A former journalist and copywriter, Tessa grew up in Quebec and now lives with her husband and children in Connecticut, where she co-founded Sisters in Crime CT and serves on the board of International Thriller Writers (ITW).

Reviews

[Melissa (Always Behind)]

Excellent second book in the North country series. Twisty mystery that came together in a satisfying way. This series is a continuation of the Shana Merchant series, and although it stands alone, those characters are featured in these books and their pasts are referred to along the way.

A local teenager is dead from an overdose. A huge drug bust takes place, and everyone is breathing a sigh of relief--until they discover that the drugs came from a different source. A young woman who had traveled to the area aboard a luxury yacht goes missing. Her wealthy stepfather is worried. The police agencies involved want to figure out what is going on.

I love these complex police procedural novels. There are so many good vs. evil themes throughout, and many of those in law enforcement want to root out the corruption before it's too late. I love these characters, and with each book they have become more distinct and well drawn, at this point I feel as if they are real people that I actually know.

I'll be the first to admit that I don't always love books featuring drug cartels and trying to capture drug dealers, but this book has so much more than that and I was fully onboard throughout. Great series and I can't wait to read the next one.

I voluntarily reviewed a complimentary copy of this book, all opinions are my own.

[Julie (JuJu)]

"The River Runs Black" by Tessa Wegert
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️✨ 4.25/5

“The River Runs Black" tightens its hold with every page.

Thanks to the author and Severn House Publishing for the opportunity to read this ARC through Zooloo's Book Tours. All opinions are my own and left voluntarily.

Set against the haunting wonder of New York's Thousand Islands, a teenager's overdose and a sweeping drug bust near the Canadian border point to the story's main conflict. Book two in Tessa Wegert's North Country series offers another impressive location to experience through a story.

Investigator Tim Wellington and his team dig into a tangled case of trafficking, secrets, and changing loyalties. As the investigation grew, each new clue raised the tension and made me question everyone’s motives.

Some stretches moved more slowly than the book's strong moments, but the mystery never lost its grip. The danger beat through the pages, and the final twists surprised me.

Dark, atmospheric, and deliciously twisty, this story buzzes with tension. It delivers as a police procedural, but the messy, genuinely human characters make the stakes feel personal. “The River Runs Black” pulled me in and left me excited to return to this world. If you crave layered mysteries set in frozen settings, add this one to your list.

[Elise Kipness]

Tessa Wegert once again proves herself a master of atmospheric suspense. Set against the eerie backdrop of Halloween in the Thousand Islands, the RIVER RUNS BLACK delivers a taught, twisty mystery where every shadow feels ominous and every revelation raise the stakes. Wegert’s gift for creating a palpable sense of place—reminiscent of Tana French—immerses readers in a setting where the tension is as unsettling as the crimes themselves. With a compelling investigation, escalating danger, and a community haunted by secrets, this is a gripping mystery that will keep readers turning pages late into the night.
 

[Kim McFall]

This was the first book I’ve read by this author & I really enjoyed it! While this is part of a series, it can be read as a standalone. I absolutely plan on going back and reading book one though because book two was that good!

I love a good detective/crime mystery! The River Runs Black is a suspenseful, atmospheric book that draws you in from the beginning, subtly drops clues throughout, and neatly comes together at the end.

I really enjoyed the characters, so I’m looking forward to reading more of this series and getting to know them a little bit more!

Thank you NetGalley, Joffe Books & Zooloo Book Tours for this advanced reader copy!

[Thrillerswineandchill]

💊 T A R G E T E D T U E S D A Y review 💊 featuring “The River Runs Black” by Tessa Wegert!

The New York State Police has seen its biggest drug bust yet as a record breaking drug seizure along the Canadian border gets wrapped up after a teenage boy died from a drug overdose. The Alexandria Bay investigative team feels relieved that the deathly drugs won’t circulate around their small town … until test results come back proving that the cocaine that killed the teenager is different than the drugs from the big bust.

Now it’s up to Tim, Val, Shana, Mac and Raymond to hit the streets and find out where the drugs are coming from before another teenager from the North Country winds up missing OR dead …

💭 I am always thrilled to go back to the Thousand Islands and find out what the Alexandria Bay investigative team is up to next! Dark, gritty, eerie and atmospheric, this small town is riddled with secrets and community members who have sinister motives. This books follows a high stakes investigation that is action packed and time sensitive. Drug lords and drug related crimes adds so much tension to the story and just how dangerous and protective that scene truly is!

This is book two in the North Country series, but can totally be read as a standalone. As a die hard Tessa Wegert fan, I think everyone should read the entire Shana Merchant series AND book 1 of this newer series!

Thank you kindly to @tessawegert @severnhouseimprint @netgalley for my advanced digital copy in exchange for my honest review. This book releases on October 6, 2026!

[Charlie]

I actually didn’t realise this was the second book in the North Country series until I started reading! I haven’t read the first book, but thankfully this can be read as a standalone, so I was still able to follow the story. 📖👀

We start with a local teenager found dead from an overdose, while the police have just carried out a huge drug bust. 😩 They soon discover that the drugs involved in the teenager’s death came from a completely different source, leaving them with more questions than answers. Then a young woman who arrived in the area on a luxury yacht goes missing, and the police are left trying to work out what’s really going on and how everything is connected. 🤔

There was plenty to uncover throughout the story, with the investigation gradually revealing more clues and different pieces of the puzzle coming together. There were twists along the way, and seeing how everything eventually connected towards the end. 🤨

If you enjoy police investigations, mysteries and stories where you’re trying to piece together what has happened, then this could be one for you. 🤪

Thank you to Zooloos Book Tours for letting me take part in this tour. It was nice to discover Tessa’s writing and give this one a go! ♥️

[Pav S. (pav_sanborn_bookworm)]

4.5 stars!

Plot twist: it turns out this is a series! As someone who is basically the poster child for commitment-phobic readers, I’m going to be diving into book one soon! What an unexpected and wild ride this drug bust turned out to be!

State Police Investigator Tim Wellington is on a mission to keep the community safe in New York's North Country, a picturesque rural area known for its summer visitors and stunning vistas. But this vacationland has its dark side! Just days before Halloween, a young woman is spotted walking barefoot in a bikini, clutching something and refusing to reveal her identity. With a recent overdose fatality and a significant drug seizure hanging over the community, Tim is racing against the clock to track down the local drug dealers, especially after another girl goes missing. Time is ticking!

The story unfolds through multiple points of view, including Tim, State Trooper Raymond Stoll, Maureen McIntyre (Mac), and civilians Bobby Ott and Phoebe Reed. Each character stands out thanks to their unique personalities and backgrounds, making them relatable and easy to remember. When Val and Bobby casually chat about watching an episode of Gilmore Girls, I felt I could easily be their friend! That's something I do every fall, rewatching Gilmore Girls! The touches of reality woven throughout the narrative added depth, showing how these dedicated police officers tirelessly worked to find the missing teen, Bobby and Phoebe, all while trying to dismantle the drug ring responsible for the recent tragedy. These professionals won’t be fooled, so keep your eyes peeled for the details; when everything comes together, it all makes sense.

Even though I hadn’t read the first book, I didn’t feel like I was missing out. The author provided enough background on each character that I was able to piece everything together easily. This allowed me to follow the story without ever feeling lost. This can easily be read as a standalone or as part of a fantastic detective series. I would recommend reading the first book because you want to get to know this team better! The twists were thrilling, and the ending completely blew my mind. I had to reread that last paragraph a few times! I thought I had it figured out, yet I brushed right past it! Well done!

The author kept me hooked on both the plot and the characters. I felt compelled to help find Bobby, even though I had no idea where to search. The suspenseful writing and atmospheric setting made it easy to imagine myself right there, witnessing some wrong choices leading people into something far bigger than they ever anticipated! And poor Bobby! Who took her? All signs pointed in one direction, but she wasn’t there! I found myself suspicious of everyone and kept a close eye on those around her, because the greatest darkness often hides in plain sight!

Do you enjoy books that are a complete puzzler, full of threads you need to connect to make sense of it all? If so, this one is for you. This series truly has something for everyone, appealing to a broad range of readers. If you love edge-of-your-seat mysteries, police procedurals, rich character development, and heart-pounding moments, don’t wait! Grab this book today! I'm crossing my fingers this review tickles your fancy enough to put this bad boy onto your TBR pile. Now, if you'll excuse me, I need to catch up on this series and read the first book! Ha!

Thank you, Joffe Books, for the gifted DRC copy. I am leaving this review voluntarily.

*Also available on Kindle Unlimited

[Karolyn]

Here is my review for The River Runs Black by Tessa Wegert

This was a very intriguing crime thriller set in the North Country, up in the far corner of New York State. A high school senior has passed away due to drugs but when they find a supply of drugs, they don't match. One night Val is with her daughter, Bobby, and they are walking around when they spot a woman staggering towards them. She’s only wearing a bikini, no shoes and no coat. She has something in her fist. When Val offers to help her and that she is police. The woman turns and runs. Just what is happening in this little community?

I found this to be a terrific read and very detailed. I liked the setting as it was somewhere different and although this is the second book in the series, the author still gives us a bit of background on her characters. The characters are a mixture but are well described and well thought out. The story seems well written, well thought out and well plotted. Drugs and girls disappearing stories do seem to appeal to me when reading to see how the author handles them. This was a multiple povs story and those types of stories I usually tend to enjoy reading as you learn more from each person involved.

Synopsis :

Up in the far corner of New York State, past the last of the cities, lies the North Country. Summer people come for the boats and the sunsets. Then the season turns, the water goes dark, and the river towns close in on themselves.

It’s an impossible place to police. But New York State Police Investigator Tim Wellington, born and raised here, will do whatever it takes to keep his community safe.

Three days before Halloween, a young woman staggers down a quiet street in Clayton. No shoes. No coat. Nothing but a bikini and a fist closed tight around something she won't show anyone.

She won't say where she came from. She won't say what was done to her.

Then she runs.

The North Country is already reeling. A high-school senior is dead of an overdose. But the record haul seized from a speedboat doesn’t match the cocaine that killed him.

Someone else is still selling. And they are very close.

The clock is ticking for Tim to track down the drug dealers. Then another local girl disappears . . .

This twisty mystery coupled with heart-pounding suspense will appeal to fans of Melinda Leigh, Kendra Elliot, Lisa Regan, Danielle Girard, Paul Doiron and Karin Slaughter.

MEET THE DETECTIVES
Born and raised in the North Country, New York State Police Investigator Tim Wellington knows every dock and back road in the county, and he’s never wanted to work anywhere else. Married to fellow investigator and team leader Shana Merchant, with a young daughter, Tim is fiercely devoted to his family — and to protecting the close-knit communities he calls home.

Working alongside them are steady Jeremy Solomon, whose quiet instincts have an uncanny habit of proving to be right, and Valerie Ott, five foot nothing and hard as nails. They’re supported by tough, loyal Maureen “Mac” McIntyre — the first woman ever elected sheriff in New York State. Because while the North Country might be full of spectacular beauty and close-knit island communities . . . the maze of islands and waterways provides endless places for dangerous people to hide.

[Lori L (She Treads Softly)]

The River Runs Black by Tessa Wegert is a highly recommended police procedural/thriller set in New York’s Thousand Islands area. This is the second book in the North Country series following In the Bones, but it can be read as a standalone novel.

Bobby, 16, and her mother Valerie Ott, a NY State criminal investigator, are attending the Punkin' Chunkin' event by the St. Lawrence River in Clayton. It should be a fun day but the talk of the town is about the overdose of local teen Drew Fielding. Then the two see a shoeless young woman in a bikini walking down the street looking beaten up and like a zombie. When Valerie offers to help, telling her she is a police officer, the young woman runs.

Three days earlier the team, New York State’s criminal investigators Tim Wellington, Shana Merchant, Jeremy Solomon and Valerie, had just celebrated a huge drug bust, but clearly the drug problem is still ongoing in the small town of Alexandria Bay. The drug involved in the smuggling operation is cocaine. Valerie is in a relationship with Raymond Stoll and it is revealed to readers that he is hiding something from her. Then Bruce Milton, the new Jefferson County Sheriff threatens to blackmail him with the information Raymond wants to hide. Maureen McIntyre (Mac) the previous sheriff knows Bruce is a fraud and liar. Then Bobby disappears, kidnapped, and the search is on.

Clearly, there is a whole lot going on in this well-written procedural, which features an involved investigation, atmospheric setting, and a large cast of characters to follow. While in the middle of the investigation the pace does even out for a time, but there is also a plethora of information being uncovered during this time. The narrative is told through multiple points-of-view as several different inquiries are followed in the investigation. The setting in the Thousand Island area plays an important role in the plot.

The cast of characters is large, which can be initially off-putting, but they do sort themselves out as individuals while you are reading. This is, perhaps, the one thing that would make The River Runs Black more challenging to read as a standalone since being acquainted with the characters from previous novels can help. Bobby's safety after her kidnapping kept me personally glued to the pages and interested in the investigation.

There are little clues dropped along the way, plenty of secrets, as well as suspicious characters which all work together to keep both your interest and the suspense high. Expect plenty of twists and surprises at the end. I thought I had most of the plot figured out but there was one twist which surprised me and some information that could become very important in a future novel.

The River Runs Black is a great choice for those who enjoy police procedurals and everyone already following the series. Thanks to Severn House for providing me with an advance reader's copy via NetGalley. My review is voluntary and expresses my honest opinion.

https://www.shetreadssoftly.com/2026/...

[Nikkyg reads 📚]

⭐⭐⭐⭐
The River Runs Black by Tessa Wegert
Okay, this one had me suspicious of pretty much everyone by the end.
The River Runs Black is the kind of mystery that quietly pulls you in and then keeps dropping little breadcrumbs until you're questioning every character, every motive and basically your own detective skills.
I really enjoyed the atmosphere of this one. Suspenseful and interesting with enough information given that you don’t feel it’s waiting for a big twist at the end as it doesn’t need one and then there was one that I didn’t see coming! Rare that happens after reading a lot of thriller/police/mystery books. I spent half the book mentally interrogating everyone like I’d been personally hired by the police. Apparently my toxic trait is believing I am a professional detective after reading approximately 147 thrillers.

The investigation kept me turning the pages because I wanted to know what was actually going on, and naturally, I also wanted to see whether my theories were anywhere near the mark. I was unsure on one thing, discounted it and then… well you need to read and see what you discover and think will happen.

There were a few moments where I felt the pacing dipped slightly, first half being slower, but worth it for the story to unfold. I also found that, as the book had a lot of characters, I wasn’t deeply connected to anyone over the other and so the emotional side with Bobby and Val didn’t quite get me as much as with some similar stories, but that made the book more interesting in other ways as it’s not about just one or two people.
Overall the plot was engaging and there was enough going on to keep me invested.
And because apparently I can't read a thriller without trying to solve it myself… yes, I did manage to figure out some of what was coming. But that didn't take away from the enjoyment for me at all and I didn’t work it all out.

A solid, atmospheric mystery with plenty of secrets, suspicious people and enough twists to keep things interesting.
4⭐️ suspicious of everyone, trusting no one, and thoroughly entertained.

[Ivona]

A teenage overdose. A missing girl. A drug network hiding in plain sight.

The River Runs Black by Tessa Wegert pulled me straight into the dark side of New York’s Thousand Islands.

At the heart of the investigation is Tim Wellington, a New York State Police Investigator determined to uncover what is really happening in his community. I enjoyed following Tim as the case became increasingly complicated and personal.

Valerie Ott was another standout for me. Her relationship with her teenage daughter, Bobby, added an emotional layer to the story, especially as Bobby became connected to the growing danger. Their storyline gave the investigation higher personal stakes and made me more invested in what happened next.

I also enjoyed seeing Shana Merchant and Jeremy Solomon contribute to the wider investigation. With multiple characters bringing different perspectives to the case, there was always another piece of the puzzle to consider.

The mystery itself kept me turning the pages. A teenager dies from an overdose, but the drugs responsible don't match those seized in a major bust. Then another girl disappears.

Nothing is as straightforward as it first appears.

Wegert does a great job building an unsettling atmosphere. The beautiful Thousand Islands setting contrasts sharply with the darkness underneath, while the Halloween backdrop adds an eerie edge.

My main reason for giving this four stars was the pacing. Some sections felt slower than I wanted, especially when the story balanced multiple threads. I occasionally wanted the investigation to move faster.

Still, the twists kept me guessing, and the final stretch delivered some surprises I didn't see coming.

Overall, The River Runs Black is an atmospheric and engaging crime thriller with a compelling investigation, interesting characters and plenty of secrets beneath the surface.

Dark, atmospheric and full of twists.

If you enjoy police procedurals, missing-person investigations and mysteries where everyone seems to have something to hide, this is worth adding to your TBR. 🖤

[Stephanie Coniff]

🛥The River Runs Black by Tessa Wegert
Book 2 of North Country series
Genre: Detective Thriller
Length: 329 pages
Pub Date: Sept. 8, 2026!
My Rating: 🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟

Thank you to NetGalley and Severn House for the e-ARC of this book in exchange for my honest review.

Summary:
A local teenage boy overdoses on cocaine in North Country, New York, and then, a young woman is suddenly reported missing by her stepfather from their yacht that is docked in the same town. It is up to detectives Shana Merchant, her husband, Tim Wellington, and the rest of the team to find her before another young person becomes the victim of a major drug trafficking ring. But when another teen fails to come home from a party and happens to be the daughter of fellow police officer Val, things begin to really go off the rails. Will the team find the missing girls and figure out who is the center of the drug problem in North Country before it's too late?

Review:
Wow. This detective thriller kept me hooked from Chapter One! I absolutely love the cast of detectives and police officers that are part of the North Country novels (and some from the author's last Thousand Islands series). The stakes were so high in this book with not only missing teens/young adults, but also what looked like more than one drug ring that wound up in North Country. There were so many angles that were being worked on this case, and the depths of this story were woven so intricately that the plot just kept thickening each chapter. I love the duo of Shana and Tim and their sleuthing even while juggling being parents and the regularity of life. I also loved how I never suspected one of the parties at fault until basically right when it was revealed. Tessa Wegert does such a great job of making you get inside both the victims and the perpetrators' minds to understand their motivations. The end of this story also left a bit of a question mark and open ending that I hope will flow into the next North Country novel!

[Julianne Harkleroad]

New York State Police Investigator Tim Wellington is back in this thrilling standalone sequel to Tessa Wegert's In The Bones.

The residents of small town Alexandria Bay are still reeling over the overdose death of a beloved teenager. When a massive shipment of cocaine is intercepted at the border, the community and the NY State Department celebrate. However, the relief is short-lived when mass spectrometry results reveal that the seized drugs do not match the batch responsible for the teenager's death, launching a high-stakes investigation to save lives in the North Country.

New York State’s criminal investigation team goes head-to-head against minors—kids!—who don't understand cause and effect let alone their own mortality. The investigation isn't as straightforward as the department hopes when a man betrays his oath and girls start to go missing. People in this community absolutely have ulterior motives, but who and why? Appearances are absolutely deceiving. Tensions rise as the department realizes these drug lords will do anything to protect their investment.

Can these professionals out smart those hiding in their community, run down the criminals, and find what's missing when everyone seems to be 10 steps ahead with zero reason to share their intel?

Troupes: small town, multiple POVs, police procedures, drugs, single mom, teenage angst, secret society, big reveal, surprising twist

Spice: 1/5 🌶️
Gore: 1/5 🩸
Language: 4/5 👀
Triggers: overdose, drug trafficking, missing kids, kidnapping

Thank you to Joffe Books and NetGalley for this ARC!

[Juli]

The River Runs Black takes us back to Alexandria Bay and Investigator Tim Wellington, Shana, Val, Mac, and the rest of the team. A young man overdoses. A huge drug seizure takes place on the Canadian border. The detectives are sure that the seized drugs are the same that the young man took, lab tests show that they are not a match. Who are these people bringing drugs into their town? These are ruthless people who have little regard for lives lost.

The stakes are raised when girls go missing, one the daughter of an officer. Is it the drug lords?

This is a suspenseful, twist filled mystery, revealing secrets and the unscrupulous people that want to keep them below the surface. Tessa Wegert has a way of writing that makes the setting a character, the atmospheric time of year, Halloween, fall add to the tension. We eagerly turn the pages as we follow the multiple POVs.

This can be read as a stand-alone, but I would recommend reading from the first book in the Shana Merchant series, there is so much backstory on the characters and their relationships to each other. An exciting, well written thriller to read on a fall afternoon. I look forward to the next book in this series!

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher, Severn House, for an ARC. The opinions in this review are my own.

[Simone]

I am a HUGE fan of Tessa Wegert’s work, and honestly, whatever she writes, I will read!

The River Runs Black completely pulled me in. Set against the breathtaking Thousand Islands, the beautiful waters provide the perfect backdrop for a story filled with hidden secrets, tension, and an atmosphere that gets under your skin.

This book goes deep into your bones. Tessa’s writing is so immersive and vivid that I felt completely transported into the story. I devoured every page and couldn’t turn them fast enough! The atmosphere, the characters, the secrets waiting to surface, it all came together in such a gripping and unforgettable way. And when I reached the end, I honestly wasn’t ready to say goodbye.

I also loved seeing characters from the Shana Merchant series return! If you haven’t started that series yet, I highly recommend reading it first. Not only is it an incredible series, but it will give you so much more background and connection to the characters. Trust me, you’ll be glad you did!

The River Runs Black is an immersive, atmospheric, and utterly gripping thriller that reminded me once again why Tessa Wegert is an author I will always pick up.

Thank you so much to Tessa Wegert, and Severn House for my eARC via NetGalley. All opinions are my own.

[Teresa]

Nestled in the Thousand Islands region of northern New York State, Alexandria Bay and its neighboring small towns provide an idyllic lifestyle set amidst amazing scenery. But when a local high school student ODs on cocaine and a tip leads to the seizure of a record shipment of cocaine, local parents are on edge. When it becomes apparent that the drugs the student had were from a different source than that shipment, local law enforcement realizes they may have more than one drug ring operating in their midst, at least one of them specifically targeting the young people in their towns. There is no real main character in this book, rather it is an "ensemble cast" where the perspective alternates between multiple law enforcement characters, their family members, and victims. But the reader gets to know and care about the different characters and their families while following the investigations, which adds extra layer of engagement. The complex police procedural aspects of the story are very well done. Wegert does a good job of building tension and throws in some twists that I was only able to anticipate right before they were revealed. I really like this smart series and look forward to the next installment!

[Julie Always Reading]

The River Runs Black
By Tessa Wegert
(North Country # 2)
Pub date: 10/6/2026

Thank you Netgalley, Joffe Books and Tessa Wegert for the advanced digital copy in exchange for my honest and original thoughts.

First of all, this book is noted on NG at being published 9/8 but it doesn’t publish until 10/6…

I enjoyed In The Bones (North Country # 1) and was super pumped to receive the second installment in this series. The characters felt familiar and it was easy to keep track of everyone, but this book could have been read as a standalone.

I still haven’t read the previous series, but now I want to. I like Tessa’s writing style, the pace of the story, and the way the twists were delivered. Everything felt cohesive.

The fall vibes and the Halloween festivities added an atmospheric layer that made me want a flannel and cider.
I could feel a mother’s desperation on so many levels. As a police officer mother to a teenaged daughter, I felt such a kinship with Val that made me devour this book in a single sitting.

I am looking forward to what comes next and I have a feeling that somewhere down the line, we will see some familiar faces pop back up.

4.5/5

[Farah G]

When a high school student is found dead of an overdose and it seems the drugs may have been contaminated, the North Country police go into overdrive as a shocked community demands answers. But those answers are less than forthcoming, and the waters are further muddied when a captured shipment of drugs proves to have no relationship to the earlier case. And why would so many drugs even be passing through such a backwater?

Then the daughter of a police officer goes missing - a kid believed to be unlikely to be dabbling in drugs - and more questions are asked by a now panicky community. Is her disappearance even related to the drugs cases?

And who was the mysterious woman briefly spotted in a state of disorientation and disarray before she ran away from the police officer trying to help her?

This is an absorbing read which takes us back to some familiar characters and introduces some new ones. The story skillfully weaves together a number of diverse elements, and holds the reader's interest throughout. Wegert is now firmly on my A-list of writers.

I received a free copy of this book from Netgalley in exchange for an honest review

[Jody Blanchette]

If you haven’t visited Tessa Wegert’s North Country, you are missing out. Alexandria Bay is a quaint area, right on the Canadian border, that always seems to have trouble. Even a serial killer hung out there for a few books..Don’t go for the crime though, go for the small town police force that gets sh:t done!
This is book two in the North Country books, a spinoff from the Shana Merchant books. All my favorite characters make an appearance, working together to find a missing girl. But it’s never as simple as that. There’s always more to the story that has them bouncing around the Thousand Islands looking for clues. This time we have drug dealers involved, so you know it’s dangerous.
Is it weird to say these are my comfort books? I know the characters and feel like I’m involved with their investigations. The fact that Shanna and Tim have been in my life for a few years is kind of a big deal. Im committed. But I also know that each book is going to be a quick read filled with thrills and mystery, and some moments with heart. Tessa Wegert has made my fictional family so real, I’ve yelled at her about moving around characters. lol don’t mess with dedicated readers. We love hard.

[Debbie]

We are in the far corner of New York State, the North Country. Summer people come to holiday and then the season turns and the water goes dark. Police Investigator Tim Wellington was born and raised here and he will do anything to keep the place safe. Three days before Halloween, a young woman staggers down a quiet street in Clayton. He has no shoes, coat or anything but a bikini. And when someone approaches her, she runs.
The North country is already grieving a high school senior, dead after an overdose and then a record haul is seized. But things don't add up and someone is still out there selling. Time is running out for Tim and his team to find the person responsible.

I will leave it there with the details but SO much more happens in this one and it had me on the edge of my seat! It is book #2 in the series but I think you could read it as a standalone. You also get to see some favourite characters from the Shana Merchant series in this one too, which I loved. If you have not read that series I also highly recommend it. Another fabulous novel by the author and as always, I can't wait for more.

Thank you to NetGalley and Joffe Books for this gifted review copy.

[Betsy]

I very much enjoyed. The River Runs Black by Tessa Wegert. This is the second book in the North Country series. There had been a previous five book series, The Shana Merchant series, that dealt with Shana hunting a serial killer over the five books. Many of the same characters appear in The North Country series. While Shana is still one of the characters, this series is taking a different direction. It is shaping up into a nice solid, small town police procedural series, which is very well crafted and executed. There was a great twist at the end that I did not see coming!

The author does a great job of describing the local area where the series takes place- The Thousand Islands and Jefferson Country,NY. Living in the area, I often recognize the descriptions of the places. She often uses the real names of things in the area which I appreciate. It’s always more enjoyable to find references to one’s home turf while reading a book.


Thanks to Net Galley for this ARC opportunity.

[Miss W Book Reviews]

The River Runs Black is the second series in the North Country series by Tessa Wegert.
I absolutely recommend reading the Shana Merchant series for backstory.
The author writes crime thrillers in a way that is so engaging and addicting.

We are back with Tim and Shana, Val, Mac and Raymond.
The investigators with the NY State Police have just scored a huge drug bust.
This comes on the heels of an overdose by a teenage local.

The drugs in the bust don't match the drugs found in the boy, and that is when things get intense.

Thousand Island is such a wonderful setting, and Alexandria Bay is like coming home.

The action is so exciting. I could not turn the pages fast enough.
This is a high-stakes thriller that is so much more than it appears.

The characters are like old friends, complex, complicated and well fleshed out.

While this can be read as a stand-alone, I highly recommend reading the first book in the series!

Highly recommend!

[Sue]

This is the first book I have read by Tessa Wegert, and unfortunately this is the second book in a series.
I was overwhelmed with the many characters, and battled a little, until I got them sorted in my mind.

The book is suspenseful, and truly sad. A small town riddled with drug dealers and the death of a young man. A huge shipment of cocaine has been seized, and the team are stunned that the drug taken by Drew is different to the cocaine they seized.

Two young girls go missing. One is the daughter of an investigator.

The writing is fantastic. Once I got comfortable with the characters, I whizzed through the book, and could hardly turn the pages fast enough!
I was thoroughly charmed by the toddler who was so taken by Wednesday Addams, that she just had to dress up as Wednesday for Halloween!!

Twisty, suspenseful, and a huge shock at the reveal.

I really want to read more of this authors work.

I recommend.

4/5

[Christa Johnson]

I have read all of Tessa Wegert's Shana Merchant series that overlaps into the North County series. The River Runs Black continues on with all of the recurring characters in small town on the Canadian Border that is dealing with an influx of drugs coming into the county. Despite a major win for the police with the capture of a huge shipment of cocaine coming down the river, the amount of drug-related crimes are not slowing down. When one teenager overdoses and another disappears, the crime hits especially close to home when one of the officers' family is involved. This is an engrossing procedural with interesting characters and great descriptions of the area. I was immediately pulled into the hunt for the drug kingpin and although I thought I had figured it out, but not only was the ringleader's identity a surprise, the final twist at the end was even more shocking. "TheRIverRunsBlack #Netgalley

[Emily Rose]

Heart pounding, page turning, gripping to the very end!

As always, I have to start my review by stating my love of the river automatically means my love of all of Tessa’s Shana Merchant and North Country books. The way she weaves these familiar places into these dark, twisty crime scenes is incomparable. I love seeing the places I know and trying to figure out some of the places she describes without actually naming.

The River Runs Black is the PERFECT fall mystery. The weaving of cross border crimes with the picturesque, but eerie setting of a fall on the St. Lawrence River, I was along for the adventure from the very start. Meeting new characters with hidden secrets and stories of their own alongside the characters I’ve grown to love was a treat.

There’s nowhere on earth like the river. I already can’t wait for Tessa Wegert’s next crime set here and to try to solve it alongside Tim, Shana, Mac, and the whole crew.

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ 5 STARS ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

[Eileen Doyle]

I am a huge Tessa Wegert fan and was SO excited to get to read THE RIVER RUNS BLACK early. And Wegert did not disappoint! The second in her North Country series, this story opens with a celebration for Tim, Shana, Valerie and Jeremy after the team successfully intercepted a huge drug shipment into Alexandria Bay. But things quickly turn around when they realize the drugs from the shipment are not a match for the drugs that have been wreaking havoc among their young people.

I love the characters in both this series and the Shana Merchant series. They are interesting and capable; but that doesn’t stop Wegert from throwing ever more edge-of-your-seat, can’t-look-away disasters at them.

The action is expertly plotted and the good guys keep doggedly tracking down the bad ones, with smarts and just the right amount of intuition. And, of course, the twists are stellar.

Thank you to Severn House and NetGalley for the opportunity to read an advance copy.

[Phil Rogers]

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The River Runs Black by Tessa Wegert

4.0

The small waterside town on the Canadian/USA border sounds the ideal place to raise kids. That is until the death of a teenage boy from a drug overdose. The inquest reveals that the youth has taken a nasty, pure form of cocaine. The community is stunned and demands answers. A surprise tip off results in a huge seizure of the illegal drug but reveals the ingenious ways that the crime gangs are coming up with to smuggle the deadly powder.
Belief that the law enforcement has crushed the gang is short lived when it's revealed that the batch that killed the local teen is different from the recent seizure!
Senior Investigator Shana Merchant and her team from New York State Police have their work cut out with limited back up from her Ego seeking boss!
A twisty and suspenseful tale with great characters and a seemingly impossible task.

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[Barney]

You really need to concentrate when you are reading this book. There is a fairly complex cast of characters , all quirky and all at some point seem guilty! Poor detective Tim is trying to find out what happened to first one then two missing teenagers whilst also dealing with a drugs issue in the town. You find yourself trying to put together pieces of the puzzle and help him. The setting is a small tourist town out of season , so a closed in community, lacking the distraction of Summer visitors. The hemmed in feeling is exacerbated by the time of year- autumn, the nights are drawing in and it’s Halloween. Add a truly striking opening scene where a girl in a bikini with no shoes on is running down the Main Street clutching something, but she won’t show it, in her hand! You just have to read on…….

[Christine M in Texas (stamperlady50)]

The River Runs Black
By: Tessa Wegert
Pub Date: October 6, 2026
Publisher: Severn House
Tour: Suzy Approved Book Tours

A small town should be the ideal setting on water. But when drugs affect the town and the death of a teenager is caused by an overdose, an investigation is a must.

Cocaine was the cause and Investigator Tim Wellington and his team are front and center. Drugs, danger, violence and more as you dive deep into the investigation and story. What will it take to keep the community safe and will he be able to track down the drug dealers? A fast past novel!

This was my first novel by this author and I leaned in was the 2nd in the North Country series, so I will look to read the first one “In the Bones”.

Thank you for the author and Suzy Approved Book Tours from letting me rad and share on tour.

[Randi (randi_reads)]

The River Runs Black is book two in the North Country series but can be read as a standalone. It's a different case for the team that includes Shana Merchant and her husband Tim Wellington. It's a drug case this time and it's a big one.

The police procedural is told in multiple points of view and there is a big cast of characters. I think if you read the first book the big cast wouldn't be so daunting. You'd already be familiar with them.

The investigation is interesting and, with all the clues dropped, it kept me turning the pages to see how it would end...and if my suspicions were correct or not.

I loved the atmosphere of the Thousand Islands and it being around Halloween adds to the creepiness.

Thank you to the author and Severn House for an advanced readers copy. All thoughts and opinions are my own.