River: A Novel of the Green River Killings

by Roderick Thorpe

In this novel, bestselling author Roderick Thorp takes on the true-life terrors of a maniacal serial killer known as the Green River Killer, who is suspected of killing at least fifty young women in the Seattle-Portland area during the '80s, and who has never been convicted . . . Breathtaking in its pacing, RIVER takes the reader into the minds of both a detective fighting personal demons and a human demon whose wanton disregard for human life is so despicable his actions and motivations make the reader cringe. Thorp has imagined a surprise ending to his roller-coaster thriller that is genuinely surprising.

Genres: Mystery, Crime, Fiction, True Crime, Thriller

502 pages, Paperback

First published June 1, 1995

Reviews

[Jennifer · Rating 5 out of 5]

Thorp took me into the thoughts and actions of a serial killer. I wanted to escape the terror, but I couldn't stop turning the pages.

Horrifying and disgusting, Lockman is a character I'll not soon forget, as much as I may try.
The main cop character, neither detestable nor very likable, did move the story along nicely and added interesting insight into police work and politics. ( Disclaimer: I know nothing about police work or politics)

I had to give it 5 stars after reading the ending. In the past, I've knocked a star off for ridiculous endings on otherwise perfectly written books ...this was a great read (for those who can stomach the depravity) where the ending was a sickly sweet icing on the cake that earned it an extra star.

[Caleb Edison · Rating 3 out of 5]

I picked up this book and finished it only a couple of days later. For that, I give it a mandatory 3 star. Otherwise? Ehhh, the lead detective is kind of gross in my opinion. The killer is constantly touching himself (and the author spends a lot of time talking about sex and penises). The ending raises ethical questions that I didn't really appreciate as someone who was hoping to find the plot at least somewhat tied to the actual justice system. Really, by the end of the book, I found myself looking at the picture of the author on the back and thinking, "what a pig." Next.

[ivelived1000lives · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book, though long, will have a short review. It kept my interest the whole time, but that's about as far as my analysis will go.

It was a pleasant (not pertaining to the subject matter, of course) read, and I liked the way it all wrapped up, but I don't think it will end up being memorable in any way.

The truly fascinating (and sad) thing about this book is really the fact that the author, obviously obsessed by the Green River killer, missed the resolution of the case by a just few years.

As for the book itself, it was decent. No more, no less.

[Bob Box · Rating 3 out of 5]

Read in 1996. A fictional solution to the unsolved murders of 50 some prostitues in the Pacific Northwest in the 1980's.

[Catten · Rating 4 out of 5]

Roderick Thorp. Who's that? Think of a book called Nothing Lasts Forever. Doesn't ring a bell? How about the movie Die Hard? That's the book the movie was made from.

In 1995, Ballantine Books published Roderick Thorp's book River. I confess that I'd never heard of Thorp or his book until my mom passed the paperback along to me. I was visiting family in the Pacific Northwest when I started reading it. While it's a bit unsettling to follow the activities of a serial killer in places familiar, I have to say that Thorp did an extraordinary job of bringing the people and locations to life, from detective Philippe Boudreaux in his King County habitat dealing with the politics of policing to serial killer Garrett Richard Lockman, nephew/foster son of Spokanites Al and Hazel Lockman. The chapters switch from one's world to the other's without becoming confusing.

Thorp's talent lies in his storytelling. He's worked as a private detective (for his father) and as a crime reporter, and it shows. His research is great, he keeps a good pace throughout, and he draws the reader right into his trap, complete with a surprise - if somewhat "Hollywood" - ending. That he could pull off having just two main characters when the real investigation had as many as 56 officers in 1986, is impressive.

[David · Rating 3 out of 5]

Another great police suspense story from Mr. Thorpe. Taking place in the Pacific Northwest, Thorpe delivers a little bit of "meta-fiction" in this story--taking actual events of the Green River serial killer and incorporating his characters into the action. Definitely a page-turner.

[Chuck Wallace · Rating 3 out of 5]

a little hard to get into, but interesting.

[Emilee Ashline · Rating 5 out of 5]

I never read anything by this author before but I definitely want to read more. This book kept me hanging on the edge of the seat. You never knew what was going to happen within the book.