Dark Rivers to Cross

by Lynne Reeves

For two decades, Lena Blackwell has kept her sons at her side, teaching them everything she knows about running their successful river lodge in Northern Maine. But what she really wants is to keep her boys in the dark about their tragic past.

Her son Luke is right where he belongs, working at the family inn sheltered by acres of pine forest that stretch along the Penobscot River. So when his adopted brother, Jonah, threatens to upend their peaceful life by searching for his biological parents, Luke refuses to help.

Lena is determined to thwart Jonah’s search to uncover his own history. But the unexpected arrival of old friends at the inn for a weekend off the grid throws her plans into disarray. Little does she know, Jonah has already gleaned enough information to set in motion a deadly reckoning.

Luke may not want to know anything about his family, but he’s caught between the hard truths his brother is determined to expose and the devastating secret his mother is desperate to keep—at any cost.

Dark Rivers to Cross sensitively explores inherited trauma and the stories we tell the ones we love. It’s about what one mother is willing to sacrifice for her children.

Genres: Mystery, Thriller, Suspense, Psychological Thriller, Audiobook, Fiction

288 pages, Kindle Edition

First published November 8, 2022

Reviews

[Linda · Rating 3 out of 5]

Seriously speaking.....

Dark Rivers to Cross tied me up in knots.....and not in a good way. It pounded the drum of a "thriller" again and again and again until I wanted to yell, "Make it stop already."

This worked in The Island, but it doesn't work here. (I'm the lone voice in the desert on this one.) The element of "pursuit" is a crafty one. But when it is the step-child of very bad decisions and treading endless waters to avoid the receiving end of eyes wide shut, then you have nothing but bangin' into walls as a result. Hyperventilating can only go on for so long.

Lena Blackwell is on the run with two small babies. She ends up in a rundown encampment called Church's Overlook in Millinocket, Maine. Out of money and out of options, she breaks into a cabin and sets up housekeeping thanks to the kindness of the owner, Coop. Coop asks no questions and provides Lena with the ability to go underground.

Years later, the babies have turned into young men, Jonah and Luke. Jonah is hellbent on becoming a film maker and is determined to find out about his early beginnings. Lena has told the boys that they were adopted and the files are closed. He presses Luke, the easier going of the two, to dig into Lena's filing cabinet. What begins to unravel is Lena's greatest fear.....that secrets will come tumbling out into the light.

Lynne Reeves implements the whiplash back and forth of time elements here. We visit the early on of Lena's background. It is so mixed with "shockers" that are like puzzle pieces hammered to fit the scenario presented repeatedly. Like Michael who won't ever die in the Halloween movie series. And those rivers to cross are filled with nothing but piranhas and black mambas. The Penobscot River never looked so treacherous.

Dark Rivers to Cross had so much potential. But it seems like more and more authors are just depending on the thrill to float their novels. This one suffers from overuse. Logic and believability don't have a seat at this table. But I'd encourage you to reach for this one. The majority of reviewers thus far have been taken with it and you may, too. Jump in. But mind those piranhas and black mambas drawing close.

I received a copy of this book through NetGalley for an honest review. My thanks to Crooked Lane Books and to Lynne Reeves for the opportunity.

[Melany · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wow, absolutely speechless. This book had me feeling so many emotions from beginning to end. While I was reading it, I thought I knew how it would play out.... boy was I wrong! So many twists and turns that led me to be completely saturated into the story word by word. I could not get enough of this book! The premise was interesting but the characters were so welcoming and likeable it made the storyline even better. The ending KNOCKED MY SOCKS OFF! Completely threw me off but a charming surprise. I would highly recommend you read this the first chance you get!

This ARC was given to me from NetGalley to read and review and give my personal opinions on this book. All statements above are my own and based solely on my own opinions after reading the book.

[CarolG · Rating 4 out of 5]

For two decades, Lena Blackwell has kept her sons Jonah and Luke close to her, teaching them everything about running a river lodge in Northern Maine, but keeping them in the dark about their tragic past. From the blurb: "Dark Rivers to Cross explores inherited trauma and the stories we tell the ones we love. It’s about what one mother is willing to sacrifice for her children."

This story takes place over different timelines and from the points of view of different characters and I was very involved in it. Although I enjoyed the story, I didn't agree with Lena's decision to keep her sons' history from them but I guess there wouldn't have been much of a story otherwise. At the end of some of the chapters were definitions of certain words or phrases, mostly to do with water and its dangers. I'm not sure about the point of the definitions except that maybe they could be taken to represent turbulent times in the characters' lives. It was interesting anyway. I'm a little ambivalent about the ending; it was a little too tidy for my liking. 3.5 Stars rounded up!
CW: domestic abuse

A couple of weeks ago I commented on the fact that there were so many Sams in the books I'd recently read; well, this past week or so I had at least 3 books where a character was named Lucas or Luke!

Thanks to Crooked Lane books via Netgalley for the opportunity to read an advance digital copy of this book. All opinions expressed are my own. This review will be posted on Goodreads as of October 30 and on amazon.ca following publication date of November 8, 2022.

[Heather Adores Books · Rating 3 out of 5]

3⭐
Genre ~ domestic thriller
Setting ~ Maine
Publication date ~ November 8, 2022
Publisher ~ Crooked Lane Books
Est Page Count ~ 283 (28 chapters)
Audio length ~ 7 hours 48 minutes
Narrator ~ Laura Jennings
POV ~ multiple 3rd
Featuring ~ multiple timelines, secrets, domestic abuse, off page rape, murder, slow moving

Content warning from the author:
~ Sensitively explores issues of family violence and inherited trauma

Lena is on the run with her sons, Luke & Jonah. They think they're adopted, so now that they’re grown up, Jonah is interested in finding his biological parents.

While I do applaud Lena for leaving an abusive marriage to protect herself and her children, it was just a bit slowing moving for me in finding the answers of why. I can see keeping the secret from the boys when they were young, but I saw no reason to keep it for so long. They seemed mature enough, so I feel like they could have handled knowing where they came from.

It's not hard to guess how domestic plots with women on the run like this will turn out, which was great because I was ready for my heart to start pounding in the this 'thriller'. And it did for a few minutes, but it's just too bad there was a slow moving middle to get me there, making me not super invested in how it would obviously play out.

So overall, it was okay because like I said I do applaud a woman that gets away, but it just didn't fully captivate me. Maybe it was all the timeline jumps, not sure if it was trying to be too suspenseful with that.

✔ed another old one off the list, woo hoo.

I was able to listen to a copy as well.
Narration notes:
She did okay, but since 2 POV’s were male it would have been nice to have a male narrator.

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[Erin · Rating 3 out of 5]

Thanks to NetGalley and Crooked Lane Books for an egalley in exchange for an honest review

Although this book isn't slated for publication until November, I wanted to make sure that I jumped ahead of the September archive date. Dark Rivers to Cross is about a mother with secrets and her two adult sons( well one more than the other) that are interested in knowing more about their early childhood years. As the novel jumped from the present to the past, it soon became evident that I knew the entire back story half way through the book. I did read this in one sitting and for that I will give it a three star rating BUT I felt that this thriller didn't have a lot of thrills( not sure if that makes sense- haha!).

I must confess that as I learned Lena's backstory I felt a lot of compassion for her as I felt it was an authentic and realistic situation. I think what was harder for me was feeling compassion for Jonah and Luke who when things are revealed make certain decisions that irritated me. But that's my personal take as a reader!🤷‍♀️







Expected Publication Date 08/11/22
Goodreads review published 28/07/22

[Julie (JuJu) · Rating 4 out of 5]

☆☆☆☆
“For women torn between impossible choices”— Dark Rivers to Cross by Lynne Reeves

“Dark Rivers To Cross” is a story that explores the emotional bond between a mother and her children, the lengths she will take to protect her children, and the boundaries children will push to uncover the secrets meant to shield them.

Lena Blackwell has been running a fishing lodge in Maine since her two adopted sons were in diapers. Now they are grown and her older son—Jonah—wants to find his biological parents. Lena needs to find a way to stop him before it ends badly for all of them.

The story covers different timelines, with the main story taking place in the present. The flashbacks fill us in on Lena’s history and some shocking surprises from her past that explain her secrecy.

Sincere thanks to Lynne Reeves and Crooked Lane Books for the opportunity to read this gifted ARC through NetGalley. The opinions are my own.

#DarkRiversToCross #LynneReeves #crookedlanebooks #netgalley #domesticviolence #mentalillness #trauma #Maine #adoption #honestreview #crimeandcocktailsbookcrew #mysteryandthrills #readwithme #bookaddict #thrilleraddict #thrillersofinstagram #bookstagrammer #lovebooks #bookreviewersofinstagram #lovetoreadbooks #cantstopreading #fortheloveofbooks #bookrecommendations #juliereadzintherockies #justfinishedreading #coloradoreader #bookreels #igbookreels #booksbooksandmorebooks

[Grace Convertino · Rating 4 out of 5]

Lena Blackwell has lived in Maine with her two sons for the last twenty years. She runs a lodge on the river while teaching the boys all she knows about the business of hospitality. More than anything, she wants to keep them safe. She has spun a tale about where they came from, desperately trying to keep them and everyone else unaware of their painful past. Luke is a naturalist, and his life is happy and perfect just as it is, hiking and acting as a tour guide for the guests of the lodge. Jonah is restless; he grew up believing he and Luke are adopted, and he is very interested to find his “biological” parents, hoping to discover who he is and from where where he came. Lena begs him not to search, even asking Luke to dissuade his brother and convince him not to unbury the past. After a couple from Lena’s past unexpectedly arrives at the lodge, the strange encounter Lena shares with the wife before asking Luke to turn them away causes him to become very curious. He shares the information he has gleaned with Jonah, including the couple’s license plate number. Luke, who had no desire to learn about his past, is divided between the mother desperate to hide the past and the brother determined to expose it all.

At the end of this dynamic book, I exhaled deeply, unaware that I had been holding my breath. I wondered briefly how long I’d been doing that, and if I had to hazard a guess, I’d say it started right before the climax. Personally, I disagree with the premise of maintaining this huge lie. I would have told my sons the truth about their past so they could understand both their inherited trauma and the abuse Lena suffered. I believe the only way to earn a child’s love and respect is to respect and love them enough to be honest with them. Lena’s motivation for covering it up was to protect them, and while that may have worked when they were babies, the false narrative she continued into their young adulthood only exposed them all to grave danger. At some point it should have been clear that she had to look her children in the eyes and love them by being honest. The truth would have been distressing, but much more pain was inflicted upon the whole family by Jonah and Luke finding out the way they did. It changed their entire dynamic, from Lena’s relationship with Jonah and Luke, to the addition of family. “Dark Rivers to Cross” is an exceptional thriller, an important narrative about honesty, and the damage of trauma inflicted and trauma that is inherited. This is an excellent, well-written work of fiction. I would not recommend starting this novel until you have a lot of free time to finish it!

Trigger warning for domestic abuse and mental illness

I’d like to thank NetGalley, Lynne Reeves, and Crooked Lane Books for the ability to read and review this ARC.

[Atlasi Khoramani · Rating 3 out of 5]

for almost twenty years Lena had kept his boys by herself, telling them that though they are much loves, they're adopted, and everything is fine until one of the boys fells the need to find his birth parents. Lena reacts almost irrationally to this news and finds her perfect and quiet life at the edge of collapsing. so what is her secret and why boys should not dig up the past?

the thriller of the book was good but the logic was way off for me. while reading it I kept saying, why? why did you? why didn't you? WTF? so, yeah. kept my adrenalin up, but in an unrealistic way.
but seriously why she kept that secret from her boys? she could tell them. she could!

Thanks to NetGally for providing my copy of the book.

[Chandra Sundeep · Rating 5 out of 5]

Dark Rivers to Cross by Lynne Reeves is an emotionally thrilling dark mystery centred around a mother who will sacrifice everything to keep her children safe. At the heart of the story are lies and secrets from the past.

The storyline might trigger a few readers because of the graphic descriptions of trauma, abuse, and violence, so I would advise readers who are sensitive to these issues to proceed with caution. The author has clearly indicated this by sharing a content warning at the very beginning.
Lena Blackwell lives in Millinocket, Maine, running a successful river lodge along with a friend, Coop. Church’s Overlook, the family Inn sheltered by acres of pine forest stretches along the Penobscot River. Her two sons, Jonah and Luke, were both adopted when they were just a few years old. The boys know nothing about their birth parents as Lena hasn’t been forthcoming with details.

Their peaceful lives are in upheaval when Jonah expresses his desire to know more about his birth parents. To his indignation, Luke doesn’t want to know anything and refuses to be a part of his mission. But as Jonah proceeds with his investigation, secrets come tumbling from the closet, putting them all in the face of the very danger Lena had been trying to protect them from.

Even though the premise is not completely new, the story is quite exciting. The dual narrative and dual timelines make it an interesting read. Reeves has done a wonderful job of building intrigue and suspense while revealing the secrets from the past at a good pace. The sub-plots and unexpected twists are seamlessly integrated with the main storyline and have been resolved in a satisfying manner.
I really loved the natural surroundings where most of the story takes place. It would be really wonderful to settle down in one of those rustic cabins surrounded by the pine forest with a gurgling river flowing right beside and read this book once again!

While all the characters are well-developed, each with their respective battles and challenges, I really loved the way Luke’s character evolves during the story. Lena’s actions though leave one with questions, but I feel they are justified considering the trauma she has undergone, and her children’s safety.

Dark Rivers to Cross explores trauma and abuse in a sensitive and thrilling manner, while never moving away from Lena, the central character holding the plot together. Apart from inherent trauma and abuse, familial love, sibling bond, love, and friendship are the other theme threads weaving this story together.

Thanks to NetGalley, Lynne Reeves, and the publisher, Crooked Lane Books for an advanced copy of the book in exchange for an honest review.

BLOG

(4.5 stars)

[Jen · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was a quick (albeit heavy) read that I finished in one sitting. It centers on Lena and her 2 adult sons, Jonah and Luke, whose birthright is a secret she would rather they never know. When Jonah gets curious and starts digging in, their long buried past threatens to disrupt the life they built.

While the characters were likable, I did have many questions about some of the decisions they made. What was a tense cat and mouse game seems like it could have been solved in a much easier and safer manner, leaving less lingering questions and certainly less hurt feelings. While I did feel that the meat of the story was unrealistic, it was an entertaining read and I was satisfied with how it ended.

Overall, this was a quick and decent read that was still interesting despite my need to suspend my disbelief. Thanks to Netgalley for providing me with a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

[Amber Nolan · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.5 rounded up to a 4- TW: domestic abuse, loss of pregnancy and murder. the story is about a mother who is on the run with her two young boys trying to hide the details of her past to keep her boys safe. the story is good, but man, it was SLOW. Also felt like once the boys were older and started to figure out their moms past - it was immediate and no build up or anything. I didnt get much of a "thriller" vibe ,but it was a good story. Thank you Netgalley and crooked lane for the ARC !

[Kori Potenzone · Rating 4 out of 5]

How far would a mother go to protect her children?

I’m sure any mother would tell you, they would stop at nothing, including murder to protect their children . Lena, is no different.

Lena adopted Luke and Jonah as babies and raised them alongside her business at a lodge in Maine.

Some secrets should remain buried.

When Jonah expresses interest on meeting his biological parents. Lena knows this can’t happen.

Dark Rivers to Cross, is a highly suspenseful thriller that will keep you on the edge of your seat. Jam packed with secrets, lies, and ties that bind, you’ll never be bored. Told between dual timelines (my favorite) you’ll have a front row seat to the secrets exposed.

Don’t take my word for it, pick up your copy now. Here is a bit of a teaser :

For two decades, Lena Blackwell has kept her sons at her side, teaching them everything she knows about running their successful river lodge in Northern Maine. But what she really wants is to keep her boys in the dark about their tragic past.

Her son Luke is right where he belongs, working at the family inn sheltered by acres of pine forest that stretch along the Penobscot River. So when his adopted brother, Jonah, threatens to upend their peaceful life by searching for his biological parents, Luke refuses to help.

Lena is determined to thwart Jonah’s search to uncover his own history. But the unexpected arrival of old friends at the inn for a weekend off the grid throws her plans into disarray. Little does she know, Jonah has already gleaned enough information to set in motion a deadly reckoning.

Luke may not want to know anything about his family, but he’s caught between the hard truths his brother is determined to expose and the devastating secret his mother is desperate to keep—at any cost.

Dark Rivers to Cross sensitively explores inherited trauma and the stories we tell the ones we love. It’s about what one mother is willing to sacrifice for her children.

[Colleen · Rating 4 out of 5]

Dark Rivers to Cross is a domestic thriller. Lena Blackwell has kept her sons at her side, at a remote river lodge in Maine. Her son Luke is happiest in the pine forest along the Penobscot River. Jonah his adopted brother is in search for the truth about the past. Lena just wants to keep everyone safe.

Lena is ever watchful, always seems to be aware of what is happening at all times with her sons. Jonah’s need to find out the truth threatens Lena. Luke has no need to know anything about his past, he is happy as things are. But an unexpected arrival of guests changes everything for Luke.

Luke surprises Jonah at college only to find he left to follow up on information he found about his father. Luke playing catchup is also investigation from another angle, his mother's past. Each of them will uncover the truth Lena never meant them to become aware of, but this information will put them all at risk and jeopardize them all.

This was a compelling story about a mother doing what she believed was best for her children. Lena's story is so courageous as she tries to manage a life with a man bent on horrific cruelty until he crosses a line. This is definitely a page turner; I couldn't put it down. I also loved the ending, it's not a happily ever after, but it was a new beginning for all, and it felt so right.

I received an ARC from NetGalley for an unbiased review.

[Samantha · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was a good story, but it was incredibly slow. So s-l-o-w.

[Kathleen Gray · Rating 4 out of 5]

Lena has been keeping a big secret from her sons Jonah and Luke- but they're adults now. They've always believed themselves to have been adopted when they were very small and they've almost always lived in Northern Maine, where Lena runs a lodge, Now, though. Jonah wants some answers about himself - he wants to find his bio parents, and this opens a can of worms that takes everyone down dark paths. This has difficult scenes and once you've read those, you'll have a better understanding of where this will go because I'm not going to spoil it. Thanks to netgalley for the ARC. A page turner.

[E D · Rating 4 out of 5]

Anyone interested in books about dysfunctional families and secrets is going to enjoy Dark Rivers to Cross. The plot moved fast, and I enjoyed the setting in the woods. Reeves was able to create a sinister atmosphere when describing Davis and his actions, as well as the fear the other characters felt around him. Thank you NetGalley and Crooked Lane Books for the ARC.

[Courtney (caffeinereadrepeat) · Rating 4 out of 5]

What A Fizgig! 😳😯🤯

Wholy guacamole! This was one, intense mystery thriller. You think you have it all figured out, but not even close. As Reeves unloads the secrets one by one, you'll be shocked and blind sided by them. So dark, so raw, so unbelievably deep your heart will break in ways as it all comes to a conclusion. You'll be left breathless and shocked.

Mყ 𝐒ყɴ𝐨ρѕιѕ: Lena has been living and running, with her two sons, Jonah & Luke, along with their family friend, Coop, a river lodge in Northern Maine. Jonah and Luke always knew they were adopted, and now in their early twenties, Jonah desperately wants to find out about his birth parents, while Luke is content with his life. Lena is determined to stop any advances Jonah may make. But when Lena's old friends come to stay at the lodge, everything is thrown into the abyss and is left rocking when Jonah claims he's found some information leaving Luke in the middle. And the truth is something he may never have wanted to face, but ends up being something far worse.

The ending was so well executed and left me anxious & heart racing. It was tense, uncertain, scary but yet satisfying. Reeves did a fab job with this one and the lengths a mother will go to protect her children - even adopted. Your heart will go through all the motions with this. Tasty like a forbidden snack that hits the spot when you sneak it to devour.

🔴 Trigger Warnings: Physical Abuse ; Sexual Assault / Rape

Thank you to NetGalley & Crooked Lane Books for this ARC.
Release Date: November 8, 2022

𝐌𝐞𝐫𝐢𝐭: 4 / 5 Beach Waves! 🌊

[Shirley McAllister · Rating 3 out of 5]

Searching for Answers

A story of one family with secrets, one mother's attempt to ensure the safety of her sons and one son's quest to find the truth.

After living in a rental lodge run by their adopted mother Luke and Jonah are finally off to college. They have grown up into young men and are finally looking forward to adulthood. Luke loves the forest and the river and decides not to go to college but to work at the Inn where they rent cabins to those visiting.

Jonah decides he wants to find his real parents being that he is adopted, Luke is not interested in knowing and does not want to hurt his mother's feelings. Eventually he reluctantly helps Jonah in his search.

What they find out endangers both them and their mother. Who are they really? What lies have they been told?

This story had a lot of twists and turns. The ending seemed a bit rushed and not as well put together as the rest of the book. I did not guess the ending it was not as I would have guessed. I really enjoyed the book right up to the last portion which was a bit disorganized in content. It is a good story otherwise.

Thanks to Lynn Reeves for writing the story, to Crooked Lane Books for publishing it and to NetGalley for providing me with a copy to read and review.

[Lee · Rating 4 out of 5]

For two decades, Lena Blackwell has kept her sons at her side, teaching them everything she knows about running their successful river lodge in Northern Maine. But what she really wants is to keep her boys in the dark about their tragic past.

Lena just wants to live a simple life in Maine, leaving behind personal issue she wants to keep hidden. Her boys are now growing up in a great outdoor lifestyle fishing, hiking and showing the visitors the areas by taking them on outdoor tours. The boys are very different, one leaving for college for an education , the other who will find out secrets being kept from them. In the beginning I was unsure if I was going to like the book as I found it a little slow but I now realise it was building the back story and then things really picked up. This is an enjoyable read and another I would recommend.

Thankyou to NetGalley, the author and publisher for an advanced copy of the book in exchange for an honest review.

[Carolyn · Rating 4 out of 5]

Lena Blackwell is a woman running from her traumatic past. Deciding she had no choice but to leave Boston to keep her two little boys safe, she bundled them into a friend’s car and headed north. Stopping at a run-down fishing camp on the Penobscot River in Northern Maine, the owner, Irving Cooper (‘Coops’) let her stay in an old cabin and kindly brought her food and supplies for the boys. Loving the beauty and serenity of the site, she decided to stay and together with Coops, built a new inn and refurbished the old cabins eventually turning the site into a successful and popular wilderness lodge.

As her boys Jonah and Luke grew, they learnt to manage the business and also to love the river and the woods. After finishing school, nature lover Luke wanted nothing more than to stay there on the river, acting as a tour guide taking the guests hiking in the woods or canoeing on the river while Jonah, longing for a life away from the lodge, went to college to study film making.

After twenty peaceful years where no one had come looking for Lena, she is hopeful that they are finally safe. Lena had always told the boys they were adopted from a foster home, but refused to give them any details about their birth families. However, Jonah decides he wants to find out more about his origins and use his search for a college documentary. Luke reluctantly agrees to help him, little suspecting that what Jonah discovers will endanger them all.

This riveting tale of what a mother will do to protect her children, told from Luke and Lena’s points of view in dual time lines, gradually filling in Lena’s backstory as the current events unfold. It’s an emotional tale of trauma and mental illness, explaining why Lena is running and why she feels she must keep their whereabouts secrets at all costs, even from her best friend. The writing is very atmospheric, with such a lovely sense of place that you can almost smell the fresh air tinged with the scent of the pines and hear the gurgle of the river flowing past.

Recommended for those who enjoy a thriller which gradually ramps up the tension and sense of menace as Lena fears her hard gained serenity and sense of safety are under threat, to culminate in a very suspenseful and explosive ending.

With thanks to Crooked Lane Books via Netgalley for a copy to read.

[Jackie McMillan · Rating 4 out of 5]

I flew through Dark Rivers to Cross, finding each session with this book enjoyable and compelling. Author Lynne Reeves gently reveals the story of a woman, Lena Blackwell, who has escaped domestic and family violence. Her book shows how choosing to use violence against your spouse is also a parenting choice, as the violence has long-running ramifications for her children. It also shows the lengths the non-offending parent will go to in order to protect her children, and how in doing so, that she often pays a price in the mother–child bond when she is forced to choose between safety and honesty.

One thing Dark Rivers To Cross does very well is describe the state of hyper-vigilance women escaping domestic and family violence experience: "you should be able to draw a deep breath. Yet your lungs won't fill, and you wonder if perhaps your body senses traces of him clinging to the drapes, worked into the fabric of the sofa." The abuser is omnipresent, and women like Lena often use rituals to help them cope with inhabiting a world where the perpetrator of violence walks around unhindered. This book also describes the way women experiencing domestic and family violence learn to read and navigate the moods of the violent perpetrator: "By being conciliatory. Keeping her voice calm and low. Orchestrating every movement with fluidity."

The mystery element of the book comes as the children age and become more curious about their origins. It's all wrapped up in a well-expressed book where the landscape, particularly the waterways of the Penobscot River, is as much a character as Lena and her boys, Jacob and Luke.

With thanks to NetGalley and Crooked Lane Books for sending me a copy to read.

[Glory Creed · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thank you to NetGalley and Crooked Lane Books for the opportunity to read and review this book.

3.5 stars rounded up to 4.

Dark Rivers to Cross is the story of Lena Blackwell and her sons Jonah and Luke. They live a fairly idyllic life running an inn in the Maine wilderness. Jonah threatens to shatter this illusion of perfection when he starts questioning his past, poking holes in the story Lena told the boys about their adoption. Lena fled from her past to keep the boys safe, but Jonah's interest threatens to unravel everything and put them in danger once again.

The story is told both from multiple timelines and multiple perspectives, filling out the rationale of Lena's escape from her previous life. While I do enjoy multiple timelines and perspectives, I feel like the execution could have been a bit better. I also wonder why the story only utilized Lena and Luke's perspectives when so much of the story was focused on Jonah's push for discovering his past. This seems like a missed opportunity for meaningful character development in my opinion.

I would have liked to see the mystery/discovery phase to last a bit longer in the story. Once Jonah and Luke begin to pull at the threads of their mother's story, it feels like their discovery of the truth is immediate. I feel like there was a missed opportunity to build suspense or throw in a red herring. As thrillers go, it was a bit lacking in the "thrill" department. The development was still very interesting, it just wasn't very suspenseful.

That said, it was still an enjoyable read. I especially enjoyed the flavor that the setting of the Maine wilderness gave to the book.

CWs for domestic abuse, loss of pregnancy, murder.

[Stanley McShane · Rating 4 out of 5]

Read his full review on Rosepoint Publishing.

Escaping an abusive relationship is never easy and made more difficult for Lena because her husband was a very well-respected surgeon. He seemed to have a split personality, however, and in the quiet of their home was violent.

She escaped with a couple of suitcases into the upper concourse of the Penobscot River with her two new babies. She told everyone they were adopted and that their ages were different. A small hunting lodge with a few cabins was the childhood for her two boys. She called them Luke and Jonah and their male role model was a sympathetic older man who sheltered the family.

Finally, her husband was committed to a facility for his affliction. Underneath he hoped he could find her as hate and revenge became his primary motivators.

The boys grew up in a supportive and healthy environment. One son was content with the status quo but the other wondered who his birth parents really were.

Lena wanted both boys to go to college; Luke was interested but his brother disagreed. The schism between the brothers leads to a number of adventures and ultimately their exposure.

This is an entertaining tale of life in the mountains near the upper Penobscot River. The tension builds throughout the narrative and I was very involved in the overall tale and characters. 4 stars – CE Williams

Many thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for providing me with the opportunity to read and review this book.

[Madison · Rating 3 out of 5]

Dark Rivers to Cross is a story that follows Lena Blackwell and her two sons, Jonah and Luke, who, together, manage Church's Overlook, a successful river lodge in Northern Maine. Comfortable where he is, Luke's peace and quiet is upended when his adopted brother Jonah decides to go on an excursion to find his biological parents. Determined to thwart Jonah's mission, Lena's own plan is thrown into chaos by the arrival of old friends. Little does she know, Jonah has already gleaned enough information to set in motion a lethal reckoning. Luke may not want to know where he came from, but he's caught between the hard truths his brother is determined to expose and the devastating secret his mother is desperate to keep - at ANY cost.

I want to preface this by saying that I did not NOT enjoy the book, however, it just wasn't a hit for me. It's a 3.5 star read. It was fast paced and I breezed through it on my Kindle!

I found many of the plot twists to be predictable, leaving me with, 'okay, it's him', instead of, 'OMG IT'S HIM'.

I really enjoyed Lena's character! I thought she had GREAT character development and in the end, she turned out to be one of my favourites! We love a strong female lead.

Overall, I found this book to be thrilling, fast-paced, and PACKED with twists and turns! If you are a fan of any of what I just mentioned, then I would recommend this book for you.

This title will be released on November 8th, 2022.

Thank you once again to @netgalley for giving me the opportunity to read this!

[Brenda · Rating 4 out of 5]

Tense, taut and thrillery Dark Rivers to Cross takes place in Maine and is told from several perspectives and over multiple timeframes. The suspense is practically anxiety inducing, the (mostly) natural setting is beautiful and conducive to mystery and the characters interesting, some downright despicable. The definitions at the chapter endings are an interesting choice and speak volumes. The parallels are clever.

Lena fiercely loves her adopted sons so much that she is willing to risk her life for them. Thankfully they are safe on her secluded rustic property where they operate accommodations and nature pursuits such as hiking. Both in their early 20s, Luke is far more at ease in the quiet of the outdoors than in urban environments while Jonah goes to college. However, tranquility is shattered when Jonah begins questioning his parentage and begins a search in earnest. Luke is content not to dig deeper into his and is concerned for his brother. Lena is desperate to prevent her past from being raked up. Even family friend Coop doesn't know all her secrets. Silence is golden until it isn't.

Those seeking a mystery with zip and oomph ought to read this. There are a few unrealistic bits and my preference would be a different ending but it is very enjoyable for what it is. Author Lynne Reeves skillfully packs a lot into a short novel. Do know there are scenes of domestic abuse.

My sincere thank you to Crooked Lane Books and NetGalley for providing me with an early digital ARC of this fabulous book which I nearly inhaled.

[Brenda · Rating 4 out of 5]

Tense, taut and thrillery Dark Rivers to Cross takes place in Maine and is told from several perspectives and over multiple timeframes. The suspense is practically anxiety inducing, the (mostly) natural setting is beautiful and conducive to mystery and the characters interesting, some downright despicable. The definitions at the chapter endings are an interesting choice and speak volumes. The parallels are clever.

Lena fiercely loves her adopted sons so much that she is willing to risk her life for them. Thankfully they are safe on her secluded rustic property where they operate accommodations and nature pursuits such as hiking. Both in their early 20s, Luke is far more at ease in the quiet of the outdoors than in urban environments while Jonah goes to college. However, tranquility is shattered when Jonah begins questioning his parentage and begins a search in earnest. Luke is content not to dig deeper into his and is concerned for his brother. Lena is desperate to prevent her past from being raked up. Even family friend Coop doesn't know all her secrets. Silence is golden until it isn't.

Those seeking a mystery with zip and oomph ought to read this. There are a few unrealistic bits and my preference would be a different ending but it is very enjoyable for what it is. Author Lynne Reeves skillfully packs a lot into a short novel. Do know there are scenes of domestic abuse.

My sincere thank you to Crooked Lane Books and NetGalley for providing me with an early digital ARC of this fabulous book which I nearly inhaled.

[Tammy · Rating 4 out of 5]

📚This was one, intense mystery thriller. You think you have it all figured out, but not even close. As Reeves unloads the secrets one by one, you'll be shocked and blind sided by them. So dark, so raw, so unbelievably deep your heart will break in ways as it all comes to a conclusion. You'll be left breathless and shocked.
Mყ 𝐒ყɴ𝐨ρѕιѕ: Lena has been living and running, with her two sons, Jonah & Luke, along with their family friend, Coop, a river lodge in Northern Maine. Jonah and Luke always knew they were adopted, and now in their early twenties, Jonah desperately wants to find out about his birth parents, while Luke is content with his life. Lena is determined to stop any advances Jonah may make. But when Lena's old friends come to stay at the lodge, everything is thrown into the abyss and is left rocking when Jonah claims he's found some information leaving Luke in the middle. And the truth is something he may never have wanted to face, but ends up being something far worse.
The ending was so well executed and left me anxious & heart racing. It was tense, uncertain, scary but yet satisfying. Reeves did a fabulous job with this one and the lengths a mother will go to protect her children - even adopted. Your heart will go through all the motions with this.
⚠️ Trigger Warnings: Physical Abuse ; Sexual A***ult / R**e
Thanks Netgalley, Author Lynne Reeves, Crooked Lane Book for The ARC for my honest opinion.
#Netgalley
#LynneReeves
#CrookedLaneBooks
#DarkRiverstoCross
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

[Lehc00 Lehsten · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is an excellent book that kept me turning pages long into the night! The characters are well developed and interesting, the descriptions vivid, the storyline enthralling.
Lena and her adopted sons, Jonah and Luke, live in Millinocket, Maine and run Church's Overlook, an inn that is flanked by 10 rustic cabins. Their grounds keeper, Coop, helps in the daily maintenance and upkeep of the property, Inn and cabins.
As the boys are preparing to go away to college, Jonah is pushing his brother to get their mother out of the Inn, so he can go through the office files to try and find information on his adoptive mother, information that Lena refuses to give, stating that the adoption records are sealed.
Lena over hears the conversation and begs Luke not to help his brother, that it's dangerous and he needs to leave it alone. The next day Lena has to return some rotted fruit to a farm, and when she does, Luke snoops through the office and finds the deed to the Inn and property and all the bills are in Coops name, not Lena's.
Now, the questions begin in earnest, Luke refuses to go away to school, while Jonah goes, and starts pre-med. All the while both boys continue to search for information, more and more things don't add up.
Then a surprise visitor at the Inn shakes things up and little by little the pieces start coming together to form very dangerous answers. Answers that could be the death of them all.

[Lena · Rating 5 out of 5]

Dark Rivers to Cross is a novel written by Lynne Reeves and published by Crooked Lane Books. In this novel, the story begins in Boston in 1993 with the Winslow brothers, who work in the same hospital and are medical professionals. Winfred and Marli Winslow are happily married and have no children. Davis Winslow is married to Carolina Bennett. Unfortunately, their relationship is not healthy. Carolina was hospitalized for cuts and bruises frequently and once for a miscarriage.

In Maine, nineteen years later, Lena Blackwell runs a river lodge called Church’s Overlook Inn. Lena is the mother of two adopted boys, Jonah and Luke. All she ever wanted to do was to protect her boys from their painful past. What dark secret is Lena keeping from her boys? Lena became very nervous when Jonah asked questions about his parents, and her pleas to leave the matter fell on deaf ears. Luke enjoys taking the guests on hikes and on the kayaks, not sharing the same concerns about his parents.

Coop is the maintenance man at the Inn and is ten years older than Lena. He is protecting Lena from all she was hiding, and they became good friends. Coop is Lena’s confidant, and she shares her secret with him.

I thoroughly enjoyed this novel, and it kept me in suspense until the end. This book’s exceptionally well edited and has a strong plot. Very well done. I rate this book five out of five stars.

[Alyssa · Rating 2 out of 5]

Thank you NetGalley and Crooked Lane Books for the ARC!

Author Lynne Reeves comes at you hard and fast with this book. Told from several points of view and at several different times, this story of a mother's determination and love doesn't let up the whole way.

I love a mystery, and I love a surprise ending.but I am learning that I don't love a domestic thriller. The major issue I had with this book is that the MAJOR PREMISE of this "surprise twist"ending that apparently all books of this genre are required to have ever since Gone Girl, makes absolutely no sense. It was easy to get lost with the timing of the events in the last 50 pages of the book. The brothers are at a party, and then suddenly one is trying to find the other with no segue. Something that should take hours, also takes minutes. Also descriptions of people don't remain consistent and it is very distracting. In one paragraph the antagonist is doughy and round, the next, emaciated. The ending was very much told and not shown. There was also a random love triangle interest that was unnecessary and almost distracting to the main plot. I also really hated the whole twin telepathy thing...come on. I think major edits might make this book more readable.

Honestly I found the premise of this book completely ridiculous and overblown. It was a fun enough book if you sorta closed your eyes and ran through it...but don't look too carefully or it stops being believable and completely falls apart.