What do you think?
Rate this book
Down River
Attending a corporate retreat at a remote resort in Alaska, Lisa Vaughn is plunged into the frigid rapids of the Wild River. Swept away, battered and alone, she has been left for dead.
Lodge owner Mitch Braxton knows something is terribly wrong when Lisa fails to turn up for a private meeting to clear the air and close the book on their broken engagement. Embarking on a heroic search that takes him miles downriver, he saves Lisa from the deadly water, but not before they've been swept deep into the wilderness.
Far from civilization, the former lovers must put aside their hurt feelings and find the will to survive against nature. There's a killer on the loose and, for now, they must measure their future together in days rather than years.
Lodge owner Mitch Braxton knows something is terribly wrong when Lisa fails to turn up for a private meeting to clear the air and close the book on their broken engagement. Embarking on a heroic search that takes him miles downriver, he saves Lisa from the deadly water, but not before they've been swept deep into the wilderness.
Far from civilization, the former lovers must put aside their hurt feelings and find the will to survive against nature. There's a killer on the loose and, for now, they must measure their future together in days rather than years.
392 pages, Mass Market Paperback
First published January 1, 2010
253 people are currently reading
674 people want to read
About the author
Karen Harper
78 books1,498 followersA New York Times and USA Today bestselling author, Karen Harper is a former college English instructor (The Ohio State University) and high school literature and writing teacher. A lifelong Ohioan, Karen and her husband Don divide their time between the midwest and the southeast, both locations she has used in her books. Besides her American settings, Karen loves the British Isles, where her Scottish and English roots run deep, and where she has set many of her historical Tudor-era mysteries and her historical novels about real and dynamic British women. Karen's books have been published in many foreign languages and she won the Mary Higgins Clark Award for 2005. Karen has given numerous talks to readers and writers across the county. Her most recent books include THE SOUTH SHORES TRILOGY (CHASING SHADOWS, DROWNING TIDES and FALLING DARKNESS.) Her latest historical is THE ROYAL NANNY. Please visit her website at www.KarenHarperAuthor and her fb page at www.facebook.com/KarenHarperAuthor
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 30 of 88 reviews
November 2, 2010
The heroine did stupid things putting herself in danger. The murderer had too many episodes of convenient luck.
STORY BRIEF:
Lisa and Mitch were attorneys working for the same law firm in Ft. Lauderdale, Florida. They fell in love and were engaged. Then Mitch decided to leave the law practice and move to Alaska to run a lodge/resort which he recently inherited. Lisa did not want to go and broke up with him. This book starts one year later. The senior partner in the law firm is deciding which of three candidates to promote to senior partner. Lisa is one of them. He books a trip to Mitch’s resort for the three junior partners plus himself and his wife. He wants to see them doing challenging outdoor activities before making up his mind. Someone pushes Lisa into the river rapids. She almost dies but Mitch rescues her. She and Mitch decide not to tell anyone she was pushed until they can figure out who did it and why. The rest of the story is about the group’s activities and some more bad things happening while Mitch and Lisa attempt to uncover the culprit.
REVIEWER’S OPINION:
This is classified as romantic suspense, but the romance is not very much and is not typical for romance novels. We don’t get to see a couple meeting and developing a relationship. This story starts with a couple who broke up. During the story, they slowly reconnect while trying to solve a mystery and avoid being killed. This is primarily a mystery suspense story. There are no sex scenes which is unusual for contemporary writing labeled romantic suspense.
The first half was above average, but I had some problems with the plot and events during the second half. Three things bothered me.
Someone cut a leather line. We never learned who did it or how they did it without being seen. A group watched as someone set up the sleds and lines. A few minutes later the race started. Someone would have had to cut the line in front of the group during that couple of minutes. That was never answered.
Someone has been trying to kill Lisa. Yet she does two things that make it easy for the killer to attempt killing her again. As she is doing those two things I’m shaking my head saying that is stupid. I would never have done those things, being alone and/or putting myself at risk in those ways. Those two things hurt the story the most. I was also annoyed that Lisa and Mitch did not inform the sheriff or let him help them investigate. The results were obstructing an investigation, delaying it’s start, and withholding evidence. That too was stupid.
I also did not like the way the author made it so easy for the killer. Each attack was based on convenient opportunity, not planning. The killer would see someone alone and then attack. Yet to everyone else it looked like an accident or self inflicted. How convenient for the killer. I would think most killers have to carefully plan to get that result as well as being lucky. They don’t just happen to see multiple opportunities to do this and get away with it each time. I need a little more realism.
DATA:
Story length: 380 pages. Swearing language: none. Sexual language: none. Number of sex scenes: none. Setting: current day Talkeetna and a small rural town in Alaska, and Fort Lauderdale, Florida. Copyright: 2010. Genre: mystery suspense with minimal romance.
STORY BRIEF:
Lisa and Mitch were attorneys working for the same law firm in Ft. Lauderdale, Florida. They fell in love and were engaged. Then Mitch decided to leave the law practice and move to Alaska to run a lodge/resort which he recently inherited. Lisa did not want to go and broke up with him. This book starts one year later. The senior partner in the law firm is deciding which of three candidates to promote to senior partner. Lisa is one of them. He books a trip to Mitch’s resort for the three junior partners plus himself and his wife. He wants to see them doing challenging outdoor activities before making up his mind. Someone pushes Lisa into the river rapids. She almost dies but Mitch rescues her. She and Mitch decide not to tell anyone she was pushed until they can figure out who did it and why. The rest of the story is about the group’s activities and some more bad things happening while Mitch and Lisa attempt to uncover the culprit.
REVIEWER’S OPINION:
This is classified as romantic suspense, but the romance is not very much and is not typical for romance novels. We don’t get to see a couple meeting and developing a relationship. This story starts with a couple who broke up. During the story, they slowly reconnect while trying to solve a mystery and avoid being killed. This is primarily a mystery suspense story. There are no sex scenes which is unusual for contemporary writing labeled romantic suspense.
The first half was above average, but I had some problems with the plot and events during the second half. Three things bothered me.
Someone cut a leather line. We never learned who did it or how they did it without being seen. A group watched as someone set up the sleds and lines. A few minutes later the race started. Someone would have had to cut the line in front of the group during that couple of minutes. That was never answered.
Someone has been trying to kill Lisa. Yet she does two things that make it easy for the killer to attempt killing her again. As she is doing those two things I’m shaking my head saying that is stupid. I would never have done those things, being alone and/or putting myself at risk in those ways. Those two things hurt the story the most. I was also annoyed that Lisa and Mitch did not inform the sheriff or let him help them investigate. The results were obstructing an investigation, delaying it’s start, and withholding evidence. That too was stupid.
I also did not like the way the author made it so easy for the killer. Each attack was based on convenient opportunity, not planning. The killer would see someone alone and then attack. Yet to everyone else it looked like an accident or self inflicted. How convenient for the killer. I would think most killers have to carefully plan to get that result as well as being lucky. They don’t just happen to see multiple opportunities to do this and get away with it each time. I need a little more realism.
DATA:
Story length: 380 pages. Swearing language: none. Sexual language: none. Number of sex scenes: none. Setting: current day Talkeetna and a small rural town in Alaska, and Fort Lauderdale, Florida. Copyright: 2010. Genre: mystery suspense with minimal romance.
November 8, 2010
I wasn't sure what to expect from Karen Harper's Down River novel, only that it was a romantic suspense. However, the more I read the more I realized I surely expected more or better. Also, considering its genre the romance was lacking and the suspense tedious.
The ideas for the plot were great though. Two troubled former lovers are reunited in the Alaskan wilderness, in which the peaceful surroundings are interrupted by a clever killer. Yet, the main characters, Lisa Vaughn and Mitch Braxton did not appeal to me at all. The chemistry was missing, and it was not obvious that they were meant for each other. Their bitterness and constant bickering never transformed into a believable and redeemable relationship. Up until the end, I didn't care for the outcome of their relationship, if I could ever think of it as that. They were more strangers than intimate partners strategizing for survival. The trust was lacking and never really emerged and their feelings didn't expand.
I'm not surprised the relationship didn't have much foundation to build on and thus develop, because the characters themselves were troubling. Particularly, Lisa who never quite dealt with her traumatic childhood experiences, something that is a disadvantage on her Alaskan retreat. She is as much confused as she is in denial with her current state of mind. She doesn't quite realize her need for professional help, while Mitch isn't exactly supportive. He blames more than he aids.
While the suspense was there, there was no intensity or urgency to pull the reader in. Rather, the mystery was more of a "whodunit" type, with plenty of guessing games and conspiracy theories. Not quite thrilling or appealing.
I'm not going to give up on this author though. This novel had great potential, and great ideas. I'm hoping for a better story in the future.
The ideas for the plot were great though. Two troubled former lovers are reunited in the Alaskan wilderness, in which the peaceful surroundings are interrupted by a clever killer. Yet, the main characters, Lisa Vaughn and Mitch Braxton did not appeal to me at all. The chemistry was missing, and it was not obvious that they were meant for each other. Their bitterness and constant bickering never transformed into a believable and redeemable relationship. Up until the end, I didn't care for the outcome of their relationship, if I could ever think of it as that. They were more strangers than intimate partners strategizing for survival. The trust was lacking and never really emerged and their feelings didn't expand.
I'm not surprised the relationship didn't have much foundation to build on and thus develop, because the characters themselves were troubling. Particularly, Lisa who never quite dealt with her traumatic childhood experiences, something that is a disadvantage on her Alaskan retreat. She is as much confused as she is in denial with her current state of mind. She doesn't quite realize her need for professional help, while Mitch isn't exactly supportive. He blames more than he aids.
While the suspense was there, there was no intensity or urgency to pull the reader in. Rather, the mystery was more of a "whodunit" type, with plenty of guessing games and conspiracy theories. Not quite thrilling or appealing.
I'm not going to give up on this author though. This novel had great potential, and great ideas. I'm hoping for a better story in the future.
September 17, 2017
I found another book by Karen Harper. Loved it. It takes place in Alaska. Lisa's x-fiance owns the lodge where her boss has brought all the lawyers in their law practice, in order to pick the best one for a major position. Alaska is beautiful, rustic and menacing with lots of pitfalls for Lisa and others. Mitch, the x is still interested in Lisa and the story is full of lots of action, emotion suspense and murder attempts. we learn much about this northern frontier and I want to go.
September 24, 2019
I could just not seem to care about anyone or anything in this book. The characters were all so flat and unlikeable. The plot bordered on ridiculous, and the heroine’s past trauma became increasingly annoying due to how often she brought an event ‘she preferred not to talk about’ with just about everyone anywhere at anytime.
August 20, 2022
Really good thriller set in Alaska. Karen Harper is an amazing writer - the story hooks you immediately.
June 29, 2025
This is one of my favorite authors. This was a very exciting and keep you guessing kind of read. If you like Alaska, this gives you a taste of what Alaska living is like.
January 14, 2018
Down River by Karen Harper reveals the dangers when three attorneys vying for senior partner of their Florida law firm encounter the wilds of Alaska. Lisa Vaughn, one of the three candidates, is conflicted about participating in the so-called bonding experience. Mitch Braxton , her former fiance who abandoned her in Florida to move to Alaska a year prior, owns the lodge where she will be staying with the owner of her firm and the other candidates.
As she and Mitch try to call a truce to their fractured relationship, she agrees to meet him at a nearby river to go kayaking. But Lisa never expected to be pushed into the river with its swift rushing rapids and cold temperatures. Fortunately for Lisa, Mitch comes to her rescue, and they both try to comes to terms with their continued attraction despite the knowledge that they believe there is no future together for them.
Lisa’ mysterious accidents continue, and the body count rises. It seems as if no one is safe and that Lisa has been especially targeted for injury or death.
The list of possible suspects wishing for Lisa’s demise is plentiful and believable as they all have their own reasons for wishing her harm. With a plethora of red herrings along the way, the suspense continues unabated as Lisa must decide who to trust and ultimately survive her sometimes terrifying Alaskan experience.
sherimelnick.wordpress.com
As she and Mitch try to call a truce to their fractured relationship, she agrees to meet him at a nearby river to go kayaking. But Lisa never expected to be pushed into the river with its swift rushing rapids and cold temperatures. Fortunately for Lisa, Mitch comes to her rescue, and they both try to comes to terms with their continued attraction despite the knowledge that they believe there is no future together for them.
Lisa’ mysterious accidents continue, and the body count rises. It seems as if no one is safe and that Lisa has been especially targeted for injury or death.
The list of possible suspects wishing for Lisa’s demise is plentiful and believable as they all have their own reasons for wishing her harm. With a plethora of red herrings along the way, the suspense continues unabated as Lisa must decide who to trust and ultimately survive her sometimes terrifying Alaskan experience.
sherimelnick.wordpress.com
October 23, 2018
With my wilderness Montana background, this was a relaxing read. I totally get the nature of the people and surroundings. She did a good job of describing them both.
I also like "who dunit" stories and this one kept me analyzing everyone until the "note left on the table" scene. The only thing left was to confirm "why" and the author tidied that up nicely too.
Do I believe one women could undergo extensive repeated trauma in 4 days? Not really. Not as described. Anyone else would have died of hyper/hypo thermia for the length of time she was exposed. But then again anything is possible if your will to survive is strong enough.
The plot is predictable but that is what makes it a murder mystery with a sideline romance or two thrown in. At some point the reader becomes invested in solving the crime and works with the clues tossed out.
This book is well suited for those who enjoy that type of read.
I also like "who dunit" stories and this one kept me analyzing everyone until the "note left on the table" scene. The only thing left was to confirm "why" and the author tidied that up nicely too.
Do I believe one women could undergo extensive repeated trauma in 4 days? Not really. Not as described. Anyone else would have died of hyper/hypo thermia for the length of time she was exposed. But then again anything is possible if your will to survive is strong enough.
The plot is predictable but that is what makes it a murder mystery with a sideline romance or two thrown in. At some point the reader becomes invested in solving the crime and works with the clues tossed out.
This book is well suited for those who enjoy that type of read.
October 8, 2013
This is my third Karen Harper book and probably my last. The plot was a drag until the last 50 pages or so then it lived up to the thriller tag.
Lisa is an driven, upward climbing lawyer with a shot at making partner at a firm in Florida. The boss is taking the three top contenders and his wife on a trip to an Alaskan lodge owned by Mitch, the fiancée who dumped Lisa, and his partnership in the firm, a year age to go live in Alaska.
Lots of unresolved issues between Lisa and Mitch that keep getting back burnered because someone is out to kill Lisa and Mitch must save her like a good hero.
No sex in this book, not even any to qualify as a cozy. What a drag.
Lisa is an driven, upward climbing lawyer with a shot at making partner at a firm in Florida. The boss is taking the three top contenders and his wife on a trip to an Alaskan lodge owned by Mitch, the fiancée who dumped Lisa, and his partnership in the firm, a year age to go live in Alaska.
Lots of unresolved issues between Lisa and Mitch that keep getting back burnered because someone is out to kill Lisa and Mitch must save her like a good hero.
No sex in this book, not even any to qualify as a cozy. What a drag.
November 4, 2017
I appreciated this book for its Alaska setting. Other than that, not so much. The author pulled out every cliche known to man. She made sure we knew in what seemed like every other paragraph that the main character had a very traumatic past. It was the prelude. We didn’t need to be reminded so often. I also guessed who the villain was really early in the book, although I didn’t guess the entire motive.
Don’t waste your time. It wasn’t even a fun read.
Don’t waste your time. It wasn’t even a fun read.
November 15, 2017
OMG - THIS ONE had me on the edge of my seat all the way through.
I haven't had a book do this to me in a long time, it was fantastic - I thought I had it all figured out
and then the second last chapter, my word, I was really feeling the panic of the character.
Very good book!!
I haven't had a book do this to me in a long time, it was fantastic - I thought I had it all figured out
and then the second last chapter, my word, I was really feeling the panic of the character.
Very good book!!
July 28, 2017
This was just not very good. The dialogue was awful. The characters were thin. Only my stubborn inability to quit mid-book kept me going.
March 15, 2024
Another DNF for me after setting this aside for over a year... Stopped after 200 pages...(My review contains mini spoilers for the rescue.)
I expected more from this book from the synopsis. "Lisa is plunged into the rapids and swept into the wilderness. Battered and alone she has been left for dead. Mitch goes on a heroic search for her and is swept deep into the wilderness. Far from civilization, they must rely on each other.".....
From these details I was expecting a story where Lisa and Mitch get stuck in the Alaskan wilderness for many days, relying on each other and keeping away from a killer that is on their heels. Not...even...remotely the case 🙄
The "heroic search" isn't a search for long. Mitch finds Lisa immediately (shortly after she's been pushed into the river) and they both get swept downstream. And they aren't stuck in the wilderness for long either, they make it back into town by chapter 9 🤔 Since I was expecting a wilderness adventure, the change of scenery back to the lodge was disappointing.
The rest of the book is about them clumsily and amateurishly trying to figure out who tried to kill her. All while pretending that she slipped and fell so that the killer (or would be killer really) doesn't know that they know it was an attempt on her life 🙄 I was rolling my eyes a lot at Lisa's not-so-subtle way of trying to ask people where they were when she "fell".
I made it about 70 pages into that part of the book before I stopped reading. And the book sat unfinished for over a year. So...what were my complaints? (other than the synopsis not being truthful.)
It turns out I don't care for 2nd chance romances, who knew 🤷♀️ I certainly didn't. But this book sinched it for me. I didn't care if Lisa and Mitch got back together. Frankly, I didn't think Lisa deserved him. She broke up with him and yet blamed him for not loving her enough to stay in LA. When he'd made it clear he needed a change of pace from the job and lifestyle he and Lisa had there. Her attitude about the breakup made her seem immature and self-centered.
Another thing that drove down my desire to continue the book was that the stakes were barely there. An attempted murder isn't as scary as having bodies turning up with no idea who the killer is.
So meh on the romance and meh on the mystery.
I expected more from this book from the synopsis. "Lisa is plunged into the rapids and swept into the wilderness. Battered and alone she has been left for dead. Mitch goes on a heroic search for her and is swept deep into the wilderness. Far from civilization, they must rely on each other.".....
From these details I was expecting a story where Lisa and Mitch get stuck in the Alaskan wilderness for many days, relying on each other and keeping away from a killer that is on their heels. Not...even...remotely the case 🙄
The "heroic search" isn't a search for long. Mitch finds Lisa immediately (shortly after she's been pushed into the river) and they both get swept downstream. And they aren't stuck in the wilderness for long either, they make it back into town by chapter 9 🤔 Since I was expecting a wilderness adventure, the change of scenery back to the lodge was disappointing.
The rest of the book is about them clumsily and amateurishly trying to figure out who tried to kill her. All while pretending that she slipped and fell so that the killer (or would be killer really) doesn't know that they know it was an attempt on her life 🙄 I was rolling my eyes a lot at Lisa's not-so-subtle way of trying to ask people where they were when she "fell".
I made it about 70 pages into that part of the book before I stopped reading. And the book sat unfinished for over a year. So...what were my complaints? (other than the synopsis not being truthful.)
It turns out I don't care for 2nd chance romances, who knew 🤷♀️ I certainly didn't. But this book sinched it for me. I didn't care if Lisa and Mitch got back together. Frankly, I didn't think Lisa deserved him. She broke up with him and yet blamed him for not loving her enough to stay in LA. When he'd made it clear he needed a change of pace from the job and lifestyle he and Lisa had there. Her attitude about the breakup made her seem immature and self-centered.
Another thing that drove down my desire to continue the book was that the stakes were barely there. An attempted murder isn't as scary as having bodies turning up with no idea who the killer is.
So meh on the romance and meh on the mystery.
Read
December 27, 2021The top lawyers of a large firm are gathering at a lodge in Alaska with the head of the company and his wife for a series of adventures do determine who gets promoted to the lead position in the company. The lodge is run by an ex lawyer of the firm and one of the four lawyers under consideration is his ex girl friend. Things start going array soon after they have gathered when the ex falls/pushed into the nearby raging river and ends up being rescued by the lodge owner. Things go downhill from there as a continuing series of "accidents" befall the lawyer. Who is behind it? The lawyer and her ex team up to ferret out the guilty party. First book by Karen Harper and since we have some more in the library at Havenwood I will be trying some more.
October 9, 2019
This was an entertaining read, primarily because it was different. A law firm takes a unconventional approach to picking their next partner through a "survival" type of team bonding event up in Alaska. Unfortunately it's conducted at the lodge of an ex lawyer from the firm and an ex lover of one of the candidates. As "accidents" begin piling up it becomes a whodunit mystery with rural Alaska as the back drop. I enjoyed the story but found it a bit too predictable. It was easy to guess what would happen next and I had rightly identified the culprit from the author's extensive foreshadowing.
April 22, 2021
A thrilling mystery set in rural Alaska that combines romance, conspiracy, and hidden motives behind attempted murder and murder.
I decided to read "Down River" after reading Ohio Author Karen Harper's two newest Alaska mysteries. I was curious to see how her writing style had changed. Harper found her mystery/thriller formula and stuck to it until the very end and with each the books in this genre. As always, the action is taut and the murder attempts are chilling. It wasn't until the end that I figured out who did it.
I decided to read "Down River" after reading Ohio Author Karen Harper's two newest Alaska mysteries. I was curious to see how her writing style had changed. Harper found her mystery/thriller formula and stuck to it until the very end and with each the books in this genre. As always, the action is taut and the murder attempts are chilling. It wasn't until the end that I figured out who did it.
Read
November 2, 2024"Killer" Murder Mystery
More suspense than romance but still a great story! Scary adventure right from the start leads to accident or attempted murder investigation. As the main characters shift through the clues, more accidents and a murder occurs! Then the finale is pure page turning, non stop suspense that takes you to the last moment of nail biting intensity! Great book in the Alaskan Wilds in August!
More suspense than romance but still a great story! Scary adventure right from the start leads to accident or attempted murder investigation. As the main characters shift through the clues, more accidents and a murder occurs! Then the finale is pure page turning, non stop suspense that takes you to the last moment of nail biting intensity! Great book in the Alaskan Wilds in August!
June 16, 2021
Entertaining adventure
Loved the Alaskan details, and the story was carefully researched. I especially enjoyed the first third of the novel with the river rescue scenes. Nicely paced with some strong use of symbolism.
Loved the Alaskan details, and the story was carefully researched. I especially enjoyed the first third of the novel with the river rescue scenes. Nicely paced with some strong use of symbolism.
December 13, 2021
I read this months ago and liked it. Although, I don't remember much of the plot. I remember that I loved the setting (Alaska wilderness--not really a Western). I was not fond of the protagonist's depression and her mother's depression. Found that very dark.
July 17, 2022
To be honest, it didn't help that my progress was interrupted with library books coming in but I found the story convoluted with too many characters and too many red herrings. Did not find any of the characters especially likeable. Hope for more of the Alaska wilderness and less romantic angst.
May 12, 2024
2.75*
Not really a romantic suspense, more of a mystery thriller with a sub-genre of romance and even then there was little romance or rekindling of it. I assume most of the romance happened off-page between the end and the epilogue.
Not really a romantic suspense, more of a mystery thriller with a sub-genre of romance and even then there was little romance or rekindling of it. I assume most of the romance happened off-page between the end and the epilogue.
February 11, 2018
This was a sit on the edge of your seat romance/thriller. Lisa and Mitch meet up again after a defunct engagement and sparks fly............only not just between them! Entertaining and exciting read.
February 25, 2018
Down River is a suspenseful and fairly entertaining read. For a novel classified as romantic suspense, however, I felt the romance was a little lacking. I did enjoy the Alaskan setting, though.
February 26, 2018
It was a decent book, I have read better.
July 13, 2018
Karen Harper
This was one of that I couldn't put down. The first page grabbed me and wouldn't let go! Loved it.☺
This was one of that I couldn't put down. The first page grabbed me and wouldn't let go! Loved it.☺
August 11, 2018
Very good
This book has a lot of suspense in it. I thought I knew who the killer was, but I was wrong. It keeps you guessing.
This book has a lot of suspense in it. I thought I knew who the killer was, but I was wrong. It keeps you guessing.
July 19, 2019
I enjoyed this book. I had recently read two other by this author and enjoyed them also. An easy read, with a fast moving story, helped for me to give it 4 starts.
August 24, 2019
I can't give review. It was just bad writing. enough said.
October 11, 2019
Its about a lady that fell into the river the water was freezing and a nice man rescued the lady and they fall in love
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
Want to read
July 19, 2020elibrary
Displaying 1 - 30 of 88 reviews