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    Bitter River
    Bitter River
    Bitter River
    Audiobook11 hours

    Bitter River

    Written by Julia Keller

    Narrated by Shannon McManus

    4/5

    ()

    About this audiobook

    “Julia Keller is that rare talent who combines gripping suspense, a fabulous sense of place, and nuanced characters you can’t wait to come back to.” —Karin Slaughter

    Phone calls before dawn are never good news. And when you’re the county’s prosecuting attorney, calls from the sheriff are rarely good news, either. So when Bell Elkins picks up the phone, she already knows she won’t like what she’s about to hear, but she’s still not prepared for this: sixteen-year-old Lucinda Trimble’s body has been found at the bottom of Bitter River. And Lucinda didn’t drown—she was dead before her body ever hit the water.

    With a case like that, Bell knows the coming weeks are going to be tough. But that’s not all Bell is coping with these days. Her daughter is now living with Bell’s ex-husband, hours away. Sheriff Nick Fogelsong, one of Bell’s closest friends, is behaving oddly. Furthermore, a face from her past has resurfaced for reasons Bell can’t quite figure. Searching for the truth, both behind Lucinda’s murder and behind her own complicated relationships, will lead Bell down a path that might put her very life at risk.

    In Bitter River, Pulitzer Prize winner Julia Keller once again weaves a compelling, haunting mystery set against the stark beauty and extreme poverty of a small West Virginia mountain town.

    LanguageEnglish
    PublisherBrilliance Audio
    Release dateSep 3, 2013
    ISBN9781469216508
    Bitter River
    Author

    Julia Keller

    Julia Keller, winner of the Pulitzer Prize and former cultural critic at the Chicago Tribune, is the author of many books for adults and young readers, including A Killing in the Hills, the first book in the Bell Elkins series and winner of the Barry Award for Best First Novel (2013); Back Home; and The Dark Intercept. Keller has a Ph.D. in English literature from Ohio State and was awarded Harvard University’s Nieman Fellowship. She was born in West Virginia and lives in Ohio.

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    Reviews for Bitter River

    4/5

    115 ratings22 reviews

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    • 5/5
      A worthy sequel and lots to chew on here. This one will stay with me for a long time. Excited for the next one! I live abroad now but these novels make me so nostalgic for my travels through the Appalachians several years ago... where I saw the light and dark sides of the region that Keller eloquently and compassionately writes. These novels are so well done! A real gem of a series.
    • 4/5
      This is a good, readable mystery, but I found the setting in virginia to be so well done. She captures the poverty, beauty, and characters so well.
    • 3/5
      Three and a half stars actually. "In a small town everybody is next of kin to everybody else." Also, in this small town of Acker's Gap WV, there is more crime than you'd expect -- big leagues too-- terrorism, murder, -- no petty theft at the dollar store. Bell Elkins book #2 does not disappoint as Keller weaves the mysteries to be solves through the lives of the townspeople and the beautiful landscape.
    • 5/5
      This is the second Bell Elkins novel, and once again, Keller has captured the essence of parts of WV that ring true. I didn't see the end of this coming either. To me, that's a sign of a well-crafted murder mystery.
    • 3/5
      Re-read of the second in a series which brings the recurring characters into sharper focus. The setting is as strong a character as some of the people, as shown by the subplot. The whodunit felt a bit of a comedown with all the other strong aspects of the narrative. Definitely a series to continue with.
    • 4/5
      The apparent second in a series, this mystery features Bell, a prosecuting attorney in a small West Virginian town, working in tandem with the local sheriff Nick Fogelsong. When a teenage girl her daughter's age is found murdered, a chain of events follows with more loss of life and unexpected consequences. The engaging characters will lead us to want to read more about this town and its people.
    • 5/5
      This is the second book in a series featuring Bell Elkins, a prosecutor in a small West Virginia town. I think I enjoyed this installment even more than the first. The book begins with the murder of a local high school girl, but Keller manages to weave in several more threads to the story. Bell continues to grow as a character, several supporting characters play prominent roles, and the town of Acker's Gap continues to come to life. This is a series that I will definitely continue reading.
    • 4/5
      I won an ARC through goodreads.com giveaways. This is the first book I have read by Julia Keller and she does not disappoint. I love it when I am kept guessing throughout and then given a total curveball as to the real who dun nit! The characters are three dimensional and have just the right amount of flaws for the small town setting. The murder of a local pregnant teenager found submerged in the Bitter River sets the stage for our story. A friend from Belfa's time in DC either brings more trouble or he is the trouble it is hards to say as his story within the story unfolds. Even though Belfa knows Matt the sheriff and others in the town are un sure of Matt and who and what he is doing in their small mountain town of Ackers Gap.

      Truly captivating and a great read! Look forward to reading her first novel A Killing In The Hills and her future works. She is destined to be a dominate voice in the mystery thriller genre.
    • 3/5
      Julia Keller is a new author to me and I thoroughly enjoyed Bitter River. I listened to the book on CD and the reader did an excellent job. Keller's writing reminds me of listening to a lyrical poem, where the reader yo-yos between emotions. I could almost see every character and scene presented in the novel, due to Keller’s superb use of language. Keller depicts the grimy life and conditions of mountainous West Virginia in a manner that allows the people to stand proud. The people of a small town, Acker's Gap, seem to know everyone secrets, but still a few surprises remain as the story unfolds. Keller shows the emotions and hopes of the central character, Bell Elkins, a woman with doubts and uncertainty. After reading this novel, I am anxious to read the first book in the Bell Elkins series.
    • 3/5
      i liked this book but some of the references were too American and I couldn't relate to them , the story line was very good , other peoples reviews on this book are fabulous so i wont bother !
    • 4/5
      This is a very good book. Some passages made me think of my hometown in West Virginia. I also liked the way she included what is happening in the world in this story, it lets you know no matter where you live in this day and age we are all intertwined.If you like good mysteries read this book.
    • 3/5
      This is a mystery novel set in the mountains of West Virginia. It follows Bell Elkins, the prosecutor for a small county that is slowly dying of poverty, and the sheriff, Nick Fogelsong. The mystery concerns discovering who killed a promising young high school student, who turns out to be pregnant, making the prime suspects her boyfriend and his family. This is a mystery novel of the classic kind, where the pool of suspects is finite and the story follows the investigators as they gather clues and interview witnesses. The setting is a gritty coal town, slowly dying. Local businesses are going out of business with people going to the chain stores and restaurants on the highway out of town. There's drug abuse and many who still live in the area are scraping by on welfare or what they can cobble together. Bell's an interesting character; she's too arrogant to really be likable, harsh and with a giant chip on her shoulder. Fogelsong's the classic sheriff, gruff and kind-hearted underneath it all, he cuts corners here and there, but is dedicated to his job. He's a walking stereotype of the Longmire variety. Then the author decided to make the story Much! More! Exciting! by adding a Middle Eastern terrorist, snipers, explosions and a schizophrenic wife, among other plot twists and it all became too improbable and short changed both the central story and the setting which made this book a bit more interesting than the books beside it on the shelf. Keller's writing and her knowledge of the region are enough to make a solid mystery novel that is worth reading. The added thriller elements detracted from this and reduced my enjoyment in what might have been a very good vacation read.
    • 4/5
      Another good mystery to follow up the first in the series. Keller gives us a good picture of life in the WV "hollers" and engaging characters. Can't wait to read the next one.
    • 5/5
      Once again Julia Keller returns her readers to the beautiful yet grim mountains of West Virginia. Keller portrays Appalachian people are they truly are - tenacious, care worn, and threatened by economic and social woes out of their control.Her protagonist, Raythune County prosecuting attorney Bell Elkins, contends with a community besieged by unemployment and the resultant poverty and by prescription drug abuse that is destroying the culture that she returned to West Virginia to protect. And now the body of a local sixteen-year-old girl is pulled from the aptly named Bitter River. Keller’s novels are a joy to read. The characters are both well-developed and realistic. These are real people facing real problems in a way that real people react. And while Keller’s prose is beautiful and her love of the mountain life of West Virginia is apparent, it does not overshadow the story element. However, this is primarily a novel of culture and character, the mystery element is merely a vehicle for their portrayal. This is a depiction of Appalachian life caught at a crossroads and it is devastating. Keller’s gritty dialogue also rings true. These are real and imperfect people and this is how they sound.As a matter of fact, if I had to find one phrase that sums up my reaction to this novel, it would be ‘rings true.’(A review copy was provided by the publisher.)
    • 4/5
      Listened for Review (Brilliance)Overall Rating: 3.50Story Rating: 3.50Character Rating: 3.50Audio Rating: 3.50 (not part of the overall rating)First Thought when Finished: Bitter River was an interesting story but a little bit too all over the place! (Plus I thought the final twist was out of left field).Story Thoughts: Essentially this is how Bitter River played out for me: The small town case was strong, interesting, and kept me guessing. The big worldly case was boring, easy to figure out, and was entirely to distracting to be entertaining at all. In other words, this story was good when it was focused but it seems to me that the author was trying to cram too much into one story. I am not sure if it was a page count thing or she just didn't think the main story was "exciting" enough. To me, it was overkill and took some enjoyment out of it. That being said, the writing was very good and I would give this author another whirl.Character Thoughts: In mystery/thrillers, characters are often secondary to me. I need them to hold their own but the case is what first and foremost must be engaging. In Bitter River, Bell is an interesting lead and while not likable all the time I could root for her. I also liked Sheriff Nick. I felt drawn to his catch 22 and it was interesting to see him work through it. Both of these characters were easy to read and root for.Audio Thoughts: Narrated By Shannon McManus / Length: 11 hrs and 58 mins Shannon did a pretty good job with Bell's voice but I had a problem with her voice for Nick. I just didn't click with it. That being said, she was pretty good with all the other voices (male and female) and her pacing was spot-on. I will probably continue this on audio because now I am used to Nick's voice. Plus, on a whole I really like how Shannon narrates.Final Thoughts: I am interested to see what is in store for Bell and Nick after the final few chapters. I will be reading the next one.
    • 4/5
      Like the previous book in this serious, the town of Acker's Gap is a character as Bell Elkins, DA, tries to keep order with her sheriff friend Nick Fogelsong including the recent discovery of a young girl in Bitter River. While focusing on the murder, Bell also travels to D.C. to see her daughter, now living with Bell's ex, where she also reconnects with Matt Harless who wants to visit Acker's Gap for some R&R. However, events including a shooting at the courthouse and a bombing at Ike's which also injures Clay, Bell's lover, leaves the people wondering if something more sinister has come to their small town.
    • 5/5
      Author Julia Keller has written a great sequel to her first book, A Killing in the Hills. Both feature county prosecutor Bell Elkins and the sheriff of Raythune County, WV, Nick Folgelsong. The county seat, Acker's Gap, is a dying small town, knocked out by the loss of most of the coal industry and the abuse of prescription drugs. A teenager with a promising future, Lucinda Trimble, is found in her car at the bottom of the Bitter River. The autopsy shows she died before she went in the water and also that she was three months pregnant. Meanwhile, an old friend of Bell's from her Washington, D.C. days comes for a sojourn in Acker's Gap. Matt Harless is a CIA guy, recently returned from the Middle East. Deaths pile up in a short period of time in the tiny town and the suspense builds. The book definitely has a very surprising ending. Not much more can be written without giving away too much of the plot. It was an A-1 read in my book.
    • 4/5
      I got this as a First Read from Goodreads. It was a great book - the breadth of a good novel and the depth of a good mystery. Definitely recommend it!
    • 4/5
      I went gaga over Keller's first book in this series, "A Killing in the Hills" (KH) and rated it 5 stars - and rightly so. "Bitter River" (BR) has many of the same fine attributes as KH, most notably very well done characters, a storyline that holds the reader's interest, and many pearls about small town West Virginia. The plots have a number of similarities as well. Both have a murder that becomes the anchor of the story, but suddenly and unexpectantly there are a number of subsequent murders. Both stories have a multiple victim killing - remember, this is a SMALL town, a dying town, literally and figuratively; will there be enough citizens to support subsequent books in the series? Our heroine, Bell Elkins is the local prosecutor. Her daughter lives with her ex,Sam, while going to school in D.C. Bell's sister Shirley is still off the radar since her release from prison in KH. And Bell has a boyfriend. Bell has lots of friends, including Sheriff Nick. After all, Acker's Gap is a town where you know everybody, and practically everybody's related. And there's a murder to be solved, that of a pregnant, strangled teen found in a car in Bitter River. Author Keller once again does an excellent job of balancing the social aspects of life in WVa with the business at hand - solving a murder(s).The major problem I had with this book though is with a number of plot points that didn't feel right, things that didn't seem to be quite real. A couple of examples. A terrorist is lurking in the hills, targeting a particular victim. He's been using an assault rifle, a bomb, cell phone jammers,(think Mad magazine Spy v Spy) i.e., armed to the teeth yet he doesn't charge a rural home where a severely wounded victim and a housewife are pinned down. Bell, who can do everything, yells at a schizo and snaps her out of her debilitated state. In another scene, a sniper intentionally grazes a hostage taker from 200 feet. A very close friend of Bell's is severely wounded and for the longest time we witness only one very brief bedside visit by Bell with no mention of follow up visits or calls to check status. And why kill the old lady - seemed gratuitous to me. There are other points along this line to be made, but I'll bite my tongue intead of leaking tiny spoilers. And one last comment - Bell has to lighten up a bit. Will I read Book #3? Probably, but not a sure thing.
    • 4/5
      Bitter RiverByJulia KellerMy " in a nutshell" summary...A young girl is found dead...it's up to Bell and the sheriff to find out who did it!My thoughts after reading this book. The first book that I read by this author was A Killing In The Fields. It was excellent. This book follows in that same vein...same characters...some of the same relationships but a very different crime...crimes actually. Acker's Gap...with its cast of home town characters...remains the scene of the crime...crimes actually. A young local girl is murdered...she is pregnant and involved with the local high school hero against his family's wishes. It's again up to the sheriff to find out what happened. Of course there are lots of really suspicious characters surfacing and lots of secrets. It's usually Bell and the sheriff who get to the bottom of things. Then there are the extenuating circumstances...someone is shooting in the Town Hall. There is an explosion in town. The sheriff has a sort of crazy wife, Bell has multiple family issues an old friend comes to town bringing even more issues! Yikes! What I love about the book...I love this story line. I love the small town West Virginia atmosphere. I love the characters. The story still makes me feel as though I am reading a lovely cozy mystery in spite of a young pregnant girl being strangled to death and everything else that happens.What I did not love...Everyone in a while this book felt endless but that was just me.Final thoughts...It's nice to have read the first book before this one just because I like knowing the characters really well...and this is such a character laden novel. There are lots of surprises in this book that lead to a rather shocking ending.
    • 4/5
      Turbulance isn't limited to the "Bitter River."Life is usually messy. We may have problems at work, at home, with family or the plumbing. Books don't often involve the reader in the multiple problems of its characters. "Bitter River" manages to do it well. Belfa Elkins, divorced mother and Prosecuting Attorney, is a mess. A younger lover, a murder that strikes close to home, a mysterious stranger... You get the picture. Julia Keller pulls it off. The disparate characters get enough time to develop so that we care and the denouement works. I loved the fact that the setting was hardscrabble West Virginia, the heroine was a mess and though life remains chaotic, we wouldn't want any other way.
    • 5/5
      A gripping, frightening and suspenseful book, this is a must read, and the pages within literally shriek "The horror! The horror!" And when you finish it, you'll feel like shrieking this phrase too. It is a real page turner and she gives vivid descriptions so it is easily to visualize things happening.The author should also be commended. The book does what a good crime book is supposed to do: it points out all the aspects of the crime are, and who the guilty party(ies) are.This book had many surprises for me which made it a great read. When I realized this book was unpredictable, I had a hard time putting it down.Julia Keller has a gift for story-telling. She candidly writes about her subject with an entertaining flair. I highly recommend this one.