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Broken River
Broken River | J Robert Lennon
25 posts | 17 read | 42 to read
Following a string of affairs, Karl and Eleanor are giving their marriage one last shot by moving with their twelve-year old daughter Irina from Brooklyn to a newly renovated, apparently charming old house outside the upstate New York town of Broken River. Before their arrival, the house stood empty for over a decade, the reason why no secret. Twelve years previously, a brutal double murder took place there, a young couple killed in front of their daughter. The crime was never solved, but theories have always swirled, and most locals consider the house cursed, its dereliction symbolic of the indelible stain of violence that occurred there. The family may have left the deceptions of their city life behind them, but all three are still lying to each other. Karl soon reverts to his old cheating habits. Eleanor and Irina hide their fascination with the house's ghoulish history from one another, taking perverse pleasure in separately researching their new home's bloody past. But Karl's digressions and Eleanor and Irina's unwelcome investigations have consequences, and before long their duplicitous actions unleash forces none of them could possibly have anticipated, putting them in mortal danger. This new novel by America's master of literary rule-breaking is part thriller, part family drama, part gothic horror noir - and like all J.Robert Lennon's novels, defies these categorisations to stand most of all as a work of unflinching moral purpose, showing the consequences of human deceitfulness, and the sometimes dreadful force the past can exert on the present.
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Lesliereadsalot
Broken River | J Robert Lennon
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Definitely J Robert Lennon. Really liked Broken River.
#SundayFunday @BookmarkTavern

BookmarkTavern Fantastic! Thanks for sharing! 5mo
15 likes1 comment
review
Lesliereadsalot
Broken River | J Robert Lennon
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Pickpick

A beautifully written book about a house where two people were murdered and the new family who moves in. The parents and their daughter each narrate the story along with one of the murderers and some kind of observing ghost. Terrific character development and plot lines, well worth reading.

Tamra I really enjoyed the audio of this one! 6mo
sarahbarnes I loved this one too! 6mo
Cathythoughts Great review 👍🏻 Yes I loved it too. Must read another one by him soon X 6mo
bthegood Stacked - your review sold me 🙂 6mo
20 likes4 comments
review
Tamra
Broken River | J Robert Lennon
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Pickpick

Page turning literary thriller. I enjoyed it @Cathythoughts!

I‘m not sure what to make of “the observer” though. 🤔 Interesting it turns out the women are the “better” characters.

Cathythoughts Yes , literary thriller. The Observer is watching it all , I‘m not sure either. A witness of some kind. I‘m reading another one of his now , Subdivision, and there‘s another observer, only it‘s a crow this time. I like this writer though 👍🏻♥️ (edited) 8mo
Tamra @Cathythoughts the narrator‘s whine for the daughter was super annoying. Apropos for 12 year old whining. 😜 I will look out for your review of Subdivision. Definitely an entertaining writer and wasn‘t a gimmicky thriller like some. 8mo
Cathythoughts Thank god ! Not a gimmicky thriller… I‘m so over them. I had a terrible dislike for the 12 year olds father. Interestingly I have strong feelings ( of compassion) for a character in Subdivision. This writer is making me feel strong feelings. 8mo
See All 8 Comments
Tamra @Cathythoughts oh he was just plain disgusting! 🤢 8mo
jlhammar I think I need this one - sounds good! 8mo
Tamra @jlhammar I thought it was entertaining - hope you do too! 8mo
BarbaraBB He is such a good writer. One of my current favorites! 8mo
Tamra @BarbaraBB I‘m going to have to check out more. 😁 8mo
52 likes1 stack add8 comments
review
Cathythoughts
Broken River | J Robert Lennon
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Pickpick

This is the story of a house in the woods where a murder happens. The house remains empty for many years, until a new family move in hoping to repair their relationships and their lives.
At times I wanted to bail because it was really very scary, and because of my intense dislike for a certain character. But I was too caught up in the story, so well written and unputdownable. The house is a character too and also the snow.

BarbaraBB I loved this one for all the reasons you mention 😉 8mo
Tamra Oh, this sounds terrifically eerie! Stacked! 8mo
Lesliereadsalot Definitely reading this one! 8mo
See All 21 Comments
batsy Nice review 💜 Been on my tbr for awhile and I need to bump this up! 8mo
TrishB Been on my pile for a while. Saying it‘s very scary makes me want to read now! 8mo
sarahbarnes I really liked this one, too. I agree it was very creepy in parts. I also loved the house as a character. 8mo
Cathythoughts @BarbaraBB I see your reviews of this author. Would you recommend another to me ? When you get a chance XXX 8mo
Cathythoughts @Tamra @Lesliereadsalot @batsy @Trishb Whenever you may get there , I do look forward to your reviews. You have been warned ! It‘s edgy and scary. 8mo
Cathythoughts @sarahbarnes Isn‘t he a great writer. It makes all the difference. A bit too graphic for me in some ways , but having said that, I‘ll read another book of his shortly 😬😂 8mo
Cathythoughts @TrishB Oh no! 😂 I‘ll be interested to see if you find as scary as I did , whenever you may get there xx 8mo
Cathythoughts @BarbaraBB Thankyou for those .. I‘ll definitely read one soon ( once I recover 😂) He‘s a good writer 👍🏻 8mo
BarbaraBB @Cathythoughts I agree. And all of his books (the ones I read) are completely different. 8mo
Ruthiella Great review! If I hadn‘t already stacked it, I‘d have done so now. I really liked Subdivision. 8mo
Cathythoughts @Ruthiella 👍🏻❤️ Great to hear another like for Subdivision.. I‘m getting it ! 8mo
CarolynM Nice review🙂 I‘m not good at scary, though, so I don‘t think this one‘s for me. 8mo
Reggie Did you say really, really, scary, you say? lol, stacked! 8mo
Cathythoughts @CarolynM No not for you Carolyn 😳🙈 .. I nearly bailed and I love a good thriller 😄 8mo
Cathythoughts @Reggie I did say really scary 🙈😂! I‘ll look forward to your thoughts 👍🏻♥️ (edited) 8mo
Lindy This definitely sounds too scary for me. I‘m glad you enjoyed it. 8mo
69 likes6 stack adds21 comments
review
BarbaraBB
Broken River | J Robert Lennon
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Pickpick

This is such a cool book. A family moves to a deserted house where a murder took place years before. A sex obsessed father, a mother who tries to save their marriage and their smart lovely kid, who is intrigued by the murder. More characters are introduced as is the sleepy town of Broken River, almost ghost town like. The setting, the atmosphere, the characters, the plot, the genre bending: it‘s all so good!!

Pic: Rabat, Morocco

squirrelbrain You‘re loving your Lennon books! ❤️ 2y
See All 19 Comments
BarbaraBB @squirrelbrain Yes! I‘ve read three so far and loved each of them! 2y
jhod I also loved this one, I should seek more Lennon out... 2y
Cinfhen I was there too, in Rabat 😉cool picture 2y
Librarybelle Stacking! 2y
batsy I have this stacked, I see. Great review! 2y
BarbaraBB @batsy Thanks! He is such a good author. 2y
BarbaraBB @jhod You should! I‘ve been reading his backlist lately and he doesn‘t disappoint! 2y
BarbaraBB @Cinfhen Cool place, that square. I really liked Rabat! 2y
sarahbarnes Yay! So glad you enjoyed it. I need to figure out which book of his I want to read next. 2y
BarbaraBB @sarahbarnes I loved it! Have you read 2y
BarbaraBB Or were you the one recommending it to me 🤣🤦🏻‍♀️ @sarahbarnes (edited) 2y
sarahbarnes I think maybe I did! 😂 I did really like that one, too. I‘m thinking maybe I‘ll read Happyland or Castle next? 2y
BarbaraBB @sarahbarnes You definitely did, I checked it. Both your suggestions sound good too! I am having this one on my shelves 2y
sarahbarnes Oh, that one sounds really good too! 2y
Centique Stacked! Great review and amazing photo 😍 2y
79 likes6 stack adds19 comments
blurb
BarbaraBB
Broken River | J Robert Lennon
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A Valentine gift to myself 🤣 #backlisting

squirrelbrain Your new favourite author! ❤️ 2y
LeahBergen Perfect! 😆 2y
TrishB Great gifts ♥️ I think I have Broken River somewhere! 2y
See All 6 Comments
BarbaraBB @squirrelbrain Lol, yes 😀 2y
Megabooks Happy Valentine‘s!! Great choices! 2y
sarahbarnes Yes!! ♥️♥️ 2y
67 likes6 comments
review
sarahbarnes
Broken River | J Robert Lennon
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Pickpick

I couldn‘t put this one down. An immersive read with a great balance of creepy and funny, and with fantastic characters. Such a good story, too. I‘ve now loved both books I‘ve read by Lennon.

Ruthiella This is definitely on my list! I loved 2y
sarahbarnes @Ruthiella I did too! And after that @vivastory recommended this one. I really enjoyed it! 2y
vivastory I'm so happy that you liked this one! The narrative voice in it's always stuck with me. 2y
See All 7 Comments
vivastory Another one by Lennon that I liked (although admittedly my least favorite of the 3 that I've read) is 2y
sarahbarnes @vivastory I‘m also curious about this one and put it on hold at the library 2y
vivastory That one does sound intriguing! 2y
BarbaraBB Familiar is good! Now starting Broken River. Your review made me! 2y
34 likes1 stack add7 comments
blurb
sarahbarnes
Broken River | J Robert Lennon
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Having a pretty good Saturday. 😊 I‘m loving this book so far! @vivastory I think you recommended it after Subdivision. Great rec!

vivastory I'm glad to see that it's working for you! I hope you have a great weekend 📚☕ 2y
21 likes1 comment
review
reneelyons
Broken River | J Robert Lennon
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Pickpick

Eerie and unique, I loved this book!

Full review: https://reneereadsbooks.wordpress.com/

vivastory I really liked this one, definitely under the radar 7y
21 likes2 comments
review
mauveandrosysky
Broken River | J Robert Lennon
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Pickpick

What a cool book. This is not a fast-paced psychological thriller, but a clever and slow-burning domestic drama with the fatalism of a Greek tragedy.

Lennon's writing is cerebral and metaphysical, exploring the nature of cause and effect, the line between existential randomness and predetermined outcomes. How much control do we possess over our own lives, limited beings that we are? Are we all just part of a meaningless and fatalistic narrative?

LeahBergen I'll be picking this one up! 7y
EvieBee Mmm. Sounds very good. Was this in any way supernatural? I can't read those. Keep me up at night. 7y
mauveandrosysky @EvieBee sort of. There's a character called the Observer who is like an omnipresent third-person narrator throughout. The Observer may or may not be a ghost, it's up for interpretation. It never really comes across as threatening though. The worst stuff that happens in the book is firmly rooted in reality. 7y
34 likes2 stack adds3 comments
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mauveandrosysky
Broken River | J Robert Lennon
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Well, yeah, why do you think I read so much? 😏

blurb
jhod
Broken River | J Robert Lennon
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Hairdresser is perfect place to get reading in. I'm a spacelady. Really enjoying this one so far #currentlyreading

Ashley_Nicoletto I always read while my color processes. Perfect uninterrupted time! Enjoy! 7y
CouronneDhiver I'm doing the exact same thing right now 7y
BarbaraBB Me too 😂 7y
28 likes1 stack add4 comments
review
FountainBookstore
Broken River | J Robert Lennon
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Pickpick

J. Robert Lennon was a great guest at the shop and I really enjoyed this unclassifiable read. Got some Twin Peaks action going on. Liked it a lot. Can't wait to hear what's he's up to next!

review
Books_Wine_Repeat
Broken River | J Robert Lennon
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Mehso-so

Karl, Eleanor & their daughter, Irina move to Broken River after learning Karl's infidelities. They move into a house that has an unsolved double murder. This is also told from the perspective of 'The Observer' who's a ghost/spirit that dwells in the home but can move around as it wants. It has a strong beginning but kind of meanders in the middle. I didn't find this suspenseful at all nor was this a psychological thriller. It was funny at times.

Megabooks Sounds...different 🤷🏻‍♀️ 7y
Books_Wine_Repeat @Booksandcooks I was disappointed it was categorized as thriller and it was not... not even a little bit. 7y
50 likes2 comments
blurb
ReadingEnvy
Broken River | J Robert Lennon
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This month's subscription selection from Malaprops Bookstore in Asheville, NC... I have never heard of it, which is exactly why I have this subscription! I think this is the first thriller they have sent. #bookmail

wellreadredhead I love Malaprops! My favorite bookstore in Asheville 7y
BarbaraTheBibliophage Another Malaprops fan here! Hope you love the book. 7y
RealBooks4ever Sounds like a good story! 😻 7y
See All 8 Comments
LeahBergen I thought this sounded good (I stacked it from a different post 🤔). (edited) 7y
ReadingEnvy @collegecatlady They're the best! Small but mighty! I consider them my local indie store even though they are an hour away. 7y
ReadingEnvy @LeahBergen yes j had mine a few days when I started seeing it - I have friends with the same subscription who live farther so the books take longer so out of respect I wait a few days to post the book. It was weird because in the meantime I started seeing it herem 7y
56 likes2 stack adds8 comments
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CherylDeFranceschi
Broken River | J Robert Lennon
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Lily and I are rudely ignoring the SO while I read and she snuggles down. That's just bad manners. Of course, the SO is actually reading, too.

DebinHawaii Lily seems to have ignoring down to a fine art! 🐱❤️ 8y
73 likes1 comment
blurb
CherylDeFranceschi
Broken River | J Robert Lennon
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The final haul. Home. Holy cats- that was the bomb!

LeahBergen Wow! 💗💗 8y
saresmoore Yes. 8y
Hooked_on_books Drooling over here 😍 8y
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ChasingOm Wow! 8y
rubyslippersreads Amazing (plus I love the 😸 lamp.) 8y
ValerieAndBooks Amazing!! What an experience for you 😊! How did you get them all home? Did you drive or fly? 8y
CherylDeFranceschi @ValerieAndBooks Thank goodness we drove! My 2 colleagues had equal hauls. 8y
Hobbinol Zowee! How wonderful! I just stared at your pile of books like it was an altar! A sight to behold❤️❗ 8y
CherylDeFranceschi @Hobbinol It was pretty magical. People giving you books. And learning bookish things. I am now filled with erudition. And Malbec. There was a lot of wine! 8y
britt_brooke Wow, this is awesome! 8y
DebinHawaii Wow! That is awesome!! 📚📚📚❤️ 8y
91 likes11 comments