He has been living in New York doing menial jobs, missing his girl friend Robin, wishing he could have persuaded her to come to New York with him. But Robin was determined to pursue a career in criminal justice and has taken a stand for women’s rights in the Salisbury Police Department though her status in the department is not commensurate with her talent and accomplishments.

Adam’s other regret at leaving home was leaving Grace, the granddaughter of Dolf Shepherd, Adam’s father’s closest friend. Though he thinks of Grace as a younger cousin, Grace has more romantic intentions toward him, adding another measure of complexity to Adam’s life.

Adam does return home, having at first dismissed his best friend Danny Faith’s request to help him out. Danny and Adam have been through many adventures together including some that resulted in doing some jail time. Danny has not disclosed the nature of his need, leaving Adam feeling guilty especially when Danny is nowhere to be found when Adam finally arrives in Salisbury.

Though Down River qualifies as a mystery, including several unsolved murders, the real beauty of the novel is the untangling of relationships among the prominent and infamous families that populate Salisbury, North Carolina. Author Hart reveals bits and pieces of the past and marries them with present events, leaving readers with the task of trying to make sense of it all. The plot unfolds not unlike a jigsaw puzzle with only a few of the most obvious pieces interlocking. Gradually, as Adam and Robin talk to friends and relatives the larger picture begins to emerge.

The characters are all individuals with less than sterling backgrounds and reputations. Some are more likeable than others, but like most of us are generally a composite of good and bad. It is interesting to watch how some individuals cope, while others are forever at the mercy of their situation. The usual litany of motivations comes to bear, but the story distinguishes itself through how these motivations consume or are consumed by the key players in the novel.

Hart demonstrates his command and facility with the English language in this novel. Several examples are worth noting. After a prolonged conversation with a rather imperious older woman Adam is left standing on said woman’s porch. “Then she turned for the great mouth of a door, and by the time it inhaled her, she was a much older woman.” Or Adam’s description of his father after a particularly difficult day. “He filled the chair like he’d been poured into it.” The choice of words is spot on.

Down River is a story about the human condition. Every human being is beset by events and interpersonal relationships. What make life and this novel interesting is observing how different personalities react to situations and other people. What constitutes success or satisfaction with one’s life differs from one individual to another. In this story, John Hart has shown some interesting results.

--Andy Plonka