So Cold The River

Next up on my super fast Michael Koryta journey: So Cold The River.

Goodreads Stats

Why I Read This Book/How I Heard About It

This was another quick read so I could be ready to meet Michael Koryta at Morgenstern's Bookstore & Cafe. But, as we know, I didn't even end up going, so I guess I read his books for nothing? Haha, just kidding. Reading is never a waste of time. I still got to experience another immersive story, so it was worth it.

Goodreads Summary

It started with a beautiful woman and a challenge. As a gift for her husband, Alyssa Bradford approaches Eric Shaw to make a documentary about her father-in-law, Campbell Bradford, a 95-year-old billionaire whose past is wrapped in mystery. Eric grabs the job even though there are few clues to the man's past -- just the name of his hometown and an antique water bottle he's kept his entire life.

In Bradford's hometown, Eric discovers an extraordinary history -- a glorious domed hotel where movie stars, presidents, athletes, and mobsters once mingled, and hot springs whose miraculous mineral water cured everything from insomnia to malaria. Neglected for years, the resort has been restored to its former grandeur just in time for Eric's stay.

Just hours after his arrival, Eric experiences a frighteningly vivid vision. As the days pass, the frequency and intensity of his hallucinations increase and draw Eric deeper into the town's dark history. He discovers that something besides the hotel has been restored -- a long-forgotten evil that will stop at nothing to regain its lost glory. Brilliantly imagined and terrifyingly real, So Cold the River is a tale of irresistible suspense with a racing, unstoppable current.

First Impressions

OK, this is one of those fun things about Michael Koryta. This book took place in French Lick at the West Baden Springs Resort and French Lick Hotel. Having visited the area and stayed overnight, it was fun to be "in the know" in terms of the setting.

That said, this story was all kinds of strange and I had a hard time getting my mind around it. Because Koryta writes a totally brand new story every book, I had no way of knowing if this was something supernatural or magical or if it was supposed to be grounded in reality. So, that left me scratching my head for about half the book.

Final Thoughts

There was a lot of history in this book. I know some people loooooove historical novels, but I have a hard time with certain types and certain eras in history. I have no idea why. My husband will watch every western show known to man and I just can't get into them. Even if they have someone super hot like Timothy Olyphaunt. As soon as someone rides up on a horse or steps into a saloon, my mind just starts drifting. Haha.

THIS IS NOT A WESTERN. It's just one of those eras where I suddenly lose interest. I can't even explain the era...sometime in the 1900s. I don't know. I wanted to see the story through to the end, and I did. But it was a struggle to hold my attention. I usually enjoy supernatural stuff, but this felt out of place to me. I just didn't love it. And, after this one, I decided to cool it with the Koryta for awhile.

Rating on Goodreads

I rated this book 3 out of 5 stars.

My rating method:

• I rarely rate books 5 stars. I save this for the absolute best books I've read. You know the ones...the ones that you can't get out of your head, even after you've finished them. The ones you think about for weeks afterwards.

• If a book is really, really good, I'll give it 4 stars. If you see a 4-star rating from me, I'd definitely recommend it to you to read.

• If it's just OK, it gets 3 stars. Basically, it means I could take it or leave it. I'd probably read it again because it wasn't terrible. But not like a favorite or anything.

• If I rate it 1 or 2 stars, I would not recommend anyone read it. It either didn't hold my interest or I couldn't relate to the characters/plot.