Reviews

How It Happened by Michael Koryta

erincharp's review against another edition

4.0

Michael Koryta was inspired to write this book after the disappearance of Jill Behrman, an Indiana University student. In that I started at IU months after her disappearance and that I loved one of his other books (So Cold the River), I needed to get my hands on this. Jackie Pelletier and Ian Kelly disappear with no trace. Kimmy Crepeaux, an untrustworthy drug addict, swears their bodies are sunk in a local pond. Rob Barrett, an FBI agent, puts it all on the line for Kimmy, only to have his search turn up empty and their bodies found miles from where she claimed them to be. As the story unfolds, it seems that everyone within Rob's circle is far more involved than he realized and he risks his career and his life to solve the crime. A good, easy read with levels of mystery!

zosiablue's review against another edition

3.0

(3.5) I’m sure this was fine but it was too much of a straight police procedural for me to enjoy. However, I really loved how often the title phrase HOW IT HAPPENED was used and especially loved how hard the audiobook reader leaned into saying it. “And then the detective wondered….HOW IT HAPPENED!!!”

angleonwriting's review against another edition

4.0

Nice crime drama. I particularly liked the secondary character Howard Pelletier, father of one of the murder victims. His character reacted and not in the way readers might expect.

sjorgie's review against another edition

5.0

Loved this book. Set in a small Maine town with the first chapter opening with a murder "confession" from a drug addicted young woman. First time on a murder case the FBI agent in charge believes the story. And then the twists start. Who to believe? The bad guys lurk in the background and Koryta leads you along to the point you're thinking you could figure this out if you could only remember something to put it all together. Good guys with murderous thoughts, the horror for all of drug addiction and the casualness and ease on how it could happen, and the underlying truth that the world has some very bad people in it.

sus7's review

4.0

I received a digital review copy from the publisher through Edelweiss.
Michael Koryta is one of my favorite authors and popular at our library...he's a Hoosier, after all.
This is a new character and I'd like to see more of him. For Koryta fans, this book does not disappoint. I will be recommending this book to friends and library patrons.

rusticpages's review against another edition

4.0

4.5 stars

roaratrenee's review against another edition

dark mysterious sad medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

4.5

mbjrose99's review against another edition

tense medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? No
• Loveable characters? No
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

3.5

At times vaguely embarrassing to read, this book is about the perseverance of a detective to prove his case and the secrets he unravels as he does so.

zzzrevel's review against another edition

3.0

I thought this was not very good for evidence
gathering for over half the novel. This is an
FBI guy who just "wallowed" in the belief
that someone's confession was real and
nothing else needed to be considered.

The climax is a bit klugey too, as well as
the repetitive explanation of "How it
happened".

Just so-so at best.

jlkerby's review against another edition

dark mysterious fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? No
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.0