jonid 's review for:

River Road by Carol Goodman

3.0

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Nan Lewis is a creative writing professor who blames herself for her 4 year old daughter's death 6 years earlier. When a favorite student is found dead from a hit-and run driver, Nan's busted bumper with blood on it incriminates her. She drinks enough due to the death of her daughter and the demise of her marriage to be unable to recall much clearly and she says "But I'm not an alcoholic" so many times, I felt like the author was writing in large capital letters. There is faculty intrigue and student involvement and so many things happening that you will wonder how someone who is drunk can manage it all - but Nan does. The romantic interest with the local sheriff is somewhat predictable but you'll have to suspend your disbelief when you read what Nan can manage when injured. I figured out who the culprit was half-way through the book so the final reveal wasn't much of surprise.