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Down by the River
Robyn Carr Book Review

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Plot Summary of Down by the River
"

Mira, Jun 2003, 6.50, 384 pp.
ISBN: 1551667045

Seems like everyone living in Grace Valley, California knows that Dr. June Hudson slept with an unknown man last night. June's partner in a local medical practice, Dr. John Stone, also confirmed she is four months pregnant. The amused and embarrassed June plans to introduce her beloved retired law enforcement agent Jim Post to her family and friends as she knows the town waits for them to show up at the café.

At about the same time June's octogenarian Aunt Myrna Hudson Claypool plans to soon present her mystery man to the crowd. Meanwhile, a druggie causes problems for everyone and a flood may destroy the town. In that atmosphere the townsfolk adopts Jim, though he had “deflowered” a favorite daughter, as if he lived there for life.

This is an interesting look at small town life with a touch of suspense thrown in on the side. The story line ambles slowly for most of the novel though the flood and the actions of a miscreant add suspense at the end. Readers see favorites from previous Grave Valley tales while also get deep inside the psyche of the key cast members to their inner essence. Robyn Carr shines a strong spotlight on life in small town California.

Harriet Klausner
"

Harriet Klausner, Resident Scholar


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Review Analysis of Down by the River
Our unique search engine provides a wealth of detail about books by breaking them down into many different literary elements, all of which are searchable (click here).
Ratings are on a 1-10 scale (Low to High)
Plot
Tone of book? - thoughtful
Time/era of story - present (2000-2010)
Romance/Romance Problems Yes
Is this an adult or child's book? - Adult or Young Adult Book
Outside culture (society) - American Pacific Coast
If story of urban/rural... - Small town life
Ethnic/regional/gender life Yes

Main Character
Gender - Female
Profession/status: - diplomat
Age: - 20's-30's
Ethnicity/Nationality - Turkish
How sensitive is this character? - sensitive to others' feelings
Sense of humor - Mostly serious with occasional humor
Intelligence - Smarter than most other characters
Physique - very athletic

Main Adversary
Identity: - none

Setting
United States Yes
The US: - California

Style
Person - mostly 3rd
Accounts of torture and death? - generic/vague references to death/punishment
Amount of dialog - significantly more dialog than descript
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