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So Cold the River

by Michael Koryta (Goodreads Author)

3.41 of 5 stars 3.41 · rating details · 2,265 ratings · 543 reviews

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 k...more

Hardcover, 528 pages

Published June 9th 2010 by Little, Brown and Company (first published 2010)

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Aug 03, 2012 Lou rated it 5 of 5 stars

Shelves: horror, mystery-thriller, supernatural

Check out my interview with Michael Koryta in August 2012 >>http://more2read.com/review/interview-with-michael-koryta/

The main protagonist a film maker needs to define and separate visions and dreams with reality. For a living, while not working on a movie, he made tribute videos, wedding videos etc for private clients and some malevolent insidious presence seems to call him to a little job of putting together a tribute video for a dying man. It may be a project that could hold some meanin...more Check out my interview with Michael Koryta in August 2012 >>http://more2read.com/review/interview-with-michael-koryta/

The main protagonist a film maker needs to define and separate visions and dreams with reality. For a living, while not working on a movie, he made tribute videos, wedding videos etc for private clients and some malevolent insidious presence seems to call him to a little job of putting together a tribute video for a dying man. It may be a project that could hold some meaning and he would like doing, but as the skeletons in the cupboard come out it’s a job he will possibly regret. He needs to visit a town to do research and piece together the past, he is being paid a nice sum for the job. There are others also doing their research, a graduate documenting the history of black people in the area, and a storm hunter seeking out extreme climates. These people, he crosses paths with, will be important to his research. There’s talk of a wonder juice or really a wonder water, Pluto water. Taste at your peril! Once tasted he finds himself asking many questions on it’s origin and it’s real influence. The dark past of this land will once more be relived with a harrowing and nightmarish potency.Will there be more blood in this historical and creepy locale.

Koryta has crafted another great story with supernatural elements. He has yet again cleverly knitted into the framework of a modern setting a haunting dark page from history with great atmospheric presence. Entertaining and hypnotic reading.

“The town where he was born, and where I want to send you, is in southern Indiana, a truly odd place, and beautiful. Have you ever heard of French Lick?”

“Larry Bird, “he said, and she laughed and nodded.

“That’s the general response, but at on point it was one of the great resorts in the world. There are two towns there, actually, West Baden and French Lick, side by side, and they each have a hotel that will take your breath away. Particularly the one in West Baden. It’s unlike anything I’ve ever seen, and yet it’s built out in the middle of nowhere, this tiny town in farm country.”

“Crazy, a voice whispered in Eric’s mind, you’re going insane. Truly, literally out of your mind. Seeing things that aren’t there is one thing, but you had a conversation that wasn’t there, buddy. That’s the sort of thing that only happens to-“

“It’s strange,’ she said eventually. “Don’t you think it’s strange? The way it stays cold, the way it…I don’t know, feels. There’s something off about it. And it is the only thing-and I mean the only thing-that he had from childhood. My husband told me that he kept it in a locked drawer in his bedside table, and said the bottle was a souvenir from his childhood and that no one was allowed to touch it. As you can see, it meant a lot to him for some reason. That’s why I’m so curious.”

“They passed cattle farms and a group of Amish men working beside a barn. The countryside here was rolling as if tossed by an unseen ocean, no flat fields as there were in Illinois and the northern half of Indiana. The terrain here was closer to what you’d find on the south side of the Ohio River, where Kentucky’s rolling bluegrass fields edged into foothills and then became mountains.”

Review with book trailer and author video also @ http://more2read.com/review/so-cold-the-river-by-michael-koryta/(less)

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Apr 13, 2011 Sue rated it 3 of 5 stars Recommends it for: those who enjoy Stephen King

Shelves: read-in-2011, library-book, paranormal-or-ghost-stories, thriller-horror

A new author for me and I was intrigued by the review--any book that involves elements of the paranormal and mystery without having actual aliens, etc. I am intrigued. The premise involves a mysterious bottle of water which appears to have properties that allow a young film maker to "see" visions of past events. Things happen that are not explainable by any logical means.

I found it an interesting story that kept me wanting to know the ending. It is in the Stephen King type tradition but not on...more

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Jan 13, 2011 Carol rated it 4 of 5 stars

I'm glad I didn't listen to the mediocre reviews I read about So Cold the River. I had almost decided not to read it and that would have been my loss. All in all I really liked it though it was a tad long and probably could have been wrapped much quicker.

The strongest element that kept me reading was the back story of the the West Baden Springs Hotel and the French Lick Springs Resort (Indiana). Having just visited these this past fall I was fascinated by the way Koryta weaved the history of th...more

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Sep 11, 2011 William Bentrim rated it 5 of 5 stars

So Cold the River by Michael Koryta

A down and out want-to-be Steven Spielburg find himself immersed in water, deceit and confusion. A trip to a famous resort for a simple project lands him in the most danger fraught period of his life.

Eric Shaw is a man with an enormous ego that has been shattered by failure. His self loathing promotes his driving of those who love him to despair. Koryta truly paints a man who conspires to destroy himself. The characterization is poignant and colorful. Small to...more

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Jul 28, 2011 Robert Starner added it

A very entertaining ghost tale with mostly engaging characters. The author vividly describes the settings throughout the novel, and relates in his afterword the genesis of the story and its basis from the real settings of his youth. You will definitely want to visit the hotel described in the book. As the story comes to its denouement, the suspense is driven by the winds of the storms that occur and these are vividly depicted by the author. I definitely am interested in reading other books by th...more

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Feb 02, 2013 Ashland Mystery Oregon rated it 3 of 5 stars

Shelves: mystery-us-indiana

So Cold the River is Indiana woo-woo, a little horror, a bit thriller and 100% page turner. It's a thick book at 508 pages, so you'll want to be sure of your commitment and your time before you start.

Koryta pulls together a couple of winning ideas as foundation to the work: a washed up documentary video producer who has uncanny insight into objects and places, an old glass bottle that's strangely cold, and a weird little Indiana town with an inbred population and spooky hotel. It's the promise...more

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Jan 03, 2013 Christopher Fulbright rated it 4 of 5 stars

I read Michael Koryta's SO COLD THE RIVER over Christmas vacation. This violates one critical rule of mine -- not to read summer-books in the winter time -- but what the hell, rules are meant to be broken, eh? Fortunately for me, the time investment was well worth it. I enjoyed the book from beginning to end, with just a slight lag in the middle, and I can honestly say I'm glad I read it. Nothing like finishing a book only to wish you had back those hours of your life to clean out the bathroom p...more I read Michael Koryta's SO COLD THE RIVER over Christmas vacation. This violates one critical rule of mine -- not to read summer-books in the winter time -- but what the hell, rules are meant to be broken, eh? Fortunately for me, the time investment was well worth it. I enjoyed the book from beginning to end, with just a slight lag in the middle, and I can honestly say I'm glad I read it. Nothing like finishing a book only to wish you had back those hours of your life to clean out the bathroom p-traps or something. Anyway, I digress! Not the case here -- I really enjoyed this book!

Koryta's opening scenes hooked me right away. I felt a genuine chill in the early stages of the book as things are just getting started, and we're getting an idea of what's going on with the main character. Speaking of which, Eric Shaw is the kind of main character that anyone who's lived a little can identify with right away -- marriage on the rocks, separated, struggling with past failures both personal and professional. He's likable and easy to follow. I rooted for him, which is always a good thing. In fact, all of the characters in this book were very well done, with some dead-on and emotionally moving interactions between some of them later in the book.

A couple of minor complaints kept me from giving this five stars: I felt like the story lagged in velocity near the middle, not a big thing, but I seemed to sense it. Also, ******MINOR SPOILERS****** I found it tough to believe that the character would drink more of the water after that first taste. For that matter, it was a stretch to think he'd try it all (especially the way it was described). Yes, I get there was a supernatural element was involved, but the whole bit of how it called to him, and then how it affected him, seemed too easily resolved at the book. I understand how it was all supposed to work, but it just felt too simple a solution for me where the water and how it affected him was concerned. ******END SPOILERS******

All that said, the way this book ended was like the wildest roller coaster ride in town. The end of this book really impressed me because not only because it was very well-written, but everything actually came together, all loose ends were tied-up in a way that didn't seem forced, plus it was exciting and emotionally satisfying. In fact, I think is the best ending to a book that I've read in quite some time. So often I read a book that I've really liked, but it leaves me feeling just a tad dissatisfied at the end -- not so here. This was a perfect ending, with everything resolved nicely. Very beautifully done.

I will definitely read more books by Michael Koryta, because I get a sense that this is a writer who will go on to do really great things. And I definitely recommend SO COLD THE RIVER, the perfect book for fans of crime fiction or horror.(less)

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Jan 03, 2013 Bob Williams rated it 3 of 5 stars

At first I was hesitant to write a review of SO COLD THE RIVER since I had a lukewarm reaction to it while others I know fell in love with the story. I thought I might be missing something and might be doing the novel an injustice. Still, here goes...
This was a book I wanted to like more, and it does have quite a few good ingredients going into the mix. It's suspenseful and a bit of a mystery: the reader knows enough to make sense of the story, but there are missing pieces that aren't filled i...more
At first I was hesitant to write a review of SO COLD THE RIVER since I had a lukewarm reaction to it while others I know fell in love with the story. I thought I might be missing something and might be doing the novel an injustice. Still, here goes...
This was a book I wanted to like more, and it does have quite a few good ingredients going into the mix. It's suspenseful and a bit of a mystery: the reader knows enough to make sense of the story, but there are missing pieces that aren't filled in until close to the end. I also liked the main character, Eric Shaw: he's an "almost-made-it" film maker who sabotaged his own upward mobility through being politically incorrect. Even though he's a straight-shooter, he lacks the arrogance and sense of self-righteousness that make this an easy thing for him. In short, he's got guts, but he's not vain. In addition, he also has fledgling psychic powers, and they blossom as the story goes on.
As a foil for Eric Shaw, Josiah Campbell (and his later incarnation)is a great villain, an egomaniac redneck with an inferiority complex who tries to prove himself by dominating everyone around him, including his own best friend Danny. Claire, Eric Shaw's estranged wife, is the woman who never gave up on Shaw, and her life becomes imperiled when she tries to save him. Kellen is the jock PhD candidate and historian, an African-American friend of Shaw's who finds himself at odds with the racially biased and possessed Josiah Shaw.
There are only a handful of characters to get to know, and Korytas fleshes them out well. The story is unique, and the tornadoes touching down during the conclusion add natural disaster to the existing supernatural dangers. In fact, the last eighty pages or so whip by like a tornado--if only the rest of the book had a tenth of that kind of kinetic energy!
This brings me to the final point. What's not to like? The pacing. I like suspense, and a bomb doesn't have to go off every five pages to hold my attention. Still, I felt as if this five hundred-page novel could have been condensed to around 350-400 pages. If I didn't like the main character so much, I probably would have shelved the book or given it away. Ultimately, it was the combination of suspense, mystery and the appeal of Eric Shaw (at least for me) that kept me in the story. Some readers might not like Shaw or find the mystery too thin, and this might keep them from enjoying or finishing the book.

(less)

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Nov 24, 2012 Jim rated it 4 of 5 stars

A friend recommended Michael Koryta’s “So Cold the River” to me. I’m so glad she did.

The story is about a down-and-out Hollywood cameraman, Eric Shaw, whose temper had sent him home to Chicago with wife in tow. He takes up producing videos for weddings, and that leads him into a contract to dig out some family history at the historical West Baden Springs Hotel in southern Indiana. This is a real location, but the story is fiction placed within the real historically rich context of this area, whe...more A friend recommended Michael Koryta’s “So Cold the River” to me. I’m so glad she did.

The story is about a down-and-out Hollywood cameraman, Eric Shaw, whose temper had sent him home to Chicago with wife in tow. He takes up producing videos for weddings, and that leads him into a contract to dig out some family history at the historical West Baden Springs Hotel in southern Indiana. This is a real location, but the story is fiction placed within the real historically rich context of this area, where natural spring water once ruled and where the nation’s elite often sought out its alleged healing qualities.

Shaw surprisingly enters into a family with a questionable past and a series of murders and old-style southern strongman tactics. He teams together with a brickhouse-built, black doctoral student from nearby Indiana University in Bloomington, where author Koryta lives part time, to find out the truth about a dying ultra-rich old man in Chicago. The old man carries the name of a bossman who grew up in West Baden and fled, leaving wife and kids behind. But is this dying man really him?

The investigation is filled with twists and turns — and strong mysticism that appear through — is it something in the water? — ghosts and a real-life challenge brought to the surface from a descendent of the man, who does die up in Chicago.

This storyline involves ghosts and hallucinations, accurate historical narrative of the area, bizarre weather and ever-present violence as Shaw and team seek answers. This book may be the fastest read 500 pages I’ve encountered. After about the one-third mark, I couldn’t put it down. My wife read it and had the same impression: We’ve got to read more books by Michael Koryta.

In the end, I can say the book brought back pleasant recollections of Pete Hamill’s “Snow in August,” also a book of intense mysticism, this of the Jewish faith, set amid real history. I think if you read either of these books first, you’ll want to read the other.(less)

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Sep 28, 2012 Christine rated it 1 of 5 stars

This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers. To view it, click here. This book left me feeling like I needed more answers. Why did Lucas mix Campbell's blood with the spring water, bottle it and keep it all his life. What was the significance of this? Did Lucas let Campbell drown to offer him as a sacrifice to the Lost River or was it because he was fearful of him? What gave that particular Spring that sweet honey taste that Campbell swore would make millions? How did Lucas leave Indiana to go to Chicago and strike it rich with only $14 to his name? Why didn't Lu...more

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Aug 17, 2012 Kelly rated it 3 of 5 stars

So Cold the River's book jacket uses words such as "irresistible suspense" and "spellbinding". I wouldn't go that far, but if you are looking for an original, well-written tale very reminiscent of Stephen King's The Shining, then this book might be for you.

Eric Shaw is a down-on-his-luck, back-from-LA, Chicago filmmaker who is now "reduced" to designing "video life portraits" at funerals to make ends meet. To make matters worse, he is also on his way to divorce from his wife, Claire. When he is...more

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Aug 15, 2012 Diane rated it 3 of 5 stars

Shelves: audio-books-read

3.5/5 stars

Eric Shaw was once a Hollywood film maker, but as of late, he's been reduced to recording weddings and lately memorializing the deceased in the form of funeral videos. After seeing him in action at at a wedding, a beautiful woman named Alyssa proposes that he agree to do a documentary about her billionaire father-in-law, as a gift to her husband . The man, Campbell Bradford is now 95 and dying. Eric feels up for the challenge, but little is know about the mysterious man, except that...more

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Jul 25, 2012 Heather rated it 5 of 5 stars

I just finished reading the novel So Cold the River by Michael Koryta. He's published novels previously, but this is the first of his I read. The novel is about a man who is hired to do a video biography of a millionaire named Campbell Bradford and the strange events that unfold as he delves into this guys past. It's a supernatural thriller/mystery. Very good book, one of those so-scary-can't-read-anymore-but-can't-stop-reading-either novels.

As I was first getting into the book I will say I thou...more

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Apr 06, 2012 Larry Hoffer rated it 4 of 5 stars

Eric Shaw was once a promising cinematographer poised to be the next big thing in Hollywood, until his temper destroyed his career, which significantly damaged his marriage. Now, he mostly makes retrospective films about people, usually used for funerals and other special events. So when Alyssa Bradford hires him to do a biography of her 95-year-old billionaire father-in-law, Campbell Bradford, whose childhood is a mystery to their family, Eric jumps at the chance. Armed only with a vintage bott...more

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Oct 22, 2011 T. Edmund rated it 4 of 5 stars

So Cold the River tells the tale of Eric Shaw, a down and out director hired to document the mysterious Campbell family.

Not surprisingly given the genre, the Campbell family turns out to have a bit more to their past than meets the eye, and fits within ordinary reality. Eric finds himself consumed with visions after drinking some 'Cold' river water, visions which keep escalting in violence and become more real every time.

The strength of Koryta's novel is in the character development of Eric. As...more

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Jun 22, 2011 Kyle rated it 3 of 5 stars

I read So Cold the River for an upcoming book club. I thought the book was OK -- not great, but also not a waste of time. It was an entertaining read, and you even learn some things about thunderstorms.

The book has two timeframes -- 1) modern times and 2) the 1920's. The modern story revolves around Eric Shaw who is on a project to create a film about the area and a mysterious person named Campbell Bradshaw. The 1920's story revolves around Campbell. There is a "Lost River" that flows through t...more

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Jun 08, 2011 Kevintipple rated it 4 of 5 stars

Film maker Eric Shaw was a rising star in Hollywood. He had a rare talent – he just knew when something was right for the film. He just wasn’t as good with people. It drove him out of the industry, out of California and back home to Chicago. Eventually it drove him right out of his marriage to the beautiful Claire.

These days he makes a few bucks creating a sort of video montage tribute for memorial services. He still has the trick of just knowing that something belongs in the film without knowi...more

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Mar 21, 2011 Erin rated it 3 of 5 stars · review of another edition

This is not normally the sort of book I would pick up to read. In fact, if I saw this cover in a store I would think, "I am in the WRONG section! Get me out of here." But I heard a review of the book on NPR and learned that it is a paranormal thriller that takes place in French Lick, Indiana. Most people associate French Lick with Larry Bird, but I have a very close relationship with the town. My family started visiting French Lick almost 20 years ago and have gone down almost every year. It is...more

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Mar 10, 2011 Rose rated it 3 of 5 stars

I can't stop telling people about Michael Koryta. With his first book Tonight I Said Goodbye published in 2004, Koryta is a relative newcomer to the mystery/detective/thriller genre. That said, each of his now seven novels has received critical acclaim and national attention. So Cold the River is Koryta's sixth book and a departure from the Lincoln Perry mystery series. Although more of a supernatural suspense thriller than a mystery/detective story, I really enjoyed So Cold the River. It starts...more I can't stop telling people about Michael Koryta. With his first book Tonight I Said Goodbye published in 2004, Koryta is a relative newcomer to the mystery/detective/thriller genre. That said, each of his now seven novels has received critical acclaim and national attention. So Cold the River is Koryta's sixth book and a departure from the Lincoln Perry mystery series. Although more of a supernatural suspense thriller than a mystery/detective story, I really enjoyed So Cold the River. It starts in Chicago, but the majority of the novel takes place in southern Indiana, in the area surrounding the small towns of French Lick and West Baden. This was probably the biggest draw for me wanting to read it and ended up being the main reason I enjoyed the book so much. I first visited French Lick about a year ago to attend a party held at the historic French Lick hotel. Before that, all I knew about French Lick was that it was the home of basketball great Larry Bird. But it was during that weekend that I learned just a bit of the unlikely history of the region and the two majestic hotels located there.

As you wind down any of the small county roads that lead to French Lick and West Baden, the last thing you expect to see is two giant, majestic hotels emerge from the beautiful but unassuming landscape and rather impoverished surrounding communities. As it turns out, French Lick is also the home to natural sulfur springs, around which a bustling commercial enterprise grew beginning in the mid 1800s. The water from the springs was bottled and sold as a miracle cure around the turn of the 20th century and a resort and spa was built to attract visitors to the area. The French Lick Resort became a popular spa destination for the wealthy and famous from not only the Midwest, but the world. The stunning free spanning domed structure at the neighboring West Baden hotel, built to rival the French Lick Resort's grandeur, was the largest dome of it's kind in the world from it's completion in 1902 until 1913. Both hotels eventually fell into disrepair after the economic crash in the 1929, changing owners and serving a variety of uses for the next 70 years until they closed. Although I'm not a huge fan of Wikipedia, you can read a good brief history of the West Baden hotel here. Both hotels were restored by Bloomington-based billionaire pharmaceutical tycoon Bill Cook in the late 90s to 2000s, opening to the public between 2005-2007. Thanks to the newly constructed French Lick Casino and the restoration of the hotels, the surrounding area has been economically revitalized.

If you don't think the history is fascinating, I'd encourage you to go see the hotels and the area for yourself. If you can't go, read So Cold the River, because, supernatural phenomenon aside, Koryta captures very well the history of the hotels and the character of the land and people of the region. Moreover, the setting is an excellent choice for So Cold the River, adding to it's success as a supernatural thriller. Admittedly I don't read these much so I'm no expert, but I felt Koryta wrote an effectively suspenseful story. At over 500 pages, it could have been hard to sustain the suspense, but he did. I got the chills at the beginning and I had them at the end. I wanted to know what happened, even if it was creeping me out.

At the end of the day, although I prefer detective stories and the Lincoln Perry series, I was caught up by the history of and my own personal attraction to the setting of So Cold the River. The suspense was effectively done and the story well written. And because he is such a talented writer, I look forward to Michael Koryta's future work, no matter the genre.(less)

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Feb 26, 2011 Susan added it

It starts 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 millionaire whose past is wrapped in mystery. Eric grabs the job even though there are few clues to the man's story—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,...more

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Feb 19, 2011 Darcy Odden rated it 4 of 5 stars

Eric Shaw is a washed-up cinematographer who is now creating funeral video montages in Chicago. When socialite Alyssa Bradford asks him to make a documentary about her father-in-law as a gift for her husband, Eric is intrigued. Campbell Bradford, her 95-year-old father-in-law, is an enigma. Eric doesn’t have much to go on, but Alyssa does provide Eric with Campbell’s hometown and an antique bottle of Pluto Water.

Eric’s talents as a cinematographer come in part form his ability to see and feel th...more

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Nov 25, 2010 Chibineko rated it 4 of 5 stars

From the moment I picked the book up, I kept feeling like this book had a "Stephen King's Shining" vibe, which seems to have been intentional. After all, the main character himself remarks on how the hotel he's staying in reminds him of the Overlook hotel. Other than those initial vibes, that's where the similarities end.

Eric used to be a relatively in-demand man in the film industry, having an uncanny knack for choosing the exactly right spots to film in. Now Eric spends his days composing wed...more From the moment I picked the book up, I kept feeling like this book had a "Stephen King's Shining" vibe, which seems to have been intentional. After all, the main character himself remarks on how the hotel he's staying in reminds him of the Overlook hotel. Other than those initial vibes, that's where the similarities end.

Eric used to be a relatively in-demand man in the film industry, having an uncanny knack for choosing the exactly right spots to film in. Now Eric spends his days composing wedding & funeral videos for the wealthy while he wonders exactly what went wrong in his marriage. When Alyssa Bradford offers him a lot of money to do a film on her dying father-in-law, Eric initially assumes that it'll be just another job. He quickly finds himself being drawn into something far more sinister as he attempts to finish the job.

I liked this book as it has all of the stuff I love (old mysteries, supernatural happenings, slow suspsense), but I'll be completely honest with you. I probably won't be reading this again. It's good, but towards the end it just didn't keep me "in" as much as it did at the beginning. Koryta does a nice job of building suspense, but it's the ending that really just killed it for me. It felt a little anti-climactic & rushed, in my opinion. I'm not really sure how it could have ended, but it just felt like it should have been something slightly different.

That being said, I have to say that I liked the characters for the most part & I really liked that the main character of Eric wasn't particularly likeable. I don't mean that in the "I don't want to read about him" sense, but in the "this guy needs help & actually changes during the book" sense. Eric starts the book off feeling incredibly sorry about himself, putting himself first & generally being a selfish guy. I could feel sorry for him because he genuinely felt bad about his marriage, but I could also recognize that he was one of the biggest contributions to its decay. That, I have to give Koryta credit for- too many authors try to make their "not a likeable guy" character into more of a "he's a jerk but it isn't his fault" type of guy & for the most part Koryta refrains from doing this.

Fans of supernatural thrillers will like this & those who like a quieter thriller without the huge fight or action scenes will enjoy it greatly. It is very much worth checking out, if you like this type of story.

(ARC provided by amazon vine)(less)

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Jul 30, 2010 Sue rated it 4 of 5 stars

Once a highly sought after cinematographer, Eric Shaw’s film career is in a downward spiral. He shouldn’t be surprised-punching a famous director in the face will often have that effect. Eric’s personal life isn’t faring much better. He walked out on his wife Claire when he began to feel that she and her father were starting to think of him as a failure. Eric’s gift has always been his innate sense of knowing which pictures or footage would move the audience. His new career is using that gift to...more

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Jul 20, 2010 Tripp rated it 4 of 5 stars

This is one of the better written supernatural novels I have read in awhile. I say "novels" there as it doesn't fit nicely in the horror or thriller genres. Not bleak enough for horror and too happy to sacrifice pace to develop characters and story to be a thriller.

The plot is simple. A washed out movie director (who is one of the more unlikable leading characters I have read in awhile - why his hottie wife likes him is a mystery) is hired to investigate the background of a man near death. He d...more

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Jul 10, 2010 Diane rated it 5 of 5 stars

Wow! I thought this might be just another mundane so-so story, but after a few pages I began to realize how cleverly the author snaked his way into this story. Mystical, thrilling, and definitely chilling--this is a read you won't want to do after dark.

No kidding--things will go bump in the night, causing you to put the book away until daylight. This, then, is a gripping tale that will have you shivering and reaching for the light switch at every creak in the floor, every knock in the wall.

Mich...more

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Jun 08, 2010 Cheryl rated it 4 of 5 stars

Eric Shaw used to be a one of the most talented and most sought after film makers. That all changed in an instant. All it took was for him to lose his temper and after that, his career crumbled faster then you can say “Oscar”. Eric still produces films but recapping the lives of ones who have passed away. At one of the funerals, Eric is approached by the lovely, Alyssa Bradford. Eric did her sister’s movie. Alyssa is impressed with Eric’s work.

Alyssa calls Eric a few days later. She wants to hi...more Eric Shaw used to be a one of the most talented and most sought after film makers. That all changed in an instant. All it took was for him to lose his temper and after that, his career crumbled faster then you can say “Oscar”. Eric still produces films but recapping the lives of ones who have passed away. At one of the funerals, Eric is approached by the lovely, Alyssa Bradford. Eric did her sister’s movie. Alyssa is impressed with Eric’s work.

Alyssa calls Eric a few days later. She wants to hire him to do a documentary on her father in law, Campbell Bradford. Her father in law ran away from home during the Depression, when he was just a young boy and stuck it rich in Chicago. He is a billionaire. He doesn’t have much time left on Earth but feels he has a story to tell. Eric agrees. There is just one last thing, Alyssa hands Eric a green bottle with some mucky looking water in it. The bottle is cold to the touch. Alyssa tells him it is Pluto Water. West Baden Springs, Indiana where Campbell’s home town is, is famous for its spring. This is where the Pluto Water came from.

Eric heads to West Baden Springs. There he teams up with Kellen Cage. Kellen is also writing about Campbell Bradford for his theses. It becomes apparent real fast that neither Eric nor Kellen are welcome by Josiah Bradford, a relative of Campbell’s. Strange things start happening to Eric, while in West Baden Springs. For example the green bottle he was given by Alyssa keeps getting colder and colder. It appears that the murky water has turned into a sweet drink with a hint of honey. What dark secrets will Eric uncover?

So Cold the River is a book you will be thinking about for a long while after you have put this book down. The whole time I was reading this book, it reminded me of the old, classic feel of a Stephen King novel combined with the Twilight Zone. I loved this feeling. The best part is that Mr. Koryta put his own twists on this chilling story. Mr. Koryta based this story around historical locations. This is part of what made this book so good. I really got sucked into this book. I forgot about it being over 500 pages. All the characters were engaging. I felt for Eric and hoped this would be the break he would get to turn his career around again. So Cold the River is my first taste of what author, Michael Koryta has to offer. Now that I have, I plan to go back and check all his other novels. So Cold the River is flowing upstream to the top of the best seller’s list and for good reason!
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Jun 04, 2010 Alexia561 rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: arcs, fiction

Not exactly sure how I would classify this book. The major bookstores seem to be shoehorning this into the horror realm. It doesn't read like the typical horror story to me, although there is evil. And while it is a thrilling story, it's not exactly what you would call a thriller. Not fantasy, as while there's a magical element to it, there are no wizards or werewolves or unicorns to be found. Think I'm going to go with the broad generalization of speculative fiction. While I understand why they...more Not exactly sure how I would classify this book. The major bookstores seem to be shoehorning this into the horror realm. It doesn't read like the typical horror story to me, although there is evil. And while it is a thrilling story, it's not exactly what you would call a thriller. Not fantasy, as while there's a magical element to it, there are no wizards or werewolves or unicorns to be found. Think I'm going to go with the broad generalization of speculative fiction. While I understand why they chose horror, I think it's a mistake as readers who would love this book may never see it if they don't normally read horror.

This was a really engaging story! The main character is Eric Shaw, a former hotshot filmmaker who is now producing video montages for weddings and funerals. We gradually learn how he wound up so far from Hollywood and estranged from his wife, as he begins work on a documentary for his latest client. Eric runs into roadblocks almost immediately, as it seems that the Campbell Bradford who once ruled over the town is not Alyssa's father-in-law. Could there be two Campbell Bradfords? From the same town? Doesn't seem likely, but things just get stranger from there.

With the help of Kellen Cage, a student working on his doctorate thesis, and Anne McKinney, an older woman who remembers the town as it once was, Eric tries to solve the mystery of Campbell Bradford and his strange antique bottle of Pluto Mineral Water. Why is the bottle so cold, even after sitting in a warm room? Does it really have the power to cause visions? Let's just say that this story gives a whole new twist to the advice: don't drink the water!

Gave this one a 4/5 rating as I really enjoyed it. The writing is excellent, and Koryta masterfully weaves the horror, mystery, and thriller aspects of the story together into an exciting and surprising conclusion! Have to say that while I predicted how the story would end, I was happy to be proved wrong. I thought it was original and clever and definitely worth reading!

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Oct 25, 2011 Jamie rated it 3 of 5 stars

I don't normally read thriller/suspense novels, and I can't really explain why. Maybe it's because I was really turned off by Stephen King's horrible language years and years ago. Usually when I pick one up, I'm often pleasantly surprised, and that was the case with this one. So Cold the River is pretty good for the genre and I did enjoy it. I won't be rushing out to grab another one for a while, but it was nice to change things up.

The main thing I felt Michael Koryta did well was blurring the l...more

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Sep 14, 2010 Melissa rated it 2 of 5 stars

Shelves: didnt-finish

This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers. To view it, click here.

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Jul 27, 2011 Jane rated it 4 of 5 stars

Goodreads needs to let me have my half star ratings. I would have given this a 4.5 out of 5 stars. The only reason I didn't give this the full 5 stars is because I tend the save those ratings for books that I would read over and over again.

So Cold the River is a chilling thriller about a "failed" filmmaker named Eric Shaw being sent out to create a documentary on a dying old man by the name of Campbell Bradford. Little did he know, there is a dark secret to the bottle of Pluto water he is given...more

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About Michael Koryta

Michael Koryta (pronounced ko-ree-ta)has written nine novels, praised by such authors as Stephen King, Dean Koontz, Michael Connelly and Dennis Lehane, and his most recent novel, THE PROPHET, was called "Friday Night Lights meets In Cold Blood...a flawless performance" by Kirkus. His last three novels, THE RIDGE, THE CYPRESS HOUSE, and SO COLD THE RIVER were all New York Times notable books and no...more

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“...what still blew them all away was time itself, the days and months and the years, oh yes, the years. They went faster than anything man had the capacity to invent, so fast that for a while they fooled you into thinking they were slow, and was there any crueler trick than that?” — 1 person liked it

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