What do you think?
Rate this book
River
THE GREEN RIVER KILLINGS WERE THE MOST HORRIFYING SERIAL MURDERS EVER COMMITTED. THE CASE WAS NEVER SOLVED . . . UNTIL NOW.
"[THIS] WORK OF FICTION READS EERILY LIKE A TRUE CASE STUDY of these infamous unsolved crimes. . . . Lockman is the kind of character who can haunt your waking dreams."
--The New York Times Book Review
"CHILLING SUSPENSE . . . In this novel, bestselling author Roderick Thorp takes on the true-life terrors of a maniacal serial killer known as the Green River Killer, who is suspected of killing at least fifty young women in the Seattle-Portland area during the '80s, and who has never been convicted . . . Breathtaking in its pacing, RIVER takes the reader into the minds of both a detective fighting personal demons and a human demon whose wanton disregard for human life is so despicable his actions and motivations make the reader cringe. Thorp has imagined a surprise ending to his roller-coaster thriller that is genuinely surprising."
--Boston Herald
"SHOCKING . . . GRIPPING . . . Thorp's account is so convincing, even in the justice finally meted out to the killer, that most readers will be able to flag the case 'Solved' in their minds."
--The San Diego Union-Tribune
"THE ASSURED HAND OF A MASTER CRAFTSMAN, and the bone-marrow-deep understanding of the human heart. If the author's name were not on the book, I would still recognize his fingerprints--there's only one Rod Thorp."
--Andrew Vachss
"THIS BOOK IS A BLOCKBUSTER!"
--Gerald Petievich
Author of To Live and Die in L.A.
"[THIS] WORK OF FICTION READS EERILY LIKE A TRUE CASE STUDY of these infamous unsolved crimes. . . . Lockman is the kind of character who can haunt your waking dreams."
--The New York Times Book Review
"CHILLING SUSPENSE . . . In this novel, bestselling author Roderick Thorp takes on the true-life terrors of a maniacal serial killer known as the Green River Killer, who is suspected of killing at least fifty young women in the Seattle-Portland area during the '80s, and who has never been convicted . . . Breathtaking in its pacing, RIVER takes the reader into the minds of both a detective fighting personal demons and a human demon whose wanton disregard for human life is so despicable his actions and motivations make the reader cringe. Thorp has imagined a surprise ending to his roller-coaster thriller that is genuinely surprising."
--Boston Herald
"SHOCKING . . . GRIPPING . . . Thorp's account is so convincing, even in the justice finally meted out to the killer, that most readers will be able to flag the case 'Solved' in their minds."
--The San Diego Union-Tribune
"THE ASSURED HAND OF A MASTER CRAFTSMAN, and the bone-marrow-deep understanding of the human heart. If the author's name were not on the book, I would still recognize his fingerprints--there's only one Rod Thorp."
--Andrew Vachss
"THIS BOOK IS A BLOCKBUSTER!"
--Gerald Petievich
Author of To Live and Die in L.A.
502 pages, Paperback
First published June 1, 1995
143 people want to read
About the author
Roderick Thorp
29 books71 followersRoderick Mayne Thorp, Jr. was an American novelist specializing mainly in crime novels.
As a young college graduate, Thorp worked at a detective agency owned by his father. He would later teach literature and lecture on creative writing at schools and universities in New Jersey and California, and also wrote articles for newspapers and magazines.
Two of his best known novels were adapted into popular films: his 1966 novel The Detective was made into a 1968 film of the same name, starring Frank Sinatra as Detective Joe Leland, and his 1979 sequel to The Detective, Nothing Lasts Forever, was filmed in 1988 as Die Hard, starring Bruce Willis. Though Die Hard was relatively faithful to Nothing Lasts Forever, it was not made as a sequel to the film version of The Detective. Two other Thorp novels, Rainbow Drive and Devlin, were adapted into TV movies.
Thorp died of a heart attack in Oxnard, California.
As a young college graduate, Thorp worked at a detective agency owned by his father. He would later teach literature and lecture on creative writing at schools and universities in New Jersey and California, and also wrote articles for newspapers and magazines.
Two of his best known novels were adapted into popular films: his 1966 novel The Detective was made into a 1968 film of the same name, starring Frank Sinatra as Detective Joe Leland, and his 1979 sequel to The Detective, Nothing Lasts Forever, was filmed in 1988 as Die Hard, starring Bruce Willis. Though Die Hard was relatively faithful to Nothing Lasts Forever, it was not made as a sequel to the film version of The Detective. Two other Thorp novels, Rainbow Drive and Devlin, were adapted into TV movies.
Thorp died of a heart attack in Oxnard, California.
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 9 of 9 reviews
February 13, 2021
Thorp took me into the thoughts and actions of a serial killer. I wanted to escape the terror, but I couldn't stop turning the pages.
Horrifying and disgusting, Lockman is a character I'll not soon forget, as much as I may try.
The main cop character, neither detestable nor very likable, did move the story along nicely and added interesting insight into police work and politics. ( Disclaimer: I know nothing about police work or politics)
I had to give it 5 stars after reading the ending. In the past, I've knocked a star off for ridiculous endings on otherwise perfectly written books ...this was a great read (for those who can stomach the depravity) where the ending was a sickly sweet icing on the cake that earned it an extra star.
Horrifying and disgusting, Lockman is a character I'll not soon forget, as much as I may try.
The main cop character, neither detestable nor very likable, did move the story along nicely and added interesting insight into police work and politics. ( Disclaimer: I know nothing about police work or politics)
I had to give it 5 stars after reading the ending. In the past, I've knocked a star off for ridiculous endings on otherwise perfectly written books ...this was a great read (for those who can stomach the depravity) where the ending was a sickly sweet icing on the cake that earned it an extra star.
May 24, 2018
I picked up this book and finished it only a couple of days later. For that, I give it a mandatory 3 star. Otherwise? Ehhh, the lead detective is kind of gross in my opinion. The killer is constantly touching himself (and the author spends a lot of time talking about sex and penises). The ending raises ethical questions that I didn't really appreciate as someone who was hoping to find the plot at least somewhat tied to the actual justice system. Really, by the end of the book, I found myself looking at the picture of the author on the back and thinking, "what a pig." Next.
May 8, 2024
This book, though long, will have a short review. It kept my interest the whole time, but that's about as far as my analysis will go.
It was a pleasant (not pertaining to the subject matter, of course) read, and I liked the way it all wrapped up, but I don't think it will end up being memorable in any way.
The truly fascinating (and sad) thing about this book is really the fact that the author, obviously obsessed by the Green River killer, missed the resolution of the case by a just few years.
As for the book itself, it was decent. No more, no less.
It was a pleasant (not pertaining to the subject matter, of course) read, and I liked the way it all wrapped up, but I don't think it will end up being memorable in any way.
The truly fascinating (and sad) thing about this book is really the fact that the author, obviously obsessed by the Green River killer, missed the resolution of the case by a just few years.
As for the book itself, it was decent. No more, no less.
May 4, 2021
Read in 1996. A fictional solution to the unsolved murders of 50 some prostitues in the Pacific Northwest in the 1980's.
January 23, 2026
Very interesting novel!
December 4, 2008
Roderick Thorp. Who's that? Think of a book called Nothing Lasts Forever. Doesn't ring a bell? How about the movie Die Hard? That's the book the movie was made from.
In 1995, Ballantine Books published Roderick Thorp's book River. I confess that I'd never heard of Thorp or his book until my mom passed the paperback along to me. I was visiting family in the Pacific Northwest when I started reading it. While it's a bit unsettling to follow the activities of a serial killer in places familiar, I have to say that Thorp did an extraordinary job of bringing the people and locations to life, from detective Philippe Boudreaux in his King County habitat dealing with the politics of policing to serial killer Garrett Richard Lockman, nephew/foster son of Spokanites Al and Hazel Lockman. The chapters switch from one's world to the other's without becoming confusing.
Thorp's talent lies in his storytelling. He's worked as a private detective (for his father) and as a crime reporter, and it shows. His research is great, he keeps a good pace throughout, and he draws the reader right into his trap, complete with a surprise - if somewhat "Hollywood" - ending. That he could pull off having just two main characters when the real investigation had as many as 56 officers in 1986, is impressive.
In 1995, Ballantine Books published Roderick Thorp's book River. I confess that I'd never heard of Thorp or his book until my mom passed the paperback along to me. I was visiting family in the Pacific Northwest when I started reading it. While it's a bit unsettling to follow the activities of a serial killer in places familiar, I have to say that Thorp did an extraordinary job of bringing the people and locations to life, from detective Philippe Boudreaux in his King County habitat dealing with the politics of policing to serial killer Garrett Richard Lockman, nephew/foster son of Spokanites Al and Hazel Lockman. The chapters switch from one's world to the other's without becoming confusing.
Thorp's talent lies in his storytelling. He's worked as a private detective (for his father) and as a crime reporter, and it shows. His research is great, he keeps a good pace throughout, and he draws the reader right into his trap, complete with a surprise - if somewhat "Hollywood" - ending. That he could pull off having just two main characters when the real investigation had as many as 56 officers in 1986, is impressive.
October 8, 2009
Another great police suspense story from Mr. Thorpe. Taking place in the Pacific Northwest, Thorpe delivers a little bit of "meta-fiction" in this story--taking actual events of the Green River serial killer and incorporating his characters into the action. Definitely a page-turner.
October 10, 2013
a little hard to get into, but interesting.
June 20, 2021
I never read anything by this author before but I definitely want to read more. This book kept me hanging on the edge of the seat. You never knew what was going to happen within the book.
Displaying 1 - 9 of 9 reviews