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Black River Falls
Nineteen-year-old Ben Tyler vows to protect Alison, a beautiful young woman, from threats of murder, until he stumbles upon a dark secret that could destroy everyone and everything he cares about. Original."
Paperback
First published January 1, 1996
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About the author
Ed Gorman
468 books122 followersLibrarian note:
There is more than one author in the GoodReads database with this name
Edward Joseph Gorman Jr. was a prolific American author and anthologist, widely recognized for his contributions to crime, mystery, western, and horror fiction. Born and raised in Cedar Rapids, Iowa, Gorman spent much of his life in the Midwest, drawing on that experience to set many of his novels in small towns. After working over two decades in advertising, political speechwriting, and industrial filmmaking, he published his first novel, Rough Cut, in 1984 and soon transitioned to full-time writing. His fiction is often praised for its emotional depth, suspenseful storytelling, and nuanced characters. Gorman wrote under the pseudonyms Daniel Ransom and Robert David Chase, and contributed to publications such as Mystery Scene, Cemetery Dance, and Black Lizard. He co-founded Mystery Scene magazine and served as its editor and publisher until 2002, continuing his “Gormania” column thereafter. His works have been adapted for film and graphic novels, including The Poker Club and Cage of Night. In comics, he wrote for DC and Dark Horse. Diagnosed with multiple myeloma in 2002, he continued writing despite his illness until his passing in 2016. Critics lauded him as one of the most original crime writers of his generation and a “poet of dark suspense.”
There is more than one author in the GoodReads database with this name
Edward Joseph Gorman Jr. was a prolific American author and anthologist, widely recognized for his contributions to crime, mystery, western, and horror fiction. Born and raised in Cedar Rapids, Iowa, Gorman spent much of his life in the Midwest, drawing on that experience to set many of his novels in small towns. After working over two decades in advertising, political speechwriting, and industrial filmmaking, he published his first novel, Rough Cut, in 1984 and soon transitioned to full-time writing. His fiction is often praised for its emotional depth, suspenseful storytelling, and nuanced characters. Gorman wrote under the pseudonyms Daniel Ransom and Robert David Chase, and contributed to publications such as Mystery Scene, Cemetery Dance, and Black Lizard. He co-founded Mystery Scene magazine and served as its editor and publisher until 2002, continuing his “Gormania” column thereafter. His works have been adapted for film and graphic novels, including The Poker Club and Cage of Night. In comics, he wrote for DC and Dark Horse. Diagnosed with multiple myeloma in 2002, he continued writing despite his illness until his passing in 2016. Critics lauded him as one of the most original crime writers of his generation and a “poet of dark suspense.”
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Displaying 1 - 7 of 7 reviews
February 19, 2024
Gorman can write mystery thrillers for sure but Black River Falls, while a fast and fun read, it not really that mysterious. That stated, it still packs a bit of a punch. This starts off with the police investigating the brutal murder of a college coed who lived off campus, and her best friend standing like a vigil outside her apartment for months every night...
Flash forward a year and Gorman takes us to Black River Falls, a small, midwestern town (Illinois?) and introduces us to Ben, our main protagonist. Ben, age 19, attends college and wants to be a veterinarian like his mother, who he still lives with in her old farmhouse/animal clinic. Introverted and largely antisocial, Ben is the opposite of his older brother Michael, a former high school star athlete and now town stud who owns a successful video rental place in town. Yet, Michael has a dark side as we quickly learn he is a killer and has been since he offed his first person when he was 14. Michael is best buddies with a local loser named Steve who is being sought by a PI who has been looking for the murderer of Alison's friend from the prologue.
Essentially, the story revolves around Michael's dark side and secret, namely that he and Steve killed the woman together, although Steve takes the fall. Ben, meanwhile, has fallen head over heals for Alison, who now lives in Black River Falls. Why? She also wants to find the killer, and she suspects it was Michael. Ben, however, loves his big brother and cannot believe he would have anything to do with the killing...
Tense at times, Black River Falls reels you in as Ben is a very sympathetic character, in love for the first time but still your basic nerd; he cannot believe Alison is attracted to him! Some touching family dynamics flesh out the story nicely. While I liked this, and Gorman writes well, it was pretty easy to see where this was going to go, taking the bite out of the mystery really early; it was just a matter of how it would unfold. 3 tense stars!
Flash forward a year and Gorman takes us to Black River Falls, a small, midwestern town (Illinois?) and introduces us to Ben, our main protagonist. Ben, age 19, attends college and wants to be a veterinarian like his mother, who he still lives with in her old farmhouse/animal clinic. Introverted and largely antisocial, Ben is the opposite of his older brother Michael, a former high school star athlete and now town stud who owns a successful video rental place in town. Yet, Michael has a dark side as we quickly learn he is a killer and has been since he offed his first person when he was 14. Michael is best buddies with a local loser named Steve who is being sought by a PI who has been looking for the murderer of Alison's friend from the prologue.
Essentially, the story revolves around Michael's dark side and secret, namely that he and Steve killed the woman together, although Steve takes the fall. Ben, meanwhile, has fallen head over heals for Alison, who now lives in Black River Falls. Why? She also wants to find the killer, and she suspects it was Michael. Ben, however, loves his big brother and cannot believe he would have anything to do with the killing...
Tense at times, Black River Falls reels you in as Ben is a very sympathetic character, in love for the first time but still your basic nerd; he cannot believe Alison is attracted to him! Some touching family dynamics flesh out the story nicely. While I liked this, and Gorman writes well, it was pretty easy to see where this was going to go, taking the bite out of the mystery really early; it was just a matter of how it would unfold. 3 tense stars!
January 20, 2013
This was a very solid thriller from the much missed leisure publishers. Ed Gorman's writing style reminds me a lot of Richard Laymon sans T&A and horny teens and all that other gloriously Laymon trademarks, the writing style itself though, the sparseness of the prose, the pacing, very easy and quick and accesible read. Also, one has to admire the author who's not afraid to kill off major characters mid story to advance the plot. I've read Gorman before ages ago and liked him then and he still entertains, so that sort of consistency is always welcome.
August 10, 2014
This was the first book I've read by Ed Gorman. It was pretty good. It seemed a tad long for its subject matter, but the last 50 or so pages are very suspenseful. There are some great twists towards the end. Not the greatest suspense I've read, but definitely well done. I'll check out more books by Gorman in the future.
November 20, 2019
I usually only give 5 stars if a book was good AND profound, and this wasn't quite profound, but it was definitely good enough for 5 stars. This was like reading a really good murder mystery except that the reader is privy to all the information (You know what's going on, but the characters don't), which, it turns out, is a really good way to read a book.
December 25, 2023
Gorman at his heartfelt best. Couldn't put this one down. A special book.
September 25, 2016
Not a bad little mystery-thriller, but a violent little sucker. I would give this 3.5 stars if I could. I like Gorman so I gave him the benefit of the doubt. Murderous insanity skips a generation and causes no end of trouble for the brother and mother of the bad guy. Lots of twists, but Gorman doesn't really come up with a happy ending. The happy ending provided by the book didn't ring true. Recommended only to Gorman fans.
November 28, 2016
"A Cunning Villain Thriller"
In this tense, thrilling novel, young Alison's life becomes threatened after her college roommate has been murdered. Her best friend during college is Ben Tyler, raised by his single mom, and handsome, arrogant brother, Michael. Though Ben had been victimized by many bullies while growing up, he has sworn to protect Alison. Things go well until Ben learns of a secret that may destroy everyone he loves. This is a thrilling mystery with a great story line. However, the author strings it along at times by repetitious of words, such as kiddo, kiddo, kiddo. This really made me dislike his writing techniques, but I loved the story. Also, poor proofreading interrupted my reading. I know this author can do better for his readers.
In this tense, thrilling novel, young Alison's life becomes threatened after her college roommate has been murdered. Her best friend during college is Ben Tyler, raised by his single mom, and handsome, arrogant brother, Michael. Though Ben had been victimized by many bullies while growing up, he has sworn to protect Alison. Things go well until Ben learns of a secret that may destroy everyone he loves. This is a thrilling mystery with a great story line. However, the author strings it along at times by repetitious of words, such as kiddo, kiddo, kiddo. This really made me dislike his writing techniques, but I loved the story. Also, poor proofreading interrupted my reading. I know this author can do better for his readers.
Displaying 1 - 7 of 7 reviews