Banks of the River

The Kansas Murder Trilogy, Book 2

By: Melvin Litton

Narrated by: Steven Molony

Jack Marshal, known as "the Lion," is a prideful sinner and reckless womanizer. When his 15-year-old daughter, Bonny, winds up pregnant by an old running buddy, Jack is outraged. And when the man is found dead, Jack is charged with murder.

Alongside the coming trial are the many goings-on in a small Kansas town in summer 1960. There's Ruthie, Jack's sister and local femme fatale, who does what with whom and when she pleases.

The old priest, Father Horabet, who harbors sins of his own.

Anna, Jack's wife, who quietly sustains herself and her daughter through the storm of scandal.

And Johnny, Jack's son, who faces howls of scorn pitching in little league baseball.

Finally, the town gathers for Jack's trial. Beyond the drama of guilt or innocence plays the question of how men and women grapple for meaning in their wary coexistence. For temptation like the sunrise returns each day, even as we imagine ourselves standing on the banks of the river, we are immersed, carried in a greater current.

©2022 Melvin Litton (P)2023 David N. Wilson

the dark heart of a small town summer

I'm always asking for "Calgon-take-me-away" type of stories, and this one filled the bill perfectly. I wasn't listening at work, I was a kid enjoying summer again. Fairs, sports, the Dairy Queen, the river. So vivid I could smell it.
All the characters I grew up around were there, and fully fleshed out, from the town gossip to larger-than-life Lion Jack.
Did he do it? I'm not going to say. You'll have to find out by peeling back the layers of this incredible story with an awesome narrator, who has perfect pacing and intonation. I hope you enjoy it as much as I did.

Another great story by Melvin Litton!

I really enjoyed the entire story. Is it bad that I liked Jack in spite of his flaws? The characters were engaging, as were the plot and surrounding storylines. This was one of those audiobooks that I kept finding excuses to listen to. Plenty of intrigue, bad behavior, and mystery, combined with a visualization of Kansas summer that brought me back to my childhood.

An excellent book from start to finish!

So many stories within the main story. Excellent narration on the audible form.
I really appreciate each character, their descriptions, their personalities and flavors shown through