So Cold the River

By: Michael Koryta

Narrated by: Robert Petkoff

Length: 13 hrs and 33 mins

Publisher's summary

Now a major motion picture: So Cold the River is a chilling, supernatural tale "guaranteed to put the cold finger down your spine" (Michael Connelly).

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 kept his entire life.

In Bradford's hometown, Eric discovers an extraordinary history—a glorious domed hotel where movie stars, presidents, athletes, and mobsters once mingled, and hot springs whose miraculous mineral water cured everything from insomnia to malaria. Neglected for years, the resort has been restored to its former grandeur just in time for Eric's stay.

Just hours after his arrival, Eric experiences a frighteningly vivid vision. As the days pass, the frequency and intensity of his hallucinations increase and draw Eric deeper into the town's dark history. He discovers that something besides the hotel has been restored—a long-forgotten evil that will stop at nothing to regain its lost glory. Brilliantly imagined and terrifyingly real, So Cold the River is a tale of irresistible suspense with a racing, unstoppable current.

©2010 Michael Koryta (P)2010 Hachette

Critic reviews

"A cataclysmic finale will put readers in mind of some of the best recent works of supernatural horror, among which this book ranks." ( Publishers Weekly)

"This book builds like a summer storm. Beautiful to watch until it shakes the house and knocks out the lights, leaving you alone in the dark. Another masterful work from Michael Koryta, So Cold the River is guaranteed to put the cold finger down your spine." (Michael Connelly)

A Terrific book, even better narration

I agree with the other positive reviews. I am a fan of the "old" Stephen King ( with the exception of " Under the Dome, that is, great book) and it is somewhat like that, the old King but even better.Like King, the appeal is not in the horror (there is little of that) or ghost story ( a bit more) as much as the character driven story - characters you begin to care about, whose dialogue is real. I listened to the whole thing in @ 4 days I was so interested, and, as a treat, you get 5 minutes of his new book to come in Jan 2011 ( which I will immediately download). Superb narration, wonderful. 5 stars!

Good novel, but disappointing from Michael Koryta

I read an average of 200+ novel per year. Michael Koryta is easily the most talented young fiction writer in the US. All 11 of his novels are in my Audible Library. So Cold the River is a good novel which is well worth the time and an Audible credit, but it is disappointing coming from an author of Michael Koryta's calibre. Part of the my issue with the book is that it includes the supernatural as a vital part of the story. On the other hand The Cypress House, another Koryta novel, includes the supernatural and I gave it five stars.

Disappointed

I was not scared or thrilled by the antagonist at any point in time. Maybe I’m jaded or desensitized but this villainy was never at any point “haunting” or “suspenseful”. There was zero satisfaction at conclusion. The character development was fantastic and I cared about them. The narration is very well done but the music and sound accompaniment is WAY too much. Far too distracting and unnecessary and it went on for too long every time. A good listen if you’re bored and not seeking any fulfillment from your book.

Really Creepy

This book is very atmospheric--it's not a "jump out of your seat" kind of scary book, but it builds up a level of creepiness as you listen. The narration was well done--didn't detract from the story at all. It is the first Michael Kortya book I've listened to but I will definitely look for other titles from him. I didn't get anything accomplished after downloading this title because all I wanted to do was listen to the story.

What a beautiful production

What was one of the most memorable moments of So Cold the River?

Anne putting on heels on her way to see . . . can't spoil it!

Which scene was your favorite?

The one mentioned above, along with the curious interview Eric has with the bedridden elderly gentleman early in the book - again, no spoilers here.

Who was the most memorable character of So Cold the River and why?

Anne, so graceful in her old age and so brave in the face of her losses, threats of violence, and primal fear of storms. She'll stay with me.

Any additional comments?

This is a really good ghost story made even better by the unique location and well-drawn characters. Very different than the other books I've read by Koryta, and what a difference a reader makes. (I wish Petkoff read the Lincoln Perry series as well - I get tired of Scott Brick very quickly). Anyway this was extremely well read and the unusual production integrated music and sound effects beautifully, in a way that greatly enriched my experience of the story. Also must mention the poignant violin piece "Short Trip Home" played by Josh Bell which haunts the reading throughout. I had to download it from Itunes as soon as it was identified in the authors' acknowledgments. I became a fan of Koryta's with "Those Who Wish Me Dead" and this one sealed the deal.

Narrator and production lowered the value

I liked the story and the characters. I mean in that they are relatable and the story feels organic. But I struggled with the production. For one, the musical interludes and occasional sound effects made it feel almost like my son's RL Stine books. almost a little childish. Also, the narrator has a good voice and generally has talent, but his female voices were impossible to not be annoyed with. I couldn't handle it, basically like listening to someone impersonate a whiney kid. I wish I had read the Kindle version.

Enter Text Here

This story is about a guy who goes to visit small town Indiana to find out the truth behind this mysterious bottle of unusually cold water. It kept my interest and I followed it, to the end point. It was interesting and entertaining, but way too long and, in the end, the point was not clear.

Not my cup of tea

I think a lot of people might enjoy this, so I think you should buy it and try it for yourself. For me I'm used to just more fast pace books with action, romance, or horror... Depending on the book. So this book was hard for me to it's too stick with.. I picked it up last year sometime and tried reading it and only got to chapter 10 . Then a few days ago I decided I would give it a try again and really push through because I don't like buying books and not reading them till the end. This time I got to chapter 30 but I just couldn't go on. I love the main character he is developed and the book is written very well, the descriptions make you feel like you are there at the time. But it was just lacking something.. maybe an element of suspense? I do think that maybe people who enjoy sitting back on a slow Sunday reading a book would enjoy this, so I don't want to discourage people from reading it. Everybody is so different. My recommendation is try it for yourself and make the decision you don't want to miss out on something you might enjoy.

Worth a credit

This was a very good book. Although it is a fiction book, it is historically accurate. I grew up in this area and have heard some of the same stories about an energy in that place. The hotels are described in exact. Whether you are a Hoosier or not you will enjoy this story.

Enjoyable Read

Creepy without being gory or actually scary, kind of like the old Twilight Zone shows. I consider this a good thing. This one is not as good as The Cypress House or The Ridge, but worth a listen. The narration is excellent.