So Cold the River

By: Michael Koryta

Narrated by: Robert Petkoff

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.

Critic reviews

ACCLAIM FOR ENVY THE NIGHT (2008)

"With Envy the Night, Koryta earns a seat at the high table of neo-noir crime writers."—Marilyn Stasio, The New York Times

"Koryta earns a seat at the high table of neo-noir crime writers by putting a fresh spin on the fathers-and-sons narrative so many of his peers feel compelled to write over and over again.... As good as he is at depicting violence, Koryta puts even more muscle into scenes of killers tracking one another in the great outdoors--a talent that...is demonstrated here with brutal artistry."
—New York Times Book Review

"Revenge drives this superb stand-alone...Koryta's dialogue is as sharp as the knives his characters wield, and his plot twists at the most unexpected moments. This thriller places Koryta solidly in the company of the genre's most powerful voices."—Publishers Weekly

"Superb writing and storytelling from Michael Koryta...Envy the Night represents his best work to date."—George Pelecanos

"This diabolical novel, laid out in simple but eloquent prose and pitch-perfect dialogue, heralds a changing of the guard. I have seen the future of 'The Best Mystery Writer in America' and its name is Michael Koryta."—Ridley Pearson

"One of the best of the best, plain and simple."—Michael Connelly

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.

You Never Know Which Way Koryta's River Will Run

I find Koryta novels, as well as his writing style, original and different with each book. You never know what kind of fiction you are going to get. This novel is centered around a documentary being made regarding a small town's history, which includes a mysterious little bottle of water that is believed to do amazing things. Original storyline and well written. Petkoff is excellent, as always. There is a lot of talent in this audiobook.

A Good Mystery Read

This is a good summer read. You can do other things while listening. It was an interesting story, but never really thrilled me where I couldn't stop listening to it at anytime.

Good ghost story

I enjoyed this book for what it is - a good ghost story. It's not quite the 5 star level that I have experienced with other Michael Koryta books, mainly because the main character was a little less appealing (although I have always liked that Koryta's characters are a bit flawed), and the the ending left a couple of things not very well explained - won't spoil by elaborating. Overall I liked the spookiness and I did like many of the characters as written, especially Ann - I was rooting for her all the way. It's not perfect, but it's worth the credit.

story had more promise than what was delivered.

a different type of story for sure . i now have an interest in the area where the book was written and plan to visit.