Under the Bridge

By: Rebecca Godfrey

Narrated by: Rebecca Godfrey, Erin Moon, Mary Gaitskill - introduction

Length: 14 hrs and 13 mins

Publisher's summary

Now a Hulu limited series starring Riley Keough and Lily Gladstone.

“A swift, harrowing classic perfect for these unnerving times.” (Jenny Offill, author of Dept. of Speculation)

One moonlit night, 14-year-old Reena Virk went to join friends at a party and never returned home. In this “tour de force of crime reportage” (Kirkus Reviews), acclaimed author Rebecca Godfrey takes us into the hidden world of the seven teenage girls - and boy - accused of a savage murder. As she follows the investigation and trials, Godfrey reveals the startling truth about the unlikely killers. Laced with lyricism and insight, Under the Bridge is an unforgettable look at a haunting modern tragedy.

©2005 Rebecca Godfrey (P)2019 Audible, Inc.

Critic reviews

"With a gripping journalistic style, novelist Godfrey (The Torn Skirt) recounts the story behind a horrific murder in a small British Columbia town. One November night in 1997, 14-year-old Reena Virk was savagely beaten and drowned under a waterway bridge. From a small East Indian community, Reena was alienated from her family and spent her time desperately trying to find a place with a tough crowd of teenagers, several of whom had been in trouble with the law. But one of the girls held a grudge against her, and Reena apparently was lured to her violent end by a promise of friendship. Seven girls and one boy initially were charged with assault. Two were convicted of murder: Warren Glowatski, now serving a life sentence, and Kelly Ellard, who was found guilty in 2005 after three trials. Godfrey is careful not to make judgments, but her informed writing reveals a remorseful Warren, an unrepentant Kelly (who denies her guilt) and other psychologically damaged members of the group, sharply etched, whose casual brutality, enabled by drug use, led to a brutal and senseless death. Godfrey's account contains some recreated dialogue but overall is meticulously researched and harrowing to read." -- Publishers' Weekly

"Godfrey approaches a brutal crime in an unlikely spot the way a novelist would, by tracing, first of all, how the victim and persecutors came to be in that place, through all the tangled byroads of families seeking a better life. In November 1997, the body of a 14-year-old girl, whose family had emigrated from India, was found in the waters off Victoria Island in British Columbia. The victim, Reena Virk, had been beaten to death. Seven girls and one boy, all high-schoolers, were charged with the crime. Godfrey follows the case from discovery through verdict at trial, seeking to answer the one question the trial testimony could not: Why did a gang of mostly well-off teens commit casual murder? Her interviews with all the principals, ranging from the police scuba team that found the body through prosecution and defense attorneys, suburban families, teachers, and the accused themselves, bring this case disturbingly alive." -- Connie Fletcher, Booklist

Why do Indian accents???

I was very interested in this book but the narration is horrible.She could just read it in her voice the kid ones were annoying but I stopped and returned this book after hearing the Indian accents. I am not sure why someone thought this was a good idea it really ruined th storytelling for me. Honestly I feel like the accents felt crude because at that time it was speaking about the victims family.

Outstanding book and performance

This was an extremely well-written book and the author’s style was so moving and lyrical even when writing about such heinous actions. What sets it above everything though was the narrator - she was able to really get the cadence of the characters in a way I haven’t heard in many audiobooks. Great job everyone.

Very engaging

This book was extremely well written and was so engaging. The story is sad but, is told with a lot of understanding of each character. The narrator is wonderful!

The accents are not needed

I want to really like the book. The story itself is inviting. The narrative is terrible. The bad valley-girl accents to the terrible Indian accents take away from the story. It seems as though an 8th grade girl is reading.

Disturbing, but fascinating

The events of this book are horrific and that's what makes it a page turner. The author did a great job relaying all of the details. My biggest critique would be of the "voices "used during the Police interviews. It is unnecessary to try to sound like different men. just read the parts.

True Crime with depth of character

True Crime that reads more like a novel. Characters are fully formed. You can tell the author was fully committed to exploring the complexities of the case. Narration was one of the best I’ve heard in a long time.

Excellent!

Never heard of this until I saw it in Audible. Strong story w/ shocking events .. we ell written AND performed

Largely gripping story of teenage brutality

The book explores a brutal crime--only partially premeditated--perpetrated by a group of young teens on another and follows the ramifications of that crime in their lives and their community. It's mostly very good. The author's perspective is not one of a crime writer, but a fiction writer, and so the narrative is sometimes a bit more artful and empathetic than I was expecting.

It does begin to drag a bit towards the end, as we go through several trials and hear dozens of versions of the story from the teens involved, but I almost didn't mind, because it mirrors what must have felt like an unending saga for the community and the participants.

The narrator reads well and with feeling, but sometimes makes questionable choices--maybe don't do the Punjabi accents of these real people, and please never try a blaccent again. But on the whole I found her very good.

Good book

It's a really good book and defkeeps me interested. But the voices are terrible and I couldn't help but cringe every time the narrater changed her voice

Fantastic

A flawless account of a devastating story. And the courtroom scene during the second trial is everything I’ve ever wanted in entertainment. Love this book, love the author, loved her as narrator. I also feel like I know Reena now. She’s a fully dimensional and nuanced person, not just your typical “girl-next-door-everyone-loved-her-smile” type of “Aw shucks”-ness I normally equate with innocent victims in true crime stories such as these. I feel like Reena’s family are the true heroes of this tale. Can’t wait for more Godfrey. Brava friend. (She’s not my friend I just thought that sounded cool).