Keith and Claire Malvern left Seattleto open up The Falls Bed and Breakfast in a rustic lodge above the Bloodroot Falls. Early one morning Claire Malvernawakes to an empty bed and her husband missing. There is no trace of KeithMalvern. She’s very certain than something terrible has happened to Keith, butwithout any evidence to back up her suspicions. Then an anonymous callerreports that he saw a man jump from the bridge across the Bloodroot Falls.It becomes a nightmare when Keith’s body is found snagged in the river rapids, his death ruled a suicide, Claire is left devastated.
But something doesn’t quite add up, Claire knows her husbandwould never take his own life and perpetrate such a cowardly act on her becausehe knew how hurt she was when her mother killed herself. She won’t give upsearching for the truth but she cannot persuade Sheriff Nick Braden toinvestigate as he thinks her suspicions areunfounded
A desperate Claire goes to a Seattle auction in which Nick, doing this forhis deceased wife, is for sale. She buys him for$750, asking him toinvestigate with her what happened to her husband Soon the recently widowed Nickwith his hero complex gets involved in helping her despite his continuedskepticism. Both start digging into her husband’s past and what they uncoverpaints a shocking portrait of what really happened that September night.
Together they find a solace in each other but are reluctantto take it any further. Meantime a watcher pays close attention to the duo justin case more people must die. Events move from mere warnings to bodily threats.There are many suspects – the art-store owner who wants to sell Claire’spaintings, the enigmatic Sammamish Native American who claims ancient ownershipof her land, the cranberry-farm owner who’s in financial difficulties, Keith’sformer employers and more.
Karen Harper creates an atmosphere of suspense from page oneand the tension only increases as the story progresses. Claire’s character isso convincing as the distraught widow that at first you are tempted to believethat she’s making up conspiracies. Though the story takes the easy roadinvolving Keith’s death and imagination makes the culprit seem unreasonable, but you would appreciate the tension that the story line builds up to until thefinal climax. Nick is a delightful protagonist feeling guilt over his wife’sdeath because even after several years he wonders why she hid her cancer fromhim until it was obvious. Adding to his feelings of guilt is that he falls inlove with a woman he knows is too vulnerable for a relationship at this time.Claire is a bewildered heroine, who starts having doubts about her deceasedhusband even as she feels shame for desiring the sheriff.
In this way, the author keeps creating situations whichraise more and more questions. Each new development adds one more layer to the mysteryuntil it seems well impossible to solve. The atmospheric and realisticdescriptions of the falls, small-town living, salmon fishing, cranberry farmingand Native American land disputes makes the story come alive in front of theyour eyes. A breathtaking finale adds the final finishing touch to this murdermystery.
The author provides a fine thriller, but this could havebeen a great relationship drama.