Long Bright River is a beautifully written and powerful story about two sisters and the destruction of addiction.

Mickey and Kacey, daughters of addicts, take two very different paths in life. As children, they were inseparable, as adults they are estranged. Mickey becomes a cop, Kacey an addict.

When young female addicts start being murdered, Mickey fears even more for Kacey's life. When Mickey discovers that Kacey is missing, she investigates putting her life, her son, and her job in danger.

Mickey is the narrator. She is the good, reliable sister. At the same time, she is also self-righteous and prideful. Her fear of being hurt has caused her to lead a life of isolation. With every OD she hears of, she fears she will hear her sister’s name called. As her walls come down, her deepest and darkest secrets are revealed. Her strong facade slowly peels away revealing a scared and hurt woman who has not recovered from the traumas of her childhood.

Subtly written about the love between sisters and the destructive nature of addiction, Moore has created characters who are complex, flawed, and broken. She doesn’t impose any judgment but rather captures the realities of addiction.

I loved everything about this book. It is not easy to read and it made me very uncomfortable and emotional at times. The final sentence is disturbing and impactful--it brought tears to my eyes. The characterization is extremely strong--Mickey and Kacey remind me of people I know. Moore brings Kensington, a neighborhood in Philadelphia ravaged by poverty and addiction, to life. She captures both the devastation and glimmers of hope of the people who inhabit Kensington. The strong love for the neighborhood shines through in the characters and highlights the goodness that exists in the darkness.

“People with promise, people dependent and depended upon, people loving and beloved, one after another, in a line, in a river, no fount and no outlet, a long bright river of departed souls.”