The Row

J. R. Johansson

Oct 2016 · Farrar, Straus and Giroux (BYR)

About this ebook

Riley's father is a convicted serial killer on death row, but is he guilty or not? She's determined to find out before it's too late.

Seventeen-year-old Riley Beckett is no stranger to prison. Her father is a convicted serial killer on death row who has always maintained that he was falsely accused. Riley has never missed a single visit with her father. She wholeheartedly believes that he is innocent.

Then, a month before the execution date, Riley’s world is rocked when, in an attempt to help her move on, her father secretly confesses to her that he actually did carry out the murders. He takes it back almost immediately, but she can’t forget what he’s told her. Determined to uncover the truth for her own sake, she discovers something that will forever change everything she’s believed about the family she loves.

Ratings and reviews

I’ve read one of J.R. Johansson’s work before: Insomnia. While I enjoyed it, I wasn’t a fan of the main character, which caused a lot of problems. I still haven’t ruled out continuing the series but I’m not excited for it. When I saw this cover and blurb though, I was. And it paid off. You know that wonderful feeling when you just start a book and are instantly in? That’s what happened. I get giddy just thinking of it. The Good: +Thrilling mystery +Loved Riley’s POV. Her voice comes through strong and clear. +Liked how Riley and Jordan worked and played off each other +Romance is cute. =Liked how it brought up *a few* issues with prisons. (but it’s not about that, it’s passing remarks) The Bad & The Other: -Jordan’s instant, persistent quest to help Riley felt fishy – even after the explanation. =Liked the ending, but it feels like easy way out. I’d like to know how they’d be if it turned out slightly different…that’d be bolder. Note: Jordan and fam are Mexican. The only POC that I recall. First sentence: I step into the registration building and marvel at how it smells the same every time. The Row is really good. It sucked me right in and kept me guessing. When I had to put it down, I kept wondering about it. Then I came back and *whoosh*, it felt like I never left. The pacing is perfect with the right timing and shifting. The clues all make sense as they come and even better when the final picture is shown. There’s red herrings that aren’t obvious and fit in for the perfect blending. Riley’s internal conflicts and emotional journey is…oh, boy. However, generalities about the beginning is as far as I can go without spoiling anything. Which leaves this teeny review feeling pathetic and generic. But I’m not an asshole so…. Let’s talk once you read it. While the top shelves are Mystery, Thriller and Contemporary, I’d peg it as a YA romantic suspense. Their relationship doesn’t overshadow the mystery; it’s about them working together with the right atmosphere, getting closer, and a showdown ending.

A Father on Death Row A Daughter Determined to Prove his Innocence The Son of the Cop who arrested the Father A Workaholic Mother And the Biggest Question of All: Who is the REAL Murderer? As soon as I read the synopsis for The Row, I knew I HAD to read it. It sounded like a real page turner, and I LOVED the very sound of it. Short and Sweet: A GREAT thriller, with a great plot, and the ever present who-dunnit element that could been a whole lot better. Long Version?: I loved the characters - Riley's unflinching loyalty and strength even when her father was going to be killed by the state, I LOVED Jordan, his analytical mind and most of all how he was with his kid brother, Matthew. I even loved the mother, who was in so much pain I just wanted to reach in and hug her. Another thing I really liked was that the author had the power to make me believe in the dad's innocence, then made him look guilty and back and forth, which is EXACTLY what good thrillers should let you do - GUESS and not be predictable. A few things that could have been better, to make this a proper experience could have been: 1) ACTUAL GRUESOME details about the case. Rather than giving us a censored version of 'violent' murders, they could have given us MORE EVERYTHING. More details, how far apart the murders were, just SOMETHING other than their names and that they were murdered. It didn't feel very a) real or b) brutal to me, and that ruined the effect a bit. 2) Another thing I would have LOVED was to see some old articles, some police transcripts or evidence or interviews with the convicted that would help me get a more holistic view of the case in general, over what was slowly becoming a Riley (The Daughter) Monologue. All in all, a book that could have been better, but a GREAT read still the same.

About the author

J.R. JOHANSSON is the author of the Night Walkers Series and CUT ME FREE. She lives in Utah with two sons, a wonderful husband, three cats, and a hot tub named Valentino.