First, I feel compelled to comment on style. Long Bright River is a novel told through Mickey's first-person point-of-view. Second, Liz Moore omits the use of quotation marks for dialogue and utilizes lots of white space for passage of time. And finally, Moore uses the technique of braiding the narrative being told from past to present. I think all of these stylistic choices lend themselves to the story being told.
Mickey, a bright, 30-something police officer in the 24th district of the PPD finds herself grappling with deeply personal issues that put herself and her loved ones at risk. Surrounded by addiction, it became clear to me this book is less of a murder-mystery thriller and more of an introspective look at the current opioid crisis. We follow Mickey as she grapples with her childhood memories and her current day reality. We see through her eyes as a member of the police force as well as the sister of someone who is addicted.
There are twists and turns in this story I had not been expecting - and I'm a reader who constantly makes predictions, looks for foreshadowing, etc. The unpredictability made it an easy read, though I will say if you're looking for more of a murder mystery this book will disappoint you.
One more item: Moore spent nine years writing and researching this book. She was introduced to the real setting this story takes place, and she has had experience with the real issues written on the page. I did a quick google search and followed external links to a site where I was reading first hand accounts from addicts in recovery. They told the stories of their lives and the true struggle it is to get clean and stay clean. Relapse is always a possibility for every individual. I want to thank Moore for doing her best to give us a reliable narrator telling her story through beautiful, stylistic writing.