River Deep is the latest novel by one of my favorite authors currently writing in America in 2026. I don’t wish to pigeonhole his work as mystery fiction, nor is it legal fiction. As James Lee Burke elevates his mystery and detective novels above the genre so does Bryan Gruley with his stories. So River Deep is his second book in his latest series ( may it be number 2 of several!) centered in-and-around Bitterfrost, an aptly named small town in the northern part of Lower Michigan. In River Deep we reconnect with Devyn Payne, who returned to her hometown in the first book (Bitterfrost) in the series.
This book explores, via a seemingly straightforward tragedy, that perhaps really a crime. It delves into the moral ambiguities, the searing pain of family loss, with large helpings of deceit, loyalty, and love. In addition the reader gets a great courtroom drama. This book does just fine as a standalone story; however, Mr. Gruley deftly intertwines key characters from his previous book. So if you pick up “Bitterfrost” it will add to the satisfaction you will receive while paging through “River Deep.”
Thanks to NetGalley for this 5-Star best read of 2026. (I know it’s only late March but allow me the extravagance.)

This book was absolutely fantastic. I did not want to put it down once I started reading. Easily able to give this book five stars.

River Deep was my first introduction to Bryan Gruley. It’s the second book in his A Bitterfrost Thriller series, but it reads as a standalone.

The story follows the trial of Catriona Dulaney, a mother who drove her vehicle into a frozen lake, resulting in the drowning of her two baby boys. It seems like a straightforward case, but is it?

The pacing was a bit slow at times, but the world building was necessary for everything to come together. The characters were brought to life with Gruley’s words, and I really liked Devyn.

I’d recommend this to hockey fans as well as readers of crime fiction as well as thrillers.

This one leans hard into that small-town pressure where everyone knows each other and nothing stays buried for long. River Deep starts with a really emotional case and builds from there, but it’s not just about solving what happened, it’s about everything surrounding it. The community, the history, the way people pick sides before the truth is even clear, all of that adds to the tension. Devyn is a solid lead, especially in how she questions what should be an open-and-shut case and keeps pushing even when it would be easier not to. The pacing is steady, more focused on unraveling layers than big dramatic twists, but it keeps you hooked because things never feel as simple as they seem. It’s heavy in parts, especially with the subject matter, but that weight is what makes it land. Overall it’s more grounded and character-driven than flashy, with a strong sense of place and a constant undercurrent of unease.

Bitterfrost, also the title of the first book in this highly entertaining series, is a small town in Northern Lower Michigan known statewide for its competitive youth hockey program. For vacationers it’s recognized as a great summer location for enjoying a week or two on the shores of beautiful Lake Michigan or the Jako River. For locals in Bitterfrost the longtime feud between the Payne and Dulaney clans seems to be the ongoing talk of the sleepy small town. With all the notorious Dulaney men, criminals one and all, currently in prison or dead the women now run the vast land holdings the family owns. The current Payne family is down to the elderly mother and two adult children. Ethan runs the family business including the popular local hockey rink—the hub of activity for the townspeople. Daughter Devyn Payne is a successful former defense attorney accepting a position as deputy prosecutor on her return to Bitterfrost. She came home to help Ethan over concern that their mother is exhibiting signs of early onset dementia. Devyn also coaches the highly successful girls hockey team vying for the state tournament.

Bryan Gruley has given us an explosive plot that divides the town in two. A tragic event occurs when an out of control SUV plunges into the freezing Jako River. The husband and wife barely escape with their lives while their eight month old twin boys are trapped in the car as it fills with water. The plot centers on who was driving and was it an accidental or an intentional act, the physical and mental condition of the driver, and whether Devyn Payne, prosecuting attorney again turned defense attorney, can defend her mortal enemy, Catriona Dulaney. Beyond the electric courtroom scenes there are several sub-stories that keep the story moving at a rapid pace. Catriona’s husband Sam is a seemingly loving husband but his hidden past comes into play telling a different story. So does the role of a retired state trooper who prefers anonymity to making his presence know. A downstate criminal enterprise pulling the strings in Bitterfrost affects both the Dulaneys and Paynes in different ways. And the basis for all the Dulaney-Payne current conflict comes to light in an unexpected finale.

River Deep can be read as an outstanding standalone but I had a better feel for the characters by reading Bitterfrost first. Regardless the book is highly entertaining and if you put yourself in the jury box the outcome of the guilty/not guilty decision regarding Catriona’s fate lends a personal touch. I hope the Bitterfrost series continues. Bryan Gruley, as with The Starvation Lake series, has a winner with the town, characters, and readers. And if you know little about the great sport of hockey you will come to appreciate it by the time you finish any of the author’s books.

My thanks to Severn House and NetGalley for the opportunity to read and review the book. It was time well spent.