Lies A River Deep
About
A Never Fading Memory
In the summer of 1962, at a high school graduation party, Bessie Day Hardy is brutally raped. Fifty years later, the consequences of that horrific night will transition into unforeseen events that will shatter her serene and uncomplicated life.
Praise for this book
Through an intricate weaving of characters, a dramatic event, and fresh information, Vera Jane Cook constructs Lies a River Deep. Bessie Day Hardy has tried to put the awful night she was viciously raped behind her, but fifty years later news surfaces that bring back a flood of memories. As the story swings back in time, the reader sees a simpler time when life was black and white. You don't talk about many things, being a rape victim was a taboo. The story swings back to present time and you see how life has changed in fifty years.
Lies a River Deep by Vera Jane Cook is an eye opener for long term damage done to people who are raped. It was interesting to see Bessie Day Hardy's input from when she was a teenager and then again fifty years later. This story starts slow, but picks up quickly halfway through. This novel will affect you; parts are emotional and other parts will make you question humanity. The insight from the cat, Spider, is a cute touch.
Reviewed by Danita Dyess for Readers' Favorite - 5 Stars
It was over 40 years ago when the unimaginable occurred: Bessie Day Hardy -- a smart, beautiful teenage girl with curly black hair and a striking figure -- was raped in Chaanakya. But that was exactly what happened in the book "Lies a River Deep" by Vera Jane Cook. Of course, a lot can happen in four decades. Bessie, a widower, is 60 years old now. Grey Otis, the town dunce, and Maggie, his wife, are still here. Lily, her high school friend, is still here. Mrs. Day, Bessie's mother, lives in the nearby nursing home. But whatever happened to Bart and Roland Miller, the two brothers who competed for Bessie's heart? Most importantly, how does this cast of characters fit into Bessie's tragic past? Which one of them knew about the rape and which one got paid money to keep it a secret?This was a great book. Back to the 50s with Roland's 1959 convertible and an era where women were either "good" or "bad" girls. I enjoyed the distinct neighborhoods with the 1930s Cape and Colonial houses with well-manicured lawns. The river was real but symbolic. Cook did a fabulous job of conveying the complicated relationships between people, especially the bond between mother and daughter. Cook has written four other books including "Dancing Backward in Paradise: A Novel" and "Hearts Upon a Fragile Bough." "Lies a River Deep" is highly recommended.