Under the Falls

Thank you to Knopf and NetGalley for the ARC.

The return of a rock star to his hometown after decades away was a scenario that intrigued me. Tyler left home behind to pursue his dreams; Curt stayed and became chief of police, and neither ever forgot the bond they had. I may not be a rock star, but losing touch with childhood friends is something I can relate to. As the novel progressed, though, that relationship took a backseat to the crime plot rather than the two supporting each other.

Tyler and Curt are the reason I finished the book. In the end, Under the Falls felt to me like a homecoming novel with a crime plot bolted on. The crime felt like Russo may have been compensating for something — what, exactly, isn't clear to me. Some of the side characters never got the development they deserved, coming off instead as exaggerated caricatures in service of "drama." It almost felt like Russo was worried the book would be too boring, but ironically, for me the quiet parts were the best parts.

Readers who want small-town fiction about men who can't say what they mean won't hate Under the Falls, while readers who come to it for the crime will find it half-baked. I think that's the main problem: Russo never commits to either.

2.75, rounded up to 3.