Hannah Edwards: Secrets of Riverway by Ashley Hards

What worked:

I’m always interested in how authors motivate readers in the opening pages to keep them reading. This author uses an unusual strategy by having the first chapter describe how uninteresting the town has become. It makes readers curious to find something unexpected. The river that once carved out a canyon is now a trickling stream and canola farms have replaced the booming barley industry. The old, drafty school holds students from elementary through high school although ghosts might, or might not, be spotted there. The town tries to maintain an image of the Old West but the shop owners aren’t always hospitable. The most interesting thing happening now is that Hannah’s father has been missing for three months and she intends to find out where he’s gone. Readers quickly discover the town has more mystery and adventure than it seems.

The story is presented as Hannah’s journal entries where she records everything she learns from her investigation. It’s supposed to be her grief journal. Hannah’s voice speaks directly to readers which helps to draw them into the book. She explains events and her thoughts throughout the story and shares the importance of keeping accurate, thorough records. She even transcribes her tape-recorded interviews. One chapter is written in prose using a style Hannah learned in class. The chapters allow readers into her neurodivergent mind as her thoughts often switch to different topics or her brain becomes fixated on one task. She has trouble sitting still and frequent daydreaming should be expected. The chapters also describe Hannah’s irritation toward her Uncle Fergus and her suspicions about the school guidance counselor. Could Ms. Grant be a witch?

Early parts of the book allow readers to wonder if anything supernatural is happening. Hannah’s best friend Sam says he’s seen a ghost in the abandoned mill and he’s pretty sure it looked just like her father. Hannah doesn’t believe in ghosts so she’s skeptical of Sam’s story. She finds explanations for ghostly evidence they encounter plus she’s not ready to believe her father is dead. Denial is a natural reaction to tragedy and Hannah has been dealing with grief since her father’s disappearance. It takes the entire book until she finally accepts the truth and can heal her broken heart.

What didn’t work as well:

Uncle Fergus comes across as a shifty character right from the start. It would be nice if his sneaky, manipulative qualities were more subtle so readers could discover his dishonesty on their own.

The final verdict:

The plot addresses the grief of suddenly losing a loved one in the form of a ghostly mystery. Sam loyally stands by Hannah even when she holds out hope for her father despite increasing evidence that he’s gone. This book should appeal to lovers of ghosts and small-town mysteries and I recommend you give it a shot.