Clever: Moores book has clever plot, intriguing characters

The complicated relationship of two estranged sisters who choose different life paths persuasively works as a metaphor for their old neighborhood that is in transition.

Deftly plotted with strong, vivid characters, Liz Moore’s outstanding “Long Bright River” works as solid crime fiction and an intense family thriller.

A street officer for the Philadelphia Police Department, Mickey Fitzpatrick patrols the Kensington neighborhood, an area once solidly middle class.

The sweet scenes of Mickey with her son contrast to the street life that she witnesses daily.

The clever plot and involving characters of “Long Bright River” set a high standard for this new year.