Title: By the River's Edge: A True Story of Identity and Serial Murder
Author: Gregg Olsen
Genre: True Crime, Nonfiction
Format: eARC
Rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐
Release Date: June 23, 2026
Synopsis
In 1990, the bodies of three women were discovered along the Spokane River in Washington State.
For decades, the murders remained unsolved.
Then, more than twenty years later, advances in DNA technology finally provided investigators with a breakthrough that would lead them to a surprising suspect: Douglas Perry.
But by the time authorities identified him, Douglas Perry had become Donna Perry.
In By the River's Edge, bestselling true crime author Gregg Olsen examines the murders, the lengthy investigation that followed, and the lives of the victims whose stories deserve to be remembered.
My Thoughts
I went into this book knowing very little about the case.
As someone who isn't from the United States, this wasn't a crime I was already familiar with, and outside of a few articles and television segments, there isn't a huge amount of easily accessible information available online.
That made this book feel particularly informative, as I found myself learning about the investigation alongside the narrative.
One of the first things that stood out to me was the amount of research that clearly went into the project.
Gregg Olsen takes a detailed approach to the case, carefully reconstructing the timeline, the investigation, and the people involved. Throughout the book, I never felt as though important information was being glossed over or sensationalized for dramatic effect.
Instead, there is a clear effort to present the facts while also honoring the victims whose lives were impacted by these crimes.
True crime is always somewhat difficult to review because it isn't fiction.
I'm not evaluating plot twists or character development. These are real people, real tragedies, and real consequences.
What I can evaluate is how effectively the author tells the story, and in that regard, I think the book succeeds.
The pacing remained engaging for most of the narrative, even if there were occasional sections that felt a little slower or more repetitive than necessary. Fortunately, those moments never significantly impacted my overall experience.
What surprised me most was how often the book read like a thriller.
Despite knowing that everything being described actually happened, the investigation unfolds with enough tension and momentum that I occasionally forgot I was reading nonfiction.
At the same time, Olsen never loses sight of the human element of the story.
The victims remain at the center of the narrative, which is exactly where they should be.
Final Thoughts
By the River's Edge is a well-researched and thoughtfully presented true crime account of a case that remained unsolved for decades.
While there were a few slower sections, the strength of the investigation, the attention to detail, and the author's commitment to telling the victims' stories made this a compelling read.
If you're a true crime reader who appreciates thorough research and investigative storytelling, this is definitely worth picking up.
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
ARC Disclaimer
Thank you to NetGalley and Thomas & Mercer for providing the ARC in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.
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