The Row

The Row by J. R. Johansson
On Sale October 11, 2016 by Farrar, Straus and Giroux
Rating: ★★★★

Having a father on death row has never been easy for Riley. Just six when her father was convicted of murdering three women, she's spent her life moving from place to place-- never too far from the prison, but hopefully far enough that no one will figure out who she is. But they always do. Neighbors leave threatening notes, kids at school make fun of her, and her mother has been let go of more jobs than she can remember. The one thing Riley has clung to, her life raft through the choppy waters of guilt by association and social isolation, is the fact that her father is an innocent man.

Then one day, his execution imminent, her father confesses to her, and it turns Riley's world inside out.

Her dad takes back his confession almost immediately, but it's too late to restore Riley's faith is him. Either way, he's lied to her, and it makes her wonder what else he's hiding. She's also distrustful of her mother, who has stopped visiting her father each week and is always at work. Riley is determined to discover the truth behind her parents, no matter what she discovers. Eager to help her is her new, and only, friend, Jordan. But he just happens to be the son of the cop who arrested Riley's father, and he believes the right man is already behind bars. 

I've always believed my parents-- always.

If that sounds naive, it's in part because Riley comes across as much younger than seventeen. I cringed the million times she calls her father "Daddy." I don't know if this down-aging is a problem with her characterization, or if the author has made a deliberate effort to make it seem as if Riley is suffering arrested development on account of her father's conviction.

The mystery part of this book surpassed my expectations. I was pretty sure I had it figured out, and I was so wrong. I loved the ending. The romance didn't impress me as much. I liked some aspects of Jordan, but he wasn't a very realistic character. Right after meeting Riley, he becomes oddly obsessed with helping her, and, honestly, she's a pill toward him the bulk of the time. I don't know what Jordan is getting out of their relationship.

Overall impressions: this is a solid YA mystery novel.