Tessa Wegert’s “The River Runs Black”

Tessa Wegert is the critically acclaimed author of the Shana Merchant mysteries, as well as the North Country series, beginning with In the Bones. Her books have received numerous starred reviews and have been featured on PBS and NPR Radio. A former journalist and copywriter, Wegert grew up in Quebec and now lives in Connecticut, where she co-founded Sisters in Crime CT and serves on the board of International Thriller Writers (ITW).

Here she dreamcasts an adaptation of her new novel, The River Runs Black.

The River Runs Black is the second book in my North Country thriller series—following In the Bones—and it’s a spinoff of my previous Shana Merchant series. As such, I already had actors in mind for the key roles of Tim Wellington (Adam Driver), Shana Merchant (Emma Stone), Maureen “Mac” McIntyre (Jane Lynch). This book also introduces three new points of view, though, so I had some fun imagining who might be the best fit for those roles.

Bobby Ott: I’d love to see Catherine "Katie" Laga'aia take on the role of sixteen-year-old Bobby, daughter of French Polynesia-born New York State Police Investigator Valerie Ott (who’d ideally be portrayed by Courtney Eaton, in case you were wondering). Playing a small-town teenager abducted during a cross-border drug investigation would be a far cry from portraying Disney’s Moana, but while Bobby is pushing hard to grow up, she’s still a kid who watches Gilmore Girls and is excited about Halloween, and Laga'aia would capture that nuance beautifully.

Phoebe Reed: Since part of The River Runs Black takes place in Ontario, Canada and I’m Canadian myself, it would be great to see a Canadian actor in one of the roles. Abby Ross immediately comes to mind. Known for Riverdale and Once Upon a Time, Ross would bring both innocence and inner strength to this young, motherless heiress in possession of information that could cost Phoebe her life.

Raymond Stoll: State Trooper Raymond Stoll might be one of my most surprising characters; without giving anything away, he stunned me on several occasions while I was writing the book—particularly in the final chapter, which I hope will reframe the reader’s perspective and leave jaws on the floor. Based on his role in the MacGyver reboot, I think Lucas Till would bring the energy that’s inherent in Raymond’s scenes, and also nail the trooper’s insecurities and all- consuming desire to become a detective himself.

Visit Tessa Wegert's website.

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The Page 69 Test: Devils at the Door.

The Page 69 Test: The Coldest Case.

Writers Read: Tessa Wegert (November 2025).

--Marshal Zeringue