ONCE UPON A RIVER

5 stars out of 5

Is it possible to "read" a fine art painting? The practical, show-me-the-facts side of me would say no, but that's exactly the feeling I got when I finished this exquisitely written book. Part folklore, part fantasy, part romance and part mystery, this one's got it all - and then some.

In the beginning, I must admit, I wasn't sure of anything except that I wouldn't be able to breeze my way through (not exactly what I needed at the beginning of a busy holiday season). And at first, I had a little difficulty keeping the characters, and facts from fiction, straight. But the writing drew me in - and in - and very soon I was totally hooked (make that enthralled) and more than a little eager to get to the finish line.

Central to the story, set in ancient times, is the River Thames; in the beginning, revelers at the nearby inn in the midst of their usual storytelling when without warning, a seriously injured stranger barges in, carrying the body of a very young girl. Believing her to be dead, they put her in a cold room and call in local nurse and midwife Rita. At first, she confirms the death and tries to patch up the man - a photographer - who brought her in. But then, the unthinkable happens; Rita notices a slight pulse. Wonder of wonders, the girl is alive. Now, besides wondering how that possibly could have happened, they want to know who she is.

There are three possibilities: One local family's child was kidnapped about two year earlier, another man's daughter is believed to have been drowned by her mother, and another local woman - one who keeps to herself and lives a mysterious and solitary life - claims the child is her younger sister (never mind that because of the age difference it's a virtual impossibility). Thrown into the mix are tales of river gypsies and Quietly, a ferryman who is believed to save those whose lives the river threatens to take (or, in the alternative, usher them to their final destination).

The story follows, both past and present, the lives of these characters and those who play major roles in their lives as they try to find the child's identity and what really happened to her. It's an emotionally charged journey interwoven with superstition, deception, love and sadness - all revolving around that all-knowing, all-consuming river. 

In short, highly recommended. Many thanks to the publisher, via NetGalley, for the opportunity to read an advance copy. 

Once Upon a River by Diane Setterfield (Atria/Emily Bestler Books, December 2018); 480 pp.