White River Crossing

by Ian McGuire

A breathtaking and cinematic novel about the lust for gold and its bloody consequences, set in the unforgiving landscape of the sub-Arctic Canadian wilderness, from the acclaimed author of The North Water

A ragged fur peddler arrives at a remote outpost of the Hudson Bay Company in the winter of 1766 with a lump of gold, claiming that there is plenty more like it further north at a place called Ox Lake. The outpost’s chief factor, Magnus Norton, dreams of instant riches and launches a secret and perilous expedition to find the treasure and bring it back.

Led by a family of native guides, the party of prospectors includes Norton’s brutish deputy, John Shaw, and Thomas Hearn, the insular and intellectual first mate from the factory’s whaling sloop. During their long journey north, Shaw’s callousness and arrogance lead him to commit an act of sexual violence whose disastrous consequences will only fully emerge once they reach their final destination. There, amidst the bleak beauty of the Barren Grounds, as Norton’s carefully crafted plans begin to fall apart and the brutal arctic winter starts to descend, Hearn is forced to make a choice that will define his character and determine his future forever.

Utterly captivating, White River Crossing transports us back to the furthest edges of the eighteenth-century British empire where two radically different worlds—indigenous and European—collide with calamitous and deadly results.

Genres: Historical Fiction, Fiction, Historical, Mystery, Audiobook, Adventure, Indigenous

288 pages, Hardcover

First published February 24, 2026

About the author

Ian McGuire is the author of White River Crossing which will be published in February 2026. His previous novels are The Abstainer published in September 2020 by Random House (USA) and Simon & Schuster (UK), The North Water published by in 2016 by Henry Holt (USA) and Simon & Schuster (UK), and Incredible Bodies published in 2007 by Bloomsbury. Ian lives in Manchester, England and teaches at The University of Manchester's Centre for New Writing. He is a winner of the Royal Society of Literature’s Encore Award and Historical Writers' Association Gold Crown Award.

Reviews

[Vicki Herbert · Rating 4 out of 5]

Ghosts and Spirits...

WHITE RIVER CROSSING
by Ian McGuire

3 1/2 stars. John Shaw, Hudson Bay Deputy, has a second sense when he is approached by local peddler Patterson...

The vermin peddler said he had something to show Hudson Bay Chief Factor Magnus Norton...

Shaw, against his better judgment, bought into the peddler's story and believed it was true...

Inside Norton's opulent office...

The scruffy, evil-smelling peddler presented the Chief Factor a large stone ribboned with gold veins, saying there's more where that came from...

Norton paid the peddler for his information and sent five of his most trusted men to travel to Ox Lake to recover the gold...

At Ox Lake...

The lake was deep in the Barrons, two days from White River Crossing. They hired one of the Northern Indians to take them there...

But there was some trouble at the lake......

An Indian in their party and John Shaw were involved in a fight over the Indian's squaw, and eventually Shaw got the girl pregnant...

Later...

Shaw was bitten by a wolf, causing him to lose an arm. And other murders and calamities happened at Ox Lake...

The elder Indians warned that the stones holding the gold are inhabited by ghosts and spirits...

And, indeed, it seemed to be true...

A few years ago, I read THE NORTH WATER by this author, and it was excellent, so I had high expectations for this novel. This story was all over the map, so instead of the expected gold mining adventure, I got a mixed bag of mainly Indian conflicts. I realize that authors are allowed a bit of leeway with facts when writing their story, but more research on Indians and their way of life was needed here, and at times, this story dragged on with utter nonsense.

[Liz · Rating 3 out of 5]

White River Crossing is a dark historical fiction that takes the reader back to 18th century northern Canada, where a hunt for gold leads to bloody consequences. It left me feeling despondent that there is no such thing as a good man.
When a peddler shows up at a Hudson Bay Company trading post with a stone interlaced with gold veins, the outpost’s leader gets ideas about becoming rich. He sends a small party of men, both English and Northern Indian, into the tundra, the land of the Esquimaux, to find the source. But the group is a mix of egos, ill tempers and greed, and it doesn’t take long for conflict to occur. And once the first issue gets out of hand, the dominoes just continue to fall.
McGuire’s writing is beautifully descriptive and it was easy to envision each scene. As you would expect, the story is dark. I appreciated that we heard from multiple characters, not just the English but the Indians and Esquimaux. In each case, they wonder at the lack of understanding by others at how the world works, convinced of their own beliefs.
But the pace is slow and I struggled to stay invested in the story. It’s a story totally lacking in hope.
My thanks to Netgalley and Crown Publishing for an advance copy of this book.

[Debbie H · Rating 4 out of 5]

4⭐️ Beautifully written historical fiction account of a search for gold in sub-Arctic Canada in 1766.
It’s a rugged and raw account of the wilderness and nature’s brutality and man’s quest for riches. I could feel the cold and bleak outlook of the frozen landscape and the extreme conditions.

I was fascinated with the characters of John Shaw, the cold callous expedition leader bound to bring back the gold whatever the cost, Thomas Hearn the hired man, Abel Walker, young and impressionable, and all the native guides. Every character had a story and an agenda. I loved the portrayal of the different tribes, their traditions and customs.

This story is rich in tragedy, human frailty and triumph, intrigue, murder, and some surprises! Great ending!

Thank you NetGalley and Crown publishers for the eARC in exchange for my honest review.

[Susan · Rating 5 out of 5]

Ian McQuire understands human nature; the character development in this book is outstanding. He writes beautifully and he intertwines the complex relationships in a fantastic way. I look forward to reading The North Water.

[Anne Wolters · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a fascinating blend of fiction and history set in the winter of 1766. The story begins with a well-planned yet secret mission to obtain gold from the far north. Magnus Norton, the manager of a trading post in northern Canada, is shown a rock containing gold veins. He learns that there is an abundance of gold to be found in Ox Lake, further north, and becomes consumed by the prospect of great wealth.
Driven by his ambitions, Norton assembles a diverse group of men for the journey, including Shaw, a cruel and rough character, and Hearn, who is intelligent and honest but has no interest in the gold; he views the expedition as an adventure. Several Indigenous guides join the group, adding depth and authenticity to their journey.
As expected, the expedition is fraught with adversity and hardship, leading to disagreements among the men and even death. The story is a captivating exploration of resilience and ambition, featuring a cast of interesting and memorable characters.
I received a complimentary copy of this book. All comments and opinions are my own.

[Christine · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is an excellent novel! Not only the icy adventure in a white and infinite landscape has captured my attention, but the plot was brilliant in its originality and vividness: I definitely had no idea about what would happen, nor about the conclusion! The psychological development of the characters is fascinating and highly interesting... I also found very interesting to read about the Indians' customs which perfectly fit the conclusion... As to justice and fairness, it is all so subjective.... I loved it and highly recommend this novel.
I received an advance reader copy of this novel from NetGalley and I have voluntarily written an honest review.

[Ray Pezzi · Rating 5 out of 5]

Simply magnificent.

There are lots of books out there (the great majority these days, I'd say) which are the literary equivalent of cotton candy or popcorn: something easily and quickly gobbled down with little contemplation while being read and quickly forgotten as soon as they're finished.

This is NOT one of those novels. Although I enjoyed it a **TINY** bit less than "The North Water", I'd still rank it as a masterpiece, a deep examination of mankind's apparently infinite capacity for cruelty, stupidity, racism, violence, and greed - and the consequences thereof.

There were a couple of weak points, I thought. I read the author's preface for some unknown reason in which he announced that he was going to have his characters (Englismen, Indians, and Eskimaux of the 1760's) speak as we do because, as fellow human beings, they certainly felt and thought just as we would, and thus it made sense to have them speak in a contemporary vernacular. "OK," I thought at the time, "that sounds reasonable."

I was wrong. It doesn't work - particularly with the Indians and the Esquimaux. Every time there was a conversation between members of those groups, it was "nails on chalkboard" time for me. McGuire did much better when he gave us a third person summary of what they'd discussed and decided, rather than the actual conversation itself. "Hey bud, what's your WiFi password in the teepee? I want to stream some Netflix on my Chromebook." OK, that's an exaggeration, but that's how jarring those conversations felt to me. If I had been the editor, I'd have had him change that.

The other weak spot, I thought, was early on, as McGuire's setting the stage for us and introducing a number of different characters. Rather than showing us who they are, he tells us. OK, I get it, you've got a tremendous story to tell, so let's set the stage as quickly as possible and get on to the action. It worked, but only because of the strength of the ensuing story. This wasn't a long book, only 288 pages; there was plenty of room to flesh out our principal characters by showing, rather than telling, us who they are.

Those minor quibbles are quickly swept aside, though, once the expedition leaves the fort and embarks upon its disastrous journey. I've seen McGuire's writing compared to that of Cormac McCarthy and although that's an awfully high standard to be measured against, it probably comes as close as anything else I've read. Here's one example:

"John Shaw is a man of faith after all, Hearn realizes, except the object of his faith is not God or the communion of saints or the Holy Catholic Church, but rather himself and his own immutable and indomitable power. Some might call it blasphemy or even a monstrous arrogance, but Hearn can't help but be impressed, even faintly awed, by such a strength of will, such a refusal to bow or bend or even acknowledge the world's grave weight and resistance. Of course Shaw will fail in the end, Hearn thinks, despite his limitless confidence or perhaps because of it. He will take one risk too many, and that will be the end of him. But not now, he thinks, not yet, and until that happens, Shaw will move through life not as I do, weighed down with confusion and doubt, but easily and smoothly without impediment or resistance, like a whale in the ocean or a great bird on the wing."

So yes, go ahead and gobble down that cotton candy and popcorn - I do it too. But perhaps make room for a rare feast, something you'll think about long after it's been consumed. Ian McGuire's served one up here.

[Ruben · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is proper historical fiction: an adventure story set in the 18th century, the harsh conditions of Northern Canada, gold, greed, rivalries and murder all combined in a smart plot that culminates in a surprising finale.

I was hooked from the start, then slightly bored during the gold expedition and then feverishly turning pages again in the last third.

The setting is Manitoba, 1766 and a peddler presents himself with a gold-threaded stone to a British trading outpost. For the heads of the trading post, Magnus Norton, this is the opportunity of a lifetime he's been waiting for. He puts together a small expedition team composed of his own men and trusted native Americans to explore the site where the gold is said to have been discovered. It's deep in Inuit territory, and there are tensions especially between the "Indians" and the "Esquimaux".

I enjoyed it very much even if parts of the expedition were slightly tedious and the more intricate, political scheming more exciting.

I would say Walter Scott Prize more than Booker.

[Anthony Degliomini · Rating 4 out of 5]

White River Crossing is a very good historical fiction read. It deals with Englishmen, Indians, Eskimos in the 1700s at a remote outpost of the Hudson Bay Company. This book does not pull any punches. It is a dark read that dives into themes of greed, toxic masculinity, prejudice, pride, and more. It is not a lighthearted read but I found myself entranced with the story. I thought the author did a great job of portraying what would be a very realistic situation during that time period. Very good book!

[Rob S · Rating 5 out of 5]

Equal parts gruesome, bleak and bitter, Ian McGuire’s White River Crossing delivers high suspense tale of greed, and the corrupting influence of desire. Set in a post French-Indian War era, McGuire credibly portrays the conditions in the Manitoba region of a British trading post, as a small contingent of the post heads out on a 500-mile secret journey in search of gold. What could go wrong? 😑

[Leah · Rating 4 out of 5]

A fur trader arrives at an outpost of the Hudson Bay Company, and shows the Chief Factor, Magnus Norton, a lump of gold. There is plenty more, he says, at a place called Ox Lake, many miles further north. Seduced by visions of returning to England a wealthy man, Norton decides not to tell the company hierarchy, but instead to send a small expedition, under the leadership of his right-hand man, John Shaw, to check if there is truth to the story, and if so, to bring back as much gold as they can. Accompanied by Norton’s young nephew, Abel Walker, and Tom Hearn, a seaman who is kicking his heels while waiting for spring to allow ships to put to sea, Shaw sets off, guided by four Native Americans.

Primarily a wilderness adventure story, McGuire also looks at the corrupting power of colonialism – following the lead of writers such as Conrad, he suggests that that corruption affects the coloniser as much as the colonised, though in different ways. The three white men are a mixed bunch when they start out: Shaw, an arrogant man with questionable morals and a firm belief in white superiority; Abel Walker, still young and inexperienced, and driven to try to impress Shaw and, through, him, his uncle; and Hearn, once a devout believer who has come to doubt his faith, and is struggling to come to terms with himself. During the journey, an act of sexual violence will fracture the group and bring each of them to question their own and their companions’ morality, and consider where loyalty lies when power is misused.

On the whole, I enjoyed this, but I had one major reservation throughout, and that is in the depiction of the “Indians” and the Esquimaux. Let me start by saying that I felt strongly that McGuire intended to be respectful to his indigenous characters. But I felt that the culture he portrays was a construct created to support the plot, rather than the plot arising out of a genuine culture. Their belief system becomes superstition, while Hearn’s struggles with his Christian faith are given much more depth. Their lifestyle has hints of pastoral idyll, until corrupted by the white man. The elders are unambitious and fatalistic, accepting their victimhood at the hands of the white people – a rather romanticised depiction of stoicism in the face of the invader.

There were episodes where I simply didn’t believe the indigenous people behaved as they would have in real life. For example, at one point male indigenous characters wrestle for sexual possession of an already married woman. It’s central to the plot, but I found myself checking if this would have happened, and came away feeling McGuire had taken a traditional courtship ritual and turned it into something quite different and more ‘savage’, in the sense that older adventure stories often showed indigenous cultures as having inferior, rather than different, cultural practices to our own, especially relating to sex.

In his introduction, McGuire talks of the sources he used in his research, but then says: “In White River Crossing, I have absorbed and learned from the historical record but also knowingly gone beyond it: the characters and situations are compatible with the existing evidence, but since the existing evidence is partial and tells us very little about the inner lives of the people involved, I have also taken some liberties.” A hundred years ago, even fifty, this would have been considered acceptable. But is it still today? These are not extinct cultures – they have extensive oral histories and spiritual traditions that are still remembered and practised. It should be possible, I feel, to understand the ‘inner lives’ of these indigenous characters as much as those of white men of that time.

In contrast, I found the three main white characters interesting and believable. Shaw has chosen Hearn partly because he is a rather grim, solitary man, therefore unlikely to reveal the truth of their mission to the other men in the outpost. But his grimness arises out of his internal struggles with a faith he has lost but still yearns for, and this means that he has a much stricter moral code than the greed and lust-driven Shaw, which inevitably leads to tension. The younger man, Abel, is caught between them, seeing things to admire in both the older men and not mature or confident enough to stand up to either of them.

McGuire’s depiction of the trading post and those who people it is interesting and feels authentic. He writes very well, creating a real sense of tension as the expedition runs into trouble. It is a bleak story, with no humour or lightness to lift the tone, and there’s a sense of impending tragedy throughout. I was a little surprised that the depiction of the Arctic wilderness wasn’t as strong as I’d anticipated, based on the reviews of his earlier book, The North Water. This story is entirely about man against man, rather than man against nature. And ultimately it is about the white men – the indigenous characters serve to move the plot along, but it is the fate of the white men that is central. I enjoyed it as an adventure story, but I came away feeling that, with the welcome growth in ‘own voices’, perhaps we should give the ‘white view’ of indigenous cultures a rest for a while.

NB: This book was provided for review by the publisher, Simon & Schuster via NetGalley.

[Kate Connell · Rating 4 out of 5]

I would recommend this to anyone interested in trade of the 1700s Hudson Bay Company, as the book not only gives the perspective of the white men but also of the native men and women. This book is both a solid story and an interesting look into a historical period. Ian McGuire used a lot of historical sources to help build this story and you can feel the effort in the way the story is written, it feels genuine and engaging. This is not surprising considering McGuire's other chosen topics for novels, and it is nice to know he can walk the line between historical accuracy and captive storytelling.

Thank you to NetGalley for an eARC of this book, I am leaving this review of my own choice.

[Lata · Rating 3 out of 5]

Greed is the driving force behind several of the characters in this compelling historical fiction novel.

In 1766, when the Hudson's Bay Company outpost's chief factor, Magnus Norton, hears a tale of untold riches of copper and gold in the far north at Ox Lake, he decides on not telling his superiors in England. Instead, he has his deputy, John Shaw, and the reclusive Thomas Hearn, a former sailor who claims to know the Inuit's language, and Norton's nephew Abel Walker, mount an expedition to Ox Lake. They take an indigenous guide, Nabayah, and his two wives, Keasik and Pawpitch , to help with the hunting and cooking, and head out.

On the way, they encounter a group of indigenous men, one of whom wants Keasik. Nabayah, already a man quick to anger and offence, due to a lack of confidence in himself, is all set to fight them, but John Shaw intervenes, and fights instead. After winning, John decides to rape Keasik as his reward, disgusting Thomas in the process, and infuriating Nabayah. This moment will have disastrous consequences going forward.

When they arrive at Ox Lake, they gain the attention of an Inuit band living nearby, and try to convince them to help the expedition locate the gold. The chief is unwilling, but his son, curious, decides to help, and this, too, will prove disastrous.

In fact, this whole novel is filled with people making terrible decisions based on greed, rage, a lack of confidence, a desire for revenge, bigotry, or some combination of these, and all who come close to the small expedition suffer for it.

Author Ian McGuire uses documents written by colonists of the time period, which are rife with misunderstandings and tons of bigotry. McGuire has stated that he relied on contemporary scholars, archaeologists and anthropologists so he could provide the indigenous characters in this work a voice. Not being a member of a First Nation, I hope indigenous readers feel he has fleshed out his indigenous characters with respect.

I did like the way McGuire wove in a sense that the supernatural was at work, at least in the minds of his indigenous characters, and that they saw clearly that the desperate need of the white men around them for the odd yellow rocks was weird.

Taken as an adventure story where everything that can go wrong does go wrong, it's enjoyable, in the sense of watching bad people get theirs, and the few good people managing to find their way out of the situation into a better life.

Thank you to Netgalley and to Crown Publishing for this ARC in e exchange for my review.

[Andrew Reynolds · Rating 4 out of 5]

Butcher's Crossing if it was done by a messy writers room that couldn't decide on anything? I think this book works well overall because McGuire's prose is barbwire at all times, and simultaneously really methodical and good at tying things up, but the truth of the matter is this thing sort of falls off the rails at some point in Esquimaux territory.

I love that it kept me guessing but all these threads unraveling before they even came to be to begin with grew frustrating. It reminded me of how in The Abstainer, the book just ended without depicting the "epic final battle", and instead cut to the epilogue with a brief summary. In that book I didn't find it to be much of an issue, but here I do somewhat.

I still think this is worthy of 4 stars because of how hooked I was, like dying to pick the book back up, but it is a really conflicting experience because it could have been so much more.

Likely my least favorite of his three books. The North Water>The Abstainer>White River Crossing, but it's tight.

[Kim · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was an enjoyable read if you like the topic, which I do. There is some uncomfortable writing around assault etc so if you avoid that, this is not for you. As usual Ian McGuire’s writing is easy to read. Unfortunately I found the plot very predictable from the beginning. The reader is shown very quickly how the story will end up. However the path there is still worth the investment.

[Ethan Rougeau · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a very well written dark historical piece. It brings to light the many perils and difficulties of the early times of North America. It follows a group of Englishmen from a fort in the Hudson Bay region of Canada and their interactions with several different native tribes as they search for gold. This story has many twists and turns and is very dark and full of horror. The characters are very well defined and very individualized and are seem to be very correct for the time period. It really makes you think about what life was like back then and what it most has been like to live during those times and what might be different today if we had treated the natives with a little more dignity and respect.

[Nadia Zeemeeuw · Rating 2 out of 5]

I liked the author’s previous novel enough - because of its cold northern setting, so naturally I reached for this new book as well, especially since it’s set in the Arctic too.
Even though I read the author’s disclaimer, I still found myself cringing whenever distinctly 20th-century profanity appeared in the mouths of Indians, Eskimos, and British naval officers. Sometimes disclaimers simply don’t work, I suppose.
The story itself wasn’t nearly as interesting as I had hoped. There’s not much enjoyment in predictable and prolonged misery. Whatever deeper message might be here (aside from the vicious cycle of vengeance) left me unmoved, alas.

[CJ · Rating 5 out of 5]

Many years ago I read a short story called “Close Behind Him” by John Wyndham (he of Triffids fame).

That story follows two burglars who break into a house filled with occult artifacts. During the robbery, a man is killed. Thereafter, one of the burglars becomes increasingly paranoid, convinced that he is being stalked by the ghost of the murdered man.

Ian McGuire riffs on a similar theme while exploring the interplay between contrasting epistemologies of the Northern Indians, Esquimaux and the English colonists. It’s a story which also considers the consequences of vanity and greed and the flawed natures of human beings, no matter how virtuous they may appear.

Is it flawless in its execution? Definitely not. Is it a gripping read and cleverly crafted story which tilts its hat to historical detail? Absolutely, yes.

While you may not require the high doses of laudanum recommended to get through The North Water without psychological damage, a couple of drops of opium administered on the tongue, or a draught of chloride of gold might help you along your way.

[Liz Wilson · Rating 4 out of 5]

White River Crossing by Ian McGuire is a historical novel set in the frozen northern wilderness of 18th-century Canada. At a remote trading post, rumours of gold drifting downriver ignites dangerous ambition within the outpost’s commander, Magnus Norton. Restless and hungry for fortune, he dispatches a small expedition into the vast, unmapped landscape to find and bring back the gold.

The expedition is made up of: John Shaw, Norton’s deputy and the expedition’s most dangerous presence. He is physically imposing, volatile, and deeply cruel; Thomas Hearn is a former sailor and reluctant participant in the expedition. He is observant, inward-looking, and more morally reflective than the others; Abel Walker, Norton's inexperienced and bookish nephew; and the Indigenous guides, Datsanthi, Pawpitch, Nebayah and Keasik, who possess the true knowledge of the land and understand it's dangers.

As the group journey north, tensions start to fray, and Shaw's arrogance and, colonial entitlement, leads to him carrying out an act of s3xual violence that has disastrous, far-reaching consequences.

This was a really interesting read and my first by this author. I initially wasn't sure as the pacing seemed a bit off and the story rushed, but I was totally invested from about halfway through. McGuire's ability to bring the vast, brutal, Canadian wilderness to life, was expertly done and I felt I was right there seeing it all.

The collection of character's represents a variety of social-political stances; Shaw is vile, and he embodies all the horrific traits of colonialism, racism and classism - he sees the land, and the indigenous people, as expendable and something to dominate. Contrasted with Datsanthi and his family, their presence highlights the imbalance of power and the arrogance of the expedition. Hearn, meanwhile, often finds himself caught between obedience and conscience, and frequently unsure of whether to intervene in Shaw's behaviour. I will say though that Shaw's character was so overtly horrible and two-dimensional, that he seemed almost like a caricature baddy, which at times made him more ridiculous than horrifying. I think it's a delicate balance to get that level of baddy right, and that was slightly off at times so perhaps wasn't quite as effective as it could have been. I also felt like more could have been made of Hearn's character.

The book touches on themes of obsession, colonialism, man vs nature, moral disintegration, isolation, and violence against minorities to name a few. It was a thoroughly enjoyable read with mostly complex characters and the story was at times shocking, sad, and inevitable. At its heart, it explores the thin line between order and chaos set against a wilderness that is vast, brutal, and unforgiving.

[Colleen Maclennan · Rating 4 out of 5]

A dark historical read about life in a Hudson Bay fur trading company in the 18th century. The book portrayed how the company bartered with the natives and the various tribes that accompanied that area. Added to this was the quest for gold and how greed can result in individuals doing unthinkable actions to obtain it. The characters are well suited to their roles . An interesting read showing the vastness of the Canadian north and the natives who survived there without the influence of the white man.

[Lorin Cary · Rating 5 out of 5]

Fur trading in Canada 1766. An inhospitable environment. This is a rich book with detailed ventures into Eskimo and Indian cultures, as well as the quest for gold that leads to some disastrous endings. The characters of each background are well developed, the plot unfolds well, the pacing is excellent, dialogue believable and the twists nicely done. I found this to be an excellent historical novel.

[Jan St Jean · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is just the style I like. Ragtag bunch of explorers looking for gold in the far north in 1776. Different tribes of Indians, animal attack, braving the elements, with a satisfying ending.

[KDub · Rating 3 out of 5]

White River Crossing is a historical fiction drama set in the winter of 1766, centering around a group of men trying to strike it rich by searching for gold in the sub-Arctic Canadian wilderness. The tale is as bleak, cold, and unforgiving as the climate. While I found it interesting overall, my attention waned as the story progressed because of its slow pace.

Recommended for fans of slow-paced, historical mysteries.

Thank you to NetGalley and Crown Publishing for the eARC.

[Blayne · Rating 4 out of 5]

Call it 3.5

[Esj · Rating 5 out of 5]

Complex characters. Compelling plot. Beautiful writing.
I look forward to reading more from this author.

[Shazza Hoppsey · Rating 4 out of 5]

Ripping yarn of greed and spirits. Everyone is corrupted by their selfish desires.

[Heather · Rating 1 out of 5]

I read historical fiction because I want to feel grounded in real history, even if the characters are invented. The early scene where two American Indian men wrestle over a woman as though she’s property gave me pause. I am not a scholar of Native American cultures by any means, but that didn’t seem to jive with what I do know. So I did some research. There’s no solid historical evidence that this was an actual cultural custom. It’s just an invention that leans into derogatory American Indian stereotypes.

The book certainly portrays moral ugliness across the board. White characters are shown as greedy and violent as well. The author notes in the foreword that the novel isn’t meant to be strictly historically accurate, but that kind of disclaimer doesn’t make this invention feel any more justified.

Perhaps McGuire is just trying to portray the clash of cultures that certainly existed in North America during that period. However, there is plenty of real, well-documented history that shows those conflicts without inventing racist and misogynistic BS.

[Brent Murphy · Rating 5 out of 5]

Outstanding storytelling. Reminiscent of London, Melville, and Punke.

[Nicole Tatro · Rating 4 out of 5]

Whoa. This was a gritty, intense novel filled with violence, raw ambition, and the harsh realities of racism and sexism inter and intra-culturally among the Indians and English alike.. McGuire writes unapologetically, exploring the extreme lengths men would go to in pursuit of wealth. Throughout the book, I felt a constant undercurrent of masculinity—his characters and their actions felt strikingly real and tangible. While the novel touches on a deeper philosophical question—are our lives driven by destiny or shaped by free will—it primarily tells a brutal story of the Indian-English trade, the extreme conditions of the time, and the ruthless will to survive.

[Amelie · Rating 3 out of 5]

Thank you to NetGalley and Simon and Schuster for providing me with an ARC of this book in exchange for a review.

3.5

White River Crossing is set in northern Manitoba in the mid-1700s. When Magnus Norton, the chief factor of a Hudson Bay Company, outpost hears of gold to the north, he sends a group in search of it. This comprises of John Shaw, his cruel and arrogant deputy, Abel Walker, his nephew, and Thomas Hearn, a reserved and solitary mariner. They are guided by Datsanthi, a native trader, who brings along his wife Pawpitch, his adopted son Nabaya and Nabaya’s wife Keasik. The hardships of their journey go beyond simply their physical environment, and, as the promise of gold grows closer, the group must ask themselves what they are willing to sacrifice to find it.

I would recommend this novel to anyone that enjoys meticulously-researched historical fiction about people searching for their fortune against punishing landscapes. While not a gold rush text per se, this novel is similarly a cautionary tale about greed and the hierarchies of power. In terms of the setting, the first comparison that came to mind is Annie Proulx’s Barkskins: the novels share a rugged but beautiful representation of northern Canada facing colonisation. Ian McGuire’s strengths certainly laid in his prose, which captured the setting wonderfully, and was engaging throughout.

Hearn, as I think was intended, was the most interesting character. All of the white protagonists come from English colonial origin, but his background is the most unconventional, and is explored in the most detail. He also changes the most as a character throughout the novel, shaped irreversibly by the expedition. He is one of few to learn native languages, which proves successful in relations and trade, but we see this effort overshadowed by the insatiable greed and imperial violence of many others. It is impossible for him to avoid complicity in these things also, and I felt that McGuire represented that with great nuance. Some of the novel’s ‘bad’ characters, though, occasionally slip a bit too far into cartoon villainy.

My main sticking point came with Keasik, the only major female character. It isn’t inherently problematic that the text is male dominated: it is, of course, historically accurate, with women only brought on the journey for domestic tasks. However, I felt a lot of potential was missed with Keasik. It is hard to discuss without giving a lot of the plot away, but multiple life-altering things happen to her in the novel, and I couldn’t help but feel that we saw other’s perspective on it more than we saw hers. When there was a glimpse at her feelings, it was usually her worries about those around her than much consideration for herself. Perhaps the author approached her experience with caution, as a male author writing about sexual violence against a woman—I appreciate this, but I think more bravery is expected when approaching a topic like that at all. I also found her too often ‘saved’ by other characters, and wished she’d had the opportunity to liberate herself.

Ultimately, this novel was well-constructed, but didn’t excel in every area. I’ve not read McGuire’s other novels, so I can’t compare it to those, but I certainly see the talent of an established writer of historical fiction. I’d certainly try another of his.