Rolling Back the River

by Paul Guernsey

"Rolling Back the River is a lyrical and unflinching journey through wild streams, wild hearts, and the wilderness of loss. With humor, heart, and hard-earned wisdom, Paul Guernsey reminds us that the rivers we love—and the lives we build—can never flow backward." —Joshua Caldwell, fly fisher, director of the feature film Mending the Line

While fly-fishing on a remote river in southern Argentina, a veteran outdoor writer from Maine finds himself swept into a cascade of bizarre events, all connected to an enigmatic, billionaire environmentalist and his cosmopolitan twin nieces.

Vincent Mapp, former adventure-traveling editor-in-chief for an international fly-fishing magazine, now leads a life centered around teaching at a small Maine environmental college and obsessively fishing his home waters for just about anything that swims. But after his wife of many years abruptly upends his world by ditching him for someone who doesn’t fish all the time, Vincent decides to accept one last far-flung assignment as a fly-fishing journalist, and he heads off to Patagonia with the goal of catching some of the few remaining, fast disappearing, Argentinian landlocked salmon—all of which are descended from fish originally introduced to Argentina from Maine. Even at the literal end of the earth, however, and exploring an enchanted landscape of devastating beauty, Vincent finds himself unable to avoid conflict. He arrives at an isolated ranch on the Perca River just as a mysterious predator has begun attacking pets and livestock—and it’s not long before he experiences his own terrifying nighttime run-in with the creature. He also discovers that the reclusive American owner of an adjacent ranch—multi-billionaire wildlife conservationist and avid fly-angler J.T. Allman—has been commissioning some unsettling environmental experiments on his vast property. One serious complication in Vincent’s attempts to get to the bottom of all the Allman holds a simmering 20-year-old grudge against him for events connected to his time as a magazine editor. Turbulent waters become increasing treacherous after Allman’s cultured, equestrian, and attractive twin nieces, unaware of their elderly uncle’s animosity toward Vincent, invite him to a bizarre festival on the grounds of the Allman estate. Through it all, Vincent and his faithful fishing guide, Sancho Nelson, try very hard to catch some salmon.
 

Genres: Fiction

226 pages, Paperback

Published February 17, 2026

About the author

Paul Guernsey, former editor and associate publisher of Fly Rod & Reel Magazine, is an award-winning novelist and nonfiction writer. He is the author of "Beyond Catch & Release: Exploring the Future of Fly Fishing" (nonfiction) and "American Ghost," which won the 2018 Maine Book Award in the speculative fiction category. "Rolling Back the River," Guernsey's fourth novel, is a literary fly-fishing adventure set in Maine and Argentina. Guernsey lives and fishes in Maine.

Reviews

[Beverly · Rating 5 out of 5]

Thank you for choosing me to read and review this book. I received my copy on April 2, 2026.

[Sabrina Gianguzzi · Rating 5 out of 5]

Rolling Back the River stayed with me long after I turned the final page. Paul Guernsey writes with the kind of quiet authority that makes you feel the cold rush of the Perca River and the ache in Vincent Mapp’s heart at the same time. This isn’t just a fishing story it’s a deeply personal meditation on loss, pride, aging, and the stubborn hope that we can still set something right before the light fades.

Vincent feels real in all his flaws: obsessive, wounded, thoughtful, and sometimes blind to his own part in the mess. The tension surrounding J.T. Allman and the strange events on the ranch adds a compelling undercurrent of suspense, but what moved me most were the quieter moments Vincent casting into uncertain waters, knowing some things can’t be reeled back in.

It’s lyrical without being heavy, reflective without losing momentum. A beautiful, intelligent novel that understands both rivers and the human heart.

[June · Rating 5 out of 5]

Rolling Back the River is a richly atmospheric novel that blends adventure, mystery, and introspection against the stunning backdrop of Patagonia. When fly-fishing writer Vincent Mapp travels to Argentina after a personal upheaval, he finds himself pulled into a strange web of environmental intrigue, old grudges, and unsettling events. Guernsey’s writing is both lyrical and quietly humorous, bringing the landscape—and Vincent’s inner turmoil—to life in a way that feels immersive and deeply human.

What makes this story stand out is how it balances suspense with reflection. Beneath the mystery and wilderness adventure is a thoughtful exploration of loss, purpose, and the passage of time. Whether you’re drawn in by the fly-fishing elements or the character-driven storytelling, Rolling Back the River is a compelling, slightly offbeat read that lingers long after the final page.

[Stephanie Wheatley · Rating 3 out of 5]

To be fair, this wasn’t the usual type of book that would catch my eye. It actually was difficult to get into the story for me and I put it aside for a bit. There were scenes in it which I felt were unnecessary and parts that were longer than I thought they should have been. However, once I pushed on through, after just over half, the actual story started to finally come alive for me. It was well-written overall. While people who actually know about fly fishing may find those parts which discuss that in great detail wonderful, others can still enjoy the story which lies within.

[Karen Wieland]

Another winner…wonderful characters, intriguing page turner. Through his main character, Vincent Mapp, Guernsey shares a good-humored, thoughtful, and deeply genuine perspective on fishing, ecology, and humanity's relationship with the earth. I look forward to seeing more from the author; Vincent Mapp deserves another story!