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Beyond the Wild River
For fans of Kate Morton and Beatriz Williams, a highly atmospheric and suspenseful historical novel, set in the 1890s about a Scottish heiress who unexpectedly encounters her childhood friend in North America, five years after he disappeared from her family’s estate the night of a double murder.
Nineteen-year-old Evelyn Ballantyre has rarely strayed from her family’s estate in the Scottish Borderlands, save for the occasional trip to Edinburgh, where her father, a respected magistrate, conducts his business—and affairs of another kind. Evelyn has always done her duty as a daughter, hiding her boredom and resentment behind good manners—so when an innocent friendship with a servant is misinterpreted by her father as an illicit union, Evelyn is appalled.
Yet the consequence is a welcome one: she is to accompany her father on a trip to North America, where they’ll visit New York City, the 1893 World’s Fair in Chicago, and conclude with a fishing expedition on the Nipigon River in Canada. Now is her chance to escape her cloistered life, see the world, and reconnect with her father.
Once they’re on the Nipigon, however, Evelyn is shocked to discover that their guide is James Douglas, the former stable hand and her one-time friend who disappeared from the estate after the shootings of a poacher and a gamekeeper. Many had assumed that James had been responsible, but Evelyn never could believe it. Now, in the wilds of a new world, far from the constraints of polite society, the truth about that day, James, and her father will be revealed…to stunning consequences.
Nineteen-year-old Evelyn Ballantyre has rarely strayed from her family’s estate in the Scottish Borderlands, save for the occasional trip to Edinburgh, where her father, a respected magistrate, conducts his business—and affairs of another kind. Evelyn has always done her duty as a daughter, hiding her boredom and resentment behind good manners—so when an innocent friendship with a servant is misinterpreted by her father as an illicit union, Evelyn is appalled.
Yet the consequence is a welcome one: she is to accompany her father on a trip to North America, where they’ll visit New York City, the 1893 World’s Fair in Chicago, and conclude with a fishing expedition on the Nipigon River in Canada. Now is her chance to escape her cloistered life, see the world, and reconnect with her father.
Once they’re on the Nipigon, however, Evelyn is shocked to discover that their guide is James Douglas, the former stable hand and her one-time friend who disappeared from the estate after the shootings of a poacher and a gamekeeper. Many had assumed that James had been responsible, but Evelyn never could believe it. Now, in the wilds of a new world, far from the constraints of polite society, the truth about that day, James, and her father will be revealed…to stunning consequences.
325 pages, Paperback
First published April 18, 2017
316 people are currently reading
2713 people want to read
About the author
Sarah Maine
9 books431 followersSarah Maine was born in England and emigrated to Canada with her family at the age of ten. A small northern Ontario community was home for the next two years before the family moved south, and Sarah went to high school in Toronto. She returned to England to study archaeology, stayed on to do research and work, married there and has two sons.
Books were always important. She grew up on a diet of Arthur Ransome and Robert Louis Stevenson but also the classics, Jane Austen and the Brontés and, of course, Daphne du Maurier - but now enjoys a wide range of contemporary fiction.
She has publlished three books - The House between Tides, Beyond the Wild River and Women of the Dunes and is currently working on her fourth, set partly in New Zealand.
Books were always important. She grew up on a diet of Arthur Ransome and Robert Louis Stevenson but also the classics, Jane Austen and the Brontés and, of course, Daphne du Maurier - but now enjoys a wide range of contemporary fiction.
She has publlished three books - The House between Tides, Beyond the Wild River and Women of the Dunes and is currently working on her fourth, set partly in New Zealand.
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June 12, 2017
2.5 Stars.
Beyond the Wild River, by Sarah Maine, neglected to capture my attention or imagination until the last 25% of the book. I found the most of the novel to be boring and slow moving and though it picked up at the end, that didn’t make up for the rest of the book.
In the late 1800’s, Evelyn Ballantrye is a nineteen year-old girl, living in the Scottish countryside. She has lived a sheltered life and has hardly traveled. When she was younger, she was close to her father, but when she became friends with a young man named Patrick, and that friendship was misinterpreted by her father, everything changed. Though it hasn’t been discussed since, her father has never forgiven her. Shortly thereafter, a man named James, who was in their employ was accused of a horrible crime and was banished. Years later, Evelyn is given the chance to accompany her father on a trip to the Americas. To Chicago and the World’s Fair. To Lake Michigan and Canada. The trip of a lifetime for Evelyn. She imagines rebuilding the relationship that she lost with her father oh so many years ago. Yet for him, this is a business trip and her hopes are dashed. In an unbelievable turn of events, and upon their arrival in Canada for a fishing trip, Mr. Ballantyre and Evelyn discovery that James, their former employee who was banished from their estate, is their guide. No one but Mr. Ballantyre and Evelyn recognizes him. And they keep his secret. And for different reasons, both know that he did not commit the crime he was accused of. And both father and daughter decide to help him prove his innocence.
While the synopsis of the book sounds exciting, it took until the last quarter of the book to get to a point where it became so. The first three-quarters was long, drawn out and boring. I was hoping to find that the writing to be layered and rich due to the different landscapes in which the story took place but that wasn’t the case. Further, I found Evelyn to be an empty shell of a girl whose character didn’t develop as the novel wore on. I didn’t care about her or any of the other characters, even as the novel approached the end.
Thank you to NetGalley, Atria Books and Sarah Maine for an ARC of this novel in exchange for an honest review
Published on NetGalley and Goodreads on 3/23/17. ; Revised 6/11/17.
*Will be Published on Amazon on 4/18/17.
Beyond the Wild River, by Sarah Maine, neglected to capture my attention or imagination until the last 25% of the book. I found the most of the novel to be boring and slow moving and though it picked up at the end, that didn’t make up for the rest of the book.
In the late 1800’s, Evelyn Ballantrye is a nineteen year-old girl, living in the Scottish countryside. She has lived a sheltered life and has hardly traveled. When she was younger, she was close to her father, but when she became friends with a young man named Patrick, and that friendship was misinterpreted by her father, everything changed. Though it hasn’t been discussed since, her father has never forgiven her. Shortly thereafter, a man named James, who was in their employ was accused of a horrible crime and was banished. Years later, Evelyn is given the chance to accompany her father on a trip to the Americas. To Chicago and the World’s Fair. To Lake Michigan and Canada. The trip of a lifetime for Evelyn. She imagines rebuilding the relationship that she lost with her father oh so many years ago. Yet for him, this is a business trip and her hopes are dashed. In an unbelievable turn of events, and upon their arrival in Canada for a fishing trip, Mr. Ballantyre and Evelyn discovery that James, their former employee who was banished from their estate, is their guide. No one but Mr. Ballantyre and Evelyn recognizes him. And they keep his secret. And for different reasons, both know that he did not commit the crime he was accused of. And both father and daughter decide to help him prove his innocence.
While the synopsis of the book sounds exciting, it took until the last quarter of the book to get to a point where it became so. The first three-quarters was long, drawn out and boring. I was hoping to find that the writing to be layered and rich due to the different landscapes in which the story took place but that wasn’t the case. Further, I found Evelyn to be an empty shell of a girl whose character didn’t develop as the novel wore on. I didn’t care about her or any of the other characters, even as the novel approached the end.
Thank you to NetGalley, Atria Books and Sarah Maine for an ARC of this novel in exchange for an honest review
Published on NetGalley and Goodreads on 3/23/17. ; Revised 6/11/17.
*Will be Published on Amazon on 4/18/17.
April 13, 2017
One of the things that caught my eye about this book was that it’s marketed to fans of Kate Morton and Beatriz Williams. Both of these authors have a very unique and lyrical storytelling style and their books are typically family sagas or dramas with hints of romance.
So when I read this marketing description I was totally intrigued by this book and wanted to read it. I also loved that this book sounded highly atmospheric and suspenseful, though it’s set in North America it is about a Scottish heiress who unexpectedly encounters her childhood friend in North America in 1890, five years after he disappeared from her family’s estate the night of a double murder.
As you can guess from the description, this book sounded wonderful and full of things to love. A family saga and a murder mystery with a brooding tone should be a book that I would absolutely LOVE, however this one was just ok for me.
For me, the book moved a little too slow. There were parts in it that I was feeling frustrated by. I think that I expected there to be a lot more drama and rich storytelling based on the location of the story. For me, this was a completely new setting. I haven’t read a lot of books set in the wilderness or in Canada so I guess my expectations were high when it came to utilizing the setting to enrich the story. I think the setting could have added a lot more to the novel but instead it just seemed like it was just ‘there’ and not used to its full potential.
Evelyn was just ok for me, I didn’t LOVE her but I didn’t dislike her either. She served a purpose and seemed to fit within the story well. Although there were some things she would do that seemed a little unrealistic for her character, like setting traps and cooking over open fires etc but on the whole she seemed well suited within the story.
The one thing that saved this book for me was the mystery. The murder mystery was intriguing and wrapped up well in the end. I really enjoyed those parts of the story and felt invested enough in the mystery to continue reading the book.
On the whole this book earned a three star rating from me. It was ok but didn’t completely blow me away. I would agree that fans of Kate Morton would probably like this book, it’s not quite the same caliber but atmospheric all the same.
See my full review here
So when I read this marketing description I was totally intrigued by this book and wanted to read it. I also loved that this book sounded highly atmospheric and suspenseful, though it’s set in North America it is about a Scottish heiress who unexpectedly encounters her childhood friend in North America in 1890, five years after he disappeared from her family’s estate the night of a double murder.
As you can guess from the description, this book sounded wonderful and full of things to love. A family saga and a murder mystery with a brooding tone should be a book that I would absolutely LOVE, however this one was just ok for me.
For me, the book moved a little too slow. There were parts in it that I was feeling frustrated by. I think that I expected there to be a lot more drama and rich storytelling based on the location of the story. For me, this was a completely new setting. I haven’t read a lot of books set in the wilderness or in Canada so I guess my expectations were high when it came to utilizing the setting to enrich the story. I think the setting could have added a lot more to the novel but instead it just seemed like it was just ‘there’ and not used to its full potential.
Evelyn was just ok for me, I didn’t LOVE her but I didn’t dislike her either. She served a purpose and seemed to fit within the story well. Although there were some things she would do that seemed a little unrealistic for her character, like setting traps and cooking over open fires etc but on the whole she seemed well suited within the story.
The one thing that saved this book for me was the mystery. The murder mystery was intriguing and wrapped up well in the end. I really enjoyed those parts of the story and felt invested enough in the mystery to continue reading the book.
On the whole this book earned a three star rating from me. It was ok but didn’t completely blow me away. I would agree that fans of Kate Morton would probably like this book, it’s not quite the same caliber but atmospheric all the same.
See my full review here
April 12, 2024
Стиловете на Марк Твен, Джеймс Фенимор Купър, Джек Лондон си партнират с таланта и въображението на Sarah Maine в Beyond the Wild River. Атмосферен роман, който няколко дни ме държа в състояние на възторг, на напрежение и на любопитство. Приключенски сюжет, който ни отвежда от богато шотландско имение, собственост на съдебен магистрат и предприемач до територията на Големите езера на границата между САЩ и Канада, при реката Нипигон и едноименния град на нейните брегове. Годината е 1890 - та и докато в Чикаго се разгръща Световното изложение, то далеч на север пустошта е все още такава, каквато я помнят местните индиански племена. На фона на изумителните природни гледки - буйни планински реки, кристално чисти водопади и гъсти гори, ухаещи на борова смола - се развива драматичен сюжет на старо престъпление, игра на пари и власт.
И сред наличието на аристократична надменност, подкрепена от усещане за безнаказаност заради титли, имения и авторитет, духът на Едмон Дантес от " Граф Монте Кристофър " се явява с подновена сила. Защото справедливостта властва там, където съвестта побеждава наглостта.
* " ... като се доверявам не на закона, а на съвестта си, защото няма да има справедливост по друг начин. "
Спиращи дъха описания на дивата пустош на севера. Изненадващите експонати на Световното изложение в Чикаго. И бавното , хладнокръвно пресметнато и подготвяно с години разплитане на жестоко двойно убийство. Все неща, които ме държаха обсебена пред страниците на Beyond the Wild River. И които направиха тази книга втората най - любима за мен през тази година!
* " Постоянството и търпението, скъпи Далстън,винаги печелят .“
И сред наличието на аристократична надменност, подкрепена от усещане за безнаказаност заради титли, имения и авторитет, духът на Едмон Дантес от " Граф Монте Кристофър " се явява с подновена сила. Защото справедливостта властва там, където съвестта побеждава наглостта.
* " ... като се доверявам не на закона, а на съвестта си, защото няма да има справедливост по друг начин. "
Спиращи дъха описания на дивата пустош на севера. Изненадващите експонати на Световното изложение в Чикаго. И бавното , хладнокръвно пресметнато и подготвяно с години разплитане на жестоко двойно убийство. Все неща, които ме държаха обсебена пред страниците на Beyond the Wild River. И които направиха тази книга втората най - любима за мен през тази година!
* " Постоянството и търпението, скъпи Далстън,винаги печелят .“
May 10, 2017
1888- James, a former poachers assistant, is taken into The Ballantyre house after the poacher Jacko is arrested. James finds that he enjoys the stability of life in The Ballantyre house, especially when he is put in charge of riding lessons with Ballantyre's daughter, Evelyn. When Jacko is murdered during a shooting party, blame immediately falls on James. Terrified and not knowing where to turn James runs.
1893- When Evelyn accompanies her father on a fishing trip to Canada she is expecting to have a relaxing trip and lots of quality time with her largely absent father. The last thing she was expecting was to meet James again. Now working as a river guide, James seems very different to the boy she used to know in Scotland. A surprise addition to their party threatens to ruin their trip as tensions rise, accusations are made and the truth about Jacko's murder threatens to spill out.
This is a fantastic piece of historical fiction and one that I really didn't want to end! The author's beautiful descriptions really draw the reader in and helps give you a sense of time and place. The descriptions of the fishing trip were brilliant and made me feel like I was right there, in the canoe, watching all the events unfold. It was fascinating to learn more about how people used to travel, what it involved and what type of stuff they were expected to bring. The inclusion of a water closet for the ladies would be unthinkable now! It was also very interesting to learn more about the world fair and what types of exhibits they had.
The characters were all brilliantly evoked and very likable. The stand out character for me was James. I immediately liked him and felt strong sympathy towards him. He has strong principles and stands by them no matter what is thrown at him, which made me admire him. The relationship he has with Evelyn was lovely to read about too. He is so sweet, gentle and kind to her that I fell a little in love with him! I also ended up liking Ballantyre, though I initially didn't. He is a very clever and ruthless character but he stands up for justice despite what it might cost him and is quite fair in his dealing with everyone.
I thought the ending was great. The reader is kept guessing until pretty much the last few pages as to how it will end and who will win. The tension was almost unbearable as I waited to see how it would play out and I was very pleased by the outcome. I didn't want the book to end where it did as I would have loved to have found out what happened next. I'm hopeful that the author might write a sequel though!
This is Sarah Maine's second book though the first book of hers that i have read. I will definitely be reading more of her books in future.
Thank you Emily Kitchin and Hodder and Stoughton for my copy of this book. If you like beautiful historical fiction, rich in historical detail with a bit of a mystery you'll love this book!
1893- When Evelyn accompanies her father on a fishing trip to Canada she is expecting to have a relaxing trip and lots of quality time with her largely absent father. The last thing she was expecting was to meet James again. Now working as a river guide, James seems very different to the boy she used to know in Scotland. A surprise addition to their party threatens to ruin their trip as tensions rise, accusations are made and the truth about Jacko's murder threatens to spill out.
This is a fantastic piece of historical fiction and one that I really didn't want to end! The author's beautiful descriptions really draw the reader in and helps give you a sense of time and place. The descriptions of the fishing trip were brilliant and made me feel like I was right there, in the canoe, watching all the events unfold. It was fascinating to learn more about how people used to travel, what it involved and what type of stuff they were expected to bring. The inclusion of a water closet for the ladies would be unthinkable now! It was also very interesting to learn more about the world fair and what types of exhibits they had.
The characters were all brilliantly evoked and very likable. The stand out character for me was James. I immediately liked him and felt strong sympathy towards him. He has strong principles and stands by them no matter what is thrown at him, which made me admire him. The relationship he has with Evelyn was lovely to read about too. He is so sweet, gentle and kind to her that I fell a little in love with him! I also ended up liking Ballantyre, though I initially didn't. He is a very clever and ruthless character but he stands up for justice despite what it might cost him and is quite fair in his dealing with everyone.
I thought the ending was great. The reader is kept guessing until pretty much the last few pages as to how it will end and who will win. The tension was almost unbearable as I waited to see how it would play out and I was very pleased by the outcome. I didn't want the book to end where it did as I would have loved to have found out what happened next. I'm hopeful that the author might write a sequel though!
This is Sarah Maine's second book though the first book of hers that i have read. I will definitely be reading more of her books in future.
Thank you Emily Kitchin and Hodder and Stoughton for my copy of this book. If you like beautiful historical fiction, rich in historical detail with a bit of a mystery you'll love this book!
May 21, 2021
Wasn’t sure i was gunna finish it. Initially because the writing seemed to be trying altogether too hard; like that sympathetic cringe one feels, as someone you know embarrasses themselves. Then because the coincidences were a bit ridiculous, but i suppose one could forgive the Chicago World’s Fair meet up, as, perhaps, everyone who was anyone would have been there? But i did finish it, tidy as it was, complete with paperdoll characters, and a cookie cutter ending.
October 6, 2017
Rated 3.5 - BEYOND THE WILD RIVER by Sarah Maine is a great historical adventure to North America during the 1893 World Fair, enhanced by the dangers on a Canadian Nipigon River fishing expedition.
Evelyn Ballantyre leads a boring life as a Scottish heiress under her father’s strict guidance. When he discovers her friendship with his groom, he ensures she’ll never see him again. Determined to win back his daughter’s affection, Charles Ballantyre takes her with him to the 1893 World Fair in Chicago, followed by a fishing expedition up the Canadian Nipigon River.
James Douglas, Ballantyre’s former groom, has a new life in America, but no one expects they’ll ever be reunited, including James. Will that one horrific night they experienced in the Scottish Borders play out once again in the Canadian wilderness?
This book moves very slowly through several storylines, gradually building anticipation of a showdown you’re sure will come. The fun part is that I didn’t expect the twists and conclusion.
The novel focused on rich financiers who seem to rule everything they touch, including people. It’s a life full of opulence in America, even though the rich fear losing it all. Evelyn is in the middle of it and not thrilled with her father’s constant business transactions that pull him away from her. Stuck with his friend and business partner, Larson, Evelyn is left to wonder if she’ll ever truly know her father.
What I enjoyed most was the Nipigon River wilderness part of their expedition. A fascinating adventure that only the rich experienced, their journey pops off the pages with engaging characters and anticipation of danger.
Even though I wasn’t as enamored with this book as much as with THE HOUSE BETWEEN TIDES, it’s a good suspense that covers a time and place in history I don’t see often in historicals. Sarah Maine writes absorbing historical detail. Her ability to cast suspicion and spin a web of deceit makes me anticipate whatever she writes next.
Reviewed by Dorine, courtesy of Romance Junkies. Digital copy provided by the publisher through NetGalley for an honest review.
Evelyn Ballantyre leads a boring life as a Scottish heiress under her father’s strict guidance. When he discovers her friendship with his groom, he ensures she’ll never see him again. Determined to win back his daughter’s affection, Charles Ballantyre takes her with him to the 1893 World Fair in Chicago, followed by a fishing expedition up the Canadian Nipigon River.
James Douglas, Ballantyre’s former groom, has a new life in America, but no one expects they’ll ever be reunited, including James. Will that one horrific night they experienced in the Scottish Borders play out once again in the Canadian wilderness?
This book moves very slowly through several storylines, gradually building anticipation of a showdown you’re sure will come. The fun part is that I didn’t expect the twists and conclusion.
The novel focused on rich financiers who seem to rule everything they touch, including people. It’s a life full of opulence in America, even though the rich fear losing it all. Evelyn is in the middle of it and not thrilled with her father’s constant business transactions that pull him away from her. Stuck with his friend and business partner, Larson, Evelyn is left to wonder if she’ll ever truly know her father.
What I enjoyed most was the Nipigon River wilderness part of their expedition. A fascinating adventure that only the rich experienced, their journey pops off the pages with engaging characters and anticipation of danger.
Even though I wasn’t as enamored with this book as much as with THE HOUSE BETWEEN TIDES, it’s a good suspense that covers a time and place in history I don’t see often in historicals. Sarah Maine writes absorbing historical detail. Her ability to cast suspicion and spin a web of deceit makes me anticipate whatever she writes next.
Reviewed by Dorine, courtesy of Romance Junkies. Digital copy provided by the publisher through NetGalley for an honest review.
April 24, 2017
I really enjoyed Sarah Maine's debut novel, The House Between Tides, last year. I noted at the end of my review that I was looking forward to Maine's next book. Well that next book is here - Beyond the Wild River.
1888. Beyond the Wild River opens with a heartbreaking prologue - and death - on the Ballantyre Scottish estate.
1893. Nineteen year old Evelyn Ballantyre lives with her widowed father on their somewhat isolated estate in Scotland. Her father is often away for business and Evelyn finds herself somewhat bored. But when she begins an innocent friendship with a servant, it is seen as dangerous - in many ways. Evelyn will be accompanying her father on his next trip. That trip takes them to New York City, The World's Fair in Chicago and up to the wilds of Canada to fish in the Nipigon area. But that event from 1888 has reverberations that cross years and oceans.
I enjoy historical novels and their sense of propriety and manners as well as the language. But those same mores are confining. I appreciated Evelyn's questioning and quick mind, but her naiveté is worrying. She could easily be taken advantage of. And of course there is someone quite prepared to do that - after all as the only child, she will have quite the dowry and inheritance coming to her. But fate steps in in the form of James, a favourite groom from Evelyn's childhood who now works as a fishing guide in Canada. But how did he end up here and more importantly why? That night in 1888 holds the answers.
At the heart of Beyond the Wild River is the secret of that fateful night in 1888 and it's repercussions. The who, why and ending were well executed. But there's also a young woman's coming of age as well as a romantic thread.
Maine does a lovely job of weaving history into and throughout her story. I especially enjoyed those scenes set in Canada, having visited the Lake Nipigon area.
Historical novels such as this take time to tell their story. Those looking for a fast paced read won't find it here. Those looking for an atmospheric tale to savour will want to pick up Beyond the Wild River.
1888. Beyond the Wild River opens with a heartbreaking prologue - and death - on the Ballantyre Scottish estate.
1893. Nineteen year old Evelyn Ballantyre lives with her widowed father on their somewhat isolated estate in Scotland. Her father is often away for business and Evelyn finds herself somewhat bored. But when she begins an innocent friendship with a servant, it is seen as dangerous - in many ways. Evelyn will be accompanying her father on his next trip. That trip takes them to New York City, The World's Fair in Chicago and up to the wilds of Canada to fish in the Nipigon area. But that event from 1888 has reverberations that cross years and oceans.
I enjoy historical novels and their sense of propriety and manners as well as the language. But those same mores are confining. I appreciated Evelyn's questioning and quick mind, but her naiveté is worrying. She could easily be taken advantage of. And of course there is someone quite prepared to do that - after all as the only child, she will have quite the dowry and inheritance coming to her. But fate steps in in the form of James, a favourite groom from Evelyn's childhood who now works as a fishing guide in Canada. But how did he end up here and more importantly why? That night in 1888 holds the answers.
At the heart of Beyond the Wild River is the secret of that fateful night in 1888 and it's repercussions. The who, why and ending were well executed. But there's also a young woman's coming of age as well as a romantic thread.
Maine does a lovely job of weaving history into and throughout her story. I especially enjoyed those scenes set in Canada, having visited the Lake Nipigon area.
Historical novels such as this take time to tell their story. Those looking for a fast paced read won't find it here. Those looking for an atmospheric tale to savour will want to pick up Beyond the Wild River.
April 12, 2017
"Beyond the Wild River" is an atmospheric historical fiction tale set in Scotland and then in North America, both the United States and Canada. Our main character Evelyn sees the trip from Scotland to the U.S. and Canada as a way to both have an adventure and show her father that she is mature and can be trusted. This new world will hold secrets to the past that Evelyn could have never expected.
I was attracted to this book because of the mention of the World's Fair in Chicago. I am so intrigued by the World's Fair and was interested in how the author would portray it and whether or not it would echo anything else that I have read. The author certainly adds a lot of detail to this story. The detail sometimes took away from the story itself but most of the detail was quite interesting. I especially liked the rich description of the Canadian wilderness, a relatively new setting for me.
It took me a very long time to get into the story. Evelyn seems very young in the beginning of the book and naive to the point of feeling younger than her 19 years. I think this is one reason I had a hard time getting into the story. I thought that there were a handful of scenes in the beginning of the book that could have been streamlined in order to capture the reader's attention faster.
Overall, I liked the setting of the book but wished for more fast paced action.
I was attracted to this book because of the mention of the World's Fair in Chicago. I am so intrigued by the World's Fair and was interested in how the author would portray it and whether or not it would echo anything else that I have read. The author certainly adds a lot of detail to this story. The detail sometimes took away from the story itself but most of the detail was quite interesting. I especially liked the rich description of the Canadian wilderness, a relatively new setting for me.
It took me a very long time to get into the story. Evelyn seems very young in the beginning of the book and naive to the point of feeling younger than her 19 years. I think this is one reason I had a hard time getting into the story. I thought that there were a handful of scenes in the beginning of the book that could have been streamlined in order to capture the reader's attention faster.
Overall, I liked the setting of the book but wished for more fast paced action.
September 4, 2017
I was expecting a wild ride down the river with multiple twists and turns. I thought I would read about unexpected discoveries around every bend with danger from people, animals, and the river itself.
What I got felt more like a calm Sunday stroll through the park where nothing unexpected happens.
The ending of the boo gave some redemption to the story, but not enough to win me over.
What I got felt more like a calm Sunday stroll through the park where nothing unexpected happens.
The ending of the boo gave some redemption to the story, but not enough to win me over.
April 17, 2017
Beyond the Wild River was so richly detailed that I had no problem whatsoever imagining the forests of Canada, the rivers, this band of highbrow Scots and their native guides. In that regard, Maine did an excellent job: this book was moody and broody and breathed the Canadian wilderness. However, the story itself felt lacking and unfortunately I never truly connected with any of the characters. What could have been a great novel ended up being simply an okay read due to the weak plot.
For the full review and more, head over to The Pretty Good Gatsby!
For the full review and more, head over to The Pretty Good Gatsby!
November 12, 2020
"Beyond the wild river" has two distinct timelines. A short one in 1888 in Scotland and the other larger one five years later in the United States and Canada. Set during a time when class and gender were a greater social divide than it is today.
1888 at the Ballantyre estate in Scotland. James Douglas is an orphan who is taken under the wing of a reprobate poacher. When the poacher is jailed, and to give him a more stable and comfortable life, the wealthy Mr. Charles Ballantyre acts as mentor and gives him a home and lodging and employs him as a stable hand.
When the old poacher is shot and killed, then the gamekeeper is also murdered on the same night, James is unjustly blamed. He runs, and the Ballantyre's do not know where he has gone...
The female protagonist of this novel is Evelyn, the daughter of Charles Ballantyre, a respected Scottish magistrate. Evelyn, though a dutiful, well-mannered girl is nonetheless encumbered by the gender-based restrictions that are inherent in the time in which she lives. This is a time when any hint of impropriety can spell doom to a young girl's reputation. So it is that when her father misinterprets her relationship with a servant, he whisks her off to North America and out of scandal's clutches. She visits the 1893 World's Fair in Chicago, then sails via yacht to the Nipigon River in Canada for a fishing expedition.
Coincidentally, a neighbour from Scotland is also at the World's Fair. Rupert Dalston is asked to join them in their trip to Canada's Nipigon River. Accompanied by another woman and her husband, and some guides, the party trades their comfortable accommodations for more basic canvas tents and birch bark canoes. As fate would have it, the guides, one of whom is James, lead the party up the river with skill - partaking in several arduous portages on the way.
"...away from the constraints of civilization to where there was space enough to settle scores."
This is the first time that Evelyn has seen James in five years. Never one to adhere to 'mannered condescension', Evelyn is a free thinker who believes in the equality of the classes. She always believed in James' innocence, but doubts remained due to the fact that her father had allowed the world to believe him guilty.
"Beauty, combined with wealth and an undoubted naïveté, attracted predators, though, as her father had recently learned."
I was rather underwhelmed by the first two-thirds of this novel as it was slow moving and fairly predictable. The final third was much more enjoyable as the pace picked up and the story-line came together nicely. I enjoyed the scenes at the World's Fair and admired how the author put a less than glamorous slant on the whole proceedings. In the scenes set during the fishing expedition, the action and the surroundings were atmospheric and well described. The character of Evelyn failed to live up to her potential in my opinion. So much so that I never really connected with her. My favorite character in this novel was James Douglas, and I would have liked it if the author had concentrated more on his story and less on the myriad peripheral characters. In summation, I would recommend this novel to those who like historical fiction in vividly described settings, but who are not too hung up by a slower paced novel with underdeveloped characters. The murder mystery was intriguing and nicely resolved at the end.
I've heard good things about this author, so intend to read her first novel, "The house between tides" in due course.
Thanks to Atria Books/Simon & Schuster via Edelweiss for providing me with the digital copy upon which I based this unbiased review.
1888 at the Ballantyre estate in Scotland. James Douglas is an orphan who is taken under the wing of a reprobate poacher. When the poacher is jailed, and to give him a more stable and comfortable life, the wealthy Mr. Charles Ballantyre acts as mentor and gives him a home and lodging and employs him as a stable hand.
When the old poacher is shot and killed, then the gamekeeper is also murdered on the same night, James is unjustly blamed. He runs, and the Ballantyre's do not know where he has gone...
The female protagonist of this novel is Evelyn, the daughter of Charles Ballantyre, a respected Scottish magistrate. Evelyn, though a dutiful, well-mannered girl is nonetheless encumbered by the gender-based restrictions that are inherent in the time in which she lives. This is a time when any hint of impropriety can spell doom to a young girl's reputation. So it is that when her father misinterprets her relationship with a servant, he whisks her off to North America and out of scandal's clutches. She visits the 1893 World's Fair in Chicago, then sails via yacht to the Nipigon River in Canada for a fishing expedition.
Coincidentally, a neighbour from Scotland is also at the World's Fair. Rupert Dalston is asked to join them in their trip to Canada's Nipigon River. Accompanied by another woman and her husband, and some guides, the party trades their comfortable accommodations for more basic canvas tents and birch bark canoes. As fate would have it, the guides, one of whom is James, lead the party up the river with skill - partaking in several arduous portages on the way.
"...away from the constraints of civilization to where there was space enough to settle scores."
This is the first time that Evelyn has seen James in five years. Never one to adhere to 'mannered condescension', Evelyn is a free thinker who believes in the equality of the classes. She always believed in James' innocence, but doubts remained due to the fact that her father had allowed the world to believe him guilty.
"Beauty, combined with wealth and an undoubted naïveté, attracted predators, though, as her father had recently learned."
I was rather underwhelmed by the first two-thirds of this novel as it was slow moving and fairly predictable. The final third was much more enjoyable as the pace picked up and the story-line came together nicely. I enjoyed the scenes at the World's Fair and admired how the author put a less than glamorous slant on the whole proceedings. In the scenes set during the fishing expedition, the action and the surroundings were atmospheric and well described. The character of Evelyn failed to live up to her potential in my opinion. So much so that I never really connected with her. My favorite character in this novel was James Douglas, and I would have liked it if the author had concentrated more on his story and less on the myriad peripheral characters. In summation, I would recommend this novel to those who like historical fiction in vividly described settings, but who are not too hung up by a slower paced novel with underdeveloped characters. The murder mystery was intriguing and nicely resolved at the end.
I've heard good things about this author, so intend to read her first novel, "The house between tides" in due course.
Thanks to Atria Books/Simon & Schuster via Edelweiss for providing me with the digital copy upon which I based this unbiased review.
April 18, 2017
Original review can be found at http://kristineandterri.blogspot.ca/2...
** I received an advanced readers copy from Simon & Schuster Canada in exchange for an honest review. Thank you!**
Beyond the Wild River caught my eye because it was was being marketed for fans of Kate Morton. I immediately wanted to read it because I loved all of her books. I think this was a big mistake. It left me with some pretty high expectations that it wasn't able to fill.
Evelyn always wondered what happened on her family estate five years earlier. She feared that both her father and James Douglas were guilty of the most horrific of crimes. It wasn't until the fishing trip on the Nipigon when they were surprisingly reunited that the full story slowly came to light and questions were answered.
This book was not a fast moving book. In fact, at times it was quite slow and I struggled to get through it. I wanted to know what really happened but had to put the book down on a few occasions. My issue was mostly that what happened in the past happened in the past if that makes sense. The reader did not live (or read) through that aspect of the story but were mostly told about it after the fact. It didn't really fully tell the back story so that I was able to care about what happened. It left James Douglas slightly underdeveloped and left me with an opinion of him that was neither good or bad. He was just there and I didn't care about him as much as I should have.
I didn't dislike the story but it didn't evoke the emotions and feelings that I love in a good book. The characters were just characters in a story that won't stay with me. There was nothing wrong with the writing, it was the story itself that failed to fully capture me.
** I received an advanced readers copy from Simon & Schuster Canada in exchange for an honest review. Thank you!**
Beyond the Wild River caught my eye because it was was being marketed for fans of Kate Morton. I immediately wanted to read it because I loved all of her books. I think this was a big mistake. It left me with some pretty high expectations that it wasn't able to fill.
Evelyn always wondered what happened on her family estate five years earlier. She feared that both her father and James Douglas were guilty of the most horrific of crimes. It wasn't until the fishing trip on the Nipigon when they were surprisingly reunited that the full story slowly came to light and questions were answered.
This book was not a fast moving book. In fact, at times it was quite slow and I struggled to get through it. I wanted to know what really happened but had to put the book down on a few occasions. My issue was mostly that what happened in the past happened in the past if that makes sense. The reader did not live (or read) through that aspect of the story but were mostly told about it after the fact. It didn't really fully tell the back story so that I was able to care about what happened. It left James Douglas slightly underdeveloped and left me with an opinion of him that was neither good or bad. He was just there and I didn't care about him as much as I should have.
I didn't dislike the story but it didn't evoke the emotions and feelings that I love in a good book. The characters were just characters in a story that won't stay with me. There was nothing wrong with the writing, it was the story itself that failed to fully capture me.
May 27, 2017
I loved Sarah Maine's debut novel, The House Between Tides and got very excited when I heard there was a new one being released. While reading the blurb for this new book I was immediately drawn to references to Kate Morton and Beatrice Williams, both our favorites of mine and each have a unique, intricate and mesmerizing writing style that draws me right in. Those are mighty big shoes to be compared with, making me somewhat apprehensive now on whether this book could deliver the same feelings.
I love the plot for this book it sounded interesting, beginning in Scotland and traveling to New York Chicago and then up to Canada, Lake Nipigon which is an area I am familiar with. The book starts out with a double murder and the disappearance of a young man, then the drama when he just happens to be at this location in Canada.
I wanted to love this book I wanted it to be the type of book I had a hard time putting down and based on her previous novel I kind of expected it. However I found the book moved a bit slow for my liking and I struggled to connect with the characters. It wasn't until the last quarter of the book that things picked up both with the plot and character building. While I found the first part over descriptive I did joy the setting in northern Ontario and I loved a glimpse of the history from that area. Definitely some serious research took place here.
All in all an interesting mystery that played out differently from what I expected The author's notes were great, I love Canadian history and enjoyed the links and references to this countries past. I never realized that trips to northern Ontario by Europeans were popular in that time period.
My thanks to the publisher (via Netgalley) for an advanced e-book copy of this book.
I love the plot for this book it sounded interesting, beginning in Scotland and traveling to New York Chicago and then up to Canada, Lake Nipigon which is an area I am familiar with. The book starts out with a double murder and the disappearance of a young man, then the drama when he just happens to be at this location in Canada.
I wanted to love this book I wanted it to be the type of book I had a hard time putting down and based on her previous novel I kind of expected it. However I found the book moved a bit slow for my liking and I struggled to connect with the characters. It wasn't until the last quarter of the book that things picked up both with the plot and character building. While I found the first part over descriptive I did joy the setting in northern Ontario and I loved a glimpse of the history from that area. Definitely some serious research took place here.
All in all an interesting mystery that played out differently from what I expected The author's notes were great, I love Canadian history and enjoyed the links and references to this countries past. I never realized that trips to northern Ontario by Europeans were popular in that time period.
My thanks to the publisher (via Netgalley) for an advanced e-book copy of this book.
April 17, 2017
Beyond the Wild River is an atmospheric read set in the borderlands of Scotland and the wilds of northern Ontario, my home province. The descriptions of both settings are vividly drawn for the reader, and with so much focus on Northern Ontario, it almost becomes a character in its own right.
The plot had an intriguing premise but the execution was at a much slower pace and was less compelling than I had expected. While I enjoyed some of the descriptions of the flora and fauna, I would have preferred additional page time dedicated to plot twists and more depth to the characters, specifically Evelyn. The tension doesn't build until the last quarter of the book where things finally come to a head. Until then, there was often too much description at the expense of the plot. Readers should also expect a rather large dose of happenstance as the characters' lives merge in a very remote part of the globe.
Overall, this book was just okay. I struggled to stay invested in the story for much of the book but the ending brings many of the loose ends together for an expected yet decent conclusion.
Disclaimer: My sincere thanks to Atria Books for providing me with a complimentary paperback copy of this book in exchange for my honest review. All opinions are my own.
The plot had an intriguing premise but the execution was at a much slower pace and was less compelling than I had expected. While I enjoyed some of the descriptions of the flora and fauna, I would have preferred additional page time dedicated to plot twists and more depth to the characters, specifically Evelyn. The tension doesn't build until the last quarter of the book where things finally come to a head. Until then, there was often too much description at the expense of the plot. Readers should also expect a rather large dose of happenstance as the characters' lives merge in a very remote part of the globe.
Overall, this book was just okay. I struggled to stay invested in the story for much of the book but the ending brings many of the loose ends together for an expected yet decent conclusion.
Disclaimer: My sincere thanks to Atria Books for providing me with a complimentary paperback copy of this book in exchange for my honest review. All opinions are my own.
January 19, 2018
Enjoyable historical novel set on a Scottish estate and in the wilds of Canada in the late 1800s, and full of intrigue, murder, blackmail, sexual attraction across the class divide, a feisty young woman and secrets, lies and deceit. What’s not to like? Can’t say I cared about any of the characters, and the plot is unconvincing to say the least, but the historical detail is well-researched and feels authentic, the story rattles along at a good pace and it’s all nicely tied up at the end. I put my critical faculties to one side and just went along for the ride. Good fun.
September 27, 2021
Didn’t want this to end! Was definitely a fast paced easy read but had a lot of complicated grudges,deals and betrayals in the background. This book definitely showed how the solution often isn’t in black and white and real life issues amount to a mass of grey area. However, I didn’t find the first half all that interesting hence why it took so long to read. Have a wee quote:
“Hate was too simple a word; but it stood somewhere between bitterness, anger and betrayal”
“Hate was too simple a word; but it stood somewhere between bitterness, anger and betrayal”
April 15, 2017
A poacher on a Scottish estate is shot and killed, James Douglas is wrongly accused and flees to the wilderness of Canada working as a guide.
Five years after the shooting, Charles Ballentyre and daughter Evelyn travel to Canada, Charles for business reasons and Evelyn fleeing a naive encounter with a stable hand.
What they do not expect is to discover their guide in Canada's wild forests is none other than James Douglas.. Their travelling companions Lord and Lady Melton, Niels Larsen and Rupert Dalston have no idea who James is, but as their journey continues so the tensions rise and secrets begin to be revealed.
The story switches back and forth between past and present and the true events of that tragic night begin to surface.
Simmering in the background is the growing love between Evelyn and James adding that little extra to the story.
Thank you to Hodder for providing a proof copy to read and review.
Whats sets this novel apart from others of the same ilk is the setting. The wilds of Canada add to the sense of isolation and danger, heightening the intensity and drama. The novel is a little slow paced in the beginning but soon speeds up as it hurtles towards a dramatic last few chapters.
The characters are perfectly in sync with 1800's society apart from that of Evelyn, whose feisty character and her desire to buck against the traditional role of women in the 1800's set her apart from the others. Her unwavering loyalty to James and her belief that love can cross class boundaries were a real highlight of the story.
The writing was very cinematic in its descriptions and I would love to see it made into a film. It would have all the required elements, a feisty female character, an attractive male lead, a scoundrel and a real sense of tension and drama.
If you like historical fiction with a difference then this is definitely a novel to read, savour and enjoy.
Thank you
Five years after the shooting, Charles Ballentyre and daughter Evelyn travel to Canada, Charles for business reasons and Evelyn fleeing a naive encounter with a stable hand.
What they do not expect is to discover their guide in Canada's wild forests is none other than James Douglas.. Their travelling companions Lord and Lady Melton, Niels Larsen and Rupert Dalston have no idea who James is, but as their journey continues so the tensions rise and secrets begin to be revealed.
The story switches back and forth between past and present and the true events of that tragic night begin to surface.
Simmering in the background is the growing love between Evelyn and James adding that little extra to the story.
Thank you to Hodder for providing a proof copy to read and review.
Whats sets this novel apart from others of the same ilk is the setting. The wilds of Canada add to the sense of isolation and danger, heightening the intensity and drama. The novel is a little slow paced in the beginning but soon speeds up as it hurtles towards a dramatic last few chapters.
The characters are perfectly in sync with 1800's society apart from that of Evelyn, whose feisty character and her desire to buck against the traditional role of women in the 1800's set her apart from the others. Her unwavering loyalty to James and her belief that love can cross class boundaries were a real highlight of the story.
The writing was very cinematic in its descriptions and I would love to see it made into a film. It would have all the required elements, a feisty female character, an attractive male lead, a scoundrel and a real sense of tension and drama.
If you like historical fiction with a difference then this is definitely a novel to read, savour and enjoy.
Thank you
February 4, 2018
Sara Maine’s second novel, ‘Beyond the Wild River,’ has many similarities to her wonderful first novel, ‘The House Between Tides’: it’s a historical novel that explores class differences, has a romance between an upper-class young woman and a lower-class young man, involves natural scenery and love of nature, and has a murder mystery at its heart. It’s also beautifully written. However, be forewarned that the pace is slow and much of the novel is occupied with scene setting and back story. The action is in the prologue: in 1888 on a Scottish estate an old poacher is shot and his young friend, an orphan stable boy, is unfairly blamed. The stable boy flees to Canada, and the estate owner, Charles Ballantyre, and his now grown up daughter Evelyn show up there five years later on a fishing and camping expedition. If you like the idea of going on a fishing and camping expedition in the Canadian wilderness, you won’t mind this, but other readers may as they wait for something to happen. I also thought the heroine was too passive. I longed for her to speak up and say what she really thought. Maybe women in past times were more passive, but modern women get impatient with heroines who are dolls on the shelf. I like Sarah Maine’s writing style, but for me ‘Beyond the Wild River’ didn’t match up to her wonderful first novel.
July 19, 2019
While every novel by Sarah Maine is different, they all have similarities. Ms. Maine likes to deal with family secrets and long-buried tragedies (literally in some cases), the class conflict between wealthy landowners and the people working the land (or the native inhabitants) and human connections (romance). I find one of her many strengths is in how she makes her characters come alive, and in every book I find myself highly invested in the outcome. I enjoy her books a great deal and recommend highly.
January 6, 2020
Good adventure, mystery, and deception in the Scottish and Canadian wilderness. Would have given this more stars, but on more than one occasion I found paragraphs in the course of this book were confusing and almost nonsensical, but the story-line picked up again shortly there after. Slightly odd though.
May 12, 2019
This story is set in the late 19th century about an injustice which had to be corrected. I found it very slow an laborious for most of the book. The idea was good but the author spent too much time on uninteresting points which were not integral to the story. It did pick up pace towards the end but by that time I'm afraid I had lost interest.
dnf
August 11, 2020After 140+ pages I had to stop reading.
The pace was just too slow for me. I love a gentle read but this was too gentle. I can’t invest any more time into it. I’m really disappointed actually because the first 30-odd pages had such promise.
The pace was just too slow for me. I love a gentle read but this was too gentle. I can’t invest any more time into it. I’m really disappointed actually because the first 30-odd pages had such promise.
May 3, 2021
Always new and interesting to read books featuring Canada history and wilderness.
November 21, 2021
A real winner!
April 30, 2017
James Douglas had been taken in by Jacko when his parents had died, to save him from the orphanage. So James learned the ways that Jacko taught him, including poaching and thieving – always on the grounds of the Ballantyre estate. The day came that Charles Ballantyre took James under his wing, where he became a stable hand, teaching the young daughter of the house, Evelyn to ride; and that lonely young girl found a friend in James. But one day everything changed and James had to run…
Five years later and Evelyn, now nineteen years old, was delighted when her father told her of their intended trip to North America, ending with a camping and fishing expedition on the Nipigon River in Canada. She’d had a constricted life, remaining on their estate the majority of the time with no company of her own age nearby. So the upcoming trip would be something to break the constant boredom. But the unexpected hand of fate attached itself to their party and by the time their trip down the Canadian river eventuated, the tension in Charles Ballantyre was palpable. Evelyn was bemused until she realised her old friend James was to be one of their guides…
Beyond the Wild River is a fast paced and intensely emotional historical mystery by Sarah Maine which I loved. Charles Ballantyre, although aristocracy through and through was a man with many layers – and he played them well. I enjoyed this author’s writing (my first by her) and her well-defined characters were crafted superbly. I have no hesitation in recommending this thoroughly interesting and intriguing novel to fans of the genre.
With thanks to Hachette Australia for my ARC to read and review.
Five years later and Evelyn, now nineteen years old, was delighted when her father told her of their intended trip to North America, ending with a camping and fishing expedition on the Nipigon River in Canada. She’d had a constricted life, remaining on their estate the majority of the time with no company of her own age nearby. So the upcoming trip would be something to break the constant boredom. But the unexpected hand of fate attached itself to their party and by the time their trip down the Canadian river eventuated, the tension in Charles Ballantyre was palpable. Evelyn was bemused until she realised her old friend James was to be one of their guides…
Beyond the Wild River is a fast paced and intensely emotional historical mystery by Sarah Maine which I loved. Charles Ballantyre, although aristocracy through and through was a man with many layers – and he played them well. I enjoyed this author’s writing (my first by her) and her well-defined characters were crafted superbly. I have no hesitation in recommending this thoroughly interesting and intriguing novel to fans of the genre.
With thanks to Hachette Australia for my ARC to read and review.
March 28, 2019
A good read, made more interesting by the setting on the Nipigon River in the 19th century. Well researched, although I noticed a couple of errors, such as the statement that the Sleeping Giant is on an island. Actually it’s at the end of a peninsula.
April 25, 2017
I had heard so much about this book that I was slightly nervous when I began to read it in case it did not live up to such high praise, but there was absolutely no need for me to worry, as this atmospheric and stunning novel is beyond reproach.
It is the late 1800s and Evelyn is on an exciting trip with her father to North America and Canada where she hopes to regain a shred of her former close relationship with him. But as business remains at the forefront of his father's mind, Evelyn is once again relegated to the status of an inconvenient woman, which doesn't sit well with this intelligent and opinionated lady. With old friends and new accompanying them along the way, it is only when an unexpected face from the past reappears in the most unusual place, that Evelyn and her father must face old mistakes if they want to make a change for the better. But there are those who will do anything to stop the truth from being exposed and they don't care who they hurt in the process...
BEYOND THE WILD RIVER by Sarah Maine is a masterpiece of writing as the author's evocative descriptions flow over the reader like a sultry melody, lulling you into a different time and place, and bringing every emotion to life with a burst of colour and feeling. The characters and plot line are compelling and interesting, and I devoured this novel in one sitting. I look forward to many more outstanding novels from this author in the future. Trust me when I say BEYOND THE WILD RIVER by Sarah Maine is a must-read novel for 2017.
*I voluntarily reviewed this book from the Publisher
It is the late 1800s and Evelyn is on an exciting trip with her father to North America and Canada where she hopes to regain a shred of her former close relationship with him. But as business remains at the forefront of his father's mind, Evelyn is once again relegated to the status of an inconvenient woman, which doesn't sit well with this intelligent and opinionated lady. With old friends and new accompanying them along the way, it is only when an unexpected face from the past reappears in the most unusual place, that Evelyn and her father must face old mistakes if they want to make a change for the better. But there are those who will do anything to stop the truth from being exposed and they don't care who they hurt in the process...
BEYOND THE WILD RIVER by Sarah Maine is a masterpiece of writing as the author's evocative descriptions flow over the reader like a sultry melody, lulling you into a different time and place, and bringing every emotion to life with a burst of colour and feeling. The characters and plot line are compelling and interesting, and I devoured this novel in one sitting. I look forward to many more outstanding novels from this author in the future. Trust me when I say BEYOND THE WILD RIVER by Sarah Maine is a must-read novel for 2017.
*I voluntarily reviewed this book from the Publisher
March 1, 2022
Readers of historical fiction will love Beyond the Wild River by Sarah Maine. Evelyn Ballantyre is a young woman of privilege who has grown up on a large Scottish estate. In 1888, her widowed father is respected as a wealthy landowner, magistrate and public figure. During a hunting excursion, someone on the estate shoots a poacher dead. A young stable hand is framed for the murder and flees the country in fear of his life. Fast forward five years, when eighteen-year old Evelyn has compromised herself in an “incident,” and as a result is made to accompany her father on one of his many tedious business excursions. As a diversion for the resentful Evelyn, a fishing trip is planned on the Nipigon River in Canada. It is there that the events of the past five years come into play, offering layers of mystery, blackmail, death threats and romance. The writing is fast-paced, descriptive and lush with details that are well researched and well-integrated, so that they create a strong visual element in the plot. Beyond the Wild River is a fabulous portrayal of a young woman trapped by her station and gender, and a man struggling to do the honorable thing in an age when one’s reputation could be easily destroyed. Highly recommended.
March 17, 2019
Interesting enough if you can suspend disbelief that a neglectful father would bring his daughter along on a rugged fishing trip in the Canadian wilderness after they go to the world's Fair where they happen to run into a young man who grew up near their estate in Scotland (yes--from way over there) and another participant on the trip also happens to come from the same neighborhood... The plot involves the shooting of a vagrant near the estate in Scotland where they young man is accused and escapes to the wilds of Canada--who should happen along but the owner of the Estate, the daughter he "befriended" and another villain...
June 23, 2020
2.5 stars, rounding down. This was an odd one. I found at the end of the novel that despite a lot of travel and some admittedly fine description of the scenery, nothing really happened. Although the novel is primarily framed from Evelyn's perspective, ultimately her dad was the main character by default, since he's the only one who ever really did anything to further the story. Evelyn didn't really develop as a person; nor did James. I enjoyed listening to this book but really, it was a miss nonetheless.
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