A River Out of Eden

by John Hockenberry

On a night of torrential rain, a warrior appears near the Colombia River, where the Chinook people thrived before the hydroelectric dams came and changed their entire way of life. He has come to reclaim the river, to return it to its original majesty.

Soon after, government employees are found murdered with elaborate harpoons. As the body count grows, Francine Smohalla, a government marine biologist of Chinook and white descent, embarks on her own investigation of the bizarre murders. As she desperately tries to find the killer and prevent any other murders, she finds herself spinning in the convergence of ethnic hatreds between Indians and whites, an unlikely relationship with a kindred spirit whose troubled life has led him to contemplate terrorism and apocalypse, an ancient prophecy about the return of her beloved salmon, and the giant dams on the Columbia that loom large and as seemingly immovable as the mountains themselves. A River Out of Eden is a gripping literary thriller straight from today’s headlines set against the uniquely American contradictions of the Pacific Northwest.

Genres: Fiction, Mystery

384 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 2001

Reviews

[Diane Warner · Rating 2 out of 5]

I enjoyed parts of the book and some of the characters, but it is overly long and has too many characters who don't rise above stereotypes. It's set in a place that is near and dear to me and I did love the descriptive passages about the Columbia River. There is so much that is really interesting in this novel, but I hated the way it ended, absolutely hated it. The book was realistic up to that point, then it became fatalistic. Violence is not the answer.

[Mark · Rating 4 out of 5]

This novel appealed to me on several levels. It is a first rate thriller that will keep you reading late into the night. It paints an accurate picture of the Columbia River, its dams and their effects on the people and environment. But it was the last last hundred pages that won me over. Some may consider this a dangerous novel. A book filled with radical notions. Me, being a fan of Ed Abbey, and a self-avowed anarchist, it appealed to my heart and soul.

[Katy M · Rating 3 out of 5]

I'm not sure what to make of this book. If you want a feel good book were everything is black and white, this is definitely not the book for you. However, if you want to grapple with questions such as, do the ends justify the means? Can the right thing be done for the wrong reasons or vice versa? How important are individual human lives in the grand scheme of things? Then, you might enjoy this book.

I found most of the characters absolutely unlikeable. I felt kind of bad for Jack and Rebecca, but I still feel they were bad people. The relationship between Francine and Duke felt utterly contrived. And, I feel like the book was taking a lot of liberties with its own timeline.

[Kathy · Rating 3 out of 5]

Had a hard time getting into this book. About a third of the way through the story grabbed me and it was much easier as I was curious about what was going to happen. Interesting topic -- the dams along the Columbia River and their impact on the native communities, salmon, locals, etc. It's a complicated situation. Wasn't crazy about the writing style and some of the story lines were a little too far-fetched.

[Kjsbreda · Rating 3 out of 5]

The portions of the book that describe the Columbia River setting are wonderful. However, the portions of the book that portray characters and convey plot are written in that exaggerated style that is often termed "purple prose". The difference between the nature writing and basically everything else in the book was striking. The plot was gruesome.

[Karen · Rating 4 out of 5]

Interesting locally set novel - set in the Columbia river area this story is a bit historical (history of the damming of this great river), the people who lived here before the dams (the native people) and those people that worked to tame the river. It took awhile to get into it but then had me.

[Elizabeth Mosley · Rating 3 out of 5]

There's only one likable character in this book, the Columbia River. It's not enough to save the story. I kept finding myself wishing this was just a non-fiction book about the Columbia River valley.

[Lin · Rating 5 out of 5]

Thriller set in PNW.

[Victoria Grusing · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book was enjoyable for its Native American stories and history of Celiloh Falls.

[Ron Johnson · Rating 4 out of 5]

Great characters & suspense.

[Aaron · Rating 2 out of 5]

I read this back in college and was kind of bored by it. It’s an eco thriller to be certain, but never quite thrilled me in the way it could.

[Judith · Rating 1 out of 5]

I couldn't finish the book. By the time I was 40 pages in, I was so irritated with the author that I had to stop.
That's not exactly what I did.
What I did was throw the book across the room (and I am a mild-mannered grandmotherly type).

I should have been tipped off when, in the preface material, the author whined that no tribal authority would help him with the pronunciation of native words used in the text.

That may be because they'd read it.

Hockenberry engages in the worst kind of stereotypical, Euro-centric visions of Native Americans to such a degree that I nearly gagged. Not only is one of his main characters referred to alternately as "the warrior" and "Charley" ..... (seriously??!?).... but this character is portrayed as a murderous terrorist. And, of course, in love with a white woman. That was the point at which the book hit the opposite wall.

Don't waste your time.
If I could have given this negative "stars", I would have.

[Sarah Imbert · Rating 1 out of 5]

It was awful! I had hopes of it being good since it was based in my home area & talked about so many places I know & love & featured our beautiful Columbia River & the local tribes. But it just never took off. I'm all for standing up & getting your voice heard through activism but not violent activism. As a Native American myself authors writing us in this vein is stigmatizing & harmful to the work the People have done to be heard.

[James Cooper · Rating 3 out of 5]

It's strange: One moment describing the dams, scenery, and the wilderness along the Columbia I get bored, yet later on in the book, the same descriptions of the dams, scenery, and the wilderness is exciting. Wow!! Didn't think Duke McCurdy would do that...really thought he was going to pull out from his father's shadows but it was that same shadow that ultimately decided to detonate the last bomb.

[Denesa Lockwood · Rating 4 out of 5]

I loved the idea of this book, and by the end I was captivated enough to stand in the middle of a busy sidewalk to finish the last paragraphs. I didn't think the writing was the greatest, but I liked the way that each character's perspective was brought forth so that you felt yourself rooting for each one, in spite of their opposing viewpoints.

[Kenneth · Rating 3 out of 5]

The writer has such a great style of describing with such expression the area around the Columbia river gorge in the Pacific Northwest. It was a bit slow to start off in the story, but once it picked up, it was well worth it. I would recommend it to anyone who lives or has been up to this area, as you will recognize all the places on the Columbia.

[Laurie · Rating 5 out of 5]

John's mother was my teacher in high school the year he had his accident and I have followed his career since then. I totally enjoyed this book as it kept my attention from start to finish. It was one of those "I can't put it down books".

[Joanne · Rating 5 out of 5]

One of my very favourite books - one of the rare ones I have read more than once.
Having just returned from a trip of the Columbia River Gorge, I was reminded of this book because of the setting. Wish this man would write more books like this!!

Started reading it for the 3rd time March 27, 2025!

[Patty · Rating 2 out of 5]

I'm sorry, this book was just too outlandish. Fond as we in the Pacific NW may be of John Hockenberry, this apocalyptic murder mystery is just over the top and ridiculous. Did rather enjoy some of the regional themes, places and lore in spite of the absurd plot.

[Linda · Rating 4 out of 5]

Worth reading if only to preserve the memory of Celilo Falls!

[Francie Shoemaker · Rating 4 out of 5]

We used to stop and watch the Indians fishing there when I was younger.

[C Van · Rating 2 out of 5]

Couldn't bring myself to care what happened to the charactors.