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River Walker
Any night La Llorona walks the river is a night to stay indoors.
One moonlit midnight, two very different women meet on the banks of the muddy Rio Grande. Grady Wrenn is a cultural anthropologist, enthralled by a local ghost story about a vengeful spirit known as the River Walker. Elena Montalvo, a spiritual healer, is that tortured spirit’s only defender. Together, Grady and Elena must find a way to end the River Walker’s murderous vendetta— and overcome a maze of cultural barriers to find each other.
One moonlit midnight, two very different women meet on the banks of the muddy Rio Grande. Grady Wrenn is a cultural anthropologist, enthralled by a local ghost story about a vengeful spirit known as the River Walker. Elena Montalvo, a spiritual healer, is that tortured spirit’s only defender. Together, Grady and Elena must find a way to end the River Walker’s murderous vendetta— and overcome a maze of cultural barriers to find each other.
264 pages, Paperback
First published November 1, 2010
4 people are currently reading
256 people want to read
About the author
Cate Culpepper
11 books52 followersCate Culpepper grew up in southern New Mexico, where she served as the state lesbian, before moving to the Pacific Northwest twenty-five years ago. She has won one Lambda Literary Society Award, three Golden Crown Literary Society Awards, one Lesbian Fiction Readers' Choice Award, and an Alice B. Toklas Award for her body of work.
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Displaying 1 - 22 of 22 reviews
March 6, 2017
A few days ago I read A Question of Ghosts and I was thrilled. Today I finished reading River Walker and I'm thrilled again. Cate Culpepper really knows how to make an interesting and utterly gripping story. Another great combination of supernatural, mystery, gentle love story, good humor... and another pair of very well drawn main characters. Great, great read!
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October 28, 2014
Today, I reread this excellent book in tribute of a great writer Cate Culpepper who passed away last Saturday at the age of fifty-seven. With her words she touched many lives, and the world is better place because of her and her books. She will always be one of my favorite lesfic authors. Rest in peace, the Amazon of our time!
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October 28, 2014
Today, I reread this excellent book in tribute of a great writer Cate Culpepper who passed away last Saturday at the age of fifty-seven. With her words she touched many lives, and the world is better place because of her and her books. She will always be one of my favorite lesfic authors. Rest in peace, the Amazon of our time!
August 18, 2014
I liked Questions better but liked River Walker more than Windigo. As usual, I've learned something new as soon as I've finished the last page. Cate Culpepper painted a nice picture of NM, gave a nice background about curanderas, and I would never miss the scarce scenes with... food.. aarrgh! If it wasn't raining I'd go out and look for some doughnuts or good Mexican food, but I digress.
I see River Walker as a story which tackles grief, guilt, and how forgiveness (of oneself or of another) can give way to healing.
Elena is so young and so mature all at once. One minute she's like a kid who pouts while praying then she's all mother hen-ish the next. Her naivete, passion, and commitment (to others and to her mum) is endearing. Her prayers are sometimes tinged with humor that I can't help but smile or chuckle.
Our resident brainy gringa, Grady, has some leftover heebee-jeebees from her past that made her somewhat connected to the River Walker, Maria. Burdened with this, she didn't know how she could possibly be of help to the young Elena. She tries to protect her students and Helena from the ominous presence that has haunted Mesilla for years.
I totally loved Inez and all her crazy-whiny-mother self. The public's animosity towards their family pretty much broke her. She's really gruff and rude in a tough love sort of way but beneath the harsh exferior, you'd still feel that she cares deeply for Elena and trusts Grady.
Interesting and scary stuff, check. Tender and sweet scenes, check. Humor, check. Food... (yes, this must be said) big, fat, craving-inducing check. :q
I see River Walker as a story which tackles grief, guilt, and how forgiveness (of oneself or of another) can give way to healing.
Elena is so young and so mature all at once. One minute she's like a kid who pouts while praying then she's all mother hen-ish the next. Her naivete, passion, and commitment (to others and to her mum) is endearing. Her prayers are sometimes tinged with humor that I can't help but smile or chuckle.
Our resident brainy gringa, Grady, has some leftover heebee-jeebees from her past that made her somewhat connected to the River Walker, Maria. Burdened with this, she didn't know how she could possibly be of help to the young Elena. She tries to protect her students and Helena from the ominous presence that has haunted Mesilla for years.
I totally loved Inez and all her crazy-whiny-mother self. The public's animosity towards their family pretty much broke her. She's really gruff and rude in a tough love sort of way but beneath the harsh exferior, you'd still feel that she cares deeply for Elena and trusts Grady.
Interesting and scary stuff, check. Tender and sweet scenes, check. Humor, check. Food... (yes, this must be said) big, fat, craving-inducing check. :q
January 29, 2018
3.5 maybe less. Was semi entertaining. It's kind of a paranormal crime thriller but with really different cast of mains. On one hand you've an anthropologist, and the other is curandera. The main plot arc does center around trying to stop further crime, but the sub rom arc to me was uninspired. There's slow burn, then there's no burn. Was a bummer too cause I thought Elena was an incredible character. Sucked that she got the crap storm from every angle possible. Seems the more Culpepper wrote the more into drama she got. We'll see, I've got 2 more to go.
November 3, 2018
3.5 rating.
A nice traditional ghost story. I learn some Spanish words 😁 but I did find some pages laborious to read... Lacking true appeal.
A nice traditional ghost story. I learn some Spanish words 😁 but I did find some pages laborious to read... Lacking true appeal.
October 31, 2019
I first read this in 2010 and really enjoyed it. Nine years later and it stands the test of time. Newly moved to New Mexico, Dr. Grady Wren , a cultural anthropologist, is drawn into a local legend that appears to have become all too real. La Llorna is actually a common Hispanic folklore story about a woman drowns her sons in a river and is doomed to walk the shores of the river looking for them and drowning unsuspecting children. In River Walker, Grady discovers that the legend originated in the town of Mesilla where a woman and her sons were drowned by her abusive husband and her weeping spirit wanders the Rio Grande every 100 years, her wails of rage and grief driving men to drown themselves in the water. For some reason, Grady herself hears La Llorna – and the pain and grief in her cries echos the grief that shadows Grady’s life. She and Elena Montalvo, the last of the Weeping Woman’s descendants and a spiritual healer, try to find La Llorna and put an end to the recent rash of suicides.
Ms. Culpepper was an accomplished writer and as the story and characters unfold you can’t help but be drawn in. Through Grady, you can almost feel the rage, grief and guilt in La Llorna’s cries rising from the pages. There’s a wonderful feel to the story – there’s a bit of suspense and tension as they dig deeper into what is happening in Mesila and the anger and fear that drives the locals to blame Elena for the recent deaths, as well as a sweet and well-paced romance between Grady and Elena. Although the story is told from Grady’s perspective, Ms. Culpepper provides an amusing and enlightening insight into Elena through her one-sided conversations with her goddess – the love and irreverence in those monologues transitions into her humour and teasing of the gringa professor.
2011 Review:
I wasn't a fan of the first Tristaine book, so I kept passing by Culpepper's other offerings. Shame on me. River Walker was a great read - the characters, story and writing all shine.
Ms. Culpepper was an accomplished writer and as the story and characters unfold you can’t help but be drawn in. Through Grady, you can almost feel the rage, grief and guilt in La Llorna’s cries rising from the pages. There’s a wonderful feel to the story – there’s a bit of suspense and tension as they dig deeper into what is happening in Mesila and the anger and fear that drives the locals to blame Elena for the recent deaths, as well as a sweet and well-paced romance between Grady and Elena. Although the story is told from Grady’s perspective, Ms. Culpepper provides an amusing and enlightening insight into Elena through her one-sided conversations with her goddess – the love and irreverence in those monologues transitions into her humour and teasing of the gringa professor.
2011 Review:
I wasn't a fan of the first Tristaine book, so I kept passing by Culpepper's other offerings. Shame on me. River Walker was a great read - the characters, story and writing all shine.
November 5, 2015
3.5
Nice quick read. Quite poetic. A good intriguing plot. Nice enough characters.
It was entertaining enough, but really not an amazing love story. Despite Culpepper's good writing style, the story felt both slow and rushed at the same time. Not much happens in terms of character and relationship development. It feels like the women's feelings were taken for granted and Culpepper didn't find it necessary to give the readers more insights on how their affection grew. We know the feelings are there, but a lot of the time we're kind of on the outside looking in.
But, well... it's well written and original, so I still recommend it. Typical lazy rainy sunday novel... relax on your couch with a blanket and a cup of tea, and enjoy the story.
Nice quick read. Quite poetic. A good intriguing plot. Nice enough characters.
It was entertaining enough, but really not an amazing love story. Despite Culpepper's good writing style, the story felt both slow and rushed at the same time. Not much happens in terms of character and relationship development. It feels like the women's feelings were taken for granted and Culpepper didn't find it necessary to give the readers more insights on how their affection grew. We know the feelings are there, but a lot of the time we're kind of on the outside looking in.
But, well... it's well written and original, so I still recommend it. Typical lazy rainy sunday novel... relax on your couch with a blanket and a cup of tea, and enjoy the story.
March 18, 2011
River Walker is a well-paced, scary romance. I loved Cate's Amazon series, but this Lambda Literary finalist is certainly her best written novel. The descriptions of her New Mexico setting are beautifully written, her characters well-developed and her ending somewhat of a surprise. I liked it enough to put it on my "read again" list.
November 19, 2016
I thought this was an okay book. I always find it a bit strange when a couple kisses one time and the next time they speak they are in love. So, I wish there had been a bit more development there. The story regarding the River Walker is a good one and I felt that part was well done. I will read more of this author's books but didn't love this so much that I need to delve into another right away.
August 2, 2015
A very nicely paced, quick read! And with good humor too. I enjoyed it very much.
November 7, 2020
The ghost part was cool but the romance felt a little meh. Could be cause im just tired of the whole gringos studying other cultures since they have none stuff. Plus the way the age difference was portrayed, idk, i didn't like it that much.
January 11, 2018
Tight storytelling. Well developed characters.
February 26, 2021
4,5 rounded up to 5
October 16, 2016
River....
I've the characters Grady and elena....i made the mistake of reading window trail first. But that's ok because in the river walker I got to see how these two met. Thanks for a great ride.
I've the characters Grady and elena....i made the mistake of reading window trail first. But that's ok because in the river walker I got to see how these two met. Thanks for a great ride.
January 11, 2016
I fell in love with this book by the first chapter. Iv never felt a book wrap around me like a blanket pulling me into a world so unknown to me but by the end so well known. Iv always lost my self in some books but this one had me reading it on the egad of my seat. Falling after every word i read. This is the first book iv read by Cate Culpepper and i can say it was one amazing book. I grew up hearing the folklore of La Llorona of the way she killed her children, being afraid of her as a kid but this book shows a whole different story behind her maybe not true but intriguing. The way both Elena and Grady are brought together because of there connection to the ghost that would hunt El Rio Grande. One has felt a sorrow for way to long, a sorrow that connects her to La Llorona in more ways then one and another one who has her blood running throw her and believe that love for her was just not meant to be.But after the life threatening problems they learn that they have a chance to be something more to love each other in way no one has loved them in a long time. I can go on but in the beast part was the ending i love the peaceful ending, in the end i love this book and i just amazing i cant wait to read something else by Culpepper. Amazing Book.!!!!
June 16, 2012
This is by no means Cate Culpepper’s 1st book. However, it is the 1st book that I have read written by her. I’ve heard good things about her Tristiane series but it’s just has never peaked my interests. I’m not even sure that I would have come across this book if Megan and a few others in the Goodreads book group “Mostly Lesfic” hadn’t recommended it. “Thanks Ladies!”
I LOVED this story. I can clearly pinpoint why: Grady felt real. Her pain and loss felt real. I think it’s a difficult balance when an author can make a character feel damaged but not make them feel like a caricature. There were also definite pieces of Elena’s personality that reminded me of people I’ve known in my own personal life, and she was a terrific balance to Grady’s academic view of the world.
Then there is the mystery of La Llorona which kept me intrigued throughout the story, with an unexpected plot twist.
Now I have to go see what other Cate Culpepper books I need to read.
I LOVED this story. I can clearly pinpoint why: Grady felt real. Her pain and loss felt real. I think it’s a difficult balance when an author can make a character feel damaged but not make them feel like a caricature. There were also definite pieces of Elena’s personality that reminded me of people I’ve known in my own personal life, and she was a terrific balance to Grady’s academic view of the world.
Then there is the mystery of La Llorona which kept me intrigued throughout the story, with an unexpected plot twist.
Now I have to go see what other Cate Culpepper books I need to read.
March 7, 2015
I'm not usually a great fan of the supernatural but had read Culpeppers 'Fireside' and enjoyed it so decided to give this a go. It's a delightful story which brings to life some wonderful characters. This isn't a hot and heavy piece so if you're interested in long drawn out sex scenes this isn't the book for you. If you want to read an interesting story that'll make you question whether or not you believe in ghosts while enjoying a sweet romance then this is the book for you.
December 20, 2011
I'm not generally a fan of ghost stories but this one is so well woven with the culture and the personalities of the characters, I enjoyed it a lot. It was more a story of compassion and love than a ghost story. Very well written.
October 11, 2011
It's your basic lesbian fiction, but it was really good. It's a beach book. I enjoyed reading it because of the supernatural elements in it. The characters in it are likeable, and it's also fun reading about New Mexico. I'm going to look for more books by Cate Culpepper.
June 20, 2014
This is such a lovely book. It isn't particularly scary, nor romantic, but it is written very beautifully. Elena's pleas to her goddess are heartbreaking.
The descriptions of New Mexico are wonderful.
That ending brought tears in my eyes :)
The descriptions of New Mexico are wonderful.
That ending brought tears in my eyes :)
June 13, 2012
An excellent, engaging read. It kept me turning the pages and I finished it easily in a day. This was an enjoyable ghost story with loveable characters that I will definitely be picking up again.
January 12, 2015
Loved it.
October 25, 2015
2011 Rainbow Awards Honorable Mention (5* from at least 1 judge)
Displaying 1 - 22 of 22 reviews