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The River
Take the ride of your life on The River -- a fast-paced suspense thriller that explores the controversial ethics of science and the search for longevity. The River has captured readers of every generation, especially fans of Michael Crichton and Dan Brown. High-octane action , "a conspiracy of unimaginable horror", and believeable nanotechnology advances will keep you up until the wee hours of the morning, leading you to the final twist of The River .
252 pages, Paperback
First published September 24, 2005
48 people are currently reading
530 people want to read
About the author
Cheryl Kaye Tardif
29 books385 followershttp://www.cherylktardif.com
http://www.whalesongbook.com
http://www.cherylktardif.blogspot.com
Contact Cheryl: cherylktardif at shaw.ca
I am an avid reader and an international bestselling suspense author. My novels are often cross-genre works that fall into the categories of suspense, mystery or thriller.
My books have been compared to works by Stephen King, Jodi Picoult, Sue Monk Kidd, J.D. Robb, Kay Hooper, James Patterson, Dan Brown, and Michael Crichton.
I am always asked that one question: "Cheryl, what do you do?"
My reply: "I kill people off for a living." ;) CKT
http://www.whalesongbook.com
http://www.cherylktardif.blogspot.com
Contact Cheryl: cherylktardif at shaw.ca
I am an avid reader and an international bestselling suspense author. My novels are often cross-genre works that fall into the categories of suspense, mystery or thriller.
My books have been compared to works by Stephen King, Jodi Picoult, Sue Monk Kidd, J.D. Robb, Kay Hooper, James Patterson, Dan Brown, and Michael Crichton.
I am always asked that one question: "Cheryl, what do you do?"
My reply: "I kill people off for a living." ;) CKT
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 70 reviews
September 16, 2023
A high speed thriller in Canada's far north
Del Hawthorne, professor of anthropology, is shocked beyond words when a man she thought long dead stumbles into her classroom, looking like he had escaped from a psych ward and repeating one of her father's favourite sayings! Even more stunning is his insistence that her father, whom Hawthorne had thought killed in a canoeing accident on the wild Nahanni River in the far northern reaches of Arctic Canada, is also alive. Before the man who was her father's scientific colleague and canoeing partner, also presumed dead in the same accident and now obviously very close to death, passes out, he gives Del a coded journal and tells her that all the information she will need to find her missing father is in the journal.
Del Hawthorne mounts a canoe expedition to the rugged, remote Nahanni, perhaps one of the most widely known and, indeed feared, legendary whitewater river trips in the world, to follow the clues to her missing father. To use a metaphor appropriate to the story, one might say that the waters of THE RIVER, ever accelerating and broadening, flow quickly from their source down a steep gradient. The swift current, the intimidating standing waves, the whirlpools and the man-eating hydraulics increase in intensity as the story approaches the lip of a mighty waterfall at which point a tightly scripted suspense novel morphs into what I would categorize as an untapped, if not unique, entirely new genre - a sci-fi suspense thriller.
The group encounters, of all unexpected eventualities, a time portal which miraculously transports them to the year 2031 into a high tech lab where they now encounter fantastic new technologies - miraculous medical advances on the brink of curing all diseases and halting the ravages of aging. What does it all mean and, more important, where does Del Hawthorne's long lost father fit into all this?
There is little doubt about Cheryl Kaye Tardif's ability to spin a fantastic, compelling, high speed tale that will pull its readers along with all the urgency of a high speed swift on the Nahanni River. As an accomplished outdoorsman and wilderness traveller myself, I will also comment that Tardif's description of the mechanics of wilderness travel and the grating, difficult dynamics of personal interactions in a confined, wilderness setting are spot on (with only one jarring exception ... there are no "oars" in a canoe (shudder!) ... they are paddles!). And, if I may say so, readers will shiver with delight over Tardif's absolutely inspired way of blending the horrifying (and, believe it or not, real life) Canadian legends of headless corpses found along the Nahanni River into to her story with chilling effect.
The reason I have withheld one star rests with a plot quibble that niggled at me through the entire dénouement of the story. The climax of Tardif's wonderful mystery rests with the ability of a very talented present day computer programmer to implant a deadly virus into a 2031 computer system. I couldn't help but think that the mind-numbing speed at which computer hardware and software is evolving might well mean that today's programmers may have difficulty even booting and using a system 20 years from now let alone figuring how to hack into one and program a debilitating virus. Just my 2¢ of course ...
That said, THE RIVER is an immensely entertaining story that will appeal to readers of all stripes. Highly recommended.
Paul Weiss
Del Hawthorne, professor of anthropology, is shocked beyond words when a man she thought long dead stumbles into her classroom, looking like he had escaped from a psych ward and repeating one of her father's favourite sayings! Even more stunning is his insistence that her father, whom Hawthorne had thought killed in a canoeing accident on the wild Nahanni River in the far northern reaches of Arctic Canada, is also alive. Before the man who was her father's scientific colleague and canoeing partner, also presumed dead in the same accident and now obviously very close to death, passes out, he gives Del a coded journal and tells her that all the information she will need to find her missing father is in the journal.
Del Hawthorne mounts a canoe expedition to the rugged, remote Nahanni, perhaps one of the most widely known and, indeed feared, legendary whitewater river trips in the world, to follow the clues to her missing father. To use a metaphor appropriate to the story, one might say that the waters of THE RIVER, ever accelerating and broadening, flow quickly from their source down a steep gradient. The swift current, the intimidating standing waves, the whirlpools and the man-eating hydraulics increase in intensity as the story approaches the lip of a mighty waterfall at which point a tightly scripted suspense novel morphs into what I would categorize as an untapped, if not unique, entirely new genre - a sci-fi suspense thriller.
The group encounters, of all unexpected eventualities, a time portal which miraculously transports them to the year 2031 into a high tech lab where they now encounter fantastic new technologies - miraculous medical advances on the brink of curing all diseases and halting the ravages of aging. What does it all mean and, more important, where does Del Hawthorne's long lost father fit into all this?
There is little doubt about Cheryl Kaye Tardif's ability to spin a fantastic, compelling, high speed tale that will pull its readers along with all the urgency of a high speed swift on the Nahanni River. As an accomplished outdoorsman and wilderness traveller myself, I will also comment that Tardif's description of the mechanics of wilderness travel and the grating, difficult dynamics of personal interactions in a confined, wilderness setting are spot on (with only one jarring exception ... there are no "oars" in a canoe (shudder!) ... they are paddles!). And, if I may say so, readers will shiver with delight over Tardif's absolutely inspired way of blending the horrifying (and, believe it or not, real life) Canadian legends of headless corpses found along the Nahanni River into to her story with chilling effect.
The reason I have withheld one star rests with a plot quibble that niggled at me through the entire dénouement of the story. The climax of Tardif's wonderful mystery rests with the ability of a very talented present day computer programmer to implant a deadly virus into a 2031 computer system. I couldn't help but think that the mind-numbing speed at which computer hardware and software is evolving might well mean that today's programmers may have difficulty even booting and using a system 20 years from now let alone figuring how to hack into one and program a debilitating virus. Just my 2¢ of course ...
That said, THE RIVER is an immensely entertaining story that will appeal to readers of all stripes. Highly recommended.
Paul Weiss
June 2, 2008
Anthropologist and professor, Del Hawthorne, is on a mission. It begins the moment, an ill and aged Professor Schroeder – a man she believed had died with her father seven years earlier – stumbles into her classroom to tell Del that her father is alive, but about to be killed by someone bent on destroying humanity. To find her father, Del must reach the Nahanni River where he and Schroeder had originally disappeared. Gathering a small team of people, Del begins a risky, unusual adventure, where she discovers a secret underground river, and far more trouble than she bargained for.
Cheryl Kaye Tardif’s cross-genre novel, THE RIVER is an intriguing blend of mystery, action-adventure, thriller, and science fiction. Vivid descriptions, realistic dialogue, and persistent tension kept me turning the pages to find out if Del and her friends survive the dangers not only of the Nahanni River, but of the evil man has created. The novel’s theme is a dark reminder that there are still people out there who want power over life and death, to dominate others, and who believe that science and technology will accomplish this mission.
My only quibble is a couple of unanswered questions at the end that I wish had been answered. Still, if you’re looking for an entertaining read, then THE RIVER is a great choice.
Cheryl Kaye Tardif’s cross-genre novel, THE RIVER is an intriguing blend of mystery, action-adventure, thriller, and science fiction. Vivid descriptions, realistic dialogue, and persistent tension kept me turning the pages to find out if Del and her friends survive the dangers not only of the Nahanni River, but of the evil man has created. The novel’s theme is a dark reminder that there are still people out there who want power over life and death, to dominate others, and who believe that science and technology will accomplish this mission.
My only quibble is a couple of unanswered questions at the end that I wish had been answered. Still, if you’re looking for an entertaining read, then THE RIVER is a great choice.
February 1, 2012
I only read the first couple of chapters so perhaps this isn't a fair assessment of the book---but my first impression is that this stinks.
The writing style isn't bad. It's the character behavior. The protagonist reacts in totally unrealistic ways. She meets a person that holds the key to finding her long lost and presumed dead father and she has him hauled off by security instead of asking questions. Then a little while later she visits him in the hospital and he codes and subsequently is given only a short time before he'll die. What does she do? She goes home to have pizza with a best friend and talk about this cute doctor she saw. Scary.
Maybe later I'll go back and see if the author recovers from these early missteps.
Oh, and since when do all the schools in Vancouver have alarms in every classroom and faculty office? And would your first reaction to an old man reaching into his jacket is to think it was a gun he was reaching for?
And that's just the first few pages of the book. :-(
The writing style isn't bad. It's the character behavior. The protagonist reacts in totally unrealistic ways. She meets a person that holds the key to finding her long lost and presumed dead father and she has him hauled off by security instead of asking questions. Then a little while later she visits him in the hospital and he codes and subsequently is given only a short time before he'll die. What does she do? She goes home to have pizza with a best friend and talk about this cute doctor she saw. Scary.
Maybe later I'll go back and see if the author recovers from these early missteps.
Oh, and since when do all the schools in Vancouver have alarms in every classroom and faculty office? And would your first reaction to an old man reaching into his jacket is to think it was a gun he was reaching for?
And that's just the first few pages of the book. :-(
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
November 17, 2008
The River – Hang on for the ride of your life!
Having moved on seven years after her missing father is assumed dead, Delia Hawthorne “Del” is visited by an aged stranger. Convinced the man is deranged, Del calls security to have him removed from her university classroom. “Delly it’s me” he says. And though it can’t be, it is. He is professor Schroeder, a colleague gone missing with her father so many years earlier, only he is much older than he should be. Schroeder tells her that her father is still alive and hands over a coded journal just before collapsing unconscious.
At the hospital, Del learns that Schroeder is suffering from a rare form of Progeria – a rapid aging disease. He will soon die and no one knows what has caused his condition. Jake Kerrigan, a research specialist for Bio-Tec Canada, the same company Del’s father worked for, is brought in to consult.
Convinced by Schroeder and his journal that her father is still alive, Del decides to retrace her father’s footsteps by traveling to the mysterious Canadian South Nahanni River – a river shrouded in legend and known for the occasional headless skeletons discovered along its banks.
Del, her ex-boyfriend, Jake Kerrigan, and a cadre of others led by their Dene guide travel and sometimes battle the beautiful and treacherous Nahanni River. Taming the river while searching for her captive father is exhausting . Add to this Del’s exacerbation of her Multiple Scelorsis and the journey is emotionally and mentally taxing. This may be why I found Del’s frequent romantic and lustful thoughts regarding Jake somewhat out of place given the situation.
In the second half of the book, the team find the hidden location of Del’s father. Without giving away too many plot surprises, this section reminded me of a cross between James Bond’s “Dr. No” and a more recent movie “The Island”. There is the hi-tech bad-guy lair controlled by a nefarious conspiratorial organization looking to gain the ultimate control over human life.
Cheryl Kaye Tardif’s description of the Nahanni expedition is exceptional, demonstrating her considerable research and command of this remote Canadian region. “The River” is a wonderful adventure. Readers will not be disappointed in what could be the ride of their lives.
Having moved on seven years after her missing father is assumed dead, Delia Hawthorne “Del” is visited by an aged stranger. Convinced the man is deranged, Del calls security to have him removed from her university classroom. “Delly it’s me” he says. And though it can’t be, it is. He is professor Schroeder, a colleague gone missing with her father so many years earlier, only he is much older than he should be. Schroeder tells her that her father is still alive and hands over a coded journal just before collapsing unconscious.
At the hospital, Del learns that Schroeder is suffering from a rare form of Progeria – a rapid aging disease. He will soon die and no one knows what has caused his condition. Jake Kerrigan, a research specialist for Bio-Tec Canada, the same company Del’s father worked for, is brought in to consult.
Convinced by Schroeder and his journal that her father is still alive, Del decides to retrace her father’s footsteps by traveling to the mysterious Canadian South Nahanni River – a river shrouded in legend and known for the occasional headless skeletons discovered along its banks.
Del, her ex-boyfriend, Jake Kerrigan, and a cadre of others led by their Dene guide travel and sometimes battle the beautiful and treacherous Nahanni River. Taming the river while searching for her captive father is exhausting . Add to this Del’s exacerbation of her Multiple Scelorsis and the journey is emotionally and mentally taxing. This may be why I found Del’s frequent romantic and lustful thoughts regarding Jake somewhat out of place given the situation.
In the second half of the book, the team find the hidden location of Del’s father. Without giving away too many plot surprises, this section reminded me of a cross between James Bond’s “Dr. No” and a more recent movie “The Island”. There is the hi-tech bad-guy lair controlled by a nefarious conspiratorial organization looking to gain the ultimate control over human life.
Cheryl Kaye Tardif’s description of the Nahanni expedition is exceptional, demonstrating her considerable research and command of this remote Canadian region. “The River” is a wonderful adventure. Readers will not be disappointed in what could be the ride of their lives.
June 18, 2014
Ms. Tardif created an intriguing and entertaining mix of mystery, adventure and science fiction in this book, which takes the reader on a thrilling ride down the Nahanni River in the northern Canadian wilderness and into a world of time travel, nanobots, stem cell technology, and the search for a fountain-of-youth elixir.
The characters were interesting and compelling with their own quirks, foibles and emotional baggage, and the descriptions of the river and the Canadian wilderness were vivid and beautiful. As a Canadian myself, I know how magnificent our great country is, and Ms. Tardif did it wonderful justice in her novel.
One small issue I had with the book was the unexpected ending, which left me a little frustrated. Hopefully, there will be a sequel to dispell some of the uncertainties and unresolved questions left hanging in the air.
Overall, a great book, and the fact that the author is Canadian and shares the same first name as me only makes it that much better! :)
The characters were interesting and compelling with their own quirks, foibles and emotional baggage, and the descriptions of the river and the Canadian wilderness were vivid and beautiful. As a Canadian myself, I know how magnificent our great country is, and Ms. Tardif did it wonderful justice in her novel.
One small issue I had with the book was the unexpected ending, which left me a little frustrated. Hopefully, there will be a sequel to dispell some of the uncertainties and unresolved questions left hanging in the air.
Overall, a great book, and the fact that the author is Canadian and shares the same first name as me only makes it that much better! :)
October 15, 2020
Obwohl Sci-Fi nicht meine bevorzugte Genre-Richtung ist, hat mir das Buch gut gefallen. Die Spannung lässt einen weiterlesen und der einfache Schreibstiel erlaubt es, der Story gut folgen zu können. Also alles in allem war ich positiv überrascht.
Das es kein Happyend gab hat mich einerseits enttäuscht, da ich natürlich gerne mit einem Happyend-Lesegefühl ein Buch beende, auf der anderen Seite ist es auch einfach mal etwas anderes...
Das es kein Happyend gab hat mich einerseits enttäuscht, da ich natürlich gerne mit einem Happyend-Lesegefühl ein Buch beende, auf der anderen Seite ist es auch einfach mal etwas anderes...
January 16, 2009
The River
Cheryl Kaye Tardif
Trafford Publishing 2005
6E - 2333 Government Street
Victoria, BC, Canada V8T 4P4
http://www.trafford.com/
toll-free 1-888-232-4444
phone 250-383-6864 fax 250-383-6804
www.cherylktardif.com
ISBN # 1-4120-6229-2
Reviewed by Christina Francine Whitcher
CFrancine@mail2world.com
Cheryl Kaye Tardif skillfully balances scientific intrigue, and the human desire to retain a youthful body, with tantalizing sexual tension, and vivid characterizations in this engrossing romantic thriller.
The plot steps beyond reality, but by how much? Science grows in its knowledge more every day. One thing is for sure, and history shows it to be true, greed and absolute power taint fabulous discoveries and inventions.
Tough and tender Professor Delia Hawthorne aches for her father, and she wouldn’t admit it, but also a decent relationship. Is her father really alive or is something unethical going on? She remembered what the disturbing man at the doorway of her classroom said. The elderly man wore a grimy suede jacket, needed a haircut and a shampoo, and his clothes were torn and worn, but his eyes seemed vaguely familiar.
“They’re going to kill him Delly. Find the river and stop the Director before he destroys humanity. It’s all in the book,” the old man said.
Del examined the leather-bound book later, along with a strange symbol, the notes inside, and what appeared to be a code.
For seven years she’d believed her father dead. There was even a funeral. He’d gone on an excursion down the Nahanni River in the Northwest Territories, and came up missing. If he lived, she’d find him, but first, Del decided to visit the company her father had worked for, Bio-Tec Canada.
Award-winning Cheryl Kaye Tordif is a Canadian mystery author who’s appeared on television and radio. She’s been told that she has the highest, most consistent sales during a book signing in Edmonton.
Other books include:
- ‘Divine Intervention’
- ‘Whale Song’
Exciting and vivid. Tardif’s latest novel sweeps readers along into uncharted, wild Canadian territory. A thrilling adventure where science sniffs harder, desperate to find the fountain-of-youth.
January 19, 2010
This is one of those books that gets a half star, so total 3.5 stars!
At first, I thought it was just another mystery/suspense novel. Then very quickly, the story gets extremely “edge of your seat”. With Del’s father’s disappearance and presumed death, it certainly started out as your average novel. Then, 7 years later, one of Del’s father’s old colleagues shows up out of the blue very sick and seemingly crazy - with a coded notebook telling her that her father is still alive! Before he dies, he leaves her with a cryptic message to follow to find her father.
Even though Del is also sick but in remission from MS, she has to find out if her father really is alive. So she decides to put together a small team of people to brave an adventure with her on the Nahanni River to learn the truth once and for all, hopefully find her father alive and bring him home.
There is lots of excitement on their journey through the Nahanni River Valley – old stories of headless bodies and secret caves, but then the story takes on a whole new sci-fi feel with hi-tech underground labs, time-travel and eternal life/age reversal. Not just your standard mystery/suspense anymore!!
This book is a roller coaster ride to say the least. Although I would say I thoroughly enjoyed the majority of the book, I was extremely disappointed with the ending chapter; I just felt that it was not ended very well. I was really mad that Jake and Del’s dad didn’t make it!!
I wish that there had been more “good prevails, justice served,” and I am a sucker for a happy ending, which I just didn’t get with this one. There were a lot of questions at the end that I didn’t feel I got answers to, and was sort of left wondering, now what?
At first, I thought it was just another mystery/suspense novel. Then very quickly, the story gets extremely “edge of your seat”. With Del’s father’s disappearance and presumed death, it certainly started out as your average novel. Then, 7 years later, one of Del’s father’s old colleagues shows up out of the blue very sick and seemingly crazy - with a coded notebook telling her that her father is still alive! Before he dies, he leaves her with a cryptic message to follow to find her father.
Even though Del is also sick but in remission from MS, she has to find out if her father really is alive. So she decides to put together a small team of people to brave an adventure with her on the Nahanni River to learn the truth once and for all, hopefully find her father alive and bring him home.
There is lots of excitement on their journey through the Nahanni River Valley – old stories of headless bodies and secret caves, but then the story takes on a whole new sci-fi feel with hi-tech underground labs, time-travel and eternal life/age reversal. Not just your standard mystery/suspense anymore!!
This book is a roller coaster ride to say the least. Although I would say I thoroughly enjoyed the majority of the book, I was extremely disappointed with the ending chapter; I just felt that it was not ended very well. I was really mad that Jake and Del’s dad didn’t make it!!
I wish that there had been more “good prevails, justice served,” and I am a sucker for a happy ending, which I just didn’t get with this one. There were a lot of questions at the end that I didn’t feel I got answers to, and was sort of left wondering, now what?
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
December 6, 2008
great characters, tons of action, cool technology
Michael Crichton fans will enjoy a ride on THE RIVER: like Crichton, Cheryl Tardif's suspense/near science fiction is all about what happens when you mix way-cool technology with bad people.
Biotechnologist Dr. Lawrence went missing on a northern Canadian river trip seven years before. His anthropologist daughter Del is surprised when one of his traveling companions drops two bombshells: Lawrence is still alive, and bad guys are after him. He gives Del some clues to help her find her father, and this sets her on a quest to find her father and neutralize the bad guys.
And that's the setup to the guts of the story: the quest turns into a river trip with a set of well-developed characters, all carrying their own emotional baggage and conflicts with them to this northern Canadian river. And when Del arrives, Tardif feeds us geeks with references to nanobots, time travel, and the chase to find an elixir of life. Del's romantic adventures are fun and full of conlicts, and the ethical dilemmas are presented and handled well.
I found THE RIVER to be a great mix of adventure, suspense, romance, and technology, and I can't wait to read more of Tardif's works.
Michael Crichton fans will enjoy a ride on THE RIVER: like Crichton, Cheryl Tardif's suspense/near science fiction is all about what happens when you mix way-cool technology with bad people.
Biotechnologist Dr. Lawrence went missing on a northern Canadian river trip seven years before. His anthropologist daughter Del is surprised when one of his traveling companions drops two bombshells: Lawrence is still alive, and bad guys are after him. He gives Del some clues to help her find her father, and this sets her on a quest to find her father and neutralize the bad guys.
And that's the setup to the guts of the story: the quest turns into a river trip with a set of well-developed characters, all carrying their own emotional baggage and conflicts with them to this northern Canadian river. And when Del arrives, Tardif feeds us geeks with references to nanobots, time travel, and the chase to find an elixir of life. Del's romantic adventures are fun and full of conlicts, and the ethical dilemmas are presented and handled well.
I found THE RIVER to be a great mix of adventure, suspense, romance, and technology, and I can't wait to read more of Tardif's works.
August 28, 2013
Remember the movie The River Wild starring Kevin Bacon and Meryl Streep? That is what I thought back to while reading this novel. Though the conflict in the two stories are widely different, there is of course the river (wild in some areas) as the common denominator.
The story started rather slow, but it quickly gained pace and it got really very exciting. It also deals with a delicate and scary subject - nanotechnology. The author has the standard disclaimer about the story being a work of fiction, but she added that it may also be a fact. In this day and age of advancement and uber high technology, anything really is possible - even a place at the end of a mysterious river that exists in another time.
It didn't have the typical everyone-is-happy ending, but in that sense, it just becomes more realistic.
A good read that I'll recommend to those who loves a good sci-fi adventure.
The story started rather slow, but it quickly gained pace and it got really very exciting. It also deals with a delicate and scary subject - nanotechnology. The author has the standard disclaimer about the story being a work of fiction, but she added that it may also be a fact. In this day and age of advancement and uber high technology, anything really is possible - even a place at the end of a mysterious river that exists in another time.
It didn't have the typical everyone-is-happy ending, but in that sense, it just becomes more realistic.
A good read that I'll recommend to those who loves a good sci-fi adventure.
October 16, 2010
I think I came across this author on someone else's blog. That's where I find a lot of indie authors. I am SO glad I found Ms. Tardif. Oh, man, I loved this book so much! There was a lot of suspense and adventure. And some romance thrown in, too, but that wasn't the main focus. The author showed a lot of imagination in this book, and it was also well written.
There were two things I didn't like. The African American character kept calling everyone "dawg". This was just a personal thing; if this is how she wanted the character, that's her choice. It just got a little old.
The second thing is that I hated the ending. I don't want to drop a spoiler here, so I'll just say I wanted to find out if she finds the other character. So I was unsatisfied. I would love to see a sequel here.
Even with the two things I didn't like, this was still a 5 star novel in my opinion. Good job!
There were two things I didn't like. The African American character kept calling everyone "dawg". This was just a personal thing; if this is how she wanted the character, that's her choice. It just got a little old.
The second thing is that I hated the ending. I don't want to drop a spoiler here, so I'll just say I wanted to find out if she finds the other character. So I was unsatisfied. I would love to see a sequel here.
Even with the two things I didn't like, this was still a 5 star novel in my opinion. Good job!
January 2, 2011
I follow Cheryl on Twitter for her writing advice. When I saw the opportunity to get some of her books very inexpensively on my new Nookcolor I picked them up. It had an interesting premise, a great twist, and a disturbing ending. I really liked it.
I'm not happy with Smashwords though. There were ? and other miscellaneous punctuation in odd places. I'm not sure if it was formating or editing. If it was editing, I'm willing to let the formatting take the blame.
I'm not happy with Smashwords though. There were ? and other miscellaneous punctuation in odd places. I'm not sure if it was formating or editing. If it was editing, I'm willing to let the formatting take the blame.
August 13, 2011
I enjoyed this book as it drew me in from the first page. I was a little confused towards the end of the story because it went off on a different vein than what I expected but it ended up evening out and it finally made sense. The intricate storyline kept me turning the page and I read this book in 2 days.
I would recommend this book to people who are into thrillers.
I give this book 5 stars for the clear plot-line and interesting character development.
I would recommend this book to people who are into thrillers.
I give this book 5 stars for the clear plot-line and interesting character development.
November 18, 2008
This is a true adventure story. The twists and turns start at page one and don't stop as anthropologist, Del Hawthorne, heads to the Nahanni River to find her missing father with only a coded journal to lead the way. Keeps you on your toes until the last page.
February 6, 2012
Really enjoyed this one. Loved the characters and there was tons of adventure, mystery and intrigue. Couldn't give it five stars because I was let down by the ending. I was a little confused, and there wasn't enough closure. All in all, an exciting book that I would definitely recommend.
Read
October 24, 2012where's the end?
Read
December 7, 2013False
August 2, 2019
Welcome to a scary world, based on an actual myth, science, and fiction, that begins with three words…follow your heart.
Anthropologist Del Hawthorne travels to the Nahanni River, NWT to search for her scientist father, whom for seven years, she believed to be dead.
Beginning with a book given to her by her father’s friend, also thought to be dead for seven years, with ex-lover TJ, a mixed team of volunteers is assembled to help her search. The team travels to the NWT, hire a Dene guide and begin their trek through a beautiful, majestic and treacherous region filled with legends of strange and fearsome things. (Within the legends are facts that over the years more 40 decapitated bodies were found in the area (I had to google to find this out)). As the group travel on the river, they learn to respect the land, practice safety…then things begin to happen. A canoe is lost, untreated water is placed in Del’s drinking bottle and signs appear…a heart is found…. the science (?) happens.
Read the book, you won’t regret it. The scariest thing …is that what is happens within these pages is possible with the advances being currently made in science and people being who they are.
Anthropologist Del Hawthorne travels to the Nahanni River, NWT to search for her scientist father, whom for seven years, she believed to be dead.
Beginning with a book given to her by her father’s friend, also thought to be dead for seven years, with ex-lover TJ, a mixed team of volunteers is assembled to help her search. The team travels to the NWT, hire a Dene guide and begin their trek through a beautiful, majestic and treacherous region filled with legends of strange and fearsome things. (Within the legends are facts that over the years more 40 decapitated bodies were found in the area (I had to google to find this out)). As the group travel on the river, they learn to respect the land, practice safety…then things begin to happen. A canoe is lost, untreated water is placed in Del’s drinking bottle and signs appear…a heart is found…. the science (?) happens.
Read the book, you won’t regret it. The scariest thing …is that what is happens within these pages is possible with the advances being currently made in science and people being who they are.
November 18, 2016
Hodge podge of too many genre. Fails to convince readers on its reality due to the sheer oddities put so casually, without much convincing explanation. Some good pieces of info on the Nahanni however.
January 8, 2015
Laut Klappentext ist dieser Roman ein Thriller um Stammzellenforschung, Klontechnik und Weltherrschaftspläne. Das hört sich eigentlich recht interessant an und ein wenig entwickelt sich der Roman auch im zweiten Teil in Richtung dieser Themen. Doch zuallererst ist es ein Roman über die Suche einer Tochter nach ihrem vor sieben Jahren verschwundenen Vater.
Die Protagonistin Del Hawthorne, 33 Jahre alt und Professorin für Anthropologie in Vancouver, bekommt einen Hinweis, dass ihr verschwundener und für tot erklärter Vater doch noch lebt. Ein alter Freund des Vaters, der zusammen mit ihm verschwunden war, taucht schwer erkrankt wieder auf und gibt ihr diesen Hinweis. Sie macht sich mit einer Gruppe Freiwilliger auf den Weg zu dem mysteriösen Fluss (Nahanni River) im Norden Kanadas, wo sich die Spur ihres Vaters verloren hat. Und dort angekommen, werden auch die im Klappentext angesprochenen Themen plötzlich mehr oder weniger relevant. Aber ein Hauptthema lässt sich auch dann nicht ausmachen.
Das hört sich zunächst alles nicht uninteressant an. Aber so etwas wie Spannung kommt leider an keiner Stelle des Romans auf. Es fängt damit an, dass ausnahmslos alle Figuren Stereotypen darstellen und mit unglaublicher Attraktivität beschenkt wurden (außer den Bösen versteht sich). Del ist hübsch und der ehemalige Assistent ihres Vaters („Mr. Ach-so-sexy“) scheint direkt aus dem Katalog für tolle Kerle entsprungen zu sein.
Wenn ich dann noch Sätze lese, wie „Jake Kerrigan war die Männlichkeit in Person. Sie strömte ihm aus jeder einzelnen Pore…“, dann kräuseln sich mir die Fußnägel: Hallo? Geht’s noch? Man kann ja eine Liebesgeschichte zwischen zwei Hauptfiguren in eine Thriller-Geschichte hineinschreiben. Dagegen habe ich wirklicht nichts. Das kann einen Roman sogar aufwerten. Aber wenn eine Schmonzette erzählt wird, die an Klischeehaftigkeit, Plattitüden und Sexismus wohl kaum zu überbieten ist - wie es hier der Fall ist - dann ist die Grenze zur Unerträglichkeit nicht nur erreicht, sondern fast schon überschritten.
Natürlich sind unter den Freiwilligen, die sich auf die Suche begeben, auch noch die jeweiligen Ex-Partner unseres Traumpärchens. Beide, besonders sie (die natürlich auch noch die kluge Assistentin von Dr. Kerrigan ist), sind ungemein attraktiv. Versteht sich von selbst. Das führt natürlich zu Eifersüchteleien. Uiuiui!. Der Führer der Reisegruppe ist ein Bilderbuchindianer, der genauso ist, wie man sich einen Rafting-Guide vorstellt, jedenfalls wenn man sich den einen optimalen schnitzen könnte. Dazu kommen noch der junge Assistent der Professorin und seine Bekannte, Expertin in Mathematik und Botanik. Zu guter letzt stößt auch noch zufällig ein Computerexperte zu der Gruppe. Eine Reisegruppe also, die selbst in einem schlechten B-Movie noch unglaubwürdig wirken würde.
Sie schippern nun also den titelgebenden „wilden Fluss“ entlang. Die Landschaftsbeschreibungen scheinen aus gängigen Reiseführern übernommen worden zu sein. So klingen sie jedenfalls und die Tourismusbranche der Region wird's freuen. Wie nicht anders zu erwarten, wird die Suche der Gruppe sabotiert. Es scheint ein Verräter in den eigenen Reihen zu sein. Das überrascht jetzt aber ganz doll. Falsche Fährten werden gelegt, kleinere Scharmützel der Truppe untereinander treten zu Tage und so weiter und so fort. Wer mittlerweile denkt, wir haben es hier mit einem 08/15-„Thriller“ zu tun, der liegt vollkommen richtig.
Und noch andere Unglaubwürdigkeiten als die oben erwähnten findet man in diesem Buch. Denn da ist beispielsweise noch die Mathematikerin (das sie jung und hübsch ist, brauche ich wohl nicht extra zu erwähnen), die auch mitgekommen ist, um ein codiertes Tagebuch zu entschlüsseln. Sie tut sich schwer damit, eine Verschlüsselung zu knacken, die im Nachhinein so offensichtlich ist, wie es offensichtlicher kaum geht (auch 2005 schon!). Nicht zu vergessen, dass die Mathematikerin, erst von jemand anderen darauf aufmerksam gemacht werden muss, dass in dem Code keine Nullen vorhanden sind. Hallo? Das ist etwas, was selbst Nicht-Mathegenies als Erstes auffallen dürfte.
Ich überlege gerade, ob ich noch etwas vergessen habe. Habe ich schon erwähnt, dass sich die Figuren durch die Bank weg äußerst naiv verhalten? Habe ich schon erwähnt, dass die Logik an manchen Stellen auf der Strecke bleibt? Habe ich schon erwähnt, dass die offensichtlich recherchierten „wissenschaftlichen Fakten“ (Bücherliste als Quellenangaben am Ende des Buches!) keinen glaubwürdigen Eindruck machen? Wenn nicht, dann habe ich es jetzt getan.
Wer also einen klischeehaften, teilweise kitschigen, unglaubwürdigen und unlogischen Roman lesen möchte, wird mit WILDER FLUSS bestens bedient. Wer etwas andere Ansprüche an seine Lektüre hat und als Leser von einem Autor oder einer Autorin nicht für dumm gehalten werden möchte, sollte einen Bogen um das Buch machen. Einen großen. (4/15)
Die Protagonistin Del Hawthorne, 33 Jahre alt und Professorin für Anthropologie in Vancouver, bekommt einen Hinweis, dass ihr verschwundener und für tot erklärter Vater doch noch lebt. Ein alter Freund des Vaters, der zusammen mit ihm verschwunden war, taucht schwer erkrankt wieder auf und gibt ihr diesen Hinweis. Sie macht sich mit einer Gruppe Freiwilliger auf den Weg zu dem mysteriösen Fluss (Nahanni River) im Norden Kanadas, wo sich die Spur ihres Vaters verloren hat. Und dort angekommen, werden auch die im Klappentext angesprochenen Themen plötzlich mehr oder weniger relevant. Aber ein Hauptthema lässt sich auch dann nicht ausmachen.
Das hört sich zunächst alles nicht uninteressant an. Aber so etwas wie Spannung kommt leider an keiner Stelle des Romans auf. Es fängt damit an, dass ausnahmslos alle Figuren Stereotypen darstellen und mit unglaublicher Attraktivität beschenkt wurden (außer den Bösen versteht sich). Del ist hübsch und der ehemalige Assistent ihres Vaters („Mr. Ach-so-sexy“) scheint direkt aus dem Katalog für tolle Kerle entsprungen zu sein.
Wenn ich dann noch Sätze lese, wie „Jake Kerrigan war die Männlichkeit in Person. Sie strömte ihm aus jeder einzelnen Pore…“, dann kräuseln sich mir die Fußnägel: Hallo? Geht’s noch? Man kann ja eine Liebesgeschichte zwischen zwei Hauptfiguren in eine Thriller-Geschichte hineinschreiben. Dagegen habe ich wirklicht nichts. Das kann einen Roman sogar aufwerten. Aber wenn eine Schmonzette erzählt wird, die an Klischeehaftigkeit, Plattitüden und Sexismus wohl kaum zu überbieten ist - wie es hier der Fall ist - dann ist die Grenze zur Unerträglichkeit nicht nur erreicht, sondern fast schon überschritten.
Natürlich sind unter den Freiwilligen, die sich auf die Suche begeben, auch noch die jeweiligen Ex-Partner unseres Traumpärchens. Beide, besonders sie (die natürlich auch noch die kluge Assistentin von Dr. Kerrigan ist), sind ungemein attraktiv. Versteht sich von selbst. Das führt natürlich zu Eifersüchteleien. Uiuiui!. Der Führer der Reisegruppe ist ein Bilderbuchindianer, der genauso ist, wie man sich einen Rafting-Guide vorstellt, jedenfalls wenn man sich den einen optimalen schnitzen könnte. Dazu kommen noch der junge Assistent der Professorin und seine Bekannte, Expertin in Mathematik und Botanik. Zu guter letzt stößt auch noch zufällig ein Computerexperte zu der Gruppe. Eine Reisegruppe also, die selbst in einem schlechten B-Movie noch unglaubwürdig wirken würde.
Sie schippern nun also den titelgebenden „wilden Fluss“ entlang. Die Landschaftsbeschreibungen scheinen aus gängigen Reiseführern übernommen worden zu sein. So klingen sie jedenfalls und die Tourismusbranche der Region wird's freuen. Wie nicht anders zu erwarten, wird die Suche der Gruppe sabotiert. Es scheint ein Verräter in den eigenen Reihen zu sein. Das überrascht jetzt aber ganz doll. Falsche Fährten werden gelegt, kleinere Scharmützel der Truppe untereinander treten zu Tage und so weiter und so fort. Wer mittlerweile denkt, wir haben es hier mit einem 08/15-„Thriller“ zu tun, der liegt vollkommen richtig.
Und noch andere Unglaubwürdigkeiten als die oben erwähnten findet man in diesem Buch. Denn da ist beispielsweise noch die Mathematikerin (das sie jung und hübsch ist, brauche ich wohl nicht extra zu erwähnen), die auch mitgekommen ist, um ein codiertes Tagebuch zu entschlüsseln. Sie tut sich schwer damit, eine Verschlüsselung zu knacken, die im Nachhinein so offensichtlich ist, wie es offensichtlicher kaum geht (auch 2005 schon!). Nicht zu vergessen, dass die Mathematikerin, erst von jemand anderen darauf aufmerksam gemacht werden muss, dass in dem Code keine Nullen vorhanden sind. Hallo? Das ist etwas, was selbst Nicht-Mathegenies als Erstes auffallen dürfte.
Ich überlege gerade, ob ich noch etwas vergessen habe. Habe ich schon erwähnt, dass sich die Figuren durch die Bank weg äußerst naiv verhalten? Habe ich schon erwähnt, dass die Logik an manchen Stellen auf der Strecke bleibt? Habe ich schon erwähnt, dass die offensichtlich recherchierten „wissenschaftlichen Fakten“ (Bücherliste als Quellenangaben am Ende des Buches!) keinen glaubwürdigen Eindruck machen? Wenn nicht, dann habe ich es jetzt getan.
Wer also einen klischeehaften, teilweise kitschigen, unglaubwürdigen und unlogischen Roman lesen möchte, wird mit WILDER FLUSS bestens bedient. Wer etwas andere Ansprüche an seine Lektüre hat und als Leser von einem Autor oder einer Autorin nicht für dumm gehalten werden möchte, sollte einen Bogen um das Buch machen. Einen großen. (4/15)
July 28, 2011
Be afraid, be very afraid. Action-packed futuristic techno-thriller too close for comfort
There are many legends about the Nahanni River in the Northwest Territory, many of them featuring headless corpses and skeletons, and disappearances, a river of ghosts. Cheryl Kaye Tardif has placed her paranormal techno-thriller in this beautiful and awesome part of northern Canada. I love how she describes everything so well that each scene is vividly implanted in the reader's mind, so much so that one can almost hear the falls, the rapids, and boiling currents of the river, the rustling of the leaves in the wind. This descriptive mode is captured throughout the book, even through the horrors to be found when Del, with a team and guide, searches for her father. He was believed dead for several years, after disappearing in the Nahanni area, but now Del has reason to believe he is alive.
It all begins when an elderly man shows up in her classroom with a message and a journal. She recognizes the message as something her father always said, and finally discovers that she has known this man, he is a friend of her father's and he also disappeared from that ill-fated group of men. He appears much older than he should, and very ill, but he says her father is alive and gives her a journal with instructions to "follow" her heart. He is taken away to a hospital where he is rapidly aging and dying. Del turns to the journal and discovers it has been written in some kind of code. There also seems to be a map of some sort. She knows she will do anything to find her father, and her ex-boyfriend is ready to assemble a search team and make the arrangements.
What a mixed bunch of characters make up the team! Del (Delila) Hawthorne is a Professor of Anthropology and her young assistant Peter insists on going along. Jake, who she meets first at the hospital and again at Bio-Tec where her father had worked, and TJ, her ex-boyfriend. Peter brings Miki, who is a math savant and may be able to break the code, and Jake brings his assistant, the fiery and fiercely jealous Italian, Francesca. A lone vacationing computer programmer, Gary, is stranded when his wilderness party doesn't show up, and Hawk, the Dene guide adds him to their party.
It doesn't take long for problems to arise, both natural and man-made. Who is trying to sabotage their trip? When Del's medication for MS disappears, who would have taken it? Was it the feisty Francesca? A romantic connection seems to be building between Del and Jake. Could Gary be someone other than who he supposedly is? Will finding the secret river give them answers, or more questions? The river is very hazardous as they near the falls, but Miki and Del believe they have to pass this spot to arrive at what they think will be the location to find the secret river. Hawk does not believe there is a secret river, but he does recognize what the landmarks are on the map. As they portage up the falls, they think the worst must be over, but will soon rethink that.
A tense, strange trip to destiny lies ahead. Not just their destiny, but the destiny of the human race. Can they stop the inevitable? Layers of horror lead to more danger for the team. I won't tell. This book is character- and action-driven, terrifying, and yet tender at times even in its intensity. Cheryl has a knack for writing the gamut of human emotion, and in this case even inhuman. A good thriller, graphic in some places, but deftly written. A real nail-biter.
There are many legends about the Nahanni River in the Northwest Territory, many of them featuring headless corpses and skeletons, and disappearances, a river of ghosts. Cheryl Kaye Tardif has placed her paranormal techno-thriller in this beautiful and awesome part of northern Canada. I love how she describes everything so well that each scene is vividly implanted in the reader's mind, so much so that one can almost hear the falls, the rapids, and boiling currents of the river, the rustling of the leaves in the wind. This descriptive mode is captured throughout the book, even through the horrors to be found when Del, with a team and guide, searches for her father. He was believed dead for several years, after disappearing in the Nahanni area, but now Del has reason to believe he is alive.
It all begins when an elderly man shows up in her classroom with a message and a journal. She recognizes the message as something her father always said, and finally discovers that she has known this man, he is a friend of her father's and he also disappeared from that ill-fated group of men. He appears much older than he should, and very ill, but he says her father is alive and gives her a journal with instructions to "follow" her heart. He is taken away to a hospital where he is rapidly aging and dying. Del turns to the journal and discovers it has been written in some kind of code. There also seems to be a map of some sort. She knows she will do anything to find her father, and her ex-boyfriend is ready to assemble a search team and make the arrangements.
What a mixed bunch of characters make up the team! Del (Delila) Hawthorne is a Professor of Anthropology and her young assistant Peter insists on going along. Jake, who she meets first at the hospital and again at Bio-Tec where her father had worked, and TJ, her ex-boyfriend. Peter brings Miki, who is a math savant and may be able to break the code, and Jake brings his assistant, the fiery and fiercely jealous Italian, Francesca. A lone vacationing computer programmer, Gary, is stranded when his wilderness party doesn't show up, and Hawk, the Dene guide adds him to their party.
It doesn't take long for problems to arise, both natural and man-made. Who is trying to sabotage their trip? When Del's medication for MS disappears, who would have taken it? Was it the feisty Francesca? A romantic connection seems to be building between Del and Jake. Could Gary be someone other than who he supposedly is? Will finding the secret river give them answers, or more questions? The river is very hazardous as they near the falls, but Miki and Del believe they have to pass this spot to arrive at what they think will be the location to find the secret river. Hawk does not believe there is a secret river, but he does recognize what the landmarks are on the map. As they portage up the falls, they think the worst must be over, but will soon rethink that.
A tense, strange trip to destiny lies ahead. Not just their destiny, but the destiny of the human race. Can they stop the inevitable? Layers of horror lead to more danger for the team. I won't tell. This book is character- and action-driven, terrifying, and yet tender at times even in its intensity. Cheryl has a knack for writing the gamut of human emotion, and in this case even inhuman. A good thriller, graphic in some places, but deftly written. A real nail-biter.
January 20, 2015
Die Leseprobe beim Luzifer Verlag war so vielversprechend, dass ich total gespannt und neugierig war, ob das im gesamten Buch durchgehend gehalten werden kann. Dank einer tollen Aktion beim "Luzifer Verlag" habe ich die Chance bekommen die Geschichte fertig zu lesen, zu erfahren wie die Geschichte ausgeht und mich selbst davon zu überzeugen ob die Spannung durchweg bei "Wilder Fluss" gehalten werden kann.
Deshalb möchte ich mich an dieser Stelle ersteinmal beim Verlag bedanken.
Die Anthropologie-Professorin Delila Hawthorne bekommt plötzlich von dem, seit sieben Jahren ebenfalls vermissten Freund ihres Vaters, Arnold Schroeder Besuch. Der ebenfalls mit ihrem Vater, dem renommierten Wissenschaftler Dr Lawrence Hawthorne bei einer Rafting Exkursion vor sieben Jahren am Nahanni River unter mysteriösen Umständen verschwunden und für tot erklärt wurde. Er meint, ihr Vater könnte noch am Leben sein und bittet sie nach ihrem Vater zu suchen, da er in Gefahr wäre und ihn anscheinend jemand töten will.
Ein Buch mit rätselhaften Eintragungen soll ihr bei ihrer Suche helfen. Schroeder selbst leidet seit seinem Verschwinden an Progerie, eine Krankheit, die ihn schneller altern lässt als andere, sodass er bald Sterben wird.
Der Roman beginnt gleich Anfangs schon spannend mit dem plötzlichen Auftauchen von dem totgeglaubten Dr Schroeder. Da dieser jedoch durch die Krankheit so schnell altert erkennt Delila ihn zuerst nicht. Und schließlich bleiben ihr nur die rätselhaften Aufzeichnungen ihres Vaters, die ihr bei der Suche und dessen mögliche Rettung helfen sollen.
Sie macht sich mit einer kleinen Gruppe auf den Weg nach Nahanni.
Das Buch "Wilder Fluss" von "Cheryl Kaye Tardif konnte mich in vielerlei Hinsicht überzeugen. Das Cover ist genial, etwas mystisch passt und harmoniert mit dem Inhalt richtig gut zusammen.
Es spiegelt etwas düsteres, unheimlich und unbeschreibliches wieder.
Der Leser wird von der ersten Seite der Geschichte gefesselt und bis zum Ende mitgerissen, da man unbedingt das Geheimnis lüften und das mysteriöse Verschwinden von Delilas Vater wissen möchte.
"Das Gestern ist Geschichte, das Morgen ist ein Rätsel und das Heute ein Geschenk".
In diesem Sinne...
Fazit
Ein spannendes, fesselndes Lesevergnügen das mich, bis auf ein paar, nicht weiter nennenswerte Kleinigkeiten voll und ganz überzeugen konnte. Die Art und Weise des Schreibens der Autorin fesselt und zieht den Leser sofort mit und lässt ihn in die Geschichte versinken.
Eine Empfehlung von mir mit einer fast voller Punktzahl von 4,5 , da fies leider aber nicht möglich ist Runde ich gerne auf die volle 5 auf.
Deshalb möchte ich mich an dieser Stelle ersteinmal beim Verlag bedanken.
Die Anthropologie-Professorin Delila Hawthorne bekommt plötzlich von dem, seit sieben Jahren ebenfalls vermissten Freund ihres Vaters, Arnold Schroeder Besuch. Der ebenfalls mit ihrem Vater, dem renommierten Wissenschaftler Dr Lawrence Hawthorne bei einer Rafting Exkursion vor sieben Jahren am Nahanni River unter mysteriösen Umständen verschwunden und für tot erklärt wurde. Er meint, ihr Vater könnte noch am Leben sein und bittet sie nach ihrem Vater zu suchen, da er in Gefahr wäre und ihn anscheinend jemand töten will.
Ein Buch mit rätselhaften Eintragungen soll ihr bei ihrer Suche helfen. Schroeder selbst leidet seit seinem Verschwinden an Progerie, eine Krankheit, die ihn schneller altern lässt als andere, sodass er bald Sterben wird.
Der Roman beginnt gleich Anfangs schon spannend mit dem plötzlichen Auftauchen von dem totgeglaubten Dr Schroeder. Da dieser jedoch durch die Krankheit so schnell altert erkennt Delila ihn zuerst nicht. Und schließlich bleiben ihr nur die rätselhaften Aufzeichnungen ihres Vaters, die ihr bei der Suche und dessen mögliche Rettung helfen sollen.
Sie macht sich mit einer kleinen Gruppe auf den Weg nach Nahanni.
Das Buch "Wilder Fluss" von "Cheryl Kaye Tardif konnte mich in vielerlei Hinsicht überzeugen. Das Cover ist genial, etwas mystisch passt und harmoniert mit dem Inhalt richtig gut zusammen.
Es spiegelt etwas düsteres, unheimlich und unbeschreibliches wieder.
Der Leser wird von der ersten Seite der Geschichte gefesselt und bis zum Ende mitgerissen, da man unbedingt das Geheimnis lüften und das mysteriöse Verschwinden von Delilas Vater wissen möchte.
"Das Gestern ist Geschichte, das Morgen ist ein Rätsel und das Heute ein Geschenk".
In diesem Sinne...
Fazit
Ein spannendes, fesselndes Lesevergnügen das mich, bis auf ein paar, nicht weiter nennenswerte Kleinigkeiten voll und ganz überzeugen konnte. Die Art und Weise des Schreibens der Autorin fesselt und zieht den Leser sofort mit und lässt ihn in die Geschichte versinken.
Eine Empfehlung von mir mit einer fast voller Punktzahl von 4,5 , da fies leider aber nicht möglich ist Runde ich gerne auf die volle 5 auf.
February 14, 2015
Abstruse, größtenteils langweilige Story, die wohl am ehesten in das Genre: Schundroman eingeordnet werden kann.
Inhalt:
Del Hawthorne ist Anthropologieprofessorin an der Universität in Vancouver, Kanada.
Eines Tages taucht ein Freund ihres Vaters bei ihr auf, der behauptet, ihr Vater, der vor sieben Jahren verschollen war und für tot erklärt wurde, sei noch am Leben.
Er gibt ihr ein paar unausgegorene Hinweise und fordert sie auf, ihren Vater zu retten.
Mit einer zusammengewürfelten Mannschaft aus Leuten die sie kaum, oder gar nicht kennt, macht sich Del schnurstracks auf, den Nahanniriver zu befahren um ihren Vater zu finden.
Meine Meinung:
Das Buch kann von Anfang an nicht überzeugen. Es sind Leute im Team, die dort überhaupt nichts zu suchen haben (und es wird auch nicht wirklich klar, warum sie dabei sind).
Ein Klischee jagt das nächste, was die Geschichte in großen Teilen ziemlich vorhersehbar macht.
Möglicherweise ist das der Autorin auch irgendwann aufgefallen, denn sie wartet plötzlich mit völlig abstruser Technologie auf (immerhin kam das als Überraschung).
Im dritten Teil des Buches dann zeigt die Autorin was wirklich in ihr steckt: so viele Erektionen, Vergewaltigungen aber auch leidenschaftliche Liebesschwüre habe ich, glaube ich, noch nie in einem anderen Buch gelesen.
Ich vermute, dass die Autorin mit diesen Szenen irgendwelche sexuellen Phantasien auslebt, denn sie bringen das Buch nicht voran, und tragen eigentlich nicht wirklich etwas Entscheidendes zu der Geschichte bei.
Es wird kurzzeitig mal spannend, aber der Spannungsbogen wird nicht lange aufrecht erhalten, und den Rest des Buches habe ich eher überflogen.
Die Erklärungen, warum wer was macht sind nur zu einem kleinen Teil nachzuvollziehen, nämlich dann, wenn es um Macht und Geld geht.
Wir erfahren auch nicht, wer denn nun überhaupt für alles verantwortlich ist, was beinah nach einer drohenden Fortsetzung aussieht -- die ich definitiv nicht lesen würde.
Der Klappentext hörte sich spannend an, aber die Ausführung ist mangelhaft. Allein der Fluss, die Legenden, und die Traditionen der Ureinwohner Kanadas hätten Stoff für eine tolle Geschichte geben sollen, aber es wird nur ein bisschen an der Oberfläche gekratzt, obwohl die Autorin recht gut recherchiert zu haben scheint.
Eine tolle Idee verpufft in Klischees und Gewalt. Ohne die Leserunde, in der wir gemeinsam gelitten haben, hätte ich das Buch schon nach einigen Seiten nicht weiter gelesen.
Inhalt:
Del Hawthorne ist Anthropologieprofessorin an der Universität in Vancouver, Kanada.
Eines Tages taucht ein Freund ihres Vaters bei ihr auf, der behauptet, ihr Vater, der vor sieben Jahren verschollen war und für tot erklärt wurde, sei noch am Leben.
Er gibt ihr ein paar unausgegorene Hinweise und fordert sie auf, ihren Vater zu retten.
Mit einer zusammengewürfelten Mannschaft aus Leuten die sie kaum, oder gar nicht kennt, macht sich Del schnurstracks auf, den Nahanniriver zu befahren um ihren Vater zu finden.
Meine Meinung:
Das Buch kann von Anfang an nicht überzeugen. Es sind Leute im Team, die dort überhaupt nichts zu suchen haben (und es wird auch nicht wirklich klar, warum sie dabei sind).
Ein Klischee jagt das nächste, was die Geschichte in großen Teilen ziemlich vorhersehbar macht.
Möglicherweise ist das der Autorin auch irgendwann aufgefallen, denn sie wartet plötzlich mit völlig abstruser Technologie auf (immerhin kam das als Überraschung).
Im dritten Teil des Buches dann zeigt die Autorin was wirklich in ihr steckt: so viele Erektionen, Vergewaltigungen aber auch leidenschaftliche Liebesschwüre habe ich, glaube ich, noch nie in einem anderen Buch gelesen.
Ich vermute, dass die Autorin mit diesen Szenen irgendwelche sexuellen Phantasien auslebt, denn sie bringen das Buch nicht voran, und tragen eigentlich nicht wirklich etwas Entscheidendes zu der Geschichte bei.
Es wird kurzzeitig mal spannend, aber der Spannungsbogen wird nicht lange aufrecht erhalten, und den Rest des Buches habe ich eher überflogen.
Die Erklärungen, warum wer was macht sind nur zu einem kleinen Teil nachzuvollziehen, nämlich dann, wenn es um Macht und Geld geht.
Wir erfahren auch nicht, wer denn nun überhaupt für alles verantwortlich ist, was beinah nach einer drohenden Fortsetzung aussieht -- die ich definitiv nicht lesen würde.
Der Klappentext hörte sich spannend an, aber die Ausführung ist mangelhaft. Allein der Fluss, die Legenden, und die Traditionen der Ureinwohner Kanadas hätten Stoff für eine tolle Geschichte geben sollen, aber es wird nur ein bisschen an der Oberfläche gekratzt, obwohl die Autorin recht gut recherchiert zu haben scheint.
Eine tolle Idee verpufft in Klischees und Gewalt. Ohne die Leserunde, in der wir gemeinsam gelitten haben, hätte ich das Buch schon nach einigen Seiten nicht weiter gelesen.
March 16, 2011
I came across an excerpt of Cheryl Kaye Tardif’s, “The River,” over a year ago while surfing the web. I don’t like reading on my computer but thought I’d just skim a few pages. I ended up reading the entire excerpt. When I finished I was scrambling to find this book. For some reason I got sidetracked and never ordered it, but the bit of the story that I read stayed with me. After a significant amount of searching, having forgotten the author’s name, I finally had The River downloaded onto my e-reader.
Cheryl Kaye Tardif puts her readers on the edge of their seat from the first page when her main character, Del Hawthorne, learns that her father, presumed dead for seven years, is alive. Using encrypted messages, she goes in search of him, despite the fact that her health is suffering. Her search takes her to the mysterious and deadly Nahanni River in the Canadian north.
This story really has everything: mystery/suspense, cryptic messages, science fiction, great adventure, and wonderful character development. I had trouble putting this book down and had to cover the parts of the page I hadn’t read yet to prevent myself from skipping ahead and spoiling the suspense.
However, this wouldn’t be a useful review if I wasn’t honest. The last chapter left me disappointed and frustrated. I wasn’t given the closure I expected and needed. I wanted a better ending. Despite this, I will continue to read this author’s books. Cheryl Kaye Tardif knows how to tell a great story. She writes beautifully and her characters are real and believable.
My advice would be to go ahead and read this book. You will not be disappointed by the measure of suspense, mystery, adventure, and good storytelling that Cheryl dishes out.
Cheryl Kaye Tardif puts her readers on the edge of their seat from the first page when her main character, Del Hawthorne, learns that her father, presumed dead for seven years, is alive. Using encrypted messages, she goes in search of him, despite the fact that her health is suffering. Her search takes her to the mysterious and deadly Nahanni River in the Canadian north.
This story really has everything: mystery/suspense, cryptic messages, science fiction, great adventure, and wonderful character development. I had trouble putting this book down and had to cover the parts of the page I hadn’t read yet to prevent myself from skipping ahead and spoiling the suspense.
However, this wouldn’t be a useful review if I wasn’t honest. The last chapter left me disappointed and frustrated. I wasn’t given the closure I expected and needed. I wanted a better ending. Despite this, I will continue to read this author’s books. Cheryl Kaye Tardif knows how to tell a great story. She writes beautifully and her characters are real and believable.
My advice would be to go ahead and read this book. You will not be disappointed by the measure of suspense, mystery, adventure, and good storytelling that Cheryl dishes out.
March 22, 2015
Del Hawthorne hat vor sieben Jahren ihren Vater verloren. Der angesehene Wissenschaftler verschwand in der Nähe des Nahanni River und wurde für tot erklärt. Dieses Drama lässt Del nicht los. Da taucht ein alter Arbeitskollege in lebensbedrohlichem Zustand auf und behauptet, dass ihr Vater noch lebt. Dieser Mann ist unnatürlich stark gealtert. Sie will die Wahrheit herausfinden und bricht mit einer Gruppe von Freiwilligen zum Nahanni River auf. Dort angekommen werden sie mit mysteriösen Todesfällen konfrontiert...
Mich hatte der Klappentext angesprochen, weil es ein wenig in die Science Fiction Richtung ging: Klontechnik, Stammzellenforschung – ein nicht gerade typischer Thriller. Mein Interesse war also geweckt, hielt jedoch nicht lang an. Anfangs war die Spannung noch hoch, sieht man mal von einigen Ungereimtheiten und Übertreibungen ab, wie bei einem amerikanischen Action-Blockbuster. Es fehlte für mich absolut an Tiefe.
Nachdem die Reisegruppe sich dann ihrem Ziel näherte, kam noch ein weiteres schwieriges Detail hinzu: eine Zeitreisethematik. Ich habe schon immer Probleme damit, diesen Theorien zu folgen, weil es in den seltensten Fällen nachvollziehbar ist. Man verstrickt sich in Spekulationen und Gedanken und bekommt immer größere Knoten ins Hirn. So versuchte ich also, mich davon unabhängig mit der Geschichte treiben zu lassen. Aber es blieb kompliziert.
Zusammengefasst geht es um das Thema der Unsterblichkeit und medizinische Forschungen. Die Charaktere stolpern jedoch mehr schlecht als recht wie Touristen auf der Suche nach einer Lösung. Sie sind naiv und voller Klischees, teilweise einfach pervers, keine Sympathieträger. Ich hatte noch ein wenig Hoffnung, dass in einem Showdown alles erklärt wird, aber das Ende war enttäuschend mit vielen offenen Fragen.
Mich hatte der Klappentext angesprochen, weil es ein wenig in die Science Fiction Richtung ging: Klontechnik, Stammzellenforschung – ein nicht gerade typischer Thriller. Mein Interesse war also geweckt, hielt jedoch nicht lang an. Anfangs war die Spannung noch hoch, sieht man mal von einigen Ungereimtheiten und Übertreibungen ab, wie bei einem amerikanischen Action-Blockbuster. Es fehlte für mich absolut an Tiefe.
Nachdem die Reisegruppe sich dann ihrem Ziel näherte, kam noch ein weiteres schwieriges Detail hinzu: eine Zeitreisethematik. Ich habe schon immer Probleme damit, diesen Theorien zu folgen, weil es in den seltensten Fällen nachvollziehbar ist. Man verstrickt sich in Spekulationen und Gedanken und bekommt immer größere Knoten ins Hirn. So versuchte ich also, mich davon unabhängig mit der Geschichte treiben zu lassen. Aber es blieb kompliziert.
Zusammengefasst geht es um das Thema der Unsterblichkeit und medizinische Forschungen. Die Charaktere stolpern jedoch mehr schlecht als recht wie Touristen auf der Suche nach einer Lösung. Sie sind naiv und voller Klischees, teilweise einfach pervers, keine Sympathieträger. Ich hatte noch ein wenig Hoffnung, dass in einem Showdown alles erklärt wird, aber das Ende war enttäuschend mit vielen offenen Fragen.
November 1, 2014
When you arrive at your future, will you blame your past? - Robert Half
I discovered author Tardif recently and have been bingeing on her books. "Children of the Fog" and "Submerged" were the first two books I read - and enjoyed. Both are mystery thrillers with a dash of paranormal thrown in for a little extra spice.
THE RIVER is a adventure/sci fi. I started out reading it with high hopes. After all, Tardif bases her novels in unique locations and this one definitely fits that description. I really enjoyed the first part of the book, probably at least the first half. I liked the characters and especially liked the descriptions of the Nahanni River area in the Northwest Territories of Canada.
But then the book fell apart, in my opinion. I know it's fiction but I need some basis to believe in and this book took off into straight sci fi, which I was NOT expecting. Unbelievable and it had one of the worst endings I've read in a long time.
If you're looking for a good read, try one of Tardif's books that I mentioned above. But I wouldn't invest a lot of time in this tale. I think you'll be disappointed.
I discovered author Tardif recently and have been bingeing on her books. "Children of the Fog" and "Submerged" were the first two books I read - and enjoyed. Both are mystery thrillers with a dash of paranormal thrown in for a little extra spice.
THE RIVER is a adventure/sci fi. I started out reading it with high hopes. After all, Tardif bases her novels in unique locations and this one definitely fits that description. I really enjoyed the first part of the book, probably at least the first half. I liked the characters and especially liked the descriptions of the Nahanni River area in the Northwest Territories of Canada.
But then the book fell apart, in my opinion. I know it's fiction but I need some basis to believe in and this book took off into straight sci fi, which I was NOT expecting. Unbelievable and it had one of the worst endings I've read in a long time.
If you're looking for a good read, try one of Tardif's books that I mentioned above. But I wouldn't invest a lot of time in this tale. I think you'll be disappointed.
July 5, 2013
I won a signed paperback copy. Thank you, Cheryl Kaye Tardif! But my eyes don't do paperback novels very well. Then I picked up a free Kindle copy. Yay!
I am so glad I got to read this. It is like two novels in one. You get the wilderness adventure and then a science fiction novel. I loved the characters so the switch was easy, I still wanted to know what happened so even though there was a bit of a bump from nature to sterile futurism, the story continued. In fact, for this sci-fi fan it got even better. I would have been happy with either part of the story alone. Together it makes quite a story!
The sad part? The story ended. Is there a chance of a part two? I can see so much that wants to happen. But I wasn't left on a cliff. Those kinds of endings make me so angry. This just leaves you wondering. It will stick with me for a long time. The science is within the grasp of scientists so some part if not all could happen. Will it be used for good or ill? I may have to immerse in the first part of the book and backpack into the wilderness.
I am so glad I got to read this. It is like two novels in one. You get the wilderness adventure and then a science fiction novel. I loved the characters so the switch was easy, I still wanted to know what happened so even though there was a bit of a bump from nature to sterile futurism, the story continued. In fact, for this sci-fi fan it got even better. I would have been happy with either part of the story alone. Together it makes quite a story!
The sad part? The story ended. Is there a chance of a part two? I can see so much that wants to happen. But I wasn't left on a cliff. Those kinds of endings make me so angry. This just leaves you wondering. It will stick with me for a long time. The science is within the grasp of scientists so some part if not all could happen. Will it be used for good or ill? I may have to immerse in the first part of the book and backpack into the wilderness.
June 27, 2011
This story is an adventure/mystery/suspense/romance all rolled into one great read. The characters are well developed. I immediately liked Delila (Del) and understood her frustration of needing to find her father. As for Jake, I loved him. TJ, what can I say, he's the likable guy that's also a jerk at times. When the river adventure took a sharp u-turn, something I hadn't expected, the story had me hooked. While I was reading the last few pages on my kindle, my husband, who was fishing at the time, said it was time to go. "What? You're kidding, right?" As soon as we got home I finished the book.
For me, the first few pages were somewhat confusing, but the story soon fell into place. At the end, I was left with a few unanswered questions, but nothing to impair my enjoyment. This story is ripe for a sequel...please write a sequel!
For me, the first few pages were somewhat confusing, but the story soon fell into place. At the end, I was left with a few unanswered questions, but nothing to impair my enjoyment. This story is ripe for a sequel...please write a sequel!
April 25, 2011
A hard tale to place in a genre. Science fiction comes closest, but at first I thought it was a romance with medical thriller trappings as heroine Del Hawthorne tries to understand her father's disappearance and what it has to do with the genetics lab where he worked. Then it seemed to be a Clive Cussler style tale of hidden treasure, as a coded notebook leads Del and a group of friends to take to canoes on the Nahanni River of the title- but still with the traits of a romance prominent. Eventually it became something else entirely, something very strange and quite endearing. It's all a little mad, in a good way. The dialogue is a little flat in some places and characterisation can be a bit off, but it was never enough to drag me out of the story.
July 22, 2010
Best Book I've Read in Years!
This is one of the best books I've read in years. If you like thrills, science, mystery, history and great character development (and who doesn't!) - this book is for you.
I enjoy reading books that are based on actual facts (historic or scientific) with fully developed fictional characters, some science fiction and great suspense. I like to learn something while enjoying a thrill ride.
If you like Michael Chrichton, you will enjoy this book.
I've now read all of Cheryl Kaye Tardif's books and have enjoyed them all.
Read her books now so you can tell your friends that you "discovered" her before the world did (and they will)!
This is one of the best books I've read in years. If you like thrills, science, mystery, history and great character development (and who doesn't!) - this book is for you.
I enjoy reading books that are based on actual facts (historic or scientific) with fully developed fictional characters, some science fiction and great suspense. I like to learn something while enjoying a thrill ride.
If you like Michael Chrichton, you will enjoy this book.
I've now read all of Cheryl Kaye Tardif's books and have enjoyed them all.
Read her books now so you can tell your friends that you "discovered" her before the world did (and they will)!
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