Diane Setterfield, Once Upon a River

About: A large cast of characters live along the Thames in a seemingly timeless world where storytelling is a communal pastime. The apparently miraculous rescue of a girl from drowning at the book’s beginning inspires the characters’ imaginations and, like the Thames itself, binds their stories together.

Verdict: A beautifully written book with memorable characters and a very strong sense of place. The Thames and the Swan, the inn in which much of the action takes place, are integral to the story. It’s also very long, and I found my interest flagging in the last third.

Publication: 2018 · 480 pages
Rating: 4 stars