Those Across the River

When Frank Nichols and his wife Dora move into his aunt’s house in rural Whitbrow, Georgia, they’re eager for a fresh start. Frank plans to write a book about the nearby Savoyard Plantation, which belonged to his great-grandfather, and Dora will teach at the local school. They quickly settle into the rhythm of small town life and find the people to be friendly and welcoming, and in particular, Frank befriends the local eccentric (and taxidermist), a man named Martin Cranmer, who sees in Frank a fellow academic mind and spirit. Frank knows he must begin writing his novel, but first he needs to find a guide willing to take him across the river to comb the woods for the remains of his great-grandfather’s plantation. This isn’t going to be easy, because Whitbrow’s citizenry is wary of those woods, and Frank thinks he understands why. They’re overgrown, very thick, and quite intimidating, but really, it’s the history of the plantation that gives them their undeniable menace. His great-grandfather was a slave-owner of the cruelest sort and his depravity has not been forgotten. So, Frank must make the journey himself, and it’s on this first excursion that Frank discovers all may not be well in Whitbrow.Those Across the River takes place in the 30s, about 17 years since the end of WWI, and Frank, in fact, is a veteran that is still haunted by the war and the death of his best friend, a haunting which manifests itself in vivid, terrible dreams. These dreams soon take a backseat, however, to the terror that Frank and Dora find themselves embroiled in after a very fateful decision is made to do away with a long held tradition in Whitbrow. I’m being vague because I really don’t want to spoil the hair raising fun of realizing exactly what it is that lurks in those dark woods, and the ties that bind it to Savoyard Plantation.Those Across the River is Christopher Buehlman’s first novel, but you’d never know it. It has an undeniable mid twentieth century literary sensibility that only serves to highlight the visceral horror that lurks alongside this seemingly bucolic southern town. Speaking of southern, Buehlman gets the rural, post-Depression setting exactly right, and provides an almost dreamlike intro to a decidedly gut-punching finale.I loved this book. It’s everything I want in horror and while he explores some hard to read stuff, like the treatment of slaves at the hand of Frank’s grandfather, it’s not gratuitous, rather it’s an exploration of the power of cruelty and its ability to twist something into the foulest sort of evil. One particularly harrowing scene is actually in a convalescent home where Frank interviews a few people who were privy to his great-grandfather’s dark deeds. Buehlman knows how to build menace like a pro, and this book has some of the creepiest scenes I’ve ever read. If you’re a reader of horror and of the things that go bump, you’ll probably start to suspect what lurks across the river, but it doesn’t make the reveal any less horrifying, or ultimately, tragic. I finished this one in one sitting and moved right along to The Necromancer’s House, kicking myself the whole time about the fact that these books have been on my shelf for ages and I’m just now getting around to them. Shame on me. Don’t miss this one.

This is pretty solid. A fun mix of new horror and old horror. Old horror in that it has that it has some appropriate action and a town full of lively characters; new horror in that each townsfolk doesn’t have his/her own narrative bloating the book an extra 200 pages (which I like). But had this been written in the 80s it would have ended much more satisfactorily. But new horror is more pessimistic, more nihilistic, more “good art reflects suffering” kind of thing. So if you love new horror, then you’ll likely have a five star read here. But for me, I wanted a bit more depth and backstory. And a more enjoyable resolution. But still, a very good book.

Christopher Buehlman's masterful first novel is a moody and truly frightening journey into the deep south of the 1930's. Evoking Faulkner and Eudora Welty with his well hewn prose, he crafts a tale both moody and horrific. Frank Nichols is a philandering professor, escaping the failure of his academic career by moving from the north with his lover to an inherited ancestral home in the very isolated town of Whitbrow, Georgia. Frank inherited this house but was told by his dying aunt to NOT move there, just to sell it and to stay up north and enjoy the proceeds of the sale.Moving to Whitbrow was not a good idea for Frank, as he would discover to his misery. The results of his decision take some time to come to fruition, but in the end, they are disastrous for him and those he cares for. Buehlman takes his time building up to the grand reveal of just exactly why Frank should not have come home to Whitbrow, but when he does get there, it is very frightening. I was reading this late at night, alone, and had to put the book down and resume in the daytime.Well written, atmospheric and frightening, this book is all the more astonishing for being a first novel. The prose is assured and seems carefully chosen to evoke the mood and speech of the era and the location.Speaking as a southerner, this is very much appreciated.A terrific first novel. I can't wait until his second one arrives.

I didn't know much about this book before reading it. Just saw it was highly rated and seemed to be an interesting southern gothic type horror novel. I don't know what I was expecting, maybe a bit of Robert McCammon tossed with Michael McDowell? The reviews kept mentioning F Scott Fitzgerald for some reason so I was afraid that it might be McCammon, McDowell put into a cocktail shaker with a shot of boredom. But I was intrigued enough to buy it and give it a read. Here is this book in a nutshell... 1. Good writing - this author is talented- from his word choice to his descriptions to his creative observations. So if you'll enjoy anything so long as there is good writing, I would recommend this without hesitation. 2. annoying characters - at least the main ones: pompous Frank Nichols and his wife, Eudora (Dora). Frank's backstory is all over the place , scholar, teacher, soldier, writer etc. Dora is two dimensional, she is his woman and she is attractive and Dora is pretty much all over Frank. The townspeople are mostly vile and are moreover forgettable except for a taxidermist who lives by the river, named Martin Cranmer. I wish he were the main character. 3. I don't want to spoil the book but the horror doesn't really start until the last third of the book and it too is a bit all over the place and ends abruptly. I don't want to criticize any of it directly because doing so would reveal too many plot elements and I leave it to the reader to see if they share in my opinion. Overall, not sure what to say. I do like this writer though and he is capable of great things but this one to me is 3/5.

I love Buehlman's writing style and he writes a damn fine yarn. It's worthy of your time and attention. Enjoy!

An excellent example of how the human condition can change over time, morphing into something that few can understand; full of emotions, it is a work that transcends the human capacity to remain stable while faced with the consequences of such mutability. Full of themes concerning love and the fragile nature of the human ego and its capacity to live with relational metamorphosis, it is told in a simple yet profound and thrilling sense.

This is the second book I have read of Buehlmans', (the first being Between two Fires) and both are completely different but brilliant.This story was really good and kept you intrigued, going off in a completely different direction than I expected.Beautifully written, very vivid descriptions and characters you cared about.And most importantly, a satisfying ending.There is horror in this book (mild in my opinion) and I think it would make a brilliant film or limited series.Do give it a go!

This author always tells a great story thatbwraps you up and pulls you in. I read this after reading the fantasy book The Black Tongued thief. Those Across the River is not in a fantasy world but it is a between wars book that had some excellent supernatural elements. A fantastic book with excellent ending.

Frank Nichols übersiedelt Anfang der 30er Jahre nach Georgia in die kleine Heimatstadt seiner Mutter. Er arbeitet an einem Roman über seinen Großvater, der in der Gegend als grausamer Plantagenbesitzer in Erinnerung geblieben ist. Frank beginnt mit seinen Recherchen, stößt aber schon bald auf erste Schwierigkeiten. Die verlassene Plantage seines Großvaters liegt inmitten eines verrufenen Waldes, der von den Einheimischen strikt gemieden wird. Frank schießt alle Warnungen in den Wind und macht sich zu einer ersten Expedition auf, in deren Verlauf er schnell feststellt, dass tatsächlich etwas Bedrohliches im Wald lauert.Frank, der Ich-Erzähler von THOSE ACROSS THE RIVER, ist eine sehr sympathische Hauptfigur. Er ist von seinen Erlebnissen im Ersten Weltkrieg immer noch gezeichnet und hofft zusammen mit seiner Geliebten Eudora in Georgia ein neues Kapitel in seinem Leben aufzuschlagen.Die Nebenfiguren in THOSE ACROSS THE RIVER gefallen mir ebenfalls, besonders Eudora, die eine erfrischende Beziehung zu Frank hat. Auch die Stadtbewohner haben mich überzeugt. Hier hat mir der geheimnisvolle Martin Cranmer am besten gefallen, der mehr über die Vorgänge im Wald zu wissen scheint, als er zugeben will.Die Handlung von THOSE ACROSS THE RIVER hat mir im Großen und Ganzen gut gefallen. Christopher Buehlman schafft eine unheimliche und bedrückende Stimmung und die Bedrohung durch den Wald ist überzeugend dargestellt. Ich muss allerdings sagen, dass mich die Identität der Heimsuchungen aus dem Wald etwas enttäuscht hat, und auch das Ende des Romans hat sich für mich etwas überstürzt angefühlt, aber insgesamt bin ich durchaus zufrieden.THOSE ACROSS THE RIVER ist stimmungsvoller Horror der alten Schule. Christopher Buehlman erfindet hier das Rad nicht neu, aber er kann unterhalten. Empfehlenswert!

The characters, the plot, the authors' decision to use slavery as a backdrop, misogynistic, animalistic motifs, it's not good. At all.