Deep Like the River

Waggoner (The Way of All Flesh) crafts a disturbing picture of a woman haunted by guilt in this taut novella. Alie Jordan is invited by her sister, Carin, to join a canoe trip in southern Ohio on what would have been the first birthday of Alie's dead daughter, Marie. From the opening page, it's clear that the outing won't be the relaxing break from the day's pain that Carin intended. As the siblings paddle down the river, Alie hears a baby's cry. Upon investigating, she finds an abandoned female infant and hears an alarming creaking and metallic sound along the river banks. When they find no sign of the parents, the sisters take the infant with them to find help. Along the way, they encounter a series of horrifying creatures, and the truth about Marie's death is revealed. Waggoner's evocative prose and subtle revelations provide genuine chills. (June)