River Rising

by Jessica North

A LEGACY OF SHAME AND DEADLY PERIL
Rochelle Dumont was returning to the home she had never known--the great family estate of River Rising, looming high, lonely, and forbidding above the swirling, plunging waters of the St. Lawrence.

Even before she arrived to be greeted by the warm embrace of her aged great-aunt and the icy hostility of the other household members, Rochelle sensed the danger of this place where her mother had desperately fled.

But already Rochelle had come too far and as yet knew too little to turn back. And all too soon it would be too late to escape the unspeakable horror--as guilt from beyond the grave and passion outside all conventions conspired to possess and destroy her...

Genres: Gothic

232 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 1975

Reviews

[William · Rating 4 out of 5]

After the death of her mother, who was estranged from her Quebeçois family, Rochelle Dumont visits her ancestral home on the St. Lawrence River and discovers that, of course, secrets from the past can be deadly. Like North's earlier "The High Valley," the novel takes advantage of its unusual setting and also features an appealing heroine who is no shrinking violet. After a slow first chapter, the novel is off and running. For the most part, the characters are well-drawn, with one or two exceptions who function more as distractions than vital plot movers. Like "The High Valley," North teases the action almost to the very last page. A solid, enjoyable late 1970s Gothic.

[Angela Randall]

We own this as part of an anthology, Gothic Treasure Trove:

[Emily · Rating 3 out of 5]

The romance was super predictable and bland--I didn't feel that invested in the characters--but the mystery part of the story was fun, along with all the standard Gothic elements, and there was an underlying message about redemption that I liked.

[Karen · Rating 4 out of 5]

Good, old romantic fiction.

[Debbie · Rating 3 out of 5]

Gothic romance/mysery, not very suspenseful, a little slow in parts but overall an enjoyable read.