The River King
A New York Times and National Bestseller
An independent feature film
For more than a century, the small town of Haddan, Massachusetts, has been divided, as if by a line drawn down the center of Main Street, separating those born and bred in the village from those who attend the prestigious Haddan School. But one October night, after an inexplicable death, the two words collide and the town’s divided history is revealed in all its complexity. The lives of everyone involved are unraveled: from Carlin Leander, the fifteen-year-old who is as loyal as she is proud, to Betsy Chase, a woman running from her own destiny; from August Pierce, a boy who unexpectedly finds courage in his darkest hour, to Abel Grey, the police officer who refuses to let unspeakable actions – both past and present – slide by without notice. A wondrous tale of innocence and evil, and of the secrets we keep.
Praise
“Reading her book is like having a dream that haunts even after we awaken.”
—The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
“… As ever, Hoffman mixes myth, magic, and reality, addressing issues of town and gown, enchanting her readers with a many-layered morality tale and proving herself once again an inventive author with a distinctive touch.”
—Publishers Weekly starred review
“The River King is proof that (Alice Hoffman) just gets better and better.”
—The London Times