Customer Reviews

The River

5 star:		(13)
4 star:		(9)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(1)

 

 

Before deciding to purchase The River, I read the author's blog. At first I thought this book was a true story because she wrote the blog synopsis in first person, but at the end she admitted this really didn't happen to her; it was simply a clever lure to garner more interest.

And it worked for me! Author Cheryl Kaye Tardif hooked me from the first sentence. I couldn't wait to read it. Having already read and raved over her later release, Whale Song: A Novel, I knew I would like The River, but didn't think anything could come up to Whale.

How wrong I was! This book is outstanding, too, and I'm learning that all of this author's works are brilliant.

The superb writing in The River flowed along smoothly, as naturally as the Mississippi River; then as the story progressed it picked up speed and energy like the turbulent white-water of the Colorado. All of that with some of the exotic features brought to mind by the mighty, mysterious Amazon River. Wow--what a book!

The story opens seven years after Professor of Anthropology Del Hawthorne learns of her father's disappearance and presumed death. Del is stunned when one of the men who went with him on a mysterious mission near Canada's legendary Nahanni River, stumbles into her University office. He's half-dead, but before passing out he manages to give her a coded journal and inform her that her father is still alive.

Even though Del is in remission from multiple sclerosis, she is determined to venture into the rugged territories surrounding the dangerous Nahanni River to find the truth and bring her father and any other survivors home. Along with a sturdy, hand-selected group of brainy men and women, they set off on the adventure of their lives--an adventure which some won't survive.

There are thrills aplenty in this novel: headless corpses on the banks of the Nahanni, hi-tech machinery, underground labs, secret caves, and time-travel into the near future. How does all that affect our brave adventurers? And who is trying to sabotage their rescue efforts? Could there be a spy in their midst? What happens to Del when someone steals her MS medication? What does the "fountain of youth" have to do with her father and his research? Will she find him alive? And how does the year 2031 fit into the scheme of things?

And YES, dear reader, there's a big romance! But is Jake to be trusted? Will they find true love, or is he working with the evil "Director," using Del for his own selfish purposes?

In order to give nothing of the plot away, I always advise you to RFY (and by now you should know that means Read For Yourself). I promise it will be an outstanding reading adventure.

Author Cheryl Kaye Tardif is a true wordsmith, writing fluently while making it seem easy. Her plot is well-paced, with characters so believable the reader cares what happens to them, and above all, her imagination soars. This is a true high-concept story.

I invite you to plunge into this intriguing story ... head-first or feet-first, it doesn't matter. You're in for an absorbing adventure--with more twists and turns than the Nahanni River itself--and a surprising, yet satisfying ending that leaves you gasping for more.

Reviewed by Betty Dravis, 2008
Millennium Babe: The Prophecy

Mix some Michael Crichton with a touch of Dean Koontz, add a generous dash of sci-fi and then distill the resulting mixture until all you have left is the good stuff. That, in a nutshell, is "The River".

The Nahanni River holds many secrets, but the headless bodies that occasionally appear on the shores and the people who vanish without a trace certainly weren't telling any tales. Del Hawthorne's father is part of a group that mysteriously goes missing, but when one of his supposedly departed friends returns with the news that her father is still alive, Del sets off on the adventure of her life, against all odds, to discover the truth. Her companions are an intriguingly mixed bunch of brains, brawn and raw animal magnetism, and it's not only the river that provides the challenges up ahead.

Thanks to a notebook with coded messages and a cryptic map, they find the secret of the river, but only at great personal cost. What transpires next is a swift and horrific descent into the lowest depths of humanity, the result of pure unadulterated greed and selfishness, combined with a peek into the fascinating world of science and discovery.

Cheryl Kaye Tardif manages to make her stories exciting and thought-provoking without including pages and pages of filler material, making her books ideal traveling and beach companions. Her book Whale Song is also a definite must-read.



Amanda Richards, August 20, 2007

Del Hawthorne's dad had been dead these past 7 years. Del believed it. Everyone did! They'd even had a funeral. But when her father's closest friend unexpectedly shows up in her office, and has an incredible tale to tell, Del now knew her father was alive after all! A motley crew: Del's former lover; a handsome doctor and his assistant; Del's assistant; a cryptographer and a computer programmer; their Native guide, and of course, Del herself, travel to the Nahanni River in Canada's Northwest Territories to find her father. From the moment they first arrive at the Nahanni, to the final page, the book is a roller coaster ride, building momentum and going faster and faster. Then there's a loop-de-loop and you're sure the roller coaster has derailed. Nope. Within just a few pages it's back on track, and you're in for an even wilder and more thrilling ride! A definite "must read" from Cheryl Kaye Tardif!

Combining the current fascination with eternal youth and many scientists' passionate search for an end to aging and disease, Cheryl Kaye Tardif has penned a killer of a thriller titled "The River." Tardif's novel offers us a glimpse into a future that is all too believable: a future where no cost is too high to attain eternal youth. Set aside your chores for the day, grab a container of your favorite brew and settle in for a wild and captivating ride on "The River."
Del Hawthorne had grieved seven years for her dead father, when Schroeder, a friend who disappeared with him, burst into Del's classroom. "Your father is alive." He murmurs, gives her a journal, and collapses. The adventure that follows, as Del gathers volunteers to accompany her in the search for her father, will rivet you to this action packed narrative.
Cheryl Kaye Tardif, author of "Whale Song" and "Divine Intervention," has presented us with a gritty, perfect-for-our-times, bestseller-quality novel. "The River" presents insight into the potential problems that could arise with unscrupulous gleaning of living cells. THE RIVER is a great narrative that I plan to pass forward to my reading friends. Congratulations, Cheryl, on a marvelous tale. Beverly J Scott/Author of Jena's Choice, Ruth Fever and Righteous Revenge
http://www.beverlyjscott.com

The River
Cheryl Kaye Tardif
Trafford Publishing 2005
6E - 2333 Government Street
Victoria, BC, Canada V8T 4P4
http://www.trafford.com/
toll-free 1-888-232-4444
phone 250-383-6864 fax 250-383-6804
www.cherylktardif.com
ISBN # 1-4120-6229-2
Reviewed by Christina Francine
CFrancine@mail2world.com

Cheryl Kaye Tardif skillfully balances scientific intrigue, and the human desire to retain a youthful body, with tantalizing sexual tension, and vivid characterizations in this engrossing romantic thriller.

The plot steps beyond reality, but by how much? Science grows in its knowledge more every day. One thing is for sure, and history shows it to be true, greed and absolute power taint fabulous discoveries and inventions.

Tough and tender Professor Delia Hawthorne aches for her father, and she wouldn't admit it, but also a decent relationship. Is her father really alive or is something unethical going on? She remembered what the disturbing man at the doorway of her classroom said. The elderly man wore a grimy suede jacket, needed a haircut and a shampoo, and his clothes were torn and worn, but his eyes seemed vaguely familiar.

"They're going to kill him Delly. Find the river and stop the Director before he destroys humanity. It's all in the book," the old man said.

Del examined the leather-bound book later, along with a strange symbol, the notes inside, and what appeared to be a code.

For seven years she'd believed her father dead. There was even a funeral. He'd gone on an excursion down the Nahanni River in the Northwest Territories, and came up missing. If he lived, she'd find him, but first, Del decided to visit the company her father had worked for, Bio-Tec Canada.

Award-winning Cheryl Kaye Tordif is a Canadian mystery author who's appeared on television and radio. She's been told that she has the highest, most consistent sales during a book signing in Edmonton.

Other books include:
- `Divine Intervention'
- `Whale Song'

Exciting and vivid. Tardif's latest novel sweeps readers along into uncharted, wild Canadian territory. A thrilling adventure where science sniffs harder, desperate to find the fountain-of-youth.

This is one of the best books I've read in years. If you like thrills, science, mystery, history and great character development (and who doesn't!) - this book is for you.
I enjoy reading books that are based on actual facts (historic or scientific) with fully developed fictional characters, some science fiction and great suspense. I like to learn something while enjoying a thrill ride.
If you like Michael Chrichton, you will enjoy this book.
I've now read all of Cheryl Kaye Tardif's books and have enjoyed them all.
Read her books now so you can tell your friends that you "discovered" her before the world did (and they will)!

The River is Tardif's most exciting novel yet! Full of unpredictable twists and lurching turns, The River is a non-stop adventure into Canada's mysterious north. When Del Hawthorne is suddenly exposed to the idea that her father did not die seven years earlier, she decides to travel the route that supposedly killed him in search of answers. With a rather motley group, Del discovers much more than she intends to and is soon in way over her head. The story combines technological wizardry, a delectable taste of Canadian nature, and Tardif's patented ability for incredible storytelling. The River is sure to please.

I think I came across this author on someone else's blog. That's where I find a lot of indie authors. I am SO glad I found Ms. Tardif. Oh, man, I loved this book so much! There was a lot of suspense and adventure. And some romance thrown in, too, but that wasn't the main focus. The author showed a lot of imagination in this book, and it was also well written.

There were two things I didn't like. The African American character kept calling everyone "dawg". This was just a personal thing; if this is how she wanted the character, that's her choice. It just got a little old.

The second thing is that I hated the ending. I don't want to drop a spoiler here, so I'll just say I wanted to find out if she finds the other character. So I was unsatisfied. I would love to see a sequel here.

Even with the two things I didn't like, this was still a 5 star novel in my opinion. Good job!

Anthropologist and professor, Del Hawthorne, is on a mission. It begins the moment, an ill and aged Professor Schroeder - a man she believed had died with her father seven years earlier - stumbles into her classroom to tell Del that her father is alive, but about to be killed by someone bent on destroying humanity. To find her father, Del must reach the Nahanni River where he and Schroeder had originally disappeared. Gathering a small team of people, Del begins a risky, unusual adventure, where she discovers a secret underground river, and far more trouble than she bargained for.

Cheryl Kaye Tardif's cross-genre novel, THE RIVER is an intriguing blend of mystery, action-adventure, thriller, and science fiction. Vivid descriptions, realistic dialogue, and persistent tension kept me turning the pages to find out if Del and her friends survive the dangers not only of the Nahanni River, but of the evil man has created. The novel's theme is a dark reminder that there are still people out there who want power over life and death, to dominate others, and who believe that science and technology will accomplish this mission.

My only quibble is a couple of unanswered questions at the end that I wish had been answered. Still, if you're looking for an entertaining read, then THE RIVER is a great choice.

When Dr. Lawrence Hawthorne and three of his companions disappear during a trip along the Nahanni River in the Canadian wilderness, everyone presumes that he is dead. Then, seven years after his disappearence one of the party shows up at the campus where Hawthorne's daughter, Delia is a researcher. The man is barely recognizeable and he is-incredibly-aging visibly as she watches him. More astonishingly, he has news: Delia's father is alive!
Delia gathers a rescue party that heads out in search of her dad. But along the Nahanni River, she discovers a secret with hellish and utopian implications.

The River is a thriller. It's also pleasantly sexy and a fast-paced read. What sets it apart is the skill with which Tardif mines the rich mythological lode that connects us to the history of humankind's attempts to alter its fundamental nature. The reader is in contact with Prometheus and Proust, Nietzsche and the architects of Babel. The horror is fundamental because the impulse that she explores is so frighteningly universal.