Rosamunde Bott’s Dark River is a compelling tale that keeps the reader interested from start to finish. It is a novel of self-acceptance and discovery, tied together by the river Thames.
Julia Bates is the main character of Dark River, and the narrator of the novel. She is unhappy in her current life. Her dream of being an illustrator was squashed by her parents for being impractical, and her career as a secretary is not fulfilling.
She meets a mysterious stranger, Ewen, on the Waterloo Bridge. He offers her a chance to play a quest-based game. Julia is intrigued and agrees.
The quest begins with a series of videos about past events in London. The videos reach back as far as the Stone Age, and are eventually replaced by time travel. As the novel unfolds, Julia learns about the past events that helped shape the present.
Each quest also forces Julia out of her comfort zone. She learns more about herself and the future that she wants, while creating new bonds with some of the people around her.
Julia is a compelling character. Anyone who has found themselves in a rut, realizing that they are unhappy in their current lives but unsure how to make a change, will see themselves in Julia’s struggle. Her journey of self-discovery is compelling, and may spark inspiration in readers.
The supporting characters are interesting, especially Alex and Suzie. They are each on their own journey, and these run parallel to Julia’s. Ewen is also a fascinating character, and it was enjoyable figuring out who he really was.
The novel was able to talk about environmental issues in an interesting and compelling way. It shows the impact that people have on their environment, and the difference that one person can make. This aspect did not take away from Julia’s journey, but complemented it well.
Dark River travels through time in an interesting way, and the attention to historical detail is impressive. There is obviously some poetic license taken, but nothing feels out of place. It flows together well, and the use of the river to tie everything together was very clever.
If you enjoy historical fiction, time travel stories, or journeys of self-discovery. Dark River is a novel that is worth your time. It is a compelling story with a relatable main character learning about London’s past and herself, all tied together by the River Thames.
I received a copy of this book from Reedsy Discovery
I would give this book 5 out of 5 river boats.
Snarky Hope 