Those Across the River

By: Christopher Buehlman

Narrated by: Mark Bramhall

Length: 9 hrs and 6 mins

Publisher's summary

Failed academic Frank Nichols and his wife, Eudora, have arrived in the sleepy Georgia town of Whitbrow, where Frank hopes to write a history of his family's old estate - the Savoyard Plantation - and the horrors that occurred there. At first, the quaint, rural ways of their new neighbors seem to be everything they wanted. But there is an unspoken dread that the townsfolk have lived with for generations. A presence that demands sacrifice. It comes from the shadowy woods across the river, where the ruins of Savoyard still stand. Where a longstanding debt of blood has never been forgotten. A debt that has been waiting patiently for Frank Nichols' homecoming...

©2011 Christopher Buehlman (P)2011 Penguin

Critic reviews

“One of the best first novels I’ve ever read.” (Charlaine Harris, number one New York Times best-selling author)

“An unsettling brew of growing menace spiked with flashes of genuine terror - do not miss this chilling debut. Christopher Buehlman is a writer to watch. I look forward to hearing from him again. And soon.” (F. Paul Wilson, New York Times best-selling author of Sibs)

“Lures you into a different era, seduces you with eloquent prose and sensual period details, then clamps down on your jugular.... An outstanding debut.” (Hank Schwaeble, Bram Stoker Award-winning author of Diabolical)

Good

Good listen..Horror & History. The latter being a little heavier. A few war stories, slight sex descriptions, decent gore, southern bumpkins & werewolves.

It’s a banger

Both the story and narration are awesome. Southern gothic horror at its best. Buehlman at his best. Bramhall marks the time with great accents.

Technical Difficulties, but Worth Sticking With It

This audibook was not of the quality I have come to expect from Audible. There were frequent hiccups - like a CD skipping. The story got started slowly, but by the time I got to the second half of the book, I was glad I stuck with it.

Gorgeous Prose, Flawed Story

Buehlman's prose is a pleasure to listen to. His descriptive writing is rich and takes you there. His characters are complex and human and deeply engaging. Even his minor characters are fresh and vivid. The setting is eerie, the premise is intriguing. We are all set up for a wonderful walk through the strange, strange south. Then, about two thirds of the way through the book, I get the sense that that someone told the author to quit pissing around and being literary and write a novel just like other horror novels.

Suddenly, many of the characters develop convenient but unconvincing paralysis. The "ones across the river" are disappointingly revealed to be... well, let's just say they're a lot less interesting and more predictable than they could have been.

This is not a bad horror book. But it could have been an outstanding piece of writing and a better horror story. The initial development of delightful creeping dread reveals itself to be less than the potential of the story promised.

All this said, I'm only so critical because for the first three quarters, it's just brilliant.

Took me by surprise

If you could sum up Those Across the River in three words, what would they be?

Surprising, entertaining, interesting.

Who was your favorite character and why?

NA

Have you listened to any of Mark Bramhall’s other performances before? How does this one compare?

Have not listened to any other

Was this a book you wanted to listen to all in one sitting?

Not really

Any additional comments?

I really had no idea what was 'across the river' until midbook. It was surprising and not the type of book I would have chosen but I really enjoyed it and it kept me spellbound to find out the end.

good book

very good book!!! would highly recommend!! not a cliffhanger but kept me listening good book

I marathoned this one.

This is the second book by Buehlman that I've purchased and I'm hooked. I couldn't stop listening. He doesn't just tell a story, he builds a world and one you're hesitant to leave.

Skips a word here and there but worth it.

Fix the technical glitches. The story and the narration are fantastic. I got this book on recommendation without knowing what it was a about... totally worth it!!!

LOVED IT

This was a brilliant take on an old tale! I highly recommended it! You will not be disappointed by any means.

Horrifying

Sending a shout-out to all the men in stories who don't listen to women. Without them, we'd have no horror novels