What the River Keeps

De: Cheryl Grey Bostrom

Narrado por: Caroline Hewitt

In the beautiful Pacific Northwest, a young woman’s discovery of her hidden past illuminates her present in this new novel from the award-winning author of Sugar Birds, “an engrossing tale” (Kirkus Reviews), and Leaning on Air, “an exquisitely nuanced love story” (BookTrib).

Hildy Nybo is a successful biologist, her study of the Pacific Northwest’s wild fish both a passion and a career. But behind her professional brilliance, Hildy’s reclusive private life reflects a childhood fraught with uncertainty. Despite her father’s love and her mother’s sympathy, she grew up constantly losing even her most cherished belongings, unable to recall where she misplaced them. Haunted by the confusion of those early years, she now records her life in detailed diaries and clings tightly to memory-prompting keepsakes.

Then her mother’s health fails, and Hildy accepts a job near her childhood home, joining a team of scientists who will help restore her beloved Elwha River after the demolition of two century-old dams. There Hildy settles into one of the cabins on her family’s rustic resort―a place she both loves and dreads, for reasons she can’t fully explain.

When local artist Miranda Rimmer rents an adjacent cabin for her pottery studio, Hildy shrinks from such a close neighbor. But then Miranda’s carpenter brother, Luke, shows up to help with construction and captures Hildy’s attention. Now a few years beyond a tragedy that brought him to his knees, Luke recognizes a kindred soul in Hildy, and they build a relationship that dismantles the walls Hildy’s built to keep people out. As troubling pieces of the past surface, Hildy dares to wonder if she can banish the shadows that have burdened her and follow her river’s course to freedom.

• A compelling story of forgiveness, redemption, and overcoming painful secrets that explores the beauty of the natural world
• A poignant and emotive contemporary novel perfect for fans of Delia Owens and William Kent Krueger
• Includes discussion questions for book clubs

©2025 Cheryl Grey Bostrom (P)2025 Tyndale Fiction

Best of the Well-Spun Books!

Vividly written scenes keep me gulping this incredible story! Someone bring this to theaters, will you? Bostrom's barn dance scene is only one of the author's heart-throbbing moments, as is Hildy's emotional under currents, her professional observations while swimming with trout. I could feel the cool river surrounding me, see particles in the aqua, and be inside Hildy's mind all at once while patches of sunlight accompanied her. The book is beautiful. Still, I didn't expect my elasticity of baited breath to stretch across seven hours without a snag. What the River Keeps hooked and carried my sinker deep into this river of psychological thrill snagging mysteries from when I opened Audible this morning through the tangled afternoon relationships and finally, to the zipped up epilogue and historical note this evening without a break.
Bostrom"s elegant command of language evokes another story that has impressed me as being deeply humane. Once again, I wasn't disappointed.
Her psychological wheels wander through tantilizing and educational landscapes. In the only way a thriller laced with love could do.
Deeply satisfying. Highest recommendation!

Another winner for favorite author!

Beautifully drawn characters, the vision of the Pacific Northwest that amazes, and heart and spirit that touches me deeply. All will sustain you through this incredible story. A MUST READ!!!!

Powerful & profound story

A compelling story of love and restoration. I practically listened nonstop for two days. This certainly has to be Bostrom's best book yet.