The Spirit of the River

Diane McCarthy

We love this plot—and character—driven novel here at Bored Feet Press, where it has recently been keeping us reading late into the night. The foothills and rivers of California's Sierra Nevada are the backdrop for this suspenseful novel. The novel unfolds as a compelling legal drama, but at its core is a love story full of passion and grace.

This is the first novel from new author Diane McCarthy, who has drawn upon her work as a legal researcher to write court scenes from the standpoint of a person accused of a crime — powerful scenes which are all too frightiningly real. To write the river sequences, McCarthy attended whitewater boot camp, an experience which gave her a love of California's rivers and which she shares with the readers of her book. The riveting story also has themes of small-town law enforcement and courts, environmental issues, and rich versus poor.

This breakout novel, rich in beauty and suspense, will capture readers hearts and hold their interest until its shocking conclusion.

"A lawyer has a spiritual awakening, becomes a river guide and falls in love with a woman who is accused of murdering her mother."
- The Sacramento Bee

"The Spirit of the River is solid and riveting reading."
—Midwest Book Review

245 pages, 5 1/4" x 8", black & white cover, Published by Cloudland Books, 2008. ISBN 978-0-9816130-1-7. trade paper

$13.95