I was attracted to something that I read about this book which describes an inn where people came to tell their stories. The thought of that reminded me of Canterbury Tales, read many, many years ago in college - about travelers telling their stories. There are many stories here to be told and I was drawn in from the beginning by
the descriptive writing of the River Thames, the characters. I was on the river, at the inn and in the lives of this cast of characters. I always hesitate to use the word atmospheric because it’s used so often, but in this case it’s the best word I can come up with to describe the feel of this novel.

Something happens at the inn known for story telling, the Swann at Radcot when an injured man and a little girl appearing to be dead show up. Shortly after, Rita, the nurse who could easily be a doctor, is examining the little girl and then she’s not really dead anymore. This is not just the story of the girl, who mesmerizes anyone who sees her. While she is an attraction to many people, she also represents hope to others who have lost a little girl, wanting her to be theirs. Is she the Vaughn’s missing daughter Amelia or is she the Armstrong’s granddaughter Alice or is she Lily White’s little sister Ann who has been missing or will she belong to Rita, who it seems has brought her back to life ? Does she belong to anyone? There is mystery and magical realism and the fairy tale like quality of the girl was reminiscent for me of The Snow Child. I needed to be patient with this one because I felt it was slow at times and maybe a little long. Having said that, the writing is lovely and there are a number of characters to connect with. I loved the ending.

This ARC was provided by the publisher via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.

I’m quite embarrassed by the amount of months (yes, months) it took me to get through this book. This plot moves glacially slow and it was difficult to make it through an entire chapter without falling asleep. The story centers around a small village on a river with interconnected stories and a history of storytelling. One night a little girl is rescued from the river and while thought dead, turns out to be alive. And so begins the mystery of who is she, accompanied by the same damn story told over and over again by the townspeople. I just had no patience for any of this.

My TLDR would be that Once Upon a River has lived up to the expectations that Setterfield set with The Thirteenth Tale. The arresting events that set the story in motion, a little girl thought dead that comes to life, completely grabbed me. And the page turning plot, plus magical, atmospheric writing kept me hooked until the satisfying conclusion.
"As is well-known, when the moon hours lengthen, human beings come adrift from the regularity of their mechanical clocks. They nod at noon, dream in waking hours, open their eyes wide to the pitch-black night. It is a time of magic."
Once the story of the girl gets around, at least three parties have a legitimate claim to her: a couple who's daughter was kidnapped years before, a father whose wife drowned herself and possibly their daughter, and a simple-minded girl with a long lost sister. Each of these families is drawn in rich detail, and the threads of how they intersect is masterfully plotted. It becomes increasingly evident that there is more than one mystery contained within the pages. One is left guessing for much of the book as to the girl's true identity, and the family secrets of each character. Setterfield keeps the idea of magic open while quietly laying the groundwork for both an engaging romance and a sinister denouement.
A few times I felt as if the pace lagged a bit in the middle of the book, but overall, I found it a perfect story to snuggle up with and get lost in on a gloomy day. If you are a fan of Kate Morton (intricately plotted and suspenseful), Hannah Kent (richly atmospheric), or Sarah Waters (Gothic and creepy) this novel hits every one of these notes, in addition to nuances of mythology or fairy tales.
Thank you SO MUCH to the folks at Atria Books and NetGalley for the complimentary digital copy in exchange for my honest review!

Once Upon a River is an awesome book that includes legend and knowledge, the occult and mysticism. This was a hard to put down type of book. It's a rollercoaster of emotions and I was so excited to read it. It is very suspenseful, moving you through realms both real and imaginary. This novel has a great premise with very good character development. It grabbed me and held my interest from beginning to end. I love it! I would like to thank Netgalley, the publisher and the author for providing me with a review copy in exchange for my honest and unbiased opinion of this book.

Thank you to NetGalley and Simon & Schuster Publishing for gifting me with this spellbinding ARC. In exchange I offer my unbiased review.

This was such an enchanting tale, it literally swept me away to another era, time and place. I was lost in the world of the Swann Inn and completely captivated by its townsfolk. From the innkeepers to the graveyard workers, from the local nurse to the wealthiest residents, each character came to life and none more so than the little girl found, who does not speak.
On a winter solstice night, a stranger arrives at the Inn near death with an unconscious child in his arms. Who are these people? What happened to them? What is their story? And then slowly and beautifully, Diane Setterfield unravels the many threads that create this magical story.

Highly recommended! It’s a perfect read, especially this time of year. Pick up your copy and get lost in this magical place.

Once Upon a River by Diane Setterfield Book Review
Once Upon a River is much more than your typical historical fiction story; it is a fantastical tale with magic and folklore.  Normally, I do not enjoy anything on the magical side, but this book was beautifully written and I enjoyed it from the very first page.  The book is a long, slow burn, but somehow every word feels necessary.

Storytelling
The book is set in an undetermined time in the past (it felt like a couple of hundred years ago to me), in a fictional town on the River Thames.  The reader is immediately introduced to the town's gathering place, where drinking and revelry and, most importantly, stories are told.  The lore that each character believes is what shapes them, and Setterfield deftly uses these beliefs to set the aura of mystery.

Characters
Once Upon a River is a book rife with characters, and at first, I was not sure I was going to be able to keep up.   But Setterfield is a master of her craft, and a few chapters in the reader feels as if they know everyone, and I never looked back.  Again, what each character believes is what defines them, whether is be mystical, religious, or scientific.

THE VERDICT
Diane Setterfield has set a detailed world in her small town on the River Thames.  Once Upon a River may be the most well-written book I have read this year.  She is an absolutely beautiful story writer, and she broke me out of my usual genre and had me reveling in a mystical tale. Not only am I Really Into Once Upon a River, but you will also find me with my nose is her last novel, The Thirteenth Tale, as I will now read anything Ms. Setterfield writes.

Special thanks to Atria Books for providing our copy in exchange for an honest & fair review.

I received a complimentary ARC copy of Once Upon a River: A Novel by Diane Setterfield from NetGalley and Atria Books in order to read and give an honest review.

…masterfully written and engaging, character-driven story…

A fairytale for adults, “Once Upon A River” by Diane Setterfield captivates you with her unique brand of atmospheric, character-driven storytelling. Hard to categorize, Once Upon a River is a mix of folklore and historical mystery in which Setterfield manages to craft several heart-wrenching tales of death, deceit, and heartbreak.

The story begins at The Swan Inn on the Thames when an injured man stumbles in carrying what everyone believes is a dead child. When a nurse and healer, Rita, is examining the child, she finds that although she had no pulse earlier, she suddenly comes back to life. The child does not speak and no one knows who she is although there are missing children, long missing and presumed dead that have not been seen for years. Three families arrive at the swan with hopes that this child might be their lost baby. The Vaughan’s, whose daughter Amelia, went missing two years prior; Lily White, an emotionally unstable middle-aged woman who believes this girl is her sister Ann; and lastly Robert Armstrong, who believes she is his son Robin’s missing daughter, Alice Armstrong whose mother is rumored to have drowned Alice before taking her own life. Stories are shared and the locals are relentless in their pursuit of spreading their tale of the miracle child. There are so many well written, engaging characters who capture your interest if not your heart, Robert Armstrong being one but Rita is perhaps my favourite character. Strong, compassionate and intelligent Rita plays a detective of sorts determined to find out what happened to the little girl.

Although the story is slow to unfold her well-crafted characters keep the reader’s curiosity piqued. There is focus on the three families enduring heartbreak and elation as well as the dark secrets that come out along the way. It also has it’s mysterious and deceptive characters that will keep you guessing exactly who this little girl is and who was responsible for her near death. We also hear about the mysterious “ferryman” who moves up and down the Thames taking those whose time is up to the other side of the river, definitely playing into the folklore believed by the Inn’s patrons.

If you are interested in a masterfully written and engaging, character-driven story I would definitely recommend Once Upon A River!

Everyone has a story, and the regulars at the ancient The Swan inn on the Thames are no exception. They drink, swap tales, jest, and repeat. But, one night, a haggard man collapses on the threshold, the corpse of a small girl in his arms.

Only, she wakes up.

The questions and, with them, the stories swirl. Who is she? How did she get there? Why do three sets of people separately feel they know her? And do the answers come down to science or magic or something else entirely?

Much of the success of this novel stems from the use of a large cast of characters. The reader’s focus, like the rushing water in the ever-present river, is never in one place for too long. Helena and Anthony Vaughan hope the girl is their daughter, kidnapped two years prior. Robert Armstrong, a Black farmer, assumes the girl is his absent son’s daughter. Lily White, surely in her forties, claims the girl as her sister. Through it all, Nurse Rita Sunday and photographer Henry Daunt, juggle between the factions, investigating and aiding, while their own stories complicate. Each section contains riveting, high-stakes, and sometimes even playful wordcraft and plot-play at its finest.

At the novel’s core is the conundrum of the child, and this alone would be enough for a healthy book. However, author Diane Setterfield’s prose twists and turns, but always moves with the current. The multitude of plotlines are never overwhelming, and the result is a fully realized world that’s easy to dip into. She guides readers across scenes like an expert ferryman, a twinkle in her writing. She knows how both the story and the trip will end but understands it’s really the journey that’s important. Just when you feel you know where you’re going—Ah, look! Another turn up ahead.

Special mention must be given to the folklore, myths, and magic which are abundant. The novel takes place on the cusp of change, right at the dawn of Darwinism. Rita opts for scientific reasoning in the face of mysticism and folktales. These two worlds are most interesting when complicated by each other. In many ways, assuming this were all true (and, really, aren’t all stories based in some truth?), this places the events of Once Upon a River as perhaps the first of tales somewhere between fairytale and science story.

At the beginning, readers are introduced to the inn regulars who constant opine on the art of the story. Diane Setterfield deftly suggests everyone has a story, and we should all be thankful she shares hers.

The regulars at the Swan are renowned for their tall tales, but even they are wonderstruck one stormy midwinter night when a wounded stranger staggers out of the Thames holding a little dead girl who miraculously returns to life. But is she Amelia, kidnapped two years ago and never returned? Or Alice, presumed dead alongside her abandoned mother? Or Ann, drowned decades ago but still haunting her sister? Though she never says a word, she irrevocably reshapes the lives of everyone her story touches. Old tragedies and newfound hope intertwine in this beautiful, sprawling tale.

The Swann is an ancient Inn, along the Thames where lots of storytelling is done there. On a dark night someone was telling a story the door opened and a newcomer came in. They were trying to make sense of what they were seeing. They thought it might of been a monster from a folk tale. Once there senses came togethor, they noticed in his arms was a puppet with a face and limbs and painted hair.

The man was unconscious and they put him on a table. They thought he was dead. Margot, the owner of the inn, laid a feather in his lips and it moved. He was breathing. No one knew him.

Jonathan put the puppet on his lap. He noticed that the puppets hair was made with real hair and it's ears looked so real. He gave it a shake and the arm swung from its shoulder. Then he noticed it was a little girl. She wouldn't wake up. They thought she drowned and was dead. Rita thought she was four years old. She had no pulse and wasn't breathing. The girl was dead before she went into the water. There was no sign on how she died. After some time the corpse opened her eyes. The girls head moved. Her eyes closed again and they noticed her chest was moving. She was breathing in and out.

What made this girl come alive again? Who does she belong to? Is it a miracle or is it magic? Did it have anything to do with the winter solstice?

This book was so beautifully written. You could just get lost in the prose. I just loved the atmosphere. I love this author and loved The Thirteenth Tale by her, so I just had to read this one. I loved it just as much. I thought this was a character driven novel and thought the characters were well done. I just loved Rita. The book needs to be read slow, there was a little confusion for me, but then all the peices came together and it then becomes a mystery. It is a thought provoking novel. It really makes you think. I thought it was very enchanting and it was very well crafted.

The book is part historical fiction, a little fantasy, magical realism, and mystery. Just a little something for everyone. Even though it has a slow burn to it, I suggest to keep reading it because it gets a lot better. I am so happy that I stuck with it. I highly recommend it, if you don't mind a slow burn.

I want to thank Atria/Emily Bestler Books and NetGalley for the copy of this book t n exchange for a honest review.

There’s an old inn on the Thames that’s known for its storytellers. Any given night, the husband of the proprietress or one of any of the regulars can be heard spinning a yarn. But one night, something happens at the Swan that becomes the subject of stories for years to come. An injured man comes in the door holding a child. She’s dead but he’s in need of medical attention, which he is given by Rita, a very competent nurse who might as well be a doctor. Hours later, after the stranger is treated and settled, Rita turns her attention to the poor dead child. But then, very strangely, the child stirs and wakes.

What happens next is just as strange. Several people claim she’s theirs. One set of grieving parents whose daughter disappeared two years earlier are sure she’s their daughter returned to them. One woman says it’s her younger sister. One man thinks it may be his wayward son’s daughter, whose mother committed suicide the night before the girl was found. Everyone who sees her wants to love and protect her.

Let’s just say this first: I, like millions of others, loved Diane Setterfield’s The Thirteenth Tale. I now compare every mysterious gothic tale with what is said to have a truly stunning twist to that novel. I’ve found nothing that quite measures up: it is just a gold standard of gothic literature. When Setterfield came out with her second book, Bellman and Black, I was excited but then quite disappointed. Now with this third novel, some years in between each, I had more measured expectations. While this still doesn’t pack the punch of Thirteenth Tale (which, let’s be honest, when you have a book that’s a gold standard, it’s going to stay that way a good long while), Once Upon a River is much more satisfying than the disappointing Bellman and Black.

This story has a feel to it of mystery, of the touch of the supernatural, but it’s much more human and weighty. Its characters are wonderfully fleshed out and ones that I felt for; I wanted them all to find some closure and peace and happiness from the events that had caused them worry and pain. Elements of the tale come together so beautifully and satisfyingly at the end, even ones that I didn’t expect needed to be tied up. I read this in e-book format, sure, but let’s just say that I “turned the last page and closed the book” feeling I’d been read the equivalent of a delicious square meal. Yay for Setterfield for coming back with this third novel!

Dear Fellow Reader,

Have you ever not been able to remember the plot to a book that you know you read? I had read The Thirteenth Tale by Diane Setterfield and remembered that I thought the book was excellent. Then I noticed that I had read another book by Diane Setterfield entitled Bellman and Black. I had enjoyed that book also but can’t tell you the plot of that book either. (Really, The Thirteenth Tale is good. You should read that book.)

It has been a long time since there has been a new book by Diane Setterfield. Her new book, Once Upon a River has just come out. I was thrilled to get a chance to read it so that I would write an unbiased review. (Yep, I scored it as an advanced reader copy.)

Let me say that Diane Setterfield is a master at setting a dark scene. Even though I don’t remember her other two books that well, I do think that they were both dark. That feeling that the sun never shines in the English countryside. Once Upon a River starts on a dark, stormy night. People are huddled in the Swan, the town’s pub that is known for storytelling. Joe Bliss, pub owner’s husband is known for his storytelling and others compete to try and emulate him.

Suddenly, the pub door crashes open and a man staggers through the door holding a child although at first, no one was sure that it was a real child. The man collapses. The patrons of the Swan run to get Rita Sunday, the local nurse. While some are fetching Rita, the others suddenly figure out that the stranger has a child in his arms. A beautiful, little girl who almost seems to glow. As they check the child, they decide that she is dead. They are horrified but the stranger isn’t responding so they will have to wait to hear his story. They decide to put the child's body in the cold storage room.

Rita arrives and checks on the man. She tends to his injuries and they check his pockets to see if they can determine who he is. After Rita is sure she has done what she can for the man, she asks to see the child. She goes into the room with the child and starts checking her. Yes, she agrees with the villagers that the child is dead. Suddenly the child starts breathing. Rita is unsettled by this but carries that child out to the pub. The child is cold, so Rita sits down by the sleeping man with the child in her arms. She spends the night that way so that she can tend to both of her sleeping patients should they wake up.

When the man wakes up, he can identify himself, but he does not know who the child is. He found her and saved her from the river. Three people arrive to claim the child. Whose daughter is she really? Is she the long lost daughter of Anthony and Helena Vaughan? Amelia Vaughan had been kidnapped two years before and there had not been a trace of her. Or was she Lily White’s sister? Or was she the daughter of Robin Armstrong? The little girl never speaks and does not seem to show any knowledge of any of the claimants.

The story has wonderful characters who are well drawn. Where did the little girl come from? The townsfolk have stories to tell as they watch the tale unfold. It was an interesting read that keeps you trying to outguess the next plot twist. I recommend this book.

Thanks for reading!

I had one experience with Diane Setterfield’s novels and that was Bellman & Black way back in 2013. I wasn’t terribly impressed with the book and I was so sad because I wanted to love it so very badly. I mean it sounded right up my alley and I was reading it as my ‘scary read’ for October so I was even more disappointed in it.

At the time I wanted to read her other novel, The Thirteenth Tale, but I was just so let down that I didn’t want to risk being disappointed again. So flash forward five years…..since reading this Bellman & Black, I have thought of her other book off and on but just haven’t gotten around to reading it.

Then I was approached to read Once Upon a River and I was actually super excited. By all accounts and descriptions, all of her books should be something that I would love. I was eager to try out another one of her books, especially because I had already heard quite the buzz happening around this book which made me excited. And let’s just say the only regret I have with this book is that I didn’t start it sooner!

A dark midwinter’s night in an ancient inn on the Thames. The regulars are entertaining themselves by telling stories when the door bursts open on an injured stranger. In his arms is the drowned corpse of a little child.

Hours later the dead girl stirs, takes a breath and returns to life.

Is it a miracle?

Is it magic?

Or can it be explained by science?

Replete with folklore, suspense and romance, as well as with the urgent scientific curiosity of the Darwinian age, Once Upon a River is as richly atmospheric as Setterfield’s bestseller The Thirteenth Tale (summary from Goodreads).

So as you can see, there wasn’t a whole lot to go on when it came to summary for this book. It appears that maybe the publisher was hoping that the name Setterfield would draw readers because The Thirteenth Tale was so popular a few years ago. I think that this approach worked pretty well. I mean it’s not like Setterfield puts out a novel every year and the success of—at least her first novel—would be enough to make me want to read it and I kind of liked the cryptic-ness of the description.

So in essence, I went into this one blind-ish. Right away it was evident that this book was going to be a bit of a slow burn rather than a fast paced thriller. Though I read it quickly, it wasn’t because it the story itself was fast, it was mostly because I had the time to read it. This was a book that I was able to savor rather than devour if that makes sense.

I really really loved how the genres blended together in this one. There was historical fiction, mystery, a hint of romance, and magical realism. It literally read like a story passed down at a bar, which was an important part of the overall narrative. I was completely spellbound from the beginning of the book and now I can see why so many people love her writing style! This was so much different than Bellman & Black for me and I think this book redeemed her as a writer—at least in my book.

I loved how she told a story within a story and added in such unique elements like folklore, fairy tales, and mystery to create this rich plot that just draws you in. I didn’t want to put this one down once I started it. When I started it, the first chapter was the set up and then before I knew it, I was sucked in—-just like a story told to a crowd, I was like ok what’s going to happen next! It was beautiful and interesting with so much to love.

As a reader, this book had to pack a punch—-otherwise I don’t think I would have picked up any of her other books ever again—-if she wrote any more etc. This book hit all the high notes and made me excited to read The Thirteenth Tale, where as before I was kind of on the fence about it.

This was a uniquely memorable story and one that I won’t soon forget. I don’t want to give too much away for anyone who wants to read this book. It’s something you need to experience, not something that you can even being to summarize and review—-it’s truly an experience that a reader needs to have. If you are at all on the fence about this one—don’t be. Move it up to the top of your TBR list immediately! Everyone I know is getting this book for the holidays!

Challenge/Book Summary:

Book: Once Upon a River by Diane Setterfield

Kindle Edition, 480 pages
Expected publication: December 4th 2018 by Atria/Emily Bestler Books
ASIN B07D2ZZK6N
Review copy provided by: Publisher/Author in exchange for an honest review, all opinions are my own
Recommendation: 5 out of 5
Genre: magical realism, historical fiction, mystery, suspense, fantasy
Memorable lines/quotes

I want to start off by saying…this is a hard review for me to write. I don’t typically read this sort of genre, but I wanted to give it a shot to get out of my comfort zone. I have never read anything by this author, but have always heard great things about her. The writing is absolutely incredible. Setterfield gives such detailed descriptions and has clearly done a lot of research putting this story together. Her writing is incredibly elegant and magical and I praise her completely for her talent.

That being said, I just couldn’t get into this book. I read it about halfway and was still waiting on the plot to evolve. I really did try, because this story sounded so intriguing. I felt it went incredibly slow and I wasn’t trying to rush through it. It may be because I am used to other genres so take my review with a grain of salt if you want! I know I’m in a minority when it comes to reviews from this author.

I will say, even reading only the first half of this book has me wanting to pick up her other works. I truly enjoy her writing style and can’t wait to see what other stories she has.

Thanks to NetGalley for an advanced copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

I really liked this slow-paced, somewhat wandering but frequently enchanting tale that takes place in a small English town with borders on the land of death. A child is found in the river, apparently dead, and brought to a pub, where she seemingly comes back to life. She does not speak, and she could be one of several children gone missing in recent years. As the story of the child's true identity unfolds, so do the related tales of the publican and her family, a local aristocratic couple, a mixed-race family, and the myth of the river's ferryman. Beautifully written.

Many thanks to NetGalley, Atria/Emily Bestler Books, and Diane Setterfield for the opportunity to read her latest work - it is an absolutely gorgeous novel. I loved The Thirteen Tale and this book will captivate your heart as that one did.

On the banks of the Thames River in a distance era, there are small inns where storytelling is an art and the stories are passed down through the generations. A new story is told on a dark winter's night when a half-dead stranger bursts into The Swan carrying what at first glance appeared to be a puppet but was actually a young girl who appeared dead. But then she later came back to life yet didn't speak, adding to the mystery. And who was the young girl? Was she the kidnapped daughter of the Vaughn's? The granddaughter of a local farmer? Or someone else?

This tale of mystery and the supernatural, the folklore and the science all is told in such a beautiful fashion. You will literally be transported back in time. This is a rather long book but I didn't want it to end!

On sale today - don't miss it!

Once Upon a River combines folklore, magic, and mystery with a Gothic feel. The author is, without a doubt, talented and certainly has a gift for prose and vivid details. That said, I came away from this one with mixed feelings. The book is character driven, and there are quite a lot of characters to keep straight as well as their very detailed backstories. On top of that, the story isn't just one story, but several that are interwoven, and with so many plots and subplots, it's a lot to keep up with. The biggest drawback for me is the pacing, which is too slow for my tastes. The story is lengthy, maybe a bit too much so and I found myself wanting to skim during overly long descriptions. With so much going on, I do think this one could work well on the big screen where we could be shown rather than the pages and pages of descriptive details. In the end, there is a solid story here, but I feel like some of it gets lost in the minutia.

Librarian: As a reader, I love this book. It's a beautiful, atmospheric story that sweeps you along, sometimes quickly, sometimes at a snail's pace, just like the river at the heart of the story. As a librarian, on the other hand, I don't know what to think. I'm just not sure if this book is likely to circulate in a lot of libraries. On the one hand, The Thirteenth Tale was popular for a time, and a lot of book clubs read it. On the other hand, that was a long time ago. If this was her first book since then, I could see there being a ton of excitement around it, but unfortunately we had Bellman & Black in between, and the lesser quality of that one may turn readers off of this one. I feel like we professional readers are going to have to book talk this one a lot, and promote it for book clubs if we want it to be read. Otherwise it may well end up as yet another book that librarians love and the public couldn't care less about.
Reader: As mentioned I love this book. It's gorgeously atmospheric with characters that feel real. Part of this is the fact that she gives back story to practically every character (and tells us about all of it). Part of it is the fact that the world feels lived in. This story also has a bit of a timeless quality. It feels like a story that has been retold a hundred times, and will be retold a hundred more.

Thanks to NetGalley, the author, and the publisher for the opportunity to read this book in exchange for an honest review.

I must say, this is a long book, I found it a bit dense, and it was hard to get into at first. The story revolves around a child that was brought in from the river, assumed dead, but is actually alive, and she doesn't speak. Two families try to lay claim to this child, so sure that she is theirs. I love the mystery behind the child and the air of mysticism that the book offers. the writing style is exquisite and very literary-feeling, like some of the classics.

Overall, I enjoyed this book, it just has some points that drag a bit too much for me, making this book take a bit longer to read than I would have liked. Well-crafted and delicately put together to flow just like the river the very story revolves around.

"Once Upon A River" by Diane Setterfield, Atria/Emily Bestler Books, 480 pages, Dec. 4, 2018.

"Once Upon A River" is a magical story of people's lives, their hopes, loves and heartaches.

It is 1887 and it is the winter solstice in an English countryside along the Thames River. Margo Ockwellan and her husband, Joe Bliss, own an inn called The Swan. They have 12 adult daughters and a son, Jonathan, who has Down syndrome. The Swan is known for storytelling.

Late one night, a newcomer walks in. He is soaking wet and his face is bloody. He is carrying a large doll. He collapses. While a young man runs to get Rita Sunday, the nurse, Margo realizes that it isn't a doll, it is a little girl and she is dead.

When they search the man, they find business cards identifying him as Henry Daunt of Oxford, a photographer. RIta arrives to treat Daunt. She then checks on the child's body. She finds that the little girl isn't dead, she is unconscious. When she regains consciousness, they learn that the child, who is about 4, is mute.

Several people have lost a family member who could be this little girl. Anthony and Helena Vaughn's daughter was kidnapped two years earlier. The Armstrongs think she may be their estranged son's daughter. Lily, the parson's housekeeper, insists she is her little sister. The child doesn't appear to recognize anyone.

Diane Setterfield weaves lyrical storytelling with science and dark folktales. There's more than one mystery in this character-driven book. The cast is wonderful and the story is excellent. "Once Upon A River" is definitely one of the best novels of the year. Diane Setterfield is also the author of "The Thirteenth Tale" and of "Bellman and Black."

In accordance with FTC guidelines, the advance reader's edition of this book was provided by the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.