home > mystery novel reviews > river rising

River Rising

by Athol Dickson

Athol Dickson expresses himself thoroughly in River Rising, a novel combining miracles, racism, and suspense along with a love of the Deep South. Mr. Dickson's strong belief in Christianity is apparent, but that shouldn't stop anyone with different values from enjoying this excellent story. River Rising is set in the South just prior and during the great flood of 1927, as pertinent during the aftermath of Katrina as it was then. River Rising is a spell-binding tale, and Mr. Dickson's talent as a storyteller (probably inherited from his grandfather!) is abundantly evident, as is his skill in writing.

Hale Poser is a Negro from up in New Orleans, where he worked as a chaplain for their orphanage. He's come down to Pilotsville, near the mouth of the Mississippi, in hope of finding his mother on the strength of a piece of paper with that town's name on it. Hale is looking for a job, meanwhile, and gets one at the Negro Infirmary where he performs as a janitor. Hale Poser is no ordinary man. To begin with, he has blue eyes instead of the brown ones most individuals with his skin color possess. And he performs miracles – unknowingly.

During his tenure at the Infirmary, a baby is kidnapped. The baby has disappeared completely, and no search, however diligent, discovers the child or its body; in addition, there's no ransom note. And it seems to have happened before. Shortly afterwards, Hale sets out in his pirogue (flat-bottom boat) to question a former prostitute who lost her baby the same way, but he gets lost in the swamp. Barely alive, he finally finds himself chained and in slavery.

The brutality of the slave owners, as well as the meanest of the slave males, only helps Hale to discover the truth about his miracle-working ability. And the final, shocking events leading to the finding of his mother and demise of the last slave plantation reveal Athol Dickson's abilities to combine his beliefs with tale-spinning second to none.

In River Rising, Athol Dickson has written a compelling saga about the differences – and the similarities – between the black and white races. People of any color will find this a fascinating read.

Alan Paul Curtis

back