Those Across the River

Frank Nichols and his wife Eudora move to the small Georgia town of Whitbrow in 1935, hoping to write a book about Frank's ancestor who once owned a nearby plantation. They inherit a house from Frank's aunt, despite her cryptic warning to stay away from the property. The couple discovers that Whitbrow follows an unusual monthly ritual where they release pigs across the river into the surrounding forest. When the townspeople vote to end this practice due to economic hardship, a series of inexplicable events begins to affect the community. As Frank researches his family history, he uncovers dark secrets about the plantation and its connection to local folklore. The true nature of what lurks in the woods tests the boundaries between civilization and wildness, history and myth. The novel explores how the sins of the past echo through generations, while questioning what humans owe to forces they don't fully understand. Through horror and historical fiction, it examines the price of ignoring ancient warnings and the cost of confronting buried truths.

Readers describe the book as a slow-burn horror story that builds tension through atmosphere rather than gore. Many note the detailed historical setting and character development in the first half before the supernatural elements emerge. Readers liked: - The authentic Depression-era Southern setting - Strong narrative voice and prose quality - Effective buildup of dread and unease - Complex relationships between townspeople Common criticisms: - Pacing feels too slow in first half - Ending strikes some as abrupt - Some found the romance subplot unnecessary - A few readers expected more overt horror throughout Ratings: Goodreads: 3.8/5 (9,400+ ratings) Amazon: 4.1/5 (580+ ratings) "The writing transported me completely to 1930s Georgia" - Goodreads reviewer "First half reads like literary fiction, second half like horror. The shift worked for me." - Amazon reviewer "Beautiful writing but the plot peters out" - LibraryThing review

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🌟 Author Christopher Buehlman was a professional medieval combat reenactor and sword fighter before becoming a novelist, which influenced his detailed action scenes. 🌟 The book is set in Whitbrow, Georgia in 1935, during the Great Depression when many families were forced to relocate - similar to the protagonist's situation. 🌟 The supernatural elements in the novel draw heavily from both Southern folklore and Slavic mythology, creating a unique blend of horror traditions. 🌟 Before writing novels, Buehlman was known as Christophe the Insultor, performing Renaissance Faire comedy shows where he delivered elaborate Shakespearean-style insults. 🌟 The book's portrayal of post-Civil War Southern culture was influenced by Buehlman's extensive research into agricultural practices and social customs of 1930s rural Georgia.