First published 2023
Mara, a solitary woman, lives a quiet life on the banks of a mysterious river. But when her estranged sister Bea suddenly reappears, Mara is pulled into a dark current of family secrets and unresolved trauma. As the sisters confront their past, the river itself seems to come alive, beckoning Mara to surrender to its alluring, dangerous depths. In this lyrical and atmospheric novel, Winterson explores the power of memory, the weight of guilt, and the possibility of redemption.
Genres: literary-fiction, mystery, contemporary, family-drama
Vibes: atmospheric, emotional, lyrical
Tropes: estranged-siblings, redemption
Setting: River
Period: Contemporary
320 pages · Hardcover · Grove Press