I simply love this author's writing and story-telling. It is filled with depth, mystery while I am thoroughly entertained. The ease he is writing with is astounding and smart giving you a wonderful story that involves faith and the longing to belong.
Each character is well-defined and remarkable in their own right. It is honest and truthful and I really enjoyed each word. It is written with a rhymic charm that pulls you in and evokes so much emotion.
It is a brilliant work of art. ( )

The Rev. Hale Poser is on a mission to find his roots. He was placed in an orphanage at a young age, and as an adult, he chanced upon some papers regarding his parentage. His quest takes him to a small and seemingly quiet community, where whites and blacks co-exist peacefully. But though a pleasant town, there are undercurrents every bit as dangerous as those found in flood waters. Babies have been disappearing in the night, for decades. And the Rev. Poser is determined to find out what is happening in this strange little town. This tale is most unusual and perhaps even unique in its plot. The characters likewise are also unusual. I’m not sure how I feel about this story and its treatment of the relationships between blacks and whites, but I will say this: it’s likely to be unforgettable to anyone who reads it. ( )

http://decemberjoy.wordpress.com/2010/10/21/review-river-rising/
For the full review, click on the link above. Thank you!

The setting for this book is Pilotville, Louisiana and the time period is 1927. The main character, Reverend Hale Poser, comes to this town looking for his roots – he was raised in an orphanage and has recently learned his home town is Pilotville. He has come there for answers but instead he is drawn into a mystery…a kidnapping of an infant. As he looks for the baby he stumbles upon a hidden plantation with a terrible secret. As he learns more about Pilotville and the inhabitants he discovers who he is and why he has returned.

I enjoyed this book. Although the underlining theme of the book has a religious tone, Athol does a great job of creating a story that is solid enough for any reader – not just Christians or those who believe in the Bible. ( )

It took me a while to get into it, but once I was sucked in, the story held me. A well written story of faith, it manages to be simultaneously simple and complex. There were tears, but not at the places I would have expected. Loved it. ( )

It is1927, Hale Poser arrives in the little bayou town of Pilotville, LA. He's a spiritual man, humble and mysterious. He is in search of answers to questions about his identity and lineage. He takes a menial job with the town's black infirmary, confronts and is confronted with a subtle and not so subtle racial divide which will take him on a journey of discovery and healing. The symbolism and poetic imagery of this novel make it an intriguing and thought provoking read. ( )