Once Upon a River

The magical, beguiling story of a girl brought back from the dead - or is she? - from the bestselling author of THE THIRTEEN TALE, now adapted into a TV series starring Olivia Colman

Winner of the HWA Gold Crown
‘Entrancing, profound and beautiful’ MADELINE MILLER
‘Full of twists and turns like the river at its heart’ M L STEDMAN
‘Utterly brilliant’ RUTH HOGAN
‘Magical in every way’ FINANCIAL TIMES
‘A truly extraordinary book’ DINAH JEFFRIES
‘Dazzling, alive, all-consuming’ DAILY TELEGRAPH

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Some say the river drowned her... Some say it brought her back to life

On a dark midwinters night in an ancient inn on the Thames, the regulars are entertaining themselves by telling stories when the door bursts open and in steps an injured stranger. In his arms is the drowned corpse of a child.

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

Is it a miracle?

Is it magic?

And who does the little girl belong to?

An exquisitely crafted historical mystery brimming with folklore, suspense and romance, as well as with the urgent scientific curiosity of the Victorian age.

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Praise for Diane Setterfield:

An absolute feast of a book, which will keep you engrossedRED magazine
Brimming with folklore, intrigue and romance, this is a story to savourWoman & Home
Once Upon a River continues to demonstrate [Setterfields] mastery of the Gothic genre in a way that will appeal to modern readersThe Independent

Readers are captivated by Once Upon a River:

***** Pure escapism, a beautifully written story.
***** It felt as comforting as the fantastical stories you read as a child yet with a darker edge.
***** I was entranced from the beginning to the end.