The Devil and the River

When the rains came they found the girl's face. Just her face. At least that was how it appeared...

From the Richard & Judy Book Club-selected author of A QUIET BELIEF IN ANGELS.

On a summer evening in 1954, 16-year-old Nancy Denton walked into the woods of her hometown of Whytesburg, Mississippi. She was never seen again.

Two decades on, Sheriff John Gaines witnesses a harrowing discovery. A body has been unearthed from the riverbank, perfectly preserved, yet bearing evidence of a brutal ritualistic killing. Nancy has come home at last.

Already haunted by his experiences in Vietnam, Gaines must now find out what really happened to the beautiful and vivacious Nancy. As he closes in on the truth, Gaines is forced to not only confront his own demons, but to unearth secrets that have long remained hidden. And that truth, so much darker than he could ever have imagined, may be the one thing that finally destroys him.

“Voodoo and murders and gothically imposing southern dynasties ... There are moments of genuine chills, fearsomely speedy page-turning and real humour ... an enjoyable summer read - OBSERVEREllory is a powerful talent - INDEPENDENT ON SUNDAYThis compelling novel, with its shock denouement, is both beautifully written and skilfully crafted and confirms Ellory as one of crime fiction's new stars - SUNDAY TELEGRAPHAs thrilling as a ride on the Coney Island Cyclone - MAIL ON SUNDAYR.J. Ellory sets out his stall with terrific vim and a gripping premise in his latest thriller ... an energetic and winning exercise in pulp fiction with a Southern Gothic flavour - METROEllory's a mighty talent who writes insightfully about love and redemption and loss and damnation - PETERBOROUGH EVENING TELEGRAPH”

Voodoo and murders and gothically imposing southern dynasties ... There are moments of genuine chills, fearsomely speedy page-turning and real humour ... an enjoyable summer read - OBSERVER

Ellory is a powerful talent - INDEPENDENT ON SUNDAY

This compelling novel, with its shock denouement, is both beautifully written and skilfully crafted and confirms Ellory as one of crime fiction's new stars - SUNDAY TELEGRAPH

As thrilling as a ride on the Coney Island Cyclone - MAIL ON SUNDAY

R.J. Ellory sets out his stall with terrific vim and a gripping premise in his latest thriller ... an energetic and winning exercise in pulp fiction with a Southern Gothic flavour - METRO

Ellory's a mighty talent who writes insightfully about love and redemption and loss and damnation - PETERBOROUGH EVENING TELEGRAPH

R.J. Ellory is the author of ten previous novels including the bestselling A Quiet Belief in Angels, which was a Richard & Judy Book Club selection and won the Nouvel Observateur Crime Fiction Prize.

Ellory's novels have been translated into 23 languages, and he has won the USA Excellent Award For Best Mystery, the Strand Magazine Best Thriller 2009, the Theakstons Old Peculier Crime Novel of the Year for A SIMPLE ACT OF VIOLENCE and the Quebec Laureat. He has been shortlisted for a further 13 awards including four Daggers from the UK Crime Writers' Association. Despite the American setting of his novels, Ellory is British and currently lives in England with his wife and son.

To find out more

When the rains came they found the girl's face. Just her face. At least that was how it appeared... From the Richard & Judy Book Club-selected author of A QUIET BELIEF IN ANGELS. On a summer evening in 1954, 16-year-old Nancy Denton walked into the woods of her hometown of Whytesburg, Mississippi. She was never seen again. Two decades on, Sheriff John Gaines witnesses a harrowing discovery. A body has been unearthed from the riverbank, perfectly preserved, yet bearing evidence of a brutal ritualistic killing. Nancy has come home at last.Already haunted by his experiences in Vietnam, Gaines must now find out what really happened to the beautiful and vivacious Nancy. As he closes in on the truth, Gaines is forced to not only confront his own demons, but to unearth secrets that have long remained hidden. And that truth, so much darker than he could ever have imagined, may be the one thing that finally destroys him.

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