Who Would Like This Book:
If you're a fan of Southern Gothic horror with a slow, suspenseful burn, Those Across the River delivers big time. The 1930s rural Georgia setting is richly atmospheric, steeped in folklore, and oozes with unease. Buehlman crafts chilling twists, eerie town rituals, and flawed but relatable characters. Fans of historical horror, small-town mysteries, and classic monster tales will be hooked - especially if you love stories where the setting feels like a character itself.
Who May Not Like This Book:
Some readers found the pacing slow at first, and the dialogue occasionally a bit awkward or unrealistic. If you're sensitive to graphic horror, unsettling themes, or want your monsters less bloody, this might not be for you. Others wished for deeper character development or a more original plot twist, and a few were disappointed by the novel’s use of racial slurs - even if intended for period accuracy.
About:
In the book "Those Across the River" by Christopher Buehlman, a Northern couple moves to a small Southern town in the 1930s and encounters eerie and mysterious occurrences related to the woods across the river. As they uncover the dark secrets of the town and its inhabitants, they become entangled in a terrifying supernatural force, leading to a gripping and suspenseful narrative. The writing style is described as atmospheric, with a slow-burn horror introduction that builds tension and establishes a sense of community before delving into the unsettling events that unfold.
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Sensitive Topics/Content Warnings
Content warnings for the book include themes of racial slurs, gore, violence, descriptions of slavery and its aftermath, post-traumatic stress disorder, and sexual situations.
Has Romance?
The book presents a high level of romance primarily through the relationship between Frank and Eudora.
From The Publisher:
A man must confront a terrifying evil in this captivating horror novel that's "as much F. Scott Fitzgerald as Dean Koontz."*
Haunted by memories of the Great War, failed academic Frank Nichols and his wife have arrived in the sleepy Georgia town of Whitbrow, where Frank hopes to write a history of his family's old estate-the Savoyard Plantation-and the horrors that occurred there. At first their new life seems to be everything they wanted. But under the facade of summer socials and small-town charm, there is an unspoken dread that the townsfolk have lived with for generations. A presence that demands sacrifice.
It comes from the shadowy woods across the river, where the ruins of the Savoyard Plantation still stand. Where a long-smoldering debt of blood has never been forgotten.
Where it has been waiting for Frank Nichols....
Ratings (38)
Incredible (3) | |
Loved It (16) | |
Liked It (10) | |
It Was OK (7) | |
Did Not Like (1) | |
Hated It (1) |
Reader Stats (97):
Read It (37) | |
Want To Read (50) | |
Did Not Finish (3) | |
Not Interested (7) |
1 comment(s)
3.5 stars
One of my favorite booksellers recommended this book at my go-to bookstore just down the street. While I trust their judgment, I initially hesitated because I'm not too fond of stories from WWI or WWII eras. As a person of color, I know that if the author is committed to historical accuracy, there’s usually racial trauma lurking in the pages. Sadly, this one didn't disappoint in that regard.
At its core, Those Across the River reads like a debut novel. And when I found out this was Buehlman’s debut, that made sense. It’s tense, dark, and builds up a slow burn of dread in this small Southern town. The suspense was gripping at points, but the action took a while to kick off. We knew something deeply sinister was going on from the beginning, but the pacing stretched that out longer than I would have liked.
One issue I had with the structure was the opening scene. It drops you into a moment from later in the book but then pulls you away for a long backstory. I’m not a fan of that device—it felt like a bit of a bait-and-switch. I prefer a slow, steady climb rather than this narrative whiplash.
Another element that didn't sit well with me was the frequent use of the word "Negro" and, even worse, the N-word with a hard "er." I understand the importance of historical accuracy, but maybe we could have toned that down a bit. I’m looking at you, editors. A sensitivity reader could have been invaluable here, though I’m not sure if that was even a consideration at the time.
Buehlman’s portrayal of women also felt clunky. Like many male authors, he struggled to avoid oversexualizing them. The number of times Eudora, the main female character, was described as "Sphinx-like" was a bit much. It seemed like a fallback for capturing her mystery, but it became repetitive and felt like a lack of nuance in writing women.
The people in this small Georgia town probably should’ve kept their heads down and stuck with tradition, no matter how tough things were. They got a firsthand lesson in the age-old saying: “Fuck around and find out.” By the time the truth of the town's dark secrets comes to light, you can't help but feel they should’ve left well enough alone.
While Those Across the River had flaws, it was a solid debut from Buehlman. The atmosphere was rich, and the tension was palpable, but a few narrative and character choices held it back from greatness for me. This might be worth a try if you’re looking for Southern Gothic horror with a slow burn. Just be ready to wade through some problematic waters.
What can you read after
Those Across the River?
About the Author:
Christopher Buehlman is a novelist, screenwriter and comedian from St. Petersburg, Florida. His first novel, Those Across the River, was a finalist for best novel at the 2012 World Fantasy Awards and was recently named one of NPR's 100 Favorite Horror Stories. His fourth novel, The Lesser Dead, was the RUSA Reading List selection for best horror novel in 2015 and was a Shirley Jackson Award finalist. His poem "Wanton" won the coveted Bridport Prize for poetry in 2007. He is the author of the segment "The Man in the Suitcase" for Shudder's 2019 reboot of Creepshow. He spends most of the year touring with his acrobat wife, his one-eyed dog and his black cat, Jane Mansfield, who is trained in ninjutsu.
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