From the very first paragraph, Once Upon a River took my heart for an amazing ride on the Thames. Wonderfully drawn characters gradually became my friends. I don't drink, but I wanted to spend my nights at the Swan, listening to Joe tell stories, perhaps while I helped Margot serve the beer. The Vaughns, Rita Sunday, Daunt the photographer: all as real as the people in my neighborhood. This is a novel of suspense, although it winds in and out, to and fro, keeping me reading long past my bedtime, wanting to know more, trying to figure it out, but not being overwhelmed with fear as with so many modern thrillers. The writing is lushly descriptive. The fairy tale style narrative is old fashioned and modern at the same time. This is a book to savor.