There are some books that are meant to be devoured and read quickly, and others that require slow reading and digesting of the story. Once Upon a River falls into the latter category. Diane Setterfield crafts a beautiful story on the river Thames of a missing girl found dead… until it turns out she is alive. There are many characters and all quite fully developed, with detailed backgrounds. The writing took a bit to get used to, but the story-telling created a world the reader can easily get lost in! There are some books that are meant to be devoured and read quickly, and others that require slow reading and digesting of the story. Once Upon a River falls into the latter category. Diane Setterfield crafts a beautiful story on the river Thames of a missing girl found dead… until it turns out she is alive. There are many characters and all quite fully developed, with detailed backgrounds. The writing took a bit to get used to, but the story-telling created a world the reader can easily get lost in!