Paromjit's Reviews > Black River

Will Dean returns us to the creep-fest that is the remote Swedish town of Gavrik with his intriguing protagonist, the deaf reporter Tuva Moodyson, this time she races against time to find her missing best friend, Tammy Yamnim, practically a sister to her. It begins with Tuva working in Malmo on the Sundhumn Enquirer, doing all that she can to impress her new editor, Anders. She has been living a clean life, no drink, but what with refusing all social invitations, she is lonely, filling her time with her demon gaming. So when Lena contacts her to inform her of Tammy's disappearance, Tuva drops everything immediately to drive to Gavrik, knowing that no-one will be as committed as her in finding Tammy. Tammy's food van has drops of blood that terrify Tuva, who has taken her and why? The police are reluctant to look for her just yet, despite the concerns of Lena and Tuva.

Lena offers Tuva the friggebod guest hut with its compost toilet to stay in, and the two of them organise flyers for distribution, whilst utilising social media and the press. However, not everyone is happy, they have no desire to put off potential tourists at the height of midsommar with stories of missing women, and besides to many, despite Tammy being Swedish, her Thai background makes her a suspect foreigner. However, everything changes when another local woman, Lisa, a minor celebrity, galvanises townsfolk to join search parties with hunt dogs in the menacing and dangerous Utgard forest with its torrents of mosquitos, snakes and other dangers. Flyers on Lisa now virtually eclipse those on Tammy, and nothing underlines the difference in the way the two missing women are valued when a huge reward is offered for Lisa. Tuva relentlessly looks for Tammy, certain the weird, sinister strange folk by the Snake river, such as the snakewoman Sally, ebay trader Karl-Otto and the odd cousins, Alexandra and Axel have answers. Will she be able to find Tammy before it is too late?

Dean excels when it comes to portraying the horrors of the forest, akin to the darkest of fairytales where the worst nightmares hang heavy in the air. The storytelling practically drips with atmosphere, Dean gives us a town populated with a host of suspicious and freakish characters, not to mention the scary animals, reptiles and insects, that fit right in with the terrors, fears, evil and monsters of myths, folklore and fairytales. This is a disturbing and unsettling read, particularly given the ending when it becomes clear what happened to Tammy and the dangers faced by Tuva. I found this a compulsive and intense read, I love the character of Tuva and her female friendships that take precedence in the novel with Lena, Tammy and Constable Noora. I am curious as to where Dean will go next as it looks as if Tuva will return to the area where those who care for her live, something she would not have envisaged previously. Many thanks to Oneworld Publications for an ARC.