In the Shadow of the River
About
If all the world's a stage, Jacci will play her part.
She only hopes her story does not turn out to be a tragedy.
In 1881, Jacci Reed is only five years old when a man attempts to kidnap her from the steamboat her mother, Irena, works on. Badly wounded during the confrontation, Irena takes Jacci aboard the Kingston Floating Palace, a showboat tied up beside them. There, Jacci's actor grandfather tends to her mother, and Jacci gets a first taste of the life she will come to lead.
Fifteen years later, Jacci is an actress aboard that same showboat and largely contented with her adopted family of actors, singers, and dancers. Especially Gabe, who has always supported her, and the gruff grandfather she has come to know and love. Jacci's mother has been gone for years, but the memory of the altercation that ultimately took her life--and the cryptic things Jacci has overheard about her past--is always there, lurking in the back of her mind.
When someone on the showboat tries to kill Jacci, it's clear her questions demand answers. But secrets have a way of staying in the shadows . . . and the answers she craves will not come easily.
The Author
-
© Memories by Chris Ann H. Gabhart
Ann H. Gabhart is the bestselling author of many novels, including The Song of Sourwood Mountain, In the Shadow of the River, When the Meadow Blooms, Along a Storied Trail, An Appalachian Summer, River to Redemption,...
Continue reading about Ann H. Gabhart
Reviews
"Gabhart delivers an atmospheric romance set on an 1890s showboat with plenty of secrets below deck. Supported by a cast of winning characters, this well-wrought mystery skillfully builds intrigue and doesn't let up steam till the satisfying conclusion."
Publishers Weekly
"Gabhart presents another inspiring historical novel. Her masterful storytelling glows with personality and page-turning surprises."
Booklist
"Compelling characters, intriguing history, a sense of adventure, a dose of suspense, and a sweet exploration of what family means are all reasons you should pick up In the Shadow of the River by Ann H. Gabhart."
Reading Is My Superpower