Deep River Burning

Generations ago, the small town of Adena was built by coal. And now, it is slowly being destroyed by it. The coal mines that snake under the streets of Adena are on fire; sections of road are collapsing, noxious gasses are making people sick, and temperatures underground are unbelievably hot. The fire is unstoppable, but many in Adena refuse to listen, and the arguments between those who want to relocate and those who are determined to stay burn just as hotly as the coal underground. Denver Oakley’s father is one of those who wants to relocate, and his passion to get people to understand ultimately leads to the murder of himself and his wife. Heartbroken and adrift, Denver ultimately leaves Adena, escaping to a sleepy coastal town in North Carolina, where she heals and builds a new life. Two years later, she receives a letter from Josh, her best friend in Adena, who disappeared shortly before she left. Denver isn’t sure she’s ready to face her past again, but if she doesn’t go, she’ll always wonder.

Deep River Burning is one of the most beautifully written novels I’ve read in a long time. Author Donelle Dreese is talented, and her words just flow off the page and into your heart, making this a book you’ll be thinking of long after you’ve finished it. Combine amazing writing with an intriguing story and readers will be hooked. The dying coal mining town of Adena will capture readers’ attention; it’s hard to not be morbidly fascinated by the idea of an unstoppable underground fire, and Denver’s struggles make this story impossible to resist. Deep River Burning is a fantastic book that most any reader is sure to enjoy.