Second Reaction: Consumed by Mystery in the Mammoth Cave (review)

Authors

Elena M. Venegas, The University of Texas Rio Grande ValleyFollow

Document Type

Book Review

Publication Date

2016

Abstract

Jennifer Bradbury’s River Runs Deep is a pre–Civil War mystery that envelopes the reader in the story of Elias Harrigan, a twelve-year-old boy who is ill with consumption (tuberculosis). Unfortunately for Elias, he lives in an era that predates modern medicine. In a last-ditch effort to save his life, Elias is sent to Kentucky to be treated by Dr. John Croghan. Though Dr. Croghan employs several unusual treatments, he primarily believes that the Mammoth Cave, in which his practice is housed, will prove beneficial for his patients. Elias is the youngest of Dr. Croghan’s patients and soon becomes restless and perhaps even a little stir-crazy as he begins to believe that someone is speaking to him from outside his hut. Luckily for Elias, the doctor prescribes some exercise, and he is allowed to venture around the Mammoth Cave with a few of the doctor’s most trusted slaves. Yet Elias’s association with the slaves begins to draw suspicion. Ultimately, Elias’s health, trustworthiness, and loyalty are tested as the novel unfolds.

Comments

Original published version available at https://docs.lib.purdue.edu/fosr/vol9/iss2/10

Recommended Citation

Venegas, Elena M. "Second Reaction: Consumed by Mystery in the Mammoth Cave." First Opinions, Second Reactions 9.2 (2016): Article 10. Web. Available at: https://docs.lib.purdue.edu/fosr/vol9/iss2/10

Creative Commons License

This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.

Publication Title

First Opinions, Second Reactions