In the Heart of the Canyon - (Vintage Contemporaries) by Elisabeth Hyde (Paperback)

About the Book

From the author of "The Abortionist's Daughter" comes a gripping new novel about a rafting trip through the Grand Canyon that changes the lives of everyone on board.

Book Synopsis

Over the course of thirteen long days, twelve assorted passengers, three rafting guides and one stray dog will navigate the rapids of the Colorado River through the Grand Canyon together. From their early-morning rise on the shore of the river to the adrenaline rush of paddling through Lava Falls, they will soon come to know each other more intimately than they could have expected. Tempers will flare and decisions will be second-guessed . . . and ultimately all of them, from an unhappy teenager to an aging river guide, will realize that sometimes the most daunting adventures have nothing to do with white-water rapids, and everything to do with reconfiguring the rocky canyons of the heart.

Review Quotes

"[An] incredible journey. . . . Hyde paddles us through . . . [while] her characters open up to one another and to themselves."
--The New York Times Book Review

"An excellent armchair adventure. . . . Hyde vividly portrays both the wonders and horrors of white-water rafting."
--The Boston Globe

"A near perfect blend of humor and drama, heartbreak and redemption."
--The Dallas Morning News

"Hyde has a keen eye for social dynamics, but she's just as good at keeping the adrenaline pumping. . . . She expertly evokes the thrill and terror of rapid-running. . . . A bracing ride."
--People

"A fast-paced trip down the Colorado River. . . . Hyde hints at adventure around every bend in the river . . . and she delivers. . . . The book is a pleasing mix of travelogue and psychological exploration."
--Seattle Times

"A poignant, first-rate story."
--The Denver Post

"Hyde scores a bull's-eye with her fifth novel. . . . An engrossing, evocative study of human behavior, especially under duress. . . . A great read for hot summer days and cool nights."
--The Durango Herald (Colorado)

"An astute, engrossing, character-driven affair. . . . The novel succeeds as both a study of strangers striving toward a common goal and as a suspenseful drama filled with angst and humanity. Hyde outshines herself with this wild ride."
--Publishers Weekly (starred review)

"Hyde writes with subtle humor and with such expertise that readers will feel as if they're in the raft with her. . . . In this book, it's not the finale that will win you. It's the journey."
--The Arizona Republic

"There's nothing predictable about either Hyde's plot or her searing conclusion."
--Entertainment Weekly

"Hyde writes evocatively. . . . Her sense of place and descriptive ability are as bright as the Arizona sun."
--Houston Chronicle

"Realistically suspenseful. . . . In the Heart of the Canyon is perfect summer reading."
--The Columbus Dispatch (Ohio)

"Many things can happen on those wild-river trips, things that novelists manage to turn into great fiction. Here's a new twist on the scenario . . . a ride below the Grand Canyon that promises adventure aplenty."
--Pittsburgh Post-Gazette

"The group dynamics on a trip like this are fascinating, and the book is another winner."
--The Toronto Sun

"Beach reads abound, but few are as well written as In the Heart of the Canyon. . . . Think romantic trysts and a seismic surprise--[it] will hold you rapt."
--Self Magazine

"It is unlikely you will soon forget your traveling companions."
--Newark Star-Ledger

"This finely wrought page-turner will keep you on a wild ride for all 226 miles. You won't want to put it down."
--Page Lambert, author of In Search of Kinship

About the Author

Elisabeth Hyde is the author of four previous novels. Born and raised in New Hampshire, she has since lived in Vermont, Washington, D.C., San Francisco, and Seattle. In 1979 she received her law degree and practiced briefly with the U.S. Department of Justice. She currently lives in Colorado with her family.

Visit the author's website at www.elisabethhyde.com.