The River Path By Jennie Hansen Covenant Communications, 2000. Paperback: 240 pages. ISBN: 1-57734-620-3 Suggested retail price: $13.95 (US)
Reviewed by: Jeff Needle

The River Path is Hansen's eighth work of fiction for the LDS market. Reading the blurb on the back cover does not do justice to the book's complex and intriguing plot.

When Matt Bingham, a cradle Mormon, chose to marry Dana Dalby, a recent convert, neither set of parents could make sense of the situation. When Dana joined the Church, her parents completely disowned her. Matt's parents, solid Latter-day Saints, had wished their son Matt would have married a woman more mature in the faith, better able to raise their children in the Gospel.

A strong sense of tension -- Dana's alienation from her parents because of her decision to become a Mormon, Matt's family because of his choice of a wife -- dominates the early part of the book and creates a tension so thick you'd need a knife to cut through it. In the case of Matt's family, he, his brothers and his father work together in a construction business, and the family remains close despite their doubts about Dana.

Matt and Dana's son, Joshua, becomes ill will a disease that will require a bone marrow transplant if he is to have any chance of surviving. The best bet would be a close family member, but none of the tests on Matt's family yield a close enough match. It remains for Dana's family to rescue the child from certain death -- the family that disowned their daughter and refuses to talk with her. Matt's mother travels to California to try to convince a family member to be tested, and there sees a work of art produced by Dana reflecting her understanding of Lehi's dream of the Tree of Life.

Dana had told the family of her family's total distancing of themselves from her, but no one is prepared for either the depraved condition of her father or the shocking selfishness of her mother.

The title, The River Path, comes from the painting just mentioned. In this painting, Matt's mother sees deeply into the soul of her daughter-in-law, an awakening that will affect not just her view of Dana, but also of herself and her own narrow way of thinking.

A secondary plot emerges as the family business is attacked by an unknown assailant, out to bring the business down. There are plenty of suspects; it only lacks plenty of clues.

Each of the major characters finds his or her way along The River Path, coming to terms with their shortcomings, renewing their commitment to family and to the Gospel.

This book is very well written. Characterizations are crisp and realistic, from the evil Mr. Dalby to the delightfully daffy Home Teacher who visits Dana as she keeps watch over her son in the hospital. Just when you think you have it all figured out, Hansen throws in a plot twist that sends you back to square one.

In the end, the pieces come together in a satisfying way.

The River Path is a fine example of what Mormon fiction, addressed to a wide audience, can be. It avoids being preachy, but manages to teach solid values. Without being overly-melodramatic, Hansen delivers well-written scenes of intimacy and hungry love.

I liked this book very much. I have in my stack her next book, and look forward to diving into it.