Death On The New River

It is this river—its bridge, rapids, and surrounding cliffs—that provide a playground for a population of river enthusiasts who experience amazing and sometimes deadly situations in its waters. Bonnie Franca, whitewater guide extraordinaire, is rocked to her core when she discovers a fellow guide, Matt Madison, drowned in the New River. Even though the police deem the drowning a suicide, Bonnie is suspicious. She knows that Matt was an investigative reporter for the Beckley Herald, and his guide job was a cover. Bonnie’s suspicions are confirmed when Matt’s widow asks her to investigate, and she begins to pursue leads enthusiastically.

Too enthusiastically, as far as Dwight David Dennison III, heir to a coal baron’s fortune and fellow river guide, is concerned. He’s been secretly in love with Bonnie since he trained with her to guide the New River. But she made it clear that she wasn’t interested long ago. Dwight sees his chance to pursue her with his charms when they are scheduled to work a rescue boat under the enormous New River Bridge. Every October BASE jumpers from all over the country make the pilgrimage to parachute off this bridge, 876 feet above the New River. Watching the jumpers descend from the railing of the bridge, Dwight can see that Bonnie is warming up to him, just as Jake McCoy paddles up in his kayak. A former boyfriend of Bonnie’s, he frustrates Dwight’s efforts. Dwight’s only recourse is to help Bonnie investigate Matt’s death. It’s the perfect excuse to be near her, and try to keep her safe, as she attempts to discover what really happened to Matt.

Bonnie is as determined as she is reckless in seeking answers, and she even starts to care for Dwight, but they both discover that someone thinks Bonnie knows too much. Here is an adventure as dangerous and exciting as blasting through the big waves on the New.