Peace Like a River, the latest novel from acclaimed Southern writer Scott Gould, weaves a lyrical and heartwarming tale of fathers, sons, and grandfathers…and the intricate bonds that define them. Sixty-something Elwin McClennon returns to his hometown in Lowcountry South Carolina—and the dying father—he fled fifteen years earlier. Accompanied by Thom, his odd and precocious thirteen-year-old son, Elwin embarks on a journey to reconcile with his father and their complicated pasts, along the banks of the syrup-slow Black River.
A captivating exploration of forgiveness, redemption, and the enduring bonds of family, Peace Like a River invites readers into a world where love and loss intersect with the healing power of nature and introspection.
Praise for Peace Like a River
“At the center of this excellent novel is a long-withheld secret that both strains and binds two generations of fathers and sons. Scott Gould tells his story with wisdom, empathy, and artistry. He never condescends to his characters; they are fully human in their complexities and hopes. Deeply moving and memorable, Peace Like a River is an outstanding novel.”
—Ron Rash, bestselling author of Serena and The Caretaker
“Peace Like a River, Scott Gould’s captivating novel, explores father/son dynamics from every angle, and like the river so beautifully described, delivers memorable surprises at every bend including a long kept childhood secret. Memorable characters, lively humor, and a cat named Wille Nelson; what’s not to love?”
—Jill McCorkle, bestselling author of Old Crimes and Hieroglyphics
“Peace Like a River is a deftly written, immersive story of a man navigating the treacherous waters of intimacy as both a son and a father, burdened by the past while finding footing in the present. With the raw elegance of a Lowcountry ballad, Gould’s distinctive prose sings of mistakes, regrets, and making peace with it all. I found myself lingering over lines threaded with poignancy, hope, and humor. This is a novel to savor.”
—Kelly Mustian, author of The River Knows Your Name and The Girls in the Stilt House
“Fans of father/son classics like Independence Day and A River Runs Through It will be pleased to find traces of those works (yes, both a river and a road trip figure prominently), but Peace Like a River carves its own path, delivered with a distinct Southern accent and a fearless willingness to wear its heart on its sleeve. This is one of those rare books where you feel like you know everyone personally and want, somehow, for everyone to win. I was rooting hard for all of them.”
—Keith Lee Morris, author of Travelers Rest and The Dart League King
“A soulful, funny, earnest quest for connection, Scott Gould’s Peace Like a River answers old wounds with new growth as three generations of Southerners find common ground on South Carolina’s Black River.”
—Stephen Hundley, author of Bomb Island and The Aliens Will Come to Georgia First
