Our Titles
Cane River
Fiction/Horror/Suspense
ISBN 1-891799-66-5
Hardcover - $16.95
Publication Date: 2006
BatWing Press
Just beneath the surface of the average Texas town of Cane River lies a mystery that tangles the town like the strange vines that slither into yards and swallow up houses. Early in the town’s history, a little girl disappeared, and innocence was lost to the town forever. Only Eugene Wheeler, whom most people consider to be a kook, may have the answer to the source of the vines, and to the identity of the little girl who appears with them.
Bill Wheeler returns to his hometown following the death of his wife and unborn child. Their deaths have set his life on a downward spiral, making him abandon his high-paying job, their home, and everything else that he worked so hard to build. He returns to Cane River lonely, looking to reconnect with his crazy father and to try to forget the pain of his loss. But as he arrives, strange occurrences begin to surround him. Phantom breezes in his apartment, strange voices from empty rooms, and a little girl who seems to want more from him than he knows, follow him – and only his father seems to know why.
He meets Sandy Duprie, a single mother with an undeserved reputation, who may be able to help him through his grief, but before their relationship can blossom, the strange little girl with the too-wide smile takes something precious from them both, leading him on a journey of terror into the heart of the Texas swamp that is Cane River.
Praise forCane River
“A classy supernatural tale that will tangle you up and hold you tight until the last word on the final page is read. Scott kept me interested from page one. The characters are richly drawn...the last 25-30 pages will have your heart smacking furiously against your ribs.”
- Brian Yount Wicked Karnival Magazine
“The story was creepy and unsettling and left me completely cold. Seriously, ice water in my veins kind of cold. It gave me the shivers, which isn’t easy to do! I’m a big fan of ghost stories, and this is a stellar example. Rooted in American soil, but definitely containing an element of the more disturbing Asian ghost tales. The image of Madison will, without a doubt, continue to haunt anyone who reads it long after they’ve put down the book. She was both sympathetic and horrifying at the same time. Beautiful, haunting and ultimately terrifying - it’s a ghost story no horror fan will want to miss.”
- Morgan Ploutz Reviewer, Dread Central
“Scott Johnson gets better and better. The story of mysterious and dangerous vines, a small girl gone missing fifty years ago, and a man who thinks he’s going insane, all intertwined in the disappearance of five young boys, Cane River is fast-paced and foreboding. The language is evocative and crisp-you can feel the humidity and the darkness. The characters are nicely honed, and the plot moves through the darkness with well-timed twists and speed. With Cane River, Scot Johnson has developed a clear, steady voice for writing that entices you into his world, where it’s all very scary indeed.
Read this one with a weed-whacker next to the bed.”
- Beverly Braud Professor of English Texas State University
San Marcos
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