In 1766, an itinerant peddler brings news of riches in gold to a Hudson Bay Company outpost, which he discloses for a small reward to Magnus Norton, chief factor of the post.

Norton, struck with visions of a rich retirement, decides to conceal the news from company officials and conspires with John Shaw, his deputy, to reap the wealth for themselves. Because of his post duties, Norton is unable to make the journey to the site of the gold, far to the north in the country of the Esquimaux. Instead, he commissions Shaw to lead a small expedition of trusted participants to retrieve and share in the riches.

This action sets in motion a series of incidents leading to dire consequences for the men besotted with greed, as well as those they will encounter.

Shaw, who soon proves himself a strong but brutal character with little respect for the indigenous people, recruits Abel Walker, Norton's nephew, a callow youth, unsure of himself and eager to please his uncle and Shaw, and Thomas Hearn, a seaman stranded on the nearby lake by winter. Hearn, to me the most interesting of the characters, is a man at war with himself. Earlier in life, he prepared to be a clergyman; then, disillusioned by family tragedy, he lost his faith and forged a new career at sea. Yet, he is still solitary and struggling to find himself as the novel begins.

The prospectors outfit themselves from company stores and hire two Dene tribesmen and their wives as guides and servants and set off into the far north of present-day Manitoba.

Along the way, harsh weather conditions force them to bivouac for a time with a friendly band of Indians before continuing to their destination. It is here that the younger of their guides loses his new bride in wrestling matches, first to another Indian, and then to Shaw. The girl is returned to her husband after Shaw has satisfied his lust and offered turns to Walker and Hearn. This incident marks a turning point in relations between the gold hunters and their guides. While it is important to the plot, I'm inclined to doubt it as an accurate portrayal of the character of these native people, who history shows were generally respectful of their women.

The team finds and recovers gold, but not without arousing the anger of the Esquimaux, resulting in more violence.

White River Crossing is a harsh and brutal adventure novel, but one guaranteed to keep you turning pages to find out what happens next. Ian McGuire's research enabled him to write a believable depiction of the time and place with compelling characters and a satisfying, though anticipated, ending. For those like me who enjoy that sort of thing, he includes a bibliography of his sources.