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War Creek
When ostracized daughter Agnes Clayton, now middle-aged and alone, returns to the wilds of the Northwest after a life in various western cities, she is determined to make moving her father out of their family home in War Creek as quick and painless as possible. Reconnecting with her estranged father, a retired ranger, proves difficult at best, and extracting him from his fiercely beloved ranger station seems impossible. Over the course of a long summer she becomes entangled with opposing forces in the isolated rural community in the Cascade Mountains. Agnes hopes to answer questions from her past and find not only closure but redemption. War Creek exposes the dark secrets that lurk in every family. Set in stunningly harsh yet beautiful wilderness, the novel bridges past and present to reveal the hidden truths Agnes so desperately seeks. Susan Marsh’s debut novel poignantly explores family dynamics riddled with guilt, grudges, and half-truths.
296 pages, Paperback
First published October 8, 2013
2 people are currently reading
19 people want to read
About the author
Susan Marsh
3 books7 followersI am a writer, naturalist, and artist. The beauty I find in forests and mountains never fails to move me, and I have never strayed far from places that inspire me. I am interested in people’s ability to discover hidden aspects of themselves through encounters with wild nature, and how we change as a result. Whether in the form of a novel, memoir, non-fiction narrative, or poem, these are the things I write about.
Although I have lived in Jackson Hole, Wyoming for over 25 years, I consider many places part of my home range: the fabulous mountains and ocean beaches of the Pacific Northwest, where I grew up, and special places I have encountered in my travels while living in the Northern Rockies.
I hope you enjoy my books.
Although I have lived in Jackson Hole, Wyoming for over 25 years, I consider many places part of my home range: the fabulous mountains and ocean beaches of the Pacific Northwest, where I grew up, and special places I have encountered in my travels while living in the Northern Rockies.
I hope you enjoy my books.
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Displaying 1 - 7 of 7 reviews
April 2, 2015
Susan Marsh's debut novel, War Creek, delves into the dynamics of one family's complicated history of abuse, deceit and vindictive secrets. Agnes's older brothers are far too busy for their dad, Clayt, so they recruit her to return home to the War Creek Ranger Station. It is Agnes's responsibility to help their aging father downsize to a smaller house, and this is her first trip home in twenty years. But estrangement is almost too cozy a word to describe Clayt's relationships with his adult children. The closer Agnes gets to the station, the more the resentful memories flood her consciousness, "like a fresh slap." She wants to turn and speed back to her life. But she doesn't.
Of course, it takes considerably more time than a week to get the old ranger moving.
Marsh's prose is so beautifully descriptive that the smell of the majestic Ponderosa pines rising above the rocky ravines briefly takes me back to the mountain trail rides of my youth. The Cascade Mountains themselves are protagonists. Agnes is the only daughter with five much older brothers. According to family legend, her eldest brother loses his life in the Vietnam War. Her cantankerous father, Clayt; the bear guy, Hunter; and the dog, Tuck, as well as a small group of secondary characters, round out a memorable cast. All of Marsh's characters are well-developed and individually unique. Agnes' father is an angry and bitter alcoholic. His verbal abuse requires a thick skin. But as days turn into weeks, she begins to see a different side of him. And his rhetoric slowly softens. Her memories of growing up at the ranger station string their way through the novel, and Agnes eventually realizes she actually has some good memories.
Father and daughter explore mountain trails as they help Hunter in his quest to locate the elusive grizzly bear, although she feels that "riding with Clayt was like riding alone." He compliments Agnes's expertise with handling the horses, making camp and her campfire cooking. She reminds him that her outdoor skills exist because he is a good teacher.
Agnes's relationship with Hunter develops at a believable pace. Both are single and well into their thirties, they find unexpected friendship, and then love. It is almost sweet at times, in what is certainly not a sweet novel.
Damaged family relationships thread their way through all events in the novel. The tense pacing keeps the reader involved and anxious to see what will happen next. Forest rangers are kept busy with wildfires, and lost hikers in the mountains. Injuries and even death occur randomly, almost as if reading a newspaper. Retired Clayt is summoned back to ranger duties, assisting younger rangers more than once since he knows the mountains better than anyone.
Reconciliation with her mother is in the realm of expectations, but this is definitely not a predictable novel. Agnes finds peace when she finally realizes the meaning of recurring bear dream. Warning: this is a page turner and the reader may lose sleep, I did. But War Creek is worth it.
by Ann McCauley
for Story Circle Book Reviews
reviewing books by, for, and about women
She resolved to simply have it over with: help him pack his belongings and vacate the ranger station where he had resided for over forty years. Then get out as soon as possible. It wouldn't take a week.
Of course, it takes considerably more time than a week to get the old ranger moving.
Marsh's prose is so beautifully descriptive that the smell of the majestic Ponderosa pines rising above the rocky ravines briefly takes me back to the mountain trail rides of my youth. The Cascade Mountains themselves are protagonists. Agnes is the only daughter with five much older brothers. According to family legend, her eldest brother loses his life in the Vietnam War. Her cantankerous father, Clayt; the bear guy, Hunter; and the dog, Tuck, as well as a small group of secondary characters, round out a memorable cast. All of Marsh's characters are well-developed and individually unique. Agnes' father is an angry and bitter alcoholic. His verbal abuse requires a thick skin. But as days turn into weeks, she begins to see a different side of him. And his rhetoric slowly softens. Her memories of growing up at the ranger station string their way through the novel, and Agnes eventually realizes she actually has some good memories.
Father and daughter explore mountain trails as they help Hunter in his quest to locate the elusive grizzly bear, although she feels that "riding with Clayt was like riding alone." He compliments Agnes's expertise with handling the horses, making camp and her campfire cooking. She reminds him that her outdoor skills exist because he is a good teacher.
Agnes's relationship with Hunter develops at a believable pace. Both are single and well into their thirties, they find unexpected friendship, and then love. It is almost sweet at times, in what is certainly not a sweet novel.
Damaged family relationships thread their way through all events in the novel. The tense pacing keeps the reader involved and anxious to see what will happen next. Forest rangers are kept busy with wildfires, and lost hikers in the mountains. Injuries and even death occur randomly, almost as if reading a newspaper. Retired Clayt is summoned back to ranger duties, assisting younger rangers more than once since he knows the mountains better than anyone.
Reconciliation with her mother is in the realm of expectations, but this is definitely not a predictable novel. Agnes finds peace when she finally realizes the meaning of recurring bear dream. Warning: this is a page turner and the reader may lose sleep, I did. But War Creek is worth it.
by Ann McCauley
for Story Circle Book Reviews
reviewing books by, for, and about women
August 27, 2014
With richly drawn scenes and thoughtful, well-crafted prose, Susan Marsh has created a striking backdrop to a complex family story. Wounded Agnes Clayton returns home when her elderly curmudgeon of a father must leave his home and work post of many years, the War Creek Ranger Station in Washington’s beautiful North Cascades. As Agnes struggles to make peace with her father and her troubled past, she uncovers long-buried family secrets and finds unexpected love in a kindred spirit. The plot is as complex as real life; some issues never resolve. But Agnes forges on through conflict and tragedy as nature, friends, and wildlife help her heal from past and present hurts. I was hooked all the way to the last sentence, which shocked me with its simplicity and perfection.
As a reader who delights in wild nature, I loved Susan’s vivid descriptions of geography and weather, but more, I loved this story of friendship, love, and the difficult family relationships we cut our teeth on.
As a reader who delights in wild nature, I loved Susan’s vivid descriptions of geography and weather, but more, I loved this story of friendship, love, and the difficult family relationships we cut our teeth on.
March 27, 2016
The author spins a story that engages the reader completely through a strong sense of place and a search for identity. Honest, straight forward, and realistic, the novel explores the complexities of family dysfunctional dynamics and the fierceness of the feminine spirit. Unpredictable yet believable with an ending that speaks to hope and healing. Life goes on, taking interesting twists and turns throughout.
March 31, 2015
I read this for book club, and it was a mixed bag. The author, who was herself in the forest service, writes wonderfully and descriptively about the Cascades, and about nature in general. Plotting and characters, however, are not her forte.
April 8, 2015
It took me awhile to warm up to this one, and in too many ways it was a downer, emotionally. Too much loss, too much baggage. If it were not for the hopeful ending and the beauty she describes of the North Cascades wilderness, I probably would've given it only three stars.
August 25, 2014
A wonderful story with a strong sense of place and peppered with rich morsels of natural history. Thoroughly enjoyed this novel!
January 27, 2015
A tad dramatic in storyline. But beautiful descriptions and sense of place. Makes me want to go hiking in the north cascades.
Displaying 1 - 7 of 7 reviews