BACK FROM THE DEEP

The story of an Idaho couple who have spent their retirement years searching for and recovering the bodies of drowning victims.

In this debut book, Canadian writer and editor Horner chronicles how he joined the Ralstons on a number of recovery missions over a three-year period. Traveling in a motor home and hauling their specially equipped boat, the couple have covered much of the U.S. and Canada, using sonar to explore lakes and rivers for lost bodies. Despite a somewhat rambling presentation, the author provides a good general picture of how the Ralstons’ technology works, but this narrative is less about tech than human interest: the story of the Ralstons and the people they have encountered during their missions. Sandy and Gene met on a college biology trip to Mexico and went on to work as environmental consultants and take part in scuba diving trips around the world. Later they built and raced jet boats. In 1996, when they lost a friend in a boating accident while surveying the Snake River, they found a new focus in life. After experiencing the loss of a friend, they found they were adept at connecting with the families and friends of those they were searching for. Working in concert with local police and the families of the missing, they use eyewitness evidence and other local knowledge to help them narrow their search patterns, but when it comes time to drop their sonar “torpedo” into the water and look for objects on the bottom, their expertise is the deciding factor. Not all their searches are successful—of the ones Horner was along for, only a couple yielded results—but their record, and their dedication, are truly impressive.

A straightforward, inspiring look at two people doing demanding work to bring closure to the families of drowning victims.