RIVER EMPIRE

The early 19th century on the Mississippi and Ohio Rivers -- and the story of 17-year old Pierre Dupres' perilous voyage in a canoe from Montreal to New Orleans, seeking the criminals who caused his father's death. Hair-breadth escape, deeds of daring, finally revenge. In the background is Aaron Burr, with his plan to win the Mississippi from the Spaniards. A good adventure story, in swift narrative, weakened by a certain sameness which makes it seem a reflection of other similar stories, and by an unfortunate habit on the part of the authors of forecasting what is ahead.