The Diviner’s Tale

Novelist and editor Bradford Morrow's latest novel, The Diviner's Tale, tells the story of Cassandra Brooks, a single mother of twin boys, who is as versed in Greek philosophy and mythology as she is in dowsing land for untapped sources of water. Cassandra also has been gifted with foresight, and during a routine dowsing job, she "sees" a dead girl hanging from a tree. Her vision leads authorities not to a dead body, but rather to a bewildered, runaway girl, Laura, wandering in the woods after escaping from a kidnapper. This sets in motion a plot that mysteriously and delicately weaves Cassandra's history of visions with her desire to help Laura recover from her traumatic experience. As the plot progresses, Laura serves as a means of contemplation for Cassandra, who is also grappling with losing her ailing father, memories of her long dead brother, and coming to grips with how her own sons are changing. But when the vengeful kidnapper resurfaces, Cassandra's adept foresight determines whether Laura lives or dies. In the end, The Diviner's Tale reads as a powerful extended metaphor for reflecting on the past in order to trust one's intuition.