The Underground River Audiobook By Martha Conway cover art

The Underground River

A Novel

 Preview

$0.00 for first 30 days

Try for $0.00
Access a growing selection of included Audible Originals, audiobooks, and podcasts.
You will get an email reminder before your trial ends.
Audible Plus auto-renews for $7.95/mo after 30 days. Upgrade or cancel anytime.

The Underground River

By: Martha Conway
Narrated by: Hillary Huber
Try for $0.00

$7.95 a month after 30 days. Cancel anytime.

Buy for $17.62

Buy for $17.62

Confirm purchase
Pay using card ending in
Switch payment method
By confirming your purchase, you agree to Audible's Conditions of Use, License, and Amazon's Privacy Notice. Taxes where applicable.
Cancel

It's 1838, and May Bedloe works as a seamstress for her cousin, the famous actress Comfort Vertue - until their steamboat sinks on the Ohio River. Though they both survive, both must find new employment. Comfort is hired to give lectures by noted abolitionist Flora Howard, and May finds work on a small flatboat, Hugo and Helena's Floating Theatre, as it cruises the border between the northern states and the southern slave-holding states. May becomes indispensable to Hugo and his troupe, and all goes well until she sees her cousin again.

Comfort and Mrs. Howard are also traveling down the Ohio River, speaking out against slavery at the many riverside towns. May owes Mrs. Howard a debt she cannot repay, and Mrs. Howard uses the opportunity to enlist May in her network of shadowy characters who ferry babies given up by their slave mothers across the river to freedom. Lying has never come easy to May, but now she is compelled to break the law, deceive all her newfound friends, and deflect the rising suspicions of Dr. Early, who captures runaways and sells them back to their Southern masters.

©2017 Martha Conway (P)2017 Tantor Family Life Fiction Genre Fiction Historical Fiction Freedom Ohio
All stars
Most relevant  
The story was interesting, but I couldn’t get over the narration. I felt like it was so monotone. I stopped listening halfway through and wasn’t going to finish. But then had nothing to listen to on the plane so I finished it. I really wish it would’ve been narrated by someone else.

Interesting story

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.
I was given this book in exchange for an honest review. I loved the Story line and the idea about it. Grew to love or hate the characters. Just thought the climax came late in the book and didn’t last as long as I’d like. Would have like to if had more saving or the Slaves or another book. I was glued to the book the whole time. Read in about 2 days. Well written the descriptions where believable at times I felt I too was on the boat. If you like historical fiction you’ll like this book.

Really enjoyed it

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.
Historical fiction isn't usually my first choice, but I loved this book. The characters are exquisitely drawn and the story pulled me in immediately. highly recommend it!

I'm a Historical Fiction Convert

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.
As the story unfolds, the characters come to life and the intricacies of a well woven tale begin to draw one in. It took a few chapters before I was fully engaged, but then I couldn't wait to get back into the car for another "Audible" commute.

While the narrator did a wonderful job with credible character voices, accents and expression, I did not enjoy the voice of the protagonist, May. May seemed too modern for the setting, as well as monotone and unenthusiastic.

The tale seems well researched and offers an interesting view into life on both sides of the river, North and South, during the pre-civil war era. The scenes of life on a floating theater were as entertaining as its characters, and the subtle romance was a long-awaited reward.

Just kept getting better.

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.
This book started out a little slow but turned out to be a great story. Enjoyed it very much.

A little slow at first but a great book

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.
Great character development and beautiful descriptions. I felt as if I could breathe the air she described and feel the temperature. I was swept into the story right away. The author does a fantastic job with her words of bringing this story to life. The narrator is a perfect conveyer of the characters. She uses different voices for each person.
Highly recommend!!

Excellent historical fiction audiobook

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.
The Underground River is a wonderful book with complex characters, relationships, and a rich description of an important part of American history. Martha Conway is an excellent writer and I look forward to all of her books to come!

A riveting story, well written!

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.
took too long to get to the meat of the story. narrator sounds like robot.

horrible narrator. good story

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.
This novel was a fantastic 'read', with excellent writing, engaging characters and a solid plot. I learned so much about many different topics, including more about the horrors of slavery and those who attempted to help the enslaved, and those who worked hard to make their lives worse. The Floating Theater and its troupe was fascinating. May's character arc is very satisfying, and the last chapters are as fine an ending as you're likely to find. This is great Historical Fiction, as well as a great novel in general. Hillary Huber does a superb reading, as always. Highest recommendation, I don't think anyone can read this book and not be moved and thoroughly entertained.

Great novel

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.
It was an interesting read with a good ending. I enjoyed learning about theatre ships and the abolitionist participation

Underground river

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.