Back from the Deep
How Gene and Sandy Ralston Serve the Living by Finding the Dead
by Doug Horner
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Pub Date 12 Mar 2024 | Archive Date 16 Jan 2024
Steerforth Press | Steerforth
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Description
A powerful debut for fans of deeply reported stories that follow real people with obsessional passions, and of authors like Tracy Kidder, Sebastian Junger, and Patrick Radden Keefe
When the police and FBI exhaust their abilities and options, and when grieving families run out of resources, their last best hope has been an Idaho couple who have spent their retirement years pursuing lost causes — and have located 130 victims from lakes and rivers across the United States and Canada.
Gene and Sandy Ralston, a married Idaho couple in their mid 70s, are self-taught underwater search-and-recovery specialists who volunteer their time and equipment. And yet the Ralstons are counted among the best in the world. The Ralstons have an uncanny knack for finding bodies in deep water and can regularly find a missing person within hours, sometimes even minutes, of launching their boat.
Law enforcement and emergency response agencies seek out their peculiar expertise, but when the Ralstons' home phone rings it's usually a family member of a missing person. Someone reaching out after the local police and volunteer groups have called off the official search. Someone who heard from a friend of a friend about a couple from Idaho who will travel thousands of miles at the drop of a hat — charging only their travel costs — to help complete strangers.
Advance Praise
An "inspiring look at two people doing demanding work to bring closure to the families of drowning victims.” — Kirkus Reviews
“Doug Horner tells us the story of an extraordinary couple who, like the Ferryman in ancient mythology, help the missing get to the other side by finding the certainty of their death. A moving story of this couple's dedication and love as told by a skilled writer.” — Dr. Pauline Boss, author of Ambiguous Loss and The Myth of Closure
"Part character study, part science, part detective story, Back From the Deep takes the reader places few of us have ever gone, and does so with curiosity and compassion in equal measure." — Sallie Tisdale, author of Advice for Future Corpses
"Back from the Deep is a riveting exploration of ambiguous grief and compassion. Horner's skills as a storyteller are on full display as he interweaves rigorous science reporting and a compelling narrative about an astonishing couple. The Ralstons have, through their unique combination of kindness and genius, found a way to provide some solace to the grief-stricken when there is seemingly nothing else to be done. Horner tells their story in all its complexity and always with empathy. This book will stay with me for the rest of my life." — Christina Frangou, independent journalist and recipient of Canada's Landsberg Award
"Doug Horner's Back from the Deep takes readers from the literal cold depths of tragedy and loss, to the peak of human generosity — with some fascinating science along the way. This book is a well-crafted portrait of a remarkable couple. An achievement." — Marcello Di Cintio, author of Driven: The Secret Lives of Taxi Drivers
Available Editions
| EDITION | Other Format |
| ISBN | 9781586423841 |
| PRICE | US$29.95 (USD) |
| PAGES | 320 |
Available on NetGalley
Featured Reviews
Monica E, Reviewer
Explore the unknowns within an ecosystem of a kin eye to discovering the elements of a good book! 🤓
Recommend this book. 📕
Danielle W, Reviewer
Thank you NetGalley and Steerforth Press for sending this book for review consideration. All opinions are my own.
This is a story of a couple, Gene and Sandy Ralston, who run an underwater search and retrieval operation with their own boat and equipment including sonar devices that bought themselves. They volunteer to search lakes for those who have drowned and have not been found. They have found 130 victims – including some for the FBI. The book is interesting in the way it highlights exactly what the Ralston’s searches mean to those who are missing their loved ones.
The author does delve into the science behind the technology as well as how death is viewed in diverse cultures by using some mythology (the Ferryman) and some from other author’s works. He does reference exactly where the information comes from so if the reader is interested, they could read more on the topics discussed. Sometimes the science and other information was above my head which took me out of the story.
However, I do believe that this is worth the read. Underwater retrieval is something I have not read much about and this book has piqued my interest in this area.
Rebecca H, Reviewer
When people go missing, law enforcement investigates. But when law enforcement is not able to find the victim, the Ralston's are asked to assist. During their career, in their retirement, they have found over 100 bodies of those who have gone missing in bodies of water. From those who have been missing only a short time, to many who have been missing for years, this couple uses sonar to find the bodies of loved ones for their families.
What a book! Oh my goodness. I could not read this one fast enough. I was amazed at what they have been able to accomplish. They deserve so much more recognition for their work.
Amazing and engaging, this was a fantastic book!
Jade C, Reviewer
Thank you NetGalley and Steerforth Press for sending me an advance copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
This book is about an extraordinary couple Gene and Sandy Ralston who are both in their 70's, and are underwater search-and-recovery specialists. This involves voluntarily using their own boat and sonar equipment to help local authorities and even the FBI, locate missing people when all other avenues have failed. They offer this service, their own personal equipment, and their time free of charge and just ask for just the cost of the gas it takes to use the apparatus. Incredibly they are self-taught, and counted among the best in the world at what they do. So far have help to locate over 130 missing people.
What an extraordinary story. I was very interested in this book when I read the synopsis as we have recently had a missing person in the town where I live and sonar services were used in the search.
This is a really interested book, not really about true crime but more about people who give their time to help families put their loved ones to rest.
Valerie S, Reviewer
An amazing story about an elderly couple who have spent a long time doing sonar searches and recovery for the bodies of people who have drowned. A moving book about how talented and empathetic they have become at doing something many others have tried and failed at. Sadly, they haven’t been able to find anyone to take over as they age out of being able to continue this endeavor.
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