"The River's End" is a book centered on the theme of two people; constable Durand Conniston and convict John Keith possessing similar physical attributes. After chasing Keith across the frozen wasteland of the frozen Canadian North for four years, Conniston isn't going to be able to make it back and he has come to greatly admire and like this man he hunted down for his honesty and uprightness. Conniston has a frostbitten lung and a short time to live so Keith 'dies' and a 'new' Conniston is born. Will he be able to fool the discerning eyes of Shan Toug? What will he do when Conniston's sister shows up?