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jhbandcats's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
informative
mysterious
sad
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
I wanted to like this more because the story background interested me, but it didn’t quite grab me and I kept getting distracted. I wanted more about Cash’s life and wanted to know more about Wheaton. I’m guessing those will be explored in the next books - I saw that the second in the series has Cash’s brother coming back.
I don’t know the geography of ND and MN around the Red River and I think I’d have enjoyed this more if I had. Cash is always driving to someplace and then back to another place and then off to yet another, etc, but that didn’t mean anything to me so it detracted from the story.
She frequents bars to drink and play pool but I didn’t get the significance of the different bars. I understood that one was more upscale, one had strippers, one was her regular spot, and a few were just places she stopped by, but I didn’t get why the story needed so many. I also thought it was odd that the only Indian who’s even remotely in her circle is Long Braids.
I did like the way the FBI guys were practically faceless automatons. They kept running into her but their racism blinded them to her individuality so they never really recognized her. And I thought the descriptions of prejudice / entitlement were especially good. I felt angry on Cash’s behalf just reading about the way she, as an Indian, was treated. Wheaton - not even the occasional boyfriend Jim - was the only one who saw her as a real person.
I don’t know the geography of ND and MN around the Red River and I think I’d have enjoyed this more if I had. Cash is always driving to someplace and then back to another place and then off to yet another, etc, but that didn’t mean anything to me so it detracted from the story.
She frequents bars to drink and play pool but I didn’t get the significance of the different bars. I understood that one was more upscale, one had strippers, one was her regular spot, and a few were just places she stopped by, but I didn’t get why the story needed so many. I also thought it was odd that the only Indian who’s even remotely in her circle is Long Braids.
I did like the way the FBI guys were practically faceless automatons. They kept running into her but their racism blinded them to her individuality so they never really recognized her. And I thought the descriptions of prejudice / entitlement were especially good. I felt angry on Cash’s behalf just reading about the way she, as an Indian, was treated. Wheaton - not even the occasional boyfriend Jim - was the only one who saw her as a real person.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Alcoholism, Child abuse, Genocide, Gore, Hate crime, Infidelity, Misogyny, Racial slurs, Racism, Violence, Grief, Car accident, Murder, Fire/Fire injury, Abandonment, and Classism
maddamn's review
dark
emotional
mysterious
reflective
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.25
Wonderful. Heartbreaking. Well written. I really enjoyed this book. It’s fiction but plays in the sandbox of real-life trauma and historical issues. This may be a bit dark or triggering for some. But it’s a solid read that will break your heart but admire the unbroken spirit of its main character. Cash is so real, which is why it’s easy to forge connection and feel her pain as your own.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Alcoholism, Bullying, Child abuse, Death, Emotional abuse, Infidelity, Misogyny, Physical abuse, Racial slurs, Racism, Sexism, Suicidal thoughts, Violence, Xenophobia, Grief, Car accident, Death of parent, Murder, Fire/Fire injury, Abandonment, Alcohol, Sexual harassment, Colonisation, War, and Classism
yaoipaddle's review
dark
emotional
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.0
I found Cash's personal life and story more interesting than the mystery/crime. I worry that her characterization is a little repetitive, but I would be willing to give the further books a chance.
I never felt like I was interested in trying to solve the crime myself or guess much of the motive since it seemed like... well we already know what it'll be. The book has a clear message it wants to share with the reader and the crime is a vehicle for that message.
I would recommend this book for someone looking to read more books with indigenous characters and culture. It also has a nice female lead even though at times she is a lil bit "not like other girls". If you solely want it for mystery/crime then I wouldn't really recommend this one.
I never felt like I was interested in trying to solve the crime myself or guess much of the motive since it seemed like... well we already know what it'll be. The book has a clear message it wants to share with the reader and the crime is a vehicle for that message.
I would recommend this book for someone looking to read more books with indigenous characters and culture. It also has a nice female lead even though at times she is a lil bit "not like other girls". If you solely want it for mystery/crime then I wouldn't really recommend this one.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Addiction, Alcoholism, Child abuse, Cursing, Death, Infidelity, Misogyny, Pedophilia, Physical abuse, Racial slurs, Racism, Sexism, Sexual violence, Violence, Grief, Car accident, Death of parent, Murder, Abandonment, Alcohol, Colonisation, and Injury/Injury detail
Moderate: Kidnapping and Fire/Fire injury
Minor: Rape
jourdanicus's review against another edition
mysterious
sad
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.0
This is another one I was so looking forward to reading... A murder mystery with an Indigenous main character sounded like my jam, especially since I really enjoyed Winter Counts when I read it in 2021. Unfortunately for me this plot panned out far too slowly and the story really did not hold my attention well. I'm usually more than fine with a character driven novel, but I needed something deeper than step-by-step descriptions of Cash doing her laundry, driving back and forth from her apartment, and so on.
This book had potential. I felt that the characters were believable and the plot had potential but it wasn't developed enough; it unfolded too slowly and without enough tension building especially for what was supposed to be a murder mystery. I did like the setting and time period, I feel the 70s don't get enough attention in fiction. I liked Cash as a character and was rooting for her! I am looking forward to more in the series, hopefully the author's writing style continues to grow.
Edit: Oh yeah, and there was a bit about Cash having sort of...visions or dreams of what happened to the murder victim and his family. I desperately wanted more of that! It was disappointing that it was only a small piece of the story, and like I said, more time was spent on descriptions of housework and baths :(
This book had potential. I felt that the characters were believable and the plot had potential but it wasn't developed enough; it unfolded too slowly and without enough tension building especially for what was supposed to be a murder mystery. I did like the setting and time period, I feel the 70s don't get enough attention in fiction. I liked Cash as a character and was rooting for her! I am looking forward to more in the series, hopefully the author's writing style continues to grow.
Edit: Oh yeah, and there was a bit about Cash having sort of...visions or dreams of what happened to the murder victim and his family. I desperately wanted more of that! It was disappointing that it was only a small piece of the story, and like I said, more time was spent on descriptions of housework and baths :(
Content Warnings
Graphic: Alcohol
Moderate: Misogyny, Racism, Kidnapping, Death of parent, Murder, and Fire/Fire injury
Minor: Sexual content and Medical content