A review by queerafictionado
Knife River by Justine Champine

emotional mysterious sad medium-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Character
  • Strong character development? It's complicated
  • Loveable characters? It's complicated
  • Diverse cast of characters? No
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

4.0

 Knife River is categorized as mystery/suspense, but the mystery components of the story weren’t what I found most compelling. While this story is in fact a mystery, in my opinion it is mostly a story about grief, loss, and family. Jess and her sister Liz processed their mother’s disappearance in very different ways, partly because of their ages at the time, and partly because of their different relationships to their mother. When Jess turned 18 she left home, moving from girlfriend to girlfriend, barely even experiencing her own life. Liz stayed in their home in Knife River, working the same job, and channeling her grief into a search for answers. 

You do eventually find out the truth of what happened, but the part of the story that moved me the most was the ever-evolving relationship between Jess and Liz. They spent years on the periphery of each other’s lives. But when their mother’s remains are found, they get thrust together again. As the story unfolds, the dynamics begin to shift as they finally communicate with each other about their grief and memories and lives. They slowly begin to build a new kind of relationship together. 

I also loved the messy dynamics between Jess and her high school girlfriend, Eva. Jess left without saying goodbye, but it’s clear that a decade later the pull between them is still as strong as ever. Except now things are even messier than before and their relationship is still something that can’t see the light of day. 

There was a lot I really enjoyed about this story - the small town vibes, the mystery, the messy relationship dynamics between Jess and Liz and Jess and Eva (really Jess and everyone), the sapphic romance subplot, the quirky old lady/friend, the different twist on forced proximity, the flawed characters trying to find their way through complicated situations. I was expecting a bit more mystery and suspense in the story, but all in all it was an enjoyable read. And I can’t wait to read what Champine releases next!

🏳️‍🌈Rep: Lesbian MC, Sapphic Pairing

📝Tropes/Themes: mystery, family relationships, grief & loss, sisterhood, return to hometown, second chances, small town 
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