chanel_elise's review against another edition
dark
mysterious
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
1.5
This story had potential, a Navajo woman that can see ghosts and her occupation is a crime scene photographer, sign me up! Unfortunately, this fell short. The story could have benefited from more editing, as there was a lot of repetition. Also I can admire a person interest in things that I have little to no knowledge about, but this story spends so much time talking about cameras and photography that it began to make me skim read those parts. Too many characters that did not add value to the story or were quickly mentioned. As for the ghost seeing part, I thought that would have taken the bulk of the story but it did not.
The book goes from present to past events, alternating chapters of her current job/life to chapters about her upbringing and past. From reading the blurb I thought this book was going to be about a crime scene photographer that solved murders through getting clues from the victims ghost, and then Rita having to find creative ways of exposing the evidence without her explicitly saying “well the ghost told me.” This book is about one case and Rita’s struggle to live in a world that does not take her “gift” seriously. There are some disturbing details when Rita describes crime scenes and then goes on in live as if nothing happened. The tone was just off.
The book goes from present to past events, alternating chapters of her current job/life to chapters about her upbringing and past. From reading the blurb I thought this book was going to be about a crime scene photographer that solved murders through getting clues from the victims ghost, and then Rita having to find creative ways of exposing the evidence without her explicitly saying “well the ghost told me.” This book is about one case and Rita’s struggle to live in a world that does not take her “gift” seriously. There are some disturbing details when Rita describes crime scenes and then goes on in live as if nothing happened. The tone was just off.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Violence, Police brutality, and Child death
katiecentabar's review against another edition
medium-paced
2.75
I wanted to like this more than I actually did
Content Warnings
Graphic: Gore, Body horror, Injury/Injury detail, Murder, Gun violence, and Violence
butilikeit's review against another edition
dark
inspiring
mysterious
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.75
Content Warnings
Graphic: Violence, Blood, Body horror, and Murder
Moderate: Death of parent and Toxic relationship
Minor: Drug use
lisaarnsdorf's review against another edition
dark
emotional
mysterious
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
Having heard several interviews with the author, I was expecting a pretty gruesome book; she sure delivered. The opening was almost shocking in its explicit descriptions of a murder scene.
Overall, I really liked this book. My main complaints are: 1) the author uses an alternating timeline, with every other chapter being in the past and the present. As the two timelines converged, I started to get really confused about where we were in time. And the past timeline dragged on a little too long. 2) The ending was morally ambiguous and too convenient. It felt like a cop-out in some regards.
I hope this becomes a series because it's a really interesting premise!
Overall, I really liked this book. My main complaints are: 1) the author uses an alternating timeline, with every other chapter being in the past and the present. As the two timelines converged, I started to get really confused about where we were in time. And the past timeline dragged on a little too long. 2) The ending was morally ambiguous and too convenient. It felt like a cop-out in some regards.
I hope this becomes a series because it's a really interesting premise!
Content Warnings
Graphic: Gun violence, Violence, Murder, Car accident, Death, Child death, and Gore
bzliz's review against another edition
dark
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.25
This supernatural thriller is told through a split timeline: half in the present day where Rita is a crime scene photographer and half in the past where she is growing up on a Navajo reservation, fostering a talent for photography and meeting with spirits of the dead. A particularly tenacious ghost- Erma Singleton- keeps inviting harm upon Rita for apparently not working hard enough to bring about justice for her death. Even after Rita is suspended from her job, Erma relentlessly hounds and haunts her, and she starts to piece together the truth of what happened.
I don’t really feel like I know Rita even after finishing the book. Photography seems to run in her blood- her mother and grandmother also were bit by the bug- but I have no clue if she has a passion for it or if she does it but she’s good at it. Part of me thinks her lack of personality is showing readers how drained she is by the ghosts who haunt her.
The descriptions can get grisly, particularly right at the beginning and at the judge’s house. The action takes a big backseat until the last third of the book when it really pops off. I was a little surprised by the ending becauseI really thought it would make sense for Rita to die after her prolonged exposure to violent spirits so she can finally be free of their interference but instead she is condemned to life, forever aware of the ghosts of the dead that surround her.
I don’t really feel like I know Rita even after finishing the book. Photography seems to run in her blood- her mother and grandmother also were bit by the bug- but I have no clue if she has a passion for it or if she does it but she’s good at it. Part of me thinks her lack of personality is showing readers how drained she is by the ghosts who haunt her.
The descriptions can get grisly, particularly right at the beginning and at the judge’s house. The action takes a big backseat until the last third of the book when it really pops off. I was a little surprised by the ending because
Content Warnings
Graphic: Blood, Murder, Violence, Medical content, Drug use, Body horror, Gun violence, and Injury/Injury detail
hayleemarie's review against another edition
dark
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Body horror, Gore, Murder, Death, Death of parent, Grief, and Violence
Moderate: Racism, Sexism, and Colonisation
Minor: Sexual assault and Sexual harassment
mayhem9683's review against another edition
dark
mysterious
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Police brutality, Terminal illness, Blood, Body horror, Death of parent, Drug use, Gore, Grief, Injury/Injury detail, Racism, Violence, Murder, Death, and Child death
Moderate: Gun violence, Alcohol, and Eating disorder
librarystan's review against another edition
adventurous
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.0
Great mystery centering on a Navajo crime scene photographer who is haunted by the ghosts of the victims she photographs. Not as scary as I was expecting it to be, but a satisfying crime procedural told from an interesting POV. Photography fans will enjoy the lists of cameras the main character shots on in the beginning of each chapter.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Murder
Moderate: Violence
Minor: Domestic abuse
laughatlantis's review against another edition
dark
informative
reflective
tense
medium-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
4.75
This book is part haunting & eerie ghost story, part fast-paced & gruesome crime thriller, part love letter to photography, and part insight into Navajo life & culture. Beautifully written, occasionally hard to read because of the depth of content. Fantastic.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Child death, Body horror, Death, Violence, and Gun violence
audreylee's review against another edition
dark
mysterious
sad
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.0
This was poorly marketed. Yes, there is a mystery but most of the book is focused on the culture and character of the main protagonist. Other than graphic descriptions of the dead photographed for forensic investigations, there was very little mystery related material until the last 70 pages. The writing and character work is fantastic. The mystery, a little less so.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Gun violence, Violence, and Body horror