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A review by autumn_alwaysreadingseason
Shutter by Ramona Emerson
dark
sad
tense
medium-paced
3.5
Rita is a Navajo woman who becomes a forensic photographer even though her people believe that there should be no contact with the dead. To make matters worse, Rita can see and speak to ghosts. Her supernatural ability helps her in her job, but her grandmother and Mr. Bitsilly--a medicine man--plead with her to stop using it for her own wellbeing.
The book opens with a grisly crime scene, as Rita photographs the scattered remains of a young woman--Erma--on a highway. Emerson writes in extraordinary detail, so if you are averse to gore and violence, beware. When Erma realizes that Rita can see her, she starts interrupting her daily life, to the point where Rita is severely affected and other people begin to notice. When she tells the truth, she gets put on administrative leave. Erma's fury and desire to have her case solved only gets stronger though and Rita begins a full-scale investigation in her off time.
I thoroughly enjoyed being with Rita--learning about her introduction to photography, witnessing her relationships with her grandmother and mother, seeing how her ability evolved over time. I didn't care as much about the actual crime and solving it--especially when it was revealed to be a drug cartel story.
The book opens with a grisly crime scene, as Rita photographs the scattered remains of a young woman--Erma--on a highway. Emerson writes in extraordinary detail, so if you are averse to gore and violence, beware. When Erma realizes that Rita can see her, she starts interrupting her daily life, to the point where Rita is severely affected and other people begin to notice. When she tells the truth, she gets put on administrative leave. Erma's fury and desire to have her case solved only gets stronger though and Rita begins a full-scale investigation in her off time.
I thoroughly enjoyed being with Rita--learning about her introduction to photography, witnessing her relationships with her grandmother and mother, seeing how her ability evolved over time. I didn't care as much about the actual crime and solving it--especially when it was revealed to be a drug cartel story.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Body horror and Death