Synopsis (taken from Amazon)
In Nolin Creek, the water runs deep and the secrets run deeper.
In the harsh landscape of a Depression-era Northern Ontario mining town, Finnish immigrant sisters Hanna and Essi Kivi scrape together a living as domestic workers, sharing a room in a disreputable boarding house owned by a protective madame.
When Hanna’s body is discovered in the icy waters of Nolin Creek, the police call it a tragic accident. But Essi knows better. Her sister would never have risked crossing unstable ice—not after they lost their youngest sister Martta to drowning years before.
Haunted by guilt and driven by loyalty, Essi begins to unravel the secrets Hanna kept hidden. As Essi digs deeper into her sister’s final days, she discovers that in a town built on desperation and dreams for a better future, everyone has something to hide.
A gripping tale of love, family, sisterhood, and the search for truth.
Review
I loved that it’s set in 1933 there’s something is refreshing about a murder mystery where the characters can’t just Google everything to get to the answer. It instantly adds atmosphere and makes the mystery feel more complex.
The characters were genuinely likable, which always makes a big difference for me, and the book itself was an easy, engaging read. It pulled me along without ever feeling heavy or overly complicated, even during the sad parts.
One of the most interesting parts was the structure. The first third being told from the sister’s perspective, and then shifting to the murder victim in the second third, and finally returning to the sister was such a smart choice. It adds depth and slowly reframes everything you thought you knew.
The author does an excellent job digging into the psychology of keeping a secret, especially the shame that clings to it. Those inner thoughts felt real and uncomfortable, and they added so much emotional weight to the story.
There are several solid suspects along the way, and the book really takes you on a journey as you piece together what actually happened. You’re constantly questioning motives and second-guessing yourself, which is exactly what a good mystery should do.
And the ending? I loved it. It felt perfect, satisfying, and earned, tying everything together without overexplaining.
If you like character-driven stories with a strong sense of time and place, this is the book for you.
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