I had read about this book and was excited to be accepted for an ARC. Thank you to the publisher, and NetGalley, for this.

'Knife River' is a novel about Jess - a late twenty-something who returns to her home town of Knife River (where her older sister Liz lives, still in the family home) after some bones are found. Their mother went missing years before, when Jess was a child, and no-one ever knew what happened. When Jess arrives, she finds her sister still living a lonely existence as has always been the case, working in a bank and never having dated anyone. It becomes clear that Jess' old love interest from her high school days - Eva - is still in the area and it isn't long before the two women start seeing each other again.

The novel is about a mystery that was never solved - who did kill Natalie, Jess and Liz's mother? The local police force are not helpful. One of them is seeing Eva, who is also sleeping with Jess. Towards the end of the novel, Jess plans to move to Maine and gives Eva the ultimatum of joining her. With Liz relocating to New Hampshire, the ties they have to Knife River are soon going to be severed.

In the main, this is well-written, although there are many cliches which go against the overall reading experience. Clunky, over-used phrases describe how Jess feels, her emotions, for example, and I think Champine could have addressed these in a more original way. Regardless, this is a mystery but also a love story, one that seems to end quite happily.

Possible spoilers

3.5 🌟

Two sisters in limbo, not knowing what happened to their mother after she walked out of their house.
For one, her life has stalled, for the other, she's restless and unsatisfied with everything it seems.
They pulled on my emotions, the thought of those children, left there, not knowing, with a seemingly not very good police force.
This is very much the slow burner, and all the better for it, so we get to know Knife River and its inhabitants.
I felt the who dunnit was so very obvious,but maybe I've just read too many of these books.
The ending left me with a smile.

Ideal for fans of slow-burn mysteries and character study told in a distinctive voice. With thanks to the author, publisher and NetGalley for the opportunity to read an early copy in exchange for an independent review.

When the bones of their mother is discovered after being missing for fifteen years two sisters reunite at the family home in the hopes of the killer being found .A very involving read and wonderfully written.

Knife River is a little literary delight with huge amounts of atmosphere, a kind of a noir feel and two unforgettable sisters at the heart of it.

The setting is quietly claustrophobic, there's a mystery at the centre of this story but less the focus of it, Knife River is deeply layered character drama and a compelling one at that.

I read it all this afternoon, not so much to find resolution of event but more so I could see where the characters ended up, I was hooked into it right to the end.

Beautifully written and intriguing.