Book Reviews, Find Your Next Read

Book Review: Where They Last Saw Her by Marcie R. Rendon

In Where They Last Saw Her, Marcie R. Rendon weaves a hauntingly powerful narrative that not only grips the reader with its suspense but also sheds light on the grim realities faced by Native American women. The novel, set on the Red Pine reservation in Minnesota, follows Quill, a determined and resilient protagonist, as she grapples with the disappearance of a woman from her community—a catalyst for confronting systemic injustices that have plagued her people for generations.

The story begins with Quill’s morning run, an activity meant to prepare her for the Boston Marathon, interrupted by a scream in the woods. What she finds—tire tracks and a single beaded earring—propels her into an investigation that exposes the horrifying vulnerability of Native women. Rendon’s use of this seemingly ordinary moment transforms it into a chilling metaphor for how quickly safety can be stripped away.

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Book Reviews, Find Your Next Read

Book Review: What Have You Done by Shari Lapena

Shari Lapena has done it again with What Have You Done, a chilling and twisty tale set in the seemingly idyllic town of Fairhill, Vermont. Known for her talent in crafting domestic suspense, Lapena expertly transforms Fairhill from a sleepy, trusting community into a landscape of fear and suspicion after a young girl, Diana Brewer, is found dead in a hayfield. With vultures circling overhead and an air of menace settling over the town, Lapena dives deep into the darkness lurking behind closed doors.

What Have You Done by Shari Lapena

At its heart, What Have You Done is more than just a murder mystery—it’s a sharp commentary on the societal dynamics that enable violence against young women. Lapena skillfully portrays how quickly suspicion can spread, as the police draw up their list of suspects: the jealous boyfriend, the male teacher accused of inappropriate behavior, and the creepy customer who harassed Diana at her job. These characters feel all too familiar, not just in fiction but in the real world, where stories of young women harmed by those around them are all too common.

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