Reviews
There is no doubt that this book will make the top 10 favorite books I've read in 2019, its just so good. While this book is a thriller and a novel of short stories, the combination of the two makes it amazing. Its different from anything I'd read in years, maybe ever. The disappearance happens in the first chapter, and it is brought up in every chapter somehow, but the book is really about all of these people and the region. The story of Ksyusha was my favorite, the emotion was just so strong. I recommend reading each chapter fully, before taking a break from the book - it adds to the experience. Before reading this book, I didn't know where Kamchatka was and couldn't have told you a thing about it. Now I'm fascinated by this region, its native peoples and culture, and the history of it. The interweaving of loss, identity, gender, nationalism, memory, and what it means to live in post-USSR society as themes elevates it to being so much more than a typical thriller. I knew before I read the book that the author was not Russian and its her debut novel, and I am amazed about how good the writing is and how she seems to capture the region so well. I highly recommend this book!