his is a story about the people involved with a 15 year old, very popular, school girl whofound murdered and left in the snow at a playground. When I requested it I thought it was more of a murder mystery, a suspenseful thriller. It is really more of a study on 3 characters that Lucinda knew in some way or another and if you will be reading this novel, you might enjoy it more knowing that going into it.

We have a boy who is socially awkward and "different" who is secretly in love with Lucinda and somewhat stalks her. There is an odd girl, Jade (like the stone), who would like to see Lucinda dead, for reasons we find out during the read. I was really fairly fascinated with her and she was the most interesting character in the whole story to me. Then, there is the cop who is investigating the crime. I thought the book very well written and has some beautiful language at times. I also felt it too long and I didn't really want to know all of that about the characters. It was not a page turner for me. I didn't get to that point of "not being able to put it down"until about 85%. There are plenty of reasons to like this book. It was an ok read for me, but not memorable. Mostly it was just too long for the payoff and I often felt frustrated. But, that's me. I have noticed the reviews are all over the place on this one.

I would definitely be interested in reading more by this author. I want to thank NetGalley and the publisher for an ARC to read in exchange for a review. Recommended for those that like mysteries.

In one sentence? I held my breath all throughout this book. I have read it in a couple of nights. I really wanted to see what else main characters would come up with. I read it for the exploration of characters rather than a story itself.

The story of Girl in Snow is told from perspective of 3 voices: two teenagers (boy and girl) and one adult (police officer). It is told in fragments, memories, thoughts and impressions.

Author has done a great job creating characters that stay with you even after you unraveled the story.

tangled untangled
snow and blood
black eyeliner and acne
bitten nails and smelly clothes
boobs and laughter
purple and yellow
ballet shoes and cracking bones.
cigarettes and old wine
Readers see secondary characters through the eyes of a teenage boy who is struggling with everything (tangled untangled), even touching and a girl who is in conflict with the world and even her own body (black eyeliner and acne).

Is it YA book? No, not really. Girl in Snow is reading for parents of teenagers. It is an adult book about young people. When written from teenage perspective it is all raw, acute, sharp, overpowering and overwhelming.

We, adults, take everything in our stride, relying on our experience, using previous lessons and references. We are more interested in getting from A to B (who killed the girl in snow and why), getting a result, rather than in feelings, emotions, sensations of the journey itself.

It is all new for the teenagers. They are unexperienced, unprepared. Every new feeling is the end of the world. Every new incident is the journey to another planet…

If you liked Gillian Flynn and her Sharp Objects (or even Gone Girl), you will love Girl in Snow. If you are a parent of a teenager, you need Girl in Snow (to get a perspective, to get a glimpse of what our kids are going through… because we already forgot what it was like to be an alien in our own body and head)

Girl in Snow is an amazing book in its rawness, sharpness and unravelling…

This is author Danya Kukafka outstanding debut novel. This is a thriller that takes the reader on a never ending ride of twist and turns. At times I found the violence hard to get through but the plot is masterful as is the dialogue. the characters are richly drawn and woven appropriately into the story line. The plot gains momentum as do the clues and suspects throughout. A very compelling read and one of my favorite authors of the year. Thank you Net Galley and the publisher for the ARC.

This story captivated me right from the start. It had a strange voyeuristic quality as the story is told from several perspectives as we try to figure out who killed high school student Lucinda Hayes. I felt like I was peeking inside the inner thoughts and following along with the actions of the possible suspects. In some ways this reminded me of the The Lovely Bones. Thank you to Net Galley, author and publisher for ARC in exchange for my honest review.

Thanks to Net Galley and Simon & Schuster for an ARC of this book in exchange for a review.
The murder of a a 15 year old girl - Lucinda Hayes, the small community are shaken. The story starts off really well and then takes a different direction as the focus is on a few of the characters and their problems rather than the murder mystery I was expecting
Who killed Lucinda, there are quite a few suspects - Cameron who was obsessed by her, Ivan the school janitor, Jade who seemed jealous of Lucinda. I didn't particularly like any of the characters, the story moves along rather slowly with a predictable ending.

Girl in Snow by Danya Kukafka tells the circumstances surrounding a suspicious death told through the eyes of 3 characters. High School student Lucinda Hayes is found dead covered in snow on a playground. The circumstances of the day she died and the investigation that follows is told alternately through the eyes of a boy who nearly stalked her, a girl who envied her, and the detective investigating the murder. Not everything is what it seems and some memories have been buried. The story unravels the memories and people in this mystery. I enjoyed this book but have read better thrillers in this genre. I received a digital copy of this book from the publisher in exchange for my honest review.

A popular high school girl is found dead on a playground, covered with snow. No one knows how or why she got there. During the investigation into this murder, we meet three people whose lives have been greatly influenced by this girl, Lucinda. One is a police officer looking for the murderer, another an obsessed, love struck boy who appears to have been stalking her for years, and the third, a social outcast who disliked Lucinda for a number of reasons.

The three are bound to each other, and to Lucinda, in various familial and social ways. The story unfolds with each of these three characters describing how they have been impacted by Lucinda, a girl who seems to have had it all: brains, good looks, and popularity. The book is structured with each of these main characters expressing their point of view in alternate chapters. Both the boy and the misfit have motives to kill Lucinda, and the mystery builds until the end when we discover what happened and who is to blame.

I enjoyed this book, although I wasn't on the edge of my chair. This is not the usual thriller. It is more about the people and their relationships. This author's description of two of the main characters was brilliant. The love struck boy, and the misfit girl were incredibly unique and believable, although I didn't find the police officer as interesting. Overall, I felt this book was very good for a first novel, and it kept my interest, but was not exceptional. However, I do hope to read more from this author in the future.

Note: I received an ARC ebook from the publisher in exchange for an honest review.

Thanks to Netgalley, Simon and Schuster and Danya Kukafla. I loved this book. Had me guessing and questioning at every turn. Loved every character, and how they intertwined. The ending was surprising and this book kept me reading late into the nite.

A young girl is found dead in the snow and the author leads you on a twisted path into the minds of possible killers. Cameron a boy who has many psyscological problems and an unhealthy facination with the dead girl. Jade a girl horribly abused by her mother and who hated the dead girl. Mr. O the art teacher who was so friendly with Cameron's mom is found with something of the dead girls he shouldn't have. Russ the cop who is to sort out the details and find out who killed her also has secrets in his life. You'll be sucked in and have a hard time figuring "who did it" and why and you won't want to quit reading till you find out.

I so love the cover and the blurb looks like something I’d enjoy. Plus, I’ve read somewhere that it is one of the books to watch out for in August. Naturally, my interest is piqued. I am excited to immerse myself in the mystery of Lucinda Hayes’ murder. But then, it wasn’t what I am expecting at all. I was expecting to read an intriguing and mysterious pursuit of Lucinda’s killer. Not only that, I was prepared to read more about her since she’s the girl in snow, right? But instead, I found myself reading stories of 3 individuals in the wake of Lucinda’s murder investigation. Not what I was hoping for at all. I am disappointed, yes, and it doesn’t help that the characters are unlikeable. It is so hard to get into I abandoned it, a lot of times. But I didn’t lose my faith in it, it looks like it got potential and so I carry on. And as I read on, things slowly picked up. But that’s the thing, it took a long time. And when it finally did, I feel like something is missing. And before I know it, it’s over and I am left wanting for more.

One thing I really admire in Girl in Snow is the writing. It is written lyrically which is such a surprise for a debut. There are also two POVs from teenage kids so it has a YA vibe to it, though I'm not sure if this will appeal to YA readers. Overall though, it is a solid read. A bit disappointing, sure, but wonderfully written nonetheless.

Beautiful, popular teen Lucinda Hayes is found murdered and the book alternates between Cameron, a boy who was in love with her; Jade, the girl who wanted her life; and Russ, the man assigned to investigate the murder. The characters were well-drawn and real, and the story had enough twists and turns to keep me reading on wanting to find the truth. Good, entertaining read!

This book started off great and mysterious but then it fell flat and I struggled to continue reading it . I got about halfway and had to call it quits and as a result will not be reviewing this for my blog as I only review books I can finish.

What goes on in the minds of the people who surround us, individuals who are there but invisible, going about their daily lives while we are involved in our own personal minutia so that even if we notice their presence they are an afterthought?

That is the case in the novel Girl in Snow by Danya Kukafka, a murder mystery which slowly reveals the guilty party via the personal reflections of three troubled souls who are somehow interconnected within the borders of the small town of Broomsville located in Northern Colorado. Fifteen year old Lucinda Hayes has been murdered on the carrousel at the playground of the local elementary school found by the night janitor, Ivan, an immigrant from Mexico with a criminal past. Cameron Whitley, Lucinda's next door neighbor, has been obsessed with this beautiful teen, spending his evenings as a stone statue watching her movements. Cameron's thought processes are a little strange as he has difficulty relating to others, becoming "Tangled" when situations are ltoo stressful for him to handle. Detective Russ Fletcher, a colleague of Cameron's dad (a man who deserted his family several years previously), has vowed to watch over his former partner's son keeping a promise to someone who ended up on the wrong side of the law. Cameron fears he will one day develop the evil characteristics which sealed his father's fate, despite his inner sense of love for his long departed dad. Then there's Jade Dixon-Burns, a girl who exhibits no empathy, not since she was rejected by her childhood friend who decided he'd rather hang out with the alluring Lucinda than remain cohorts with his fat, pimply companion from elementary school days. Through their collective thoughts the details of that fateful February night are slowly revealed with their paths intersecting as the surprising truth - clearly visible the entire time - finds its way to the surface.

Slowly is the key word. The reader must be patient as each trail is examined to see if it is a true path or a dead end. The bizarre contemplations of these three characters lead us to false conclusions time and again, yet within these premises are the clues necessary to solve the mystery. While I was curious to see how the author would reveal the perpetrator, I do wish she was a bit more purposeful and a little quicker in wrapping up a story which left a few too many strings dangling at the conclusion.

Three and a half stars and a thank you to Netgalley for providing this ARC in exchange for an honest review. This review also appears as on my blog, Gotta Read.

This book followed the point of view of three different people, which I love in a thriller. Cameron, Jade and Russ are all completely different. Cameron was extremely lonely and misunderstood, he was stalking Lucinda. Jade used to be friends with Lucinda, but now hated her. She has a rough family life in the way of her mother not understanding her. Russ was the policeman set to take on the case. I loved that you got a ton of internal dialogue through each point of view, it really helped you to understand each characters actions.
This book was very mysterious. For this reason I read it in one sitting, because I just had to know what was going to happen and what happened to Lucinda. I thought the writing flowed beautifully and each character’s point of view added a lot to the story. I did think the story dragged a bit, throughout the middle, which I find a lot in mystery/thriller books.
Overall I was interested in each character a lot, especially Lucinda. I thought the story was told in very unique way, but was not so much an extremely unique story. I would recommend this book if you enjoy books told in multiple point of views, with gorgeous writing, and a large air of mystery throughout.

Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for a digital ARC in exchange for an honest review!

This book revolves around 3 main characters who have one thing in common - concern for the death of a local high school girl named Lucinda. Cameron, the shy next door neighbor, secretly watches Lucinda's every move. Jade, an abused classmate, feels like Lucinda took her boyfriend and her job. Finally, there is the cop, Russ, who is assigned to work the homicide.

The book flipflops between each of the 3 character's stories. Sometimes within each chapter there are flashbacks as well as the current story. This point of view is pretty interesting, but it was a little hard to keep up with at times.

I liked the author's style of writing. It is almost poetic at times.

Popular high school student Lucinda Hayes has been found murdered in a playground with her neck snapped and buried in the snow. Who has committed this terrible crime? Enter in the novel's three narrators: Cameron, the boy who loved Lucinda too much; Jade, the unpopular girl who envied Lucinda's life; and Russ, the local cop who is assigned to find out what happened.

Each chapter of GIRL IN SNOW is told by one of the narrators in a way that unravels the story of what happened to Lucinda on that fateful night, ultimately leading us to our killer. Along the journey we get to know Cameron, Jade, and Russ. We learn their personal struggles, the strange ways in which they are connected to each other, and how at the end of each day we all hold secrets from the people closest to us. While Lucinda Hayes may be gone forever, the ways in which she has touched our narrators will remain through time.

Danya Kukafka's debut novel is a character study into three seemingly different individuals who are in reality more similar than they know. Cameron, Jade, and Russ each hold a secret near their heart that they would do anything to keep from being revealed. The narratives individually and together weave a story of heartbreaking loss stemming from a love that turned to obsession. Despite vastly different stories, the damage is just as great for each character.

Unfortunately, promotion of this novel, led me to believe that I was picking up a mystery/thriller, which this novel very much is not. I was disappointed as I expected more of an exhilarating story than I received. I was never able to truly feel sucked into this novel and despite wanting to know who the murderer was, my reading speed slowed down dramatically in the middle of this book. Kukafka's GIRL IN SNOW would be perfect for a reader looking for a character study, but those looking for a true thriller should look elsewhere.

Thank you to Simon & Schuster, Danya Kukafka, and NetGalley for providing me a free digital copy of this book in exchange for my honest and unbiased view.

This was less of a thriller or whodunit than I anticipated. The focus is less on what happened to Lucinda and more on the unhappiness of those around her. The story follows Cameron, Jade, and Russ, each one as miserable as the next. I didn't find any of them personally relatable; if anything their loneliness and solitude made me kind of uncomfortable. It was hard to think that there would be redemption for any of them but I was surprised by the upswing at the very end. It kind of made the rest of the book more bearable, in hindsight.

This was a book more about people and relationships than suspense. It was told by the viewpoint of 3 different people, all who have issues of their own. I enjoyed seeing how everyday people lives can intersect with each other. I did find it a little hard to understand sometimes because it skips from present to past and back again a lot, but after awhile you start to understand the characters and it all comes together.

I don't know about this one. It made me feel uneasy. I often wanted to stop reading it, but kept reading it, because I wanted to know who killed Lucinda...

I got an e-copy of this book from the publisher in exchange for an honest review.

Thanks to NetGalley and to Simon and Schuster for the preview copy.

Although the blurbs about this book are calling it a thriller, a page-turner, etc... I found it to be more of a coming of age story wrapped in layers of mystery- much like coming of age is in real life.

The main characters of the novel are exposed inch by inch as the story progresses. Yes, there is a murder and yes, no one is truly sure who done it, but that was not the focus of my reading. I loved the way the author portrayed both Jade and Cameron, who turned out to be ever so much more than I would have thought.

I look forward to more from this young author. Excellent debut!