This review will also be posted on my Goodreads page. Shutter by Ramona Emerson was great. It didn't go the way I'd expected from reading the description, but it was a really interesting and unique horror novel. Rita is a forensic photographer who has a unique ability. Ramona is haunted- literally- by the ghosts she is able to see. During a recent crime scene investigated, Rita becomes deeply involved after a spirit latches onto her and demands help in finding her killer and releasing the truth. Overall, Emerson's book was very original and I enjoyed the storyline. I will recommend this to my horror loving friends.

Rita is a forensic crime scene photographer for the Albuquerque PD, and she can see ghosts. I loved the way the story moved back and forth in time between Rita's present life, where she is being aggressively haunted by a murder victim who wants revenge, and her childhood, living with her grandmother on the Navajo reservation. The "mystery/crime thriller" part of the story with the cartels and crooked cops wasn't super interesting - Rita is the real show here.

This was an amazing debut novel - creepy, dark, and beautiful (and also epically gross -- that opening scene was really something). I would love to read more about Rita and am putting Emerson at the top of my auto-read/auto-buy list.

Rita Toadachene is a forensic photographer for the Albuquerque. She also sees the dead. As a Navajo, who fear and avoid the dead, both her career and her "talent", causes her Dine family and friends to fear for her safety. And well they should as the ghost of a woman who fell to her death under the wheels of tractor trailers on the interstate is demanding Rita find out how she died.


Normally I'm not a big fan of what I call "woo woo" in my crime novels, but it was handled exceedingly well in this debut. The paranormal is the driving force behind *why* Rita seeks to find out what happened to the dead woman, but does not give her any advantage in figuring things out.

I very much enjoyed this and hope there will be others.

Mystery | Adult
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What a great first novel! This one is packed with vengeful ghosts and set in the eerie New Mexico landscape, and features a compelling protagonist in the form of Rita Todacheene. A young Indigenous person, she is a forensic photographer with the Albuquerque police department, and has earned a reputation for detailed crime scene photos that help solve cases. The book opens with a brutal death – a young woman falls from a highway overpass, and by the time the traffic stops, the evidence markers are scattered for hundreds of metres. Emerson takes the reader from one gory marker to the next, so prepare for a gritty opening. Stick with it as we learn that the orphan Rita grew up on the Navajo nation, living with her grandmother who tried desperately to protect her young charge from the ghosts that only Rita could see. With time and help, Rita learns to keep the ghosts at bay – mostly – so by the time she finishes college, she convinces herself that a job working crime scenes is a reasonable way to earn a living as a photographer. But the constant pressure of wandering spirits eats at Rita’s strength, so she can’t resist the powerful and demanding Erma, who wants justice for those who took her life. This is a complicated, satisfying mystery that offers an honest portrayal of what it might be like to have a supernatural gift. It ain’t pretty. This is the first in a trilogy from debut Diné writer Emerson, who is also an indigenous filmmaker. I bet the TV rights are already being discussed. My thanks to Soho Crime for the advance reading copy provided digitally through NetGalley in exchange for my honest review. For those in Grand Forks (B.C.), you’ll find there’s a copy already on order. Put your request in now; this will be a popular one.
More discussion and reviews of this novel: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/59419625

Shutter is a gritty and poetically written novel about a forensic photographer who is haunted by a victim she took pictures of. Immediately we're propelled into a gruesome crime scene and we're left wondering what exactly happened. I really enjoyed the unique voice and story told. I listened to the audiobook, which was well read by Charley Flyte. I recommend this if you're looking for something dark off the beaten path.

Thank you Soho Press / RB Media and NetGalley for providing this ebook/audiobook ARC. All thoughts are my own.

The book started really strong--the first third was gripping, and the premise was unique and compelling. The latter half fell off for me a little--the pacing didn't quite work, and it felt like the author was trying to do too much or lost focus. That said, I appreciated the juxtaposition of Navajo culture and Albuquerque city life--particularly given the critique it leveled at the carceral state.

There was something interesting about how some of the plot points that in a different thriller would have been a core conversation or revelation were straightforward occurrences here and not at all the focus. For example, there was a former detective she went looking for and got information from that in a different book--that piece of the narrative would have been central, drama-filled, and drawn-out. Here, though, it took place but was not imbued with suspense or treated as a climax. If I were to try to apply some deeper meaning to this approach, there's something to be said for the emphasis on photography while the story itself brings an unusual focus, or leaves out of focus pieces that other story tellers may zoom in on. Sort of an allegory.

I do think this is worth the read for folks who like a thriller and are looking for something that breaks some old molds.

(Content warning: graphic descriptions of dead bodies)

There are definitely elements here that I enjoy - strong female lead, interesting job, gritty setting, learning indigenous culture and history. Overall, this is a solid start for a new crime series - but for some reason I still found it a bit hard to get through.
Thanks so much to NetGalley and to the publisher for the advance copy to read and review. All opinions are my own.

When I read the synopsis of Shutter, I'm positive that I didn't read the whole thing. I remember seeing "forensic photographer", "Navajo Reservation", and "New Mexico", and I jumped at the chance to read it. Using my incredibly focused hindsight, I'm not entirely certain I would have read this book if I'd paid closer attention to the complete synopsis.

Shutter is part crime thriller, part supernatural horror, and part coming-of-age story. Which part would have kept me from reading this book? The supernatural horror part. Normally, I don't care to spend time with that particular genre. What kept me reading? The other two parts, that's what. The crime thriller was taut as a bowstring and often shocking. If gruesome depictions of crime scenes bother you, I would suggest you give this book a pass; however, I did not find the descriptions gratuitous-- they served to open wide the window into Rita's nightmarish world. The mystery wasn't easy to solve either.

The absolute best part of Shutter-- and the part that kept me glued to Rita's side-- was the coming of age aspect. Readers watch Rita as she grows up on the Navajo Reservation with her grandmother, who is deeply worried about Rita's "gift". The Navajo perspective of death and dealing with the dead is very different from most cultures, and I sincerely appreciated the opportunity to learn more about this.

Fortunately, the mystery and the coming of age aspects of Shutter helped keep me from mentally dropkicking Erma the supposed highway overpass suicide into the next world where she belonged-- talk about an annoying character! But... as much as I did enjoy the mystery and learning more about the Navajo culture, I'm not sure I would want to read another book featuring Rita. That indecision has everything to do with my own personal tastes in reading and very little to do with Shutter itself.

Meet Rita Todacheene, forensic crime photographer whose job is complicated by her ability to see ghosts. Chapters of increasing entanglement in present-day shadiness with the cops she works for and some angry spirits who were done wrong on their way out of this world are intercut with chapters from her childhood; her loving grandmother's attempts to temper Rita's increasingly creepy encounters with ghosts, as well as impart a love of photography. While the crime chapters don't break any new ground; crooked cops, drug cartels, etc. (but I did like the descriptions of the technical aspect of Rita's job, and way to go Ramona Emerson with the very bold move of opening the book with Rita photographing <i>that</i> grisly, horrible scene), by far the best part of this book is the chapters about Rita's childhood life with her grandmother and her love of the physical act of photography.

A fast-paced thriller with a strong female lead, Shutter kept me hooked from the first page. I especially loved that the main character was a minority and learned about the Navajo culture while getting to know her better. Highly recommend this book to those who can stomach crimes and death.

Shutter is a crime thriller paranormal horror about Rita, a Navajo woman who is a crime photographer in the forensics unit for the Albuquerque police department. Ever since Rita was a child she could see ghosts, death has always been part of her life one way or another, but now after a series of murders unfolded in town, the angry ghosts of the victims began to wander more often in this realm, restless, demanding that Rita uses her gifts and her job to put the pieces back together and figure it out what happened to them.

I am having difficulties rating this book and I am going to tell you why. I loved this book. I loved the themes in it, the gruesome descriptions of crime scenes, I was really pulled by the different aspects of photography. Having to use your art to meet capitalistic needs while also longing to use your artistic tools in more meaningful , personal and passionate ways. The format of this novel was different, it was like flipping through a photo album and seeing pictures from two different timelines that extends over generations which tells an overall story of love and family, abandonment, loss and grief, white supremacy, disenfranchisement of a people and how it trickles down to the land, the transmission of language and culture. The scenes with the grandmother, Gloria and Rita's mother were very profound, visceral. I cried a few times because of how beautifully the author was able to capture the emotions in those scenes. The kaleidoscope of softness, rage and sadness truly stirred me up. I enjoyed the dual timeline of this, I thought it was helpful in giving Rita's character the proper development we needed to understand her choices, why she moved through the world the way she did. There were quite a lot of stunning scenes in this, scenes and moments crafted by this author that truly blew my mind.

However, here is the thing. I don't think the crime solving part was executed well. It didn't work for me. It felt like something that was thrown in there randomly, I was not invested enough in it. We were rushed into it and told that we should care about Erma, but I wasn't given enough to work with to care about this case. The whole debacle with Garcia and the cartels felt underwhelming. I don't think we were given enough time to care about this part of the novel, to feel any sort of tension or suspense. There was none of that. I also didn't like how some characters were just thrown in there and never seen again. If this is part of a series I will definitely pick up book 2, there is no doubt in my mind about that.

Content warning for: domestic violence, gruesome description of a crime scene, fatphobic language

Despite the issues in this book I still think this is a strong debut. Thank you to the publisher and Netgalley for providing an ARC for an honest review.

My overall rating is a 3.5

Rita Todacheene is a forensic crime scene photographer for the Albuquerque police department. She can also see dead people. At crimes scenes is mostly where she sees spirits of people newly passed, often confused as to what happen to them. Rita can usually ignore what she sees…until Erma. Her death was ruled a suicide and her spirit will not leave Rita alone until she helps her find out what really happened.

Readers gets a beautiful glimpse into life and people of a Navajo reservation, we learn about their rituals and spirituality, and how they view death as the chapters travel from present to Rita’s childhood and explore her relationship with photography and ability to see spirits.

Not quite knowing how to deal with such an ability, Rita runs into trouble, to say the least by trying to help avenge victims of murder. Imagine being on countless murder scene investigations really knowing what happen and unable to say because well, no would believe you and
you have no evidence!

This is a crime, mystery and supernatural novel all in one. And let me tell you, Emerson does not hold back the gruesome details when describing these brutal murder scenes. Makes for a fun read, if your into that kinda thing.

I enjoyed this book. I give it three stars, because I loved the first half but had a hard time connecting with the last half. Too many insignificant characters I couldn’t follow or care about, that when all was solved I didn’t much care. I do think Emerson as something going for writing about the Navajo nation. I’m excited to see what she comes up with next.

This is an excellent addition to crime fiction. Rita is a Navaho raised on the reservation by her grandmother. She is also a gifted forensic photographer, often capturing the clues that solve crimes. There is a secret to her talent, she can see the dead. This ability is more of a curse than a gift when the determined dead victim of a “suicide” decides that Rita must bring her killers to justice or suffer a living hell.

Rita Todacheene is a forensic photographer for the Albuquerque Police Department. While her meticulous photography provides insights, it’s Rita’s ability to see and speak to the dead that really gives her an advantage. After photographing a particularly gruesome death, Rita is pursued by an angry ghost demanding justice. Rita’s ensuing investigation will lead her into dangerous brushes with a Mexican drug cartel and among the ranks of her fellow officers. This suspenseful, well-crafted thriller features supernatural flourishes by an Own Voices author.

Rita Todacheene is a forensic photographer working for the Albuquerque police force. Her excellent photography skills have cracked many cases—she is almost supernaturally good at capturing details. In fact, Rita has been hiding a secret: she sees the ghosts of crime victims who point her toward the clues that other investigators overlook.

As a lone portal back to the living for traumatized spirits, Rita is terrorized by nagging ghosts who won’t let her sleep and who sabotage her personal life.

And now it might be what gets her killed.

When Rita is sent to photograph the scene of a supposed suicide on a highway overpass, the furious, discombobulated ghost of the victim—who insists she was murdered—latches onto Rita, forcing her on a quest for revenge against her killers, and Rita finds herself in the crosshairs of one of Albuquerque’s most dangerous cartels.

This book is an interesting look into the life of a woman who was raised in a culture that is terrified of death, who takes photos of crime scenes, many involving violent death. That Rita has to contend with seeing ghosts adds to the complexity of her life. I really appreciated the chapters that looked at her time growing up with her grandmother.
Although the end seems rushed, it's a very good book and I hope to see more of Rita in the future.

Was a good story with lots of paranormal, suspense and murder involved. First I have ever read of a Navajo woman being the main character and being able to see ghosts. Her job as a forensic photographer has helped solve many crimes. Her secret is that she sees the ghosts of the victims of those crimes telling her where to look to for clues and asking for justice.

Shutter is an interesting book. A Navajo forensic photographer sees the ghosts of the dead. They haunt her all of the time and seem to control her life.
The story is set in two time periods - past and present. The description of the area is superb as are the creation of the characters.
A little slow in the beginning but well worth following through.

Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for an e ARC of this book.
Loved Rita and her Navajo connection. Great read.

I had requested a copy of Shutter through NetGalley and then I had the pleasure of meeting Ramona Emerson at ALA and picking up a print copy of the ARC. When the publisher running the book signing asked if I would be scared of some gore, I laughed at him. But be warned... there's plenty of gore to be had!

Shutter tells the story of Rita, a crime scene photographer who is very good at her job. So good in fact her work follows her everywhere. Since she was young she's been haunted by the dead. And now one of the dead is following her, begging her to solve what was ruled a suicide.

I really enjoyed parts of Rita's story, the flashbacks were as good as the present-day story. The ending felt rushed but overall, I can see Ramona Emerson's film background in parts of the story as it plays out like something seen on screen.

Not your hum-drum mystery! Complex tale of family, love, guilt, trust, corruption, murder, and yes, ghosts - intertwined with Native American magic and a little of the supernatural. Read it in a day.