Knife River introduces 28-year-old Jess attempting to live a more exciting life than her small-town upbringing could provide, especially given that 15 years ago, her mother disappeared and no one has been able to uncover what happened. When Jess’ older sister, Liz, who has stayed in the house they grew up in, calls to inform her that their mother’s body has been discovered, Jess returns home and ends up dealing with even more confusion than she expected.

I really enjoyed the tone and pacing of this story–less focus on the “mystery” itself and more contemporary fiction with a healthy dose of drama and intrigue. I was initially disappointed by the lack of a traditional mystery-novel structure, but by the end, I was captivated by the intimate portrayal of the often-difficult family dynamics and the slow rebuilding of the sisters’ friendship. Jess’ tension with her former high school girlfriend played out so well as they reconnect, while also dually scrutinizing, earnestly and uncontrived, the experience of growing up queer. Top off the tension with the backdrop happenings of small town America and I’m hooked.

Right from the prologue, I was sucked in–quick and to the point, yet so full of detail and intrigue. This really caught my attention because I rarely find a prologue that feels important enough without being too overt. The sense of loss is laid out right from the jump and certainly sustained throughout the whole story. As someone who has experienced quite a bit of loss in my 28-years of life, I felt so connected to Jess and the often mundane way her losses permeated every thought and decision she has made (and continues to make). Her sister as well–they showcase how the obsession of loss can worm its way into every part of your life unless you actively don’t let it.

At some points, though, I was a little bored with the lack of mystery given that is essentially what the plot circles around. I wanted more of a build up, and while the answers we receive make sense with what we come to know of this town, it felt a little rushed without much lead up. Still, the emotional nature of this story and the heart of the characters is what shines through and makes this a great read for drama fans.

A beautiful story of two sisters, Jess & Liz, looking for long lost answers to what happened to their mother. Jess returns to her small town where things seem to never change. What unfolds is not only a mystery but a lovely story of reconnection and healing. There were so many ups and downs and as the story neared the end I couldn’t help racing to find out what happened. This book just rips your heart apart and then mends it back together slowly.

Natalie Fairchild walked out of her house and never returned, leaving her then teenage daughters alone to fend for themselves and enter a 15-year long waiting period – waiting for word of their mother’s whereabouts, waiting for answers to their questions, waiting for something, or anything, to happen. Then…

“Her bones were discovered by a group of children playing in the woods.”

The discovery brought Jess, now 28, back to Knife River, a town that looked and acted much like it had when she left and began her unrooted life bouncing from one relationship to another, one home to another, one family to another. Her sister Liz, now 33, reacted oppositely to her mother’s disappearance – staying in her childhood home, never changing routine, and growing more and more obsessed with solving her mother’s vexing disappearance and then death.

Upon returning, Jess sees the characters of her past through new lenses, wondering which of them might be a killer living in plain sight.

“He was just in the fabric of my memory of this place — one of the many threads making up the tapestry of a life beginning, the things you don't dwell much on but couldn't forget if you tried: a loose floorboard, identical at first glance to all the rest, under which treasures could be hidden. What branches on a certain tree in your old yard lent themselves to climbing. The face of a woman who doled out lunch in the school cafeteria the way hanging folds of purplish, creepy skin nearly covered her eyes. Bill was somewhere in that tapestry for me, a figure in the background, digging around in the trunk of his blue van.“

Other “threads” included a former love, a long-time suspect, a kindly and quiet neighbor, a former coworker, and many more.

The town is painted with a worn out and colorless brush, which amplifies the feeling of returning to a place that is not changing, growing, moving or progressing. Liz and Jess may appear they are dealing with their circumstances in different ways, but they are both stuck at the same point in their history. It’s not until the case closes that the sisters’ lives finally gain forward momentum.

At times, the story is bogged down with extraneous details of the town, the atmosphere, or just philosophizing in general, but overall the story is captivating, the characters and town are relatable, the suspense is real, and the mystery has depth. Knife River is an entertaining read, which I can confidently recommend, and a strong debut for Justine Champine.

Thank you to The Dial Press for the ARC of this book through NetGalley, which I received in return for my honest review. Review will be published to Goodreads on the tentative publication date of May 28, 2024.

Jess returns to her hometown of Knife River when her mother's body is discovered fifteen years after her disappearance. This book grabbed my attention from the start, but then dragged as months in Knife River went on with little progress on the mystery or with character development. The ending was ultimately satisfying; I would recommend only if you are willing to take a very slow journey to get there.
Thank you to The Dial Press for providing this book for review consideration via NetGalley. All opinions are my own.

Thank you to The Dial Press and Net Galley for providing me an ARC of this book to review!

I went into this thinking it was a queer thriller, and I think I would have enjoyed it much more if I hadn't had that initial mindset. While the book does technically revolve around cold case murder, it's certainly not a fast paced, scary story.

One thing I think the author really does well is her portrayal of the complete feeling of hopelessness and feeling stuck that comes with intense grief. I also really appreciated that they captured this feeling without the story itself becoming stagnant.

The 'twist' at the end wasn't too surprising, and it did feel a little too close to the final chapter for me. However, I did like how the book wrapped up in the end.

This is completely stunning--the sharp exacting sentences, the thrilling plot. This book feels so special. I loved the voice. It's absolutely heart stopping.

So I actually didn't even know that this was the author's debut novel until I got to the last page, which I thought was cool. I am already looking forward to the next book from the author!
In 2010, the body of Natalie Fairchild is found after she has been missing for fifteen years. With the discovery of her body, we follow Jess who comes down to Knife River and there, reunites with her sister Liz, who has never left Knife River.
Although her body has been found, the police have absolutely no interest in helping the sisters with the cold case. With the past trudging up old and new things, Jess is forced to confront who she is and how her mother's disappearance really affected her as well as her sister.
I am such a sucker for true crime, so whenever I picked this book up, I really couldn't put it down.

Thank you to Dial Press, the author Justine Champine, and NetGalley for this Arc. It was such a pleasure reading it!

Aww, I’m going to miss spending time with some of these characters! Hmm…Knife River might be one of my favorite books I’ve read this year, and it might be one to re-read. I think it will appeal to a wide audience. It’s actually hard to think of a reader I *wouldn’t* recommend this to, but I hope/expect that Knife River will see a lot of love from literary fiction fans in particular. It’s lovely and emotional and — oh!, ha! — one delightfully hilarious little passage cracked me up, in the dark, while reading at 1am. I am already eager to read whatever Justine Champine creates next! Thank you to Random House Publishing Group for the DRC of Knife River, which I requested after seeing it praised by an author I admire. Publishes May 28, 2024.

Wow - I absolutely loved this novel! In my opinion, this was one of my better reads of the year. It was relatable, poignant, and well written. I would not classify this as suspense or as a triller though. It was more of a slow burning domestic drama.

Jess and Liz’s mother disappears in their adolescent/teenage years. Told from Jess’ point of view, Knife River is a true journey of self discovery.

The characters are deeply derived and written. The location is familiar. The story line is interesting. The ending was perfection.

Although this book was a slow burn and not filled with twists and turns, it has stuck with me a lot more than most.

I highly recommend giving Knife River your attention!

Thank you to NetGalley and The Dial Press for the opportunity to read this ARC before its intended release date in May of 2024.

The author does a great job of vividly portraying how a tragedy can cause someone to become "stuck." Liz had planned to leave the small town of Knife River, NY to go to California for college, but her plans were halted when her mother disappeared and she was left to raise her younger sister, Jess. While she has a steady job and one friend (Brenda, a former coworker of her mother), her life has otherwise been put on hold, waiting for her mother to reappear or for the body to be found. It is the discovery of her mother's bones that starts out the novel and which will bring Liz's sister, Jess, back to Knife River. Jess and Liz are estranged, and Jess is surprised and saddened to discover that the family home, where Liz lives, has become rundown and is filled with trash and clutter. Jess fled Knife River as soon as she could, and has had a somewhat transient life, finding work that keeps her occupied and financially solvent but does not really sustain her, and going from one girlfriend to another, unable or unwilling to commit to a long-term relationship; even when in a prolonged relationship, she metaphorically has one foot out the door.

The author's description of Liz suggests she is on the autism spectrum. Her meticulous nature and ability to hyperfocus is beneficial in her job as a bank teller but combined with her very blunt/frank manner of speaking, she is socially awkward and off-putting. This does not help her in her interactions with the sheriff. Liz (and Brenda) is convinced she knows who is responsible for her mother's disappearance/death and is frustrated that the sheriff did not do enough at the time of the disappearance, and still won't do anything. Jess does not have that same certainty, although agrees that the individual in question is the most likely suspect. Jess had not intended to remain in Knife River long, but the investigation of the remains is proceeding slowly, Liz needs help/support, and Jess has reconnected with an old girlfriend, whose situation is very complicated. The longer Jess stays, the more she learns about both her sister and her mother. Secrets will be revealed (including the truth about their mother's disappearance), only to be replaced by new secrets, and possibly, with those secrets safely buried, a chance for both Liz and Jess to really live.

When I first read the description of this book, I assumed it was going to be a mystery or thriller.; when in fact, it’s more of a family/hometown drama centered around secrets and despair in a rather depressing town. The story centers around a woman returning to her hometown to find answers about her mother’s disappearance, However, the author successfully depicts what life in Knife River is really like. It’s a dark place and felt like every day was shrouded in shades of grey, heavy clouds, and lack of sunlight. The author does an exceptional job of what it’s like to go back to this town and what it feels like to live there.

I felt the book dragged a bit, but it’s a solid plot and atmospherically intriguing. The story of sisters, family trauma, and what your childhood can do to you as an adult is an intense one. It’s not for everyone; but, I’d recommend to certain audiences. Thanks to Random House and NetGalley for the ARC.

If you like cold cases with a heaping side of messy and chaotic lesbians, Knife River is for you.

15 years after her mother disappeared, Jess Fairchild returns to her hometown of Knife Rivers. Bones were found, and they’ve been identified as her mother’s.

The discovery of her mother’s remains don’t breathe much life into the case, but being back in Knife River does dredge up all the emotions that Jess has been shoving aside for years. She has found safety in moving from place to place to girlfriend to girlfriend, never staying anywhere for long, never really falling in love. Now, back in her childhood home and with her older sister Liz, Jess has to confront who she is and just how profoundly her mother’s disappearance affected her.

Knife River is a true crime novel with a distinct literary bent; Jess reminds me at times of a Kristen Arnett character. This is a novel that takes its time overturning old memories and relationships; it examines gender and social dynamics, the socioeconomics of rural towns that once boomed with industry before being deserted, the ways in which siblings experience vastly different childhoods, and what it means to carry fear and secrets and responsibilities deep down in your bones.

I don’t generally trend toward the mystery/true crime genre, but I would recommend Knife River to anyone who enjoyed Broadchurch.

Thank you to the Dial Press and Katy Nishimoto for the NetGalley arc in exchange for an honest review.

This book started off with a tough trope: a main character who's drifting through life aimlessly, weighed down by trauma and not really wanting anything. While being free of the burden of desire is enviable in this late capitalist hell, it's not necessarily something that's interesting to read about. This is reflected interestingly, though, in the setting of a small town that's also just withering away, featuring a sister who's somehow stagnating even worse as well as an ex-girlfriend that the MC, of course, never got over after ten entire years (girl, you good?).

Knife River definitely falls more on the Literary Fiction side than Mystery & Thriller, keeping up the same drifty and desultory pace as the main character's life for the majority of the book, with just enough unanswered questions and a pleasantly atmospheric writing style to maintain my attention. I guessed the culprit earlier than I would have liked but was still surprised by a few turns along the way - this was ultimately a good read.

My thanks to Random House and NetGalley for ARC.

Knife River was quite interesting! I love reading about female relationships - platonic and romantic, and reading about sisters is always particularly intriguing. The characters of Jess and Liz were complex and I loved the setting of Knife River. Liz's character was especially interesting because of how obsessed she is with unsolved missing persons cases. I liked the uncovering of theories and how messy and complicated things became.

This is my first ever written review so here goes…

Jess and Liz’s mother has been missing for fifteen years. When the book begins, the mother’s remains have been found in woods near where she was last seen. After Jess receives the call from her older sister, Liz, she returns to their childhood home.

This book was a debut novel and was more women’s fiction than a suspense thriller. It explored how the mother’s disappearance impacted the sisters’ lives, from their relationship with each other to how they interacted with others, as well as the choices they made in life.

There were parts of the storyline I found to be uneven and some of Jess’s decisions seemed a little unrealistic to me. Additionally, some passages of the book were more descriptive than I prefer. However, I appreciated the conclusion of the book and thought it was one of the better endings I have read over the last year.

Overall, I recommend this book. Thank you to the publisher for my ARC. My review will be posted on Goodreads, as requested, in the week prior to publication on May 28, 2024.

I like this one I felt the characters were well developed and plotted and it was well paced overall it was a good book
Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for letting me review the book

This was an interesting book! Troubled sisters that had stayed separated for years until their mother's remains were finally uncovered. I appreciated seeing the growth of these characters throughout.

The pace was too slow so the story felt like a drag. It felt like for a long time, the story wasn't advancing neither was the characters' development. Unlike my expectations, it more talks about the impacts on people when their mother disappears than tries to solve the mystery. Overall the book felt sparse and overly sad.

The year is 2010 and the body of Natalie Fairchild is discovered after she has been missing for fifteen years. This brings her daughter Jess, 28, home to Knife River, a dying town in northern New York near the Canadian border. There she reconnects with sister, Liz, 34, who has remained in Knife River and still lives in the family home. Through the story we see that with both Jess and Liz they feel these fifteen years have been wasted time, for Jess because she has wandered aimlessly about, never settling down to anyplace or anyone and for Liz because she’s been incapable of any movement at all.

The discovery of the body means the sisters focus anew on their main suspect from years before, Nick Haines, but the police don’t seem much interested in following up on the cold case. Jess also meets up with Eva, an old high school flame who is now dating the cop in charge of the murder investigation. Can the sisters find justice for their mother?

This was a pretty depressing book, which is to say the author did a good job showing the dismal prospects of Knife River, the homophobia of 2010 and the general malaise of the sisters. There was a brief flare of hope at the end, so that was nice, and some good imagery, “sometimes it seemed like that was all that could be done: either find the person who could hold you afloat in turmoil, or be that person yourself to somebody else. Taking turns, getting through it, until your final day.” So, not the cheeriest subject matter but recommended.

This was very slow and read like a first draft. There were some mistakes in characterization that made it feel like the author hadn't reread their writing. It was a struggle to finish--the story idea was fine but the sister didn't seem like real people and the whole book hinged on them, their lives and their relationship with each other.