There were things I loved about this book and things that I didn't really like, but chose to overlook because I was enjoying the story. First of all, this book absolutely grabbed me from the beginning.

Not a spoiler to say that one of the main characters has breast cancer and is going through various procedures--the author is a breast cancer survivor--and the detail and description of Laura's experience was so realistic and heart-breaking. It made me have a visceral reaction to something happening to a character, which is not something I've ever experienced reading a book.

The case itself had a very similar set up to the case on the Bear Brook podcast (which the author credits in her acknowledgements) except this story was set in New Mexico near the Gila National Forest. Having spent a little time in NM, I can see how much care and detail the author put into fleshing out these spaces as well.

The two main character POVs I really liked and I understand why the third POV was the victim herself and what the author was trying to achieve with that, and I've seen others dismiss it as not liking the ghost POV without really connecting to the intent behind it. That being said, I would agree that it was not a favorite part of the book for me.

Thirdly, I wish the second half of the book had happened more slowly. It really ramps up into the case and I felt like some really emotional punches were almost glanced over. I wish we could have spent more time with the characters in those moments, rather than continuing on with the case work.

Overall, though, I really enjoyed the story and the descriptions really got to me, so just for that unique experience, I have to rate this one highly. (As a person who hardly ever gives 5 stars.)