This was…fine. A very unlikable protagonist, but there was a dog so all wasn’t lost.

3.5 stars. Much as I found watching Nora Watts’ self-destructive tendencies and actions, I found her a compelling protagonist as she goes through hell (attacks, misinformation, her own painful memories from her foster care experiences, her later brutal assault, rape, coma and consequent unwanted pregnancy, alcoholism and complete mistrust of others, except for her dog) to locate her kidnapped 15-year old daughter that she gave up for adoption after her pregnancy.
The case involves the adoptive parents, a security company, a shady doctor from Nora’s past, and a large mining company. So, a complicated case that takes Nora all over Vancouver, the interior, and the Island.
And much as I found Nora difficult, I enjoyed this tense story.

whew! what a read. Dark, dirty and downright scary, a book that will keep you awake at night.
Really enjoyed the plot that was well crafted. The protagonist is unlike any you have met before. She is unknowable and terribly damaged.
There were a few glitches and a few circumstances that are part of the "mystery of the unknown helper" but otherwise it was a great read.
Looking forward to the next, as it says it's a series.

I really enjoyed the pacing of this one, it definitely kept me wanting to know more!

Wow when reading this I had no idea it was categorized as suspense/intrigue. I had the impression it was the smartest and most complicated mystery I’d read. It was just so different. I haven’t read too many suspense / intrigue bucks this year but are used to read lots of them. I just started to feel like they were so formulaic and I have a lot of violence. Well there certainly is Action in this one, It’s very original. Definitely worth reading maybe even worth reading again certainly am going to read the second now that I realize this is a serious

Mysteries are my comfort reading right now. When Roxane Gay recommended Sheena Kamal on Twitter, I was delighted to find an ebook at my library. Nora Watts is an unlikable character who gets to you. I can't wait to read the rest of the series.

Reminds me of Denisa Mina's Garnethill.

2.5/5. On one hand, it's refreshing to read a mystery/thriller set in my hometown of Vancouver, BC, featuring Nora Watts, a plucky and self-possessed Indigenous female protagonist. On the other hand, many of the descriptions of Nora, and the Downtown Eastside where she lives, border on stereotypical, down to her alcoholism, transience and sexual assault. While I can appreciate that the author was trying to shine a light on the challenges that Indigenous women face, it just came across as clumsy and tropey.

This was fine. I appreciate that it falls into the very slim genre of mysteries written by women of color that touch on social issues and don’t glorify cops. The climactic, mystery-resolving final 30 pages revealed mustache-twirling caricatures of villains with implausible motives and a propensity for contrived expositional monologues. (“I’ll tell you everything – it doesn’t matter because you’re about to be dead!”) But that’s a common mystery novel problem, so nbd. I like a badass, problematic female antihero. The writing was a little bit clunky, but I got pulled into the story as it progressed. I will probably read more of these, because it’s so refreshing to read a thriller that paints cops as bungling obstacles rather than heroes. I liked the low-key environmental justice themes. I liked that a drag queen and two gay were the most likable characters. I didn’t like the weird moments of totally random and unnecessary transphobia!