The Secrets of Still Waters Chasm by Patricia Crisafulli ~ a Review

by MK French

Gabriela Domenici and her boyfriend Daniel Red Deer are hiking when they find a strange construction site in the middle of the woods. They find a woman's body and a man convulsing, so they go for help. Upon returning to the scene, the two bodies and all of their gear are gone. Trying to research the area, Gabriela meets herbalist Lucinda Nanz and Wendy Haughton, a young woman desperately trying to escape her abusive husband. Despite warnings to stay out of the investigation and Daniel's urging to not get involved, Gabriela is determined to discover the truth. This puts her at odds with people who will stop at nothing to stop her.

Amazon affiliate links are used on this site. A free book was provided for an honest review.

September 2023; Woodhall Press;‎ 978-1954907645
ebook, print (308 pages); mystery

While this is book two of a mystery series, it is read as a standalone novel in a part of upstate New York that doesn't actually exist. It's inspired by the Adirondacks and many of the natural sites present. We have references to an event that nearly killed her and left her with flashbacks and jumpiness, and little snippets of how Gabriela was nearly the third murder victim. Her work in the library leads to meeting Lucinda, who has an encyclopedic knowledge of herbs and flowers, as well as an extensive garden and some potentially deadly specimens in her collection. Daniel isn't wrong when he calls her stubborn, and the continual reminders from others about her trauma push her to keep trying to dig into what happened to the dead couple. Everyone tells her to slow down, but that stubbornness has her refusing to back down; the more afraid she is, the harder she pushes herself into the investigation.

The look into traumatic responses is clear-cut here, from how Gabriela pushes herself forward to how Daniel is wary. Even Wendy's jumpiness and suspicion that people would think less of her for getting abused helps us understand her position and empathize with her. It also means we are even more invested as the tension rises for Gabriela, whether from strain within the library where she works, cars following her, or trying to hold onto Wendy's drawing. We also get glimpses of a historical mystery, tying Wendy's ancestor to famous shipwrights in New York. She's still frightened of her husband, who grows even more angry and violent. From there, it very quickly spirals further, until we get to the conclusion and all of the loose ends tied up. It kept me enthralled until the very end.

Buy The Secrets of Still Waters Chasm at Amazon

Born and raised in New York City, M.K. French started writing stories when very young, dreaming of different worlds and places to visit. She always had an interest in folklore, fairy tales, and the macabre, which has definitely influenced her work. She currently lives in the Midwest with her husband, three young children, and a golden retriever.

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