Eva Santos Moon is an up-and-coming Chicana artist learning the spiritual practices of brujería and curanderisma. But after her beloved husband is arrested for the murder of a friend, she feels her family falling apart. Eva doesn't know who to trust, as the death of a childhood friend in a similar fashion has left her with occasional blackouts as an adult. Is Eva involved in both murders? Why can't she remember?

RIVER WOMAN is a psychological thriller with a bit of a horror aspect but not super scary. Written from Eva's perspective, it has some unreliable narrator vibe because of her blackouts and Eve's constant mistrust of herself, which keeps me on my toes. I adore the magick, witchy atmosphere, and cultural commentary woven into the story.

I started RIVER WOMAN disliking Eva because she uses A LOT OF b* c* words to describe other women that sound unnecessary. But Givhan does an excellent job towards the end in addressing how women of color are constantly criticized & questioned to the point that Eva doesn't even believe in her own innocence, not to mention other women in her community and those closest to her, and it helps put Eva's very questionable actions into more context.

RIVER WOMAN is an unputdownable read that transcends the thriller genre and explores the power women of color always possess in protecting themselves and their families.