River Woman, River Demon was a recommended book from the North Carolina Digital Library so I gave it a listen, and I'm so glad I did. Despite mixed reviews here, this book really worked for me.  Jennifer Givhan is a Mexican-American poet and novelist with Indigenous ancestry. All of these backgrounds are reflected beautifully in River Woman, River Demon. 

In this book, Eva is an Indigenous woman who has spent the last ten years engrossed in the work of motherhood. Now her two kids are in school and she is suddenly feeling a little lost without so much responsibility. She is trying to rediscover her identity as an artist and find her magick. As she wraps her mind around all of this transition, she faces the unexpected arrest of her husband for the murder of a woman on their property. 

As Eva grapples with the idea that her husband may be a murderer, there are also unanswered questions about a death in her presence many years ago. Even as the reader questions Eva's reliability, I found her a relatable, messy character. Even with almost nothing in common, Eva is written so well that I found compassion and empathy for her. 

As she struggles through so much doubt, including self doubt, this story takes twists and turns that kept me guessing and surprised me in the end. The magical aspects will appeal to fans of The Inheritance of Orquídea Divina. I highly recommend this unique, diverse psychological mystery.