I had no idea what to expect heading into this novel, and I was pleasantly surprised. This feels like a thriller with some dashes of magical realism, and had me by the throat from the beginning, but especially during the second half. Sheppard showcases her writing of tense moments and perfect pacing, while experting bouncing back and forth between the past timeline and the present-day plot. THE CARTOGRAPHERS makes you think about the power of map in a whole new way and the power and responsbility that lies with those who create, distribute, and validate maps.