Little Falls

Starred review from August 17, 2020
After tours as a medic in Iraq and Afghanistan, Camille Waresch, the narrator of Lewes’s outstanding debut, has returned to her hometown of Little Falls, Wash., to care for her 15-year-old daughter, Sophie Scott, whom she abandoned as a baby to her parents when she joined the army. Camille’s drinking is under control, but her PTSD frequently resurges, affecting her fractious relationship with the defiant Sophie. Her county property inspector job suits her, as she’s mostly in the field with little contact with people. But during a routine inspection on an isolated ranch, Camille finds the tortured corpse of 19-year-old Patrick Beale hanging in an outbuilding, reminding her of a soldier’s body she came across during combat. Camille initially looks into the murder to quiet her nightmares, but her investigation intensifies when she learns Patrick dated Sophie. When Sophie disappears, the mentally fragile Camille is tested to her limit. The tight, well-constructed plot complements the searing portrait of Camille as she deals with the guilt she feels over her daughter and her general rage at the world. Lewes is off to a strong start. Agent: Sandy Lu, L. Perkins Agency.