"indivisible" by kristen heitzmann

Indivisible by Kristen Heitzmann is a character-driven mystery. Piper, a young woman who just moved to Redford, Colorado, finds two dead raccoons on her running path and alerts the police chief, Jonah Westfall. When Jonah discovers the raccoons were sewn together while still alive, he brings in the town’s new veterinarian, Liz, for help. Soon other animals are found in a similar state to the raccoons, and Jonah worries the killer may target humans next. Meanwhile, he contemplates beginning a relationship with Liz, since Tia, the woman Jonah loves, seemingly wants nothing to do with him.

And that’s pretty much all I can say without giving away major plot points! Heitzmann chose to dole out information sparingly, slowly revealing the characters' motivations and back stories, and I don’t want to spoil it for anyone. (I’m not saying this is bad, though—I’d much rather be a little confused than figure out the mystery right away!) Heitzmann crafted a mystery that kept me guessing throughout, and her characters are fleshed out and relatable. Those factors together made this book intensely enjoyable. I’d only read one or two of her books in the past, but this book made me want to read more of her work. This was easily one of the best fiction books I've read recently. (You can read the first two chapters here to get a taste.)

Should you read it? Yes, if you like mystery/suspense. (Just be warned that it gets a bit gruesome. It’s not at all graphic, but if you have a vivid imagination, you’ll have no trouble picturing the mutilated animals.)

Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this book free from WaterBrook Multnomah. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255: “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.”