As this thriller opens Amelia Winn is leaving her shift as a trauma nurse when she's hit by a car. That accident leaves her profoundly deaf. In the immediate aftermath of the accident and the realization of just what her life has become, Amelia retreated into an alcoholic haze and it's only when her marriage falls apart and she's in danger of losing any chance of contact with her young step-daughter that she hit rock bottom.
Now, two years later, she is in recovery and has had training and assistance to deal with her deafness. She and her assistive dog, Stitch (who's a fabulous character in and of himself), live on their own and she's hopeful about a job interview. Her job interview is derailed when she discovers the body of a woman in the river near her home. When she realizes she knows the woman, someone from her former life, Amelia becomes entangled in the investigation.
This is a quick, engrossing read and the author's personal knowledge of what it's like to move through life as a person with deafness comes through in very interesting ways. We had a lively discussion at last month's Lakeview Mystery Book Group (via Zoom) and though some thought the ending was a bit rushed, it was well-received and many of us are set to read more by Heather Gudenkauf.