Shutter By Ramona Emerson

In "Shutter," the haunting debut novel by Ramona Emerson, readers are plunged into a gripping narrative set in the stark and beautiful landscape of New Mexico’s Navajo Nation. Rita Todacheene, a forensic photographer with the Albuquerque police, harbors a chilling secret: she sees the ghosts of crime victims who guide her toward hidden clues, often solving cases others cannot. While this supernatural gift makes her invaluable to law enforcement, it comes at a steep personal cost. Ghosts haunt Rita incessantly, disrupting her life and threatening her sanity.

Rita's ability, seen as taboo in her Navajo culture, has alienated her from her community and led her away from the reservation where she was raised by her grandmother. Her life takes a perilous turn when she is called to photograph what appears to be a suicide. The victim's ghost, however, insists she was murdered and latches onto Rita, demanding justice. This sets Rita on a dangerous path, pitting her against one of Albuquerque’s most violent cartels.

As the line between the living and the dead blurs, Rita is forced to confront her past and the dark forces that threaten to consume her. "Shutter" is a masterful blend of crime thriller, supernatural horror, and a poignant coming-of-age story, written with vivid, visceral prose. Emerson’s debut is both a suspenseful and emotional journey that explores the intersections of culture, trauma, and the unseen forces that shape our lives.