Bitter Thaw

by Jessica McCann

“Crafted with vibrant imagery and stark contrasts between the past and present. McCann treats important topics, including discrimination, racism, and sexism, with grace and a gentle spirit.” – The BookLife Prize

“Through beautiful storytelling, McCann allows us to accompany a family through a generation of pain and misunderstandings, in settings that prickle the skin and seep into your bone.” – C. Hope Clark, author of the award-winning Edisto Island Mysteries, Carolina Slade Mysteries, and Sterling Banks Mysteries


Minnesota, 1956

Unknown human remains are discovered deep within the mosaic of rugged forests and interconnected waterways once home to the native Ojibwe people.

More than 30 years later, fresh news of the cold case reopens old wounds for an Arizona family, from a time when gender stereotypes, racial bigotry, and small-town gossip led to tragedy.

Now, three generations - a mother, son and granddaughter - embark on a cross-country journey in a search for truth and a hope of redemption.
As long-buried secrets are unearthed, they each begin to question their memories, motives, and basic notions of good and evil.

Genres: Historical Fiction, Mystery

404 pages, Paperback

First published October 23, 2023

About the author

Reading and writing historical fiction is my passion, though I'm also drawn to memoirs, contemporary fiction, nonfiction, literary classics -- anything with a compelling story. I only review books I enjoyed reading, hence the abundance of 4- and 5-star ratings!

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Reviews

[Holly Weiss · Rating 5 out of 5]

My book group read this remarkable, multi-layered book. Animated discussion followed. Murder, racism, mystery are skillfully woven into the story. Especially interesting was a well researched portrait of the Ojibwe culture and its impact on a three generation family. While traveling to solve a long-hidden mystery, each finds him/herself in various ways.

I love this author. Congratulations, Ms. MCann. Your other books were outstanding but with this one, you really knocked the ball out of the park!

[C. Clark · Rating 5 out of 5]

Softly, adeptly, Jessica McCann sets you in people’s lives such that you become them in Bitter Thaw. In the backseat of the car hunched against a suitcase, in a bent chaise outside a motel room at dusk, around a campfire deep in the woods huddled under a skin blanket, you are there. . . you are they. Her words are not words but simply subtle tools you forget are even there that give you unfettered access to characters sharing their deepest needs. Through beautiful storytelling, Ms. McCann allows us to accompany a family through a generation of pain and misunderstandings, in settings that prickle the skin and seep into your bone, to learn so much about contrasting cultures and the human condition during a time when morality had such a sad definition. This is storytelling. This author has a gift. You become the character, or the character becomes you. You’re just not sure which as this story unfolds . . . then suddenly it’s done.

[Todd Haines · Rating 5 out of 5]

Excellent story by a (great author). ;). One thing I like in books is the well researched background and locations. I'm familiar with both primary settings and the places in between. These places are portrayed well in the story. This story has well done interpersonal elements.

Another good job Jessica.

[Sally · Rating 5 out of 5]

New entry on my list of favorite books.

I am thankful to have been an advance reader of this book due to be released in Oct 2023.

The unique organization of time and place, pinned to brief news and research reports of the day, fascinated me. It added to my understanding of the purpose of the novel. The characters are engaging and relatable. I came to love them all.

From the story -"Just because someone carries his burden well doesn't mean it isn't heavy." The story includes thoughtful looks at grief and our processing of our memories.

I will look forward to a next Jessica McCann novel as I've enjoyed each of her previous as well.

[Carrie · Rating 5 out of 5]

Another winner from Jessica McCann! Loved how the story unfolded through voices and memories. McCann’s characters are believable and layered and memorable. Enjoy!

[Joan Dempsey]

I'm delighted to have "Bitter Thaw" in my hands!

I read the opening chapter of this novel when I was judging the 2021 Gutsy Great Novelist Chapter One Prize, and "Bitter Thaw" grabbed my attention immediately—I was instantly captivated and pulled straight into the story. Out of nearly 700 international submissions, Jessica McCann's opening chapter rose to the top with ease, snagging third prize. I knew then that this book and this author would do well, and I cannot wait to continue reading … I've been waiting two years to read the rest of the story, and now I can! Yay!

Check it out!

#BitterThaw #historicalfiction #newbooks

[Katrina Shawver · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved this book. Bitter Thaw is an original book in several ways. I don't read many books based in Minnesota in the 1950s, and the characters cover a range of flawed characters that sucked me into the story. A good book keeps me thinking about it long after finishing it, and Bitter Thaw does that.

I read McCann's first two novels. They were also good, but Bitter Thaw is her best one yet and by far the most complex. It's obvious she did her research. The book is historical fiction, but all good historical fiction better get the facts right about the times and places referenced in the book, or it fails the authenticity test. Bitter Thaw also touches on various forms of discrimination, but subtly so it is not preachy. It's just how things were in the 1950s.

Bitter Thaw bounces forward and backward in time and multiple voices. Once I got used to it, the style worked well for the story and helped it come together in the end. She creatively inserts nuggets of historical context as news articles or excerpts from publications and books of the time which sometimes made my jaw drop at the truth of life in the 1950s.. One might be "Every Woman's Standard Medical Guide, 1948," 'every wife should expect and value criticism from her husband.' She drops clues along the way but leaves plenty of surprises for the reader.

Jessica McCann can write. I recommend this book to lovers of historical fiction and stories and hope this book reaches a wide audience.

[Glenda Millaudon · Rating 5 out of 5]

I really enjoyed reading this book. I think I was expecting a little more surprise at the end, but it still ended well. A good read and I couldn’t put it down.

[Mary Ann · Rating 4 out of 5]

There are two sides to every story, this novel did a good job of portraying that. I found the tidbits of historical items interesting and well researched.

[Mary Anne · Rating 4 out of 5]

Really enjoyed this story involving 3 generations (grandmother, father and daughter) who, based on the discovery of a dead body in Minnesota, embark on a road trip from Arizona to find the truth. The book explores the different perspectives of the people in the car regarding their memories of the events in the past and explores their current relationships with each other. The author provides the reader with well-rounded character development that includes information regarding society views on racism, homosexuality and women's place in society for that time period.

[Liz Schultz · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book was a slow burn for me, but around half way through, I couldn’t put it down!

[Martine · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5*
An engaging read with a thoughtful premise and well-developed characters. I was drawn in from the first pages. The book unfolds at a measured pace, with chapters shifting back and forth in time, which can be confusing at times and keeps the story from feeling more substantial. Still, an enjoyable story with compelling moments and solid writing.

[Barbara · Rating 4 out of 5]

Jessica McCann is a talented writer. This is the third novel, and 4th book of hers I have read. I liked the aspect of covering not just the characters’ lives over the years 1940’s-1990’s, but also the historical context of those years. Jessica is a master of historical research. The brief news or research reports at the beginning of each chapter give an enlightening glimpse into how the story developed historically.
This is a story of family, of secrets and sacrifices. It brings a glimpse into why truths get buried from other family members. It was sad to think of a war widow marrying for economic reasons, only to discover there was no love ever intended. It opened many thoughts about, “what if...”
I learned some enlightening history about the treatment of Native Americans that was deeply disturbing.
I liked the novel way the story unfolded on a lengthy road trip, involving 3 generations and their views on what mattered. The element of mystery kept the unfolding of the story interesting.
It is a sad story, but needs telling so we understand some of the unjust history lurking in our past. It is a family story of those bonded by both secrets and sacrifices that ultimately come to light to give deeper understanding to the past.
This novel was unlike Jessica's other novels. It is a general market story.

[Melissa Crytzer Fry · Rating 4 out of 5]

If you like thought-provoking roadtrip stories, and generational stories where the living are still alive and interacting with one another, McCann’s latest historical novel will fill you up.

With themes ranging from memory and regeneration to women’s rights, gender rights and miscegenation laws, it’s a thematically complicated but accessible novel that paints a snapshot of life during the mid-1950s through flashbacks as the family roadtrips to the matriarch’s place of origin in 1990. Within the pages is a touching portrait of the “otherness” experienced by women, Native Americans, and queer individuals in the fifties (and one would argue, even today) …

McCann’s sensitivity with the Ojibwe customs is to be commended, as is her transporting writing that includes many geographic/landscape scenes that paint a wonderful sense of place. The first chapters will grab ahold of you and take you on a journey that introduces important historic events through a series of chapter-divider history snippets.

I’ve been fortunate enough to be a first reader on all of McCann’s novels and look forward to the next!

[Vicki · Rating 2 out of 5]

This is a road trip book. A mother, son and granddaughter cross the country from Phoenix to Bitter River Minnesota. The book is set up with chapters narrated by each of the protagonists plus some chapters where all 3 are together talking about the past and their trip. This works mostly fine but can feel jumpy especially because it also jumps from past to present. The one thing that bothered me was the portrayal of the Ojibwe man who has been in jail. After he gets out of jail he goes and lives in the woods in a self-constructed wigwam communing with animals and is totally self sufficient. This is in 1955. I wonder if anyone from the Ojibwe nation read any of this description. It seems to conform to the typical portrayal of indigenous people in books and movies. Also, he is singled out as the only criminal in the story. I rated it 2 stars because I finished it. Probably wouldn’t recommend.

[Lori · Rating 5 out of 5]

What an interesting novel!! The timelines and viewpoints shift often - so much so that you'll be rooting for nearly everyone at some point. That plays so well into the tension, because the question of "who died?!" nearly drove me crazy, but in a good way. I think each character had their moment to shine and a moment so cringeworthy, you wanted to yell at them. One scene in particular between April and Evelyn and a Steppenwolf song nearly broke me.

I also loved how the time periods were their own character, especially with the addition of "news" articles that set up the feel of the next chapter.

If you want a novel to chew on, one that makes you wish you could rescue them all, this is it!

[Victoria Benoit · Rating 5 out of 5]

The author made the characters come alive. The historical depictions were descriptive, like I was there myself. The characters were so real in their human frailties, sorrows, and hopes for healing family secrets from the past—secrets which brought compassion, understanding and the healing they hoped for.

[Maddie Rogers · Rating 3 out of 5]

3 ⭐️ The genre was a little out of my comfort zone but the story kept me intrigued. I felt it was a little predictable and read a little “text book-y” at times, but overall would recommend if you into historical fiction.