What the Aurora Remembers

by Loretta Colton

Nicky Ryan has been a police officer in Canada’s Northwest Territories for six months when she’s faced with her first homicide investigation. A teenage girl has been maimed, her mother murdered, and her father is the prime suspect. Nicky’s naïve dream of heroic crime-fighting is now up against the reality of life and death in a small Indigenous community. In Fort Gabriel, the wounds of the past still bleed, and white cops from down south are neither trusted nor welcomed.

Alison’s mother is dead and her father is in jail. Her aunt Lucy brings her to Yellowknife, where Alison desperately wants solid ground in a world that keeps shifting like melting river ice. Instead, she has to go back to Fort Gabriel to testify. She needs to hide, to find some way to feel safe in her own skin. When she turns to the faith and practices of Islam for that refuge, no one seems to accept or understand it.

Nicky’s job is to find out what really happened that night and bring the killer to justice, but she is learning the hard way that being the lesbian rookie on the investigation will only make that job harder for her. Worse, the criminal justice system’s relentless grind can only make everything more painful for Alison, her family, and their community.

Can justice be worth the painful cost?

324 pages, Hardcover

Published July 10, 2026

About the author

Loretta Colton worked as a lawyer with Canada’s Department of Justice for 30 years, including nine years as a prosecutor in the Northwest Territories, and twenty years in Ottawa working in the areas of criminal law, federal policing and national security law. Her first novel, What the Aurora Remembers: A Nicky Ryan Mystery, is a police procedural set in the Northwest Territories. She is working on her second Nicky Ryan book, which will be set in the world of national security policing in Ottawa.

Reviews

[Julie Green]

I had the pleasure of reading an advance reader copy of What The Aurora Remembers by Loretta Colton. This novel has authentic characters, a fast-paced plot with surprises throughout. I particularly liked the vivid descriptions of life in a remote Indigenous community in the NWT coping with unspeakable tragedy. The reader is dropped in to a murder scene many northerners may have read about in the media but haven't experienced themselves. The author has Nicky Ryan, a rookie RMCP constable, is a witness to the ripples the tragedy creates for families, friends, the community and Ryan herself. It's an inside look at the emotional toll not only of the event itself but the demands of the justice process to have witnesses relive the worst moments of their lives. The author has done a masterful job of understanding the Indigenous people at the centre of this story and vesting them with dignity, complexity and humanity. This is a great read and I'm looking forward to more of Cst Nicky Ryan's adventures.

[Michael Drew]

What the Aurora Remembers is a beautifully written literary mystery that combines a compelling homicide investigation with a deeply human exploration of trauma, identity, cultural understanding, and justice. Loretta Colton crafts an emotionally rich narrative that extends far beyond the boundaries of a traditional crime novel, inviting readers into the lives of people whose personal struggles are inseparable from the communities they call home.

What immediately stands out is the novel's remarkable emotional depth. Rookie police officer Nicky Ryan's first homicide investigation becomes far more than an attempt to solve a crime—it becomes an examination of trust, prejudice, institutional challenges, and the complexities of serving a community shaped by historical wounds. Her journey feels authentic, nuanced, and refreshingly honest as she learns that justice often demands empathy as much as investigation.

Equally compelling is Alison's story. Her search for stability following unimaginable tragedy adds extraordinary emotional weight to the novel. Her exploration of faith, identity, and belonging offers a moving portrayal of resilience while highlighting the challenges faced by individuals navigating grief, cultural expectations, and personal transformation. The multiple perspectives create a layered narrative that allows readers to understand not only the mystery itself but also the profound human consequences surrounding it.

I was particularly impressed by the way the novel respectfully explores Indigenous communities, cultural relationships, religion, and the realities of Canada's northern regions without sacrificing suspense. Rather than relying solely on plot twists, Loretta Colton builds tension through richly developed characters whose emotional journeys remain just as captivating as the murder investigation itself.

At its heart, What the Aurora Remembers is a thoughtful exploration of justice, compassion, identity, and healing. Combining literary depth with an engaging mystery, it is a novel that will resonate with readers who appreciate character-driven crime fiction, socially conscious storytelling, and emotionally powerful narratives. Richly layered, timely, and beautifully written, this is a memorable debut that deserves wide recognition.

[David · Rating 5 out of 5]

I received an ARC of this book.

What a emotional ride! I loved the characters in this novel, and I found myself moved to tears on multiple occasions. The story was thoroughly enjoyable - I particularly enjoyed the sense that everyone in a small town knows everyone to varying degrees. I also liked how the main police character was ordinary - she is starting out as part of her first investigation and develops her experience along with the story.

[Jennifer Louden · Rating 5 out of 5]

I read mysteries only occasionally and I am very choosy! I'm a Donna Leon or Louise Penny kind of gal.

Loretta belongs in that company. She has done a tremendous job with this first book in the series. I feel so much for Nicky, I loved the exploration of different faiths and ways of seeing the world, the insight into the communities- just terrific!

[Renee · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved this book. The characters are compelling and unique and I kept jumping to read it to find out what would happen next. Getting a glimpse of life in Northern Canada was a special bonus as well.

[Glen Rutland]

I received an advance reading copy of What the Aurora Remembers, but offer up this independent, honest review of the book without any promise made or requested from the author. As a lawyer who spent a short time on the criminal court circuit in the Northwest Territories, this book is an accurate reflection of the challenges of administering justice in the North. I choose the words "administering justice" intentionally as this book shows there is no delivering justice.

More importantly, the novel depicts a compelling journey of self-discovery for its two main characters. One tragic incident becomes a defining moment in the lives of two women. The first a young teenage girl discovering her identity in a journey through guilt and grief. The second a rookie RCMP officer, discovering her identity as a southern outsider in a northern Indigenous community, and as a lesbian in a male-dominated profession.

These parallel journeys of self-discovery, as well as the unique characteristics of small northern communities take this mystery to a higher level. Readers will enjoy.

[Philip Colton · Rating 5 out of 5]

As a standard disclaimer, I received a free advance reader copy of the book from the author.
 
Also, as you might have noticed I share the same last name with the author, and yes, we are related.
 
So, if looking for the most unbiased review out there, you may wish to read the other reviews first.
 
Having said that, I will try to be as truthful and direct as I can be.
 
Overall, the book is well written, with great story telling.  It is an emotional and compelling story, with relatable and well-defined characters. 
 
 After a very intense opening, the book continues at a good pace.  It never gets bogged down in the weeds (which I’m guessing may have been difficult for a former lawyer?).

Many complex topics get touched on throughout the book.  Spirituality, sexuality, substance abuse, trauma and its effects on future life… just a few of the themes that run through book.  The author did not shy away from any of them!
 
As for the characters, they all feel distinctly human.  Although all have their flaws, it never really feels like there is a pure villain, or evil character.  Beneath the flaws, there is always a goodness buried in there, and people just trying to navigate the world they know and have lived and grown through, with whatever tools they have, and what they believe is ‘right’.
 
Use of literary devices is also well done.  For one, the niqab plays an interesting role in the novel that extends well beyond its religious significance.
 
It felt like the author even played some games with character’s names.  The French word for ‘stir’ is ‘brasser’, so Brasseur is ‘one who stirs’.  I won’t give any other spoilers to some of the names I may have found things in.

Maybe not for the overly faint of heart, the book has some intense and difficult scenes.  From a very graphic murder scene to complex and intense interactions between lovers, relatives and work colleagues, many emotions get pulled out of the reader.

And I’d be remiss if I didn’t mention the book has a very Canadian feel to it.  Is this good or bad?  Neither.. it just is.  You can’t casually mention leaving a ‘toonie’ behind, or how someone got into trouble for driving on an ice road too late in the year.  What do these things even mean?  In future editions, footnotes may need to be added for all those books sold outside the country.
 
In the acknowledgements, the author even apologizes if there are characters that she might have ‘got wrong’ because they were ‘outside their own lived experience’.  Stereotypical Canadian unnecessarily apologizing for something?  Apologizing for maybe getting characters wrong?  Canadian much, Ms. Colton?
 
Overall, I would obviously recommend the book.  It is moving and appealing on many levels. 
 
I look forward to the next work from the author.

[Peter Colton · Rating 5 out of 5]

NOTE - I received this book as a free advance review copy from the author.

Also, I will mention that I am related to the author - but this is an honest review.

What The Aurora Remembers is a mystery/crime sort of novel, set in the Northwest Territories. I don’t read a lot of this kind of fiction, but I’ve read enough to point out that this is not the kind with shootouts, ticking clocks, impossible car/bus/jet-ski chases etc. It is a character-driven debut novel by an author who worked in law, and criminal law, for decades. It’s characterized by realism and immediacy, and believable characters grappling with their situations.

At just over 300 pages, the novel isn’t particularly long, and so I’m kind of reluctant to say much about the plot! It’s best left for the reader to experience, in my opinion. The main character (Nicky Ryan) is a young woman beginning a career in law enforcement, and the challenges she faces in this situation are present throughout. Though the tone and overall plot are very different from Silence of The Lambs, as a protagonist I couldn’t help but see Nicky as being in the tradition of Clarice Starling. Except that, when the audience gets to know Starling, her vulnerability is silent and implied (in the film, at least); in Aurora, the reader is much closer to the character and has more access to her experiences. Nicky Ryan’s vulnerability is plain to see. This aspect of her character is a little unusual and perhaps more honest than what is typically seen in fiction, but it makes me all the more interested to see her development in future novels.

Readers with an interest in the north, or northern communities, will find plenty that resonates with them. Challenges and concerns prominent in those contexts are present plainly, without being dressed up for entertainment value. Besides Nicky, most of the novel’s time is spent on Alison, an Indigenous teen trying to move forward through harrowing experiences. Her being a teen makes her very relatable, as the echoes of universal teen experiences follow her story, but it’s her particular journey with pain and spirituality that bring her and her community to life. Her story is a vehicle for much of the immediacy in the novel. Reading a courtroom scene with her testifying was enough to get me visibly emotional, definitely not the norm. When murder, violence, and courtrooms are such common, and honestly, often cheaply used devices to create conflict and escalate the emotions involved, I found it truly exceptional that I became somewhat choked up at a simple and unglamorous courtroom scene.

On the whole - a grounded and realistic novel featuring believable characters. The world they inhabit has depth and is immersive, but the writing is never heavy-handed. Any reader could do a lot worse than spend their time with this quiet and moving debut novel.

[Cindy Brodrick · Rating 5 out of 5]

I received an Advanced Reader copy. All I knew ahead of time was that it was a police mystery in a far northern Canada region. I figured it’d be boilerplate detective novel in an interesting setting. The book was much deeper and richer than expected. There was a lot of nuance of how different white characters navigated the indigenous culture and many ways that the indigenous people dealt with the dominating white people/government (mostly the same thing in this small town). The murder mystery was a not a big whodunit with only a little surprise, but a lot of mystery of how will the two main characters cope with a painful awful situation and with each other.

The romantic relationship Nicky had seemed maybe a little tacked on, a subplot about a whole different “other” in police culture that was not as compelling as the indigenous teen’s story. But… since this apparently will be a series… I am interested to see how that seeming subplot develops over various stories (I.e. Nicky’s career going forward).

I got briefly confused a couple times on the change of perspective in a new chapter. The two main characters have distinctly different names, it was just a matter of me reading too fast. I did appreciate getting a better understanding of what the victim Alison goes through, not just seen from Nicky’s perspective.

I liked the book a lot. I want to go to northern Canada (in summer!) more than ever. And I’m invested in Nicky’s story now and hope to see more in her series.

[Mary Blunston · Rating 5 out of 5]

I will preface my review by saying that I have only written 1 book review in my entire life and it was a very personal topic and an author that I knew. I was hesitant then as I was this time, since this time I also know the author and this book would not be one I would normally pick off the shelf at a bookstore - crime drama, mystery are not typically my favourite genres. I was privileged to have an advanced copy.

I read books to escape, to be transported to a different time and place, to learn, and to grow. I can honestly say that this book accomplished all of my whys. I was transported North to a place I’ve never been, but to a place I long to visit. I learned and explored topics that have been on my mind - Indigenous communities, generational trauma, women in policing, and minority communities.

I was captivated by the characters and found myself thinking about them when I wasn’t reading, wondering what would come next for them. I caught myself holding my breath in certain scenes, as I would when watching a crime drama on T.V. When I finished, I was sad it was over, but then I realized there is possibly more of Nicky Ryan to come. I look forward to a second Nicky Ryan Mystery!

[Dyani · Rating 5 out of 5]

I received an Advance Reader Copy of "What the Aurora Remembers" from the author, Loretta Colton.

There are so many things I appreciated about this book, including that it held space for nuance. Like the author, I have spent many years living in remote northern communities on Turtle Island (AKA Canada). The story refrained from tokenizing Indigenous Peoples and ignoring the systemic issues that are imposed upon them. It did not reduce the characters to their worst moments, but held grace for the experience of surviving and, perhaps, eventually thriving.

As tragic events unfold in a small, remote community, Nicky Ryan (RCMP) is tasked with solving her first murder case. Things are not always as straightforward as they may appear, though, and the process of preparing for the trial is emotional and complicated for Nicky, but especially for Alison, the teenage daughter of the murder victim. As Nicky attempts to navigate the legal system from within, Alison tries to build a new life with her aunt outside her community of origin.

This is a story that recognizes resilience and the importance of connection. I look forward to future Nicky Ryan mysteries!

[Yvette · Rating 5 out of 5]

Once I started this book, I couldn’t put it down. The story of rookie RCMP constable Nicky Ryan’s first homicide investigation in a small (fictional) community in the Northwest Territories is grounded with a real sense of place with fully realized characters.

It gave an idea of life as an outsider police officer who is still a rookie, navigating detachment and division politics, and policing in a community where Indigenous peoples are suffering from intergenerational trauma caused by the Canadian government’s residential school system and it’s legacy. This is all conveyed in a nuanced way, along with the trauma that victims of violence experience, the multiculturalism of NWT (some Canadians may not even know how multicultural the North is!) and touched upon challenges of northern life such as accessing medical care and food. It is remarkable how much was conveyed with such a light touch.

I am really looking forward to reading more of Constable Ryan’s experiences in the North or wherever she may be posted.

[Ana · Rating 5 out of 5]

I received an ARC of this book. I was looking forward to this book, and it did not disappoint. Nicky Ryan is a compelling, compassionate protagonist finding her feet in a new(ish)-to-her environment and industry. The environment/setting itself is unfamiliar to me (hello snow, who dis) but I was immediately drawn into the ambience. I like a good mystery though I’m not an avid mystery reader, so as the clues came together, I could see where it was going, but was still pleasantly surprised in parts—particularly in Alison’s spiritual journey. Nicky’s own journey, both professionally as a rookie and personally as a lesbian cop in a male-dominated force, supported the external mystery with its own suspense. The various facets that make up complex lives (culture, age, religion/faith/spirituality, sexuality, etc.) are empathetically but unwaveringly addressed by the author. I look forward to Book 2!

[Rebecca Suzanne · Rating 5 out of 5]

I had the pleasure of reading an advance copy of Loretta's book. I thoroughly enjoyed her first novel. Loretta's time in the North has allowed her to paint a vivid picture of Yellowknife and the communities. Her deep experience in the criminal justice system allowed her to write a book that tackled current issues in that system in an accessible way. Complex issues like intimate partner violence and wearing a niqab in court are woven seamlessly into the story. Loretta's characters bring a complex and touching story to life in a compelling fashion. Loretta, I look forward to your next book

[Karen Moore · Rating 5 out of 5]

I read an Advanced Review Copy (received for free from the author) of this Canadian mystery novel, in the police procedural sub-genre. This was a great read, intense and engaging. Other reviews have well described the context and setting; like other readers I was moved to tears a number of times. There is empathy, compassion and nuance in this book, tackling important and difficult issues. A real contribution to Canadian literature. I hope there will be another Nicky Ryan book soon!

[Sarah · Rating 5 out of 5]

Review of Advance Review Copy received from author.

I couldn’t put down this evocative, heartfelt novel by first-time author, Loretta Colton. The characters are engaging and complex, and their stories are told with an insightful understanding of loss, hope, and resilience. I can’t wait for the next Nicky Ryan novel!

[Anna · Rating 5 out of 5]

I never read mysteries, but this one pulled me right in and kept me reading until the end! The writing is propulsive. This is a relational book, and the characters are rendered complexly in all their humanity. What a debut!

[Loretta Colton · Rating 5 out of 5]

Yeah I wrote this book. I'm pretty proud of it and I hope others like it. This is weird and I'm doing it anyway. Hopefully there will be more reviews later.

[CJ · Rating 5 out of 5]

Captivating from the start. Colton has a way of setting the scene and making you feel like you’re there and seeing it through Ryan’s eyes. Brilliantly written. I look forward to her next novel.

[Krista Dickie · Rating 5 out of 5]

I received an advanced reader copy of What the Aurora Remembers from the author.