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The Girl in Duluth
When 18-year-old June Bergeron’s mother goes missing, June fears the disappearance could be connected to the unsolved murders of several women found in the woods near Duluth, Minnesota. As she starts to ask questions, she is pulled into an ugly and dangerous world of exploitation and abuse, and she discovers that everyone around her has been keeping secrets.
Set in a remote area of Minnesota on the Canadian border, The Girl in Duluth tells the story of not only one family’s troubled history, but of a shrinking rural community reckoning with issues of gender, class, and race. Candid and elegant, June’s voice also simmers with the uneasiness of a young woman who has suddenly become aware she can no longer be sure of anything.
Please support independent creators and bookstores by getting your copy at the Lulu Bookstore, Eat My Words Books, or Zenith Bookstore. Thank you!
Set in a remote area of Minnesota on the Canadian border, The Girl in Duluth tells the story of not only one family’s troubled history, but of a shrinking rural community reckoning with issues of gender, class, and race. Candid and elegant, June’s voice also simmers with the uneasiness of a young woman who has suddenly become aware she can no longer be sure of anything.
Please support independent creators and bookstores by getting your copy at the Lulu Bookstore, Eat My Words Books, or Zenith Bookstore. Thank you!
204 pages, Paperback
First published February 2, 2022
12 people are currently reading
4145 people want to read
About the author
Sigrid Brown
1 book44 followers“Sigrid Brown” is the pen name of the writer Cheri Johnson. Cheri writes mystery and YA fiction under this name. Published in February 2022, “Sigrid’s” debut novel The Girl in Duluth was selected by Publishers Weekly for review; PW called it an “affecting debut …. Brown easily creates engagement with [her main character] June, and poetic prose is a plus …. Fans of thoughtful crime fiction will hope for more from Brown.” The Girl in Duluth won a 2023 Midwest Book Award and Mary Ann Grossman of the St. Paul Pioneer Press called the writing “gorgeous .... Why this novel wasn't snapped up by a publisher is the big mystery here."
Another “Sigrid Brown” novel, this one set in Minneapolis, is in the works, and Cheri’s literary novel Annika Rose will be published by Red Hen Press on May 21, 2024. In Annika Rose, Cheri uses ancient and contemporary myths—including both Ovid’s Metamorphoses and Ira Levin’s Rosemary’s Baby—to overlay a coming-of-age story set in remote northern Minnesota.
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Raised in Lake of the Woods County in northern Minnesota, Cheri Johnson has won grants and residencies from organizations such as the McKnight Foundation, the Bush Foundation, Yaddo, and the Fine Arts Work Center in Provincetown. She studied writing at the University of Minnesota, Hollins University, and Augsburg University. Her chapbook of poems, Fun & Games, was published by Finishing Line Press in 2009 and she’s written two series of nonfiction books for young readers for Full Tilt Press. Crocus Hill: A Ghost Story, a literary performance project she created with the composer Julie Johnson, the filmmaker D.J. Mendel, and the new-music ensemble Zeitgeist, was supported by the Knight Foundation. She’s published fiction and other work in magazines such as Pleiades, Glimmer Train Stories, Puerto del Sol, and New South, and her novel The Girl in Duluth, which she published under the name Sigrid Brown, won a 2023 Midwest Book Award. Her novel Annika Rose won the 2022 Women’s Prose Prize from Red Hen Press and will be published in May 2024. She lives in Minneapolis, Minnesota, where she critiques manuscripts as an editor at the Loft Literary Center and writes about books and the performing arts on Instagram @CheriJohnsonArt.
Another “Sigrid Brown” novel, this one set in Minneapolis, is in the works, and Cheri’s literary novel Annika Rose will be published by Red Hen Press on May 21, 2024. In Annika Rose, Cheri uses ancient and contemporary myths—including both Ovid’s Metamorphoses and Ira Levin’s Rosemary’s Baby—to overlay a coming-of-age story set in remote northern Minnesota.
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Raised in Lake of the Woods County in northern Minnesota, Cheri Johnson has won grants and residencies from organizations such as the McKnight Foundation, the Bush Foundation, Yaddo, and the Fine Arts Work Center in Provincetown. She studied writing at the University of Minnesota, Hollins University, and Augsburg University. Her chapbook of poems, Fun & Games, was published by Finishing Line Press in 2009 and she’s written two series of nonfiction books for young readers for Full Tilt Press. Crocus Hill: A Ghost Story, a literary performance project she created with the composer Julie Johnson, the filmmaker D.J. Mendel, and the new-music ensemble Zeitgeist, was supported by the Knight Foundation. She’s published fiction and other work in magazines such as Pleiades, Glimmer Train Stories, Puerto del Sol, and New South, and her novel The Girl in Duluth, which she published under the name Sigrid Brown, won a 2023 Midwest Book Award. Her novel Annika Rose won the 2022 Women’s Prose Prize from Red Hen Press and will be published in May 2024. She lives in Minneapolis, Minnesota, where she critiques manuscripts as an editor at the Loft Literary Center and writes about books and the performing arts on Instagram @CheriJohnsonArt.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 36 reviews
October 23, 2022
Thank you Red Clover Digital for the ebook and the opportunity to read this moving mystery novel
TITLE: THE GIRL IN DULUTH
AUTHOR: Sigrid Brown
PUB DATE: 02.22.2022 Now Available
GENRE: Mystery
SYNOPSIS: Swipe Above
The Girl In Duluth is an engaging mystery read set in small town northern Minnesota where a young woman, June Bergeron searches for clues on what happened to her estranged mother. This slim novel packed a punch, and was deftly written with a great understanding of characters, those you root for, and those that you love to hate.
There is a good representation of Native Americans and a wonderful exploration on the deeper issues of small rural towns - while also addressing important themes, including mental health.
I enjoyed how immersive the read was, and how much I learned on the endemic issues of this particular small town community which is most likely representative of other communities in rural America.
The Girl In Duluth is a great debut and I would love to read more of Sigrid Brown’s writing.
TITLE: THE GIRL IN DULUTH
AUTHOR: Sigrid Brown
PUB DATE: 02.22.2022 Now Available
GENRE: Mystery
SYNOPSIS: Swipe Above
The Girl In Duluth is an engaging mystery read set in small town northern Minnesota where a young woman, June Bergeron searches for clues on what happened to her estranged mother. This slim novel packed a punch, and was deftly written with a great understanding of characters, those you root for, and those that you love to hate.
There is a good representation of Native Americans and a wonderful exploration on the deeper issues of small rural towns - while also addressing important themes, including mental health.
I enjoyed how immersive the read was, and how much I learned on the endemic issues of this particular small town community which is most likely representative of other communities in rural America.
The Girl In Duluth is a great debut and I would love to read more of Sigrid Brown’s writing.
July 19, 2022
I thought this mystery, set in small town, far-north Minnesota, was really good. The characters, most especially the narrator, are really well drawn. life in this tiny town (much smaller than Duluth) is vividly presented. and the plot centers in part on the exploitation of women in settings where there are so few opportunities. Highly recommend.
November 10, 2022
At first when 18 year old June’s mother goes missing, she’s not too alarmed. After all, June always had a strange relationship with the woman who birthed her, referring to her by her first name, often the one doing the caring, instead of being cared for.
But before long, June suspects this isn’t one of her mother’s typical disappearing acts. Soon her worst suspicions are confirmed as her mother’s body is discovered. Only surprisingly to June, a suicide is suspected. Despite how much her mother struggled, June just can’t see her giving up on life entirely.
Frustrated and desperate for answers, June begins looking into the mystery of multiple women who have been found dead in the woods of nearby Duluth, Minnesota. The digger she deeps, the more disturbing the details become. While nothing can bring her mother back, June finds herself understanding her more now that she is gone than she ever could while she was alive. But the bigger question remains, can she even begin to prevent such events from happening to other women again?
The Girl In Duluth is a debut novel that haunts readers with its unapologetic stance on an anonymous existence in a dead end, rural reality. I was reminded of the adage, “you can’t know unless you’ve walked in someone else’s shoes” while reading this book. It’s so easy to fall through the cracks while trying to keep one’s head above water. Although a short read, it was a sad and overwhelming story, mainly because things like this happen every day in real life.
Thank you to Red Clover Digital and Dart Frog Books for a copy of this book in exchange for a fair review.
But before long, June suspects this isn’t one of her mother’s typical disappearing acts. Soon her worst suspicions are confirmed as her mother’s body is discovered. Only surprisingly to June, a suicide is suspected. Despite how much her mother struggled, June just can’t see her giving up on life entirely.
Frustrated and desperate for answers, June begins looking into the mystery of multiple women who have been found dead in the woods of nearby Duluth, Minnesota. The digger she deeps, the more disturbing the details become. While nothing can bring her mother back, June finds herself understanding her more now that she is gone than she ever could while she was alive. But the bigger question remains, can she even begin to prevent such events from happening to other women again?
The Girl In Duluth is a debut novel that haunts readers with its unapologetic stance on an anonymous existence in a dead end, rural reality. I was reminded of the adage, “you can’t know unless you’ve walked in someone else’s shoes” while reading this book. It’s so easy to fall through the cracks while trying to keep one’s head above water. Although a short read, it was a sad and overwhelming story, mainly because things like this happen every day in real life.
Thank you to Red Clover Digital and Dart Frog Books for a copy of this book in exchange for a fair review.
February 25, 2024
Complex characters in a twisting mystery. The creepy, cold of Minnesota is captured.
April 4, 2023
I didn't love the ending. Overall it was a good book and I liked the storyline but I felt like the end of the book was a little scattered.
July 7, 2023
It was refreshing to read a mystery/thriller where the main character is not under the influence of something or going through withdrawal (ala “The Girl on the Train” and “The House in the Pines”). Protagonist June’s main vice seem to be tea. Plus, she dresses in her grandmother’s clothes. That gives this book, set in remote northern Minnesota, the air of a cozy mystery but with a gritty edge – that edge being sex trafficking, sexual abuse, and diversity and gender issues.
The writing shines most when the author, who grew up in northern Minnesota, describes the social aspects of small-town life and rural newspapers. (Rural newspaper editors really do everything at the paper!) The story is set in the fictional town of Aulneau near the Canadian border, which resembles the Lake of the Woods area. A little research showed me that the Catholic church in Warroad, MN, is named after a French priest named Aulneau, who was killed by Natives in the 1700s.
Told in a believable young voice, the story describes how June comes of age during a stressful time and uncovers family secrets after the death of a family member. How she finds her way through the maze of deceit and half-truths keeps readers on edge. The ending has a supernatural twist to it, which is right up my alley. I totally enjoyed reading “The Girl in Duluth.” It’s a great debut novel.
The writing shines most when the author, who grew up in northern Minnesota, describes the social aspects of small-town life and rural newspapers. (Rural newspaper editors really do everything at the paper!) The story is set in the fictional town of Aulneau near the Canadian border, which resembles the Lake of the Woods area. A little research showed me that the Catholic church in Warroad, MN, is named after a French priest named Aulneau, who was killed by Natives in the 1700s.
Told in a believable young voice, the story describes how June comes of age during a stressful time and uncovers family secrets after the death of a family member. How she finds her way through the maze of deceit and half-truths keeps readers on edge. The ending has a supernatural twist to it, which is right up my alley. I totally enjoyed reading “The Girl in Duluth.” It’s a great debut novel.
July 16, 2022
I read the book in two sittings. I wanted to savor the characters a bit more as I realized I was binging the book and I wanted to honor the women’s stories.
Since the setting is MN, it was fun reading the local highlights, empathizing the winters and guessing the author’s favorite restaurants. I also, learned a few new to me Ojibwe and Dakota language. I did look up where Miskomin was on the map, ha!
As for Juney’s and her friends stories, I liked they weren’t the typical blonde, blue eyed, but ones trying to navigate the more real life teenage experience. I felt the compassion, the angst growing up in small town, with the added layer of murder/suicide adult situations. I loved that the author recognized human trafficking is real across all nations in this state, and did nudge for readers to research more.
It did wrap up too quickly for me. I would like to see the story flesh out the mental health of rape/suicide/murder impact on Juney’s life, as she was talking to the ghosts in the end. Just means a sequel should come, right?
Since the setting is MN, it was fun reading the local highlights, empathizing the winters and guessing the author’s favorite restaurants. I also, learned a few new to me Ojibwe and Dakota language. I did look up where Miskomin was on the map, ha!
As for Juney’s and her friends stories, I liked they weren’t the typical blonde, blue eyed, but ones trying to navigate the more real life teenage experience. I felt the compassion, the angst growing up in small town, with the added layer of murder/suicide adult situations. I loved that the author recognized human trafficking is real across all nations in this state, and did nudge for readers to research more.
It did wrap up too quickly for me. I would like to see the story flesh out the mental health of rape/suicide/murder impact on Juney’s life, as she was talking to the ghosts in the end. Just means a sequel should come, right?
October 26, 2022
Thank you Red Clover Digital and the author for sending me a review copy!
• R E V I E W •
This story was about an 18-year old girl named June Bergeron and her search for her missing mother. Without any clue of what happened, June hopes that her mother’s disappearance had nothing to do with unsolved murders that had been happening to women.
This debut novel was a great read. It was a quick and fun read for me especially because it was a thriller/mystery. I was a huge fan of the mental health representation in this story; it was portrayed well and significant to the plot. The narrative and the description painted a vivid picture in my imagination about small rural towns and the (possible real life) scenarios that they may have. I recommend this to anyone who’s looking for a well-paced mystery read.
• R E V I E W •
This story was about an 18-year old girl named June Bergeron and her search for her missing mother. Without any clue of what happened, June hopes that her mother’s disappearance had nothing to do with unsolved murders that had been happening to women.
This debut novel was a great read. It was a quick and fun read for me especially because it was a thriller/mystery. I was a huge fan of the mental health representation in this story; it was portrayed well and significant to the plot. The narrative and the description painted a vivid picture in my imagination about small rural towns and the (possible real life) scenarios that they may have. I recommend this to anyone who’s looking for a well-paced mystery read.
November 11, 2022
The Girl in Duluth is an engrossing small town mystery mixed with an emotional coming of age story.
I read this one in one sitting! It’s a short read overall and kept me turning the pages. ⤵️
June’s mother is missing. When the worst possible scenario plays out and she finds her mother dead, June goes looking for answers. Answers = trouble as one would expect right?
We follow June on her journey to learn the truth about her Mother’s death and herself. What I found so different about this one is that it’s quite emotional for a mystery. It really hits on some dark topics but kept me rooting for June AND wanting to know the answers!
The writing is also quite beautiful and good.
I highly recommend picking this one up for a quick but engrossing read!
Thanks to - Red Clover digital for my copy! I’m so glad this one found it’s way to me.
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️✨
I read this one in one sitting! It’s a short read overall and kept me turning the pages. ⤵️
June’s mother is missing. When the worst possible scenario plays out and she finds her mother dead, June goes looking for answers. Answers = trouble as one would expect right?
We follow June on her journey to learn the truth about her Mother’s death and herself. What I found so different about this one is that it’s quite emotional for a mystery. It really hits on some dark topics but kept me rooting for June AND wanting to know the answers!
The writing is also quite beautiful and good.
I highly recommend picking this one up for a quick but engrossing read!
Thanks to - Red Clover digital for my copy! I’m so glad this one found it’s way to me.
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️✨
October 20, 2022
I love this novel by Sigrid Brown (nee Cheri Johnson). The central mystery is so compelling and so heartbreaking and the characters are so vivid that I felt as if I knew them. But what I loved best was the location and the very particular details that immersed me in Northern Minnesota. Read this novel. You will love it.
October 24, 2022
The Girl in Duluth was a short novel that was definitely a page turner! June experiences the loss of her mother and while they have an interesting, complex relationship, she still feels like something about her death is off. Through talking things through and doing some research of her own she sets out to determine what actually happened to her mother. Having been to Duluth before I was able to picture the northern Minnesota setting and I loved the imagery that the author provided. The author also did a fantastic job interweaving themes such as race, gender, socioeconomic status. I love books that keep me guessing and this one did just that! I would definitely recommend it.
July 24, 2022
Engaging and relatable
Compulsive reading - the characters were well-developed and easy to visualize. The narrative personal and complex, and the conclusion both tragic yet hopeful. Highly recommend!
Compulsive reading - the characters were well-developed and easy to visualize. The narrative personal and complex, and the conclusion both tragic yet hopeful. Highly recommend!
May 20, 2023
"The Girl in Duluth" by Sigrid Brown is a captivating and engaging mystery set in the cold and isolated community of Northern Minnesota. June Bergeron embarks on a search for her missing mother, delving into a world she never knew existed. Brown's skillful writing and well-paced plot keep readers eagerly turning the pages, leading to a poignant and satisfying conclusion.
Brown expertly portrays the isolation that permeates both the physical landscape and the characters' emotional state. The author's careful handling of dialogue and character development adds depth and authenticity to the narrative, allowing readers to connect with June and understand her perspective.
Beyond being a mystery, "The Girl in Duluth" skillfully touches upon important and timely topics without veering into preachiness. Brown seamlessly integrates these themes into the story, giving them the necessary acknowledgment while maintaining the overall narrative flow. The result is a thought-provoking read that resonates long after the final page.
The novel's atmospheric quality is further enhanced by the finely wrought and memorable characters that inhabit the northern borderlands of Minnesota. June's journey, fueled by the mysterious death of her mother, takes readers on a riveting and dangerous quest for truth. As June uncovers unsettling secrets, the story keeps readers fully immersed in the richly depicted world and the multifaceted lives of the characters.
Brown expertly portrays the isolation that permeates both the physical landscape and the characters' emotional state. The author's careful handling of dialogue and character development adds depth and authenticity to the narrative, allowing readers to connect with June and understand her perspective.
Beyond being a mystery, "The Girl in Duluth" skillfully touches upon important and timely topics without veering into preachiness. Brown seamlessly integrates these themes into the story, giving them the necessary acknowledgment while maintaining the overall narrative flow. The result is a thought-provoking read that resonates long after the final page.
The novel's atmospheric quality is further enhanced by the finely wrought and memorable characters that inhabit the northern borderlands of Minnesota. June's journey, fueled by the mysterious death of her mother, takes readers on a riveting and dangerous quest for truth. As June uncovers unsettling secrets, the story keeps readers fully immersed in the richly depicted world and the multifaceted lives of the characters.
November 6, 2022
Thank you to Red Clover Digital with Dartfrog for letting me read this book. Our book starts off with 18 year old June finding out that her mother is missing. When June finds out what happened, she goes digging deeper because she doesn’t think what happened is as simple and everyone is saying. I loved this book and the journey it took me on.
July 22, 2022
Very fast paced, quick read. I finished it in two days, I couldn't put it down.
July 14, 2022
I really enjoyed that this book jumped right into the plot line and didn't provide all the unnecessary fluff that some murder mystery novels have. There was a lot of build up to the story but when everything came out, the climax of the story was a little bit of a let down. However, I think this has a lot more to do with the style of the author than anything else. There were some parts where I wished there had been a page break or a new chapter began to break things up. This also would've helped with some of the dialogue that happened in the past and then again when we jumped back into the present day.
I was not a fan of the cop and how he took advantage of June. He seemed so content to ruin her life and wanted her to live by his agenda which seemed like a really weird thing for him to do- it almost seemed stalker-ish and I would've loved if the author would have dove more into his story. I was glad that there was a happy ending to the story but appreciated the fact that there was some realness with the main character in the emotions that she was feeling after her mother and Andrea's death.
Race and gender were also two big topics that seemed to be alluded to in this story but were not talked about in depth. I wish this would have been a little more exaggerated so that way we could really understand why the characters were doing the things they did.
I was not a fan of the cop and how he took advantage of June. He seemed so content to ruin her life and wanted her to live by his agenda which seemed like a really weird thing for him to do- it almost seemed stalker-ish and I would've loved if the author would have dove more into his story. I was glad that there was a happy ending to the story but appreciated the fact that there was some realness with the main character in the emotions that she was feeling after her mother and Andrea's death.
Race and gender were also two big topics that seemed to be alluded to in this story but were not talked about in depth. I wish this would have been a little more exaggerated so that way we could really understand why the characters were doing the things they did.
October 9, 2022
In The Girl in Duluth, Cheri Johnson, writing as Sigrid Brown, has crafted a moving character study of an 18-year-old girl struggling to find her recently disappeared mother. June, the narrator and protagonist of this tightly written novel, embodies all the anxiety of her generation, but also its sense of, and insistence on justice. When June discovers what has happened to her mother, it leads her to question and pursue issues of broader social consequence: the impact of the drug trade on smaller, rural communities, and the epidemic of missing native American women.
June’s character shows a tenacity for seeking answers, some of which she never finds and others which, when found, are unsatisfying. She is at times self-confident, at times insecure, at once wise beyond her years, but also naïve. Many of these character traits comes from the fact that June’s mother—whom she calls by her first name, Tonya—is largely absent from June’s life, at least in the motherly sense, even before she goes missing.
In just under 200 pages, Johnson offers her readers a complicated character, one worth following through her story, and one worthy of the readers’ empathy and love. Spoiler: June is not the girl in the title. The Girl in Duluth is too subtle and complex to be so obvious.
Phil Adamo, author of The Medievalist
June’s character shows a tenacity for seeking answers, some of which she never finds and others which, when found, are unsatisfying. She is at times self-confident, at times insecure, at once wise beyond her years, but also naïve. Many of these character traits comes from the fact that June’s mother—whom she calls by her first name, Tonya—is largely absent from June’s life, at least in the motherly sense, even before she goes missing.
In just under 200 pages, Johnson offers her readers a complicated character, one worth following through her story, and one worthy of the readers’ empathy and love. Spoiler: June is not the girl in the title. The Girl in Duluth is too subtle and complex to be so obvious.
Phil Adamo, author of The Medievalist
November 6, 2022
This book actually reminded me in many ways of one of my very favorites, “The Smell of Other People’s Houses”! I thought it was beautifully written and I was INVESTED. I was intrigued almost immediately and I ended up reading this is two sittings because I *had* to know what happened. It’s a heartbreaking story, has wonderful representation (different class systems, mental health, Native American voices), and also includes some great “thriller genre” suspense. I think what impressed me most was how intensely Brown got me to sympathize with these characters. June, Frank, Jack, Andrea (of course); I could physically feel my heart hurt for them. (Equally impressive is how *quickly* she established this characterization; this novel is really pretty short!) This story broke my heart. The fact that I know it portrays (probably far too) many small rural towns in our country today made it all the more relatable. I KNOW some of these characters. They aren’t just characters. They’re people I know. People I’ve gone to school with. Neighbors I’ve had. 10/10 would read another novel written by Brown!
(Shout out to Red Clover Digital for this one; I enjoyed it and think I read it during the perfect season!) #TheGirlInDuluth, #SigridBrown, #MysteryThriller
(Shout out to Red Clover Digital for this one; I enjoyed it and think I read it during the perfect season!) #TheGirlInDuluth, #SigridBrown, #MysteryThriller
November 6, 2022
The snow fell gently on the wooded landscape, coating everything in a fresh, pristine white. It covered up the darkness of the land, cleansing the blemishes of everything that had gone wrong. It was a renewing of sorts, but could it really cover up all that happened?
The Girl in Duluth is a small town mystery that tells the story of June and the search for what really happened surrounding her mother’s death. Things don’t seem to add up and she digs to find out the truth.
This book has lots of small town secrets and untrustworthy characters, making for a good mysterious page-turner. The beautiful descriptions of the Minnesota setting painted the atmosphere and added even more to the story. I was hooked from the beginning and the story kept a good pace.
If you’re a small town mystery fan, then I’d recommend reading this one.
TW: Murder, Suicide, Gun Violence, Death of a Parent, Sexual Assault/Rape, Prostitution, Racism, Homophobia.
*I received a gifted copy of this book from the publisher for my honest review.
The Girl in Duluth is a small town mystery that tells the story of June and the search for what really happened surrounding her mother’s death. Things don’t seem to add up and she digs to find out the truth.
This book has lots of small town secrets and untrustworthy characters, making for a good mysterious page-turner. The beautiful descriptions of the Minnesota setting painted the atmosphere and added even more to the story. I was hooked from the beginning and the story kept a good pace.
If you’re a small town mystery fan, then I’d recommend reading this one.
TW: Murder, Suicide, Gun Violence, Death of a Parent, Sexual Assault/Rape, Prostitution, Racism, Homophobia.
*I received a gifted copy of this book from the publisher for my honest review.
November 15, 2022
When June’s mother, Tonya, is missing for a few days she doesn’t begin to worry since she disappears for days on end regularly. June doesn’t think anything of it until her mother’s best friend, Frank, shows up determined something bad has happened to Tonya. Frank and June find Tonya dead in the woods in what looks like a suicide. That is where the mystery begins. There are subtle hints and clues that there may have been foul play. Could Frank have had something to do with it? While unraveling the mystery of Tonya’s death, June learns things about her mother’s past, the town she has called home for her entire life, herself, and the secrets people can keep. I loved the snippets of diversity as well as the deep dive into what it’s like growing up in a small town. This thriller was a great way to pass the time.
A special thank you to Red Clover Digital for giving me access to read The Girl in Duluth.
#thegirlinduluth #sigridbrown #mysterythriller
A special thank you to Red Clover Digital for giving me access to read The Girl in Duluth.
#thegirlinduluth #sigridbrown #mysterythriller
May 2, 2023
I couldn't put this book down! This is Sigrid Brown's debut novel, and I can't wait to see what else she ends up writing. While certain aspects of the book threw me off a bit, overall, I enjoyed this story. It's always neat to read books set in places you've lived and been to. I think there was room for more character development and further exploration into the dash of romance, but I am glad that mystery/thriller remained the main genre throughout. I wish there was more closure to the mystery/case, and I wish the police investigation was included more.
Although I loved that the author weaved in some important topics like racism, LGBTQ, etc, it felt a little too forced, and it was not as smooth as it could've been. However, those topics made sense in the concept, and the conversations are important to have!
Good book and fantastic setting!
I don't know if the author intends to make it into a series, but if she did, I would definitely read it!
Although I loved that the author weaved in some important topics like racism, LGBTQ, etc, it felt a little too forced, and it was not as smooth as it could've been. However, those topics made sense in the concept, and the conversations are important to have!
Good book and fantastic setting!
I don't know if the author intends to make it into a series, but if she did, I would definitely read it!
Want to read
March 4, 2023The Girl in Duluth is a very engaging portrayal of what lies beneath the surface in a cold, relatively desolate community. Isolation permeates the novel: in the cold, snow packed landscape of Northern Minnesota and in the isolation of the protagonist June from those around her. June's mother is missing at the beginning of the novel and the search for her leads June into a world she only suspected existed for her mother and the few people with whom she interacts. The novel moves gracefully - even calmly - through this search, never relying on exaggerations or coincidences. It is, unhappily, very believable.
Sigrid Brown is an accomplished writer who handles dialogue carefully and skillfully. She moves the plot along and keeps her reader quickly turning pages. The poignant conclusion is satisfying, albeit disturbing, and definitely makes a sequel (or at least a second novel) most welcome!
Sigrid Brown is an accomplished writer who handles dialogue carefully and skillfully. She moves the plot along and keeps her reader quickly turning pages. The poignant conclusion is satisfying, albeit disturbing, and definitely makes a sequel (or at least a second novel) most welcome!
March 15, 2025
For this book being so short, it really packed a punch. We fall into this story surrounding murdered women in Duluth, MN and how the main character’s mother may be one of them. We follow the MC into the pit of her mother’s habits and the way they were able to live. She finds more about herself, her history, and the people she thought she was close to.
4/5 stars for fast action, family, and a community’s loss.
4/5 stars for fast action, family, and a community’s loss.
November 1, 2022
I haven’t had a book hook me like this in a while.
This book was well paced, and perfectly written a mystery, without being about a detective. June is a well written character, it’s easy to understand her perspective on things in the conflict of emotion. She is clearly feeling throughout this book. The story also touches on a few important topics (check contact warnings if you need) by integrating them into the story. Not having them become a preachy side lesson, honestly I feel like this is an art form to give things the acknowledgment needed without crossing a line.
All in all, this is fantastic story, and I highly suggest you read it.
This book was well paced, and perfectly written a mystery, without being about a detective. June is a well written character, it’s easy to understand her perspective on things in the conflict of emotion. She is clearly feeling throughout this book. The story also touches on a few important topics (check contact warnings if you need) by integrating them into the story. Not having them become a preachy side lesson, honestly I feel like this is an art form to give things the acknowledgment needed without crossing a line.
All in all, this is fantastic story, and I highly suggest you read it.
December 15, 2022
Received free from Goodreads giveaway. Interesting story
February 17, 2023
This atmospheric mystery is driven by a collection of finely wrought, memorable characters (and the setting in Minnesota's northern borderlands is as much a character as the people who inhabit it). It's a coming of age story about 18-year-old June, set in motion by the mysterious death of her mother. June's angry grief propels her into a search for answers that reveals unsettling truths and puts her and others in danger. It's a riveting read.
March 6, 2023
Sigrid Brown is a marvelous writer and this mystery is no exception: we experience small-town, northern Minnesota life through the central character 18-year-old June and it's not as idyllic as I like to imagine it is. June is a marvelous character who has to figure out her place in the world. Just like a real teenager, she frustrates and at times even angers us, fails to live up to her own ideals, seems wilfully naive and overly sure of herself, wants to be an adult but fears her own independence, is overly cautious and impulsive by turns. In short, if you were ever a teen, you'll recognize a lot of what's going on here as she encounters the seamy side of our beautiful North Country and herself.
April 28, 2024
3 stars. I'm not recommending this book! Much ado about very little IMO. Book never seemed to get to the point...whatever that was. Started out with a bang (pardon the pun) but seemed to fizzle out quickly. And, the choice of towns in Northern MN was stupid and just plain confusing. At times, I wondered if this book took place in Minnesota or somewhere else. Without the actual city names in the storyline, I never got the feeling of place, which left me wondering where the book would take me. I read about 1/3 and moved on. I really wanted to like this book...who wouldn’t with Duluth in the title? I love Duluth but not this book!
January 26, 2025
I feel bad giving it two stars but it was just so hard to follow! So much extra detail that didn’t help me and then it seemed to skip over stuff that would have been important. I don’t know. It was fine but not for me.
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September 4, 2025DNF after 30 pages. It’s only a 200 page book but the writing style didn’t work for me. From reading other reviews it seems like a solid plot and exploration of issues, but I’ve got other books waiting for me.
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