A review by cwrose
The Serpent's Bridge by S.Z. Estavillo

adventurous dark tense fast-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Character
  • Strong character development? Yes
  • Loveable characters? It's complicated
  • Diverse cast of characters? Yes
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0

This isn’t my usual genre, so I didn’t know what to expect going in. 

I loved it and it kept me on my toes! I found myself wanting to pick it up whenever I had a break so I could know what happens next. 

We get three third-person POV characters: The Witness, Esperanza, The Detective, Anaya Nazario, and The Pastor’s Wife, Millie. Each has a part to play and a stake in the murders striking their Southern California city. Despite there being multiple POVs, I felt like I got to know the characters on a deeper level. Their fears, what makes them tick, what’s important to them, and most importantly, their personal stakes in the larger plot, in a way that all comes together at the end. 

The author also touches on topics of anti-police rhetoric, religion, and the issue of undocumented immigrants, but she does so through a careful, well thought out lens where you see where each side is coming from. 

The twists and turns at the end were many and I did not see the conclusion coming! Overall I enjoyed this book a lot and am looking forward to the next one.