Review: Summer of the Cicadas, by Chelsea Catherine

 

Summer of the Cicadas, by Chelsea Catherine.Red Hen Press, 2021.

Jessica is a former police officer who is asked to assist her West Virginian town navigate an explosion of cicadas that are destroying crops and property and terrifying the people. Natasha is a town councilwoman and the woman Jessica loves, who may or may not have feelings for her. They have a history and so does Jessica; her family was killed in a car crash two years before the story starts and Jessica is struggling with grief and frustration with her relationships and her career.

I really enjoyed this book for its character building and setting. The plot was enough to keep me going but the hook for me was these people. Jessica is a believable and relatable woman; the towns' inhabitants, its politics and factions are vivid and the setting is immersive. I wanted to see how her relationship with Natasha would turn out; Catherine creates real chemistry and complicated frustration between the two women.

I don't have tons to say about this book but it's a fine little gem from a great small press and I recommend it to readers looking for a shortish read that will nonetheless make an impression.

I did not receive this book for review.