Salt Bones - by Jennifer Givhan (Hardcover)

Book Synopsis

Three women in one twisted family race for answers in this "stunning" mystery set in the Mexicali borderlands that "breathes new life into the myth of Persephone and Demeter" (Ana Reyes, author of The House in the Pines) and "beautifully explores the dark complexities of mother-daughter relationships" (Erin E. Adams, author of Jackal).

At the edge of the Salton Sea, in the blistering borderlands, something is out hunting. . .

Malamar Veracruz has never left the dust-choked town of El Valle. Here, Mal has done her best to build a good life: She's raised two children, worked hard, and tried to forget the painful, unexplained disappearance of her sister, Elena. When another local girl goes missing, Mal plunges into a fresh yet familiar nightmare. As a desperate Mal hunts for answers, her search becomes increasingly tangled with inscrutable visions of a horse-headed woman, a local legend who Mal feels compelled to follow. Mal's perspective is joined by the voices of her two daughters, all three of whom must work to uncover the truth about the missing girls in their community before it's too late.

Combining elements of Latina and Indigenous culture, family drama, mystery, horror, and magical realism in a spellbinding mix, Salt Bones lays bare the realities of environmental catastrophe, family secrets, and the unrelenting bond between mothers and daughters.

"Taut with a mother's fierce love and the corrosive power of secrets . . . this is storytelling at its most urgent and haunting." --Morgan Talty, author of Night of the Living Rez

"A novel of visceral and celestial storytelling power, where the grieving land holds as many secrets as the characters." --Kali Fajardo-Anstine, author of Sabrina & Corina

Review Quotes

"Salt Bones walks the shores of the mythical, unexplained darkness that we all run from, forming a real connection to the stories that are embedded in our lives as indigenous people. So many of us are haunted by so much; our traumatic histories, our family secrets and the threads of generational trauma. Jennifer Givhan has harnessed all of it here in these pages and wrapped us in the tenderness of her words--the poetry of a mother's undying love--guiding us like a map of stars through the sizzling, mordant landscape of our nightmares. Her storytelling is all at once so fragile and so explosive that her words will haunt me for a lifetime."--Ramona Emerson, author of Shutter

"Salt Bones breathes new poetry and life into the myth of Persephone and Demeter, drawing from the ancient story as deftly as from the contemporary realities of a single mother living on the Salton Sea. A mystery spiked with horror, magical realism, and stunning prose, this book cast a spell on me."
--Ana Reyes, author of The House in the Pines

"Jennifer Givhan has done it again with Salt Bones, a novel of visceral and celestial storytelling power, where the grieving land holds secrets as much as the characters who roam this haunting and thrilling work."--Kali Fajardo-Anstine, bestselling author of Sabrina & Corina and Woman of Light

"In Salt Bones, Jennifer Givhan delivers a novel taut with a mother's fierce love and the corrosive power of secrets. With language that is both precise and visceral, Givhan plunges readers into El Valle--a landscape that is at once lush and poisoned, alive with myth yet grounded in harsh realities. The narrative unfolds as a masterclass in voice, its characters complex and deeply human, each bearing the burden of a past that refuses to remain buried. Givhan trusts the silences, allowing tension to seep through unspoken words, creating a story where what's left unsaid resonates the loudest. Salt Bones demands to be read because it understands trauma and the brutal necessity of confronting it; this is storytelling at its most urgent and haunting."--Morgan Talty, author of Night of the Living Rez and Fire Exit

"Salt Bones is a riveting tale of family, lies, and secrets that will keep you guessing until the last page. But what truly makes it stand out is the poetry in every line--you don't read this book, you experience it."--B.L. Blanchard, author of The Peacekeeper

"Salt Bones is twisty, raw, and beautiful--an atmospheric, poignant exploration of the complexities of mother-daughter relationships, the scars of environmental destruction, and the mysteries that linger long after the dust settles. Jennifer Givhan's poetic prose brings the stark beauty of the Salton Sea to life, immersing readers in a world where family secrets and supernatural forces collide. A breathtaking, unforgettable read!"--Carolina Flórez-Cerchiaro, author of Bochica

"A beautifully woven tale of three strong women and the family ties that support, and those that strangle. Rooted in myth, this emotionally powerful magical realist mystery has an atmosphere so thick and richly drawn you'd swear you can taste the grit of dust on your tongue. Masterful."--Ann Dávila Cardinal, author of We Need No Wings and The Storyteller's Death

"A poetic mystery deftly carved from the sinews of our flawed humanity. Salt Bones' Mal may mean 'bad, ' but she is as good as a protagonist gets. Magical and messy, fierce but flawed, tough yet tender, you'll find yourself rooting for her from the first page to the last, and you will not forget her story."--Rudy Ruiz, author of The Border Between Us

"In a world of Mexicali myth and post-industrial ruin, a mother-daughter bond drives an engaging thriller about missing and murdered women. Jennifer Givhan's Salt Bones is the perfect blend of political horror and other-worldly nightmares."--Deborah Jackson Taffa, author of Whiskey Tender

"As haunting as it is gorgeous, Salt Bones is a mystery about monsters who lurk among us--and something even fiercer: motherlove. With threads of horror, folklore, and mythology, Jennifer Givhan weaves together an obsession-worthy story so gripping and intoxicating it's impossible to shake."--Megan Collins, author of Cross My Heart and The Family Plot

"Visceral and compelling, Jennifer Givhan's Salt Bones beautifully explores the dark complexities of mother-daughter relationships. Satisfyingly saturated with mystery and mythology, Salt Bones is a book that stays with you. Readers will be haunted long after the final page."--Erin E. Adams, author of Jackal

"Salt Bones is an intense, lyrical journey of twisted family ties, long kept secrets, and haunted women-- in short, it's a wonder."--Erika T. Wurth, author of White Horse

About the Author

Jennifer Givhan is a Mexican American and Indigenous poet and novelist from the Southwestern desert and the recipient of poetry fellowships from the National Endowment for the Arts and PEN/Rosenthal Emerging Voices. She holds a Master's degree from California State University Fullerton and a master's in Fine Arts from Warren Wilson College. Givhan is the author of five full-length poetry collections and the novel River Woman, River Demon.