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Linda Fifer grew up in Ohio with creativity and music in her family. Graduating from Kent State University with bachelor's and master's degrees in Speech Pathology, she worked with adults over the course of her forty-four-year career. Now retired, she had finally rejoined creativity to produce her first novel The Road Between Two Skies, and during the pandemic Finding the Grain. Now living in the West between the Bitterroots and the Sapphires, she and her husband and their two dogs find plenty of things to keep them busy. But her dogs still haven't figured out how to read, yet.
Reviewed by K.C. Finn for Readers' Favorite
Finding the Grain is a work of fiction in the interpersonal drama, mystery, and emotive writing subgenres. It is best suited to the general adult reading audience owing to themes of death and grief. Penned by author Linda Fifer, the story follows Izzy Stark, a returning soldier from Afghanistan, who faces the ultimate heartbreak when her husband dies just weeks before his discharge. Haunted by memories and surrounded by a neglected home in Whistle Canyon, Colorado, Izzy's life takes an unexpected turn. Ben McCully and fellow soldier Tom Biddoe offer support. A mysterious box arrives, unraveling secrets about Dave's death that sends Izzy on a new mission of discovery. The narrative weaves through grief, friendship, and the pursuit of truth, exploring Izzy's journey to healing.
Author Linda Fifer has crafted a poignant reading experience that delves into the complexities of grief, loss, and the fortitude of the human spirit. Izzy's emotional journey, set against the backdrop of an atmospherically described small-town setting, is both heart-wrenching and uplifting. The plot, rich in mystery and self-discovery, keeps us engaged, with pacing that offers us subtle clues and moments of suspenseful consideration before the next unexpected revelation rears its head. The characters are beautifully nuanced, and I appreciated the narrative work on their speech and thought presentation. It makes it feel as though we’re sitting on Izzy’s shoulder and piecing the mystery together right beside her. The theme of finding healing amidst tragedy resonates deeply as a result of this close attachment to the protagonist. This develops the novel beyond a simple story into a touching exploration of life's struggles and finding the strength to overcome them. Overall, I would certainly recommend Finding the Grain for fans of strongly emotive dramas that also offer an intricate and interesting plot.
