Stillwater Rising by Steena Holmes Review

Review Stillwater Rising is a novel about a school shooting that leaves a community torn apart. Courtesy of Goodreads, the following is a synopsis of the novel:
After losing her son in an elementary school shooting that devastates the tight-knit community of Stillwater Bay, Jennifer Crowne finds herself unable to settle back into her role of perfect stay-at-home mom and committee organizer. Meanwhile, her best friend, Mayor Charlotte Stone, struggles to keep the town together, and Charlotte's husband, the school principal, may not be the hero everyone thinks him to be.

As they try to heal from this irrevocable trauma, Jenn and Charlotte find themselves at a crossroads within the town and within their friendship. For Jenn, broken and grieving, there is no going back, and she demands that the school be closed so that she can bury the past. Yet Charlotte is equally desperate to hold the town together, fighting the school closure and helping the shooter's mother regain her place in the community. Jenn and Charlotte's relationship is put to the ultimate test as each weighs her own interests against the bonds of their friendship.
Sounds controversial, but also intriguing, right? That’s what I thought was well. The beginning of the book was pretty powerful and left me confused as to whom I should have more sympathy for—the parents of the victims or the parent of the shooter. As the book progressed, it lost some of its original shock value. Writing about a school shooting is a very brave endeavor, as it will always be a sore spot in American history. Holmes does write a good story and she does it well; I personally just thought the book lost some luster and momentum about 3/4 into the story. I would have liked to see more about the mother of the shooter incorporated into the story from beginning to end.
There is what would be considered a surprise ending to some at the end of the book. As a writer myself, I am always trying to figure out the resolution before I even get halfway through the book. And I did, but that’s just me. It’s just what I do; it’s in my nature. If I had written this book, I would have done it from Julia’s perspective (the mother of the shooter), because that’s more of a difficult perspective to understand. How can you NOT blame the mother of a school shooter? Look at all the school shootings in America; it’s rare to feel sympathy for the parents of the “bad kids”.
Regardless, it was a very good book and an easy read. I never lost attention and I was able to read this book quickly without getting bored. The ending should be attractive to any reader who likes a twist at the end. Steena Holmes does an excellent job in creating interesting characters who have their own demons and she incorporates that perfectly into the plotline.
I have read three Steena Holmes novels to date (Finding Emma, The Memory Child, and Stillwater Rising) and out of the three, this is the best. I would highly recommend this story, if for anything but to see a glimpse into the lives of the victims of a school shooting. Even if it is a fictional story, it is based on these tragedies in America. An interesting fictional look at the lives of the victims on both sides of the shootings. I give this book 3.5 stars out of 5.
About the Author
NY Times & USA Today Bestselling Author - Steena is the author of the heart wrenching Finding Emma series and the upcoming novel Stillwater Rising.

Steena Holmes grew up in a small town in Canada and holds a Bachelors degree in Theology.

In 2012 she received the Indie Excellence Award. Holmes was inspired to write Finding Emma after experiencing a brief moment of horror when she’d thought her youngest daughter was missing.

She currently lives in Calgary with her husband and three daughters and loves to wake up to the Rocky Mountains each morning.
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Novels in her Finding Emma series:
Finding Emma
Dear Jack
Emma's Secret
Dottie's Memories

The Memory Child

Stillwater Bay Series:
Before the Storm
Stillwater Rising
Kara Kelly, guest reviewer A copy of this was provided by Netgalley and there was no monetary compensation for the review.