Reviews
“A poignant, beautifully written, and deeply felt exploration of human trauma. Like the icy coating of the novel’s title, Dunbar’s story of emotional survival is sharp, both in its depiction of a winter landscape and in its focus on the winter of the soul. Although Dunbar never flinches from offering difficult truths, in the end, A Winter’s Rime is a memorable and moving story of healing and hope.”
—William Kent Krueger, New York Times bestselling author of Fox Creek
“A big-hearted novel that succeeds on many levels: as a mystery, a thriller, and a sensitive, deeply-researched, character-study. It is difficult enough to write an emotionally authentic story, but Dunbar has also masterfully interwoven her passions for science, nature, violence, and redemption. A driving, compelling read.”
—Nickolas Butler, bestselling author of Shotgun Lovesongs and Godspeed
“Just as every snowflake is shaped by unique environmental conditions, each of us is born into circumstances that intricately pattern our adult behavior. Once determined, can these patterns be changed? That’s the provocative question in A Winter’s Rime, the poignant story of a young woman who’s learning how to trust herself and the people around her in the aftermath of repeated trauma. Set in an atmospheric winter landscape, Dunbar’s second novel tenderly demonstrates the healing power of friendship, empathy, and closure.”
—Glendy Vanderah, bestselling author of Where the Forest Meets the Stars
“Haunting, hypnotic, and deeply affecting, A Winter’s Rime shimmers with hard-won wisdom. Carol Dunbar’s second novel is a story of quiet heroism and empathy that illustrates a universal truth: when asked for help, extend a hand; the life you save may be your own.”
—Jillian Medoff, bestselling author of When We Were Bright and Beautiful
“Dunbar’s rich depiction of a brutally crystallized Wisconsin landscape reflects the callous cruelty endured by her characters…her treatment of [PTSD and trauma] is unflinchingly raw but unwaveringly compassionate.”
—Booklist
Praise for The Net Beneath Us:
“Dunbar delivers both a tumble through the shifting light of grief, and a forgiving forest floor on which to land.”
—Leif Enger, New York Times bestselling author of Peace Like a River and Virgil Wander
“There are novels that we enjoy, but the most memorable ones, and The Net Beneath Us is one of these, leave readers with a sense that our lives have been enriched. An astonishing debut.”
—Ron Rash, New York Times bestselling author of Serena and Above the Waterfall
“Containing wisdom as deeply rooted as a Wisconsin forest, The Net Beneath Us is an evocative and beautifully written meditation on grief and the lasting power of friendship. A story that reminds us that in difficult times, showing vulnerability can be the ultimate act of strength.”
—Lucy Tan, author of What We Were Promised
“Drawing from her own experience living off the grid in northern Wisconsin, Dunbar’s debut novel encapsulates what it means to come home to oneself.”
—Booklist
