“A Matter of Mountains and Molehills” by Julia Dovey [Book Review]

A Matter of Mountains and Molehills (order here) by Julia Dovey (who we interviewed here) completely surprised me in the best way. What starts as an intriguing mystery quickly unfolds into a deeply emotional story about isolation, trust, chronic pain, identity, and the uncomfortable gap between what people show the world and what’s actually true underneath.

Jodi is such a refreshing protagonist because she feels painfully real. She’s cynical, awkward, funny in a dry, self-deprecating way, and exhausted by life in a manner that never feels exaggerated. Her small, carefully controlled world — freelance editing jobs, basement apartment, heating pad, and exactly one friend — makes the sudden arrival of a mysterious stranger and a wilderness disappearance feel even more intense. The contrast between her quiet life and the growing tension of the investigation was handled so well.

One of my favourite things about this novel was the atmosphere. The Pacific Northwest setting feels moody, isolated, and slightly unsettling in the best possible way. There’s this constant undercurrent of uncertainty: about the missing client, about the footage, about the people involved, and even about Jodi herself. The story keeps reminding you that videos can be manipulated, perspectives can lie, and memory isn’t always reliable — which made the mystery incredibly compelling.

Julia Dovey, photo courtesy Julia Dovey

But honestly, the emotional core is what made this book stand out for me. Beneath the suspense, this is really a story about vulnerability and self-protection. Jodi’s reluctance to trust people makes complete sense, and watching her slowly get pulled into something bigger than herself felt authentic and earned rather than rushed.

Also: the dialogue? Excellent. The chemistry? Subtle but electric. The pacing? Slow enough to build tension but never dragging.

If you like character-driven mysteries with emotional depth, messy human relationships, atmospheric wilderness settings, and protagonists who feel genuinely human instead of polished, I’d absolutely recommend this book.

A thoughtful, tense, and unexpectedly moving read.

In colloquial lingo, please.

Ok, but A Matter of Mountains and Molehills by Julia Dovey actually ate?

Julia Dovey, photo courtesy University of the Fraser Valley

This book somehow managed to be mysterious, emotionally devastating, funny, and weirdly cozy all at once. Jodi is SUCH a disaster protagonist (complimentary). She’s tired, awkward, chronically in pain, avoiding humanity at all costs, and fully committed to rotting safely in her basement apartment forever — until some ridiculously hot, mysterious man shows up demanding video files tied to a missing person case in the Pacific Northwest wilderness as one does.

The vibes in this book were immaculate. Rainy forests, unsettling footage, sketchy people, emotional repression… incredible atmosphere. The whole time, I was like “something is deeply off here,” and I loved every second of it.

What really got me, though, was how real Jodi felt. She’s not one of those quirky-perfect book heroines. She’s messy, guarded, sarcastic, and honestly kind of struggling — which made her super easy to root for. Watching her get dragged out of her comfort zone against her will was both stressful and weirdly heartwarming.

Also, the chemistry? HELLO? The tension was tensioning. Not over-the-top insta-love nonsense either — it actually felt earned.

And the book has a lot to say about perception, online personas, and how video/editing can completely change “the truth,” which made the mystery hit even harder.

Basically, if you like emotionally damaged characters, slow-burn tension, wilderness mystery vibes, and stories that make you laugh one minute and stare at the wall the next, read this immediately.

Publisher: BWL Publishing Inc.
Publication date: January 14, 2024
Language: English
Print length: 287 pages
ISBN-13: 978-0228628927