Mindy McGinnis is a skilled author who excels in creating stories that are relevant and impactful, evoking strong emotions in readers. Her latest book, UNDER THIS RED ROCK, showcases her exceptional talent to an even greater degree. The protagonist, Neely, has a challenging story to tell, and I advise readers to take note of the trigger warnings provided at the start of the novel.

In UNDER THIS RED ROCK, we get a glimpse into Neely's world, complete with her hallucinations. We witness her struggle to navigate her life while keeping up the facade of being mentally stable and ordinary. Initially, Neely's crush on a coworker and her belief that her demons can't follow her into the cave system where she works as a tour guide enables her to successfully keep up the charade. It's especially satisfying to see her find happiness, given the traumatic experiences she's had to endure during her childhood.

However, UNDER THIS RED ROCK could not be a novel by Ms. McGinnis unless her characters were forced to confront their demons in whatever form they took. Neely's descent into darkness is particularly agonizing since we know that she deserves happiness after the traumas of her childhood. As Neely's story hurtles toward an edge-of-your-seat conclusion, all we can do is hope that she will find closure and a small measure of the peace she so rightly deserves.

What makes UNDER THIS RED ROCK a brutal read is the realization that Neely is the ultimate victim. Her mental health issues directly correlate to the events of her past. Yet, through poverty, a lack of decent health insurance, and familial pressures, she does not obtain the help she needs. UNDER THIS RED ROCK is a tragic story, made more so by the fact that it highlights all the faults of our society.

UNDER THIS RED ROCK is another stellar novel by Ms. McGinnis. As always, her subject matter is timely, making her story pertinent to the ongoing societal discussion of mental health stigmas and the lack of adequate care for those suffering from mental health issues. Neely is a haunting character, not just because of her fragility but also because of her desperation to be "normal." UNDER THIS RED ROCK may be an emotionally difficult book to read, but it is worth the effort. ( )