“How do we deal with death and loss? This is the question that Jacob Ritari explores in Taroko Gorge. Through the eyes of a veteran American reporter, an elderly Taiwanese detective, and two Japanese teens, we experience the disappearance of, and subsequent search for, three students in Taroko National Park. The mystery part of the story - What happened to these girls? - is handled competently, but the real accomplishment of the novel is the four characters' distinct and realistic responses to loss, from the optimistic adolescents to the detective who has dealt with dozens of missing persons. This is a book that sticks with you.”