Cutural history holds the key

At first I wasn't sure what I was reading as it was so alien to me - what century are these events taking place in. And even more the puzzle of which twin is which adds to the feeling of disconnection

A murder mystery?

Enjoyable read although sometimes difficult to keep track of who was who from the names. Each chapter jumps in the timeline and the character's voice - ("keep up at the back") which could make it confusing if you pause reading for a few days.

At about 80% I felt that I was starting to know what happened and who did it but I couldn't quite put it into words until much closer to the end. Which was good and satisfying.

Yes it is

The ending on the banks of the Meutehekau as it enters its gorge is extraordinary, and there really are not words to describe it. Something happens and it affects us deeply. We are privileged to be alongside Macfarlane as he arrives at the conclusion (or maybe just a significant waypoint in the flow of his life and relationship with the river) but we can only understand wordlessly. An extraordinary ending to an extraordinary book. 

The only slight quibble is I didn't like the epilogue back at the nine strings. It was mawkish and unnecessary.