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Red River Girl

The Life and Death of Tina Fontaine

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Red River Girl

Written by: Joanna Jolly
Narrated by: Penelope Rawlins
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About this listen

 NATIONAL BESTSELLER

A gripping account of the unsolved death of an Indigenous teenager, and the detective determined to find her killer, set against the backdrop of a troubled city.

On August 17, 2014, the body of fifteen-year old runaway Tina Fontaine was found in Winnipeg's Red River. It was wrapped in material and weighted down with rocks. Red River Girl is a gripping account of that murder investigation and the unusual police detective who pursued the killer with every legal means at his disposal. The book, like the movie Spotlight, will chronicle the behind-the-scenes stages of a lengthy and meticulously planned investigation. It reveals characters and social tensions that bring vivid life to a story that made national headlines.

Award-winning BBC reporter and documentary maker Joanna Jolly delves into the troubled life of Tina Fontaine, the half-Ojibway, half-Cree murder victim, starting with her childhood on the Sagkeeng First Nation Reserve. Tina's journey to the capital city is a harrowing one, culminating in drug abuse, sexual exploitation, and death.

Aware of the reality of missing and murdered Indigenous women and girls, Jolly has chronicled Tina Fontaine's life as a reminder that she was more than a statistic. Raised by her father, and then by her great-aunt, Tina was a good student. But the violent death of her father hit Tina hard. She ran away, was found and put into the care of Child and Family Services, which she also sought to escape from. That choice left her in danger.

Red River Girl focuses not on the grisly event itself, but on the efforts to seek justice. In December 2015, the police charged Raymond Cormier, a drifter, with second-degree murder. Jolly's book will cover the trial, which resulted in an acquittal. The verdict caused dismay across the country.

The book is not only a true crime story, but a portrait of a community where Indigenous women are disproportionately more likely to be hurt or killed. Jolly asks questions about how Indigenous women, sex workers, community leaders, and activists are fighting back to protect themselves and change perceptions. Most importantly, the book will chronicle whether Tina's family will find justice. Murder Social Sciences True Crime Crime Exciting Detective

What the critics say

“Tina Fontaine brought international attention to the tragedy of missing and murdered Indigenous women, girls, and two-spirit folks. This retelling of her life and the investigation into her death is a breathtaking account of the fight to find justice for Tina.”
—Wab Kinew, author of The Reason You Walk
All stars
Most Relevant
I never knew much about what actually happened to Tina. I am moved by this book. I am proud of our people and how we come together to stand for our girls and women that go missing and or murder.

Great read

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This case was covered and narrated very well and feels as though it can be seen not just heard. Even more so, it can be felt as we are brought through the life and unfortunate death of Tina. Subsequently-A necessary and troubling sense of the reality around the deep concerns of racism, broken communities/families, intergenerational traumas and the injustices for unsupported indigenous peoples, youth, the vulnerable and our young women.

A Moving Recollection of the Events

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This book tugged at every single one of my heart strings. Everyone should listen/read it and then we all need to do something to stop the killing of young indigenous people.

Well told story of an innocent young girl

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This is an engaging story of the life and death of Tina Fountain; yet after the build up it ended in disappointment with the verdict and the investigation team's resignation.

There was positivity in how the family and community responded with continuing her legacy.This and the education on the Indigenous realities in the prairies of Canada gave it a 4.

Factual engagement with disappointment

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This story was so gripping and so well written that I listened to the whole thing in under 24 hours. I started it while driving home one evening and ended up staying awake until 2am because I just HAD to know what happened and whether or not Tina got the justice she deserved. Not only is this a captivating story of Tina's life, but the replaying of the many ways systems failed to protect her emphasizes the difficulties and injustices the indigenous communities of Canada face every day. I hope this book helps to bring attention to these issues that are so easily ignored.

One Day Listen

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