Review (PDF) The Lake House: A Novel
From the New York Times bestselling author of The Secret Keeper comes a “moody, suspenseful page-turner” (People, Best Book Pick) filled with mystery and spellbinding secrets.Living on her family’s idyllic lakeside estate in Cornwall, England, Alice Edevane is a bright, inquisitive, and precociously talented sixteen-year-old who loves to write stories. One midsummer’s eve, after a beautiful party drawing hundreds of guests to the estate has ended, the Edevanes discover that their youngest child, eleven-month-old Theo, has vanished without a trace. He is never found, and the family is torn apart, the house abandoned. Decades later, Alice is living in London, having enjoyed a long successful career as a novelist. Miles away, Sadie Sparrow, a young detective in the London police force, is staying at her grandfather’s house in Cornwall. While out walking one day, she stumbles upon the old Edevane estate—now crumbling and covered with vines. Her curiosity is sparked, setting off a series of events that will bring her and Alice together and reveal shocking truths about a past long gone...yet more present than ever. A lush, atmospheric tale of intertwined destinies from a masterful storyteller, The Lake House is an enthralling, thoroughly satisfying read.
File Size: 4275 KB
Print Length: 606 pages
Page Numbers Source ISBN: 0230759270
Publisher: Atria Books; Reprint edition (October 20, 2015)
Publication Date: October 20, 2015
Language: English
ASIN: B00LD1S3PY
Text-to-Speech: Not enabled
X-Ray: Enabled
Word Wise: Enabled
Lending: Not Enabled
Enhanced Typesetting: Enabled
Best Sellers Rank: #1,954 Paid in Kindle Store (See Top 100 Paid in Kindle Store) #4 in Kindle Store > Kindle eBooks > Literature & Fiction > Historical Fiction > Australian & Oceanian #14 in Kindle Store > Kindle eBooks > Literature & Fiction > Women's Fiction > Mystery, Thriller & Suspense > Detective #16 in Books > Literature & Fiction > World Literature > Australia & Oceania
Dysfunctional family dynamics drive Kate Morton's "The Lake House," a saga that repeatedly moves back and forth in time. Prior to the First World War, Anthony Edevane and Eleanor deShiel fall in love and marry. They eventually settle down in Loeanneth, a country home in Cornwall that is surrounded by nature at her most sublime. The Edevanes' three daughters, Deborah, Alice, and Clementine, enjoy a carefree and privileged existence. In 2003, Detective Constable Sadie Sparrow, who is impulsive, curious, and restless, is on leave in Cornwall after committing a serious infraction. She takes it upon herself to find out exactly what befell the inhabitants of Loeanneth and why. Her investigation will, she hopes, serve as a distraction while she awaits disciplinary action.Morton gradually reveals that quite a few of her characters are unhappy and frustrated in ways that are not obvious to the casual observer. A sixteen-year-old aspiring novelist is infatuated with a handsome older man; agonizing memories haunt a shell-shocked and guilt-ridden veteran; a bitter individual awaits an opportunity to take revenge on someone she loathes; a marriage is slowly disintegrating; and an inexplicable disappearance unmoors the residents of Loeanneth.Kate Morton is a skilled descriptive writer who creates a magical world that is almost too idyllic. Loeanneth is filled with earthly delights, but it is also a place of temptation, transgression, and retribution. We grow to care in particular about Alice, Eleanor, and Sadie, who are all strong, independent, and resilient. Fans of historical fiction will enjoy certain aspects of this intricate story, but "The Lake House" is not an unqualified success. It is too long and rambling, cluttered with an abundance of red herrings and clichés, and concludes with an implausible ending that may impel readers to groan out loud.
As expected, this novel was nothing short of amazing. I have anticipated it all year and was so honored to have the opportunity to review it before it's release next month. If you read one book this fall, make it this one. In true Kate Morton fashion, this story gripped me from the beginning. I couldn't set the book down. I just had to know what happened. Every time I thought I had figured out the mystery, the book took a turn and threw me for another loop.My favorite part about reading novels by Kate Morton is that she goes back and forth between the present and the past. We get a glimpse at what was happening while the case is being solved. This novel affected me more than her others because it involved a little boy around my son's age. This book had suspense and shock. I really did not see the end coming. It took a turn that made me cry happy tears. It was such an incredible story that I didn't know how Morton could have dreamed up such a twisting, surprising, unreal story. This author's imagination is nothing short of fascinating and that is why she continues to be one of my favorites. I have always harped on The Forgotten Garden, but I must say, this one gave it a run for it's money. I think her books get better with each page published.In my opinion, fall is the perfect time of year for a good mystery. If you want to read a book this season that you can completely indulge in and hardly put down - one that will grip you and leave you thinking about it days later, you need to read this one. Out of all the books I've read - and there have been many - this was definitely one of my favorites.The Lake House comes out October 22nd and I highly recommend it to all women. If you were a Nancy Drew girl, this one's for you. I gave this book 5 stars.
I was a Kate Morton fan when I picked this book. But it was a disappointment! Sadie, a detective, is commanded to take a leave after leaking a story to the press about a case that does not end to her liking. She seeks refuge with the grandfather who raised her - a loving and too-perfect man. She literally stumbles onto a cold case about the long ago disappearance of a baby boy at the titular lake house owned by the Edevane family. The story of the disappearance is told by members of this family including Alice, now a famous mystery author. She is a gruff, no nonsense woman who makes it clear she does not believe in coincidence. Here is the irony of this book: the entire story is ALL coincidence! One after another until I lost my suspension of disbelief. And it all becomes quite predictable, especially at the end. Every person and detail is wrapped up in one conclusion like a package with a big, shiny bow. Even though I saw it coming, at the last page I kept thinking, "Really??!" *heavy sigh* It ended like a happy-ever-after fairytale. I suppose a lot of readers like this sort of story - there are many 5-star ratings - but I prefer to be challenged when reading a mystery. And a good mystery holds more realism, not this smug, "See, I was right all along!" satisfaction.
The basic premise of this ridiculously lengthy novel was, if slightly improbable, at least inventive. The writing style was elaborately descriptive of every event and every detail in nature, whether important to the plot or not. This author is in need of a good editor. Reading it was painful.
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