I received this book from Netgalley for review consideration.
The Secrets of Lake Road by Karen Katchur Published by Thomas Dunne Books on August 4th 2015
Genres: Contemporary Women, Debut, Family & Relationships, Mystery
Pages: 320
Format: eARC
Source: Netgalley
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A haunting story about the destructive power of secrets, this accomplished and gripping suspenseful women's fiction debut is perfect for fans of Lisa Scottoline and Heather Gudenkauf
Jo has been hiding the truth about her role in her high school boyfriend’s drowning for sixteen years. Every summer, she drops her children off with her mother at the lakeside community where she spent summers growing up, but cannot bear to stay herself; everything about the lake reminds her of the guilt she feels. For her daughter Caroline, however, the lake is a precious world apart; its familiarity and sameness comforts her every year despite the changes in her life outside its bounds. At twelve years old and caught between childhood and adolescence, she longs to win her mother’s love and doesn’t understand why Jo keeps running away.
Then seven-year-old Sara Starr goes missing from the community beach. Rescue workers fail to uncover any sign of her—but instead dredge up the bones Jo hoped would never be discovered, shattering the quiet lakeside community’s tranquility. Caroline was one of the last people to see Sara alive on the beach, and feels responsible for her disappearance. She takes it upon herself to figure out what happened to the little girl. As Caroline searches for Sara, she uncovers the secrets her mother has been hiding, unraveling the very foundation of everything she knows about herself and her family. The Secrets of Lake Road by Karen Katchur is a riveting novel that is impossible to put down and hard to forget.
I think if I hadn’t read The Secrets of Lake Road immediately after having my heart ripped out by Come Away With Me (more about that one on Monday), I think I would’ve enjoyed it a LOT more.
It was a quick read that’s for sure, not quite the frantic-page-turning suspense of Pretty Baby but certainly on par with The Ones We Trust (bickering adults acting like teenagers aside). The Secrets of Lake Road would have been the perfect vacation book, if I’d known then what I know now I would definitely have saved this one for vacation. They say hindsight is a wonderful thing!
Back to my “bickering adults acting like teenagers” comment. I get that the lake was a vacation community, I get that Jo was there on vacation, the same place she vacationed as a kid, the same place where her teenage boyfriend went missing and died. Needless to say, the lake held a lot of memories for Jo, and that can make people act weird! Together with the fact that her dead boyfriend’s sister still lives by the lake and her now husband also knew her dead boyfriend. Lots of history, lots of never forgotten teenage drama. So I kind of want to give Jo a pass for some of her behavior. But she was no longer a teenager, and now had her own teenagers to look after and actually be a mom to. Like a real, there all of the time mom. I’m torn on my feelings for Jo, as you might be able to tell.
While the story does go back to Jo’s teenage years spent at the lake, for the present day Katchur concentrates on Jo’s 12-year-old daughter, Caroline. All Caroline needs is a mom who is 100% emotionally and physically there (see above). A mom she can confide in, talk to, and just hug at the end of the day.
So when 7-year-old Sara goes missing (last seen in the lake) and Caroline was the last one to see her, she kind of feels responsible and takes it up on herself to try to find her, even when the outlook doesn’t look good. A lot for a young girl to carry on her shoulders.
Anyway, the mystery unfolds nicely, at a good pace. Past and present weaving together. THIS I liked! Although I did guess one part of the story quite early on, some of the other things, I didn’t even see coming. So difficult to review a mystery/suspense without giving anything away while trying not to sound so vague. I fail every time!
Wow, I actually had a lot more to say than I thought. If you’re interested in others thoughts check the links below:
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