Into the Water
Into the Water Paula Hawkins followup to her 2014 runaway bestseller The Girl on the Train was highly anticipated to say the least. Fans of the former would likely be pleased with similarities between the two thrillers; such as the sinister atmosphere, the complex, deeply flawed characters, who could easily be either villains or anti-heroes, alcohol-fueled memory loss, and the dark secrets which remain hidden until just the right moment.
As easy as it is to draw comparisons, there are also some striking differences in these two books. While "The Girl on the Train" did have several narrators and focused on the lives of three different women, there was a clear protagonist at the heart of the story, where "Into the Water" is truly an ensemble. With so many different stories and points of view it can be confusing. You definitely have to concentrate on keeping the many characters and events straight. However, it is a well written novel, which cleverly draws the reader in and is never boring.
Set in a small, quaint English town, the main storyline revolves around the river, particularly a part of it known as the drowning pool, infamous for its history of being a place where suspected witches were drowned and later as a suicide spot for a number of local women. The latest females to lose their lives there are a Kate, a 15-year-old girl who appeared to have everything going for her prior to her apparent suicide and Nell, a journalist/author, who has left behind an unruly teenage daughter, Lena, who was also Kate's best friend. When Nell's estranged sister, Jules, comes to town to take over as Lena's guardian, the plot thickens as we learn about the sisters' turbulent past and Jules uncovers shocking information from the past and the truth about her sister.
Jules seems like the obvious protagonist but there is really no central character. It is everyone's story, from Lena, to Kate's grieving mother, to a shady school teacher, a troubled cop, and a few other prominent characters. The book may seem crowded at times but it is worth the read.
Fans of Paula Hawkins should enjoy this hauntingly suspenseful tale that constantly keeps you guessing with dramatic twists and turns.
As easy as it is to draw comparisons, there are also some striking differences in these two books. While "The Girl on the Train" did have several narrators and focused on the lives of three different women, there was a clear protagonist at the heart of the story, where "Into the Water" is truly an ensemble. With so many different stories and points of view it can be confusing. You definitely have to concentrate on keeping the many characters and events straight. However, it is a well written novel, which cleverly draws the reader in and is never boring.
Set in a small, quaint English town, the main storyline revolves around the river, particularly a part of it known as the drowning pool, infamous for its history of being a place where suspected witches were drowned and later as a suicide spot for a number of local women. The latest females to lose their lives there are a Kate, a 15-year-old girl who appeared to have everything going for her prior to her apparent suicide and Nell, a journalist/author, who has left behind an unruly teenage daughter, Lena, who was also Kate's best friend. When Nell's estranged sister, Jules, comes to town to take over as Lena's guardian, the plot thickens as we learn about the sisters' turbulent past and Jules uncovers shocking information from the past and the truth about her sister.
Jules seems like the obvious protagonist but there is really no central character. It is everyone's story, from Lena, to Kate's grieving mother, to a shady school teacher, a troubled cop, and a few other prominent characters. The book may seem crowded at times but it is worth the read.
Fans of Paula Hawkins should enjoy this hauntingly suspenseful tale that constantly keeps you guessing with dramatic twists and turns.
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Jennifer K. Lafferty, author of Movie Dynasty Princesses, reviews a wide range of books and discusses various aspects of contemporary and classic literature.
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