Reading Nook: Daughters of the Lake, by Wendy Webb

I read this book, I think, in January, but because of, you know, life, I’m just now getting round to reviewing it.

Daughters of the Lake was recommended to me by Kindle directly in November, and the description hooked me immediately. It was pitched as a Great Lakes Gothic murder mystery with time travel and supernatural howdydo, and all kinds of things and that sounded wild and I wanted every part of that.

But I get reading fatigue real bad. I can’t say what it was that put me off at first. Honestly, probably just me, because, looking back, the pacing was good, the hook was good, the foreshadowing was obvious to the trained eye but not groan-worthy, and it hits you in the face with action right at the off.

I honestly think it was me. I don’t think any book holds my attention very well at the beginning, since I’m still building up my reading stamina. So that’s my attempt at making excuses. Did it work? No? fair enough, moving on.

So overall impression? I loved it! Once I knuckled down and told myself, ‘we’re not moving on until you finish this book you actually like and don’t have a reason not to finish,’ it went like a runaway train. I haven’t read for hours at a stretch in a long time, and I did with this one. I had some of the only late nights I’ve had since college, trying to pound it down.

I won’t go too much into plot, as usual, because pretty much any detail I give away is a spoiler because it’s so intricate and complex. Essentially, we follow two timelines; Addie Cassatt in the early 1900s and Kate Granger in the modern day. Kate gets these visions that she can’t explain to herself, but she’s convinced they will help to solve the murder of a woman whose body washes up on shore with a baby in the folds of her nightgown. Addie’s story is a poignant and bittersweet love story about growing up, identity, loyalty, secrets, friendship, and betrayal.

There’s a whole cast of characters, each with their own complex feelings and personalities and agendas who push the plot forward or drag it down. I want to say I don’t have a favourite, but I’d be lying, because it’s Simon. He’s an absolute doll.

In a way, the town of Wharton and Lake Superior are more than settings, but characters as well. We see them evolve between the timelines–what changes and what stays the same. Of course, there’s a reason for that, as well, but you won’t hear it from me