love Louise Douglas's writing and was really excited to read her latest offering, which, after finishing it, just confirms to me what a talented writer she is.
In's England, Amy finds herself moving to Blackwater Lake to help out her former employer, Julia, and her young daughter Viviane who have fallen on hard times.
Julia's childhood home in the village is bleak and rundown and when mysterious things begin to happen, Amy starts to uncover shocking details of a long hidden secret.
I was immediately drawn into the eerie environment which felt like it was set in a time much earlier than the's thanks to the secluded nature of the village and it's residents.
The tension surrounding the secret and its final reveal built nicely, and I had the chills a fair few times, Different from her previous works, but still highly enjoyable and beautifully written,
Thank you to the publishers for providing a copy through NetGalley in exchange for an honest review, Odlično ispričana priča , prepuna misterije i zapleta, Knjiga koja se čita u jednom dahu, Uz savršeno odmjerenu dozu jeze koja vas prolazi sa svakom novom stranicom,
Just as I'd hoped, a mostly feelgood read the conspiracy revealed during the denouement is rather grim with mystery, romance and, as an added bonus, a generous helping of spooky stuff.
I didn't expect this to be a ghost story at all, so it was a nice surprise to find that it really is,
Amy works as a nanny for a glamorous AngloFrench family, the Laurents, and lives a charmed Parisian life with them until tragedy strikes, they lose their fortune and are forced to return to Julia Laurent's childhood home a dreary cottage sitting on the banks of an English reservoir.
As Julia sinks into depression, Amy digs into her family's history and finds Julia's older sister, Caroline, died at the cottage when she was seventeen years old.
Things get creepier when the Laurents' daughter, Viviane, starts claiming Caroline is her new imaginary friend and begins to repeat details about the girl's life and death she can't possibly know.
It's all splendidly ghostly and makes perfect winter reading, what with the mistshrouded, inkblack lake, the smalltown intrigue and various inexplicable happenings in and around the cottage.
Gothic references abound the setting has a distinctly du Maurieresque flavour, and then there's that yellow wallpaper in Caroline's bedroom, . .
The relationship between Amy and Daniel wasn't really to my taste it's not so much instalove as autolove after one glimpse of him and a distinctly uninspiring conversation, she's already imagining them having a future together.
It was a bit too sweet, The other problem I had with the proof I read was that the punctuation was all over the place and there were typos galore.
But the first is a minor thing, easily overlooked, and the second has nothing to do with the final published version at least I hope.
After the blip of sitelinkYour Beautiful Lies, Louise Douglas has now been reinstated as one of my favourite authors of enjoyable, engaging comfort reading.
This is a ghostly story which is completely addictive, one that really grabbed my attention throughout the whole of the read, Amy has been working as a nanny to the Laurent family in France, but when tragedy strikes the family is forced to return to the UK, to the humble Somerset cottage that Julia Laurent grew up in.
It is a cottage that is hiding dark family secrets fromyears ago,
The story is set on the banks of a reservoir, and the reservoir really dominates the whole read, providing a dark and gloomy wintry atmosphere of fog and rain.
This really adds to the tension you start to feel when strange things start to happen in the cottage which are the catalyst for the old secrets coming to light.
I really liked the characters of Amy and Julia in particular, They are both well developed and Amy especially proved very surprising and just when I thought I had her pegged she showed a completely unexpected side to her personality on Christmas Eve.
I also loved the way that the author showed Julia and Amys relationship with each other, They have known each other for a long time and are very close friends but I really liked the subtle way the author very occasionally reminded us that in actual fact they are employee and employer.
The story does build slowly but this pace suits the tale that is unfolding, It is dark, spooky and really sent some shivers down my spine, In fact, it spooked me so much that I broke my own house rule last night and allowed my dog to sleep with me on the bed!
A fantastic read that I thoroughly enjoyed.
Many thanks to the publisher via Netgalley for the review copy,
The Secret By The Lake was absorbing, haunting and hard to put down, A thoroughly good read with an excellent plot that I finished in a day, I thought the writing was well crafted and it didnt take me long to start to enjoy the company of the main character Amy.
This is the first book Ive read by author Louise Douglas and I wouldnt hesitate to recommend it or consider another of her books to try myself.
Amy is living in France and Nanny to the Laurents and theiryear old daughter Viviane, But sadly Amy has to return to England when her Grandmother requires nursing, She is reunited with Viviane and her mother Julia after a tragic accident as they find themselves in Julias childhood home in Somerset, The place is set by the lake and the author draws atmospheric scenes of remoteness, swirling mist and dark waters, Julias creaky cottage is old and in need of renovation but creates a place of creepy eeriness that holds family secrets from the past that come to light as ghostly happening begin.
Julias older sister Caroline passed away at seventeen and Amy begins to uncover her story even though Julia and the villagers seem reluctant speak of her.
What she gradually uncovers is frightening and left me desperately reading on to discover the mystery of Carolines short life, I was on the edge of my seat as Louise Douglas brought the story to
a climatic ending which was a thrill to read.
This book has a bit of everything, creepiness, romance, mystery, intrigue and its a little frightening too, I can only recommend that you read it for yourself,
Thank you to the publishers for a review copy of this book in return for an honest opinion,
The Secret by the Lake by Louise Douglas is published in paperback by Black Swan Transworld onNovember, The Secret by the Lake is the author's sixth novel, I have read and enjoyed all of her books, she's one of my favourite writers, her books are beautifully written and incredibly compelling and I've featured some of them here on Random Things in the past.
Her previous novels are The Love of my Life, Missing You, The Secrets Between Us, In Her Shadowand Your Beautiful Lies,
The prologue of The Secret by the Lake takes place by Blackwater lake ina young unnamed housemaid sits and gazes at a beautiful heartshaped pendant, her thoughts are interrupted by the sound of someone approaching.
The girl manages to avoid being seen by the unnamed man, This short prologue forms the basis of a story told thirty years later, and perfectly sets the scene for what is an entrancing and beautifully told story of betrayal and loss.
Moving forward, it'sin Deusables, France, Amy is Nanny to Viviane Laurent, She is more than a Nanny, she is part of the family, Her own family is disjointed, her mother left when she was a small child and her father seems to care more for his pigeons than he does for her.
Amy is devastated when she has to leave the Laurents and return to Sheffield to care for her ailing father,
When tragedy strikes, Amy rushes to Viviane and her mother Julia who are now living in Julia's childhood home in Somerset, at the side of Blackwater lake.
The glitter and sparkle of Paris life has gone, along with their wealth and beautiful things, Life in the dark gloomy cottage is difficult, and it soon becomes clear that there are deep and sinister secrets hidden within the walls.
The community is tightknit and closedlipped, Amy struggles to keep Julia's spirits up and Viviane has regressed back, conversing with her imaginary friend, but is Caroline purely a product of her imagination,
The cottage and the lake are characters in themselves, Louise Douglas' writing sends chills down the spine as she describes the bleak and dreary cottage with it's closed rooms and unidentified noises, The lake consumes the story and the characters, it is central to village life and central to the plot, The vastness of the deep dark waters, the history of tragedy and pain is so well defined and gives a sinister air to the whole story.
The Secret by the Lake is multilayered and complex, There are sudden twists and unexpected happenings throughout the story, There are moments in the book that will make the reader's heart pound in anticipation, the author expertly builds tension and fear,
Interwoven with the mystery and suspense is Amy's own gentle love story, so different, yet so closely connected to the story of lost love that emerges and is linked back to the mystery housemaid of the prologue.
Louise Douglas is gentle and tender with Amy and her love interest, building their relationship gradually and masterfully,
The secrets that emerge in this book are ageold and shameful, I had many theories whilst reading the story, but the final reveal is shocking and explosive, and quite perfectly done.
Once again, Louise Douglas has produced a captivating, intelligent and beautifully written story, I became totally lost in the plot, adored the characters and feared the cottage and the lake, An absolutely superb read.
sitelink
The Secret By The Lake is a mesmerising, dualtime novel taking place over thirty years, that will send chills down your spine.
Amy has been living in France working as a nanny for the Laurent's and has become part of the family, When she gets news that her father is in hospital she reluctantly returns home to take care of him, Then when tragedy strikes the Laurent family Amy rushes to be with them, She finds Julia and Viviane living in Julia's now dilapidated childhood home and the situation she finds herself in isn't a good one,
Recently widowed Julia has very little money due to her husband's assets being frozen and she is inattentive to little Viviane, just wanting to stay in bed with thoughts only for her husband.
Amy is worried about them both but her concerns start to grow for Viviane when she finds out that her new imaginary friend is called Caroline, which happens to be Julia's sister's name but she died years ago aged only seventeen.
Amy tries to find out more about Caroline but noone wants to talk about her but Caroline and the rundown cottage want her to reveal their secrets so Amy takes it upon herself to try and discover the truth.
The atmosphere throughout this novel crept up on me almost like the mist across the lake, I could feel the dampness and gloom of the cottage, I could feel Amy's fear when things started to go bump and cleverly interwoven into the creepy atmosphere and mystery is a touching love story.
I've read other novel's by Louise Douglas and for me they are all wonderful so if you haven't read any yet this would be a good one to start with.
With kind thanks to NetGalley and publishers Black Swan for the review copy,
Originally posted on sitelinkThis Chick Reads
Copy provided by the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review
I can not believe I waited so long to read a Louise Douglas book! Everyone I know in the blogosphere was recommending her books! Now I see why all these people were mesmerized by Ms Douglas' writing!
'The Secret by the Lake' is a beautiful, breathtaking, complex story which got me hooked from the intriguing prologue.
The story spans overand more years and two generations of women, and involves several stories which are masterfully interwoven,
Amy's a nanny working for Julia and Alain, and taking care of their beautiful daughter Viviane, She spends years in France in their gorgeous house, however is forced to go back home when she hears her father is not feeling well.
But things get bad for Julia and little Viviane while Amy is away, and after a terrible loss they need to go back to Amy's old house by Blackwater Lake, a house which was abandoned and holds some very dark secrets.
Julia has not only lost her husband, but all her funds, so she really has no other option but to go back to the house where she spent the early years of her childhood and ask for Amy to come as she needs help.
Amy's bond with Julia and Viviane is so strong, of course she decides she must help them, though she won't be paid as Julia is on the verge of poor.
While these three women try to pick up their lives, the past is back to haunt them, Dark and ugly secrets will be revealed, and the truth of Caroline's Julia's older sister death which was kept under a mystery veil for so many years, will be brought to light.
This is one of these books that will have you hooked from the beginning and have you hold your breath as you turn the pages.
There were so many times when I felt chills running through my body and sometimes it felt like I was listening to not reading the dialogue.
The characters felt so real, I felt like they were in the same room with me, simply popping out of the pages, wanting to reveal their lives to me.
As this is the first book by Ms Douglas I've read, I can't compare it to any of her previous ones, but the writing though very very unique reminded me a bit of Kate Morton's in terms of the complexity of the characters and vivid descriptions.
I spent hours in this cold, abandoned house by Blackwater Lake, feeling the mist and hearing the waves, I swear, when I closed my eyes I could picture the house and its cold walls, and even now days after reading it I can just close my eyes and think of Caroline and be transported there.
AMAZING! Very rare and precious reading experience!
'The Secret by the Lake' is definitely one of the best books I've ever read.
Right after finishing it I loaded my kindle with some of Louise's previous books and hands are already itching to make a start, Beautiful, mesmerizing, complex and haunting, 'The Secret by the Lake' is a book I recommend to everyone! It's a complex drama/mystery with a perfectly interwoven paranormal element, and everything flows with perfection.
I'm still in shock with some of the revelations and the book was full of surprises and twists which I certainly couldn't predict, Such a clever, complex story and undoubtedly one of the best books I've ever read, Addictive, nail biting, exciting, poignant, . . this books is everything! Please, don't make the same mistake I did! If you haven't read Ms Douglas' books, you're really missing out on a fantastic, ubertalented author.
Wholeheartedly recommend it! Easiestever and honestly, deserves all the in the sky, Just read it, trust me you need this book in your life, .
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Louise Douglas