The Lake House | Author: Kate Morton | Rating: 10/11 |
Kate Morton’s newest novel, The Lake House, may very well be her most masterful work to date. Having established herself as an artful storyteller, capable of weaving complex, multi-layered stories that draw the reader in and leave them guessing until the very end, Morton continues to set the bar higher with each novel and The Lake House is no exception.
Set against the backdrop of the 1930’s, The Lake House centers around the history of the Edevane family, the unsolved disappearance of eleven-month-old Theo Edevane in the summer of 1933 and the tragic life-changing effects of the events surrounding the crime which is felt by everyone from the immediate family members, to the household staff, and later – as the novel moves closer to present day – the fate of Detective Sadie Sparrow, who is wrestling with demons of her own.
Detective Sparrow and the living Edevane family members (Alice, who was 16 at the time of her brother’s disappearance, and Deborah, two years Alice’s senior) find their lives intermingling after a strange turn of events leads Sparrow to Cornwall. Having been put on leave from the police force, Sparrow finds herself exploring the land around her Uncle’s country home and stumbles upon the abandoned Edevane estate. Will she be able to solve the 70-year-old mystery of the vanished toddler and redeem herself at the police force at the same time? Will doing so bring closure to the living Edevane sisters, or are some questions better off unanswered? Morton will have you asking yourself these very questions through to the very last chapter.
It’s a spellbinding read from start to finish and a highly recommended title to add to your shopping list.